A Girls Day Out

[Bexhex]

Across the labyrinth of intertwined platforms and intersecting catwalks that lined most a Kumo, there really was no better spot than the top three platforms for a meeting. The view it gave was spectacular, you could look directly up and see the beautiful midday sun and its complimenting blue sky, as well as the hustle and bustle of the village that reached down the sides of the mountain. To Amaki her favorite quirk of this little catwalk she found herself on was the smell of the many street-vendors and food shops in the district directly below her. If you sat dangerously along the railing, like she was, it was the perfect spot to hear and smell everything that was in the district below. The smell of fried foods, and expertly quick-prepped food, wafted up towards her causing her mouth to salivate in hunger. "I hope she is early, I'm starving," she said to herself leaning back holding her stomach and taking in a deep breath smelling the delicious smell of seasonings and rich flavor of foods below.

As she leaned back a moderate breeze, not uncommon mind you, flowed across the platform. Her long tattered coat hanging off both shoulders, flowed in the wind stretching out across the dangerous abyss below. Her legs dangled over the outside edge of the railing that she sat on, she wore a mid-length flowing dark tan skirt with a sheer layer sewed together with it, that followed along her legs as she swung them gingerly back and forth in a childlike manner. On her torso she wore a loose sky blue blouse that hung lazily off one shoulder, exposing it to the sun above. Her fair skin glistened in the daylight and if not for her headband and eye-patch she wouldn't resemble the young shinobi that Shizune had first met. She had decidedly left her kanabo at home, thinking that the safety of the village there was no reason to bring her weapon of choice, which in truth caused her shoulders to feel much less heavy and relaxed. She did however keep her kunai and shurikan pouch attached to her upper thigh, years of training as a shinobi left her always ready for the unexpected, and as such she would always be armed to some degree. She laughed as she thought she would be near unrecognizable in her current attire.

Suddenly ,she jolted straight up, her face filled with frantic panic. "What if I told Shizune the wrong day," she said out loudly in panic. The few passer-bys stopped startled and staring at her before moving along again. Her head began running with fear of her waiting all day, and her new friend never showing up. What if she starved waiting for her she thought to herself. She looked down to the district below, or worse what if she doesn't show up, her face went solemn. What if the quiet girl didn't really want to be her friend, planned to blow her off, or worse was planning to make her a laughing stock. She looked up towards the sky putting one hand over her brow, as she tried to quiet her mind looking at the blue sky. The breeze picked up as a big cloud passed across the catwalk consuming her and causing her to bring a hand up covering her hair as the wind passed. As the cloud passed, and revealed her into the sun, she began to lose her balance starting to sway as she tried to regain her composure.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

The glorious midday sun shined forth with splendor over the hustling village of Kumogakure, radiating along the bright blue sky with intense beauty and warmth. Birds chirped and sang as they flew about the city, and the entire metropolis had an almost palpable sense of joy and happiness. Which of course made Shizune stand out even worse than usual, as the girl made her way to Amaki's meeting spot clad in her usual attire; A long sleeved black shirt with a black flak jacket overtop, the jacket trimmed with dark red thread. Leather gloves covered her hands, loose black khaki pants and combat boots covered her legs, a long red scarf was wrapped around her neck, trailing carelessly behind her in the wind. And of course, a simple black and red leather mask covered her entire face, hiding the girl's visage from prying eyes in addition to the rest of her flesh. Her chestnut brown hair was done up in a small bun today, about the only amount of care that had been put into her appearance beyond simply being functional.

The girl rarely went anywhere without at least some form of weaponry on her anymore, and usually she thought to bring just about everything with her as if she were preparing for a mission. Today though, the girl's bow and arrows were left at home, only her shuriken holsters and wakizashi were with her today. As she walked along the path leading to the catwalk, there was a slight trepidation in her step. She was always used to attracting a few odd looks when she traveled around, it wasn't often that people completely obscured themselves within their own home villages, but she stood out like a sore thumb amongst the otherwise bright and beautiful day. Were her face visible, beneath the horrid scarring, one would likely catch a blush across Shizune's face... she truly was embarrassed to be in public at all sometimes.

However, she had been called by her teammate Amaki, and one of the few who had managed to worm their ways into Shizune's life outside of her shinobi career. As she made her way to the catwalk, the sudden movements and hushed whispers of an eccentric girl over by the railing. The young Jinrai had a feeling... and sure enough, her assumptions were confirmed. "Uhh, Amaki?" The slightly muffled voice was timid, but loud enough to catch Amaki's attention - If she had any attention to be paid that was. "Sorry I was a little late... Is everything okay?" The girl sheepishly held her hands in front of her lap, shifting with anxiety a little as she waited for Amaki to respond.

[Bexhex]

Amaki was still deep in her intrusive thoughts when Shizune walked up shyly apologizing for being late. Amaki found herself startled by the young girls approach as she began to wobble on the edge of the railing as she flailed her arms and dropping down the on the outer edge. Grabbing hold of the side of the railing before hoisting herself upwards standing atop the railing looking at her friend in false confidence. "Shizune! You made it," before she cartwheeled off the edge of the railing and down onto the catwalk. Her dress and loose coat fanned outward as she swung her body around. Stopping in front of Shizune She leaned forward with her hands behind her back, "your're not late, around midday I said, now the real question what do you think of this spot?" Amaki said loud and brazenly with a big smile on her face. She ran towards the railing once again and pointed outward to the cavernous bazaar that lined the sides of the two mountains, clouds rolled between the two and the breeze swept through cooling the hot sun around them.

