;; white bitterness (p)

[❥;; bexx]

The snowy terrains and bitter temperatures were welcomed by her as she began to tread the grounds of what would be Tetsu no Kuni. The land wasn't really as special; or so she thought anyhow. Maybe because the place bore resemblance to Yuki no Kuni that nothing seemed like a surprise to her. Did things really begin to lost their shine if they looked too like something else? If so, then that kind of explanation would be more than enough to explain the feeling she felt inside.

Everything looked too familiar in the not so familiar kind of way. She had to remind herself again and again that she wasn't in Yuki no Kuni but everywhere she looked made her think of the demolished village. The crunch of the hard snow beneath her feet was more than enough for her to start making connections. The temperature was at the right level; bone-chilling yet heart-warming. She was crazy; crazy with a sudden wave of homesick that she hadn't felt since the day she found her mysteriously in a little town some one year ago. The snow that accumulated on the ground made her feel so much at home that she had the urge to call it her new home.

No, she reminded herself crossly, this was not Yuki no Kuni. She wouldn't possibly be able to find her village unscathed in this new country. This was Tetsu no Kuni. As she walked alongside her new companion, her mind was busy controlling itself from making wrong moves. They had just landed on the country. She couldn't afford to have a repeat of what happened in Hi no Kuni, especially because she wasn't alone this time. She had Shizuka to account for, had him to consider with every small move she made. She was supposedly trying to help him find his memories. So she didn't matter in the equation at all.

They would walk aimlessly for a couple of minutes, not really sure where they were going. She stole a look at Shizuka, still a little troubled that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Wasn't he cold? She was used to this temperature so she actually felt warm. So warm that she would take off the coat he had given her on the boat and return it to him with a smile. "You mustn't catch cold. I'm fine in this weather. Please take this back." she would hand it over to him. She bit back the urge to say that it felt so much like home to her that she actually wouldn't mind being cold. That was none of his business. 

Her silver lobes would cast a quick glance at their surroundings, picking up nothing in particular that was of interest. There seemed to be an abundance of people, but that was about it. The fact that Ren had set the country's location was supposedly secretive and that it had so many people really surprised her. Guess it wasn't such a secret after all. She would turn to her companion and ask if there was anywhere he would like to go, anywhere at all, or would simply walking up and down the country's snowy grounds be enough. She herself didn't mind either or.  

  

[chiatsuki]

optimistic thoughts

[/color] I said with an almost trembling voice. Although this wind was giving me a soothing break from the aches of my scars it made my skin hard and itchy. I wanted to leave already but I know that we needed to stay here a couple of days to get ourselves situated. I would throw Sayuri within a hotel and go out mugging if I had to… I didn’t really want her to know what I’d done only just earlier.

I licked my lips before continuing with a suave attitude; cocking my head to the side as I talked. ‘He will stay with us. I spotted an inn not too far up the road if you care to join me in getting two inter-joined rooms. I would like to talk to you all about a plan that I’m forming. ‘ I’d await for Yamtcha to reach my side before continuing. I needed to chase my memories but I didn’t want to seem like I were only thinking about myself… because I was. I longed so much for my memories to return to me about the person I was. I fear if I go on too long with this illness that I’ll end up becoming something even more sinister than I might have been before. The wind made sort of a low siren in my ear. I watched as the samurai guards roamed through the streets on either side going in opposite directions. They had this place locked down… and apart of me wanted to tear that structure up and compile it into a structured chaos… I just didn’t have the instruments of war right now.

Blood still bore as a mask upon my face from the man I had just slain. Danzo hadn’t been cleaned and he drooled the blood from his own hind onto the snow beneath my feet. I looked as if I’d been worked out. My body started to steam a bit as I had begun to breathe a little easier from the momentum drop. Sayuri had the same color eyes as mine. I looked at her similar colored hair and smiled a bit. My mind raced from within beckoning me to gesture a form of kindness to her. If it were not for her I wouldn’t be standing here right now and I stand true to what I meant about protecting her by any means necessary. I would gesture to her for a moment to come with me as Yamtcha reached us. I wanted to get inside and possibly get some clothes for myself because the shower I was going to take would take me to a far higher place. The thought alone was killing me the more I stood standing so I’d taken it upon myself to begin to trek back towards the inn I’d spotted.

