Rising of a new darkness

Sero would slowly stir awake. At first he would find himself confused. It was dark with moon light swimming through the hole in the ceiling and reflecting off the pool below. Dimly lighting the room with a strange and wavy light. Luckily he had been sleeping so his eyes were already fairly adjusted to the dark. He had no idea what time it was or how long he had slept but he felt, better. Rejuvenated. He wasn't sure where exactly Sayuri had gone but he did hope she would return. Even having been raised in solitude he had found her company better than being alone. He was confused and conflicted over it. Did he need her? What purpose did she serve for him? This was such a new sensation for him. Having a friend seemed like such an odd concept for a monster. Especially one so quiet and docile. Though her hesitation before aside she had proven to be very effective at eliminating a threat to her well being. He had no doubt she would make it back safely. However it was surprising to him that she would at all. Someone so timid returning to the beast in the mists.

For now his stomach rumbled at him. Hunger causing him actual cramping. He would take a breath before moving over to the supplies for the fire. It took him a moment of mostly feeling around in the dark to actually set it up. A moment more to find the two right kinds of rock to create a spark on the dry grass. However soon there was a camp fire lighting up the dim cave. Far enough within it not to attract attention from the outside world. The hole in the ceiling proving to be a good outlet for the smoke. Already he could feel warmth returning to his fingers. With a new light in the cave he was quickly able to find the dead rat. Unconcerned with hit having been dead for hours now he would collect it and gut it with the wooden spike. Pulling the fur off with his bare fingers before putting it back on the spike and angling it over the fire. The fur and guts tossed idly out the hole in the ceiling. He had no use for them. Perhaps a bird would get a meal as well. However for now he focused on watching the meat cook while his stomach rumbled at him. Awaiting the return of his friend. She was a friend right?"

Sayuri had hurried back to the village as quickly as she was able. It was going to take her awhile just to walk there and then back to the cave, nevermind actually packing up supplies. Fortunately the trip had been uneventful and she’d found walking through the forest less frightening than before which was a relief. It was about dinner time when she set foot in the village proper which meant there were very few people out and about, and if anyone did notice her they didn’t make it known. She made a beeline for her tiny apartment tucked away on the Yuki compound, slipping inside and quickly taking stock of what she had available to take with her. Not much as it happened. With a sigh she gathered some money and ran to the market, most places would still be open for a bit longer which would give her time to find some men’s clothing. It was the one thing that she had no substitute for. She would make her way around the marketplace, silently picking out items she thought would work. A few sets of clothes and footwear that looked to be the right size to fit Sero, some food, blankets, an oil lamp and various odds and ends that one might take camping. The most important purchase was a small cart that she could pull along behind her. She had a lot of things to bring and Sero had been very specific about her not telling anyone where he was, so she couldn’t pay anyone to carry some of her things.

She spent about an hour or so packing everything up between the cart and a backpack, she didn’t bother changing her own clothing, since she knew it would just be further ruined on her way back. By the time she was heading back towards the cave the sky had just reached twilight, she’d spent far too long shopping and packing and now she would have to walk through the forest in the dark, with a cart. The first little bit once she arrived at the treeline was not too terrible, the edge of the forest was always the thinnest and with only a small amount of effort she was able to maneuver the cart through the trees and underbrush. After a few more hours though she’d all but given up, not only was pulling the cart proving to be a monumental task, but she was fairly certain she was lost.

She sat down on the edge of a fallen tree, nearly in tears with frustration. “Of all the stupid things.” she muttered aloud at the darkness, cursing her lack of foresight. She hadn’t thought to mark her way back, and now she felt like she’d been wandering in circles the whole night. She very well could have been. With another heavy sigh she would close her eyes and listen to the forest around her. This had been how she’d found the stream, maybe it would help again. It took a few minutes but she was finally able to pick up the distant sound of running water, she focused on the sound for a long time until she was certain she wasn’t imagining it and she knew what direction it was in. Confident that she could at least make it to the stream she got up and trudged along, quietly complaining as unseen thorns and branches tore at her in the darkness. She knew that she had put herself in a dangerous position. She had told no one where she was, if anything happened to her no one would come looking for her for quite some time.

When she finally reached the stream she could barely contain her excitement. She didn’t know what part of it she had found, but it was a familiar landmark and that was something. She had scouted along the stream earlier so she tried to do so again, doing her best to retrace her steps. All the while lugging the cart and the backpack which with every step seemed to double in weight. Everything looked so different in the dark, the shadows created from the moonlight turning every tree and bush into a horrifying monster. By the time she saw the cave again she was practically in a fit of fear, her trepidation only increasing the closer she came to Sero, jumping at every noise and movement.

Going the extra few meters into the cave was the hardest of all. She was shaking with the effort of dragging the supplies, her muscles not used to such laborious tasks. The only thing giving her the will to press on was seeing her friend again. She would clumsily enter the cave, the cart making an awful scraping noise as she pulled it along the stone floor. As soon as she could see Sero near a fire she would let go of the cart and stumble over to him, plopping herself unceremoniously on the ground beside him. She was drenched with sweat and her breathing was ragged, her limbs shaking with exertion. Forgetting she had a backpack on she would try to lay down on the rocky ground, only succeeding in propping herself against the overstuffed pack. With a trembling voice she would chuckle and close her eyes for a moment. “I came back.”

Sero had simply assumed if she were to come back it wouldn't be that night. Even he was not sure he would find this place having only come to it once. Certainly not at night. He had settled in to his new haunt as he relaxed his aching muscles. His bones and body ached as one. He had pushed himself so much having left the hospital that morning. Feared as the devil himself he had fled the village out of a survival instinct. That he would need to avoid the majority of the population was simply something he had grown used to in his life. He had not found them to be welcoming and understanding to something different from them. Their peaceful lives with their white picket fences. Huddled together in numbers for safety and protection while crying out for war with every slight against them. He could not say though that his own wrath was much different. Anyone who would make an attempt at his life would discover as much. The devil waited in the shadows of the mind for most but he, he was something that let the shadows grow simply by being alive. It wasn't uncommon for people to wish to put down the devil.

