The Reunion [OPEN]

[Senju Kazuki]

A few days had passed since Kazuki had been locked up in The Hole. His cell, if cell could be used to describe his accommodations had long dull to the eyes. He was paying for crimes he had no commit, and though resentment was there, he still fully understood Megami's decision and logical thinking. In fact, were they in reverse positions, he would have done the same, or the most similar action, whatever that could be. But alas he did not have much to do, other than count the time and carve the ground of his room as he paced in a circle. He had started a bet with guard at his door. He bet he could leave a mark in the ground before reaching the ten thousand step mark. He was halfway through and so far nothing was visible that could be counted as a dent on the floor. But considering they were just betting for sport and to kill the time, it did not worry him. When not playing holecraft, the Overlord either sat on the chair or laid on the bed. Boredom grew with each passing second, thus he became more agitated.

He began to think that Megami had forgotten his request, one that would help him become free and that would shed any doubts about his person. One that would help him cement Stone's and Leaf's cooperation for the future. If she was willing to forget him, then he was willing to carve his way out of this hole. Blood would be shed, many would die, but one way or another he would be free. Sap withdrawal was already taking effect and the longer he was without it, the worse the effects. He was becoming feeble, frail, a pathetic shell of his former mighty self. His mind would soon play tricks with him as his senses became unable to distinguish real from not real. Desperation would follow and then death. It was not a hot and happy prospect. All hope rested in one man's shoulder. Would Kamaru prevail and save him?

 

[Kamaru]

It had been a few days since Kamaru had been into town and having gotten word Kazuki had arrived took him by surprise he kind of expected he’d send word somehow, granted Kazuki up and vanishing hadn’t concerned him that much. He didn’t really worry that much about a Sennin of Leaf City and someone in charge of the village’s secrets being protected and kept safe to get themselves into trouble. Not being with the group on the convoy Kazuki was off doing ANBU secret stuff probably which was why he didn’t want to talk about it or Kamaru didn’t need to know. Finding out the man was sitting in prison was an entirely different detail to add in and made Kamaru wonder what really happened.

Showing up Kamaru realized he really had no idea on the procedure to visit someone in prison. Outside he’d talk to the guards and see about entry. Kamaru figured he’d need to find out what Kazuki was in here for as well but that would probably have until he figured out procedure for entry and they he could figure out what he did. On the bright side he had a few books if the process took a few more days to go through.

”I got a message there’s a man from Leaf City in your prison. Senju Kazuki, kinda tall, pale, doesn’t look like he was taught how to slouch.” Kamaru would inquire mimicking the general outline of Kazuki’s size and stature with a simple transformation before waiting to be let in. ”Also if you could put me in contact with whoever put him in there as well.” Kamaru added.

[Topic Entered]

 

[Senju Kazuki]

"Kamaru-sama." the nearest guard said as he respectfully bowed. "Indeed we have someone that looks like that and bears that name. He was detained by order of the Head Guardian. If you wish to know more, you will have to contact her. He was locked up in the upper level of our prison. He is allowed to receive visitors so you can proceed. I will escort you there if you so desire. Cell number 13 is where he currently resides. The only cell of this level that has a guard at the door." the man explained with the natural tone and pace for someone in his position. His eyes never left Kamaru's face and he seemed to expect an order from the Main Brancher. Being accompanied or not, Kamaru would go through the prison gates and walk toward Cell Number 13.

Like the Gate Guard had said, Kazuki's cell was easy spot since, in fact, it was the only one that had a guard permanently stationed at the door. If that man was bored, nothing in his behavior and facial expression would indicate otherwise. The man was the living personification of what stoic was all about. The only other living human near him was the Overlord himself. But considering that the former Sennin of Leaf was jailed, he wasn't exactly the best company one could have. Considering that the metal door had a slot in it, Kamaru would be able to grasp what was going on inside the Reaper's cell. He would find the Silvery Haired Man pacing around in the a circle, in a slight than normal speed. He also seemed to be mumbling around and he seemed a little more frail than last time. Other than that, the Executioner seemed virtually the same.

