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[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:42 pm
by Willoria
What is Dead may never Die Meiyo Souta felt like he was walking in a nightmare. He had woken up in a cold sweat so many nights, thinking she stood before him, battered and bleeding, begging for her life. Every time his blade spilled her blood, an endless cycle he couldn't stop. He had hoped such visions would stay in his nightmares, but he couldn't ignore the request Kiyori had made of him any longer. The official mission request had come down and he'd tucked it away in his things as he made the walk over to the orphanage. He knocked on the door, knowing Miss Miami would probably be able to see that something was amiss with the man. If she expressed concern he'd do his best to wave it off. "I need to speak with Sakaki. We have a mission to start today... if she's up for it." he said simply, turning and stepping away from the door once she went to get her.

He knew he could have gone inside, but the seriousness of the journey they were about to take was weighing on the man heavily as he sat upon the front steps, running a hand over his face. 'I never thought I'd be going back to that place...' he thought to himself. 'It's been long enough there won't even be much left... rotten flesh and dead eyes, gods how do I do this?'

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:02 pm
by TyDie
Sakaki sat alone in her room in deep meditation, clearly carrying on a conversation with the spirit inside her to some sort of effect. Within her mind she stood in front of Shishire, the creature assuming her form as it usually did when it wasn't angry, though it appeared as little more than a ghost of herself comprised of blackened chakra. "So now you seek to raise the dead, is that so child? Not just animals as you have done in the past, but you want to revive a human being? It is not quite as simple you know... Animals souls are weak and plentiful enough that one can call their souls forth from the aether with little strain, giving their bodies shape without the need of a corpse. Humans, however... their souls are trickier. Without the original corpse or some equivalent, the deed cannot be done. This 'Edo Tensei' You seek to perform requires a body"

Sakaki crossed her arms and hummed in thought as Shishire spoke to her, voice as always carrying that lilt of a taunt no matter what it was saying. Looking around the plane that was Shishire's mindscape, she realized that some things seemed to have changed. The grass seemed less vibrant, the trees even more dead, and the graves more plentiful. Everything just seemed less lively, darker than it normally was. "Hmm... I guess i'll give it some more thought. I can't go around stealing bodies after all, that would be wrong on so many levels." The genma merely shook it's head and sighed. "Haa... Would it really though? Is it not my right as Shishire no Shigenma to control all death? It would therefore make sense to take whatever is necessary to flaunt that right... does it not?"

Before Sakaki could answer she heard a knock on her door, and in a dizzying instant the world around her faded to black as Shishire laughed ominously. Then the world came rushing back so hard she almost fell backwards, taking a moment to shake her head and recover from the sudden, jarring return to reality. "J-Just a second!" Sakaki called out, rising from her bed and straightening her kimono before opening the door and bowing before Miss Miami. "Yes ma'am?" Sakaki asked, a quizzical look on her face. She had asked not to be bothered while she spoke with Shishire, so whatever Miss Miami needed must be important.

"I'm so sorry Sakaki, but Souta is at the door for you. He says it's urgent and... he looks strange. Like he's seen a ghost. Oop!" Miss Miami covered her mouth as she realized that her phrasing might offend Sakaki, now that Miss Miami knew the nature of what Shishire was. Meanwhile, Sakaki just laughed and shook her head. "You don't need to say sorry, Miss Miami. I'm still Sakaki, yknow? I could never get mad at you even if I wanted to." She lunged towards Miss Miami with a hug, which was graciously accepted by the happy woman. "I know... I just feel bad. I never knew how much you had to deal with. I only want to help as much as I can..." Sakaki simply nuzzled in deeper and let out a content sigh. "You already are."