A shuffling at the entrance had his ice blue eyes snapping to the dark entrance. The light of the fire preventing him from seeing out too far. There was a lot of scuffling just outside and by the sounds of it someone was entering this place. Or something. He knew the creature from before was certainly dead outside. However he now considered that leaving it's corpse outside may attract predators. Scavengers mostly but not something he looked to contend with for this space. He would need to be on guard for the night and remove the waste in the morning. There was a large river nearby. However that meant dragging a large corpse dozens of feet and then disposing it into a current. It would almost be easier to bury it but that would not for certain rid him of any dangerous predators. Some liked to dig. Still his blue eyes made contact with a familiar dress. She had returned to him. Though her walking patterns were rugged. She was moving as if she were exhausted. As he imagined she must be if she returned the very same night as the day she had left.

He would watch silently as she would settle near him. Glistening with sweat and exhausted. She had pushed herself so far for a being out of place. A thing less than human. He did not understand it. Truthfully he wondered if this was a human trait as well. Could someone develop loyalty so easily? Could someone develop loyalty to a being like him? He had been prepared to wander these woods alone. Still they would sit in silence broken only by here mention of having come back. They would sit in silence a moment longer like that. Him mulling the thoughts over in his mind as he watched her. Soon though he would speak. There was no rage or desire to harm her so his voice actually came out sounding rather normal in comparison. Cold as it may be.

"Why? No human or creature has remained long. I am but a vagabond. Searching on and on for some place to belong and so often wherever I may set down roots I would likely have to move on soon or risk being engaged by those who do not accept what I have become. Yet you remain. Are you not afraid?"

As she lay against her overstuffed backpack, looking a bedraggled mess she was certain, she couldn’t help but smile up at Sero. The fact that she had pushed herself as hard as she had just to get back to this cave was, frankly, laughable. She barely knew the man, they’d spoken only a few sentences to each other, and it was a cave that she’d chosen to at least spend the night in. She wasn’t a person that required a lot of material possessions to make her comfortable, but the closest she’d ever come to camping before by choice was when she was little and fell asleep in a snowbank. That had worried her parents after a few hours but all in all had not been a terrible experience.  But here she was, on an adventure, and with another person no less.

They sat there in silence for a while, the peaceful sort of silence that Sayuri preferred. After a while her breathing slowed and the insistent stinging of her muscles settled to a dull ache. She imagined that she’d be a bit sore come morning, but she didn’t feel particularly injured so she was sure she was fine. With some effort she would wriggle herself out of the straps on her pack, slowly pulling herself up to rest on her knees while pushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face. It surprised her when Sero spoke, they had been silent for long enough that his voice startled her, causing her to turn and look over to him with her blue eyes wide. She listened quietly to his questions, considering her answer carefully before speaking. She’d asked herself the very same question - why - all the way back here. Making friends with a stranger in the woods was not something that her clan would think highly of, certainly not approve of. She was not usually impulsive, quite the opposite really, so her current choices did seem against her nature. If you only looked on the surface. In truth though she’d found that her and Sero were probably more alike than they were different. They both seemed to be curious and independent people, both decidedly not interested in an abundance of socializing, and they both seemed haunted by their pasts. Sayuri had never had anything bad happen to her, she was never mistreated, no one was cruel to her. However she was often neglected, forgotten and ignored. Her past had led to her silence which was itself a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more she remained silent, the more she would be ignored which led to her feeling like an outsider, which further led to her continued silence. And on and on again the cycle would continue.

She would idly tug at the fabric of her dress while she worked up the courage to speak, finally taking a breath and answering his first question. “I want to be your friend.” She would blush furiously and look down at her fidgeting hands, her anxiety rising. What if he didn’t want that? His voice, his gaze they were cold and emotionless, maybe friendship wasn’t something he was interested in. What if she was a burden to him, slowing him down in his journey to find a place where he was accepted? She would swallow hard as she fought her instinct to stop speaking, it would be so easy to just go back and never think of it again. Live out her life in silence and safety - but it would also lead to nothing. She would sit alone and miserable, no one to share in her adventures, nothing to give her life purpose a sad and lonely existence. With a shake of her head to remind her that she needed to speak her thoughts aloud she would continue.

“If you want to. I like you, you’re interesting.” She would glance back up at him with a shy smile on her face. As she looked at him she felt that same cold tingle down her spine and she would look around with worry, was she afraid? “I am afraid.” She would say honestly with just the barest hint of sadness in her voice. “Not of you. Just afraid. I’ve always been afraid. Of everything.” She could feel a cold sweat forming on her brow the more she spoke. Partly from the feeling of impending doom all around her, an invisible terror in the night. But mostly from the realization that this was the most she had spoken aloud to anyone in her whole life. All her fears and insecurities were coming to the surface and it was all she could do to force herself to continue. “You’re not a monster, you saved me. Monsters are cruel. And you’re not.” As she finished speaking she would shuffle over towards her pack and begin untying it, rifling through the contents until she found the clothing she had brought for him, holding it out with her hands just barely shaking.

Sero would listen quietly as she explained. His eyes shifting to the pack she had removed from herself finally. She had carried a great deal a great distance. He was rather impressed but he had not yet learned to express those emotions yet. Instead he would nod slowly as he began to grasp her reasoning. So she wasn't so abnormal as he was but like him she didn't fit in. She wished to be friends with the beast in the woods because everything else scared her. He supposed he could understand it. He was different and capable of helping her through her fear. His thoughts flashed back to her white eyes and the construct she had summoned to mutilate that enemy. She was not without her capabilities. That much he could not deny. Though he could feel it this close to her despite the fire. It was colder with her around. Perhaps he was simply more sensitive to it because of his own nature being vulnerable to it. Still he knew if she tried. If she trained herself and approached something with purpose instead of fear she could potentially be just as deadly as himself. Such a being could be a powerful potential ally for what he intended.

She had said friend though. He wasn't sure he understood the meaning of the word. Had he ever had one? Could someone like him be a good friend? He had always disassociated with the word in the novels he read. Yet some part of him did not wish for her to go. Some part of him had missed her presence while she had left and he had felt regret over the idea of her not returning. It was a lot to consider. For now she held clothing out to him and he glanced down. His own clothing splattered and torn with an assortment of blood and mud. He didn't dare think about how he might smell. Still he would quietly take the clothes from her and set them down next to himself. Rising to his feet as he shed his coat and then his shirt right in front of her. He had been alone so long he didn't really understand the need for privacy. He wasn't attracted to anyone after all so in a way, this was the only innocence he held still. He didn't stop until he was entirely naked. Standing there in the dim light of the fire.