‘cmon you guys. Lets get into somewhere warm. I’ll pay.’ The words hit me harder than danzo to the victim that I hadn’t even bothered to dispose of. His body still remained to the side of the road where Sayuri would probably notice. It wouldn’t take her long to understand it was me but I didn’t really want to see her expression, whether good or bad, of the thoughts that would now begin to circulate her mind. I headed towards the inn to get two rooms and then I would discuss my next plan of action whether they were in or not.

[/ul][/justify][/blockquote][/font]

[Hop]

Jens trotted down the snowy path, not even realizing he was falling behind the man he had just met, who neglected to tell him his name. He was lost in thought, something quickly becoming a habit of him, as he never really worked in cooperation with another man. He started thinking. Partners, nakama, affiliation, friends possibly. Having something like that in his life would be weird. What he basically understood now was that he was meeting up with another accomplice of the man.

Thoughts of this changed to the weather as he felt a chilling breeze go by, reminding him of what a harsh temperature this is. After being here for around a day he's adjusted to the temperature, though he believes most of the endurance to this weather went to his thick jacket he wore. He couldn't imagine being without. He wished it could do more as the breezes constantly pounded his face. He grasped to his small hat above his head as it was nearly blown off. He didn't need to risk losing it.

Finally snapping back into reality, he caught up with the fiery headed man, picking up his pace. He found him talking to a woman, most likely who he was intending to meet, otherwise he'd know of any plans with this girl. Whoever she was, she was a bit slender but had a few inches over Yamcha in height. With the man's proclamation of going to an inn, he gave a small nod. Continuing to walk in the direction that they were heading, he felt weird with another new person that he was supposed to act 'friendly' towards. He was unsure what to say to her, so he simply said, "Nice to meet you." With a small glance at her.

He noticed some form of tension between the two, though he couldn't label it. It was radiating more from the shirtless man, and he was unsure if he was the cause of if something happened before he arrived. He walked between the two, but a foot or two behind to not disrupt the line of vision between them. He was silent.

[Ronno]

---

The cold wind played upon my hair as I tracked the footsteps in the snow. Snow covered my eyesight, not allowing me to see more than ten yards in front out. Snow muffled the sound of my heavy breathing and the voices of others up the snowy path. I was undetectable. The three others however were not. One pair of footsteps was quite small, and was lightly patted in the damp snow. This must have come from a woman or small child, she must be very used to the snow and travels lightly. Another of the footprints was a tad larger than the woman's it was just as skinny though. My guess would be of a man in his twenties, around my age; or a young girl who just had a large shoe size. The last of the three was easy to decipher and track. He must have been off in his own world for his footprints showed he had been walking-or skipping through the snow leaving few heavy foot prints. I looked away from the snow and looked to the trees. A loud hooting sound had gathered my attention, taking me from the task at hand.

I disregarded the unusual birds crowing as I gathered myself and stood up. My large six foot stature towered over the nearest tallest object, a simple four foot high rock formation three yards to my right. I continued on My journey following he footprints. Yuki stayed strapped to my waist. Funny, this is the first time Yuki has felt the dampness of snow since my departure from Yuki no Kuni. I walked towards the three convicts thinking of my troubled past.

I had once been a feared member of Yuki no Kuni's shinobi roster. taking many heads as personal items from the people I had killed. That was a long time ago. I am a changed person. I am in Yuki no Kuni for one reason and that is to find the convict who burned down Ogsuri. One of the people in front of me had played a part in the burning of the small town of Ogsuri, it was a little place I had stayed while I was traveling through the country side a few weeks back, no more than a week since I departed from it had it been destroyed. It is not clear weather the criminal's two buddies had anything to do with the ruin of the town, but make no mistake, I will get my man. I am not troubled that the man killed the dozens of people living inside the village. My only quam is that he got to it before I could. He killed

[❥;; bexx]

Her silver eyes traveled to a couple feet from her side as she was still deep in thought. She had almost missed what Shizuka had naturally. Her eyes had caught onto something that she knew she shouldn't have and would probably regret quite certainly. Though she had a passion for fighting; had a renewed passion for allowing the metal blade of her katana to slit across her victims' throats, she was not amused at the sight she was seeing now. It was simply that the body of this man, who had obviously been killed had not died from her hands. She looked at the limp, motionless and lifeless being of what used to be an alive and well individual. For a moment she was not quite sure if she wanted to walk up to it and find traces of who had killed him. What was she going to do that information anyway?