Finally she broke from the hug and gave the woman a small kiss on the cheek before skipping past her, shutting her bedroom door as she did so. Entering the common room, she broke left towards the front door where Souta stood and walked out of the orphanage before she began speaking. "What's wrong Souta? You're normally happy to come in, talk to some of the other kids, greet Miss Miami and all that... This isn't like you." Sakaki stared up at her handler, a slight look of worry on her face as she poked him for information... literally, poking a finger into his ribs gently as if to prod the information from him 'by force', giggling slightly as she did so.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:10 pm
by Willoria
Souta didn't answer at first, lost in his own thoughts and poor memories. When Sakaki poked him, there was a sharp intake of breath and he visibly jumped before turning his head to look at her. "I'm alright, Sakaki." he replied finally, the information of what she had said finally catching up to him as he stood up and sighed, glancing through the doorway as he saw Miss Miami retreat into another room. He couldn't help a bit of a wry smile at that, the woman was always so curious about his conversations with Sakaki, and always so protective.

He looked down at Sakaki, still towering over her as he stood on the ground and she on the top step. "I need a favor, actually. From you... and Shishire." he told her, taking the mission scroll from his clothes and handing it to her to read. "I told you about Sachiko? The last host and what I... did." he began to explain, swallowing hard. "I finally spoke to her sister about it, told her the truth and answered any questions she had... and she's asked me a favor. You see, we never were able to recover Sachiko's body. I can find the area we were in, but to pinpoint it exactly I need Shishire, and I need you. Since she once held his power there may be remnants there and you two can pick up on that much better than I could ever hope to." He fell quiet, swallowing hard once more as he watched Sakaki. He knew it was not only a lot of information to process, but something tough to speak of. Shishire certainly wasn't going to make it easy on her.

"I can't change what I did, but I can try to bring her home so her family can mourn her properly..."

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:29 pm
by TyDie
Sakaki couldn't help but gulp slightly as Souta revealed his reasons for arriving at the orphanage, speaking that name... the one who came before her. "Sachiko..." She said the name out loud, and Shishire chuckled within her mind in response. Heh, the poor girl. If only she tried harder... She hardly paid the genma any thought in regards to his chiding of the previous host. A cautionary tale of what might happen if Sakaki failed to control Shishire herself... "So you want me to use Shishire's power to try and track down Sachiko, is that right? I... think I can do that. err, we can do that."

She wasn't actually sure if she could, truth be told. She had never tried to track a soul before, not a dead one anyway. She hadn't even tried to interact with a human soul beyond damaging it with the genma's power. Well Shishire? Is that... something we could do? The genma hummed in thought a moment as it recalled it's life within Sachiko. "Heh, Henrin, Sachiko... I remember her vaguely. She died on a mission, lost control of my power. I tore her soul asunder as I emerged, a small side effect of my husking her. I do believe... I could track down the body. Fragments of the soul may remain, fragments you could see with the right technique.[/i]

A small smile crossed her face as Shishire confirmed her hopes. "I can do it. I should be able to see fragments of her soul if we can go to the right place. Let's do it Souta... she deserves that closure as much as her family does."

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:35 pm
by Willoria
Souta nodded, both relieved and all the more anxious over Sakaki agreeing to help him. "From what I recall, the place was hit hard by a plague, so we'll need to be careful." he told her, taking the two steps up onto the porch. "Let me talk to Miss Miami a moment and then we'll go." he added, stepping into the orphanage finally and going to find Sakaki's foster mother, who of course he found trying to fend off hungry children who thought breakfast could be ready instantly.

In truth, it gave him a bit of a chuckle.

