Walk Without Rhythm [Open}

[Tsedas]

Time changes all perspectives. It had been ages since the sights of this place had graced the man's eyes. Bright skies and white clouds. The rising walls that encompassed the village like a massive bowl. Tarps, blankets, and all manner of woven sheet stretched tight over streets to produce numerous pockets of shade beneath an artificial canopy. The hustle wasn't bustling like it was back then, but then again the last time was when a friend was becoming the Kazekage. Hard to believe the place had been swallowed so swiftly by the ambitions of another. Wandering eyes were given pause as they contemplated how things will progress from here. How would the world continue forward for those left behind here?

Reaching up, the man scratched at the facial he'd allowed to grow. A lapse in his routines had allowed his natural age start to show. What better a disguise than one people would not expect? A neatly groomed beard of short hair rested along his jawline and his older looking features presented a middle aged man to those that bothered to look. Still, his normal attire would have been a dead give away to those that knew it or recognized him. He was trying to be a little subtle about his presence here. Garbed in simple slacks and a long sleeve shirt, both breathable for the desert climate, Takamori Saigo adjusted the hood of his cloak that protected him from the harsh sun that pierced through the multitude of canopies providing shade to the village of Sunagakure.

He wasn't here in any official capacity, he was here of his own accord. He wanted to see the village since it was still open to visitation but he was trying to keep a low profile. The Doctor had only a few goals here in Suna, the first to pay respects to the fallen friend he'd lost. After looking over the village, Saigo shifted his weight and took his first steps through the village. Moving through it's streets was like walking through a dream. In his mind he could see the jubilation and celebration that had unfolded that day. Now? Now it was like walking through a haze of ghosts and memories. The people around him moved and talked and smiled, but something loomed over them. A sword hanging by a thread that threatened to snap and come down on them all.

Perhaps it was his imagination? Perhaps he saw what he wanted to see? Pushing it away, Saigo realized he'd let himself get a little too lost in thought as he raised his gaze once more. Green eyes aglow with the presence of chakra, he turned his head from one side to the other as he scanned his surroundings for prying eyes and potential tails. "Maybe someone can direct me to the nearest tea shop, preferably one that doesn't serve matcha..."

[Kaida]

Datura had been roaming the streets of Suna for the past week, familiarizing herself with her home once more. Taking in the things that had stayed the same and brought her comfort. Mourning the things that had changed that brought her pain. It was bittersweet being home, better than her captivity in Iwa, but not as joyful as she had been expecting. Her only real bright spots were that her family was still intact, and Youji, who had surprisingly decided to stay with her for a time while they figured out their situation.

She had made her way the vendor stalls along the entrance to the village, the white canopies blowing gently in the warm breeze. Her long white locks tied up in an intricate bun while her bangs fell around her face. She had dressed in a shorter sundress today, forgoing her normal traditional garb. The deep green of her dress provided a captivating contrast to the muted toned of the desert around her, enhancing her bright golden eyes. It came to just above her knee and had ¾ sleeves that laced up the arms, hanging flatteringly against her form as she roamed.

The village used to be full of life and joy, music everywhere you went with laughter following close behind as children played in the streets. Now you’d be lucky to see anyone smile at all, the threat of the coming consequences still loomed over everyone's heads. As she walked, her stomach began to rumble, she had forgotten to eat breakfast this morning, feeling like she was in daze; caught somewhere between a dream and a nightmare. Looking around for what seemed appealing she caught sight of cloaked man some feet away with neon green eyes, unusual for someone to possess naturally. His pallor suggested he wasn’t native to the area, much like his attire. It intrigued her that someone would visit in such uncertain times. She heard him muttering about a tea shop and found herself giggling at the serendipitous coincidence.

She approached him with a warm smile on her faces, her eyes softening as they made contact. “Excuse me sir, I couldn’t help but overhear. If you’re looking for a tea shop with good variety, I’d recommend The White Lotus.” She gestured up the road to a red building with white curtains and black kanji falling out of a beautiful white lotus atop a lush green lily pad. Often times as a child she had wondered how they had made it look so realistic. “If you’d like, I could share a cup with you? It’s not often we get visitors these days.” Her tone was friendly and welcoming, a hint of curiosity peeking through as she spoke.

