Moment Of Peace~

[Eechi-go]

((As the title said, it's pretty much an open RP, but no NCIA characters, you people fun up the peace XD, unless you make them less "RAWR KILL RESISTANCE" ))

Kinsen 'Raz' Rasen

There is freedom within, there is freedom without

Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup

The day was warm, but not too intense, enough to be comfotable without dieing of a stroke. The sun seemed to glow down more on Kusagakure no Sato, and the blades of grass bathed within the light that the sun let off, gifting the world with it's warmth and heat. The sounds of battle in the distance did not exist, no tension fell onto the land. It was one of those rare days that made it seem like the world had digressed back to the days of peace, rather then a day of anguish, struggle, and battle. Though lands seemed stained with the blood of shinobi who faught for their cause, the intense green of the trees and grass made it seem as if no blood was ever spilled in history.

Would it be like this forever? Would the world stay in this state for more then a few moments? As much as one could wish, the world was in too much turmoil for it to be changed within a moment. But how long would it take? Why couldn't it take just a moment? A moment of realization that all the fighting between shinobi was senseless, that no country was better then another, nor did they deserve to enslave the rest of the world.

A young boy layed on one of the towering hillsides of Kusa, looking down at the microcosm below. He seemed asleep, but he was really keeping his eyes from taking in the intense light of this day, his eyes were odd enough already, he didn't need more of a reason to want to get rid of them. He let out a small sigh, but it wasan't one of dispair or disappointment like the rest had been, it was more of a pleased, content side. A four stringed bass layed at his side, the sun gleaming off it's blue body, nearly back at the glowing orb itself.

He had no intentions of training today, that would kill the moment, why train? Train to fight? Yes, there were battles ahead indeed, but today, it seemed like there would never be another fight in anyone's lifetime. Foolish? Yes, of course, the boy was a bit naive, but he was happy being a fool.

There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost

But you'll never reach the end of the road while your traveling with me.

[Cloudnine]

A small crescent-like shadow cut through the gentle fronds of tallgrass.

Caw. Like chalk on pavement. Glittering feathers soared through the blue sky. The crow liked the feeling of the wind against her face, ruffling feathers.

Peacetime. When such a shinobi technight was simply utilized for a pleasant ride instead of a method of high-strung infiltration and deceit. She loved the panning view of Kusa's greenery. There was so much to see, to witness.

The wilted flowers that I gave-

-not as nice as your bouquet.

Passing a few rolling hills, the black beady eyes fell onto something strange. Something that wasn't green. She saw red and blue. Tilting her wings to one side, the crow began her descent from the warm updrafts above the canopy.

Who?

She landed in a flurry of wings, those false feathers scattering through the air. Stubby feet outstretched in landing, the crow touched the ground beside the red-haired boy. Hopping about to perch upon the neck of the guitar [a few odd cords inevitably strummed their way into the air- a not so good melody], she cocked her head and clacked her beak.

And then something that oddly sounded like an attempted hoot.

From a crow.

Every drawing that I drew-

-was never ever as cute as you.

[Eechi-go]

Hey now, Hey now

Don't dream it's over

The sound of chords being played by someone who was not himself was definetly unusual for the boy, he was very protective of his guitar. He built it from scratch, so it was an understandable feeling. His dodge blue eye opened very slightly, and it shifted twards the crow. Well that was odd, possibly one of the Harakage's animals? No, this one didn't talk, it hooted. Wait, hooted? What crow hoots?

Well, it was to be expected, Kusa was full of freaky little critters, he learned that after he met the squirrel that became his sensai for a bit. Of course, the acorn keychain that dangeled from the end of the neck was a tribute to him, he was the one who gave the boy a great power. The power of the wind.

The boy opened his other eye, which was an emerald green color. The light reflected off it greatly, and made it nearly look like the actual gem. He just stared at the crow, something was odd about it, that was for certain, yet familiarity loomed within the air. He suddenly felt the heat grip him, which made him unzip his jacket. Underneath were bandages that ran up his torso, ending slightly below the waistline of his pants. It looked as if there was a few stains of red, but they didn't seem all too bad, atleast not anymore.

Hey now, Hey now

When the world comes in.

