[Festival] Lost Among the Crowd

[hobnob]

The streets were heaving with tourists. The teenage Senju was walking around aimlessly trying to find something to do. One would expect that in a place like this carrying out that task would be easy. But Noeru had already been there for a good few days, and had already participated in most of the activities and events the festival had to offer.

It was later in the day, and the sun was beginning to set. It was a beautiful sight. The sun was still peaking over the mountains ahead, but it would not be long until the night was upon them. The youth had told himself that once the night set he would make his way back to his assigned accommodation and he would make the most of the sleep he was lacking. He had been busy over the last few days. Partying with his comrades from the village proved to take a quite a hefty toll on his body, and it was now in desperate need to just have a relaxed night it, to give it the recover it desperately needed.

As Noeru stood frozen in place, just admiring the sunset. He could not help but occasionally notice some of the people walking past him. This festival was truly a thing of beauty. Bringing people from every corner of the world, people of different cultures wearing attire specific to their region of the world and their culture. The youth was amazed and hoped he could come back the following year. The atmosphere was tense but at the same time relaxing. Knowing that in a neutral country such as this one, the possibility of an incident was very unlikely, it allowed him to let his guard down and actually enjoy the moment.

And the moment was beautiful. The sunset brought out the true beauty of the town. Its architecture and it layout, combined with the delicious smells of street food. It made his stomach rumble. There were so many options to choose from. Sadly for him, he had already eaten enough that day to last him until the end of the week. The youth said no to himself and simply continued to watch the sunset as the many people walked past him. He was like statue eternally admiring the beauty of the world.

[Golnax]

Then suddenly, there was a mushroom blocking out the sun.

Shiun Kinoko had moved in front of the line of sight of the charcoal haired statue who was letting people just walk on by him seemingly without a care in the world, the taller, younger, dark skinned, purple 'shroom capped samurai looking him dead in the eye since, despite her having a few centimeters on him, they were basically eye level with each other. "Hey, are you alright? You've been standing here for a minute," she asked softly, having watched him for a few moments from behind and waiting for him to move. She'd just been people watching, really, waiting for a sign of someone she knew to come along so she could reunite with her group. This black-clad individual had caught her attention because of his stillness, so, being concerned, she'd wanted to come and check on him. Of course she didn't really think when she said the following; "If you wanted someone to run into you so you could pick a fight you would have done a better job just laying on the ground!" There her mouth went, saying something pretty stupid again. Of course this time she didn't really have the mind to catch it. This was Shiun, though, how would the boy react?

[hobnob]

When the purple mushroom appeared in his line of sight, Noeru was not sure what to do. He was pretty amazed at the girls outfit. The Senju was even more amazed at how tall she was, while how young she sounded. A gentle chuckle escaped his lips 'Just admiring the moment, the sunset is beautiful. Take a look.' The raven haired youth let out and gestured towards the view behind her with his head. This was one of the most beautiful sights he had seen in a while, it would be great to share it with someone.

When the mushroom clad girl mentioned looking for a fight Noeru shook his head. This was not his intention at all. In fact the youth was looking for the opposite. Fighting while a sunset such as this one was in motion should be a highly punishable crime. These thoughts passed through his mind, but he did not want to ruin the moment but speaking them out loud. 'No no. I'm not looking for a fight at all. Simply just taking the moment from the business of life to enjoy the view. I do hope that's not what you are looking for though...' Noeru said. His voice was gentle and kind, he was not trying to instigate an altercation whatsoever. Simply just wanted to make sure this moment would remain and pretty and peaceful as it currently was.

[Golnax]

This kid was strange to Shiun. In all her young life, she'd never yet had the inclination to just stand and watch the sun set off in the distance. Things for her had never moved quite so fast that she took time to stop and let things slow down like that. Never the less, she did as suggested and turned to look at the sunset. It was... pretty, yeah, sure. But like... it was just the sun setting over the horizon. It happened literally every day. There was nothing particularly special about the orange glow of the shadows of trees and buildings to her. She hadn't learned to appreciate such things yet.

