writingrin

Return to the 9 Islands

Tatsuo looked at him. Then nodded. "Very well, go with the others. Bring back whatever information you can. Don't get caught." He narrowed his eyes in an 'am I clear?' gesture. Then dismissed him.

The Prince accepted his decision and turned. He looked at Buta, decided he was restrained enough, and kept his eyes drifting until he saw Shizuka. He felt very bad for that youkai. The plans for her had been settled in advance. Kuroaki had seen to that. Shinrai would never forgive him for being negligent with his power over them. He thought she would approve of his plan to free them though. And most of them seemed to want to help her, or at least to not be against it.

He approached Shizuka and Tatsuo fell into step with him. He looked over his shoulder. "What is it?"

Tatsuo's eyes were on Buta. "I think I'll stick around over there for a while. Just in case."

Kuroaki felt uneasy but he didn't comment. He split off to stand near to the wall youkai and her guards. He nodded to them and then faced her between them. "Shizuka-san, are you doing well?" he asked.

Freedom in Qishan

Name: Terennea

Age: 21
Weapon: Nothing on her to begin with. Her preferred weapons are: bow and arrows, a strong spear, or war fans. She's also had some success with a chain whip with weights or a blade at the end but she's still mastering that.

Magic Type: She directs her wind-variety Rukh to attack/defend however she needs. She tries not to ever rely on her magic outside of battle. She is able to move faster, jump higher, arrest/break her fall or someone else's, slice with mere wind (a single stroke or several at once), and create an air shield.

Short Bio: Teren always wore her hair like this: media-cache-ec3.pinimg.com/550x/60/a5/.. in three buns on the back of her head, with bangs in the front. Now she wears it bundled up with a dirty cloth or loose about her shoulders. It's always unwashed, as is the rest of her. She is tan with blond hair and blue eyes. Teren is a slave now so she goes barefoot and raggedly dressed. She has many piercings on her left ear but all of her jewelry was taken away when she was enslaved, including her father's ring. She still has a tanline from where she always wore that.

Personality: Teren hasn't been a slave for very long. She isn't broken or sullied. She's merely been subjected to cruelty and hard work. She is thin and exhausted and injured in several places. She doesn't have time for much these days but she does think about her father. She wants to know, more than anything, who her dad was and where he came from. She knows his name and has memorized a description of his appearance. But she was six when he died and she has forgotten almost everything she knew for herself about him and where they'd been before, so there aren't many clues to go on.

Teren was raised in a rough society, a village in the desert at war with another over their water source. She learned how to work hard, how to survive extreme conditions, and how to fight there, for her own survival and the survival of those around her. Although the villagers didn't love her, she always wanted to repay them for not leaving her to die in the desert, and to hopefully solve the water issue somehow and end the war. But now the village doesn't exist anymore and that will never happen. So she is charitable and loyal but also a failure.

When it comes to killing people, she always really regrets it but she will always do it if she has to to survive. When it comes to other types of battles, she is willing to participate in them as long as the other person is too. She would never attack or battle someone who did not want to fight her and she could never deal anyone a killing blow that was not also willing to do the same to her.

Freedom in Qishan

This RP is for me and Sunflower

Mining Amusement

Perna exited the car and supervised her daughter as she climbed out, making sure she didn't take off in excitement.

"Will that be all, madam?"

"Yes, Harold. Return in two hours to pick us up."

"Oh, momma! That isn't long enough!"

"Yes, Mrs. Sugita."

As always, Perna stifled a sigh at her late husband's last name. She patted Devonnie's back, indicating she needed to calm down. Then she replied to her daughter.

"Darling, of course it is. The tour is only going to take half that time and afterward we'll still be able to do whatever we want for another hour," she explained as they entered.

"Oh yeah, the tour..." she murmured.

Perna looked around and then tugged her daughter forward.

"Look, here are some people waiting for it too."

Perna smiled slightly in acknowledgement of the strangers and then stood resolutely patient. Devonnie sighed and came along. She saw another kid and smiled at him. But he gave her a disdainful look and adjusted his glasses as his face turned away.

