Kunoichi's heart

With Yuii’s unexpected arrival as well as the extra guard for Kiyo; Ming had been given a lot of free time to work on her secondary field of interest. With little Yuii clutching renren in tow, her bag firmly strapped across her shoulder and a basket for herb collection Ming set out across the village of Konoha to study it’s plant life. Her mother had always said that fire country had one of the greatest variety of medical and poisonous herbs in the world and if she ever got the chance that Ming should gather some. It was strange she was still doing errands for a dead woman.

When she had spoken with the receptionist at the Inn, the young woman had recommended that they try the plants around the temple. Of course the temple’s care takers would have preserved the natural plant life as best they could and the monks would be able to explain to her any sort of plant she did not know. It was a brilliant idea, one Ming meant to take full advantage of.

‘And if they don’t like a foreigner looking about well they will just need to deal, wont they? ‘

As they approached the temple, Ming felt the peace of the building meant to house a god settle upon her. It was not her god, in fact a fire god should have felt sinister to her, but in the bright sunlight all she felt was warmth. Perhaps it was a sign she was getting weak. Yuii untangled her hand from Ming’s grip and ran on ahead, a bright smile to the little girls face. Whatever blood Yuii held, she did not have the freezing capabilities of the Haku so she would not feel uneasy here either.

“Nii, Nii look at this pretty flower. What kind of flower is it?” Yuii stood hunched over a group of pretty purple flowers with what looked like morning dew on their petals. Seeing her little sister so close to those made Ming pale,

“It’s a variety Kunoichi’s heart, touching it will make your skin burn, eating it will kill you. Did you touch it?“ Ming turned her little sisters hands over to check anyways and was relieved to see none of the early warning signs of  red markings on her pudgy little fingers. Yuii pulled a face at her like she was insulted not to be believed.

“No, Nii! Uwah but it smells so pretty!”

“It smells pretty to attract bugs; then it eats them. See, over there, watch.” Satisfied, Ming let go of Yuii’s hands and pointed her towards a fly who had been foolish enough to land on the flower’s petal. The dew turned out to be a natural adhesive as well as acidic and soon enough the fly stopped it’s struggling and acknowledged it’s fate.

“Ohh, poor buggy. Yuii will save you.” Yuii fetched a small stick and went to try and pry the fly from the dew. Of course Ming could have told her the bug was likely dead by now but that would have just upset Yuii.

Ming nodded and took Yuii’s distraction as an opportunity to pull out a square of red fabric from her pocket and use it to pick one of the deadly flowers. Unfortunately Yuii had not remained distracted and came back to watch wide eyed as her sister worked.

“Nii, Nii you said its poisonous! Why are you picking it!?” Oh course Yuii would be concerned, to her big sister only made helpful medicines and antidotes; not poison. She would let Yuii continue to believe that until she was older and wiser but then Ming had no intention of allowing Yuii to follow in her foot steps.

The young apothecary smiled at her younger sibling as she carefully folded the poisonous flower into the square of cloth. Little Yuii watched curiously as she tucked it away in a safe veil then placed a small coloured band around it to mark what sort of plant she had picked. Carefully she handed the veil to Yuii, who stared at it with wide-eyed child-like delight, ”Is it for Yuii?”"

“Yuii, take care of it,” Yuii turned, her eyes still bright, to smile at Ming and she nodded enthusiastically. Ming wasn’t sure about the dangers in giving such a dangerous poison to a small child but Yuii was an amazing kid and who knew. Perhaps she might make use of it or save herself from a bad situation.

“That flower, in small amounts makes pain go away for a short while. That is why we pick it, not to hurt but to heal.” That was the lesson she wished to instil in her little sister. Perhaps it was selfish of the young Kunoichi but she did not wish to see Yuii’s sharp intelligence and sweet demeanour turned towards the gruelling work of a ninja. Kiyo had promised her a pardon from testing and school so Kumo was a safe place to raise little Yuii to be a happy, normal young girl. But oh how she wished they could both live in that house by the sea with a true grandmother amongst them.

“Thank-you Nii! Yuii will go and find more flowers!” and off she dashed before Ming could protest. At very least it would keep the child distracted while Ming worked. With her thick stockings on to protect her legs and the common sense Ming had all but beaten into her; Yuii would be safe enough to let loose for a short while.

‘Strange that Konoha would allow such a dangerous plant to grow here. Perhaps the are having a rabbit problem? I know Kaa-san always planted it to protect her land herb gardens.’

The young woman set is aside in her mind, moving on to a variety of tree bark she did not recognize but looked like one in mist known to cure a cough.


"It seems you are rather skilled in the art of herbalism, hm?  Sounds like someone I knew a long time ago back in my home country," the woman stated before coming into view of Ming Yue.  Indeed, she recognized this woman and the grief did it cause Ren.  The grief was unbearable to the point of self-destruction.

"Once upon a time, there was a rabbit.  This rabbit was lost and insecure and had many worries on her mind.  So in order to remove the worries off her mind, the rabbit took a bath in warm water.  It was there, she had met a wolf.  The wolf wasn't hungry at the time he met the rabbit, so he did not bare his fangs at the rabbit, but out of reaction, the rabbit bit the wolf right on the face," the woman said as she started to tell a story as she started to walk through the garden.

The beautiful flora was visually stimulating and almost made the woman wish to touch, if not smell the beautiful scent of the flowers.  Each step made by the woman caused some of the vegetation to freeze on contact, leaving nothing to frozen discs in her wake.

"The wolf didn't bare his fangs even after the rabbit bit him in the face.  Except, the wolf opened his arms to the little lost rabbit and invited her to stay in his den.  Afraid and confused, the little lost rabbit nodded her head yes and followed the wolf to his den where she was welcomed with open arms.  This rabbit had a knack for collecting things, so she did even in the den of the wolf, she gathered and continued to gather.

Until one night, the wolf was asleep and a scary dog who did bare his teeth arrived at his home and killed the little black sparrow and threatened to eat the little lost rabbit.  However, the wolf jumped in the way and protected the rabbit.  Why did the wolf protect the rabbit?  We don't know exactly, but it worked to scare away the scary dog who bared it's fangs at the wolf and the rabbit, taking the sparrow with him."

The woman said as she slowly approached Ming Yue.  "Did this scare the little lost rabbit?  Did the fact that her life was in jeopardy scare the little lost rabbit into being able to once again sing?  Nobody knows but the rabbit, herself.  Though the departure of the little lost rabbit had broken the heart of the wolf.  Now the wolf was lonely and his heart was torn to pieces.  A once full den was now his own.  After being the lead of the pack, he soon became the leader of all wolves.  The End," the woman said before coming within arm's reach of Ming Yue.

"Sad story, don't you think?  It's a story of someone I knew very well back home," the woman stated before extending her arm out to Ming Yue.

"My name is Yukie Nanba, you may call me Tsukiyomi."