[Tsedas]

A voice pulled the older man from his thoughts, a hummed noise of interest leaving him as he turned his head to look to the source of said voice. A young woman clad in a sundress and offering a warm smile brought a chuckle from the Doctor. How did he always seem to have young women approaching him? Even if it wasn't for the reason most people would think, he pondered if his wife was the jealous type as he seemed to share many a meal and cup of tea with other ladies. An amused smile pulled at the corner of his lips as he lifted and arm and extended it to the side while turning his body. "By all means, lead the way. I haven't been within the walls of this village for some time. I'm afraid I'm not very good at navigating it yet. Ah, and before I forget my manners, you may call me Toturi Akodo."

Shifting the hand that was offering for her to lead the way in, 'Akodo' placed it over his chest and gave a bow. As he did, his pale locks were almost white as they fell loosely about his head, as such they dangled past his face and hung out of the hood before he righted himself. "Might I know the name of the young lady with home I shall be enjoying a cup of tea?" As he asked the question, he waited for his new tea companion to lead the way and introduce herself. If she lead the way, he would follow after while keeping pace beside her.

The White Lotus, the name didn't strike a chord with him. He couldn't say for sure if he'd ever been or even heard of it. All the same, he was hoping they'd have a nice variety like the woman mentioned they did. 'I wonder if I can still get some medicinal herbs later. Might have a good chance of making that salve I've been scheming up.' Saigo thought to himself as had many things going through his mind and it showed on his face as he looked lost in thought more often than naught.

[Izanagi]

Within the white lotus, one man was sure to stand out from the rest. Sat next to the window, near the entrance, a man of average stature and a neatly combed and oiled black beard was reading a newspaper while sipping his tea. His attire was a stark contrast the that of the tans, blacks and whites favored by locals. Instead, he wore a vibrant blue haori designed with wave patterns, worn atop a darker blue yutaka. At his left hip he wore a daisho; the katana and tanto pair that marked him as a samurai, tucked through the waistband of a black hakama. Yet, he differed further still from the Wind or Pebble country samurai that tended to inhabit Sunagakure. Atop his head he wore a tan bowler hat, covering slicked back, medium length black hair that curled beneath his ears. Resting atop his nose were a pair of rounded eyeglasses with a thin black frame, a modern invention hailing from the Heart Empire. Piercing blue eyes, gleaming with intelligence poured over the words of the newspaper, assessing the flagrant Iwagakure propaganda and gleaming from it what fragments of truth could be found.

A man of his late 30’s now, Takeda Ichiro had lived a storied life; a famed wandering healer, a pirate, a samurai, and a benevolent businessman. All these things were true at different points in his life and yet none seemed to truly encapsulate who he was. Both self serving and magnanimous he was an enigmatic man with ever shifting ambitions. He had only been in Sunagakure for a few days and hadn’t yet adjusted to the heat dome the village constantly emanated, assailing anyone who hadn’t been habituated for at least a week. Beads of sweat gathered along his forehead, though he seemed unbothered. He had explored many distant lands, from deserts to tropics and was certainly no stranger to the heat. His bronzed skin was thick and leathered from years of being battered by the suns rays while at sea. And even now he smelled of sea salt, the ocean seeming to leave a permanent mark, seeping into every pore.

[Kaida]

Datura bowed her head at Akodo in acquiescence, silently agreeing to lead him to the tea house. She fell instep beside him as they weaved through the crowds, the teahouse about 100 meters from where she had accosted him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Akodo-san, my name is Naegi Datura. I think you’ll enjoy the White Lotus, it’s one of my favorite places to sit and exist. Plus they have an excellent selection of herbs which help in both my personal and professional life.” Her smile was warm and wistful as she recalled all the times she had gone in there throughout her life, the atmosphere was always warm and welcoming. And the staff were very well educated on the different herbs required for all manner of healing.

It didn’t take long before they were walking through the orate doors of the White Lotus. The interior walls a deep burgundy with white trim and white curtains that were drawn to help keep out the heat. A sweet floral fragrance indulged her as she breathed deeply approaching a table beside a window to the far left of the room. They had a variety of sweets in the showcase, traditional Suna baked goods lined the rows behind the glass. The menu along the back wall behind the register full of varying degrees of teas and herbs available to consume and purchase.

