"We may be both hybrids but our origin is not the same. You were forced into one while I was not."</B><i></i>
It seemed to be something he liked to remind her of. That what she was different. He was of course right but she did not want to hear it. She did not want to be reminded. She looked away.
"Never knew heritage and lineage was a choice," Michi countered. It was true, what she was done was done to her and a part of her felt ashamed. It was not the first time she had been humiliated, she would take a deep breath and try to hide her resentment and ignominy. Like with most things, her life lacked choice and she lacked the strength to ensure that she had one. The irony of all of this was the fact that she would have chosen Mikaboshi's 'dark gift,' yes she saw it as a 'gift,' over continuing to endure Nao's curse. There were other ways around it, yes. A fellow Dark Sage could have removed her misery, She lacked the skill in the craft to do it on her own. It was simply another failing of hers; something she did not even want to talk about. She tightened her jacket and crossed her arms. For those that were versed in non-verbals they would know what this indicated, that she was uncomfortable. That she was closing this part of herself off. There were things that even an Oracle did not want to discuss.
"I'd rather not discuss too much, but it has been quite the hot and sweaty experience. I am Senju after all. Was there any doubts?"
At least there was a change of subject, not that Michi had much pride left to salvage. Still, the respite was appreciated. She was interested in their interaction, she was peripherally aware of Kazuki's family but beyond the clansman bond that they all shared she had done next to no research on those closest to him.
"No, never. I know what you can do and you never cease to amaze me."
How sweet. He actually loves her. She could tell. There was a pang of jealousy, not that she desired his love or the affections of anyone in particular. She had never felt that way about anyone and what little love she had experienced in her life was twisted and perverse. Yes, there was someone that loved her, but love was possessive in his mind. The envy came from the fact that Natsuru earned that sentiment and it was real, it was not just something he said because he was supposed to nor was it something he was jealously guarding.
"He loves you," she observed
"as much as you do." There was a petty part of her that did not want to warn them about Number Six. A niggling desire to let them be as miserable as her. She did not know that Roku's association with the Soverign was known. There was much she did not know. She could have stayed silent silent but she would not, she was not that contemptible. Roku was dangerous, but they seemed to already be aware and they did not appear to care.
"I know. We all are but as long as the Kazekage trusts him, so shall I. If he ever breaks my confidence, I will break him."
She shook her head. He would not.
"That is not it," she protested. Her shoulders slumped, he was not going to understand and it was a secondary concern at the present time. They were in dangerous territory, Roku could wait. With a sigh she would remind him of why he was in danger and she would urge him to run. They still could, he still had time. She would try again to convince him. It was a desperate plea to some sensible part of him that understood her words.
He needed to flee.
"Run? I do not run."
"At least they have finally been properly honoured. They deserve at least this much after all they did . I miss them. If you do wish to visit Konoha I would like to accompany you. We might not be that welcome and I would have some peace of mind if I was nearby in case you needed my assistance. Is there any problems with that, overlord?
Neither of them were listening to a word that she said. It was frustrating -- they were both in danger! It was a true fact that she was behind the Cabal's attack, she was the one that made the plan that Akio facilitated. She saw the village as a fragile subterranean bubble that could easily be popped. She saw the Toraono family as foolishly open, both to those entering their ranks and those that could enter their home. They rarely minded what went on in their own walls. This was celebrated by most, but it was also seen as an oppertunity for those such as herself. Yes, they could survive entry into Kohona, that much was true but not as known residents or guests. That was how the Cabal did it, they did not make fanfare of their entry until they already had the city on their knees. It was so much easier that way, when you had a position of control. They had no control in this situation and that was dangerous.
"Enough. Even though I have a letter from the Hokage, a man I placed in that position to begin with, pardoning everyone that did not return promptly, I know what the risks are. Natsuru, as much as I would like to have you see our old home, you are in a much greater risk than I am. If they do try to hold me back, they risk going to war with Sunagakure. They have no such liability with you. No, you will have to return back to Sunagakure."
There was that love again. That illogical affection. It was not in his best interest to send her away.
"You are incorrect Sennin Senju," Michi insisted.
"You are the one in peril, not her. You were the Sennin of Kohona, the Ambassador of Iwa, the Sennin of Suna, Overlord of the Senju Clan and now trusted Ambassador in this deal. You are the logical target. No offense intended towards your sibling, but the only names she has earned are all due to an association with you. I appreciate your affections towards your sister, they are quite enlightening. I envy the relationship in fact... even if it will likely only bring you future heartache." She identified his weakness then and there and it was likely that if anyone else would know of that weakness it would be them.
"If I wanted to hurt you. To make you bend to my will and intent, I would strike at your heart." She pointed at Natsuru,
"I would take the thing you love and I would break it." She took a breath, the thought crossed her mind to demonstrate this fact and force Kazuki to comply with her demand to return home. She wondered if she could. She believed she was capable but the odds were not in her favor and even if they were she was giving him a choice.
"You are stronger together than you are apart," she concluded.
"As for you Michi, I wonder why you care so much about my well being. Why are you so invested in preventing me from reaching Leaf? Why are you so certain they are going to do anything in their power to keep me locked up? Regardless if I go to Konohagakure or if I go back with you, I have come here for a reason and there is no one stopping me from doing it."
"Do not misapprehend me Sennin. I want you with me and I could stop you," She took a step forward.
But I won't. Because unlike me, you deserve to have a choice. Because you should always have a choice." She was desperately trying to save him, she wanted to rip the ground away from beneath his feet and drag him away.