"Yeah that's cool and stuff I guess," she said dismissively, turning her back on the sun and looking back at the whimsical sun starer. "So listen, you haven't happened to see any Heart Empire samurai wandering around, have you? I've been looking for them for a while now and I just can't seem to find them anywhere! I could really use some help," she pleaded, putting on her best 'please help a little girl' face on, doing that frown and puckered lip combo that children tried to do to get what they wanted. She was getting a bit old for such tricks to work, but this was a stranger she was dealing with so who knows? Maybe it'd work on him and she could get him to stop staring at the light in the sky that'd be back in less than 12 hours and do something actually helpful!

[hobnob]

Noerus gaze landed on the sunset once more as she took a very brief moment to take a look. The girls response was very dismissive about the view and Noeru could not help but chuckle. These things were not for everyone, and he did not know this girl at all so he could not start complaining. He did, however, hope that one day she would grow into also loving sunsets, they were so mesmerising and relaxing. But, this feeling of relaxation and awe disappeared when the girl began inquiring about samurai from the Heart Empire. When he took a moment to ponder her question, they did. It has been a few minutes since they have passed, and at the rate this traffic was moving, it was unlikely that they have gotten very far. Military, however, do have a way of the common people make room for them to get through quickly. Noeru nodded. 'I have actually, they went past a few minutes ago.' The youth said and the gestured in the direction behind him. And then, he continued to stand there watching the sunset. In his simple little mind, she was already lost, so what issue was another few minutes cause of just taking a moment to admire a sunset as magnificent as this one? The joyful Senju did not think it would cause any, especially if it was him who was escorting her around. This simple demeanour was just his social persona, behind the façade, the youth was taking everything in. Making mental notes about what was happening around him, and about this girl who was requesting his help.

A few moments later, the sun had finally set and Noeru let out a sigh filled with disappointment. 'Honestly... That was so beautiful, so relaxing. It's things like these that I love doing during my time off. Admire the beauty of the world we work so hard to keep at peace. It is really fulfilling and satisfying.' Noeru said, then he turned around and began walking in the direction he remembered the samurai to have moved in, he offered the girl a gentle wave in a 'follow me' fashion.

'That's a cool outfit you have.' The youth thought it would be good to spark up a conversation, and find out a little about the potential samurai of the Heart Empire.

[Golnax]

Shiun's dead looking eyes quickly became crestfallen as the whimsical sunset watcher pointed her in the direction shed already come from. Meaning that if her group had gone that way, she'd somehow managed to miss them. Again. And they had also missed her. Somehow. Again. Honestly at this point the young Kinoko was beginning to wonder if she was dressed loudly enough - did she not stand out or something? She thought it was hard to believe in something so ridiculous, but she's gone this whole day without finding her people again... So maybe she wasn't sticking out enough.

Shiun just stood there along with the young man, contemplating her life, or rather fashion, choices for the first time as the sun set. She kept quiet as he waxed poetic about the beauty of life or whatever, she wasn't listening, too busy imagining how to make herself stand out more with what jutsu she had st her disposal that wouldn't also accidentally start a fight. That was like, the one thing that had been drilled into her head: don't start fights at this festival. Under any circumstances. She only started following him after he gestured for her to follow, the you g samurai jogging to catch up with him.

"Yeah I guess so," she said, dejected sounding as she plucked at her purple short dress. She could have gone over how shed dyed it herself, grew the mushrooms that she used to make the dye, all that jazz but she honestly wasn't feeling very energetic at the moment. She was just glad that someone was helping her look for her group now. "Your outfits boring though," she said nonchalantly but then immediately realized what she'd said and buttoned up her lips into a tight pucker.

"Uh, sorry. Your clothes are fine, I didn't mean anything by it," she apologized, meekly bowing her head as they walked. Street lamps were being lit and illuminating the still busy street in the glow of fire light. It was a depressing color to her at the moment. Every color was depressing. She was so tired of being lost and honestly on the verge of tears. Suzuko was going to get such a beating when they found each other again for making Shiun feel like this...!

