[Closed] The Pain of Love

[Yura]

"Great, another dreary day..." Mistuo mumbled to himself as he stepped out from the forge to gray skies and a damp feeling in the air from a storm that had yet to come. A layer of sweat covered his entire body and drenched his clothes, the result of spending several long hours holed up in the forge. He had spent the entire night hammering away alongside the rest of his clan's best blacksmiths, just as he had nearly every single night since the war had started a few months prior. The war had brought a need for weapons and as some of the village's best craftsmen the Enkouten clan had pledged to work night and day to ensure the village was well stocked, rotating in shifts to make sure that the forging never stopped.

Having finished his overnight shift, Mitsuo wiped the sweat from his brow and began his walk home weary from both the heat and the work. As one of the banin of Iwagakure, there were some that likely wondered why he wasn't on the front lines instead of toiling away crafting weapons when there were others that could handle it. Truthfully, there was a part of him that wished to be out there if only so he didn't have to go home to an empty house every day, but the village couldn't afford to send all of its banin to war at once and leave the village defenseless so it had been decided to rotate the banin as needed. He had yet to take his turn in the field, so he instead dedicated himself to his clan's cause, taking as many shifts as he could physically handle. It made him feel useful, and at least it kept his mind occupied.

As he slowly walked down one of the village's many market streets, Mitsuo couldn't help but notice how much had changed. Six months ago this street would be bustling and full of life, crowds so thick that you had to push your way through as people haggled and shouted, buying their groceries and trinkets. But now? Now the energy was somber and uneasy. The streets were still full but drained of their life and energy. The ongoing war had cast a metaphorical cloud over the village and it showed.

Out of the corner of his eye, a blur of pink moved quickly through the crowd, causing Mitsuo's head to snap quickly to the side. It appeared to be a young girl with a head of flowing pink hair weaving in between people in the crowd, a look of concern and urgency on her face and though it took him a moment he realized that he knew that girl.

"Makaso!" Mitsuo called out, but the girl didn't seem to hear him. For a moment he contemplated chasing her, but decided not to. He hadn't seen the girl since before her older sister had turned down his proposal and he decided it was best for both of them if he just let her continue on to whatever was making her rush.

Finally arriving home, Mitsuo pushed through the door and immediately removed his sweat soaked shirt, tossing it to the side as he removed his boots and continued further into the home. He had admittedly let the place become a bit of a mess since Misato had left, the occasional food container and stray article of clothing or two strewn about. While not egregious, the house could certainly use a deep clean. Mitsuo looked out the window as he poured himself something to drink, peering out at the garden that had been Misato's pride and joy in their home. It was the one part of the house that he hadn't let waste away, having continued to nurture each and every plant as best he could. He wasn't as good as her, but he did what he could. Oh how he missed her...

With a deep sigh, he downed his drink and placed the glass in the sink. "I need a shower..." he muttered quietly, making his way toward his bedroom.

[Kao]

"You've really let this place go to shit."

In his usual manner, Kotaru had practically broken into his best friend's home. He was in Mitsuo's bedroom standing against the wall adjacent to the door with his arms crossed and his hair a bit more disheveled than usual. The war in its infancy kept him busy with reconnaissance and his duties demanded him to stay outside of Iwagakure's walls, so it didn't bode well that he was not only in the village but he was in Mitsuo's home. Waiting. On the outside Kotaru appeared calm, but Mitsuo knew the young bannin well enough that he would be able to pick up on his tells. Kotaru could barely made eye contact and he was tapping his fingers lightly against his arms. He was rocking slightly from side to side, as if it was taking everything within him to stay still.

Kotaru was still in his mission clothes, appearing much like a shadow. Lately he wore a black sleeveless tank with a mock neck, long fingerless gloves that stopped past his elbows, and fitted black pants that stopped at his calves coupled with sleek black boots. His expression was equally dark. "You don't have time for a shower. You need to go see Misato."

[Yura]

The sudden voice from the dark caused Mitsuo to instinctively jump backwards into the hall and raise his hands ready for a fight. It took a moment for his brain to process the voice and realize that it was Kota being his creepy stalker self. He had clearly broken into the house again.

"FUCK Kota!" Mitsuo exclaimed, dropping his hands and willing his heartbeat to return to normal. "You've really gotta stop doing that." he added as he stepped back into the room, knowing full well that the boy would never stop. It had been years now, if he were going to stop popping up where no one expected him and where he wasn't supposed to be, he would have done it by now. Mitsuo made his way to his dresser and began pulling out clothes to change into, disregarding Kota's initial comment about the state of the house. He wasn't wrong after all, so why contest it?

Kota's presence was unexpected, not necessarily just because he had essentially broken into Mitsuo's house, but more so because the boy had been out on the battlefield for the last month or so and last Mitsuo knew he wasn't supposed to return for at least another month. And if that wasn't odd enough, his whole vibe was different, uncharacteristically uneasy and nervous. Mitsuo was about to ask his friend what was wrong and why he had returned early and why the was in his house, but the mention of Misato's name sent a shiver up his spine and stopped him in his tracks.

"What do you mean 'go see Misato'?" He asked, concern in his voice, "She's supposed to be out in the field right now." Though he hadn't talked to the girl in nearly six months, he had noticed her name on one of the many lists of battle plans devised for the war. She and her unit were designated to support the frontlines for the next few months. So why then would she be back? And why would he need to go see her? Mistuo had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.

[Kao]

”She was.”

Those two short words hung heavily between them, and for a moment it seemed Kotaru wouldn’t elaborate. But then he swallowed thickly and shifted his weight to his opposite foot and continued. “Her unit was in the front lines and got caught up in an attack. I wasn’t far and got called in for backup which…should indicate how bad it was. I don‘t work the front lines outright, yanno? They were all but wiped out, Mits, she’s….” Reluctantly, the bannin reached into his pocket and pulled out a long silver chain. The Enkouten would have immediately recognized it; its teardrop shaped pendant hung next to a small ruby and diamond ring, spinning as the Akari held it up between them. When he held it up the gems caught the filtered sunlight, and so did the dark red liquid it was splattered in.

”She was clutching this when I found her. She’s at the main hospital.” There was no need for the elder bannin to ask how bad it was. That answer was etched in Kotaru’s brow and in his shifted gaze. “You need to go see her, Mits.”