[Cloudnine]

The crow's gaze transfixed intently at the mismatched eyes. She teetered around, her grip on the guitar not too strong. Wings batted emptily against the air as it fluttered away a few feet. The boy's hand had reached up, startling her. In the crow state, almost any human being could crush her with his bare hands.

Do you remember me?

'Coz guess what?

I sure remember

No one else like you.

Alighting neatly, realigning stray feathers, she inquisitively stared again. Chirp. Or something that sounded like that. Small animals already had an insane heartrate. And she felt in within her- pumping to the point where it'd burst. Unable to retain the form under emotional circumstances, she shrieked out a warning call, flapping her wings while talons dug into the dirt.

She the tried to shake the chakra off, free her form.

She couldn't be bottled up as this bird.

Feathers filled the air, and then puff.

"Raz?" Came the shouting. "Raz!" And the girl's form quickly pierced through the wall of black feathers, coming towards the boy in a full-fronted flying embrace.

[Eechi-go]

They come, they come

To build a wall between us.

The chirp drew his eyes back to the bird. First a hoot, now a chirp? What the hell? This was one screwed up crow, that was for sure. It began reacting funny now, but it slightly amused Raz as it seemed to flip out in it's small body. However, it blew up into a small tower of smoke, and out of it, his name was blarred into his ear.

You could ask him several years from now, what the hell happened, and he still would never have an answer. He heard his name yelled once more, before his body seemed thrown to the side, rolling again onto his back, and gripping the figure that now layed on him. Pain shot through his torso, and this was obvious, seeing as how he flinched for a few moments, his eyes crashing closed. He sucked in air quickly, before reopening his mismatched eyes.

There, ontop of him, layed the girl he had searched for, for near a year. Just how he remembered her, however, something was diffrent about her. He wasan't frowning, nor was she crying. She seemed...happy. Raz's expression lit up, he assumed he'd had fallen asleep, and he needed to wake up. He would have had such a horrible sunburn, being fair skinned and all. "Y-your..." he began, but then he remembered something. He didn't know her name. Well now he felt retarded.

We know they won't win.

Edited August 8, 2007 by Eechi-go

[Cloudnine]

"How'd you- what're-" Silly question. It formulated in several thousand different ways, but they all flew out at the same time so that the girl's mouth was at a loss. "You're-

What a strange question. 'You're still alive?' How optimistic of her.

Noticing the previous grimace on Raz's face, the girl shifted her weight so that she wasn't all over him. Take a breath. Her heart was flying a mile a minute. Excitement. Something had turned the tide- something had erased a tally from her record of losses. Was she dreaming?

No- she can't be. Or else her crow form would have crashed minutes ago. But was she dreaming after the crash? Silly girl. Nothing of that made sense.

"I-I never knew that-" Pause. There was some befuddlement- strange feelings left without description. Joy, yes she felt that. But another- something unforseen, unnamed. It jerked at her gut and constricted her throat- "I'd see you again."

Sniffle.

And then she was crying.

For the second time in Raz's eyes.

[Eechi-go]

Now I'm walking again

To the beat of a drum

And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart

They were both practically speechless at this point. Well, who would have guessed they'd both survive the trials and tribulations against them? Way too many walls were thrusted upon them, all of which had expected them to leap them. Even death was an obsticle, yet Raz managed to leap that one, altough he got a limb or two caught in the wall.

"Nor did I...but I liked to stay optimistic." he said with a priceless smile, the pressure on his torso lifting, though she was still on him, which in all honesty, he didn't mind in the slightest. He really couldn't believe it, but he had to. He could feel her laying on him, and he could feel the warmth radiating off of her. She was real, so she wasan't dead.

Thank God for that.

"Must be my lucky day, spent a year lookin' for you, I was afraid of what happened to you." he said, it was true, one whole year of selfless actions in order to reach her was something that came natural to him, and gave him a bit of humility. He felt tears drop onto his cheeks, she cried once more. This time though, he could be there, rather then against her. A hand reached up below her eye, and a finger wiped them away. "Hey, comon, I'm alive, I wonder how bad this was when I 'died'."

Only shadows ahead

Barely clearing the roof

Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief

Edited August 8, 2007 by Eechi-go

[Fluffywerewolf]

And amidst the silence.