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Yuii
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Last post on: September 8th, 2011
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PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 12:20 am 	Reply with quoteBack to top
Ming had peeled away a small section of the bark and set it into cloths as well She was careful not to take large strips, that might harm the tree, but the were still large enough to give proper doses. Of course Ming would need to look into her texts before feeding it to anyone, and at worse she would text it on herself in increasing doses until she was sure.

The hair's on Ming's neck suddenly stood on end and at that moment a woman's voice cut through the foliage behind where she knelt. The woman matched the beautiful voice and Ming was momentarily entranced. She had the strength and features of a strong woman, something Ming had fought towards but had never been able to grasp. She opened her moth to ask her if she needed help with something but was cut off by the beginning of a story.

At first the story seemed like threat but soon it weaved into something entirely too familiar. Wasn't that her and Renzo, hadn't she put an ice needle through his cheek? But Renzo was dead, how could she know this story? The sweet maid, so in love with her master had died....only his cousin could know this story and even then...

She could remember his home and the guest room he had lent to her. She remembered sneaking out late one night and returning days later having not slept at all. She remembered braving her curse to speak with Renzo and sharing with him the fate of her mother and the betrayal of her brother. She had liked the way he felt but then everything had gone so wrong.

The maid was killed first, she hadn't liked Ming much and had been so obviously in love with her master. Ming hadn't wanted her to die, she had tried so hard to make her live again. The pretty Kimono Renzo had given her was covered in blood; ruined.

Then he was stabbed too and there had been so much blood. Ming would have stayed, would have tried to help and yet... she had blacked out as had happened so often then and when she awoke she was already outside the village. The bloody Kimono was gone and her heart told her she had left him for dead, that she needed to push forward and find her mother. Mother was most important, she couldn't help Renzo.

But something of the end of her story didn't click with the way this woman told it. While she had been afraid it was Renzo's cousin who had relayed it to her, instead it claimed Ren had become the leader of all wolves. he had been a sennin when she met him but that could only mean...

"Renzo lived?" her green eyes filled with tears that began to run down her lightly tanned cheeks unchecked. A sob wracked through Ming's body and she curled in on herself on the ground, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." She pressed the back of her sleeve to her eyes in attempt to stop the torrent of tears. She had never imagined, even at the core of her heart, that he might have lived. So strong had been the belief that he was dead. No it seemed foolish, how could such a strong man have died.

And behind a bush Yuii crouched watching and listening with her Renren hugged close against her body and a bunch of flowers clutched carefully in the sleeve of her dress.. She didn’t understand why her Nii would be crying like that, Nii never cried, but it frightened her. Odder still was the fact the Nii had told her that same story but the wolf had died in the end and the rabbit had been taken away from him. She also failed to say that the rabbit had been afraid of a bear who had eaten her mother. Caught up in the frustration of a little girl who knew the story better, Yuii burst forth and started to yell.

“You’re telling it wrong! Nii she is telling it wrong! Usagi-san loved Ookami-kun the most but the bad ghost took her away before she could save him! Usagi-san wasn’t bad, stop making her bad! Usagi-san went in search for the bear who ate her mother but she was so lonely, you don’t know any of the stories right!” Yuii barrelled into Ming and glared at Tsukiyomi, her face puffy and red with anger, “Nii, don’t cry. It’s her fault for not knowing the story right!”


A look of disgust was written across the woman's face as her left hand was placed just above her hip-bone.  She watched the tears fall from Ming's face, not very convinced with the display.  ~Crocodile Tears~ the woman thought to herself before an imp jumped into the scene.  Her look of disgust turned to a grimacing fear.

"Kappa?"  the woman muttered out for a moment before taking a step back.  These creatures were well known for kidnapping at eating children.  What was the way to combat these fiends?  Ah, yes!  The woman straightened up and cleared her throat.  In a calm and polite manner, the woman bowed to Yuii.  Hopefully the kappa would return the bow, dump the water from atop it's head and wither up and die.

After taking a delay from returning from her bow, the woman turned her attention back at Ming, now that the Kappa has been done away with.  What's worse is that the kappa could talk.  And why did the kappa know about Ren?  Weird.

"And even after becoming the Leader of all the wolves, the Wolf was still sad and lonely.  Even when an old flame made herself apparent, she did the same thing the rabbit did years ago.  Several years later, 2 hawks from the clouds descended from the heavens bearing a wolf in it's talons.  The two hawks from the Clouds and the Wolf fought until the Golden Eyed Serpent rescued the Wolf.  However, the Wolf was dying.

The Golden-Eyed Serpent took care of the Wolf, though it wasn't enough.  The Wolf looked deep within him and made a deal with the devil for his life to be restored.  Shattering the Chains of Fate, the Wolf let the demon free at the price of his soul.  He had a new family member to take care of; a wolf pup with blood red eyes.

Filling his den once again, he and the puppy bearing red eyes, he once again lived happily.  Finding out about the demon that the Wolf had unleashed, the Puppy with Blood Red eyes tried to help her new brother by removing the demon that poisoned the Wolf's soul, not knowing that cleansing the poison would mean killing the Wolf.  One night, on a new moon, she had come.  The Puppy with Blood Red Eyes had come to cure the Wolf of his poison.

After hearing about this, the Wolf became," the woman said before her voice trailed off for a brief moment.  It was as if saying the name she was going to say inflicted harm upon her emotionally.  Her lips quivered for a moment and they opened several times, mouthing the name without a sound escaping her lips.

"Fenrir.  He had become a demon who's felt the same sadness and loneliness as he had for nearly 900 years now.  It was that black wolf with green eyes that had slain the puppy with Red Eyes.  Not being able to stop this from happening, the Wolf's mind was broken.  It wasn't he who had been betrayed this time.  No...  He was the one that witnessed the death of his own sister.

His mind rotted and trust for other animals had decayed and he climbed into a small cave to hide himself from the world.  That was where I found this wolf and took him in and brought him here to Konoha to keep him safe until his mind and his heart are repaired."  the woman continued, finishing the story completely up until the present time.

"Yes, he is still alive.  His mind is in turmoil and his heart is in pain.  Not even your crocodile tears will cure those wounds.  If anything, you are to blame for his misfortune and misery.  Even after seeing his family die in front of his eyes, it was you who had healed his heart so that he would live to become a normal person.  You abandoning him has caused detrimental pain not only to him, but to the entire village of Kirigakure," the woman said before turning her back to Ming and looked up to the sky.

"If your death would set his heart free, I would gladly kill you.  But your death will not change a thing.  He has already stained his hands with the blood of two of his shinobi.  One who he considered his sister and both were out of his physical control.  He would be saddened if his hands were stained with the blood of someone who used to be a shinobi of Mist.  That is the only reason he would mourn for your death."

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Ming Yue


Yuii stared at Tsukiyomi as if the adult had gone mad. Her round little cheeks went red with anger and yet she was compelled to bow back. If nothing it proved the evil woman who would make up stories and make her Nii cry as wrong. “Yuii is not a Kappa! Yuii is a little girl! Nii she must be making up stories, Usagi-san would never have left Renren if he was still alive!” she yelled in child-like rage while swinging Renren furiously at the strange woman’s leg. The stuffed animal wouldn’t do any harm of course, it was exactly as it looked.