He had made a habit of playing with the children, and so was a familiar face to the children. He came around the corner and for a moment was his old self, arms up and over his head as he crouched a fake roar that sent the children giggling and screaming into another room, but gave Miss Miami the peace she needed to finish cooking. "I'm taking Sakaki on a short mission outside of the village." he told her, once the other children were out of earshot and he leaned against a counter, arms crossed. "It shouldn't take more than a day, maybe two, and then I'll have her back to you." he assured her, as he turned and realized something. "Pack whatever supplies you need to bring, Sakaki!" he called out, knowing the girl wouldn't be far away.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 11:00 pm
by TyDie
Miss Miami was indeed fending off a small horde of 'starving' children, who were all pleading with her to feed them before they withered to nothing. However, as Souta came around the corner they cheered a moment, happy that 'Souta-Chan' had come to play with them... only to scream and run away a second later as Souta made his roar, which got a giggle out of Miss Miami. "Hehe, thank you Souta-san. Sometimes the horde is too much to deal with." She breathed a sigh of relief as she scrambled a couple dozen eggs in a giant wok, preparing a ton of food for the children. However, she paused a moment as Souta mentioned Sakaki going on mission with him.

"Alright, I trust you'll take good care of her as always... But I want a hug before she leaves." Sakaki obviously wasn't far behind Souta, as she came rounding the corner and wrapped her arms around Miss Miami's stomach from behind, squeezing her tightly in her loving embrace. "Of course Miss Miami, I always have time for that." The woman turned to hug the child back, sharing another loving moment before releasing her to once more focus on her eggs. "Go and pack your things Sakaki. I'll have breakfast for you in a bento by the time you're done." Sakaki nodded and headed for her room, eager to gather whatever she thought would be necessary for the mission. Meanwhile, Miss Miami turned off a couple of burners with pans containing sausage and bacon, both of which were done. Once done she would reach towards a plate to her left already loaded with breakfast meat before picking up a link of sausage and offering it to Souta. "You, you're eating something too. I don't care if it's this one link, You are eating something Mr.Meiyo." She made an adorable pouty face at the man as she practically forced him to accept the link before smiling at him, clearly just as concerned with his well being as she was with Sakaki's.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 11:09 pm
by Willoria
"Don't worry, Miss Miami, I will always protect you from the hungry hordes!" he said, laughing as he settled against the counter and watched her cook. Naturally he was grinning as Sakaki gave her the insisted upon hug, nudging the woman with an elbow. "And here I thought you wanted that hug from me." he teased, shaking his head. Already he was feeling much better than he was moments before. In truth it was half the reason he had begun spending more time around the orphanage. It wasn't just Sakaki anymore, he sometimes taught the older kids to cook, a few he had taught some basics on fighting as they had expressed interest in the shinobi academy.

All in all he came to forget the pains in his past, playing with the kids always brought a smile to an otherwise serious man's face. And in that time he'd been getting more and more comfortable around Miss Miami. As the woman offered him a sausage link he returned her pout with an attempt at one of his own, before laughing at how silly he was certain he probably looked. Rather than take it with a hand he suddenly went after it with his mouth, as if to nip the woman's fingers and couldn't help laughing around the food in his mouth. It didn't take long for him to devour it and he winked at her. "I'll never turn down food from you, Miss Miami." he told her. "Anything you've offered me has always been good to eat."

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 11:27 pm
by TyDie
Miss Miami raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth in surprise as Souta took the sausage from her without a hand, then wagged his finger at the man while giggling at him. "Hey now, there are children present you know. Be good." Just as she said that, the horde came peeking around the corner again, a few giggles giving away their position. "...See?" She sighed a moment before gesturing to the table, and suddenly the horde of about 14 kids rounded the corner and took seats at the large table, which consisted of two picnic tables pushed together. "Go check on Sakaki, i'll handle the horde this time."

She turned to look at the children holding the massive wok while they all looked with hungry little eyes, eagerly awaiting their food. While Souta rounded the kitchen corner to walk down to Sakaki's room, he'd find that the door was left open, and Sakaki was staring out her window. All of her supplies were gathered on the bed, stored within a small ninja pouch and a few canteens of water, plus some rations for the way. But yet, rather than equip herself in preparation, she simply stood silently staring out that window, clearly lost in thought. Upon hearing Souta she wouldn't move, though she would ask a question.