She looked at her friend expecting her to walk up and nod in agreement, but it wasn't long before her stomach let out a loud gurgle.

GRRGGL!
"eh-heh, uhm perhaps we should start with something to eat," Amaki said with a awkward laugh. "Oh, maybe we could go to that bakery that made the sweet rolls we ate when we met, its a great place to start," All the hints of amaki's insecurities had flushed away. Amaki was blind to the barrage of energy and questions that she rattled off in such a short amount of time toward Shizune. She stood excitedly waiting for Shizune's responses, her first girls day was about to happen she was practically bouncing in her skin.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

The display of death defying acrobatics had Shizune's breath caught in her throat, but as the girl recovered and came over to Shizune, she let out a small sigh from under her mask and shook her head. "Haaa... I wish you wouldn't be so reckless." She would try not to dwell on her comrade's daredevil antics, moving over to the railing alongside Amaki to look out over the bazaar. "It's a beautiful view, Amaki." The girl closed her eyes for a moment as she let her nose carry her off, the scent of various foods being prepared filling her nostrils and causing her mouth to water slightly. However, as she was a musician in another life, her ears perked to the sounds of music being played down in the bazaar as well. The telltale strumming of a shamisen with flute accompaniment was at the forefront of the various sounds down there, and she could tell from here that the musicians were... not the most skilled. For a brief moment a competitive fire lit within her - She could run circles around those hacks.

But the moment faded just as quickly as her eyes opened again... That just wasn't her anymore.

"Food sounds lovely, I purposely avoided eating this morning as I had a feeling you'd want to get something. Lead the way." She'd tag along behind Amaki as the two made their way down to the Bazaar proper, Amaki no doubt following her nose while Shizune followed Amaki.

[Bexhex]

"Awh, but where would the fun in that be Shizune," Amaki said grinning ear to ear. "everyone needs alittle excitement sprinkled into their lives," she said, as she turned her back towards the edge of the railing. She let out a sigh closing her eye and basking in the sun, "It's a great place to people watch," she said, in a high happy tone. She heard the sounds of street performers down in the bazaar a happy tune although the, (perhaps flute?) was significantly out of key as far as Amaki could tell, but to her untrained ears it was minor enough not to ruin the music. Oh thats right, Shizune liked music right? Perhaps it would be good to offer stopping by one of those places for her, she thought to herself as she looked at Shizune whose eyes had fixated for a moment downward at the stray musicians playing the happy tune they played.

Amaki smiled to Shizune when the girl turned back to face her, "Well I made the first decision, its only fair you get to make the next, but we can walk and talk," she said before continuing. "I'll show you the little bakery down a few levels where i get my sweets, then we can do something you like? Perhaps explore the bazaar a bit, maybe see some of the street performers?" Amaki's mouth was nearly watering as she thought about filling her belly full of sweets. Breakfast lunch and dinner, there wasn't a time when they didnt fit well into a meal. In truth they were a staple in her diet, she did not have to worry about her figure or her health one day, none of that was going to matter. Her face stared off for a moment before she clapped her cheeks with her palms held one hand upwards and said "Kattou!" loudly then lightly skipped to the edge of the catwalk before looking back to shizune to follow her. Amaki devised a route that would bring them near the large bridge on the same level as her bakery, it also had the benefit of rolling right passed the two musicians playing their lovely instruments. It was an expertly devised plan, and perhaps she would see more of the enigma that was Shizune. They neared the stairs exiting the catwalk and decending a level alongside the building and Amaki with a slight jog for a start hopped up onto the outside railing, with her bottom sliding down the metal fitting, her momentum as she barreled down to the bottom of the stairs causing her to reel outwards. She tucked and rolled, turning to see Shizune, "A dash of fun see?" she said laughing hard at her dry joke.

The point wasn't to worry Shizune this just was Amaki, or rather her nickname "Ina" she was eccentric, or strange. She led a life of fun, and if something wasn't fun it was time to make fun.

Ina put her hands up behind her head and waited for Shizune to walk downward to meet her. She was already having a great time, I suppose I also need to get a new eyepatch she thought. Looking in a mirror she could see the thing was nearly in tatters stains ran across it from sweat and such although they were subtle it ate Amaki alive to wear something like this, perhaps a fabric store would be a good stop as well.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune would nod and follow along behind Amaki as they made their way towards the bazaar proper, Shizune once more gasping and shaking her head in response to Amaki's recklessness in the name of "fun". The young Jinrai saw nothing fun about risking one's health or well being for a quick slide down a railing that could've resulted in a broken ankle or concussion, not even mentioning that she may have ran into someone coming up the stairs and injured them as well. But it seemed Amaki wasn't the type to consider the future that deeply... almost like she felt she had nothing to lose. Shizune hadn't pried, after all she had her own issues and valued her own privacy, it would be unbecoming to deny someone else theirs. But she couldn't help but let her curiosity run rampant. As if on queue, like she could hear her thoughts, the girl seemed to pause and look at herself in the mirror, studying her eyepatch.

"Uhm, Amaki... Why do you wear an eyepatch? If you don't mind my asking of course..."

In an uncharacteristic moment, her inquisitive nature got the better of her, and the words sort of fell out of her mouth. She immediately regret it, her face turning red underneath her mask and her body language shifting awkwardly. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that, forget I said anything..." She'd continue to follow along with Amaki through the Bazaar, making their way towards this supposed bakery, and all the while the music was growing louder. The closer they got, the more that flutist's shoddy performance ate at her... She could feel herself tensing, wanting to show them how it was really done, and the conflict within her mind was eating at her slowly.