He would collect his new clothes before stepping out of the fire light further into the cave. There in the center of the chamber moon light was pouring in to the pool in the center and casting white glowing waves along the walls. Sero set his clothes down on the side of the pool before entering into the glistening waters. He would walk in until he was about chest level. Letting the water cleanse him as he scooped water into his hands and began to wash his face and hair. For once despite his aura, the pale moon light and water danced against his sparkling skin. The dim light from the moon reflecting off his pale form as he closed his eyes and slowly took a breath. Finally his hands settling on the surface of the water as he purged himself back to cleanliness. A dark mass sinking into the depths leaving the pool clean as could be. He would open his ice blue eyes as he looked up to the moon again before finally speaking once more. His voice quiet but still loud enough to be heard.

"I will not chase you away, but I will tell you one thing. The world is filled with fear because of those who thrive on it. Those who would gain from it. For this reason I believe I was created. These men that would tear apart the lives of the innocent are my purpose. You who are innocent of this need never fear me. However it is my intention to punish the wicked. I will hunt them, I will torment them...I will kill them and I will make an example of them. If you choose to stay, if you choose me....you choose to follow my path too. The wicked would suffer us."

Sayuri was not prepared for the view she was privy to. She’d never seen anyone naked that she could recall, except herself - but that didn’t count. She didn’t know what to do or where to look. Was she supposed to look away? She didn’t know. Was this normal? She really had no basis for comparison so she didn’t turn away, curiously observing the pale skinned man by the glow of the small fire. His skin was smooth and unblemished, and as he walked towards the pool and waded in she would marvel at how his skin glistened under the moonlight. He seemed content to begin bathing while she sat there, so with a shrug she would reach into the pack again and pull out another dress for herself as well as a small bar of soap. Sayuri didn’t know to be embarrassed or feel shame regarding nakedness, she only knew that currently bathing in front of your friends was apparently normal. And she was filthy, she would probably be better off burning the dress she currently wore than bothering to clean and mend it.

She would rise to her feet and pull her dress over her head, tossing it on the ground near the fire, still intent on burning it once she was clean. Her small clothes she put closer to the pack, those she could salvage. Untying her hair she would move over to the edge of the pool and gingerly walk in, the water causing the small cuts and abrasions on her feet and legs to sting. Once the water was up to her waist she would lower herself so she could lean her head back and soak her hair, small bit of leaves and twigs floating away and draining down into the depths. She busied herself lathering soap and washing away the remains of her ordeals, enjoying the feel of the cool water, water which had cooled a bit since she’d entered. Once she was covered in soap she would hold the bar out to Sero, and if he took it she would rinse herself off and if not she would place the small cream coloured bar on the edge of the pool. She was starting to feel more relaxed as the blood and dirt washed away, the soap however only added to the discomfort of the small scratches she had from traipsing through the forest in the dark. For a time the only noise she made was an occasional hissing as she found a new source of pain when the suds cleaned out the scrapes on her limbs.

His quiet voice filled the cavern, causing her to pause in her movements, gently wringing out her long blonde hair as he explained what his goals were. She was glad he wasn’t going to make her leave, she was afraid that he might not want her there. So hearing him say it aloud calmed her worries, that and hearing him say that she didn’t need to fear him. His path seemed noble in her eyes, why should the wicked be allowed to profit from the suffering of the innocent? She hadn’t seen much suffering pampered as she was within the Yuki compound, but she’d certainly heard of it. Even just seeing Sero in the woods had been enough for her to want to help, being able to stand alongside him and punish the wicked sounded like exactly the type of purpose her life needed. She had so much power, she wanted to use it for something good. Releasing her hands from her hair she would look at him seriously. “I want to help. I want to punish the wicked. I don’t know how to hunt though.” She would look slightly embarrassed as she moved to step out of the pool. She had mediocre knowledge of what it meant to be a shinobi, and she would need to train much harder in order to walk this path with her new friend.

Sero would glance to her as she held out the soap. For him nudity even of the opposing gender meant little to him either. He wasn't physically attracted to anyone. If anything he took more notice of the change in temperature in the water. He would tilt his head before shaking his head no. As a Hozuki removing filth from his body was a simple purging process. All soap would do was mingle into his body and plausibly make him ill. Experience had taught him that. Still he would finished purging himself before stepping from the pool and within moments his body and hair appeared to be dry. As if all the residual water had been absorbed. As it had. He paid her bathing little mind as he slipped back by the fire and began to dress himself in fresh clothes. He looked healthier now. As if he wasn't dragged down to his core just from walking. His movements were smoother now and he didn't seem to be leaning on anything for support. Still he would take his time getting dressed as he hadn't had a need to change clothes all that often. The hospital had been mostly gowns. Still by the time she was out of the pool he was finished.

He had slipped into a pair of black pants with a V neck button up shirt that had high triangle collars that folded down. Over that he put on a long white coat and slipped into a pair of shinobi shoes. Feeling refreshed and comfortable. He would turn to her as she mentioned not being able to hunt and he would tilt his head. As if confused about the mention. He would tighten the cuff links as he rolled his neck with a series of popping noises. He seemed focused on his cuffs as he spoke casually.

"Hunting men won't be like hunting beasts. They gather for comfort and luxury. Buried in their greed and pride. Envious of their neighbors so consistently lashing out. We find them, we break them. The hunt is a simple thing. When they realize that our wrath is more than they bargained for they will flee. It is in the nature of man to dwell in cowardice. To hunt them merely means to prevent them from leaving with their lives. Much like the bat who attacked us these men too shall know the error of their ways in the end."

As Sero left the pool Sayuri took the opportunity to stretch out and swim around for a moment, enjoying the cool water. Now that she was clean the pool was just an enjoyable activity and one that she was fairly certain she wouldn’t be judged for using in a more frivolous manner. When she was alone she often took time to sing or hum, dance and frolic, it was only when she had an audience that she had to be more serious. There was an expected way of behaving and no matter what she did she didn’t measure up. Here though she felt considerably more relaxed, relaxed in that she didn’t think Sero cared one way or another whether she danced or sat quietly, she was still filled with an unshakeable feeling of dread. That feeling was not relaxing. It made her wonder if she’d even be able to sleep, perhaps wearing herself out on her hike back would turn out to be a good thing after all.