“I hope this is to your liking?” She pulled out a chair and gracefully sat herself down, finally looking around the room and taking stock of the establishment's clientele. She noted many locals, most of whom were familiar to her in one way or another. And noticed another man near the entrance, clearly a foreigner based on his garb and coloring. A samurai if she wasn’t mistaken, by the daicho he wore. It wasn’t unusual to see samurai in Suna with Pebble so close and some parts of Wind Country focusing more on the way of the sword as opposed to the way of the ninja. It was the apparatus on his face though, that told her he was neither from Pebble or Wind country.

[Tsedas]

With his bow returned in kind, 'Akodo' heard the name mentioned and his mind flipped through a number of memories like pages of a book. Finding the relevant source, he recalled hearing that the name Naegi was involved with those that grew the plants of Suna. Be it crops grown in secret or some rooftop greenhouses, they were the ones responsible for keeping the village fed and the healing herbs stocked. A fact that was reinforced by her remark on the herbs utilized by the White Lotus helping in her personal and professional life. "Well then, here's to the hope of a memorable spot of tea."

As they pushed through the main entrance and into the tea house proper, the colors brought to mind something other than the petals of a brilliant white flower. The floral scent that wafted through the air brought about a calming presence to the atmosphere of the place. Following Datura over to a table, the older man placed his hand on the back of a chair and pulled it away and caused the legs to scrap softly against the floor. As Datura took her seat with a flourish of her sundress, 'Akodo' took his place across from her and leaned back against the chair causing it to creak against the strain. His green eyes scanned across the interior, passing over the other individuals before settling upon the glass display and the menu. As he looked at the menu, his eyes flitted to the man garbed like a samurai before going back to the menu. 'That hat doesn't match the rest of his rustic attire. And what in the world is on his face? Oh, they have Oolong tea. I might have to give that a try.'

"What do you recommend to pair with Oolong? I haven't had Oolong before, might as well try it out." 'Akodo' asked as he shifted his attention to Datura, pondering what the young lady would say in response. As he gave a pause to his question so she might answer, after a moment he would speak again. "You said the herbs here were helpful to you, could you explain what you meant by that? Also, what in the world is on that man's face?" He asked, gesturing casually to the man across the room with the bowler hat and glasses.

[Kaida]

Sitting down across from Akodo, Datura found herself giggling at the enigmatic man. His train of thought seeming to converge with several others as he spoke. “Depends on the type of oolong tea, Akodo-san. If you want a lighter variety, it’s best served with something simple and sweet. Like biscuits or vanilla cake. If you’d prefer a darker oolong, which is standard here, it’s best served with some of Suna’s more traditional desserts such as ginger dark chocolate cookies or cinnamon elderberry pie.” Datura herself was going to indulge in a green raspberry tea with some vanilla cake.

She watched as Akodo’s head swung on a swivel between the menu and the man behind them. He wasn’t doing anything suspicious, just a reading a newspaper. It was his attire that grabbed attention, but with how busy Suna had been recently it made sense that there would be some odd ducks here and there. “I believe he’s wearing glasses, a construct out of the Heart Empire. It’s still uncommon out here for people to wear them though.” The fact that the man dressed like a samurai, with conflicting style and a modern invention is what gave Datura slight pause as she assessed him once more. But she was tired of constantly being vigilant, she wanted to focus on what could be a normal afternoon drinking tea and basking in the delightful heat of her village.

“As for the herbs, I’m a healer. And a Naegi, plants and herbs are a specialty of mine. I find most tea shops have a great selection of pre ground mixtures that I can use for my garden, kitchen and medical supplies.” She smiled warmly at the man then, her thoughts flitting to her passions in life. She loved to be in her garden or her kitchen, tilling the earth and cooking up a storm were two things that brought her immense peace. Healing people helped her to feel fulfilled, providing services to sustain her patients both mentally and physically.

[Tsedas]

The woman's words brought ideas to his mind on what to order as he looked over the menu. Ultimately it was whatever felt right in the moment as he closed the menu, having two options available before him. "Well I'm not much for dark chocolate to be honest. Never seems to please the palate." He stated plainly before leaning back in his chair and awaiting whomever was to take their order. Datura gave an answer to his question as he glanced back over at the man wearing glasses. This was something he hadn't heard of and pondered what the benefit of them were. "Glasses, huh? News to me, never seen those things before."