[Bexhex]

"Oh, haha, no worries," she suddenly stopped looking wide eyed at Shizune. Amaki was taken aback a moment, she really had never shown Shizune what was underneath her patch of cloth. A slight smile formed on her lips, "You don't need to feel bad Shizune, I don't hide what's underneath out of embarrassment, more or less not to scare the kids away, haha," she said with an empty smile, her laugh filled with an awkward aura. In effort to show what was underneath she reached up lifting the eyepatch slightly exposing most of the horrid scar that lie beneath. To say it was a scar was an understatement. The eyelids had been torn down the middle, and the rips of flesh that should hang sat as if something had melted them together in places along the inner cavity, where once sat a beautiful blue eye. The skin around was mangled with charred skin in what was reminiscent of a circular pattern of teeth perhaps, sat in the surrounding skin of the eye, it blacked her flawless and porcelain skin. It not only seemed as if the eye had been ripped straight from the socket but as if someone had shoved a hot iron prod deep within her skull to fry what once sat there.

Amaki sat for a moment for Shizune to take in the sight, it was something she was indeed not proud of, but another thing that stood as a testament to what she lost and why she fights to grow stronger. She pulled the eyepatch back down abruptly as a young child and her mother walked by and tears welling up as she saw the damage. "Oh, no I'm so sorry little one," she said in a gentle tone running over to the girl reaching into a small satchel she had around her waist. The mother was trying to hush the little girl before Amaki had taken notice but she understood it was a scary sight to see. "It's okay, here see, look......BLEEEGGHH," she made a loud silly noise with her tongue out while kneeled down at eye level with the little one, squinching her face together in an awkward but quite hilarious pose. The little girl giggled, before Amaki let go of her face, then opened her mouth in small confused look as she used the tinfoil around a small piece of candy to channel jikiton into it. As the purple raiton pulled the candy from her pouch to her hands suddenly the little girl clapped happily forgetting the horrid sight she had seen prior, and now placed with the intrigue of how Amaki had done that. "I'm so sorry about that, I hope this shows you I'm not as scary as the outside looks," she smiled handing the candy over to the girl, before giving a small bow to the mother. "Have a wonderful day ma'am," before she turned around to walk back towards Shizune. "Oh, honey you don't need to apologize, I'm sure some hard fought battle earned that scar you should be commended for your bravery, thank you," the mother said giving a half bow as Amaki walked away.

She walked back up to Shizune slightly embarrassed, that's why i usually keep it covered, It makes it easier to explain, I didn't earn this in some hard fought battle, just a bad fire, when I was little. I was lucky i survived" it was a half-lie, but it was for the better the young shinobi probably wouldn't believe her story if she had said the truth, A demon took my eye, shattered my bones, killed then devoured my family, oh and he is saving me for desert, she thought to herself before being lost in the nostalgia. She snifled, remembering her mother walking her around the bazaar eating sugary treats and fried food listening to music, a small tear began to well up before she shook her head. So much nostalgia, motherhood is a beautiful thing, reminds me of when my mom was still around," she said watching the girl swing her mothers arm skipping down the boardwalk. "I hope I get to see a daughter of my own like that one day," she looked at Shizune, "sooo about that bakery, turns out I just ran out of candy two wanna stop at a candy shop? My treat!" the suddenly bright eyed girl said to her friend as she laughed loudly, masking her inner anxieties.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune felt bad about her prying into the girl's past like this, but she also couldn't help her curiosity, and so she simply resolved herself to see as Amaki made clear it wasn't a big deal to her. However, Shizune wasn't prepared for how grotesque the wound truly was - It reminded her of a few of her own, which chilled her to the bone. She could tell by looking at the gnarly nature of it that it had been a painful experience... There was a shift in the air, and while Amaki tried to play off the seriousness of that wound and it's history, Shizune knew trauma when she saw it. It wasn't manifesting the same way as Shizune's trauma, but you don't walk away from wounds like these the same.

Her thoughts came back to reality as the young boy began to cry, and immediately Shizune turned awkward and uncomfortable. Crying brought attention, and she hated attention nowadays, but it seemed Amaki was willing to be the social one today. With a silly face and a big of clowning around, she got the boy smiling again, and after the little interaction Amaki seemed better for it, if a bit oddly sad. Sad for her mother perhaps? "O-oh... I'm sorry to hear that... your mother..." She didn't finish the thought aloud, but it was the oldest sentence to trail off of in the world - Everyone knew what the last word was. "I uh... Yeah. Let's get something sweet. But no, it's my treat this time, to repay you for the rolls you shared with me the other day." Shizune reached a hand out for a brief moment, as if she was going to touch the girl's shoulder, but half way through she froze. It was like she had hit an invisible brick wall, like some compelling force was preventing her hand from moving close enough to make contact with Amaki's shoulder. For a brief moment she just sat there, transfixed, as if at war within her own mind.

And then the screech of a particular missed note on the flute caused Shizune's head to whip around out of pure instinct, staring off in the direction of the musical group. "Tch, Friggin amateur... They should be embarrassed, playing like that in public. The Shamisen player is holding himself back with that dead weight of a flutist. If I played like that in front of a crowd, I would have had to leave the village for a few months just to let the shame die down."

For just a brief moment, Amaki got a glimpse of what the old Shizune may have been like - If there was one thing she couldn't stand, then and now, it was a bad fucking musician. It was one thing to train, but she believed one should never, ever show off a performance in public without ensuring it was flawless. To screech on such a basic song? In front of so many people? The absurdity, the audacity! She had played this same song herself on more than one occasion, this embarrassment should be ashamed of himself.