 

[Kamaru]

His face scrunched slightly at the mention of the honorifics. He couldn’t really get use to it in his head. Dismissing it for now with a mental suggestion to get over it he listened as it was confirmed Kazuki indeed was here. ”Yes I would like to see him thank you. Please show the way… actually do you have to search any items I have in my possession?” Kamaru asked producing several books.

On the surface they were nothing special there were just books but inside was knowledge in the form of theories, applications, and discussionary essays on Silvology, Botany, Dendrology, Pedology, Forestry. If given an odd look Kamaru would simply say he’s reading up on plants. He didn’t really know the process if the man would read each book or simply scan them. He’d wait regardless and see if there was anything else needed of him. Once cleared he’d follow his escort up. Security was functional but not sparse it seemed and having a guard at his door was either as a convenience of due to the fact he was considered a threat.

The guard didn’t flinch or move in an aggressive manner actually he seemed readily aware of Kamaru coming before he got there. Seeing the slot in the door and a look to the guard he’d point making sure it was okay to proceed and looked through the opening once slide to the side. The jail cell was sparse granted he had no idea what Kazuki’s personal taste were. To Kamaru the man had seen better days. Granted although he probably wasn’t in the mood for antics Kamaru couldn’t help himself.

”Hello Kazuki, you… kinda look like shit.” Kamaru piped up leaning in towards the door inspecting him more closely. ”So what you do to end up in here? Supposedly I need to talk to the Head Guardian to get you let out? Probably as my charge I guess?” Kamaru said skipping the antics.

 

[Senju Kazuki]

It was amazing what people could retrieve from their pockets. One could never figure out how such tiny compartments could hold untold amounts of items, that had no physical way to be contained inside. Magic was the most appropriate answer. In fact, it was the only one. The guard that had spoken with Kamaru stood there as the Main Branch Sennin brought more and more books until it seemed that the man was a walking library, though for a library, the book's theme was bit a narrow. "No need Kamaru-sama. You are a trusty officer in our fair Village." the guard reassured. And with that, Kamaru and the Guard entered the prison. Like he had declared, once at the jail that held the Overlord, the Main Brancher would find another guard.

The former Sennin had his back turn to the door as he was midway through his loop when he heard a voice addressing him. In fact, this was not any ordinary voice and certainly did not belong to the stationed jailer. No, this voice he had heard before and it was a voice he knew. "Took you a while to come and find me here." the White Wolf noted before turning around. Immediately, the Silvery Haired Man saw Kamaru using the small opening on the metallic door, so he could gaze the captive one. Now that he was facing the Main Branch Sennin of Stone, Kamaru would be able to deduce that something was not right. If that was even possible, one could say Kazuki was paler than before. His face was more skull like and his entire body trembled from time to time. Kamaru would be able to deduce that the Executioner was suffering a light case of withdrawal or he was in the initial stage of one. "You kinda look the same. It is a long story but I will give you the short version. Before I could leave the City, Sakamoto Shida found me and attacked me. Despite my skill, I found myself in the losing side. Instead of forfeiting my life foolishly as we were in the middle of a war and I had much depending on me, I forfeited and allowed him to capture me. He brought me to Stone, which I find quite ironic, since I wanted to be here." the Rider of Death explained, pausing momentarily to catch some breath.

While speaking, the Reaper had close down the gap between him and the door. "Once here, we got to talk with two so called Guardians. One of Shadows and one of Lightning. The lightning one, a female with pink hair seemed to be in charge, declared that despite me breaking no laws in Stone, she had no way to be sure that I was innocent as well. Unless someone from Leaf could vouch that I was innocent of all the charges Shida was placing on me. I indicated two people that could do so. You and Umashi. I will be locked for two weeks unless either you or him, reach her first and convince her I am innocent. Shida charged me for Necromancy, aiding a fugitive of the law and that would be Umashi, and for not knowing where my sister is. Like I told her, I broke nothing under Fire's Law System. The real question is, will you help me?" the Overlord questioned?