"Well, fine!" Devonnie huffed. She looked up at her mother. "Is the tour guide late?"

Perna glanced at her shiny watch and shook her head. A moment later she spotted him coming. He was the only one striding over with a purpose in his step. He was not a typical tour guide. He looked more like a wood cutter. But then again, considering where they were perhaps he had been a miner.

Lately she didn't notice so much, but it crossed her mind that he was attractive. It just didn't phase her emotionally.

Ah, he was a "lumberjack." Yes that's the word, not "woodcutter." She sniffed slightly at his speech, knowing she, for one, wasn't going to call him anything but his proper name.

"Lumber Jase!" exclaimed Devonnie.

Perna smirked in spite of herself. Devonnie liked the nickname at least.

Then he went on with his introduction.

"You cook FOOD in the hotsprings?" she spoke increduously and louder than she'd intended to. She immediately recognized her misstep. The mother of the disdainful boy, so cheerful a moment ago, frowned and turned to look at her. She looked her up and down and actually SCOWLED at her. Perna hadn't felt overdressed until that moment. Suddenly she was self-conscious. She knew she was already making herself unpopular here. Oh, wonderful.

"I mean," she smiled tentatively and turned to her daughter for rescue, "Doesn't that sound delightful, darling?"

Devonnie began to bounce in place. "Yes!" she burst out. She raised shining eyes to the tour guide and the watching crowd.

"Lumber Jase, what kind of food?" she asked curiously.

Perna overcome with relief, placed her hand on the back of Devonnie's hair and stroked it fondly once.

Then she lifted her eyes back to the guide.

Uchiha Reborn

Yura’s face was worried. She watched him collect his things and nearly fall out of his chair. It was a bit too tall for him. Maybe she should have the old style seating… no what was she thinking about? Did she just not want to face this? She stood up and followed him to the doorway of the kitchen and then toward the front door.

“Wait! Sasuke, wait!” she was still dropping the honorific.

But he didn’t. He probably wasn’t even hearing her. She stepped outside and then realized she needed shoes and that he hadn’t put on his back on. She quickly shoved hers on and snatched his up. She left and didn’t shut the door. She didn’t even lock the door. Seriously, if ever there was a place THAT would be pointless…

She followed him easily although she wondered if she should. She was certain there was nothing she could say that would help. She thought about things like hugging him but she didn’t know what would happen. And honestly… she wasn’t that comfortable with physical contact with anyone. She WOULD do it though, if she thought it would help. She didn’t know though. Ugh, more things she didn’t know!

But the way he was whimpering as he left. It struck her straight through the heart. There was no way she was letting him go like that. Somehow she’d gotten him thinking and feeling all over again and if she didn’t do something RIGHT NOW to help…

Her strides smoothed out and she caught up to him again, right in front of his house. She was still carrying his shoes but she dropped them and reached for him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Hopefully that wouldn’t scare him or something.

“Please, please wait. I want to help you. I came here to help you, Sasuke.” She chewed on her lip. “You’re all I have left.”

She sank to her knees, dropping her hand. “This was my clan too…” Tears came to her eyes then and she let them fall.

What was she doing? This was ridiculous. She was crying to a child, a broken one no less, begging him to be her friend? How had she been reduced to this? She shouldn’t be crying at all. She should get a grip on her life and make the best of it. She should cut her emotions off… forever even. Be a ninja and nothing more. She didn’t know how to save herself or Sasuke’s emotions. However she COULD safeguard their bodies. Feed, clothe, train, protect. Those were obvious and easy tasks. Some villages taught their ninja to live like that. Even certain factions here did as well. But to Yura that wasn’t the Will of Fire. That wasn’t the path of a Konoha Ninja. And she loved Konoha and what it stood for. So she didn’t take refuge in the philosophy of ruthless efficiency. She clung to an ideal instead. It gave her a little backbone back. She wiped at her eyes and took a heavy breath to steady herself, brushing her hair away from her face again too.