Once she had splashed around enough she would pull herself out of the pool and stand there wringing out her hair again. She hadn’t realized her error until after she was already soaking wet, but now that she stood there with no way to dry herself she felt fairly foolish. She’d watched Sero become nearly instantly dry, the water seeming to be absorbed into his skin, and she had no such ability it seemed though as the cool water on her even cooler skin simply refused to evaporate. Why it had not occurred to her to bring a towel she couldn’t understand. It wasn’t as though she had never bathed before, she supposed it would mean yet another trip into the village at some point or she would have to learn to live with her skin and hair not drying in any reasonable amount of time.

Without any better option that she could see than to simply dress herself she would put on the white embroidered dress she had pulled out of the pack. It was less than graceful as the fabric would cling to her skin causing her to have to tug awkwardly at the garment until finally with a huff she would find herself fully clothed, if slightly damp. She considered going to stand by the fire with Sero who she was glad to see looked quite good in the clothes she had brought, but not only was she not particularly fond of fire but she was excited to begin unpacking the things she had brought and making the cave more home-like. Making her way first over to the pack she would begin taking things out, pausing to listen to Sero as he explained about hunting. It hadn’t occurred to her that he wasn’t talking about actual hunting, and the way he spoke now made it seem easy and more than that, it sounded like something they should do. The more he spoke, the more inspired she was to find these wicked people and end their reigns of terror.

Kneeling down and pulling out rolled up blankets and bedding she would speak quietly. “Hunting them will be easy, since we’ll know where they’ll be.” Her voice had gotten more practice in the last day than probably her whole life, and the more she spoke the easier it became. “I want to start soon. They will learn to fear us.” The idea of anyone being afraid of her was almost ridiculous, she was tiny and soft spoken or mostly silent, and had the appearance of a snow sprite not some fearsome warrior. She was determined to learn though, she’d been hiding long enough.

Once Sero had finished getting dressed and explained to Sayuri his intentions he would take a breath as his cold blue gaze shifted back up to the entrance of the cave. He had heard her dragging something out there and he doubted it was the back pack she had just scavenged through for their new clothes. Idly he would scoop up the old dirty clothes from before. Stained from the forest and the battle to acquire the cave. Without a second thought he dumped them on the fire and moved passed it to begin the climb up the passage way to go and see what else was out there. Perhaps to check the entrance to make sure nothing else had decided to investigate him. The first thing that struck him was the smell of the dead bat. Some insects were buzzing around the corpse but he paid them little mind. He hadn't said anything to Sayuri about what he was doing or where he was going but to him that was normal. She was free to roam as she pleased and so was he. It made little difference so long as one thing remained a constant. They both always came back.

His blue eyes would regard the clear sky through the torn open tree line from their battle. Despite the smell of the corpse nearby it was bordering on peaceful here. Something out there though....some vague sensation pulled at him. Encouraging him to move further south. Like some part of him waited out there in no mans land. However he had no interest in building a boat or trying to find a shallow spot to cross. Even with his mind and soul dipped into the darkness and torment of mankind he knew in some part of himself he was not ready to cross the waters. He would glance to the side to see the cart she had dragged there and passed it to the drag marks marking a path directly to the cave. It concerned him but he wasn't entirely unsure they couldn't deal with trespassers as it was. For now he looked back into the cave and spoke loudly and clearly. "You will want to hug a wall." He would wait for a response before he would preform a series of hand seals. One set on each hand slowly. Preforming two suiton techniques. On his left hand he formed the tiger seal while his right hand formed the ram and then tiger seal.

Sero would inhale before his cheeks would fill out. From his mouth a black liquid would spew out as it flew into the descending entrance. Splashing along the length until coming to a stop just before the fire. With that done he would move to position the cart at the entrance before simply letting go of it. The newly slick surface of the tunnel would act as a slide for the cart as it flew down into the cave before the last bit of the black liquid would catch it. He had molded two suiton techniques into one that started off slick and quickly turned into something sticky. He would take a breath once it was finished and follow it down as he walked off to the side where it wasn't slick or sticky. The black liquid already quickly fading as he returned to the fire light on the other side of the cart. Speaking as he idly looked at what she had brought for them to work with.

"We will start soon but first I need to get a better idea of the land. Tomorrow I will explore the Hozuki compound and then the Kaguya. I want to see these places and then I will see what I can do about finding us targets worthy of the destruction we will reign upon them."


300+
150/150 Water Release: Wild Bubble Wave (C rank library) trained
150/150 Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field (C rank library) Trained

Sayuri was pleased when Sero put the ruined clothing on the fire, it had been her thought to do so anyway and she was glad that they were of a like mind at least when it came to being practical. The smell of burning soiled clothing wouldn’t be the best, but it would clear out the remains of blood in the cave and hopefully not draw the attention of anything else that wanted to fight over the cave. Not that she was worried now of fighting, but it wasn’t as though she wanted it to be a regular occurrence. There was the teeny tiniest part of her that had actually enjoyed fighting, it had left her with a feeling of satisfaction, of knowing that she could take care of herself. There was a tiny bit of power in that thought and it made her smile to herself as she picked up the bedding and found a higher flat spot off to one side of the cave and placed it down.

As Sero wandered outside the cave she paid little mind, she would glance up but seeing nothing that required her attention she went back to the task she had set for herself. She had no idea how to set up a cave home. So for the time being she would just arbitrarily pick spots for things based on how her own apartment was laid out. Once she’d place the folded bedding down she realized that the vast majority of what she had brought was still in the cart at the entrance of the cave. She was not looking forward to dragging it inside, it felt like it weighed a ton and her arms still ached from the effort of pulling it as far as she had. With a defeated sigh she would turn to move towards the abandoned cart and figure out how to get it inside. She didn’t make it far before she heard Sero warning her to move to a wall. Having seen what he was capable of when he had asked that of her before, she would scoop up the pack and move to the edge where she had just placed the bedding. The last thing she wanted was for everything in the pack to get wet, which is what she assumed was about to happen.