He was now quite close to the door. "But even more importantly, did you use the gift I gave you before I disappeared? It is of the utmost important that you use it quickly. I am afraid me and my kin don't have much time to waste. Our expiration date is drawing near." the former Sennin practically begged, while grabbing or trying to grab, Kamaru's arm.

 

[Kamaru]

Kamaru had fanned pages of the book open to reveal there really wasn’t anything to hide they were in truth simply books. Either the man was sincerely taking him on his honor or he actually had been scanning the books for any hidden items. Regardless he was escorted in. He expected Kazuki to be a little agitated but for the most part he was all business. For one he figured Kamaru would have been a little quicker on the uptake to come and see him. Granted this was his first week in office and he still hadn’t found out what the office looked like. He’d probably need to talk with the Head Guardian.

Kazuki summarized it, possibly similar to the attack in the streets by the metallic blue psychopath Kazuki was looking rough even for him to say the least, he made no show of it nor denied it. He was blunt and to the point to which Kamaru. Part way using Sakamoto to get here under escort part to possibly keep an eye on him for a bit Kazuki had still gotten to Stone in a round about way. It explained why he hadn’t been offering up that much during the trek. Kamaru just figured he was dead ass tired from the war and final operations.

He filled Kamaru in on what had happened to him once he got into the village. Kamaru sighed scratching the back of his head. He didn’t really know about the crimes Shida had cooked up for Umashi to have committed but he didn’t have time to find out for now.

”Well of course I’m going to help you. I may not have been born into some clan in Leaf or want to sleep with your sister but it’s something I can do so I’ll be doing it. But more importantly I’ve been doing some research since in truth I don’t know anything really about the whole task you asked me to do as a favor. The short answer is I haven’t used the gift yet; I’ve got an idea where I can find a place and I’ve read up on soil compositions and the environmental needs. I figure since I only have one shot at this you’d want me to not waste it. Unless I just needed to stick it in the ground with the plant food. I’ll send word to your clanmen to have them assist me since it seems you’re putting priority on them. Once it’s started I figure I can leave it to them and find this Lightning or the Shadow if I can’t find her and he’ll be able to point me to or contact her. I’m done with the books if you’d like to read up. Don’t know how long it’ll take but I’ll try and get you out of here as fast as I can but in the mean time maybe you can read up on some things and make it into a hobby. I’ll leave them with the guard. If he thinks it’s appropriate I guess he’ll let you read them.” Kamaru explained ruffling his head. It was a bit of pressure since it seemed Kazuki was basically… well he didn’t really understand it. But he was in a bad way and Kamaru needed to do something to settle things.

”I’ll be back soon. Looks like I got some errands to run… You know this is turning into a busy first week on the job.” Kamaru stated before handing the books to the guard and turning to leave.

[Topic Left unless stopped]

 

[Kokomo]

Shhh, quiet....quick steps....quiet steps... one, two, three, skip, four....​

Darkness. The lack of color and light made it difficult to see, and almost hard to breathe. A gentle pale hand on the wall slide quietly across the rocky surface as the slender young woman walked quickly along the corridor. Dressed more like a civilian than a shinobi, to her sensei's disgrace, she pursued the path like a young child in an imaginative game, rather than her actually age. Lightly now--shh! Her small stature ducked into the shadowed corners of the rocky path as two men, garbed professionally, chatted with another man. They spoke of Leaf, a far off land she had heard of once or twice--but the rest of the words were gibberish to her. Kurai spoke another language completely, from the island of Fushigi, and was slowly, and terribly, learning the language of the Stone people. Other words stuck from the sentence, but made very little sense. '13', 'Wish', and...'Bears'?!