"Souta... What kind of person was Sachiko? I mean, I know you didn't really talk to her but surely all of that observation would've helped you understand who she was to some extent right? What was she like?" It was clear enough that Sakaki was a little uneasy with the idea of running into a previous host to the same genma she bore host to, alive or otherwise. After all, the genma were still very much an anomaly... Who knows what kind of reaction might take place when the genma got close to the body that once bore host to it?

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 11:32 pm
by Willoria
Souta chuckled as Miss Miami chided him and sent him off to check on Sakaki. He rest a hand briefly on the woman's shoulder and gave a light squeeze before turning away to do just that, dodging hungry minions on this way. As he got to Sakaki's room and saw her staring off out the window, he had a feeling something was bothering her. He stole a glance at her desk, smiling lightly as he noticed the carved figure of the fennec fox he had left for her the first day they had met, but didn't say anything. At least, he didn't speak until she asked him that question.

The man took up a position to lean against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he looked at Sakaki. "She was a prankster." he told her, sighing to himself as he thought about it. "You already know of Henrin Kiyori. That is Sachiko's sister... and the two couldn't be more opposite. More than once she'd slip something into the drink of Kiyori's boyfriend, Fujitsuna Arata. The man fell for it almost every time, one time even throwing up." He couldn't help a small smile as he remembered that incident, not having a particular fondness for the other man meant he'd found it all the more entertaining. "Honestly she spent more time playing pranks than she did training... the youngest of thirteen children I don't think she got much recognition for the things she did and so she constantly fought for attention in any way she could. She was particularly harsh on Kiyori sometimes, I think she wanted her recognition the most of all." He frowned slightly, looking down at his feet briefly as he shifted how he stood. "When people die, others always say how they were so 'full of life'. But Sachiko really was."

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 11:51 pm
by TyDie
Sakaki felt a familiar sadness crossing over her as Souta described the girl's typical life, though she had to admit the idea of Shishire's former host being a bit of a prankster earned a small chuckle from her. Once he had finished, she finally turned to face Souta with a deep breath, steadying herself emotionally as Souta had taught her. "Heh... I know how that feels. Being invisible that is. As an orphan I felt like that a lot. Miss Miami was honestly the only person who I felt comfortable with... the only one who I felt safe with. Now that I'm host to Shishire and I've come as far as I have, most of the village know my name now. It's... surreal, to be honest. And a part of me feels... bitter about it. They didn't notice me before, but now suddenly they want to pay attention to me? I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little... resentful."

Sakaki hadn't given voice to these feelings until now, but truth be told her festival was a bit bittersweet in that regard. All of these people who were so 'proud' of her, so happy to see her advance herself and apply herself and become the Left Hand of the Kazekage like she was supposed to... But they didn't know her before that day. They never cared about her, they hadn't even heard her name, but now they wanted to congratulate her? "I wonder... Do you think Sachiko would've felt better if she had gotten to where I am now? Or do you think she'd have that same bitterness? And Kiyori, leader of the scribes as a sister... That's a big shadow to overcome. They say she might be our next Kazekage... It sounds to me like Sachiko was doomed from the start. Having lived with Shishire for years now Souta, I can tell you that he took every possible opportunity to feed that desire to shine until she snuffed herself out... and then the darkness took her."

