Shimiko had received word that she was to arrive at Senou Tower. It was an urgent notification from someone connected to the Senou family and when Shimiko received the notice she immediately headed to the front of the building. When she had returned from Kirigakure, she wanted to make it a priority to take the twins to the countryside after having to delay their induction into the clan. Another major point of concern was meeting up with Natsuru. For one, she hadn't spoken to her sister in what felt like ages and for two, Natsuru was at the heart of this problem with Kiri. She had first-hand knowledge of the Cloudian's fit of madness. She'd be able to confirm or deny the Mizukage's claim that they were the ones that had been attacked.
When the Senou reached out to her before she had a chance to, Shimiko became concerned. She didn't like the sound of this. The blonde now stood in front of Senou Tower. She couldn't bring herself to go inside. Shimiko wasn't the type to be paralyzed with fear but with her best friend in a coma and her boyfriend gone, she didn't think she was strong enough to hear more bad news. The thought was enough to keep her planted to the ground and staring at the magnificent building as she contemplated her worst fears.
No...she can't be dead. It's not possible. She came back from Kiri safely. They didn't harm her...they couldn't....they wouldn't dare!
Shimiko clenched her fist as she tried to envision an enemy to hurt. Even if it wasn't likely, it felt good to have a target.
She must have been waiting outside the building for a long time because someone finally came out to greet her. They must have understood her trepidation and rather than allowing her to wait an eternity, they apparently decided to just give her the news right there. She had never been inside before. She had been too busy to visit and now she regretted that her first time in what was supposed to be their home away from home was now ruined. The man escorted her into the building. She wandered around the building and saw the letter meant for her, leaving the one not addressed to her. She took the letter and then went back outside.
Shimiko closed her eyes and began praying to Jashin as she slowly opened the letter. The tears were already welling in her eyes. How much more could Jashin take from her? She slowly reopened her eyes and began reading the words on the page.
By the time she had finished, the ANBU Captain was now sobbing in public. Something she swore she would never do. Natsuru had left the Lightning Country and returned to her fatherland. The Mighty Thundercats had gone from three to one. Shimiko had always rivaled with Natsuru, she loved her like a sister but she also hated the way she used to be treated by the girl. Shimiko never got the chance to have a sibling rivalry with Seigi. He was too mature, powerful, and likeable for them to have any serious competition. Natsuru had filled that role for her, and given her personality and background, Shimiko needed it. It had helped push her to the next level. Judging by what Natsuru wrote, she was always jealous of her ninja abilities. It was a compliment in a way, but it didn't take the sting out of the abandonment.
All of their competitions over boys, prestige, and looks seemed so petty now. Shimiko had lost another good friend and while she gained a dream home for herself and the twins, it all felt completely worthless in the end. Shimiko wanted to blame Natsuru's parents. She had never formally met them, but she considered them demons for taking Natsuru away from her. They had succeeded where her own had failed. The Senou was pulled away from the ninja lifestyle because her parents thought they knew what was best. Shimiko clutched the letter as she tried to rationalize her hatred of them. It didn't work for long. Natsuru had retired because she wanted to retire. Shimiko had known the girl for years and she was many things, but a pushover was not one of them. Natsuru would have never gotten on that boat unless she wanted to leave the life.
Did I push her away? Was it the Orthodoxy? Why......
Shimiko didn't know why Natsuru couldn't accept her faith. The two had never spoken about it at length although it was only recently that Shimiko had become open about it. Natsuru had to have known that nagging or chiding her about it would only serve to strengthen her beliefs and drive them apart. She had tolerated it much as Sakata had, but perhaps, their tolerance had bounds. It seemed that every time she had met a new convert, she lost a non-Jashinist friend or lover. Shimiko dismissed the blasphemous thought and wiped the tears from her eyes. She banished the emotion from her face, stifling it like a true warrior as she uncrumpled the letter and read it again.
Did she know I was in Kiri? She must have known I'd stop her....by force if necessary. She was always smart...
Love,
The Prettiest Girl You Know.
"Goddammit Natsuru..." she said with an exasperated sound. It was a cross between a laugh and a sigh. After all those years, she still remembered that silly game they played during the dinner party. It was good that she did because Shimiko had never forgotten it either. It was at that party that their enemity had reached a boiling point, but before they could break off relations entirely Ryuko had stepped in. They had healed their friendship that day and had become sisters. It was at her and Ryuko's encouraging that she confessed her feelings to Sakata. Shimiko reached down around her neck and pulled out Jashin's Gift. It was an elegant necklace made for her by Natsuru before she had fallen into a coma. During the fight, she had torn it off, but after they made up, Natsuru had fixed it for her. She now wore it as a permanent reminder that even though they may bicker and catfight with one another, at the end of the day they were still sisters. Shimiko nodded her head as she slowly accepted this was how Jashin willed it to be. Ryuko gone. Sakata gone. Natsuru gone. He had taken her closest non-Jashinist friends and family away from her. This was the path he wanted her to walk. There could be no in-betweens now. He wanted her complete and utter devotion. From now on, the Church and its flock would be her focus. She folded the letter and placed it in the fold of her bra. It was Natsuru's last communication with her and even though her instinct was to tear it to shreds in defiance, she knew it would need to be preserved. Shimiko sniffed and gave her eyes one last wipe. There was no turning back now.