And then... it had passed. And Shizune realized what had just come out of her mouth. She froze again, stiff as a board, not even breathing. "O...oh... I'm so sorry Ohmigoddd." Shizune finally turned back to face Amaki, placing her hand to the face of her own mask as she chided herself for letting her mask slip, figuratively in this case at least.

[Bexhex]

Amaki smiled at Shizune when she offered her condolences, thing was it hurt alot to see parental relationships of all those around the village. It filled her with envy, she missed her family dearly. She still remembered their faces as if they had just disappeared yesterday. Every morning waking up to the food that her mom would make the delicious smells of baked breakfast pastries, and cinnamon wafting in the morning. She eyed the little girl and mother, her face giving that long stoic smile, how long had it been since she last walked along with her mother like that. The years since that awful night echoed almost nightly, the reminder of the horrors that are still yet to come. She felt her envy dip further into jealousy of the little girl who moments ago had been crying, to be scared and have a parent hold you. To tell you the nightmares were just nightmares. But none of this was a nightmare, it wasn't a dream, its the real world. She felt her head rise, and she was happy to see another day with a beautiful sun and spend it with a friend. That feeling cleared the jealous storm that roiled in her head, and suddenly the threat in the near future, and the nightmares since that awful night faded.

"If you really want to Shizune, I would say just coming out to enjoy a beautiful day with me is more than enough to repay me," she giggled. She spun around looking up. "And what a beautiful day it has been so far," she said throwing her arms out feeling the warmth of the sun on her shoulders. She heard the music come through and danced out of sync with it for a brief moment in her own goofy way, the flute player it scratched out of key several times, but to Amaki, there was a beauty in that. The struggle even though they failed they kept on playing merrily and happily, and to her untrained ear it didn't quite stick out. She paused and looked at Shizune who was at this point criticizing the duo, and Amaki could only guess gritting her teeth under that mask.

"Do you really think they are that bad? she giggled slightly at the girl who had finally shown something deeper than the shy mask she always wore. Shizune had frozen at this point apologizing frantically to Amaki. Amaki stood and blinked several times at the girl, before bursting out into a fit of laughter, 'Awh Shizune, don't apologize that was adorable," she could barely speak trying to catch her breath. "I'm sure you are a much better musician than they are, but you have to admit, there is beauty in their struggle, she said with a bright smile, as she gingerly walked humming the tune in what seemed reminiscent of a tone deaf potato. "Besides the bad makes the good shine better," she said before cutting off and running up to a window on a nearby store. "Ahhhhh, look at those. They look so tasty fruit covered in chocolate. I hope their are strawberries, Oh there are right there," she said in awe she was overly excited face pressed up against the window and looking back at her. Second best thing after pastries were candy and she was ready for more.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune's body, as rigid as rock, slowly but surely relaxed as Amaki giggled and smiled at her. She had expected a more negative reaction than that - After all, she could be really bitchy when it came to the things that she was once passionate about, especially music. Her face was still beat red though, and inside she wanted to curl up into a ball and disappear, especially after being so negative so publicly. "Uh... I shouldn't be so critical of them, you're right. To have the courage to play in front of a crowd at all... I guess that makes them the better musician, doesn't it?" The girl looked over to the duo, the pair of them smiling as their music rang out over the crowded street. A small tear began to form in her eye... maybe her vitriol wasn't about the guy's musical talent. Maybe she was just jealous of them. The song reached a powerful crescendo as the final chorus ended, and the locals who had been listening gave a short but enthused applause before a few dropped some Ryo into their open bowl.

"Heh... A beauty in their struggle. I wish there was a beauty in mine..."

The words were uttered to herself, quietly, but perhaps Amaki could hear her if she was paying close attention. Shizune snapped back to reality a moment later, the tear from before having dried back up as Amaki turned to the nearby store of sweets. Catching up to her friend, the young Jinrai would place a hand on the glass as she looked in on the confections within. "Hmm... Why don't you go grab us a bag full of the chocolate covered strawberries, Amaki? Here." Shizune would reach into her ninja pouch and produce a small bag with a few Ryo inside - enough to cover probably three times what the masked girl had just requested of her friend. She wasn't saying the quiet part out loud of course, but there were too many people in the store at that moment - Shizune wasn't relishing the idea of being in a crowded room full of people right now. The street was overstimulating enough as it was.

[Bexhex]

Amaki just shrugged to Shizune, "I wouldn't know till I hear you play, and i bet that rarity is beautiful," Amaki said her eyes glowing at the thought of seeing Shizune play any musical instrument, she was oblivious to the reasons why Shizune no longer played an instrument, alot of Shizune was an enigma to Amaki. It was one of the the things that was what brought Amaki to the young Jinrai, the curiosity the young girl was, it was fun to see more of her. The music around them came to a close in a powerful crescendo which led Amaki to applaud, with loud hollering and laughter. These were peaceful times she dearly loved, she was caught in her own nostalgia, as well as the new memories with her friend. It was like the door to the past had opened, and she was walking with her family down the bazaar, trying the many foods on the streets and listening to the street performers whether, good or bad. The serenity she was was feeling caused her to blush slightly as she smiled.

The candy shop was busy and Shizune, having suggested to buy, produced a bag of ryo handing it to Amaki. She felt the weight of the ryo in the small sack that the girl handed to her, it weighed much more than the few ryo that was required to buy, but Amaki's stomach rumbled and before she could question it she saluted her friend, "Aye Aye Captain," she said before giggling running into the store to not only end their window shopping but put an end to Amaki's salivating hunger.