Curious to learn more, as the men turned to lead him down another hall, Kurai crouched silently and walked a ways behind them, the men walking quite silently before reaching a cell. Backing down another hall, she pressed herself against the wall as the guards walked back--but the other man stayed. In the cell with him, was, yet again, another man. Slightly disappointed, she stayed pressed firmly against the wall, waiting for any sign of bears. They talked of something called 'Guardians', which was lost in translation to her, the color pink, and the law. The three topics...didn't make any sense, either. But the conversation was brief, and clearly had no real sense of purpose other than to chat about pink guardians who obey the law--or something like that.

The third male quickly headed back down the corridor, talking about having to run--apparently quite badly for he was in a hurry. Kurai hesitated for a moment, as his footsteps disappeared from the range of hearing, and her small frame peaked out from the side of the wall, looking up and down the adjacent hall for signs of life before hurrying carelessly to the cell, "¿Dónde están los--ehm...bears? ¿Dónde están los bears?" She heavily emphasized the word she knew in their language, using large hand movements to get her point across. "Bears! She lifted her hands up by her face, mimicking 'claws' with her fingers and let out a weak imitation of a bear roar.

Spoiler

[OOC: Kurai speaks 'Spanish' from a different country. If you would like the translation for every single Spanish sentence or phrase I enter, please let me know, but after this post, I will no longer translate in the OOC, because I think it takes away from the point that you can't understand her.

¿Dónde están los---: "Where are the---" ]

 

[Senju Kazuki]

As soon as Kamaru had came and had a talk with Kazuki he was gone. The Overlord of the Senju Clan was in the same predicament as before. His pain was still intense, his impending doom still quite certain, but at least, the black tunnel he was in had a faint light on its end. Even if he was to perish, his clan would be saved. The former main brancher of Leaf had taken measures to make sure that they would survive. Not only that, but he would do what he could to set the White Wolf free. If the former action was easy to undertake and finish, the latter would not. Unless Kamaru could raise a substantial amount of evidences that would convince the Guardian of Lightning. Even so, the most important thing was taken care off. The Senju Clan would survive.

Kamaru had left a few books with him. Ironically, while the Silvery Haired Man enjoyed a good read, he was in no proper shape to read whatever it was. He did try, seating in his bed, holding an opened books with both hands, but it was physically and mentally impossible for his brain to assess what his gaze saw. Too much was going on right now, and adding to the ensuing chaos, his sap withdrawal was making everything much harder than it should be. "Damn." he muttered "Hurry up Kamaru, I don't know how much I can hold on."

Resuming his frenetic pace around his cell, the Executioner did not saw another figure approaching. He only realized he had another visitor once her voice reached his ears. Her words, more than the female voice, forced him to turn around so he could face whoever she was. He immediately concluded two things. She was a kunoichi, of that there was no doubt, as there was no chance in hell that a non shinobi would be allowed inside Stone's Prison. Secondly, she was mimicking some sort of animal. The Reaper deduced that she was trying to imitate a bear, since from her speech, that was the sole word he understood. The rest was gibberish to him. He knew that she wasn't speaking in Stone's native tongue as he had heard it before. Whatever she was speaking, it was something completely new to him. "I cannot understand you. Speak common." he calmly answered. He also shrugged his shoulders indicating he had no idea of what she was speaking, though ironically, that was also the answer to her question, though he had no idea.

 

[Kokomo]

The awkward and scrawny young woman froze slightly as the male behind the bars did not respond so quickly. Surely he should be worried about the bears, shouldn’t he? What if they were in the catacombs? They could be dangerous and violent, no doubt. But he didn’t flinch, in fact, he blinked a few times and said a very familiar sentence:

”Speak Common.”​

Kurai sighed heavily, rubbings her and warily across her face. Her forehead scrunching a little bit from the stress, ”I don’t speak Common.” That was a sentence she had learned to say quite well. The redhead was so used to saying it, it was the one sentence that didn’t have an accent near as thick as the rest of her words. ”Bears.” She mumbled helplessly, rocking a bit on her heels as she leaned against the wall across from his cell, pulling a pencil from the satchel hanging at her side. Slowly, she drew a scrambled looking bear, the texture and beauty being robbed by the surface of the rock—making her drawing look much like a child’s. She placed question marks all around them, ”Bears?”