[hobnob]

As the two made their way through the crowd, Noeru kept his hawkish gaze scanning the environment in search for her people. Even for his trained eyes it was hard to distinguish who was who in a crowd of this many. Noeru had assumed that he was right all along, that the crowd of samurai he had seen was the correct bunch, and not just another group of samurai. The youth also assumed that if he did not see them at a glance, they were not there. And so, he continued making his way through the busy streets of this beautiful town. Now that the night was setting in, the street lights have come alight. Illuminating the streets with the stoic flame patiently burning in their cages. Shadows danced across the streets from the light created by the hundreds of flames, coming from the lamps, lanterns, and the occasional street fires the merchants used to keep their foods warm for any potential buyer. The Raven haired Senju could not get enough what this place had to offer, it made him a little upset that the festival was so close to finishing - it could not be helped however, and there was this girl he had to help out.

They walked and walked and walked. The youth was beginning to wonder whether there was something he had missed, have they turned off the main road? have they gone into one of the venue? the teen questioned himself as his gaze continued to scan the environment for any potential samurai. He kept his composure, but at this very moment, the youth did not have an inkling about where the samurai have disappeared to. Noeru tried his best to not allow his confusion to show on his face as he continued on along the road. The youth did have to come up with something however, it was not long until the edge of town. Noeru slowed his pace, and turned gently to the girl after hearing her comment, and the explanation that followed. A gentle chuckled escaped his lips, 'Don't worry about it. I only wear what is practical, and this is one of the most comfortable outfits out there...' Noeru spoke and offered the girl a smile before his gaze returned to the road. Hopefully, the samurai would not be far away from here.

[Golnax]

"UUUUUUGH!!!" Shiun cried out in frustration as they reached the edge of the village with no sign of Suzuko or any other samurai she recognized! Frustrated, the young Akibushi sat down in the spot, curled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs before tilting her head back into the early evening air and screaming out, "I'M NEVER GOING TO FIND THEM! THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE ME HERE AND HEAD BACK HOME AND IM GOING TO BE LOST FOREVER!"

A truly horrifying prospect, especially for a Kinoko. Culturally, Kinoko children are encouraged to go exploring in the world while they have the chance as their Kekkei Genkai eventually makes all of them too inhuman in appearance to go out among normal people. As such, while there's no specific social taboo against getting lost or never returning even, it is expected that eventually every fungal fleshed individual would find their way to the safety and comfort of the clan they left back home in the plains of what was now Gold within the Heart Empire, becoming clan elders and helping to educate, encourage and guide you get members of the clan as well as put any talents they might have had in mycology in both sustaining and procreating their clan.

Thus, for a Kinoko who in fact wanted to return home one day, the prospect of being unable to is a heart breaking one, and Shiun was still as of yet so young. Feeling dejected, the dark skinned samurai dipped her head forward and pressed her forehead to her knees, covering much of her body with the giant purple cap in her head as she began to gently sob, shoulders quaking on the spot steadily as tears flowed. She'd spent the entire day keeping it together among strangers in a strange land. She'd met ninja, saved a life, eaten at a restaurant, visited the local hospital, but she could barely hear anxieties no longer. Where normally she might break down like this in private, Shiun now openly wept as the inability to control her current circumstance overwhelmed her.

[hobnob]

'Relax woman!' The young Senju said exasperated as the young mushroom began to sob with her forehead in he knees. This situation was a troublesome for sure, but it was not anything the Senju could not fix. As he was crouched down next to her in an attempt to comfort her, without actually making any physical contact, Noeru waved his arms around in a manic fashion. Truth be told, the Senju was not sure how to handle this situation. Never being presented with such circumstances before, the youth was trying to come up with some idea on how to cheer her up. 'Hey! How about we go a get a snack while we try to find the huh? If we don't manage to, I will personally escort you back home if you want?' Noeru let out, truly hoping that this would cheer the girl up. If not he was not sure what else he could do. It was the first time he had interacted with a samurai, but he had the knowledge about how calm and composed they were. This was going against everything he had read in the scrolls that were in his family library. And the library was vast, especially on the subject of samurai as the Senju had some roots with the samurai. Noeru eagerly awaited a response, while still trying to come up with other ideas on what he could do.