"If you go there, you might lose your choice." The very choice he would lose if she forced her desire onto him. Choice was important to her because she never had one. She was alive but she had hardly lived.
"And I would like to see better for you. People are selfish and greedy... Capricious and cruel... I would know that better than most. When given the option, without consequence to do something awful... more often than not they will take it. It is the nature of people to do something incredibly brutal because they had not done it before, to satisfy a whim, to preserve their fragile pride. To -- take what they consider to be theirs. I... know... because..." She swallowed hard, some things were too hard to say.
"I apperceive too much. I know what it is like to be locked away in a box. To be tethered to another's intentions. I understand what it is like to desperately want to be free. I am aware that my freedom is fleeting. And I appreciate the fact that you cannot be conversant in this, not truly. Nor can they." She made a general gesture. Maybe that is why they did it, because they did not understand how cruel it was. Perhaps it was because they did not care.
"It is easy to tell yourself that it is your due. That it is your right. And they do... they will. They will consider you theirs like I consider you mine."
He did not seem to have anything more to say to her, he just walked away. She had went all this way
for his sake but he was not willing to heed her words. She frowned, her sentiment was real for whatever reason.
"I wish you the best of luck Senju Kazuki," she resigned. Her voice sounded of defeat. She could try and stop him. Neither knew everything she could do now that she was free of Nao's influence. She was tempted, as the devil always does. She clenched her hand.
"I know that we are not close. We are not allies... nor are we friends. But you were not unkind," she admitted. That was the reason why, kindness was rare. The only way she knew how to communicate was through force and violence. Through a struggle for power, one where she won, lost or let them win. It was how she got through to Kasha, or at the very least tried.
He was kneeling, perhaps in prayer. She would not know, she assumed that they worshiped trees considering Natsuru's breast and the massive tree Kazuki had summoned. She would walk away. She had to. He had made his choice. The sandrunners were rested at the very least, they might be able to reach the border shortly after nightfall. She pet the feathered creatures of burden as she pondered her return route. She would not be able to return the way she came, Shiro's men would be onto her.
<B>"Fire Country. For generations we have fought for you, shed our blood for you. What did we get in return? A wretched, tiny warlord drove as away. He forced our hand and made us go away and choose another country to live in. We were betrayed, us, your most loyal folk. Our blood and tears have soaked this ground more times than anyone can remember. There is a blood debt in need of payment and I am here to collect it."
"FIRE COUNTRY. I WILL NOT BE DENIED THIS DAY."<i></i>
"Senju Natsuru--" Michi called. She looked sad.
"There is room enough if you wish to return," she offered the Mercenary a ride home. She felt numb, her arms and her legs, even her head.
"He has made his choice." He wanted to be alone and he wanted to enter a village that hunts and kills those who leave because they left. People of lesser rank and importance. Their ethnocentrism and their pride. Their possessive nature and their lack of love. Was Sunagakure any better? No, they had different sins but maybe someday the right person would make a difference. The world might be different with a few 'good' people with the moral fiber and strength to abide.
She saw them rise, it was the dead. Just a few at first, wiggling and darting about as they moved closer to the Occult Sennin. She knew what they were, what they represented --
souls. Humans knew very little about souls, many considered the concept to be nothing more than religious mythology. Something that made death seem less scary, but in time she learned that the existence of souls made death terrifying. She knew a number of terrible truths, none more awful than the things Shiro had done with her help as well as Nao's. She was hardly innocent and she would have to live with that. There was a time when she tried to abide by her setting. To do what she must to maintain or regain a sense of liberty even if it was at the consequence of others. She would see more emerge, she knew not from where only that it was a legion of souls taken for consumption. It was dangerous what he was doing, as a hybrid he should know. As an Ancient he should know even better.
"Natsuru, get out of there. He is eating and it is dangerous!" she shouted. She was urging his sister to move away, at least for a time. There was no use in stopping him, it would be like pulling a bowl of food away from a hungry dog. That was how you got bit. She would not be able to prevent it even if she tried.
He knew... he had to know the story of Orochi. Of the consequence of the one great sin. He also had to know about the cancer that is Ancient essence. That Ancients do not belong. That their presence is invasive. Infectious even. He was quite strong to live as long and as well as he had, most hybrid children with the amount of genetic material Kazuki somehow possessed were stillborn with rare exception. They of course existed, humans were durable and adaptable creatures. The winds would pick up and the numbers would grow even greater. It was natural to hunger for souls, she hungered deeply but she refused to partake. it was a test of her resolve to do so, since she had left Wind Country a gnawing hunger seemed to bite deeper. There was something about Wind Country, about the natural energy of the region that sustained them but never satisfied them. Here there was nothing and it felt like she had not been fed for days.
The winds would pick up and they would howl. The sandrunners would grow restless and would scrape at the ground.
"NATSURU!" She would shot again,
"keep your distance!" She warned again if Natsuru remained idle. She would pull back on the reigns, the sandrunners wanted to move away. Her hair was standing on end, her scarf unraveled and flew off. She shrunk into her jacket as the windstorm raged on. It would die off eventually, return to a seasonable breeze.
She could see them thrumming.
Humming. Buzzing. It made her uncomfortable, once again she knew too much. It was going to happen
soon. Was he aware? Was he prepared? It was not her place.
"Let us go then."
You are going Sennin?" She sounded shocked because she was.
Thank Sanban. She mouthed.
"We have a long journey, come inside." She was taking it that he had consented to be returned to Wind Country and she was relieved. She was also tired. She would let out a yawn, they had a lot of ground to cover before nightfall. She wanted to make sure that they were away from any of the major cities before they took a rest.
WC: 2844
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