“Yuii, Ookami-san lived, this lady knows the real Renren,” Ming spoke while pushing herself up. Her sea green eyes fell to the stuffed animal Yuii held protectively in her arms and fondly she touched the wolf lovingly dubbed Renren’s head. The tears still flowed at a steady pace down her face and she wiped at them absently as she dealt with her little sister. “Isn’t the story happier if Renren is alive, Yuii?”

Yuii pressed her lips together and turned to stare at the white haired woman expectantly. She didn’t want to see her big sister crying like this, why would her big sister cry over a story. Ming had told her that Ookami-san was Renren a long time ago but she’d never given Usagi-san a second name. Her child’s mind mulled over this as Tsukiyomi continued her story. It all became very disturbing for little Yuii.

“Fenrir,” Ming repeated, a deep from forming on her face. She didn’t remember the name but something about it troubled her heart. Her tears quickened at the thought of Renzo trapped in his own body unable to stop the death of his own sister even as he was forced to watch it. She placed Yuii in that scene and suddenly the very idea was unbearable. How could he not have retreated after that with no one there to help him, she would have done the same. An entire village be damned, she would want only to die if Yuii were ever taken from her.

“Nii-chan… is Usagi-san,” Yuii’s eyebrows furrowed and her bottom lip pushed out as she continued to think hard, “Nii-chan comes from… far away and Nii-chan…loves Renre- Renzo the most. Usagi-san thinks of Ookami-san always, so Nii-chan…” Yuii’s eyes widened and her mouth parted slightly as bits and pieces of her bedtime stories and her life snapped together. At the tender age of five her view of her strong sister and the soft Usagi were being shattered and pieced together until she couldn’t make heads or tails of it. What could it all mean.

Ming could sense the confusion in her little sister and quickly tugged her into a tight embrace, “Hush little Nee, Big sister will explain later.” She smoothed Yuii’s hair back and pressed a kiss to the child’s forehead even as her mind sorted through and translated Tsukiyomi’s cryptic story. She guessed it was Kumo nins that attacked, please not on Kiyo’s orders, and they hurt Renzo badly. If not them then anyone, the important part was that he had been hurt. One of his men must have saved him but there must have been a poison used to hurt him… or something else. If it was a poison then that was just another failure she could set against herself however talk of a sacrificed life being the way to save him…. Made her wonder. Still her mind focused the most on the death of the child.

“If my death would repay my debt to Renzo and to Kirigakure I would gladly give it. My life is worth so much more… and I know I cannot be forgiven but I wish to honour my debts. Please Tsukiyomi, where have you taken Renzo? I must thank him and apologize to him for all that had happened.” Ming bowed her head, soft strands of blue-brown hair sticking to her tear streaked cheeks. She would have laid on to the ground and begged if not for the child curled comfortably into her arms. ”Please, I cannot fix the past but I want to try and atone for what I’ve done.” Yuii shuddered and Ming pressed another kiss to her forehead even as she brushed away a new set of tears on her face that would not stop falling.


"Don't find yourself cocky that the blood of one would satisfy his loneliness that you have apparently created," the woman said before turning her back towards Ming for a few moments before looking down at the agriculture underneath her feet.  The area where her feet were firmly planted frosted over in deadly ice.  Why has all the emotional pain that came with this man find her in Konoha?  "No amount of pain will make his pain go away.  You don't breed comfort with even more anguish.  You of all people should know this."

"It's a shame really, I'm certain hearing your voice would make him happy.  That was one thing he wanted from you.  Wasn't a selfish request.  He just wanted to hear your voice.  But it seems that he wasn't enough to cure your heart.  This will only break his heart further," the woman said before turning her head slowly back towards Ming Yue before rain drops began to fall upon her pearly white flesh.

The woman turned her head up to the sky and held her palm up to feel the cool drops of rain pat her skin.  "Ren is somewhere that only I can access him.  He's right here," the woman said before placing both of her hands over her chest.  It is true though, being one of Ren's 'personalities' one can say, it would be proper to say that she is carrying him in her heart.

"In all the hundreds of years I've been alive, every person that was my host suffered the same pitiful fate as that man.  He loved you dearly and you just abandon him.  It truly is a pitiful site.  You were the first person outside of his family to make him cry, I hope you understand that," the woman said before turning her eyes to the little imp and stares at her for a brief moment.

"What exactly is that?"  the woman asked, looking to Ming and pointing a finger at the girl holding the doll.

_
"You misunderstand, I mean to dedicate my life to repaying him. Ending it quickly or causing myself pain... of course that wouldn't do anyone any good. Hirikiri is the easy cowards way out of debt." Ming turned her eyes down towards the frost ruined plants regretfully, the poor flowers. Deadly as they were she hadn’t wished them ill, they were only trying to survive.

“He knew my ability to speak had nothing to do with my heart, the flower seal was impossible to break by anyone but it’s caster or that same person’s death,” And so had Ming awoken suddenly one day with no memory of where she was or had been in weeks. She had fallen asleep and the spirit, whatever it was, had taken her body for a joy ride. When she went to sit up, she groaned and with that single noise an entire piece of her world opened up. Then infant Yuii had begun to cry. “I gave him as much of my voice as I could, now it is no prize.”

“Nii-chan…” Yuii went wide eyed and stared between Tsukiyomi and Mingyue, “Nii…you made Ookami-san cry?”

Ming covered her little sister from the rain with her jacket, leaving herself to be soaked with rain. Rain felt like a mothers embrace, where some might have found it to be a bad omen it only made Ming more determined, ” You continue to misunderstand my motives! I was not to blame for leaving, Tsukiyomi. I was… going to leave… eventually yes but only when it was safe. My mother was still taken and it was dangerous for me to stay but how could I have ever allowed myself to leave him in such a state? “, it was her one guilt on all this, she would have left either way eventually so how could she hide behind false memories and possession when it might have turned out the same way. “Yuii, Nii didn’t want to make him cry, I promise. Nii liked- likes Renren very much. Do you believe Nii?”

Yuii nodded, the hood of Ming’s jacket bobbing up and down on her head. Ming tugged it back in place and brushed off a few stray droplets from Yuii’s brow, “Nii would never leave Yuii and she says she loves Yuii. If Usagi is Nii and Usagi loved Renren then she wouldn’t leave him either.”

And then Tsukiyomi caught Yuii‘s attention with a question she would love to answer, though she was cautious with her answer. "He.. is Renren," Yuii spoke gently, pressing her face into the plush back of the wolf stuffed animal. After a moment of hesitation Yuii held Renren forward for the strange woman to look at though she still clutched at him hard. Looking at him close, he was well travel worn with several small, delicate patched sewn onto his underside and legs. One of the eyes looked newer then the other and Ming had only just refilled his stuffing the week before she left for Konoha so his tail was still stiff and his belly round. Slowly Yuii brought him back to rest against her chest and she stared wide eyed at Tsukiyomi as she admitted what was already apparent, “Renren is Yuii’s favourite, he protects her from real Kappa and other bad spirits.”