One last voice reveals itself

and gives breath to an unvoiced sorrow

The wind flicked at the edges of crimson hair. In a tree, not all that far from the scene, a powerful figure watched the re-unification of two other shinobi with tears in his eyes. There would be no such meeting with his friend. He knew his friend had died. It had been by his hand that Amisharo Suzuke had fallen. The NCIA vest, still gennin in rank, though he had achieved chunnin status long ago, hung about his massive shoulders in shreds. The name tag, however, still remained. Shodaan R'Angh.

It was a rare day in Kusagakure, a day of peace and contentment for those who had strove so hard to achive just that. The sun hung lazily in the air, warming the back of shodaan's neck. But leaving his heart still frigid. Even were he to be placed in the eternal fires, the cold emptiness in his chest would never be truly alleiveated. He felt so...alone.

Letting a sigh fall from his heavy chest, the man dropped down out of the tree, landing gracefully in the grass. A whisper of sound was all that could have been heard by any who wasn't a sound nin. Slowly, deliberately, he walked toward the pair in the grass.

One, a female he didn't recognize was resting atop of another's torso. This other, however, shodaan did recognize. Not from personal experience with him, but from the desceased documents of the NCIA. This man was known as Raz, and was supposed to have died along with the ledgendary Cho Hakkai. He was also a resistance member.

((ooc- no, no killing, just wanted to join in. Ignore me if you'd rather I not.))

An encounter approaches

To test his nerve,

And maybe warm his heart

[Cloudnine]

I know good things, I know bad as well

Any witness of the world can tell

If there is sorrow, then there is beauty and trust

A secret pearl inside the heart of us...

Haramatsu Korin.

Kusagakure; Chuunin Hunter-nin.

Aided in the killing of Kinsen Razen, Oto Resistance.

Site of scrimmage: Lorien, Country of Grass.

The girl recalled those statements being listed into her record, possibly bumping up her reputation, giving her a better chance of being selected for a more perilous mission. But how could those four lines of brazen typewriter text capture anything of that chapter? It didn't say how she quarreled with her teammate Nirobi Taj [deceased now] about Raz's fate, or how she extracted Taj's arrows and urged their target to run. It didn't say anything about the tears, the fear... the internal struggles and turmoil afterwards. She was forced into admitting Raz's death to her captain, nothing of her reluctance to execute her duty.

But Raz wasn't dead. After struggling through those cliche 'stages of grief' [spending most of her suffering in denial and anger], she still hadn't reached acceptance yet. And then now...

Korin had touched dead bodies before. Touched the cold, stiff flesh of her headless teammates.

But Raz wasn't dead- he was animated, warm, talking. His eyes followed sights of interest. They weren't locked or glassy. And he was cringing when Korin had initially pounced on him.

There wasn't anything else needed.

Nothing else to prove that he was alive.

"I was so scared-" Blabbering. Raz was wiping the salty dollops from her eyes- but her vision still blurred. "I felt so bad after-" I never wanted to hurt you- never wanted to say goodbye.

Korin never used that same blast she unleashed on Raz since the incident. Well- she used it once, but she was pretty damn sure it'd miss. And it did miss. By a few miles.

She swallowed. She had to stop this nonsense crying. She did it all too often- crying buckets as she lugged the once-dead body of her sensei back into the Fang headquarters. [The fact that she was the only one able to escape Hakumei under the pursuit of Azumi and Nidori did play a factor as well, though.]

Loss.

The girl was wholly unaware of another presence approaching- that of her distant ex-comrade. Sure she's seen his face a few times during the time she spent under Uchiha Haruki's command. But she never extended a hand of welcome- exchanged a subtle smile- none of that. She wished she could've.

So truly, there is light that I want to see baby

Now that I know what I am living for

Truly, there is joy that I want to feel baby

Here in this world is where I want to be

'Cause I can't cry anymore

[Eechi-go]

((It's fine, like I said, as long as it isin't all RAWR RAWR kill, tis fine))

You've crossed the finish line

Won the Race but lost your mind

Was it worth it after all?