The black sticky liquid that poured from Sero’s mouth was startling, and she wondered if perhaps it tasted bad. It looked like it might. It seemed though that she wouldn’t have to lug the cart down into the cave after all, as he pushed the cart down the rivulets of onyx liquid where it came to a stop just short of the fire. Sayuri marvelled at the cleverness she had just seen, she hadn’t thought to use jutsu in that way, to simply make life easier. She would place the pack down again and move over to the cart, unpacking it’s contents and listening to Sero’s plans. Since there was already a spot for a fire she would take out the food and some cooking utensils, a pot and some cups and bowls and place them on a rock near the fire. “I’ve never been to those compounds, only mine, the Yuki. Will you need help?” She doubted he would actually need help, but she wanted him to know she was willing regardless. While digging around in the cart she found her notebook and pencils and she would sit down and begin lovingly flipping through the book until she found a blank page. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

Sero would walk down the path to the side away from the rapidly fading black liquid so he did not slip or get stuck. It wasn't long before Sayuri was unpacking an assortment of kitchen materials. She was likely hungry. He couldn't blame her since the treck likely would have taken a lot out of everyone. Still he would merely watch her for the time being. His back leaning against a wall as that ice cold gaze only observed for a time. It seemed like she was settling in and gradually getting more comfortable around him. However he suspected there was one thing he might not be able to avoid. He had a tendency of causing nightmares to those who rested within ten meters of him. His cold eyes would watch her before he made up his mind to sleep a little more than ten meters away. She mentioned coming with him if he needed help and he would shake his head no. He wasn't going looking for trouble and she didn't need to be trapped close quarters with him when he would be seething with hate. Even now he felt it building up. His eyes would shift to the pool of water as he spoke once more.

"No need. You may remain here if you wish and decorate as you see fit. Tomorrow is merely for exploration and information. I do not intend to engage anyone if I can help it."

A part of him knew the majority of the clan had little to nothing to do with their wicked ways. The abandoning of him or order for his death was a decision made by the clan leaders or his parents or both. Honestly it was a point of contention for him. Still it wasn't something he wished to discuss or have her feel off of him. Instead he would reach down into the cart. His pale hands reaching down and grabbing a fairly bland bed roll tied up to the side of the cart. Clearly different from her own personal one. She had brought spares but for now he only collected the one. As she was doing whatever it was she did he would slowly walk around the glistening pool. His steps echoing against the stone as he moved. Like something haunting this place rather than living here. He crossed the majority of the cave away from her. Fading from the light of the fire before tossing his bed roll up above him to a ledge big enough for a bed. Far enough for her to sleep better.

Soon enough he would return from the darkness. The light of the fire flickering as the shadows seemed to peel away from him. Less like if the light did it naturally and more as if he had been enveloped in the darkness like a liquid. Pulling away from him begrudgingly as the light forced him to become a visible reality. He would lean against the wall next to the warmth of the fire as he felt it...warm his bones. He would speak once more as he stared into the fire. The flames licking wildly for a moment as they reflected in his blue eyes.

"You will need to sleep over on this side of the cave by the fire. If you sleep to close to me, there would be consequences I can not control or contain. I mean you no harm of course but this part of me, it is not something I control. If you rest your head to close to me then the nightmares will come. I find ten meters is the range of that particular danger."

Sayuri would nod at Sero’s reply, it was more or less what she had expected. She was fairly certain that he would be fine, it was the village after all what could possibly go wrong? Part of her was relieved that he had said no to her offer of assistance, she would have gone with him had he wanted her to, but just the thought of being around all those people was causing her stress. She found herself more comfortable in the dark cave with that insistent feeling of dread than at the mere thought of having to be in a large group of people. “I’ll stay here to set up our home and try to learn my way around the forest.” The second part of her plan was not something she was looking forward to, but she felt it was necessary seeing as she’d gotten so horribly lost earlier. If she was lucky though she might find some minerals that she could use for paint, perhaps make the cave seem less… dark.

She looked down longingly at the blank page she’d found, wanting nothing more than to lose herself to her art. But her stomach had other ideas as it growled softly, she felt a gnawing hunger. It had been many hours since she had eaten anything and she was suddenly left with the realization that she didn’t exactly know how to cook without a stove. Glaring at the fire secretly hoping that her gaze would magically transform it into a stove she knew she had to learn to be more self-sufficient. With a small shrug she would rifle through the food she had brought and pull out a small bag of almonds, it wasn’t a meal but she didn’t have to cook it and it would tide her over until morning.

She watched as Sero took a bedroll to the far side of the cave and listened as he explained about not wanting her to have nightmares. She thought that was very kind of him, and she would nod and smile until the wheels in her mind began turning and her smile slowly turned to a frown. “Do you get nightmares?” The idea that he couldn’t escape his own nightmares made her very sad.

Sero would shift around and it was like the shadows swallowed him up as he began to check around the cave. There were some nooks and crannies where he could hide things out of sight. Weapons or perhaps treasures. His lips twitched into a smile for a moment as he envisioned the cave like that of a dragons lair from the stories. A horde of it's treasure buried and guarded there. He wondered if one day he could become a dragon with his abilities. He certainly would hope so but it wasn't worth holding his breath. Sayuri was digging around in the pack for food it seemed but for now he paid her little mind. His form would shift across the cave like a pale wraith in the moon light as he returned to his bedding and began to unroll it. Flattening it out and placing the pillow at the top. Ahh the creature comforts of a bed. Up on a ledge in the shadows of the room so that if someone came while he slept he would be more likely to spot them or sense them before they found him. At least that was the goal of taking the high ground for a sleeping position.

He would finish setting it up and slowly shift to lay down on it. The entire bedding smelled brand new. Never used before. She had purchased these supplies he realized. He would need to seek payment for his services from someone if they were to survive. Sure he could hunt for them and they could get by but there was a great deal to do before winter either way. He could see the sun cycles getting shorter already. Still when she voiced the question his eyes shifted to stare at the ceiling as he would lay on his back with one leg over the other and his hands resting on his chest. There was silence for a moment before he replied in a quiet but easily heard tone. Almost somber in nature.

"Dreams. I always wondered what they were like. People talk about them but rarely in great detail. However it seems like dreams are for the humans. Things like me do not dream so we can not have nightmares. For me all sleep is, is darkness until I awaken once more."

Picking a comfortable looking rock Sayuri would sit on it cross legged, a bag of almonds in one hand and her sketchbook in the other. Hearing that Sero didn’t have nightmares made her feel better, but that he didn’t have dreams also made her a bit sad. If he didn’t dream then when did he get to see all the fantastic creations that only exist at night? Flipping through her book again she looked at the drawings of her own dreams, her ice castle drawn over and over again, each time more intricate and detailed. Abandoning her almonds to the rock she would scurry over to where Sero lay and hold her book open for him to see. “This is what I dream of.” Her voice quavered a bit as she was so close to him and the fear was difficult to tamper down. “It’s my sanctuary, my ice castle. I’ll build it one day.” She would look at him with hope in her eyes, waiting to see his reaction.