Turning his attention back to Datura, as she spoke of herbs, the tea house mixtures being readily available made him hum in thought but he dismissed the idea of engaging in such things. "Premade mixtures from tea houses might be handy, but the ratios probably aren't suitable for medicinal application as readily as home made mixtures. While tea might have medicinal benefits at times it's clearly not the forefront of their intent. A happy accident for a side effect to be sure, but getting the herbs pre-mixed might make for problematic end results. Usually mixtures are made from dried plants and not fresh ones. This can have an impact on some of the specifications required in medicine. While some herbs function better dried, it's all about finding the right ratios. While I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious to see how they'd fair in medicine, I've already found an excellent ratio of fresh versus dry and quantities for each."

The man reached up and stroked at his facial hair, still finding the thing odd to the touch whenever he went to rub his chin in thought. "Of course that's just medicine. For cooking the applications can be a lot more noticeable, say... an herb crusted chicken my wife makes. Mind you I can't delve too much into the topic of cooking, my wife has forbade me from every touching a pan again after the 'egg incident'."

[Kaida]

It was a peaceful if not somewhat silly encounter she had found herself in. The man before her seemed to have a hundred trains of thought going at once and could hardly settle on one before announcing another. It amused her and brought a little life back into the dreary surroundings that had become Sunagakure. "I much prefer spice with my sweets, it warms my belly and sates my appetite." She smiled fondly at the man, he reminded her of her father whom she missed a great deal. "As for the glasses, I believe they're meant to help correct one's vision. Though I can't say for certain, they're not common here either." In Suna, it was more common to have monocles than it was to have glasses. Something easily hidden and used sparingly, though she would love to see those horrid things replaced. They left a rather creepy impression on her.

She listened intently as Akodo mused on about the ratios of such herbs and plants and the benefits of fresh versus dried, it brought a gentle chuckle from her lips as her eyes brightened in his direction. "I grow all of my own fresh herbs in my garden, and I usually dry and grind them myself. But when I'm in a hurry or on the move, I have found that this teahouse in particular has a good enough quality for substituting my own. I use them for my cooking as much as I do for my medicines. And on the road, it's easier to make my tinctures and salves from premeasured ingredients as the medical need arises. It was a rare occurrence in the past for me to come here for such things, but now that I'm back home I have found it a wonderful resource while I get my garden back into shape." She enjoyed their easy conversation thus far, though they clearly had different methods and experience, she hadn't spoken to another doctor so openly about her craft in years. Those in Iwa had only wanted her to follow orders and be obedient, and those in Suna before had just trusted her to do her job as Kiyori had taught her.

Datura watched as the older man curiously rubbed at his facial hair, almost as if he had forgotten it was there. "An egg incident you say? Well I simply must hear more of this now." She teased him then, a coy smirk on her face as her eyes danced with mirth. A server came by then and took their order, with Datura ordering the green raspberry tea and a slice of vanilla cake with some cinnamon and ginger on top.

[Tsedas]

The idea of spicy and sweet wasn't foreign to the man, but he enjoyed that flavor profile with protein more than drinks or things his brain has associated with 'treats'. Spicy sweet chili chicken? Now that's a dish to enjoy the sweet heat of for sure. However when she spoke of the glasses being used to correct one's vision, 'Akodo' reached up and rubbed his chin while looking back towards the man. He would have simply used iijutsu to modify the man's eye and corrected the deficiency in his vision but then again he had only ever heard the name 'Heart Empire'. If they were making medical break throughs then he would definitely need to investigate this as he liked keeping up with the latest in things related to the medical field. "Heart Empire.... might have to take a look there." He murmured to himself absent-mindedly.

Looking back to Datura as she spoke upon growing and grinding her own, he gave a nod of understanding at this sentiment. He kept most of his 'home grown' herbs at the hospital where he worked so he could tend to them and use them in experimental medicine creation more easily. Plus his wife forbade him to make experimental medicine at home in case the kids stumbled upon it. He didn't wanna imagine his children tweaking on whatever he managed to create. They'd be bouncing off the walls or speaking in tongues, he could see it in his minds eye clear as day. Or maybe that was just his kids playing around with the art of tree walking a few years back and shouting nonsensical things at each other. Either way, the Doctor was scolded for letting them use ninjutsu in the house like that and had to scrub the ceiling clean.