She weaved through the crowd of people getting to the stall in the back, a young girl perhaps a few years older than Amaki sat behind the counter taking orders and writing them down on slips of paper before running off to collect the bag. Amaki counted the ryo in the purse and did the math in her head, three times more than a simple bag of the delicious treat. She could buy a sacks worth for this much. She went over what Shizune said, "She said a bag of them, did that mean a small bag or a big bag. Does Shizune like her sweets that much? Would she want a sack of chocolate strawberries, it doesn't look like there are enough for that, maybe I should substitute in cherries or another chocolate dipped fruit. But she said strawberries, ahh why is this so hard, get it together Amaki," her mind raced in circles as she over thought ever potential way the young girl could have presented it. Clearly the girl just wanted one of the small bags, but Amaki had at that point convinced herself if she only wanted that much she would not have given her that much.

Whether her confusion and frustration had shined out to the girl behind the counter, or it was truly her turn, the young lady spoke up. "Hello, sweety what can i get you?," her voice was soft compared to the commotion. "I.. I want.. err no, uhm how much will this buy me of the chocolate covered strawberries," Amaki said a brief moment of decision paralysis taking over her, before she finally asked plopping the sack down on the counter. The weight of the ryo in the bag jingling as it bounced off the hard wood in the candy shop. The girls eyes opened wide as she counted it, "Uhm, this would buy the entirety of what i have left, and then some? Are you sure you want that much?" she said, her own confusion apparent in her tone. "U-uhm, y-yess, Unless that's a problem, I can always bring out less. My friend she loves these I think...," Amaki said pushing the bag over with her head down defeated by her own thoughts. The girl swiped up the bag, and rushed behind the counter, filling three bags with the chocolate covered strawberries and then two more bags that contained no chocolate, but adding a small sack that held hot fudge in a small container for the girls to dip their fresh strawberries in. "Whelp, all checked out here is what was left, you did me a great favor clearing out my stores before they went bad," the young girl smiled brightly, before sliding the sacks across to her. Amaki scooped up the five paper sacks balancing them, as she turned to walk out. She was ever careful as she traversed the busy store to the front door.

She walked out, have used every potential graceful bone in her body not to drop all the bags in her balancing act. She rounded the corner, where Shizune was last seen, "Shizune! I....I got our strawberries...," She could barely see her head hidden behind the bags that she was trying to hug close so they didn't fall. Her face showed she was defeated like she had ran several miles or failed some test at school.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune froze up as Amaki mentioned hearing Shizune's music... The thought honestly terrified her, she was petrified at the thought of even trying to pick up an instrument anymore. But more than that, the fact that she called it "rare", when in reality there was hardly a day that went by when she wasn't playing music before the war. Whether it was a flute, or a shamisen, or her Zankyo, or even her voice, the girl was almost always doing something musical - Sometimes just humming a tune, and other times doing a full impromptu performance wherever she happened to be. When the musical bug struck her, she just had to let it out, usually to the joy and elation of those around her. But now when that bug crept up like today, it filled her with dread and pain.

Amaki went into the store, and in a reflexive moment, Shizune's hand drifted up to the side of her head. She wore a hood of course, but there was a large scar running along the right side of her head, and her fingers traced it on the outside of the hood. Of all of the scars she bore from that horrific trauma, that scar was the one that broke her... It was the scar from her own Zankyo, her prized violin that she took with her everywhere, taught to her by Jinrai belief to be an extension of her very soul. It was where the violin had been broken against her skull, and with it's shattering, so too did she shatter. "I'm sorry, Amaki... I can't play. Not anymore."

The girl spoke softly to herself under the mask, her hand slowly sliding back down to her side as she let out a small sigh and turned to lean against the window, looking to the street as it bustled. What am I even doing out here right now? This street, this crowd, these musicians and all this socializing... This isn't me anymore. Her shoulders slumped as she turned to look at her feet, wondering if maybe she should just slip away while Amaki bought those strawberries. She could keep them, honestly Shizune didn't want any to begin with - the stress of eating in public and fighting with her mask was enough of a deterrent for her. But as the thought crossed her mind, she turned to look in the window at Amaki as the girl struggled with how much to buy. She could practically see the stress and confusion on Amaki's face as she went through mental gymnastics, no doubt stressing over what was honestly a simple process.

Then again, Shizune stressed over simple processes all the time. Who was she to judge?

It was cute even, she could tell that Amaki just wanted to do something right by her. She was trying to make sure Shizune had a good time... trying to be her friend. When the girl finally came back out to Shizune, a look of agony and embarrassment in her eyes, Shizune couldn't help but to chuckle a little as she took a few of the bags from Amaki. "I see that, I'd say you got our strawberries and enough for someone else..." The masked girl took in a small breath as she opened one of the bags, seeing that it contained some of their strawberries, before closing it again and giving a small nod. "I'll be right back..." She said, before turning to make her way over to the two musicians who were beginning to pack up it seemed. With a nervous shift of her shoulders and a concentrated attempt to face the man with the flute, Shizune held the bag of strawberries out to him.

