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Post by Danna on Dec 28, 2009 23:08:12 GMT -5
"The world is...complicated, I guess. Sometimes people suffer unjustly...and we simply have to make the best of it." He nodded slightly, regaining some degree of his typical seriousness back. Making the best of things...it seemed was all he had been doing since he could remember.
After climbing up a particularly steep mountain edge, he came to a stop. Shielding his eyes for a moment with his free hand from the slowly setting sun. Still a distance, but they were indeed closing in. It seemed they would arrive by sunset after all.
"We're nearly there, Taka-san. It should begin to cool down soon."
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 28, 2009 23:51:59 GMT -5
"Heh, how considerate." Takahiro grinned, looking off. The shadows were starting to shift as the sun sank lower, changing the sky's colors to vibrant reds and oranges. It seemed so quiet and peaceful out here now.... He could see how the boy could live out here with so little qualm.
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 2:40:38 GMT -5
Genji smiled, leading them along across what was left of their course, enjoying the quietness around them, and the cooled, fresh air that drifted in as the sun set, and as they climbed higher into the mountains. As the sky began to darken to a shade of purple, the gates of the village became visible, a few torches burning where some of the guards were posted. Obviously, they eyed the pair anxiously, but it didn't take long for one of them to recognize Genji.
One of them eased forward to meet them, calm, but still careful to watch them, particularly the older man.
"He's not an enemy. He saved me from some attackers out in the drylands." Genji explained, the Iwa guard nodding and motioning them to follow him inside.
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 15:37:04 GMT -5
Takahiro trailed after, now flicking out another cigarette. He hated the feel of other people's eyes on him; it was so very uncomfortable.
"So what? They takin' us directly to the Tsuchikage or somethin'?" He chuckled a bit somehow lighting his gicarette and taking a drag. "They must really like you, kid."
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 16:31:23 GMT -5
Genji shook his head a bit, glancing back at his traveling companion.
"Its not so much that. Like you said, they're on guard. He'll want to know what we know about the attackers. The Tsuchikage makes it a point to know every detail possible about a situation."
They followed the guards a distance into the village, leading up a rocky pathway to the Kage manor, where he spoke to the guards there for a moment before leading the pair inside. Once at the doorway of Kuma's office, the guard knocked shortly on the door, before opening it to let the pair inside. He explained shortly what had happened to the very large man who sat in the center of the room amongst various old rugs and pillows, deep in thought it seemed before they had even entered. He nodded, and the guard turned and left the room, shutting the door behind them.
"Hmm, young Genji. I am glad to see you are...well." The large man said with a soft smile, examining the boy closely before turning his eyes to the other man. A spark of recognition was there in his dark eyes, but he merely smiled, saying nothing of it.
"Please, sit." He said, waving his hands towards the rugs in front of him.
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 16:48:59 GMT -5
The man followed after the boy, squatting down and finishing up his cigarette and snuffing it out on the ball of his thumb before sitting back with a thankful sigh.
"Ahhh, that climb's a cruel mistress when you start gettin' up there in the years..." he muttered, settling back some more and getting comfortable. He had to admit, this was nicer than any other office he'd ever been in.
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 18:16:58 GMT -5
Kuma laughed lightly, his deep voice making it seem louder than it truly was. The man's sheer size and age made him seem even larger, as though he could take up the whole of the office if he stood. He rubbed his chin, nodding slowly as he gazed upon the two.
"Indeed it k-kan." He cleared his throat a bit, chuckling. "But it seems you have made it safely...No better guide than young Genji k-kould...be sought." He gave the youth a nod, to which Genji responded with a short smile.
"Tsuchikage-sama. We came to inform you of a pair of attackers we faced in the drylands. I hate to be of trouble but...it seemed as though they were out to capture me..." He frowned, crossing his arms in thought. "It could be because of...that." He added quietly, prompting a nod of quiet recognition by the much larger shinobi.
"I see..."
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 18:58:05 GMT -5
Taka looked between the two for a moment before letting his eyes wander off around the room. It'd probably be best to stay out of this anyway. Not only did he have no idea what they were talking about, but he was also the foreigner here, with a little history against this village nonetheless. Being quiet seemed the only wise thing to do at the moment.
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 19:05:46 GMT -5
The pair were silent a moment as Kuma seemed deep in thought, closing his eyes as he rubbed his chin carefully. Finally, he spoke again, settling his dark eyes upon the foreign man.
"I offer my deepest thanks for aiding young Genji...but we may need your assistance further, if it would not trouble you?" He frowned a bit, old wise eyes switching over to the young man for a moment before returning.
"How familiar are you with...the Bijuu of legend?" He asked, a sense of foreboding in his voice.
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 19:19:31 GMT -5
The man's eyes flashed for a moment, then slowly shifted back over the large man.
"....familiar enough, I s'pose." He finally replied after a moment of silent thought, eyes looking more tired as he spoke.
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 19:28:50 GMT -5
Genji shifted a bit, closing his eyes as he allowed the Kage to explain the situation. Until now, Kuma had been the only person he had discussed it with...
"They were used as weapons during the war...but had since returned to peace." He paused, leaning forward a bit, choosing his words carefully. "It was...recently. That their spirits returned to our realm...and found themselves new hosts." He gave a short nod to the young man as indication. "For now, we do not know why, but...if they truly sought the boy then...someone k-kould...be in search of their power yet again."
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 19:54:59 GMT -5
Taka nodded, listening with a troubled look. He should have expected something like this...
"....If that's the case, which it seems to be, it'd be best for the kid to stay here in the village..." He muttered, obviously still turning the whole situation over in his head. "The two who'd attacked him wouldn't be a problem against all the shinobi here. As long as the kid's okay, we can work in the meantime to figure out what exactly's going on..."
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 20:05:46 GMT -5
Kuma nodded slowly in agreement, but there still seemed something troubling in his voice. "So it would seem...however, their power should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately...we've received reports of attacks and...confrontations, in the other villages." He paused, reaching over and lifting up a small cup, something likely handmade by one of the locals. He took a sip before speaking again. "They are moving in full force..."
Genji frowned, troubled at the thought. He had no idea that such much had already happened...news of the outside world wasn't quick to reach his ears.
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Post by Jackstraw on Dec 29, 2009 20:29:10 GMT -5
He sighed heavily, closing his eyes with a grimace.
"Of course..." He reached up with one hand, massaging the bridge of his nose pensively. "....what are the other larger villages doing about this? If the bijuu have taken hosts again then we're right back where we were five years ago, the nation's leader must be doing something....?"
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Post by Danna on Dec 29, 2009 20:49:36 GMT -5
Kuma sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Unfortunately...most of not been found. Aside from a few rumors, it seems that this time...the Bijuu have not bound themselves to villages...but to wanderers and vagrants." He took another sip from his cup, eyes raised slightly in thought. "This group...seems to have a greater means of information than what the villages k-kan...muster. And with the largest villages in k-konflict...they have slipped by unnoticed."
Genji only listened, letting the elder men discuss, having no real knowledge or experience to bring as a suggestion. But a conflict? Were the rumors of war really becoming true. What bad luck to get dragged into. Had it really been only days ago that he had been hunting and living peacefully in the mountains?
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