And then she noticed that her companion was speaking to her and decided to finally turn her head from the dead body and actually stare at him. There seemed to be something amiss about him; something that she couldn't quite pinpoint. What was it? Of course she noticed some blood stains on his face and began to question on the inside how he had managed to get blood on himself for a mere short time span. But she retracted her question. The two of them had just met each other and it seemed a little too personal to ask some of the questions that ran in her mind. Instead, she would just listen, as she mentioned that there was another person joining their group. what was this, a party? The atmosphere around them had continued to give off a chill that she felt relaxing but was noting that it was somewhat not the case for Shizuka.

A small smile played on her lips as she saw someone joining the group. She guessed that it was the person the red haired boy was telling her about. She studied the figure closely. His blond hair was what caught her eye and there was a look of mysteriousness surrounding him. And that was when she would give the new person a curt nod. So Shizuka had managed to meet a friend already? Of course she didn't know all that had happened between them while she had wandered off and had dreams which made no real connection one from another but she found it rather surprising that he had met someone here in Tetsu no Kuni so quickly that this person was going to join them. She didn't have a problem with it, but it was surprising nonetheless.

And now, down to serious business as she walked with Shizuka down the path to an inn he said he saw. Apparently he had a plan and she was quite interested. There wasn't much for her to do here in Tetsu. She was an outsider in a mysterious country with no destination, no focus and basically nothing to do. A plan sounded like such an exciting thing. She had traveled solo for so long that any sort of plan had become a part of her imagination. She liked plans; organizing things would certainly be beneficial to doing anything small or big. She nodded her head and smiled back at him; walking alongside him with the new person in the group trailing slightly behind.

They would reach the inn shortly, a distance that was made easier for her because she was used to walking on snowy plains. He would get two rooms for them but she would insist that she paid for her own. She was not a person that was seen easily to take advantage of others. They would settle down at the inn, and Sayuri would wait patiently for the plan that her companion had mentioned. All this time she had not noticed a presence who would be watching them. She was an acute observer but still wouldn't have known that there was somebody following them on the snowy grounds.

[tsukiko]

The Land of Iron was well known for it's snowy and rocky terrain, along with it's bitter cold temperatures. When she had first entered the icy land a few days prior the only thing that lay ahead of her was a thick expanse of white, fluffly flakes and more fell from the sky. You would think someone like her would have frozen to death by now, being guarded only by a thin dress, boots and gloves, but the cold would not get to her- she was already frozen inside, void of any signs of love or friendship. Tsukiko did not have friends, she had subordinates, people who followed her and obeyed her orders- it was just so, as she had never met a person worthy of being more. A part of her, she would admit, hoped she did- she would need children eventually, she had to continue her line, after all. By the third day, bloodlust had overcome her and she could not resist the urge to make the white snow, so pure and innocent, stained red with the blood of those on it. He was easy prey and his blood was absolutely delicious on her overly large organ. The coppery taste was perfect as it traveled down her throat. She discarded the body easily, merely just feeding it to her snake and then carried on her journey through the land.

After a few more days she found fatigue beginning to affect her. It wasn't something that usually happened, especially after drinking so much blood, so she decided she would stop in a town- might as well play a little bit nice anyways, right? So, at the next town she came to she decided to walk inside, looking around. It was a rather nice town, so naturally she was disgusted by it and easily wanted to ruin it. She managed to fight her urges, however, and stopped at a nice little hotel about a mile into the town. She walked up to the owner, putting on her naturally lustrous smile.

"One room, please"

Her voice was seductive and inviting and the owner in. He smiled and gave her a key and she blew him a kiss, waving him off as she walked up to her room. When she walked in she was almost blown away by how much it sucked. I mean, it was just so nice! Why the hell wasn't this one of those cheap motels? Damnit. Sighing, she plopped down on the bed, shuddering at it's softness. She needed to rest, however, so she curled her body up and fell into a deep slumber. When she woke a few hours later she stood up stretching her body and groaned as she felt hunger begin to appear in her stomach, so she walked down into one of the little cafe's across the street.

"I'll have a steak, make it raw"

[chiatsuki]

optimistic thoughts

[Hop]

Yamcha continued to walk rather blissfully, choosing not to acknowledge the fact that tension was building, nor did he wince to the fact his slower walking somehow put him ahead in the group. He felt awkward, but he wasn't sure how to respond. He knew that they stopped and begun talking. He just kept his head sunk, awaiting to see if he was being left out of something.

All the time he never was able to notice the man who was stalking them, his detection skills solely fell upon detecting metallic objects with his bloodline abilities, but that was not activated as he was in a state of peace, so he would not worry.