"H-Here... We bought too many..." The man looked at Shizune's masked visage, then down at the strawberries, then back to her mask again with a smile. "Awww, thanks miss! We're still getting the hang of this public music thing, I know I have a long way to go, but the support we've gotten is so inspiring! We don't have much, so these strawberries will be a great treat to enjoy later." The man graciously took the small bag from Shizune, who's hands immediately folded in front of her as she awkwardly shimmied back and forth. "Uhm, well I uh... You have a good foundation, B-but you need to open up your airways more. Try uh, try straightening your posture a little more, and breath from your diaphram, not your belly. It'll uhh.... h-help with your projection, and with holding long breaths for longer notes..." The man looked up from the bag as Shizune gave her advice to him, and for a moment he was a little stunned. Not only was the girl giving him advice, but just by thinking on what she was recommending, he could tell that she was right.

"Wow, you got all of that just by watching me play once? That's incredible, thank you so much! I'll be sure to work on that. Hey uh, do you think maybe you could show me what you mean? I'll let you use my flute, just show me a quick tune so I can see what you're talking about." Shizune's eyes grew wide with shock, a gasp escaping her mouth as the man put the bag of strawberries down and went to grab his flute. In a state of panic, Shizune turned to look at Amaki, hoping maybe she would have an excuse for her to get out of this situation. She... she couldn't touch that flute.

[Bexhex]

Amaki sullen and defeated handed over the bags to Shizune before the girl trodded off, saying she would be back. Amaki for the briefest of moments was worried her new dear friend would disappear into the crowd and leave her alone. She was worried of the mistep, buying to many strawberries and wasting the poor girls money. Amaki was used to this behavior, someone would meet her they would do some fun act, but whether for pity, her own shortcomings or some will of the unseen, they would make some pitiful excuse before running off never to see them again. She was reminded of her overwhelming loneliness, if the girl decided she didn't want to be her friend anymore, it would be Amaki and her thoughts to keep her company. She could feel the sting in her eyes as they began to form tears, as she pulled the bags closer. Reaching in she pulled out three strawberries quickly stuffing her mouth with two and then holding the other. The perfect balance of sweet and tart filled her mouth as she bit into the two she threw into her mouth, followed by the overwhelming taste of chocolate that hugged the strawberry tightly. She found herself in a state of bliss letting out a loud sigh, sweets always take away the sour feelings, she thought to herself, her eyes now drying up. It was a close call almost breaking down like that, she looked in the direction Shizune ran off to, the crowd now dispersing. The girl was talking to the flutist from earlier, leaving a bag of strawberries on the ground for them, and the flutist seemed overjoyed to have it.

Amaki's heart warmed her worries draining from her body, Shizune was kind-hearted. It caused Amaki's face to fill with a smile, as she watched them converse a small banter back and forth. This was good for Shizune, she stepped outside of her bounds and it was huge progress in Amaki's eyes. Her friend showed yet another side of herself that she never expected. Taking the lead where she expected she would be doing the dancing in their little outing Shizune stood up and took the lead. There was a sudden shift in the conversation with the flutist, the man turning around to grab something and her friend had turned stiff, before swinging back and forth looking around before settling her eyes on Amaki. Her spine ran cold, she knew that look, not because Shizune was looking horrified, but because she could relate, Panic, she thought to herself. She kept a firm grip on the bags before darting over to save her friend, a young girl alone with a man looking as panicked as she was could mean only a few things and most of which were avoidable due in part to their shinobi background. As she approached she maneuvered herself between the two blocking his view of Shizune, "Shizune! There you are, oh gosh, we are going to be late. I told you we have a very important visit we have to make," she said winking with her only eye, before turning around to the flutist, "I'm sorry sir, Shizune-san is very very busy, you know shinobi business and all, we loved your playing though," she said before reaching a hand out towards Shizune ready to pull her along any route that would separate these two.

She had no clue as to why her friend looked panicked as she did, but she wasn't going to let anyone face fear alone, especially her friend. After all she knew that feeling, she knew what fear could cause and the visceral wounds it could leave behind. She wouldn't wait for the the man to respond, his clear daze growing stronger by the barrage of sentences Amaki threw at him. A vice turned virtue in this instance, her constant need to talk, or create awkwardness and confusion.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune was stunned in place as the man produced his flute in front of her, as if it was some device of horrid torment that would be used against her. The girl's muscles were so tense they might tear themselves apart, as if even the thought of playing music again would send her into a full blown flashback. She could feel the pressure welling in her chest, a scream or a cry or a moan of agony, she wasn't sure what it was but it was growing and would soon overflow. However, before a full manifestation of her trauma could emerge, Amaki stepped in to pull Shizune away from the situation. Truth be told, she didn't catch much of what Amaki was saying, and even as she was bodily turned away and lead off with Amaki her gaze was transfixed on the flute in the man's hands. It wasn't until she was pulled entirely away from the man that her trance was broken, and as soon as it was her hand reached up to take hold of Amaki's shoulder. It was as if Shizune had run out of breath or something - Had she been breathing during that exchange at all? She felt light headed, as if the world was flooding back to her all at once.

"I... I'm S-sorry..." She managed to choke out a few words finally, the two having slid into a back alley not far from the musical duo's area but out of sight of most common folk. Shizune would then slowly, carefully let go of Amaki as she moved towards the nearby wall, putting her back to it for the feeling of security it brought and slowly sliding down until she was sitting on the ground, her knees tucked up to her chest as she formed a ball. Her breathing was rushed, but she seemed aware and in control - just incredibly stressed. "I j-just need a minute... I'm sorry." She repeated her apology for no reason once more, as if it were some phrase that she had just come to use to fill empty space.

[Bexhex]

Shizune slid down the wall of the alley they stopped in, her breaths seemed loud as they reverberated across the space they were in. The girl's words were labored but she choked out apologies several times. Amaki recognized this reaction, it was something she felt most days when she awoke from her nightmares. Panic attack, she thought to herself. Amaki turned and leaned against the wall, she slid down alongside her friend placing her head against the wall trying not to stare at the girl, she didn't want to invade her space but at the same time she didn't want to abandon her friend when she was dealing with some kind of trauma.