"I can only hope my assistant is watering and tending to my plants back home. I would be devastated... and righteously angry. They'd owe me office snacks for a month at least, two tops!" 'Akodo' held up two fingers as if to emphasize the turmoil of owing him snacks for such a frame of time. As the server came by, 'Akodo' ordered a dark oolong tea with a cinnamon elderberry pie as he decided to see if 'sweet heat' worked for a pie. Then Datura asked after the 'egg incident' and he had to grown. "I see you desire to see me suffer as I endure the horrors of that gentle morning. The skies turned black, the flames rose high, the eggs were but charcoal by the end of it all. The pan? A wreck! It had to be disposed of and a new one purchased post haste so my wife could whack me on the head with it! Oh the agony of it all!" He said in overly dramatic fashion giving her a brief idea of what had happened in the kitchen that day before leaning forward and gesturing to Datura.

"You keep mentioning medical supplies but deviating to cooking. Is there a connection I'm missing there or do you just enjoy cooking more than the art of apothecary?"

[Kaida]

It was nearly impossible to follow the multitude of trains that Akodo spewed on about, though it was endlessly entertaining. Datura couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much in the presence of a stranger. She had to stop drinking her tea as every time she went to take a sip, a new anecdote would be revealed and she couldn't contain her reactions to prevent herself from possibly spilling all over the table. She imagined Youji would enjoy this man's company as well, she even had half a mind to invite him to dinner to introduce them. But her mind came to a halting stop as she realized that it might not be the best idea. Youji was starting to look more like himself...like Yozei. The man he was before Iwa snaked their claws into him. There was no telling who might recognize him, and it was now her job to protect him. Something she took very seriously.

"You lived quite the life if your stories are to be believed, it's a wonder you found such a lovely woman to keep up with you Akodo-san!" She let her cheery disposition float in the air between them as she kept her own relationship tight to her chest. Several visions flashed through her mind and Youji and her lived their life together with love and silliness. Finding even a fraction of the happiness that her newfound acquaintance had would be more than enough for her.

"As for my skills, I am a healer. I take a very natural path in how I treat patients, preferring to use herbs in my medicines. However, I am always learning, and I find the best way to make my knowledge more well rounded is to understand the full capabilities of the ingredients that I use. Which means I often use them in my cooking as well, using myself as a test subject more or less." Her eyes grew faint as fond memories sprang to mind. The first time she had entered a hospital had been out of curiosity. Where she then promptly ran head first into Kiyori, who had graciously taken Datura under her wings.

"From cooking, teas of both medicinal and every day uses, tinctures, oitnments, poisons, etc. I find myself constantly finding new ways to apply my knowledge and to be of service to those around me. And outside of that, I practice full body wellness. A lot of our physical ailments are compounded through mental stressors and situations none of us should be in. Healing the body is an easy enough task, healing the mind and the soul is a different beast all on it's own." She had a true appreciation for everything a person could endure, and learning how to survive and thrive after going through such hardships was as fascinating to her as it was necessary.

[Tsedas]

He was glad his demeanor was causing such a cheerful reaction from the young woman. It was quiet the thing to see some joy in the village after how sour it had turned since his last visit. 'Akodo' almost wished he had been there for the invasion instead of the ruse against Iwa. Perhaps he could have made some small endeavor to protect his friend then. 'Your people are pushing through it all, Kiyori. I just hope they can get their village back.' He thought as his face and eyes didn't betray any of the solemn thoughts that drifted through his mind in that moment. As Datura mentioned how lucky he was to find a woman to keep up with him, he shook his head at that comment.

"She didn't keep up with me at all. She pulled me from the brink and dragged me along until I learned to walk on my own as a man again. There was so much I had forgotten about myself in the darkest chapters of my life, I think I would truly be a lost cause if not for her. She is my guiding light, my whole, my everything." The server returned with his order, setting them before the man as he bowed his head with a thank you. "That woman put up raising three kids. Kanako my youngest, Jubei my oldest, and me. She is a wonder and my life is blessed for having met her. It almost makes me forget a lot of terrible things being around her." He smiled down at his tea as he raised the cup up. His eyes were lost in thoughts of his family, the expression on his face belonging to a man who had found something truly good in this world.

Sipping from his tea, he listened to Datura speak upon her philosophy of healing. When the subject of full body wellness was broached and explained, 'Akodo' pulled a small book from his pocket and something to write with. He jotted a few things down as well as a concept he wanted to explore later. Setting the book down, he shift his grip from book to eating utensil before slicing it through the tip of the pie and raising it up to stare at it. "I suppose that is one way to help people. Natural medicinal arts always have uses and the variety of applications can give credence to things like medicinal cooking. I myself have never considered the treatment of the mind as much, my focus is the body as a man of medicine. Treating the mind and soul? That's just something I do as a person. It doesn't take much to spare a moment to give people a kind word and help listen to what ails them. In that respect, all people can be doctors. But like with the healing of the body, the healing of the mind and soul can only be treated by others so much, eventually it falls to the patient to finish the final leg of recovery. While they wouldn't be alone for those final moments, it's up to them to draw upon their own strength to reach wellness. At least, that's how my approach has been when talking with people and helping them recover from trauma."