The silver maiden noticed the girl misunderstood her.  Tsukiyomi originally asked the question in reference to the girl, not the doll.  But either way, it worked out fine.  The woman sat on her heels and placed her hands upon her knees.  A big bright smile was placed upon the woman's face as one would to entertain children.  She had children, once upon a time.  That is how the Hasegawa Clan started.  She was a Haku with the heart of ice, Nobuyuki was the Uchiha, who melted her heart of ice creating a gentle flow of water.

"At least your stuffed Renren successfully protected someone right?  You being alive is good enough to know that even his name is as good as the strongest talisman.  Keep a firm hold of him, even when you get older, okay?" the woman stated in a rather sweet and delicate voice.

"It's nice to know that he has protected you and your sister, right?  The only two he had successfully protected," spoke the woman once more before standing up to look towards Ming Yue for a brief moment.

"Ren will be getting himself into something dangerous when he decides to awaken from his slumber and my find himself on the verge of death," the woman said before turning to look towards Yuii for a brief moment once more before looking towards Ming.

"The only thing that'll snap the boy out of a slumber is finding a reason to leave his eternal sleep.  There is nobody left in this world for him to protect.  You have someone you wish to protect.  Forget about that cursed boy.  It would be best for both of you to forget one another.  If he were to know you were still alive, it would only harm him further," the woman said before a lone tear streaked down her face.  She didn't realize it at first until it grew cold upon her cheek.

Her left hand went up to her cheek and felt the warmth and stinging in both of her eyes.  It wasn't of her own doing.  A baffled look crossed the woman's face.  Why were tears streaming down her face when they weren't even hers?


"She's my little sister," Ming offered quietly, her hand resting on Yuii's hooded head. Her face softened when she looked down at the child and it was plain to see the little girl meant everything to Ming, "She is more likely a niece, but I prefer sister, neh Yuii?" She wondered how much Tsukiyomi knew of Ming's relationship with her brother, her mothers kidnapping or anything along those lines. It would be impossible for Yuii to be Ming's real sister and child was even more likely to be her own daughter considering Ming's age. Her eyes softened when they looked at Yuii and she wasn’t surprised by the gentle way Tsukiyomi dealt with her little sister. Yuii was too sweet, her little hot water spring knew how to melt the iciest heart.

‘Renren is the best,” Yuii added, not entirely understanding the cryptic way Tsukiyomi talked. This didn’t seem like stories anymore, just sad things that her Nii wouldn’t like to hear. The rain was cold, she sneezed and wiped her nose one her sleeve then looked up to see tears on Tsukiyomi’s cheeks.

"Baa-chan, are you okay?" Yuii stepped forward, her eyes wide as she stared at the tears on Tsukiyomi's face. Yuii didn't like it was others cried, ninjas weren't supposed to ever or so Oba told her. If you cried when you didn't mean to then that was just a show of weakness. Her Nii-chan wasn't a real ninja anymore, she was allowed to cry but the white haired lady just wasn't supposed to; specially if she protected the real Renren.

Ming frowned gently and stepped forward towards Tsukiyomi. Cautiously she caught up the elder woman’s hands in her own and the little Haku smiled at her, “I understand you’re trying to protect him, Tsukiyomi-chan, but could it be you’re scaring away his chance at love too?” her voice was all gentle concern and warmth even while her face stayed the calm, controlled mask Ming always wore. The cornered of her mouth did twitch upwards though as she thought things through.

She could leave him, after being told Renzo would get himself into danger, or Ming could follow Tsukiyomi back to what was still in her heart known as home. She could be brave, stand her ground and insist she stay with Tsukiyomi who was Renzo until she proved herself as worthy again. Or she could leave Renzo to find her when he was ready and hope until the end of her live that he would come for her; not likely considering Tsukiyomi’s opinion of her. No, she would follow, but best not to let Tsukiyomi know that.

“I’ll go, if that is what you believe is best for him but please make sure he gets this,” Ming leaned forward and brushed her lips against Tsukiyomi’s, the kiss quick and fleeting as to not draw out what she assumed would be uncomfortable for the other woman., “and…knows that somewhere Yuii and I will always love him very much. I will wait to come home but I will always hope.” Her face lit up in a blush then and Ming pulled away to cover her face with her hands.

“Mou, it’s embarrassing to talk like that, how do people do it!”

Her hand was taken and the woman stepped back for a moment, using her other hand to reach for her blade.  Before she knew it, Ming Yue's lips brushed against hers.  It was a present for him?  After the 'kiss' the woman ripped her hand back from Ming Yue only to place that hand upon the side of her head.  It felt as if the world's pressure was pounding against her skull.  Sweat began to bead upon the woman's forehead, feeling a terrible pain between her ears.

"Do what you want, it doesn't mean that Ren will re-invite you into his life.  Who's to say that you would give up your current obligations to be with him?  Such thinking is only idealism and not reality," the woman said once more before taking a step back.  The pain in her head continued to develop into something akin to a migraine.

"He's been betrayed all his life.  What thinks you will be any different?  If he finds out you are alive, you will be marked as a traitor of Kirigakure.  And people have grown aware of the existence of Fenrir," the woman said, picturing Kuromaru in her head.  How did he exactly find out about Fenrir?  "He will most likely return home to blades against his throat.  Are you willing to return to that?  If the fear of thinking him dead terrified you, watching him die would be mortifying then."

Ming stumbled back, catching herself on her heels. Still blushing her hugged her upper body and peered through her lashes at Tsukiyomi. Her embarassment deepened

“You’re not him,” she spoke in gentle realization, her tongue snaking out to lick her upper lip quickly. There was nothing about kissing another woman that bothered Ming, sometimes seducing another woman was necessary in her past line of work and her training had been through but there was nothing of the safety she had felt around Renzo. This woman wasn’t water, she was ice like Ming, “I had hoped a little that it was a trick” she sighed softly and settled back on her heels, not really wanting to look Tsukiyomi in the eye.

“My employer is a kind, worldly, old fox; I would be sad to part with her but we would surely meet again. I would be pleased to leave her safety,” she stared at her feet as she spoke, her voice still coming out clear enough to be heard. Because Ming was uncomfortable her fingers twitched against her arm as if they wanted to speak for her; life had been easier when she spoke with her body. “You’re probably right though, how could he like me anymore? I‘m not the same girl.”

“I would step in the way of those blades and protect him. Renzo is not Fenrir, Fenrir is not Renzo and Ren shouldn’t have to die for another’s sins,” she didn’t bother pointing out the similarities between Ming’s being forced to leave through simple possession and  how she was being blamed for it. Of course she could have gone back but would anyone have believed her; specially when she thought Renzo was dead. “Tsukiyomi-san,are you alright? You don’t look well.”

Yuii curled up against Ming’s side and she Ming placed a gentle hand on her little sister’s head. The child was shaking and Ming wished she could rush her out of the rain and dry her off. A child shouldn’t be submitted to such a such adult things, her Yuii should be kept sweet and innocent.

"Nii-chan, you're hurting her."