Uchiha Reborn

"Alright then," she replied with a nod. He hadn't specified a flavor so she would have to choose herself. Fortunately she had all the ingredients already. It would make a good picnic food so perhaps she could bring it for lunch on their first training day. She considered for a moment. She wanted to start training him as soon as possible but honestly what was the point of rushing? Everything she had to teach him would simply take time. She almost sighed at the thought. But at least once he got his Sharingan he would be able to copy her much faster.

She picked up her last sushi roll and ate it with slightly less pleasure than the rest. She really should've invested in a side dish, she decided. She washed it down with some more water and then pushed the plate away.

The pleasant smile on her face dissolved when she returned her gaze to Sasuke. Something had happened in those few moments since he answered her. What was going through his mind? Something she'd said? He was looking down, hands in his lap.

She blanched at his question. She'd intended to tell him all the circumstances as soon as it came up, but she hadn't realized the way it would LOOK to him until she did. And until now it didn't seem like it had occurred to him. Maybe she should have headed the question off... But she'd just been trying to tread carefully. She'd failed though because now he was in front of her, crying, and she didn't know what to do. Not at all. Her face constricted with pain.

"Sasuke," she gasped out, through the burning pain in her throat. "I'm sorry."
She would have seized his hands if they weren't out of her reach. Instead she tried to seize his eyes.
"I would have. I couldn't. The only reason I'm alive is because Itachi thought I was..." she quailed at the memories. Her friends. Her injuries. Waking up to discover what had happened. The ardous journey back... There was only one reason she'd even come back instead of hiding like a good little prey animal. "...harmless, I don't know. I was away on a mission for months before. And after...." her voice trailed off. The last two words seemed like part of the previous sentence but they were not. After the massacre... it was complicated. It was more than just the trip back.

Her eyes were nearly as haunted as his at the moment. She quickly looked away and sat back from him, withdrawing in on herself. She had her own baggage. It didn't quite compare to your own brother massacring your clan in front of your eyes though. She swallowed thickly.

Why was HE alive? She didn't know. It couldn't be sentiment. She didn't know if that was better or worse for him.

She shook her head, not looking at him anymore. "I don't know, I don't know!" her voice rose to a keening pitch at the end. "I wish I did," she whispered.

Return to the 9 Islands

Princess Jori hadn’t been allowed to bring any assistants of her own down and she was willing to put up with that in order to be allowed to come herself. But as long as her sister’s handmaiden was here, why not put her to use? The girl was half youkai but she’d served her sister well for many years. Jori would made due. She approached the dragon guarding her and waved Katsu forward.

“Come attend me,” she ordered.

Katsu appeared startled but quickly approached.

Jori waited a bare moment and then pivoted on her heel.

--

Prince Kuroaki kept an eye on his sister, smiling slightly when she reached her tent. She probably thought she would have it all to herself. Little did she know she’d be sharing it with himself. But then he frowned and approached general Tatsuo.

“I’m not sure I like all these pillars. They’re too easy to hide behind.”

Tatsuo glanced at him, then nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. Should we move, your highness?”

Kuroaki frowned pensively.

“Not if you don’t believe so, general.”

Tatsuo’s eyes began to twinkle. “We are hiding, yes, because we don’t want to announce to the whole world we’re back. Not because we’re in physical danger from whatever might find us. Let’s focus on the first part. As for the second, rely on our strength and training.”

Kuro still looked uneasy.

“It’s only for one afternoon. We’ll move under the cover of night.” He patted the young man’s shoulder.

Kuroaki nodded.

Then both men turned to examine Kaizou and the soldier with him. Kuro internally raised an eyebrow. He knew this Tanuki. He wouldn’t call him a ‘troublemaker’ exactly, but he knew him to be opinionated and angry at the dragons. Except perhaps for Shinrai, due to all her efforts? He was not one of the prisoners of war though and could have chosen to remain in the Sky Islands. Kuro was almost glad he hadn’t remained (since he might have become a troublemaker there) but seeing that he’d volunteered to come on this mission somehow made him uneasy. Had he come just to win his freedom, or for some other reason? He shook his head at himself. Shinrai would be ashamed at him for thinking the worst in people. So he forced himself to nod slightly in civil recognition to the Tanuki.