"I've always been lucky." he said with a grin. Which was true, he had always managed to pull something unbelieveable out of thin air to save his butt several times in the past. This time, he felt like the rest of the luck he had for his life vanished with that last moment. Raz noticed she still cried, and one dropplet landed within his blue eye, causing it to close shut.

Raz hadan't cried, no, not scince the loss of the academy students during the Kumo invasion, and even then he desperately pulled himself together to seek out the resistance and claim his spot within their rankings. Alas, Oto was nearly empty, and his sensai, Cho Hakkai, and himself were the final sons of Oto. As much as there was to cry about, the loss of all the resistance, Kusa's betrayal, and Zala's flight, Raz still found ways to keep his smile on his face. Unlike most people nowadays, he looked tward the bright future, rather then the shadowed present.

"You weren't the one to cause it, your the one who tried your best to save me. That's why I came all this way and back, I figured I owed you the same thing, I was afraid of what might have happened to you, and I needed to keep the rest of the resistance from harming you." he said, and yes, he did request several members of the resistance not to kill her if spotted, of course, they probobly though of him as a traitor himself. What did he care? Her life was more important then the thoughts of others.

The man who approached was unoticed by Raz, no, not yet. he was too focused on the moment then on the looming visitor. Some ninja he was, 'shinobi must never show emotion' was the rule he hated the most in the academy, shinobi weren't tools, they were real people, with real feelings, with lives that had meaning. He did feel as if someone was watching though, so he did brace himself in case.

I need you here with me

Cause love is all we need

Just take a hold of the hand that breaks the fall.

[Cloudnine]

Korin rolled away and sat up now, feeling that the moment may grow a little too awkward if she stayed the way she was. Additionally, keeping her weight to one side cramped her thigh- she didn't want to collapse right onto Raz's collage of injury again.

She sighed. The crying was stopping. The small tremors stopped shaking up her speech and breathing. Sniffle.

"You don't owe me anything, Raz." She insisted that somewhat. Korin had always been the one to emphasize 'human values'. To always save a life, sometimes there's no reward for that. But to see a life live through another day was enough of a prize for the girl. She took pride in that. To see someone breath a day longer, smile a day longer. She wanted to protect, defend.

"You're free to do what you want- no strings attached." Not sure where this is going, "I was just... doing what I think is right." She was never the one to easily accept gratitude. She'd always shy away, blush, fidget, and say 'Oh no, so-and-so deserves it more than me,' or 'oh, it was nothing'.

For once in your life just let it go.

No eye is ever on the sparrow.

Wiping away the rest of the tears herself, and saw something out of place. A squinting gaze fixed onto a figure in the nearness. Her eyes never left the silhoutte- danger? She wasn't sure. He was approaching, slowly. "Raz-" she hissed sharply. The girl tensed, sitting still like good prey did.

Who's that? It looks vaguely familiar.

Another ghost of her past- the memories.

[Eechi-go]

I'm no Superman

(I'm no Superman)

He watched his her sobs calmed down, and felt a tad disappointed when she rolled away, there was a nice warmth before, however, he still felt it, but not all over. He sat up, his whole body in her view now. He looked a little older, as well as a bit taller. His face still maintained the 3 primary colors that had always been there, green, blue, and red. His outfit had changed as well, which would be expected, scince clothing doesn't typically come out of explosions in one piece.

His new grab was a midnight blue, practically black, long sleeved turtle neck that goes down past his hips. The sleeves of the shirt were long and baggy, being several inches wide, as well as long, the sleeves sometimes covering up one half of his palm. The collor of the shirt was formfitting and had a zipper that went down to the end of the fiber. There was a dodger blue outline around the zipper going down, matching it's length. He wore pants that were very baggy with the same color as the jacket, and went down to his ankles. A small amount of bandages could be seen, proceeded by his black shinobi sandles. The clothing was quite a soft material, and seemed to be comfortable.

Of course, scince the jacket had been unzipped, the horrible bandages that held the scars of six monthes past were visable, yet his body still looked like it was in good shape. He was always athletic, being typically faster then most of the people around him. His head band was tied along a bit of hair in the back, making a small ponytail. He still maintained his aura of comfort, in which anyone around him could be calmed down easily.