The woman looked to Ming Yue for a moment before once again, feel a stabbing feeling at her skull.  "Of course I'm not him.  We are two separate souls.  You really don't think I'm him under henge, do you?"  the woman said with a weak chuckle.  Another pounding, stabbing pain was felt within the mid-brain causing the woman to stumble a little bit.  ~Why?  Did that kiss really do something to knock Ren loose?  Did it stir him from his sleep?  What the hell is going on?~

"You are willing to risk your own life, huh?  That's reassuring," the woman said before a cold wind blew in.  A blue emblem started to glow upon her forehead and a familiar presence was felt.

"It's been a long time, I haven't seen either of you in many, many years," a man mysteriously said.  The voice sounded as if it came from the sky until a man dropped from the heavens and landed between Tsukiyomi and Ming Yue.

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Amaterasu Hiryu
The Last Remaining of the Amaterasu Clan


"It's also been many years since I've been back here, in Konoha.  You know, being banished from this forsaken country isn't all that bad," the man said after he recovered from his fall from the sky and stood upon his own two feet.

The man removed the black visor from over his face to show off his white eyes, now with a strange multi-colored glow surrounding them.  The trim was of a prismatic nature.  The sufficient cloud cover due to the storm made the man capable of removing his visor.  Otherwise, due to the Sun-Goddess' curse, his clan could not see anything in the light of the sun.  The irony of the Hyuuga Clan refuse.

"Cursed one, Hasegawa Ren.  You certainly do look much different.  No, you're Tsukiyomi right now, aren't you?  It's a pity that you hid within yourself and relied on your guardian to take command," the man said causing Tsukiyomi to go on the defensive.

"Amaterasu Hiryuu," the woman said as she went to her side for the weapon that rested upon her hips and slowly circled around to put herself in between this devil and Ming Yue.  "Keep Yuii well guarded.  This is the man responsible for the death of the Hasegawa Clan and the kidnapping of his little brother to be used as the 'Destiny Key'.

And there was danger.

Since the conference, Tatsuya had relaxed a little, not trailing Tsukiyomi everywhere she went as he had before. There was little reason to think anyone would go after her after the summit was over. Everything was already set.

Of course, that didn't hold true if the person had nothing to do with the meeting.

Who's that girl she's with? Doesn't matter. Tsukiyomi doesn't look good. Is Ren...

He stiffened when a man dropped out of nowhere, scowling. His gloved hand twitched toward his weapons, but he had to get Tsukiyomi's attention first. If she needed his help, he couldn't be off somewhere else or distracted. He wouldn't fail as a bodyguard again, not with someone potentially dangerous around.

He edged closer, trying to get between the man and Tsukiyomi and her companion. Better he take any sudden strikes, since he had a shield to block with. Especially if he was as dangerous as she was saying.

I have no enemies in Leaf. I didn't know he did.

He slid his shield into one hand as subtly as he could manage, trying to stay in the one degree blind spot for the man, but not really hoping he had much luck in that. His gaze snapped to Tsukiyomi, trying to catch her attention, as if to say 'use me!'

Ming he ignored for now. He had no idea of who she was and as of yet, no reason to care. But the presence of a child...that changed things, a little. No blows would go near them.

“I’m sorry Tsukiyomi; I didn’t mean to make you ill. I can go and fetch a mednin if you like.” Ming spoke softly under Yuii’s accusation. Of course she could have offered her own medical abilities but Ming felt unconfident in her abilities when it meant she might harm Renzo. That was the very last thing Ming ever wanted to do… again.

The stirring of cold air felt natural to the little Haku yet the glowing symbol that lit up upon Tsukiyomi’s forehead made her setback surprise. Ming was no expert in seals or curses, she could hardly have told the difference between the two. Yuii Curled around her leg but stared with wonder as if she were seeing a magic trick.

Then he arrived.

Neither Ming nor Yuii had been aware of another mans approach and Ming took a startled step back when he landed. Such a leap was beyond her imagination but it brought back a sharp memory of Joji’s free fall from the gates of Kumogakure. The feat had frightened her as it did now which was in a way likely to be what he was after. If this man should have the power to threaten Tsukiyomi who appointed herself the protector of a Kage then this vizier man must also be amongst those with godly powers. Even his name elevated him to notice, Why should a man have a goddess’ name.

However, Ming had Yuii up and curled protectively in her arms on reflex long before the other woman called for her to do so. Yuii shivered and curled close, her blue eyes wide as they looked at the stranger that had come from no where. At first, she wasn’t afraid because her Nii was often tense around any strange man but it took only one look at the other lady to know that this was a bad man. Tsukiyomi had only killed some flowers and told a sad story but if she was afraid of him then he must be bad.

Silently the pair studied the man even has Ming took the first steps backwards away from him. This man was rather unimpressive for what she could see of him. His face was average, his hair a spiked red//brown and Ming could not have hoped to see his eyes. She disliked a man who hid his eyes for it meant he had something to hide.

And Tsukiyomi’s mention of kidnapping only sent a shiver down Ming’s spine and she pulled Yuii closer still. She would never allow anyone to take her little sister away, Yuii was the only constant joy left in Ming’s life and any harm that came to her was harm to the Kunoichi.

“Yuii, hold Nii’s neck. Tsukiyomi I cannot leave you either,” Ming answered in a determined voice. With Yuii holding her weight it left Ming with one hand free. Single handed seals were a great talent amongst her clan and Ming would not hesitate to attack should this threat move closer. she only wished she had not used the crystal Kiyo had given her days before. The help of either the Raikage or her guard would have been welcome now.

As for what this man meant by ‘either of you’ Ming could only guess he meant Tsukiyomi and Renzo because she had never met him before.

And without a warning, the man was quickly seen directly in front of Tsukiyomi with blood running down his right hand.  The man's hand bore a strange looking blade with the tip of the blade striking Tsukiyomi straight through the left eye.  Blood slowly trickled down the strange looking dagger before quickly yanking the blade out.  It was as if the blade sliced into Tsukiyomi's eye without any resistance.  Like a hot knife through butter.  There was no pain.

Not knowing how to handle this, Tsukiyomi simply took a step back and took a knee upon the ground letting the blood drip from her left eye.  The woman was in shock to realize what had happened and simply out of realization, the woman grasped at her left eye and shouted in pain, falling down upon her face to the ground, kicking her feet to smack the tips of her toes to the ground and her heels to her rear.

Slowly, the man stepped back and took a few steps to the left.  Though, he could easily see Tatsuya at the position he was standing due to bearing white eyes.  Several strange flows of chakra was sensed.  This one, he never recognized.

"Now, Hasegawa Ren, before you turn back, I have something I'd like to tell you.  Your brother and sister have grown up very strong," the man said causing Tsukiyomi's heart to beat at a faster pace.  She had stopped from her reeling of pain in shock of what she just heard.  It was Ren's best belief that the two were kidnapped only to be killed by Hiryu.