Having very little experience with social interaction she had no concept of when it was appropriate to talk to someone. As they were laying down to perhaps go to sleep was probably not the best time, but her heart was in the right place at least. If he didn’t stop her she would point on the different floors of the castle, it’s entrances, guards and so on. She even went so far as to explain where he could live in it. “You can pick out your own spot though.” Her creations were one of her true passions and her excitement was palpable. “Don’t worry Sero, I’ll dream for you.” If sleep was just darkness for him then she would dream for the both of them.

Sero would glance down as she virtually popped up next to him. He had heard her moving around nearby but again he had been paying her little mind. She seemed excited about something so he would prop himself up on one elbow as he shifted to get a better look. Truthfully though it was dark and while she seemed intent on showing him her drawings he could only mildly follow along. She had dreams for a castle made of ice. While that sounded truly uncomfortable to him he wouldn't tear it down for her. There wasn't any point in tearing down those around you. Not those that didn't deserve it. Instead he would listen quietly and not interrupt her. It was all he could do was to listen to the dreams and hopes of others so that he could see their dreams become truth. She would mention dreaming for the both of them and a slight smile would touch his thin lips. Slowly his right hand would reach out and gently pat her twice on the head. He had seen parents do this with their children. So often when they accomplished something or sought validation. Perhaps it was the right thing to do?

"Than I will see your dreams on paper. And that will be enough. I am going to rest now Sayuri. I encourage you to do the same."

with that he would roll over and face the wall. Cold blue eyes staring at a dark stone wall. How like a grave this cave could be. Idly he would touch the cool stone and trace his fingers along a crack in the wall. If not for the hole in the ceiling this would be more like a tomb than a home. Still he knew they could change it. The question was, if they could change such a desolate place could he change too? Or would he enjoy his work so much it didn't matter? It was difficult to really know at this point. He was yet to take a mans life though many had considered or even tried to take his own. Slowly he would close his eyes and slow his breathing. Ahh yes. The darkness. He would fall to sleep here and awaken to the morning light like always. That was the thing about darkness. One didn't truly appreciate the morning without the loneliness of night. One didn't appreciate the light with out the dark.

Sayuri would beam as she received two gentle pats on the top of her head. The platonic touch made her feel as though she held some worth in Sero’s eyes and it warmed her icy heart. She had been so excited to share her dreams with him, it made her happy to know that he wasn’t put off by it. As he spoke of resting she realized that her enthusiasm could wait until another time, it was extremely late and the tiredness that had been just on the edge of her awareness came forward and took hold of her. With a nod to the man’s back she would close her book and walk to the other side of the cave where she had placed her bedding. A soft “Good night, Sero” was the last thing she said aloud as she began setting up a comfortable place to sleep.

The stone was, well, hard as rock. And something she was not used to was sleeping on anything less than a bed filled with pillows and blankets as soft as clouds. It took some time for her to finally arrange herself and her blankets and pillow into something that resembled a bed that wouldn’t have her back aching. She tried to do it as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her sleeping friend on the other side of their new home. She hoped she was far enough away from him, ten meters is what he had said, and she was pretty sure the distance between them was that far but measuring distances by eye was not something she was particularly adept at. This was among the many things she fretted over as she tried to fall asleep, that and what her parents would think when they found she was missing. She hadn’t bothered to leave a note or anything, even if she had it was unlikely that anyone would miss her for many, many days. If at all. Her parents were caring enough, but they’d long ago left her to her own devices as so many others had done throughout her life. Her heart mourned as she thought of all she’d lost by simply trying to do what made her happy, made her comfortable. With one final look towards Sero’s sleeping form she would close her eyes. She had a friend now, and that was something real that she could hold on to. Her sadness faded as she thought of their upcoming adventures together and she drifted away into their dreams.

Morning had come around to the cave of the lost ones. The sun was just beginning to rise on the horizon and Sero was already awake. Sayuri was still asleep and drooling lightly into her pillow so he would quietly shift to rise and move to the other side of the pool from her in the cave. If there was one thing he could do quietly for the time being while she slept it was to focus on his inner power. To meditate and attempt to bond further with his elements. He would find a seat on a circular rock a little taller than the others. Crossing his ankles under himself he would hold out his hands and slowly from his palms two bone disks would emerge before he would quietly set them to either side of himself. Once that was done he would take a breath and focus on clearing his mind. Setting his hands on his knee's as he found his calm center. A pool of water that he tossed all of his thoughts into. Calm and quiet. Only the ripples made as his thoughts sank and his mind drifted to nothing. Only the feel of his connection to the bones and the water before him.

Slowly the pool of water would begin to shift. Only a slightly lapping wave at first but soon it began to slowly churn. Moving counter clockwise as it slowly span in a circle. Soon once it was moving the bone disks next to him would start to rattle. Slowly the disks would rise into the air and split apart. Forming into bone feathers that hovered forward until they met the water from the pool in front of him. Slowly they would form a circle above the swirling pool before the water began to rise in droplets Hovering there and slowly spinning with the bone feathers in a nearly silent dance as the sun began to shine through above despite the mist. Slowly Sero would begin to lift his hands as the water began to swirl and rise up as it did. the feathers and water droplets slowly spinning around a water tornado in the center. He was feeling out his abilities all the more now as he grasped control over the water and tried to get the lot of it to hold still. Attempting to prevent the chaos. His hands would shake as his fingers would curl inwards as he fought for control.

Sayuri had dreamed of her castle again. Its icy spires reached for the heavens as it sat perched on the edge of a mountain. This time it was different though. The ice was dark, filling the halls with shadows and monstrous things. The sounds of her bare feet echoed, creating a soft bass that slowly reverberated into a deafening roar. Sero’s roar. She would awake with a start, opening her eyes and searching for something familiar. In her groggy state she couldn’t remember where she was or how she had come to be there. Dragging the back of her hand across her mouth she would wipe away a bit of drool, slowly pushing herself up to a sitting position. She couldn’t be sure she was actually awake as she looked around the cavern and saw at its center a spinning vortex of water and bone, sparkling in the rising sun. She would blink several times and rub at her eyes before she was certain what she was seeing was not a left over figment from her dreams.