Amaki reached into the bag of strawberries pulling one out and sticking part of it in her mouth. She suckled on the edge of the sweet fruit sitting in silence, after a few moments speaking. "It really is sad she said," the normally bright girl said as her face became covered in a tired look. "The world we live in, I mean... Kids like us...," she said shakily before continuing. "struggling like we are, I hate that the world we live in is so cruel to us," Amaki said weakly, her eye was on the verge of tears. Amaki didn't really know what kind of trauma that the girl went through that caused her to have the reaction she displayed with the flutist. They sat silent again, as Amaki let a few tears stream down her face for her own pain, as well as Shizune's. Before she finally looked over at the girl, "I don't know much Zuzu-chan, but i do know that girl's like us, we aren't really alone. As long as we are both here, we will always have each other," Amaki said with a small burst of energy towards the end of her sentence. Her face while tears were falling from her eyes was filled with a contradictory bright smile.

Amaki stood up looking over to the girl, "you're not alone Shizune, but if you need space I understand, I won't rush or push you, or even pretend like I can even understand what you're going through, but we are friends, and I don't abandon a friend,". She leaned over with a toothy grin to Shizune,"wanna get outta the bazaar? I actually have one more stop, and it just so happens to be outside of the place we are in, it's a alot quieter as well, whiiiiich may be more of your vibe," she said as she giggled. She held out her hand to help Shizune back up, hoping the girl would indulge her for just a bit longer.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune's head was buried in her knees as she rocked lightly back and forth, a sort of 'self soothing' motion, trying desperately to regain her composure. It was in vain so far however, her breathing refused to calm and she trembled like a leaf in a harsh wind. But as her friend's voice reached her it had a profound effect on her, in spite of the sorrow laced within the words themselves. When she managed to pick her head up and look at her friend, the tears streaming down Amaki's face reminded Shizune of her own... just what kind of hell had her friend endured? How different were they really? "A-Amaki..." The girl managed to choke out her friend's name, looking her over from behind her mask, one of the few things in this world that still made her feel safe.

"I uh... I don't think many shinobi realize... They don't realize how bad things can get. One bad day, that's all it takes... One mission gone wrong. One misstep, and everything... can crash around you. I signed up, but I-I d-didn't really know... what I was signing up for..." Shizune's tears fell alongside Amaki's as the two took a sort of mutual comfort in their shared misery. Amaki managed a smile of course, she always did... It was particularly contagious today it seemed, as even Shizune was smiling ever so slightly herself. Her friend stood and made clear that she wasn't trying to push, but if Shizune had more to give, Amaki had one last thing to show her. Truth be told, Shizune simply wanted to go home, but... Amaki had a way of getting through her walls in the best way. Shizune gulped a little, gave a small nod, and took a deep breath before reaching out to take Amaki's hand, slowly using her friend's arm and the wall behind her to ease back to her feet.

"One more stop. No more. And uh, I'd like a strawberry... If that's alright..."

[Bexhex]

Amaki remained silent after her friend said her peace, it was true. Most people don't realize how easily your life can suddenly be over, one moment everything gone. she knew that feeling all to well. How many nights did she sleep well anymore, how many days did she ache remembering her mother and fathers faces, when she came home one or both their to greet her and hug her. How all that was taken away from her because of some misstep, some flaw in their planning. What should have been her coming of age ceremony turned into a nightmare that to this day still haunted her, tortured her. Her precious life taken from her in a way that she couldn't see getting back and one day would be cut short. Her solution was to live every day like it was her last, to smile whenever possible, a feat that she knew was harder than most capable of. Shizune must have been through something similar to herself, and Amaki's heart bled for her friend, whatever she had endured it was more than she ever have had to.

She helped her friend up, the cold leather glove gripping onto her skin as the it pulled with the weight of her friend. She reached into a bag and handed over a strawberry, with a lipped smile. "Okay but a forewarning its a bit of a walk, uhm, we have to go back to the top. But its worth it I promise, I usually meet two people here once a month, but I would love to show you the spot," Amaki said her smile betrayed by the tired look behind her eyes. "Then I promise we are done," Amaki turned and started to walk out of the alley way guiding Shizune.

Their was not much in the way of eventful for their walk back tracking to the top level. They were beating the evening rush by an hour or two, so most the platforms were clear and easy to traverse. Amaki however was lost in thought, for the first time since the events of what happen those many years ago, she met someone who knew her pain. She didn't know how to handle it, and due in part to that, didn't know what to say. She would just smile a half-hearted smile, try to look upbeat, and laugh when she felt it was appropriate. Her movements were sullen opposite of her hyperactive over enthused movements from earlier. Where she would be the energetic gremlin filled with energy there was now the calm slow walking girl that seemed to walk with some sort of purpose.

They had made their way up the levels and on the final platform entered a small lift that took them up several stories before opening them to a small platform that weaved between buildings hugging the sides of the mountain. After some time, the path opened up into a large flat outcropping that jutted out on the far side of the mountain. The sun was gently setting off in the distance casting radiant strands and a golden silhouette that encompassed the both of them. Amaki knew it was the greatest time for them to come the twilight of the evening was perfect for their destination. As they walked out they met a large iron grated fence. Ornate gothic spikes that ran off either side of the large gate. Over head of the gate the iron bands flaired up in an arch that read in an ornate design, "Memories Are A Treasure," on the other side sat row upon row of granite stone work jutting out with kanji for many different family names scrawled across them. The cemetery where her families memorial sat...