The whole 'no strings attatched' thing made his face go red. He was more mature, sure. But he still maintained his pervertedness, just to a lesser extent. However, he didn't say a word, last thing he needed to do was chase her off. "H-hey...what's your name?" he asked, a stupid smile on his face as he laughed nervously. He introduced himself in the forest, but he didn't recieve the same privilage.

He heard his name, and his eyes immediatly shot tward the boy nearby. His hand gripped the neck of his guitar on the ground. He didn't recognize the boy, but it was always best to be on guard, just incase.

Someday, we'll be together

Someday~

Edited August 8, 2007 by Eechi-go

[Fluffywerewolf]

The outsider comes still closer,

a presence of fear to be felt.

Will they forgive him his sins?

Shodaan smiled, seeing the young man grasp the neck of his guitar. Remove your hand from your weapon, sound nin, I come with no intention to harm you. Believe me, if i had, you would be dead already. Still he stood, his massive arms outstretched in a non-threatening way. His palms pointed out, in the tradition of surrendering sound shinobi who have the air pressure device implant.

[Cloudnine]

Korin relaxed. Eyes that were forced to become steely and harsh softened into those of a simple teenage girl. Glare relinquished, she felt a glimmer of a smile tug at the sides of her lips, but... not yet. She'd have to pretend to be someone else for just a little longer. Or maybe she'd be hurt again.

Fancy meeting you here, she mused. It sounds like you've gotten quite strong.

Letting her shoulders slump over again, she began, "I believe we've met somewhat before." She tried to hide the slight edge of bitterness in her voice as best she could- anything and anyone she last remembered as 'associated with Haruki' didn't strike a pleasant vibe. How many more villages has Hakumei demolished? How many souls has Hakumei torn apart? She knew she couldn't ask. Maybe Shodaan escaped Hakumei as well? She didn't know. Headstrong- she never looked before she leapt.

She reluctantly had to set aside Raz's hesitant question. She had to know more about Shodaan- what had happened these past few months- if he remained under Haruki's command, then her name may be leaked out...

Korin had done everything she could to erase herself from the NCIA.

She couldn't lose that.

[Eechi-go]

Raz's eyes hardened at the man's comment. "Oh really?" he thought to himself. "I'd bet everything I have that that ain't true..." he then remembered the moment of peace, and he, unwillingly, let go of his weapon.

He had layed back again, his eyes still starring at the man, when began to speak. "Your NCIA, I've never seen you here." he said, he recognized almost everyone within Kusa and Oto who were in the resistance, he made it an effort, he didn't want to be caught off guard one day, thinking an enemy was an ally.

The girl's words caught his attention, so they knew each other, if only slightly. What if he came to try and bring her back? Like hell he'd allow that. It was worth breaking the moment of peace to keep her from going back to that miserable group that was the NCIA.

[Fluffywerewolf]

The massive young man's voice cracked somewhat when he spoke;

Somewhat, yes. We met at the fortress hakumei. Though we never met face to face, i was aware of your existance. But... Once more, tears bled from his ink black eyes.

Hakumei, Haruki-sama, and all of the city of coal have been left behind me now. I left. I managed, somehow, to escape their grasp. But, as with you, the cost was too terrible for me to bear. My friend, my dearest friend, was to be the sacrifice that would allow me to exit the hellish fortress. And I...I was to be his executioner.

His shoulders, massive attatchments that looked to be able to hold all the world upon them, shook with grief. He sobbed quietly for a moment, and managed to wrangle his thoughts together.

Looking down at the Resistance nin, shodaan could not help but see some of Suzuke in him. A powerful spirit, as well as a natural cunning and charm.

NCIA, Resistance, Hakumei...What does it matter to whom our alliances are held? In any case, the cost of this war has grown too high. There has already been too much bloodshed. But no, I am not NCIA, and for a time, nor was she.

Shodaan let his body fall onto the grass, his back landing on the soft grass with a solid "THUMP"

But as i said; What does it matter now? I have no desire to continue the fight. All i want to do now is lay back, and let the sun warm me. To not worry about being killed, killing, or stopping a killing. I just want it all to end.

With that, the large man let out a sigh, one that immitated that of the Restistance member in pitch, a trick most sound nin knew, and smiled.

My name, should you care, is shodaan. Shodaan R'Angh.