[Kaida]

Listening to the enigmatic man speak so sentimentally and with such wonder put a soft look on Datura's face. Projecting her own love for Youji and the life she hoped they would have together into the air between the two strangers. How he spoke of his wife was much the same to how Datura felt for her boyfriend. He had literally saved her from the darkest period in her existence so far. Pulling her out of forced servitude and making sure she returned home in one piece. Staying with her had been an unexpected joy, and it healed both of them the longer they were together. Supporting each other through the nightmares and memories that plagued them, the worries and threats that still loomed overhead. It was beautiful to see it reflected in another soul. "It has been said that love makes fools of us all. But I believe the right love, turns us into who we were meant to be. It gives us strength to keep going and fight for something good. And it keeps us grounded when the world falls down around us. It's a true gift in life, to love and be loved so fully and unconditionally. To receive that support and find solace in it."

She took a sip from her tea, as the man before her spoke on his own philosophies regarding medicine. Though he clearly had more experience over Datura when it came to healing the body, his understanding of healing the mind seemed lacking. It was an interesting discrepency, one that provided a more interesting opportunity. "The mind is much more complex when it comes to healing in my humble opinion. It is the center of a person, controlling everything that happens within our body. If our body is healed but our mind remains broken, the healing isn't complete and can often be undone over time." Her tone was gentle and conversational, no arrogance or condencension as she spoke. Her words chosen carefully as she pushed through.

"For example: Take Sunagakure. A once peaceful and passionate place full of life. And then disaster struck. Though the people are more or less physically alright, their minds and souls have been beaten and broken down. They have been left to their own devices to put the pieces back together and have had little success. This is because, in my experience, healing the mind is too much for one person alone. They require unconditional support and acceptance in order to move forward. Especially when the cause of said suffering is still prevalent. How can they be expected to heal, when there is no clear path forward?" Her voice had drifted to a soft whisper as she spoke of controversial things in the tea house, her eyes alight with a fierce dedication and personal experience with such pain.

Taking a bite of her sweet treat, she continued knowing the man would abosrb whatever he could if his notes were any indication of interest. "Soldiers and civilians of wars experience the worst in people, and they are left broken because of it. It is only when they are shown true empathy and compassion that they can start again to pick up the pieces. Being told it's okay to falter and stumble while you find your way is crucial to success. A helping hand being extended to lift you up while you make the arduous journey through the depths of your own mind is life saving in and of itself. Someone turning on the light for you, to show you that it is still there, gives you a renewed hope that you had forgotten existed." Taking a breath, she lifted a hand to her heart. Feeling a resurgence of grief flow through her being. "An individual has to decide if they want to make journey. But not everyone is that strong to know it's still an option. Sometimes, they need to be shown that it's still possible. And be loved through it regardless of the dark days that follow. Much like your wife did for you and my boyfriend did for me."

Her golden gaze finally lifted back up to the man, sharing in that feeling of being saved by the grace of someone else brave enough to take a chance. Someone who saw beyond the pain, horror, mistakes and darkness. To make room once more for life and joy. To accept the mess that comes with it and choose to make the best of it. And brighten every day after to keep such hope and love alive. "The acceptance that you will never be alone again gives you the strength to do the impossible."

[Tsedas]

Taking up the utensil they gave him, 'Akodo' took a slice of his desert upon it and popped the morsel between his lips. Chewing the cinnamon elderberry pie, he let the flavors wash over his tongue before swallowing, his eyes staying focused on the woman who spoke upon their beliefs in regards to mental health. 'She understands quite a bit about the premise of healing the heart and mind. I wonder how much practical experience she has handling these kinds of patients though? I've seen my share of people like those she's described, but I never talked with them like patients when it came to matters like this. I talked to them as a friend, cause that's what they needed. Perhaps her approach might give insight on a twist I can incorporate somehow.'