The woman then began to throw a fit while still upon the ground.  "You bastard!  I'll kill you!  You two have brought back The Lovers!  Don't you know what that means?  You have doomed the Hasegawa Clan and possibly even the entire village of Kirigakure!  You sick bastard!"  the woman said, slowly scraping herself off of the ground, holding her bloodied eye in her left hand as the warm red liquid streamed down her knuckles.

"They've been around for a long while now.  You as the head of the Hasegawa Clan should know that.  But I suppose since you're only his guardian, you wouldn't know that or would you?"  Hiryu said for a moment before placing the blood-splattered visor back upon his face.

"Before this strange power behind me attacks me, I think I'll leave you with a parting gift.  Enjoy being Odin, you cursed dog!"  the man said laughing slightly before holding his hand up and quickly vanishing.

The bleeding in the eye seemed to have stopped for a moment and an enormous pain welled up within Tsukiyomi, causing her to fall back on the ground.  The woman placed her forehead and her knees upon the ground firmly and held the sides of her head.  Intense pain was felt by the woman as her hair started to transition from long and silvery to a long golden blond.

"Ming Yue.  I apologize for not being direct with you, but what that man said was true," Tsukiyomi commented.  ~Hiryu is forcing Ren's return to this realm.  He isn't emotionally ready to return yet.  This is going to turn out bad.~

"Ren!" Thought that Tsukiyomi was a different person entirely was driven entirely out of his mind. The idea that he shouldn't be yelling or causing a scene around people fled him entirely. His shield clattered to the ground as he moved with a speed he wasn't entirely aware of, dropping to Tsukiyomi's side.

Warm orange chakra spilled out from his palm, not knowing what else to do but attempt to heal the eye, but then the bleeding seemed to stop. This didn't look like something normal. Was it another part of the curse?

All disbelief in curses was gone from the events of the past few months. He could do nothing but believe.

At some point between dropping his shield and falling to her side he'd forgotten Ming and Yuii were there, and so neglected to grab his visor back when it had fallen off. Truthfully he'd stumbled over his own feet on the way down, but either way the result was the same, and dual colored gold and grey eyes were visibly wide in panic and worry. Vines sprouted from beneath white gloves, blood dripping out from where they tore out onto the warm earth. The plants twined their way around the changing Tsukiyomi's arms, as at once, subconsciously, he was aware of what she'd told him by the waterfall.

"I will leave this to you as a statement on his behalf.  When he re-awakens, I want you to imprison him until the hatred for the living world has fled his heart.   Until then, he will be a danger to everyone in the village.  He will be nothing more than a ticking time-bomb once he has returned to this realm."

Yet they weren't back home. It would be even worse for him to return to himself in Leaf. How would they get home again? Would he have to carry Renzo's unconscious form home until they were somewhere safe?

His gaze only flickered briefly to Ming before going back to the pained Tsukiyomi. In that instant, she'd be able to see the depth of his concern and care. It was impossible to miss.

I can't let him attack anyone. He'd never forgive himself for it. He can't really hurt me. Anything he does should be directed at me. I can recover quicker than anyone else.

The leaves on the vines twirled lightly. His arms hung limp at his sides, but if a violent motion was made, he was ready to spring forward to restrain...

Ming set Yuii down now that it truly seemed that evil man was gone and rushed forward to check on Tsukiyomi. No one deserved such mistreatment, eyes were a very precious thing.

“Tsukiyomi-chan, what will be will be and there is no use panicking over it,” her deep concern was not readily on her face but was  obvious to any listener, “I wish I knew more of what is going on. Is there something we should do?”

A quick glance at the man who had leapt forward and for an instant she caught his eye. This one wasn’t a threat by the look of him and the way he acted. His eyes were strange but she dismissed him from her mind in face of a more pressing problem. Not panicking did not mean idly sitting by and watching things take place. She had her bag open and a few supplies out in an instant; Ming had become quite the healer since she’d left and while it looked like the eye had closed over something was causing Tsukiyomi pain. If nothing else she had tonics that would knock a Kage onto their ass or put a dragon to sleep.

Yuii scrambled forward and attached herself to Ming’s sleeve. She was cold, wet and terribly frightened now and she couldn’t bring herself to look at Tsukiyomi’s face. Tears streamed down her little face and she pressed her face against the wet fabric of Ming’s back as she worked. Her wide blue eyes turned to stare at the other man who had joined them. Something about him fascinated her out of her tears and as she began to realize that they faced no more danger from that one man Yuii went from a frightened child to a shy little girl.

“Nii, Nii who is he,” she circled to Ming’s opposite side to whisper in her big sister’s ear. In the fashion of a child she assumed that anyone around her and her sister must be known to her big sister. This was true often enough that she was compelled to ask, specially since

Ming glanced up but seemed to dismiss the addition to their meeting; she had work in front of her, “Don’t know, she answered only because she knew Yuii would ask again and again until her curiosity was satisfied. Give her a task and she wouldn‘t bother anyone too much either, “Yuii-chan take Nii’s bag into the temple please?”

“But Nii-chan I think he’s a Drag-” her words were cut off by a look from Ming and Yuii scurried off dragging the heavy bag behind her. In her haste and unable to carry both, before she left Yuii put Renren on Tsukiyomi’s lap. Perhaps he would be some small comfort the child decided, since Tsukiyomi seemed to be hearting so much. Renren would probably protect her.

Ming let out a breath when her little sister had gone, whatever was happening should not be witnessed by a child. “I’ve something for pain but if you like I have something powerful enough to numb your body useless or to put you to sleep for a day or two. There is also….” her eyes went to the deadly plant that had mostly been killed off by Tsukiyomi’s approach. The Kunoichi’s heart could kill but it could in the smallest dose paralyze while also causing frightening visions, “No, there is nothing else.”

"Shit!"  the woman shouted in horrendous pain.  Even with the doll in her lap, it didn't help the physical pain she's going through right now.  "It's not time for you to come back yet, Mizuroh.  Your heart is still in turmoil.  Coming back will only..."  the woman said before her words started to sound like someone gargling on water.  After a moment, her body turned to water and seemed to have dissipated into the ground.

For a moment, there was nothing.  The only thing that remained of Tsukiyomi was the doll that was placed on her lap, sopping wet upon the ground.  There was only rain...  A bolt of lightning struck across the sky with a loud and erupting blast of thunder.  The bolts were overhead.

A body began to form from the water upon the ground, rising from the ground as if climbing for years and years only to reach the apex of the great mountain.  The figure, still unknown in appearance stood straight up and long, wing-like objects began to sprout from the watery creature's back before the figure suddenly took physical form.  The wings took the form of a cloak that covered the man and his eyes were closed.

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Hasegawa Ren
7th Mizukage


"Once upon a time, two brothers were born into this world.  Both born under cursed symbols.  One was born under the mark of the wolf, the other was born under the banner of the dragon.  The two grew up very close to one another until one day, an eagle swept the dragon away from the wolf.  This had caused nothing but anger in the wolf.  The wolf then found out that the dragon was used as a tool for resurrecting the dark lord.  That was the day that I died."

The man opened his eyes.  His right eye still as blue as the crystalline oceans.  The left eye had a cursed mark upon it.  It was the Eye of Odin.