"For those within the Church....everything.....for those outside of it....nothing."
When the Senou reached out to her before she had a chance to, Shimiko became concerned. She didn't like the sound of this. The blonde now stood in front of Senou Tower. She couldn't bring herself to go inside. Shimiko wasn't the type to be paralyzed with fear but with her best friend in a coma and her boyfriend gone, she didn't think she was strong enough to hear more bad news. The thought was enough to keep her planted to the ground and staring at the magnificent building as she contemplated her worst fears.
No...she can't be dead. It's not possible. She came back from Kiri safely. They didn't harm her...they couldn't....they wouldn't dare!
Shimiko clenched her fist as she tried to envision an enemy to hurt. Even if it wasn't likely, it felt good to have a target.
She must have been waiting outside the building for a long time because someone finally came out to greet her. They must have understood her trepidation and rather than allowing her to wait an eternity, they apparently decided to just give her the news right there. She had never been inside before. She had been too busy to visit and now she regretted that her first time in what was supposed to be their home away from home was now ruined. The man escorted her into the building. She wandered around the building and saw the letter meant for her, leaving the one not addressed to her. She took the letter and then went back outside.
Shimiko closed her eyes and began praying to Jashin as she slowly opened the letter. The tears were already welling in her eyes. How much more could Jashin take from her? She slowly reopened her eyes and began reading the words on the page.
By the time she had finished, the ANBU Captain was now sobbing in public. Something she swore she would never do. Natsuru had left the Lightning Country and returned to her fatherland. The Mighty Thundercats had gone from three to one. Shimiko had always rivaled with Natsuru, she loved her like a sister but she also hated the way she used to be treated by the girl. Shimiko never got the chance to have a sibling rivalry with Seigi. He was too mature, powerful, and likeable for them to have any serious competition. Natsuru had filled that role for her, and given her personality and background, Shimiko needed it. It had helped push her to the next level. Judging by what Natsuru wrote, she was always jealous of her ninja abilities. It was a compliment in a way, but it didn't take the sting out of the abandonment.
All of their competitions over boys, prestige, and looks seemed so petty now. Shimiko had lost another good friend and while she gained a dream home for herself and the twins, it all felt completely worthless in the end. Shimiko wanted to blame Natsuru's parents. She had never formally met them, but she considered them demons for taking Natsuru away from her. They had succeeded where her own had failed. The Senou was pulled away from the ninja lifestyle because her parents thought they knew what was best. Shimiko clutched the letter as she tried to rationalize her hatred of them. It didn't work for long. Natsuru had retired because she wanted to retire. Shimiko had known the girl for years and she was many things, but a pushover was not one of them. Natsuru would have never gotten on that boat unless she wanted to leave the life.
Did I push her away? Was it the Orthodoxy? Why......
Shimiko didn't know why Natsuru couldn't accept her faith. The two had never spoken about it at length although it was only recently that Shimiko had become open about it. Natsuru had to have known that nagging or chiding her about it would only serve to strengthen her beliefs and drive them apart. She had tolerated it much as Sakata had, but perhaps, their tolerance had bounds. It seemed that every time she had met a new convert, she lost a non-Jashinist friend or lover. Shimiko dismissed the blasphemous thought and wiped the tears from her eyes. She banished the emotion from her face, stifling it like a true warrior as she uncrumpled the letter and read it again.
Did she know I was in Kiri? She must have known I'd stop her....by force if necessary. She was always smart...
Love,
The Prettiest Girl You Know.
"Goddammit Natsuru..." she said with an exasperated sound. It was a cross between a laugh and a sigh. After all those years, she still remembered that silly game they played during the dinner party. It was good that she did because Shimiko had never forgotten it either. It was at that party that their enemity had reached a boiling point, but before they could break off relations entirely Ryuko had stepped in. They had healed their friendship that day and had become sisters. It was at her and Ryuko's encouraging that she confessed her feelings to Sakata. Shimiko reached down around her neck and pulled out Jashin's Gift. It was an elegant necklace made for her by Natsuru before she had fallen into a coma. During the fight, she had torn it off, but after they made up, Natsuru had fixed it for her. She now wore it as a permanent reminder that even though they may bicker and catfight with one another, at the end of the day they were still sisters. Shimiko nodded her head as she slowly accepted this was how Jashin willed it to be. Ryuko gone. Sakata gone. Natsuru gone. He had taken her closest non-Jashinist friends and family away from her. This was the path he wanted her to walk. There could be no in-betweens now. He wanted her complete and utter devotion. From now on, the Church and its flock would be her focus. She folded the letter and placed it in the fold of her bra. It was Natsuru's last communication with her and even though her instinct was to tear it to shreds in defiance, she knew it would need to be preserved. Shimiko sniffed and gave her eyes one last wipe. There was no turning back now.
"For those within the Church....everything.....for those outside of it....nothing."