[Golnax]

Shiun was unresponsive at first, despondent even, as the black haired young man tired to get her attention and calm her down. No amount of waving ones hands or kneeling beside her was going to help an emotionally overwhelmed little girl that has run out of fortitude to keep up the act she so carefully composed ninety percent of the time. She wasn't a samurai in the moment, proud and stoic, she wasn't the prodigy she denied any part of being. She was just a child, lost, alone and scared.

She only lifted her head when he offered to escort her home, tears running down her cheeks, pale eyes bleary with salty water, lower lip upturned and quivering. She sniffled and it was an ugly thing but she responded at least. "But that's all the way in the Heart Empire... My apartment is in Tea but my family is in Gold... It's so far awaaaaaaaay!" She was sobbing again, unable to hold her composure. "We'd be travelling for weeks and I don't have enough money to stay at hoteeeeeeels!!"

Seems she'd thought the logistics of getting home on her own a bit - in fact much of that day had been spent pondering the possibility of doing just that, and no matter how she sliced it, finding some way to head back to Heart by herself, or even in the company of another, didn't seem that feasible. She didn't even know where this young man offering to take her home was from, for example, or even his name! So there was no telling how long the trip would be for him!

Shiun tried to gain a little bit of her composure again by closing her mouth and trying to breath, but her breaths came in shuddering sobs that felt impossible to get through her snot-clogged nose so she repeatedly had to gasp for air. She was trying to say that she could go for a snack since she hadn't eaten since lunch, really, truly trying to be more controlled despite her circumstances, but speech was failing her so the best she could do was to hold her arm out towards him, the only lifeline she had right now, and hope that he might drag her along to some food stand where they could eat. These were new, big emotions for the Kinoko that she knew about as much of how to deal with as the young man who had selflessly offered to help her. She didn't mean to be so emotional, she just couldn't help it.

[hobnob]

This situation was truly a troublesome one. Noeru had to deal with it tho, he was a shinobi of Konohagakure, and ignoring this young woman, would be going against the way of his village, and his own way too. Noeru had to take control of the situation and manage it in a way the would put the girl at ease so that they could both relax and figure this out together. 'Hey...' Noeru said softly, 'Lets go grab a bite to eat, we'll think of a plan together over some delicious food. I've got money to cover for the both of us, do you want a piggyback? I'm Noeru by the way, of the Senju. What's your name?' It was a bit of a mouthful, but Noeru was nervous. He did his best to keep himself under control while the girl poured her eyes out over the fear she would never make it home. It made sense, she was obviously young and worried. He would be exactly the same if he was in her shoes.

The raven haired youth patiently awaited her response, making sure his body language was easy and welcoming. He did not want her to become even more anxious by being rash, arrogant, or too forthcoming. Luckily for him, those things were not something Noeru was deep down inside. He was a good, kind, and caring individual. And he worked all his life to ensure people knew that about him. The girl was in good hands, and he would make sure she would make it home safe and sound, regardless of what circumstances arose. He just wished the girl would stop crying! He did not know how to manage such emotions!

[Golnax]

Gradually Shiun's uncontrollable sobbing subsided into more ordinary ones, the purple clad samurai bringing the heels of her half-covered hands up to her eyes to wipe the tears out of them. She was still crying, but at least she wasn't blind with the tears now. "Shiun..." She managed to get out.

Standing up slowly, she reached into her butt bag and pulled out a handkerchief, blowing her nose into it... A few times, before sniffling and putting it away. "Food sounds nice," she said wearily, turning away from the edge of town and walking slowly back into it. Noreu would surely take the lead and bring her to somewhere they could eat. He was paying so, that was nice of him. She didn't acknowledge or otherwise show that she wanted a piggyback though, even at 11 she knew she was too old and, more importantly, too big to be carried around by anyone even remotely close to her height. Her toes would surely drag on the ground!

Now that her fit of momentary despair seemed to pass the mask was sliding back into place and she was acting more and more like the samurai she was supposed to be. A bit of food in her, some time to think it all over, and she'd arrive at a conclusion soon enough, with Noreu's help no less.