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Pain.

The woman's words struck the boy hard, with nothing short of malicious intent. His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed harder together as she, who had once been his better half, spat her spiteful words at the boy and though he tried exceedingly hard to stand strong against the onslaught, he could not - her words drove into his heart like rusty nails. His form quivered ever so slightly as he inhaled and exhaled deeply. What had happened to her? Where had his friend gone? Her giggling, which was more of a witch-like cackle at this point, resonated in the boy's ears and he turned his head slightly, looking at her with eyes that struggled to be cold and heartless, but could not. All that shone through these optic doorways was pain.

Then, with a strike of the match ──

His hand swatted to her glass, knocking it behind the bar counter where it shattered on contact with the hard, wooden floor. "She's had enough, don't bring her another." said Yahiko glancing from the barkeep, who stood with a wide-eyed, dumbfounded expression, to the woman who sat next to him. The boy's visage radiated a combination of anger and confusion, and ultimately a bit of pain. "What in the hell happened to you ── where'd this wickedness come from?" he asked, deeply confused. He loved this girl; he had shared everything with the girl, from the deepest intimacy to greatest secrets. This wasn't her though, it couldn't be. What, exactly, had possessed her?

She pulled away.

Thank. God.

His heart slowed down dramatically. She turned away and downed the rest of her drink, though the boys eyes remained set on her. She hadn't changed a bit, not on the outside, anyway. Her vocal crossbow was now set on him. Her lips, the same ones that once delivered kisses before had now replaced love with ammunition, and her words, like arrows, delivered an onslaught of pain as they impaled the boy's ears.

This is how it was the last time she spoke to him.

The hurt in his eyes was clearly visible, for a few moments, but then vanished. The oceans in his eyes froze over and his brows furrowed as he turned away from her. He gazed up at the barkeep, giving him a swift nod indicating he, too, wanted more alcohol. He thought maybe it would help, even if only a little. "I could ask you the same thing." he replied, simply, not looking at her directly, but keeping an eye on her from his peripherals.

"Is this where you've been all this time? Hiding in the fog?"

Time had sharpened her words

They were like daggers, masterfully crafted for the sole purpose of inflicting pain on someone. She fired off these words and, though sharp, left the boy physically unscathed. His mind, however, was thoroughly affected by what the woman was saying. It was still tainted with memories; events long since passed, and the only remaining remnants of these moments were the echoes left behind, resonating in his mind.

He could remember his friend...and how lovely she was.

"No," he started after her last inquiry, lifting his hands to his cloak and pulling the hood from his head. A single, gloved hand slid through his thick ebony locks as he scratched his head. "But you knew me." he added, finally glancing over at her -- into her eyes. Apathy had been plastered upon his visage and most would probably be fooled by it. She, however, could probably see through it like the paper-thin wall that it was. Truth was, she did know him. The real question was: did he know her?

The air was thick and hazy with the smell of cigars -- almost as thick and hazy as the age-old fog that lingered endlessly outside. The room was warmly lit by the lanterns that hung scattered about the ceiling. The demeanors of the people sitting at the tables and the bar indicated that were all regulars to this place; there were several cliques of people drinking it up and sharing their stories with one another. Not a single soul sat alone.

The door slid open with a shuddering sound. The numerous conversations that were going on all died down in unison to the point where if a pin were to drop it could be heard from outside. The sound of combat boots pressing against the creaky, wooden floors and the jangling of entangled knives and parchments within their pouches broke the silence. The medic closed the door behind him after he stepped into the silent bar. As he walked forward, he gave passing nods to everyone, most of which were returned. The noise slowly picked back up again.

"Warm sake, please." Yahiko said, slipping onto a barstool. The barkeep nodded, put down the mug that he was cleaning and went to prepare the drink. The boy looked around cautiously. Most people had gone about their business, though he caught a few eyes that still lingered on him. "Hm." He tucked his already concealed headband farther into his vest pocket. The last thing he needed was trouble.

The closest star burned brilliantly above the desert. If not for the gale-force winds that swept along the sandy terrain, the region would literally be a barren hell-hole. Violent and relentless were the winds as an onslaught of sudden, random gusts howled viciously beneath the midday sun. And alas, as if by decree of the gods themselves, all grew silent in the land. The constant sound of sand sweeping across the ground and the winds howling overhead ceased, and were slowly replaced by the resonating sound of footsteps.

Yahiko silently took note of this strange phenomenon, gazing around and watching his flanks. Could have been some type of Jutsu, although he didn't see anyone around. Signs, premonitions, bad omens? Perhaps. In the medics mind, none of those were entirely out of the question. He was an avid fan of such superstitious beliefs. Trekking across the desert, for most folk, was hard. Yahiko didn't find it too difficult. Long, yes. Annoying as hell, yes. Impossible, not even close. It was really just a matter of pacing one's self. In due time, however, the winds did start to pick back up -- the breeze was relieving. These gales weren't the typical desert winds, though. They were cool to the touch and reeked of salt; these were ocean winds.

The bustling port was actually rather calm on this day. Odd. Perhaps all that were trying to escape the Bijuu were overseas by now. The young medic boarded a boat heading east to lands unknown. . .

[ Move to Mizu ]