She would watch silently, after a time realizing that she had awoken where she had fallen asleep. She was in a cave in the woods with Sero, her new friend. She vaguely remembered her dreams, though as the light of morning swept into the cave the fear that had clutched at her faded, and the darkness and terror of those halls went with it. Swinging her feet out from underneath her covers she placed her bare feet on the cool stone of the floor. The hunger from the night before growled angrily at her from her stomach and she would look towards where Sero sat concentrating, hoping she hadn’t unintentionally disturbed him. Moving as silently as she could Sayuri would make her way across the room and pick up her discarded bag of almonds, putting one in her mouth and chewing quietly. Sitting down on a boulder she would eat quietly as she watched the fantastic display of Sero’s powers, not saying anything unless he noticed her.

Sero would remain quiet as his hands shifted and moved to control the small torrent of water before him. At his level it was a struggle and he could already feel the pace of his heart increasing. He was straining himself. That was the point of chakra training after all. To gain more power by pushing your understanding of your limits. He felt stronger than he had when he was laying in the hospital but now he wished for more. However he wasn't blind by any means. His cold blue eyes took in Sayuri mozying about on the other side of the water and bones he was manipulating. She appeared to be eating something which only reminded him of his own hunger. For now though he would ignore it. He was attempting to shape the water into something. He would take a breath as he refocused. The water only wavering a moment as a bead of sweat shifted down his cheek. Slowly the water and bones would begin to stop spinning and slowly come together. It appeared as if he was creating an Owl by all appearances. Gradually it was coming together as the feathers began to fall into place.

This process would take several minutes and after it was done Sero grit his teeth in the struggle to maintain it. He was feeling like the weight of his arms might be too much. Like he could drop them and lose control at any moment. However there was a point to this beyond just himself. The water would finally go still as the water owl with bone feathers would take it's full shape. Transparent eyes seemed to look to Sayuri as Sero would find his breathing to be ragged and heavy. Almost having to gasp for air as he approached a momentary limit. Finally he would call out to Sayuri across the room from himself. His voice carrying as the shape warbled just a little of the owl between them. This practice would be for her as well. His voice was calm though. Almost reassuringly so. Perhaps too calm for what he was accomplishing?

"Sayuri, I want you to try and freeze the owl without freezing me or the rest of the cave. I want to see if you can pinpoint focus your power. Focus on just the owl and make it solid. I can not hold this for long so you must do it now."

Sayuri watched in awe as the water droplets and bone feathers swirled together and took form. The avian creature made of water seemed to look at her as the feathers made of bone settled on it making its design more clear. A tiny smile would form on Sayuri’s face as she recognized the creation as an owl and she would look up at it with curiosity. Since it was something that Sero was making she had half expected it to be some terrifying monster, but seeing now that he had made an ordinary and beautiful bird it brought his manner into a new light. He was terrifying to be sure, but it seemed that the inexplicable dread that radiated from him was perhaps not all he was. She’d seen as much in his actions over the last day, but now here was the proof to her theory. His mind was beautiful and complex just like the owl that hovered above the pool.

As Sero’s remarkably calm voice requested her interaction she would raise an eyebrow. She made intricate sculptures all the time, but the difference between those and what he was currently asking of her was that her sculptures she was able to touch. She would rise from her seat despite her misgivings though and move closer to the pool and the owl. He had instructed her to do it quickly and she would do as he asked, but she was not so sure this wouldn’t end poorly. The only creatures she had made without having to touch them were her guardians, and those were horribly twisted and grotesque monsters. Nothing at all like the elegant bird that hung in the air in front of her. Taking a deep breath she would outstretch her hand towards the water creature, seeking out the water with her mind and will it to freeze. It was slower than she would have liked as she struggled to freeze only the floating water that made up the owl’s form. She knew that if she were to stop concentrating her ice would spread to everything as he said, and the last thing she wanted to do was freeze her friend. Her eyes would start to turn white as she concentrated on her task, the sparkling water droplets crystallizing and shining brilliantly as the sunlight refracted off the newly created edges of ice. Her effort was plain to see on her face, her jaw set and her lips pressed together to form a grim line of determination while frost crept its way along the ground near her feet.

Sero would find himself struggling. A bead of sweat produced out of his forehead and he would feel it slowly freeze before it reached his cheek. The air in the cave was growing colder and the sculpture he had produced was getting heavier. He had thought himself able to hand it but soon it was considerably heavier than it had been as just a mass of water and bone. He held his trembling hands out as he panted slightly. His breath making a fine mist. He could feel the cold creeping around him but nothing was dangerous to him just yet. Such a practice was difficult and dangerous and some may have started simpler. However if she was going to work with him she would need precision to keep from harming him in the process of her attacks. He was aware of the possibilities between his own body and her control over the ice. They could do great and terrible things together but one misstep and they could find themselves surrounded by danger and disabled. He would avoid that situation if he could but for now, practice was important. The more accustomed she became using her jutsu around him the more valid a team mate she would become.

For now though he did not have the stamina to keep a hold of the rapidly increasing weight of the owl. Slowly it began to lose form and then he had to let it go with a gasp. The small part of the owl that had frozen over solid crashed into the pool and quickly sank to the bottom while the rest of the slushie like water would splash onto the top and settle there. The water sloshing in aggressive waves against the edges of the pool. Sero would let his hands fall to his sides before he would gasp for air. With each breath it became more and more apparent that he was regaining control. A black set of veins rippled across his face before he took one last, long, steadying breath. His blue eyes looking back to Sayuri with that same cold gaze as always.

"We shall preform that practice every morning until the two of us can fully freeze the owl. For now we made progress. There is one more issue of business before I leave for my exploration. The dead beast outside. We need to move it to the river and let the current take it. If you can freeze it, we could slide it along easier without any smells."

Sayuri was concentrating so hard on freezing only the water within the owl that when it dropped she would jump. Looking across to Sero she could see that performing that task had taken its toll on him, as he breathed heavily she noticed black veins across his face like the ones she had seen the day before. She wondered what that meant for him but the question she was forming in her mind was quickly forgotten as he spoke of repeating the exercise daily. Sayuri would take a deep breath, looking at the slowly sinking slush and ice that had once been a beautiful bone and ice crystal sculpture. It made her feel a little sad watching their creation sink and melt away, and she decided then that she would use that sense of loss as motivation for future practices. She would nod in agreement to his suggestion, she could see how between the two of them they could create wonderful and terrible things, but she did need to practice since she didn’t want to accidentally hurt him.