Tatsuo peered down at Kaizou. He was a large man, of course, well suited to his high position. “State your name,” he directed first. Then asked flatly, “Do you intend this expedition any harm?” watching keenly for a reaction. This time Kuro’s eyebrows did draw up in surprise.

-----

 

Miho finished putting up Jori and Kuro’s tent, then helped Katsu set up the interior. Jori herself, since she had less passengers, had been the one to carry most of this stuff. They set out two bedrolls, pillows, blankets, a trunk of clothing, a pack of clothing, and even a tea set. Katsu took care of that.

“I will go and make us some tea, princess.”  With a curtsy, Katsu left.

Miho lingered and eyed the Princess. Jori was examining herself in a small mirror. They both saw a young, pretty girl who was miserably overwhelmed. Miho slowly turned and knelt facing the entrance so she could guard it.

“It wasn’t your fault, Princess,” she murmured.

“I don’t need you to tell me that!” Jori hissed vehemently. She looked at the pain in her expression and then thrust the mirror away. She brought her knees up and hugged them. “I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Miho replied evenly.

A sigh, almost a laugh.

“Do you?”

Miho glanced over her shoulder and then back at the entrance.

“Yes,” she stated simply. Then she fixed her eyes outside the tent. Next to a pillar she could just see the back of Prince Kuro. She recognized his blue hair and tail.

“I want her back too,” she murmured.

Katsu returned just then with tea. Miho wondered if she’d stolen it from the store of water. Surely there hadn’t been time to get fresh water and heat it, but she didn’t say anything. Katsu knelt quickly by Jori and poured her a cup. She kept her face down but said, “We all do.”

Jori refrained from angrily snatching the cup. She took a deep breath, then a long sip to calm herself. She fiddled with the tea cup and nodded. But what she was thinking was ‘NOT AS MUCH AS ME.’

Uchiha Reborn

Yura smiled at Sasuke again when he came into the room. She said "itadakimasu" with him and then began eating. She saved the salmon for last, it was her favorite. The boys sullen attitude didn't change much, but she did see some slight interest in the food. She let him eat without bothering him, just happy to know he wasn't picky or starving himself. His sudden thank you was so surprising she actually flinched.

"Oh," she breathed. Her lips quirked. And then his did too! That was nice to see.

Yura ate another roll. Then she asked, "Do you have a favorite food? I'll make it for us next time."

She relaxed her chopsticks and took a sip of water, watching him over the rim but not intently.

Return to the 9 Islands

Flying down was easier than expected. But the pull of gravity was stronger than anyone had experienced in centuries. If not for their ability to fly and therefore slow their fall, it would have been a terrifying descent! Even so, it caused a little alarm.

General Tatsuo soothed them with a simple, Steady, soldiers.

That was the scary part. The HARD part was not dumping their passengers off their backs. It would have been cruel to fly normally, thus taking the passengers from rightside up to upside down and over again and again. So they adjusted to fly more like a snake moves, with their noses pointed slightly down and their bodies and tail streaming out behind/above them. It wasn't nearly as uncomfortable for the dragons as the riders but it felt abnormal. At least it allowed them to ferry every single prisoner-of-war off their islands, however. It was worth it.

One dragon carried only two passengers. One was a boar youkai named Buta. He was so dangerous he needed a dedicated guard's full attention. He smiled the whole way down, even after his dragon transporter threatened to let him drop to this death if he didn't behave.

On the way down they all saw what had become of their homeland. It was shattered into nine islands.

“YOU did this! Raising your islands broke the continent in pieces! he broke out in a growl, which turned into an outraged roar.