It seemed he worried for nothing as things resolved without him having to talk, and they reached the inn with no further complications. Of course his cheeks and nose had turned red, teeth chattering. He was not too well with cold obviously, living in Hi no Kuni for so long it was just something normal. But with the life he lived, he didn't really have a choice now. A heater was running in this hotel, and he began to defrost. He watched as the man without hesitation 'conversed' with the lady, a small smile of entertainment revealed. As he passed he muttered, "Thank you miss." Purely for manners, something he remembered his father teaching him off.

Upon reaching their rooms, he watched the girl leave to her own room and he went into the room across. As the man spook of hygiene, Yamcha nodded and went out to the window of the room, leaning on the sealing as he gazed out to the view. Now he actually knew the man's name, or at least a nickname that was easier to say, so he felt like he was on better grounds. He pondered if he should wash up too, it being so long since he's actually bathed properly. He decided it might be nice to smell 'natural' for once.

Once he exited the shower, the teen walked in casually saying, "May as well clean up." He was rather quick with his shower, only lasting ten minutes. Unfamiliar with the different things of this piece of technology, he wasn't able to do much more than lather some soap on him and rinse off. Shampoo was a mystery to him, so he did not much more then let some water run through his hair, but with the knots that have built up over time, it was ineffective.

He stepped out of the shower, after drying off and redressing, exited the shower as more steam poured out as the door opened. He didn't bother to check how well he was actually cleaned in the mirror, leaving a layer of fog on it. He held the hat in his hand as his hair was still moist. Hearing Shizuka's request to talk, Yamcha nodded in agreement, walking to his bed. He sat on it facing the man, using his arms to support him as he leaned back. "Sure, what do you need to talk about?"

[Ronno]

---

continuing on through the snow I came across a naked dead boy. Roughly seventeen years of age. I couldn't help but to notice he had shuriken lodged in his neck. He must have died either instantly or near too it. I cringed, death was nothing knew to me, I have seen it before. Not like this, this was a murder a defenseless boy. I couldn't be fore sure as to he was naked, probably looted. The travelers and the convict a head of me had to have noticed the boy. They could have quite possibly killed him. Nothing is for certain. I gathered my thoughts and stood up. I grabbed his arms and dragged him into the the forest line. There he would out of the site or normal civilians who did not want to see the horrors of the death. After I get done with the convict, I promise to come back though this path and barre the boy.

I wiped the blood on my hands on my vest and continued walking. A cigarette would be good right now, however I haven't had a cigarette since my days in Yuki no Kuni. And that was a long time ago. I continued walking for what only felt like a few minutes before I came across an Inn. There was no way that the travelers could have continued on with out stopping for the night. I asked the woman behind the bar, she had a dark complexion, one not normally seen in this climate. Her black hair covered her eyes and she constantly had to move the behind her ear.

"Excuse me miss, have you seen a girl and maybe two gentlemen come in through here within the last hour?"

Se then proceeded to tell me a ridiculous story about how a man picked her up by her collar and took two keys to rooms '121' and '123'. She also mentioned how he underpaid her. A trivial matter I suppose.

"Thank you M'am."

I would then take a seat at the bar. I didn't sit there long to notice a woman. She was very, pretty long ebony hair cascaded from atop her head. She ate like a pig. A wild turnoff.

[chiatsuki]

optimistic thoughts

[/i] My foot stopped wiggling after hearing my own self. The thought alone kept my heart pounding but not because I was scared… no; because I was pissed. It was as if they wanted you to conform to society so bad they were willing to kill you for the sake of the name of the village. ‘Fuck the villages..’ I stated calmly. ‘I am thinking of something even deeper than a hidden village. I’m thinking a rebellious army on a mission for change.

I’d give it a good moment to seep into his head a bit. I was on the verge of just breaking through the door right now in search of someone else. But I had to let this grunt know first hand what it was I was after… just incase he had his own plans in mind that is. I continued. ‘Groups of about three or four men or women together for the purposes of breaking down the infrastructure from the inside out through means of lawful tactics. I wish for an overthrow of the governments as a whole for the sakes of profit. I will steal the village scrolls and provide for a rebellious army. After I’ve weakened the structure of the government I’ll take my strike at them fully.’ I couldn’t help it. The evil tendencies within me rose to standing points after waking up with no memory. I craved for power but in the most respectful manner possible. These knuckleheads nowadays didn’t know respect if it hit em in the face. It was my job to show em what it was.