She considered his request for her to freeze the creature outside and then nodded emphatically as an idea came to her. “I can do that.” She would make her way to the entrance of the cave and blink a few times as she stepped into the sunlight. There was sunlight in the cave from the convenient hole in its ceiling but as it mostly remained in shadow the transition was still dazzling and left her unable to see clearly for a moment. She hadn’t needed to see though in order to know where the body lay, it’s smell was not overpowering yet but it was strong. A sickly sweet smell that was strangely comforting as she now had tied the memory of that battle to the corpse's stench. Focusing on the chakra within her she would close her eyes and will the icy coldness into the area around her, creating crystalline formations in her mind and giving them form. Around her the air would cool considerably as a light snow began to fall, strangely resistant to the warmness of the sun. Frost would form on her fingers as she formed the seal of the dog and creep across the ground as she would kneel down and touch the earth beside the dead creature. Her eyes seemed to glow as they turned white in response to her channeling her ice release, that same whiteness slithering and crackling its way over the body, freezing it solid. Once she was certain she had frozen it completely she would place a hand on the dead creature and in an almost loving tone spoke to it again. “Thank you for opening my eyes. Rest well.” It was the first thing she had ever killed, and it had felt natural, wonderful even. She knew now, thanks to this beast, that she was not powerless in the face of danger and she held that rage in her mind as she gently and calmly caressed the icy figure, lost in thoughts of bloodlust and revenge.  

Trained ‘Preservation’ (D-Rank Custom) 150/150

Sero would watch as she nodded. She had a conviction to better herself which he could admire. As she shifted to do his bidding and move out of the cave he would shift his fingers. Feeling them crack slightly from the cold but nothing painful. Just like popping his knuckles. He would rise to his feet and shift to walk towards the entrance. He would move up slowly as he regained his strength. Moving to quietly stand in the door way as he leaned against the edge of the cave. One hand rising to rest against a stalagmite and hold himself in place. It didn't matter who was the strongest fighter or who was the one left standing at the end of a fight. Even the last survivor would mean nothing to him. There was only one crown he cared for and it had his name on it. He would build an empire of wrath against the wicked. Perhaps he would never have a physical castle or an actual throne. If he did though he knew it would be with her by his side and if she stayed, His fortress would be made of ice as it was in her drawing. If his wishes came true, so would her dreams.

He would glance to the snow in the air as he felt a chill pass over him. How cold she made the very air as she tried. He would watch ice spread across the corpse like white veins slowly spreading out. Soon the entire black beast was frozen over as a solid white sculpture. Outside it was as if winter had spread. Still once she was done he would step forward. The snow crunching under his shoes as he moved forward to touch her shoulder. His eyes looking over her work without expression. Though his touch would feel warm and for a moment it was as if his aura had faded to a dull whisper. Until he stepped forward and seemed to look through the tree's. Speaking to her as he did.

"That technique I used last night to bring in the cart. It makes for moving things easier as it covers the ground in a slick substance. Like an oil. However it's just not large enough as a jutsu to reach the river fully. However there is a way to amplify your techniques.....I want you to stand next to the creatures head as it is closest to the river and focus your suiton chakra. Feel it building in your throat and form the tiger hand seal. Before you finish the jutsu add the snake seal to it. It will empower the jutsu and more than reach the river. Do not hesitate, do not doubt...only do."


400+
150/150 Focused Amplification (c rank) trained

Sayuri was lost in thought, appreciating the lessons this dead thing had taught her. And imagining all she could learn from others in the future. She did not know how long she knelt there caressing the now frozen corpse, it was the warm hand on her shoulder that brought her mind forward again into reality. She would turn and look up at Sero, marvelling at the strange calmness she felt, the fear seemingly being held at bay for a moment as his hand rested on her. The moment was short lived as she watched him look through the trees around them, stepping towards where she remembered the river being. She would rise and listen carefully as he explained his intentions with the dead creature. She remembered the jutsu he had cast the night before and would nod as she stepped forward to create a similar pathway towards the water.

She didn’t often utilize her access to water or wind, preferring to exist in the cold and crystalline sanctuary of her ice release. With some effort she would summon her will, forming the tiger seal and feeling the wave build up within her. Just as he had instructed before she would complete the jutsu she would switch to the snake, feeling the wave build even more as a foamy substance would be expelled from her mouth with force and spread along the ground, creating a slick and slippery pathway. The frozen corpse would easily be able to be pushed along its surface, even the underbrush not posing an issue as the wave flowed in and around the leaves and branches that made up the forest floor. She felt drained and she would tremble as she released the seal, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand instinctively. This was more chakra than she normally used in a day, and she knew she would have to train harder to ensure that she could keep up with Sero. She would bend and push against the dead creature, urging it to glide along the path she had created towards the river where it could flow out to the open sea and rest finally in its depths.

Wild Bubble Wave (C-Rank Library) 150/150 - Trained
Focused Amplification (C-Rank Library) 150/150 - Trained

Sero would stand to the side and watch her. His cold blue eyes matching his blank expression. He didn't suspect she could fail. It never even crossed his mind. He simply expected a great deal from her. She was his friend. His first friend and as such she was above suspicions of any time of limitations. She was not like him but she held a strength and patience most humans did not. Beyond that there was a monster within her. Not that humans didn't all have a beast within but he had seen it. Seen the rage that exploded out of her and the cold of winter that came with it. He would not aid her as she pushed with all her might against the creature and sent the frozen beast skating across the jutsu she had produced. Letting it slide as it picked up speed until it crashing into the river itself. Sinking underneath the writhing current and being carried away. His blue eyes would slowly follow it before he would see it fade from sight. It would be some time before it thawed and it would be carried miles from them by then. Their first enemy dead and never to be seen again.

He would nod in satisfaction before he turned and moved to stand by sayuri. She seemed exhausted from what she had managed but he didn't seem to consider it much. Flesh had limitations. As did he. Still his eyes looked over the impressive expanse of the jutsu. He would take it in even as it began to fade like ashes in the wind. Finally he would speak once more. His voice monotone in nature but it usually was.

"You did well. There is untapped power within you. I will be going to spy upon the Hozuki main compound today. You are free to leave of course if you wish as well but if you do not, I am sure you can defend our home well enough on your own now. I will return before nightfall. Hopefully having accomplished something with the day."

With that he turned. Not much of one to do drawn out farewells. Instead he would seem to almost float off into the mists. Soon fading from sight and his aura fading from memory. Allowing her to calm down for the first time since she returned. No sense of impending doom left behind.

exit thread
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