Sakaki's voice was cold, but not harmful or malicious... just a monotonous, numb, droning voice that showed just how much this topic had weighed on her, how much she had thought about it in the past few years. And now that she was going to confront that past together with Souta... Well, she may not have been the one to draw a blade against her, but she still felt a connection to the deceased Jinchuuriki. Perhaps that was Shishire's doing, the one spirit tying the two together. "You said she was full of life... That's something people say a lot when young people die. But what do you think they'll say about me when I die? I'm no fool, of course I'll die someday..." You don't have to... Having grown so used to Shishire's voice at this point, not a single muscle twitched out of place as the whispers came into her ear. She had heard them all too often.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 10:38 am
by Willoria
Souta almost bit his tongue to keep from replying at first. As Sakaki spoke of being invisible he wanted to assure her that he had seen her. But in truth he hadn't stepped into her life until the genma did as well. The festival may have been when the village truly saw her, and he saw her prior to that, but what she spoke of clearly started well before that. He knew he had seen her going to and from the orphanage from time to time, but he knew that in his want to reassure her, he couldn't risk lying to her. He may have seen her, but he had not know her back then. He couldn't help a sad sigh as she spoke of Sachiko in the same regard. "The poor girl never did handle bitterness well. It turned to anger quickly. I hate to say it, but if she hadn't lost control when she had, I think she might have lost it during or after the festival if she'd made it that far. Her playfulness and temper seemed to walk hand in hand, and it was often hard to see the line between the two. The only times I even saw her interact with Kiyori usually involved her screaming at her... its part of why I need to do this for Kiyori. I fear the poor woman thought her sister died hating her, in truth Sachiko looked up to her and couldn't bear not being able to match her."

Souta finally looked up from his feet as Sakaki spoke of her own death, and anger flashed through his chest. He knew if the girl before him died, he couldn't bear it, but he also hated seeing her sell herself short. He pushed off the wall and was beside her in less than two strides, pulling her into a hug with her head against his chest. "If something happens to you, I will tell them you faced a darkness that too many others couldn't touch, and you overcame it. You tamed it." He swallowed hard, feeling his own emotions rising to the surface as he held her. "There is not a shred of doubt in my mind, when death comes for you, it will not be at the hands of Shishire."

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:40 am
by TyDie
Sakaki could feel all that negative emotion swell within her, and while it didn't threaten to overtake her, it was still an unpleasant sickly feeling that sat heavy in her stomach. However, it was when Souta hugged her tight that it all seemed to fade away, and a smile once more crossed her face as she returned the hug. "Hehe... thank you Souta. Sorry, some days are harder than others... I'm okay." She would enjoy the embrace for a few moments while Shishire groaned within her mind, clearly displeased. Must you insist on growing close to the man who may one day take your life?

No, you're wrong. If that day comes and he has to draw his blade against me, I'll already have died by your hands, not his. You won't trick me anymore Shishire, not in regards to Souta. The time for trickery is passed child... You've proven yourseld quite skilled. I only wish to help now. true or not, Sakaki chose to ignore Shishire's musings... she couldn't let herself trust the spirit too much for fear she end up like Sachiko...

"We'll find her Souta. I promise." she finally broke from the hug and smiled at the man, chipper as ever while she gathered and donned her equipment. She was as ready as she could be... but there was still Miss Miami to speak to before departure.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:51 am
by Willoria
Souta knew he was growing too close to the girl. He had already gotten an earful from fellow guardians more than once about the way he was with her, they often told him he behaved more like she was his daughter than a ward. But the man had come to a point where he didn't care anymore. The role he had chosen to take in Sakaki's life had already proven helpful for the girl. She had come so much further than the last, and he was determined to make sure he'd never be forced to kill her the way he had been forced to kill Sachiko. As she pulled from his hug, he reluctantly released her. "Thank you for helping me with this, Sakaki. It won't be easy for either of us I think... but it needs done. Your help ensures we will find her." he told her, sparing a glance out of the girl's bedroom door towards the kitchen.

"We best get your breakfast from Miss Miami before we go and say goodbye. I hate to see her reaction if we tried to skip out." he said, chuckling to himself as his good humor returned. He lead the way out, stopping at the doorway of the kitchen to let Sakaki by him. He knew how much she meant to Miss Miami and wasn't planning on stepping into the room himself, fearing he might just be in the way.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 1:16 pm
by TyDie
Sakaki gave a nod to Souta as he told her that she needed to see Miss Miami for her breakfast, as she knew full well there was a Bento on the counter waiting for her. She would walk past Souta towards the kitchen, where Miss Miami and the other orphans were all seated and eating. "Alright Sakaki, are you ready to go?" almost immediately one of the children got up from the table and charged Sakaki, arms open for a hug. "Nooo! You were gonna go find herbs with me tomorrow!" The child was probably no older than 5, and Sakaki clearly felt bad about the offer she now had to rescind.