Image


The man turned to look towards Ming Yue for a moment with a smile upon his face. "It's been several years, hasn't it?  Ming Yue?"

No!

How could that woman be so calm? How come, every time Renzo was hurt badly, he was the only one who reacted with concern? He didn't normally fall apart in a crisis situation, but something about their relationship sent him into a panic every time the Mizukage was hurt in any way. It didn't matter that Tsukiyomi was the one hurt, Renzo would still feel the effects since they shared the same body.

The vines snapped off the second she turned to water, instead wrapping their way up his arms and around his throat. He fell to his knees, the leaves absorbing the water now falling from the sky and reaching up toward it.

His hands dug into the dirt harshly, gripping it for comfort. For the moment he didn't care that anyone else was there.

Is...that it?

"You can't die like this," he murmured numbly. "You can't...Ren..."

His head was still bowed when the water began to take shape again, but he slowly lifted it as the shape formed. Someone who felt so familiar...

I should have known better. Nothing is normal for you. At least you're all right...I'm sorry I lost my head and didn't act quicker, but I hope I won't have to restrain you as Tsukiyomi feared.

He rose slowly. A single eye scarred...that was better than the mask that had covered his face and seemed to pain him so before. And they all had their scars, after all--belatedly he realized his visor was still lying on the ground some distance away, so his little eye problem was visible, too.

And he knew this woman. What, then, was she doing in Leaf now? Tatsuya stepped back silently to observe, peripheral vision scanning the area for any further threats. He felt stripped bare without the visor, but it didn't matter at the moment. The only person who would be going the same place as him already knew, and the woman had already seen.

The vines unwrapped themselves from his neck but remained around his arms, the extended parts still waving in the air. Drops of water rolled off the leaves and onto his jacket.

At least you're safe...for now.

Ming's hand's fell to her lap and her eyes widened in shock. Tsukiyomi had been there just a second before, the soaking Renren marked where she had once sat. Ming had assumed the attack was the reason the other woman was in pain and she hadn’t really listened and now she was gone. Gone like her mother, gone the Renzo’s sweet maid, gone like her team mates and while she had not known Tsukiyomi long she had began to like the white haired women for the care and concern she displayed to those in her protection. Her bloodline clawed ather mind, trying to tell her if she only gathered the water Tsukiyomi had became she could piece her back together but the utter helplessness of the situation would take over and she could do nothing.

Ming pressed her hands to her face and began to rock on her knees as failure ripped her apart from the inside out. Every time she tried to help, every time she thought she might be able to help the people that grew important to her; this happened.  Behind her the man who’d leapt to Tsukiyomi’s defence murmured words that echoed her own feelings except she felt sadness for Tsukiyomi’s loss as well. She thought about trying to comfort him but it was likely she would just mess that up too.

Well at least the weather knew it’s place.

Shaking like a leaf she reached for Renren, Yuii would be upset without him,  but then the water began to move. This wasn’t her and a quick glance at the golden eyed man had her assuming his innocence. Her mouth fell open in silent awe as the water that had once been Tsukiyomi rose and reformed but it was plain to see from it’s shape that it was not forming the beautiful woman that had fallen away before. She didn’t dare hope for the alternative even as she watched the watery wings sprout from the water made man then become a flowing cloak. No, hoping would only mean more diaapointment and then she would be left with exactly what she’d had this morning.

It couldn’t possibly be… Renzo!

With a sob she threw herself against his shoulder. There was no reason to hold back after thinking she had lost him, again, and there was so much more relief in seeing him alive. The relief she had felt when Tsukiyomi had told her Renzo was alive paled in comparison to the overwhelming emotions the welled up inside her. Tears streaked down her face and  a cry that bridged on hysteria broke free as she  leapt forward to wrap her arm’s around Renzo’s neck.

“I’m so happy you’re alive!”

As soon as the man was embraced, his body turned from a solid back into a liquid and moved passed the woman turning his eyes to Tatsuya.  His form returns to it's normal consistency and hooked his head towards him.  "I apologize for the absence.  I had things to sort out.  Come, we must return to Mist.  I take it our objective is done, correct?"  Ren asked.  Contrary to what Tsukiyomi had said, he was fully aware during his little 'coma'.

"It's up to you whether you wish to stay in this decrepit land or return with us, Ming Yue.  I have had enough with this foul smell of trees and long for the smell of saltwater.  I can care less if you wish to return to Mist with us.  If you do wish to come with, meet me and Tatsuya at the gates tomorrow morning before sunrise," Ren said before turning his eyes towards the little girl carrying the doll of a wolf named Ren-Ren.

"Bring her with you," the blonde stated before turning his eyes to Tatsuya.  Indeed, now the two have something quite in common with one another.  Both have eyes that don't match.  "C'mon goldy, let's retire for the day," the man said reaching into the outer pocket of his long red trench-coat and pulled out a pair of honey yellow sunglasses which hide the appearance of the Eye of Odin.

Attached to his hip was a blade similar to what Tsukiyomi was wielding and from the sky to impale into the ground appeared his spear, Gugnir.  Walking over to the weapon, the man removed it from the damp earth and raised his hand to cause the clouds to dissipate and the rain to reside.

"We have much to do in Mist, Tatsuya.  I can anticipate a rebellion when we return due to Kuromaru's mouth blabbering.  I hope you don't mind soiling your hands to stop such a thing."

"You don't remember a thing?" Tatsuya had to restrain himself from going over and hugging Renzo the second he let Ming go. Of course, now he wished he'd taken notes at the meeting, but his memory was good enough he'd be able to explain the contents of it on the way home, since he didn't even know whether Tsukiyomi could tell him what went on. On the other hand...

It means I don't have to deal with some other things. I can go back to pretending. That's a relief.

"You never need to apologize for anything, Ren," he said simply, settling for the 'I'm your friend, and I'll always be' response as he usually did. One of the vines around his arms unwrapped itself and shot out to snap up his visor and carry it back to him. "It was already explained to me. I can understand why you needed the time." All he'd had to do was imagine his own reaction if he'd struck down his own brother. It had nearly made him sick even at the thought, and the idea of it actually happening was so far removed beyond that he could entirely grasp falling apart over it. That Renzo was still capable of carrying on was amazing.

What a pair they now made. He still barely had use of his hands, but the vine lifted his visor on properly easily enough.

"I wouldn't anticipate a rebellion. But I would prepare for one. The letters seemed not to mention any such thing, unless we cannot trust either Ookami or Phoenix." He didn't, but he didn't know the former and the latter wasn't even fully human, and probably had motivations he couldn't understand. "But far be it for me to not prepare for anything..."

Ah, right. He was supposed to be from a noble family. How easy it was to forget when you were raised as a weapon. "I'll manage." He gave a very slight smile. "I think you underestimate our people's loyalty to you. I could not see anyone attempting to strike at us when we return."

The unspoken guarantee was clear. If anyone attempts to touch you, I will end their life myself.