As she spoke, her voice lowered is if it was controlled by the topic of her words. Understandable given she was broaching the subject of Iwagakure's take over and subsequent control of Suna. The way it impacted the lives of those still here. As she spoke fervently, he understood all too well what she was talking about. When she finally finished, the Doctor shifted his fork down and sliced off another piece of his pie and ate it. He gave the conversation a brief pause, letting the weight of her words linger between them before he set his utensil down.

"When I was younger, I traveled between countries. At first it was for the sake of self interest, but then my wife showed me the light. The purposes of my travels changed, the people I met were helped. We sought out battlefields that decimated lives, both soldier and civilian alike. The triage centers we set up brought people from all around seeking aid. We healed their bodies, got them physically better then treated them as family while they healed. We gave them a shoulder to cry on, a friendly face to laugh with. Someone they could bitch about the cause of everyone's woes over a drink. Once their bodies were healed, we didn't treat them like patients. We treated them like friends. It helped them build themselves up, it helped them build each other up. I don't claim expertise in medicine of the mind because the only thing I know I ever needed was someone to be there in my moment of need to give me that push forward. And that's well we did in kind for those people."

Taking up his cup, he sipped at the dark tea before staring into the drinking vessel. "They couldn't have afforded the medical care they needed if we didn't give it to them. The only thing we ever asked for in return for all our help was that they find a way to push through it all and rebuild their lives to the best of their ability. Many of the people that were healthy volunteered to do odd jobs in our pop up triage center, helping with odd jobs that would have kept us from tending to the sick or injured."

[Kaida]

She saw a flicker of professional curiosity in Akodo's eyes, while it was true that most of these people just needed a friend, it was more often than not that they required medicine as well. The mind was a complex organism, one that was very hard to understand and sift through in the midst of extreme trauma or head injury. How the nervous system reacted in order to protect itself was something that would take years beyond Datura's own life to make sense of fully.

She heard confidence in his words, and in truth he had done many great things to support people in similar situations. There was also an unspoken question in his tone, how was treating them like a patient better than treating them like a friend? The kindness of helping someone in need versus the medical obligation of exhausting every avenue possible to achieve the best results per individual. Her ever seing gold eyes peered at her new acquaintance with an assessing gaze, wondering just how much he had studied the arts of the mind in comparison to the arts of the body.

Her face took on a softer edge, her voice light as she broached her own experience with treatments not only with her patients but for herself as well. "When I was girl, I walked into the hospital on a whim. Curiosity had taken over and I wanted to see the various ways that people could be helped. As a Naegi, I grew up knowing it was my place in life to serve my community and be a pillar of guidance for my neighbors. Not only for making our beautiful desert a livable oasis, but a survivable one. It was there that I met Kiyori, our previous Kazekage. She took my young, naive and awkward self under her wing and mentored me in the ways of healing someone as a whole. To achieve good health one must look at the entire picture in front them and assess which pieces needed to be repaired and which needed to be replaced or rebuilt." Datura hadn't met many people with the necessary empathy and compassion to walk people through such difficulties in life. Support and kindness were easy enough to come by, but the understanding of what it meant to be drowning when no water is present, is a different monster.

"Being a friend to someone in their darkest days is a beautiful thing, and it's better to be present for some of that pain as opposed to letting them bury themselves alive in it. I've treated many soldiers and civilians, including myself, over the years regarding trauma and scarring of the mind. Lending a sympathetic ear is a wonderful kindness, but sometimes they need more. There are parts of the mind that lock themselves away from our consciousness when we experience true pain. When our reality is shattered and we no longer know how to cope and go on living. Kiyori and I built a practice around natural medicine as well as chakra and scientific based medicine in order to treat every patient individually. There are herbs, spices, plants, etc. that can be used to open up ones mind and allow a sense of peace to overtake them as they walk through their deepest fears and come to terms with their greatest pain. Providing a deeper sense of healing and kindness so that they're not left alone in the dark." She took a breath then, thinking of her boyfriend and how far he had come in the two months since they had been in Suna. The pateince needded on her end with his night terrors, flashbacks, fear, guilt and anger. All a symptom of a much greater pain and torment that still afflicted his very soul. His mind having being split while his body endured endless hours of abuse, briefly followed by basic decency masked as kindness to further his indoctrination. "I have very personal and extensive experience with such treatments. It is a trade, much like healing the body. One wrong dose, the wrong plant or herb used, or something used at the wrong time...and it could have disasterous results."