[OOC: Omg, so brief, sorry, I'm being called away.]

 

[Senju Kazuki]

Apparently Kazuki's order/request for her to speak Common was cause enough for the woman to sigh. Was this a sign that she had been extensively asked before? Or simply discontent of being asked something she could not comply? Perhaps it was a mixture of both. Ironically enough, however, her next sentence was in perfect Common, albeit short. In it,, the Ginger had stated she could not speak said tongue. That was a problem, if only she had devoted her time to learn the rest of the language instead of just that short, informative line. "I would not say so by the way you spoke that line. Have you ever wondered that if you learned that one, you can easily learn the rest? Did you even find a teacher so you could learn? Because living in a village without being able to speak with the rest of us is not a good prospect." the former Sennin noted as he scratched his shin and gave her a pensive look.

Fortunately, there were other methods for conveying thoughts. Drawing was one of those and Kurai apparently had that on her mind as her second method. Leaning against the wall, she pulled a pencil and drew some sort of animal on the wall. After a moment of careful observation, the Overlord realized that she had drew a bear, and that was punctuated by her saying the word bear again. Connecting the dots, the question marks and her question, it became crystal clear that she was asking if there were bears around. And boy that was a weird question to ask in a prison. "So that is what you want. You want to know if there are bears around here. And the answer is surprisingly simple. There are no bears, and in fact, I would be vastly surprised if there were considering we are in a Prison. Which raises a couple of questions. Why are you really here? Your childish act may fool other people in a different place, but no kid would be allowed in a Prison, no matter the country you reside, which clearly tells me you are both a ninja and much older than you pretend me to believe. And thus I am led to question number two, why do you act the way you do? Are you trying to hide something about yourself?" the Reaper questioned.

Maybe that was a bit too direct, but when you are in a Prison and when you are the Silvery Haired Man, direct is the way to go.

 

[Kokomo]

The woman stood across from the man in the cell, with eyes deep as the summer sun. He spoke with a bite in his tongue, so much that even with her inability to understand him completely, it hurt. He used a large vocabulary that had her head spinning, and her teeth clenched together as she picked apart every word in his sentence to piece it together. 'Teacher'. Yes, yes of course. Her hand reached back to her satchel, where she pulled out a very small book. The cover of the book was written in common, and the book itself was made for translating from common to the language of her island--for missionaries. "Tá sé seo deacair a dhéanamh..." She paused for a moment, her hand stroking the book slowly, "Difficult." She managed to spit out with a heavy accent, trying to emphasize the problem with flipping through the book just to have a conversation. "My teacher." She smiled, handing the book through the cell, not too concerned with the idea of him not giving it back to her.

Finally, his eyes turned to her drawing, and he answered simply: "No bears." Kurai seemed momentarily confused, she was certain that the guard had said that there were bears. She held her hand out, asking for the book back, hoping he would comply so she could flip back through it and look for the sentence she was hoping to convey. "Gerd--" She paused, bringing her nose closer to the book, "Guard." She corrected herself after a minute, her accent heavy as she flipped through the book a few more times, "Guard said 'Bears'." Kurai managed, closing the book as the man with silver hair began to speak again. She stared blankly, picking up a few words, and understanding he was asking her many questions. She frowned, and handed the book back to him. It would be much easier for him to translate from it, for it was made for people who spoke common to translate to her.