She'd expected a hug, a pat on the head... something, anything. being ignored was more wounding then if he'd hit her or yelled at her. At least then she could let loose the hurt and anger she was feeling because there was always a flip side to every story. She may have left but he had never searched for her either. He'd been alive and probably never once wondered what had happened to her.

He said she should go back with them, that she should bring Yuii as well

Yuii had wandered out of the temple again, drawn by curiousity and worry for but Tsukiyomi and Ming. That awful man could come back again and hurt them all, Tsukiyomi's eye could start bleeding again or they might forget all about her and leave. She was very relieved to see Ming was still there, her big sister standing silently apart from to man with the gold eye and.... not Tsukiyomi.

Worried now more than ever she slipped and slid across the slick ground and barreled into Ming's legs. From there she was able to peek from behind her sister's legs at the two men or up at Ming's face. The muscle in Ming's jaw was twitching and the other two were...

"Nii-chan whose he?" the hand at her sister's side flicked out familiar letters, Renzo's name, and she gasped in surprise while why her sister would be riverting back to her sign language didn't sink into her child's mind, "Oh, are you happy then Nii?"

Yuii didn't like the stiff way Ming turned to look at her. She didn't like the way her sister's eyes dimmed and seemed to look straight through her. She didn't like that it took her sister twice opening her mouth before words came out and she definitely didn't like the sound of them. her big sister had troubles keeping her emotions out of her voice and with good reason, but the weave and choice of words Ming used now frightened her.

"Everything is fine. We wont be going back Aunties' home though. I'm sorry Yuii, I promised you no more moving," self hate, sadness, loss, caution, regret with a hint of the joy that had overwhelmed Ming only moments before.

"but... Yuii wont get to say bye to Kiyano-kun? She wont get her toys?" No, yuii most defintily did not like the changes that had occurred in the last minutes she was away, "And the Aunties! Yuii wont get to say goodbye the aunties!? Wh-who will play with Maru-chan!? Nii-chan I-I... NoooooooooooOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!" Yuii broke out in a screaming wail that forced Mingyue to press a hand to her arm even as she tried to calm her little sister. Rather then try to shout over her,Ming spoke to her through hand signals but each sentace only made Yuii cry louder.

_________________
Tatsuya spoke of there not being a rebellion.  It was hard not to believe there may not be a rebellion when Fenrir took over and killed two shinobi in the village.  One being a girl he considered to be his sister and the other was the husband of a woman that apparently had some dealings with Ryuujin.  The man turned to look towards Tatsuya for a moment.

"Fenrir had control over my body and I'm certain I will pay for the sins he had committed.  Not everyday do you watch as a monster killed your own family within your skin.  Just prepare to get blood on your hands when we go back home," the Mizukage stated before taking a step away from the temple.  After that step, the blond stopped for a moment.

"It's not the fact that I distrust the people in the village, I'm just having a hard time trusting anyone at this point.  I'm just joyed that you're probably the only person in this world I can trust.  We should be off.  I don't trust the Raikage and her feminine bodyguard.  I'm sure they may make a move on Mist sometime in the future.  They may possibly be the first village to break the treaty."

There was Ming Yue.  Her disappearance had hurt him gravely and she did not know the reason why.  Apparently, from what he had observed, the woman left due to thinking Ren dead and to do things about her family.  So why did he find her here, in Leaf, of all places.  It seems she intends to follow him to Mist Village.  He was rather indifferent on whether or not she wished to return to the village with him.  Whether or not the two will grow feelings for one another again is still unknown.

The blond took a few more steps away from the temple again only to stop and look over his left shoulder.  "It's been many years since I've heard that voice of yours, Ming Yue.  I've missed it so very much."  The words sprung from his lips like water from a divine fountain.  They were truthfully told and spoken in earnest.  He really missed hearing her voice.  However, this changes nothing of his indifference towards the woman.  Betrayal is still betrayal.

"Come, Tatsuya.  We need to return to our home.  I grow ill of this place," Ren stated before pushing off with his left foot back to the hotsprings resort.

"The letters we got..." Tatsuya frowned lightly. It didn't seem easy for Renzo to accept that they might face nothing. Would that worrying doubt scratch at him too? "Never mind. Of course I'll be ready, Ren."

It's better to be prepared for anything. Something could materialize out of nowhere and surprise us otherwise. Knowing our luck, it would hit us right after we split up upon getting back into the village...keeping that in mind, I'll have to shadow him until he gets home.

"You trust me?" he shook himself. That was a given at this point. There was no need for him to be so stunned every time he heard it.

You just keep catching me off guard, that's all.

"I thought Cloud might be the ones to break it, too. They acted in a most suspicious manner at the meeting, much more so than anyone else." He had nearly snapped at the Raikage's guard, but if Renzo didn't know that, there was no need to tell him now. His own behaviour had little bearing on the situation, and wasn't that a good excuse to not say anything.

His insides twisted in jealousy when Renzo addressed Ming, but he remained silent. She might not even follow them home. There was no need to get upset at her presence, even if she did. The indifference he had toward her was noticeable. He would have been hurt to have been addressed like that.

He dipped his head respectfully, ignoring Ming still. "As you wish, Ren," he murmured. It was doubtful anyone but him would grasp what he really meant when he said those words. He didn't want them to.

Tatsuya followed Renzo silently as always. Regardless of who else came with them, that at least would not change.

[Topic Left]


Ming’s head whipped around at the sound of her name and as Renzo’s words sank in her face took on the shocked expression of one unexpectedly slapped. Her lips formed a thin line as she battled between hurt or anger and she settled on a comfortable, fuming rage. He was twisting the knife, making the pain of her mistakes sting unbearably and how dare he. How dare her disregard her own feelings  She stood quickly and brushed the mud from her red stocking covered knees. She pulled the strap of her grime covered bag up and over her shoulder then tugged at the silver clasp to tighten into place. That left only Yuii and swallowed by her own emotions as she was, Ming wasn’t in the mood to coddle her sister.

Yuii was still wailing loudly but her crying was beginning to grow raspy and was often broken up by loud sobs. She gave one loud scream when Ming dared to grab her around her waist and hoist her up like a sack of potatoes. Cries between a injured cat and enraged bird were permeated by the thud of small limb’s beating against Ming’s shoulder. Her heel caught Ming in the face, leaving her with a split lip and likely a bruise with time. The blue haired child was aware of what she’d done the moment her foot connected and the realisation that she may have possibly gone too far with her tantrum had her reduced to quiet sobs.

She didn’t want to move, not at all, but she didn’t want her Nii-chan to be hurt. Now she would hate her.

Ming set after Renzo and his oh so very trustworthy guard. She trailed behind them, not trying to catch up but not staying hidden either. The brunette girl wasn’t about to let them attack her under the assumption she was another attacker. She wouldn’t attack but she wouldn’t explain herself either. In fact she wasn’t going to say a word in there direction. If Renzo liked her voice so much he’d have to do more to earn it. And she wasn’t about to let them out of her sight until she was certain they were not going to leave without her.

How could she trust someone who wouldn’t trust her, then again no man was truly worth her trust.

“Nii-chan? Y-your lip is bleeding……. Nii I’m sorry? Nii…”