The dragon carrying him bucked, reminding him of his threat, and his guard put a hand on his shoulder and shoved him down. Buta struggled briefly, then subsided, but his grin was gone. He wasn't quite so happy to be going back now. He glared at the guard, then turned his back. His beady eyes absorbing the new reality.

“The great orb did this? commented Prince Kuroaki. It's no wonder they wanted it.

Princess Jori stared down, opening her eyes to the wind so she wouldn't cry. Mere references to the orb had her doing that these days. But silently she agreed with her brother.

General Tatsuo snorted. As if raising the islands wasn't enough of a feat? Mere rumors have always drawn theft attempts. He looked over at Jori. It was bound to be successful one day. And our guard was down.

Princess Jori eyed him and then softened her gaze gratefully.

Prince Kuroaki changed the subject. General, where should we land?

“Somewhere abandoned with good airal coverage. Somewhere where we can get our bearings without encountering the locals.

Kuroaki glanced down. There's nowhere like that, sir.

Tatsuo nodded his great head, whiskers whipping in the wind.

“So we go for closest coverage. Over there. The stone forest. He raised his voice. Land among the spires. And you youkai mask your auras and keep them masked at all times.

The army banked to the left and did as he said, keeping their eyes and senses open for anyone that might be watching. There did not seem to be, luckily. Coming down they startled a couple of birds into the air.

“Unload and secure our allies. Make camp and protect the perimeter." General Tatsuo followed his own directions even as he gave them. "_3 leave your partner. You get over here and assist the prince and princess.”

_3 waited for her partner to take charge of Buta and hurried over. The prince waved her toward his sister. Princess Jori was the smallest dragon here and thus only had five riders. She'd now created a corral from her body and was eying the penned in youkai threateningly. They were weaponless and had their auras suppressed as ordered, however, so they were unlikely to do anything. Jori relaxed and shrank into humanoid form so that _3 could assist her. She tossed her pink hair primly, avoiding _3's eyes.

General Tatsuo looked around. Great pillars of stone rose on every side of them, like giant graveyard stakes. The ground was uneven rock. The stone was dotted with vegetation wherever it had gained a foothold and could recieve water, even trees in some places. Coming in he'd seen a waterfall, but as they wanted to HIDE for the moment he hadn't gone straight for it. Once everything was settled here he might send some out to gather water but everyone saited themselves before leaving the islands so it would be a while until it became necessary. What was more important would be to send out scouts. So they could travel tonight, undercover. He let his eyes drift over the dragons and youkai, assessing the current state of things.

Uchiha Reborn

Sasuke stepped into the room. He was tense at first but after he took everything in he seemed to relax. Or more like deflate? Her smile faded and she turned her head to follow him as he shuffled in.

"That's alright. I'm glad you came," she said sincerely, to his back. Her eyes soft with compassion.

Then she shook her head slightly. Pitying him didn't do him any good. So she just went to the fridge, glancing at his workbook along the way. That stuff seemed a little advanced for him... but it wasn't like she knew what kids were being taught these days. But at least it looked like he was still interested in school, that was one worry she could put to rest now.

Yura opened the fridge, which must have reminded Sasuke what he was there for. She nodded as he shuffled away to find the restroom. Oddly mannerly, she thought. Yura removed the two sushi plates and set them down with the lotus bowl in between. She retrieved two sets of chopsticks, a bottle of soy sauce, and two fresh glasses. She quickly rinsed them in case they were dusty from long disuse. Then she filled them with fresh water. She wasn't actually a heavy drinker, she was done with sake for the night and technically she was on duty. Protecting this kid from now on was her job.

Inviting him to dinner wasn't part of her job though. She just... wanted to try to pull him out of himself for a little while, after she saw his state of mind. And she wanted to give him a chance to ask her questions... if he was so inclined. Hopefully he was. Eventually wouldn't he start wondering about her? Part of her was afraid he wouldn't.

Yura sat back down and looked out the window at the moon, aura turning melancholy, half listening to the soft shamisen music playing from her radio.