‘With that being said I’m going to the bar for a drink. I want to be a little drunk before I face Sayuri again. If you care to join me you’re welcome… it’ll give you time to think about my offer. Till then I’ll see ya there.’ I’d say. Shortly after I got my lazy ass up from the bed and headed towards the door. My eyes reluctantly positioned themselves upon Sayuri’s door number as I came out. I wonder what she was thinking right now.. being hauled over here with me. I was pretty good at getting people to tag along, I admit, but I hated being the center of attention sometimes. My tread was steady and ready as I tucked my head down a little beneath my shoulders. As I made my way into the bar I stretched my hands out a little and positioned them to my side. The sound of drunk bitches on the pool table made me want to turn around right there until I’d seen a few others in the bar as well. If those people could take the overbearing noise so could I.

After grabbing a stool and sliding it under my bum I recognized the people to my left and my right. It was a gesture I’d always used whenever out travelling away from home. I was always away from home. The person I’d seen first were a black wavy-haired fellow with burgundy eyes. He seemed rather lethal in a Japanese way. ‘hey you. my names shizuka how’ ya doin?’ I said off rip – eyes dipped low due to fatigue.

[/ul][/justify][/blockquote][/font]

[Hop]

The contents of the conversation took an unexpected twist that was a bit of a curve ball to Yamcha. Such an idea coming up so quick, was it alright to be surprised? His own eyes began to slowly widen as he spoke. Absorbing what this actually meant, never considering the fact he'd have a bounty on his head. He pulled his hat from his damp head, looking at the small garment in nostalgia of how he even got to where he was.

By the time he finished explaining his intentions and his plans, Yamcha simply spoke, "Sounds like an interesting offer..." Though he was rather quick to take off, intending on getting drunk apparently. Upon being invited, he was unsure how to respond, still jumbled in his head with the upturn of events. He simply waved his hand in denial, "I think I'll be good back here. I may come down later." He spoke as he was exiting. This was an offer that really deserved some consideration.

After Shizuka was long gone, the nuke-nin began pacing the floor in front of the two beds, out of curiosity and intense thinking. This was practically being invited on a suicide offer. The rewards were great, but near impossible to achieve. Yamcha had much confidence in his defense heavy battle style, and with the lighting speed that Shizuka displayed when robbing that man, he definitely had some capabilities. The woman though was someone he did not know, and most importantly her capability was also a mystery. Plus the idea was given off that he'd recruit more people, would they be strong?

Still in deep thought, the teen leaned against the wall, head tilted to the floor, no care for the fact that the door was left wide open. He reminded himself of his goal. Money, plain and simple, collecting it to live. If the government was overthrown, or at least they caused massive havoc upon it, that presented the opportunity for massive amounts of money. Looting multiple shinobi, theft from buildings, possibly even tapping into the village treasuries. While it was a hefty risk, Yamcha finally came to a conclusion. Not just on his idea, but how he'd interact with the group in whole. May as well stay while the going's good. Get as much money as I can, and duck out. He thought to himself. A small devilish smile arose on his face. That was a simple yet smart strategy.

But then a new thought popped in at the back of his head, sounding childish and silly. But isn't Shizuka a friend? This thought somewhat disturbed Yamcha, forcing him to mutter aloud, "Tsk! Friends While he had tried to reject the idea, it still lingered in his head.

[Ronno]

---

Red heads were strange. They always were the burden cast upon society yet they think they are loved by all. Don't they know one would rather live next to some one who had leprosy then a "ginger." This is how I felt when I was ambushed by the man to my left. I quickly gave him a once over before responding. He was about the same age as myself and he was a bit shorter than myself, not everyone could have this lanky frame. I looked to the women who I had gathered a bit of information from. She looked shocked. Terrified. This had to have been one of the people I was tracking. Either he is the culprit who burned down Ogsuri or he was traveling with him.

"Hello Shizuka, my name is Kahime. Pleasure to meet you."

I said kindly putting my right hand out to him. He was seated to my right and was hunched over the bar looking at me. He had just sat down so he couldn't have been drunk. With my left hand I grabbed the hilt of Yuki. Ready and waiting for him to make contact.

[chiatsuki]

/exit. going to steal konoha's scrolls. y'all can join if you have a valid reason. will be back in less than a day or two.

[Hopalong]

[/exit; joining with sohyo's heist]

[Ronno]

exit.