"Tá tú fear an-aisteach..." She shifted uncomfortably, the twenty two year old woman turning her head to look down the cavern halls as he, presumably, flipped through the translation book. 'Where are you Rokudenashi...' Kurai thought as her fingers tapped impatiently against her satchel, 'They said you would be here, but I've found nothing but a silver haired man who talks too fast and too complicated.' She scowled in the direction of the hall, seemingly lost in her own mind.

'I will find you. And I will kill you.'​

Spoiler

I changed the language to Gaelic on account of a huge character epitome, please don't be confused, haha.

 

[Senju Kazuki]

Of Kazuki's entire tirade, the woman singled out a specific word. Maybe because it was the only one she had understood or because said word was something she could show him. However, how could one show a teacher when there were only two people in the Overlord's cell? The Executioner was no teacher and she would be a very bad one with her lack of Common knowledge. And so the Silvery Haired Man watched as Kurai grabbed a book and spoke the word "Teacher" while pointing to it. After saying something in that strange, foreign tongue, she flipped some pages and comically attempted to say something. In the en, she managed to spit out "Difficult" and even went so far as to lend her teacher to the White Wolf. Opening it up with curiosity, the Rider of Death quickly realized that she was in the possession of a dictionary of sorts. While it would be a slow process, with it, they would be able to understand each other. Though the process was hardly pain free. Depending on who tried to speak in a different language, they would be forced to mutter single word sentences and even those would be far from sounding close to what they really were. Kazuki knew that much by hearing Kurai so far.

Once she realized there were no bears to be found, the Ginger assumed a confused expression and requested her book back with a gesture. Considering there was no reason to keep holding it and since he was no thief either, the Reaper gave it back. A few pages later, she attempted to spoke another word in Common. Initially it was impossible to understand what it was, but after some effort she even spoke a small sentence. "No bears.The Guard fooled you." the former Sennin replied, speaking as slowly as possible without feeling weird about it. And just to make sure his intentions were understood, he also shook his head once. Assuming their convo was over, Kazuki mentally prepared himself to return to a state of stupor. However, he was caught by surprise once she handed the book back to him.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" he wondered as he gazed her with his pitch black irises. Again she spoke in her native tongue, or what the Overlord had assumed to be her native tongue. And with that said, her focus went elsewhere as if the White Wolf simply was not there in the room and she was waiting for someone else. Bears?

Since he had nothing else to do, the Reaper began translating her last sentence. Luckily his memory was as good as it had ever be. With her sentence still fresh in his brain, he managed to translate what she had said into "You are a very strange man". With a light chuckle, the Executioner closed the book once more and scratched the back of his head. It was hilarious that she thought he was strange when the opposite was also true. But isn't that normal for strangers? "Toisc tú tá." he replied back in her native tongue. Unfortunately, since he had never had spoken it before, not only the sentence grammatically awful, his accent should be hilarious as well. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she were to burst into laughter.

 

[Kokomo]

There was no noise down the dark halls of The Hole. In fact, there was hardly any noise from the cell. Lost in thought, she was a little disturbed when he spoke to her. Turning her head in surprise to hear her native tongue in such a strange accent. Kurai cracked a huge smile, giggling a little, but stifling most of it. It wasn't right for her to laugh, since she was no better with his language, "Tá tú aisteach freisin." She corrected him, smiling broadly, asking for the book back by holding her hand out. "Goodbye." She said simply, feeling the awkwardness of his presence and her silence. "I see you later." She said, mimicking the people she had heard in the city. Her body moving down the corridor--but not in the direction of the exit--instead she was moving towards where she was staring earlier. In search of...

Well, we'll get to that later.​

[Topic Left]

 

[Senju Kazuki]

Indeed she was a strange cookie. After correcting Kazuki's awful attempt at speaking her native tongue, the Ginger asked for her book back. Waving goodbye, she left his cell toward somewhere else. The Overlord did notice, however, that the direction Kurai chose lead her, not towards the exit of the Hole, but inwards. Whatever her goals were, they remained shrouded in mystery.

[Topic Left]