"I know, Taiku, but my duties come first. Ill help you as soon as I get back, okay?" It was clear in the way she hugged the child back and the way she smiled warmly that she truly did feel compassion and love for not just that child, but all of the children. "Hehe... you know we'll all miss you Sakaki. Come home safe." A few other kids rose to hug the Jinchuuriki, and before long it was a great pig group hug that threatened to suffocate her with affection.

She did her best to remain calm but a tear or two formed in her eyes as she said her goodbyes and grabbed the Bento off the counter, motioning for Souta it was time for them to leave. "Wait!" Miss Miami spoke up to get Souta's attention, and as he turned to see her he'd find another bento in flight towards him "I meant what I said, you eat too! Now... bring her back safe." She'd give the man a bow and a wave before sitting at the table with the others again, and with no other business left Sakaki would lead the way out the door.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 1:25 pm
by Willoria
Souta chuckled as Sakaki hugged the child, and spoke up as they released. "I'll make you a deal, Taiku." he said. "When we get back, you and Sakaki can go herb hunting in the morning, and when you get back we'll use them to cook something, hm?" He turned his gaze towards some of the older children. "I hope you all are ready, I'll supervise, but you'll be doing the cooking. I think its about time to show Miss Miami what I've been teaching you all." he added, soon finding himself at the center of a small hug circle too, earning a rather loud laugh from the man. "I'll take that as an agreement." he said, still laughing as he started shooing some of them back to their seats and their meals, and barely catching the bento that Miss Miami had tossed to him.

"I will." he assured her, though for a brief glimmer his smile faltered. He was certain he would bring Sakaki back safe, but they were setting out to bring back the body of a former Jinch as well. He wasn't sure the woman would trust him so much with Sakaki if she knew the truth, and for that reason he knew he couldn't tell her. Some part of him wanted to, but if she trusted him less it could impair his duties as Sakaki's guardian, and so he couldn't. He smiled and turned with Sakaki. "Alright, let's get going." he told her, leading the way out the door of the home and down the path to exit the village. As they walked he took a peak inside the bento from Miss Miami and grinned. "I swear I could kiss that woman." he said, laughing.

He hated eggs, and oddly didn't like bacon, the woman had filled it with just sausage.

[Plotboard] Seeking Death

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 2:40 pm
by TyDie
Sakaki couldn't help but smile as Souta was surrounded by the children, all of them so happy to have another adult role model in their lives. Miss Miami too was quite pleased to see that Souta accepted her food, and all of the children waved goodbye to the two shinobi who were now off on their mission. Sakaki opened her bento to find it was loaded with all of the essentials; Bacon, Eggs, Sausage, and a couple of leftover bites of Sushi that Miss Miami had smuggled into the bento from her own meal, prepared by Souta the night before. Hearing Souta say what he did about kissing Miss Miami, Sakaki agreed, but it was of course meant in a much different way than he did. "Heheheh... Me too. She snuck me some of your Sushi. Ha... she's too sweet sometimes. I get a toothache just looking at her."

She happily popped a single piece of Sushi into her mouth before closing the bento, a wide grin on her face as she practically skipped alongside Souta down the road. I hope you are prepared for the worst, child. If there is anything left of that girl, it will be nothing but rot. Short of my help to detect the soul, the body will likely be indiscernible from all others. Not to mention... Well, there's no telling what might happen with a soulless body. I'm ready, Shishire. As long as you're ready to help me handle this. Of course, child... Anything for you. Shihihihi... That laugh... no matter how long she dealt with Shishire's presence, no matter how many strides she made with the genma...

She was never going to get used to that laugh.