She turned and looked back at Shizune, "We came at the best time, there really is no better place to watch a sunset, I think it even beats our spot," Amaki said, the sadness in her voice was evident as the words came out monotoned for the first time since they had met. Amaki channeled jikiton into her palm holding out her hand to the gate, the rusted bolts on the side squeaked open and the gate swept inward before coming to a solid stop. Amaki held out her hand ushering Shizune inward, before she closed the gate with the same technique. She grabbed a bucket of water and a small ladle that sat in a small cubby next to the gate filling it with water from a connected spicket. "Okay, I think I'm ready," she said, with a deep breath.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

As Shizune got to her feet and took the strawberry, Amaki made clear they had a somewhat long trip ahead, but that was fine with Shizune. It would give her time to walk off the stress she had just been under, to relax a little as they transitioned from one point to the next, the walk itself hopefully calming her nerves once more so that she could return to what was supposed to be a fun day with her friend. However, something about the look in Amaki's eyes, the way she held herself now, the silence of their walk and the lack of energy that Amaki had now... Something was off. She took a brief moment to pop most of the strawberry into her mouth, lifting her mask discreetly to bite off the entire bit of fruit before discarding the remaining stem in an alley along their walk, but all the while she remained attentive to Amaki's demeanor and the shift it had taken. Is... Is everything alright? She doesn't seem herself now. Did my issue earlier strike a nerve, did I make her uncomfortable?

She wanted desperately to ask, but some part of her felt that would make things even more awkward. They weaved through streets, took a lift up to the upper levels of a mountain, and with every passing minute Amaki's mood seemed to shift more and more... The feeling of discomfort was beginning to get to Shizune, some part of her felt maybe she was in trouble or something. However, it all made sense as the destination was revealed - A cemetery. The sun was setting in the distance, just beginning to fall behind the far off mountains of Lightning Country as the two made their way through the wrought iron gates. "...Amaki..." Shizune managed to say her friend's name, making clear her concern for her friend's well being and mental health. Whatever they were here to do, whoever they were going to honor, Shizune had a feeling it had everything to do with why Amaki was the way she was. Her eye, her callous disregard for danger, her constant jovial attitude that was used as a shield to misdirect from her true feelings...

How much was she about to learn about her friend's past in this cemetery?

[Bexhex]

As Shizune said her name, Amaki just smiled looking at her, carrying her pale of water she turned and led her friend down the main row of memorial statues. Looking both ways it was apparent that they were the only ones hear, the cemetery most likely long forgotten, along with the loved ones that resided here. She walked slowly, every so often checking behind her to make sure Shizune was keeping up. After a short walk, a frail looking tree stood towering over several memorial sights, "there it is," Amaki said breaking the silence. She picked up pace moving with a portion of the speed she usually did sloshing water as she sped up.

She ran up under the small frail tree, its branches having fallen off in several places, and the wood peeling back in more areas exposing the bright tan wood underneath. It was truly an ugly tree, one that belonged in the home of the dead, with the exception of slight shade it gave it was probably not worth keeping on the grounds in the first place. Next to the tree however was what she was hear for, a large granite marker. It was kept in pristine condition almost looking as if it were new, one could see the previously burnt incense charcoals sitting in a small divot that laid in the front of the monument. As Amaki glanced at it the familiar characters that read "Senkuma" sat scrolled down the top to the bottom of the granite tower. Behind the large tower resting in small grooves standing vertical, where three sotoba, two of which were marked with a different name. The first was marked and read Hikari, the second read Jiro, the third sat empty as if awaiting another name that had yet to come sit at the table of the dead.

Amaki walked around the monument, inspecting it thoroughly for moss and chips from the elements that it was constantly subjected to. After bushing off a few spots she walked over grabbed her ladle, dipping it in the water and then splashed it on the grave sight. Returning the ladle she laid out a small piece of torn paper, an old photograph, depicting the tall, brown haird hazel eyed man that was her father his long slim build that complimented her mothers small short stature, her blue eyes peircing throught the photo, with her lipstick dark in the background, hair done up in a small bun. She sat holding a young Amaki still two eyes in tact bright and blue like her mothers but softer still, likely due to the hazel color of her father's eyes. They all smiled happily while Amaki's arms were thrust up as if excited about something beyond the picture taker. A time long ago, the ends of the photo where burnt and torn with pieces missing, and large ugly folds throughout the framed shot. Her eyes teared up as she tapped the ground next to her and looking up at Shizune. "It's okay they don't bite Shizune...," she paused for a moment. "Mom, Dad, This is my friend Zuzu-chan," her words echoed around the cemetery, "Zuzu-chan these are my parents, Jiro and Hikari," she held out her hand to her picture as if truly introducing them.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

The masked Jinrai followed along behind Amaki as she led the way through the small cemetery, her friend's sad silence giving rise to a myriad of speculations in Shizune's head. She had clearly lost someone close, but how close? Perhaps it was another friend like Shizune, or family, but whoever it was it was enough to warrant regular visits she surmised. As she saw the state of the monument, clean and well kept, she knew the fallen were of significant importance to Amaki. And as she saw the name on the monument, it finally clicked... The picture was of her and her parents. She motioned for Shizune to sit alongside her, and the young woman gently nodded and complied, taking a seat next to her friend as she introduced Shizune to her parents.

"It's a pleasure to meet them, Amaki." She said with a sad lilt, her hands folded in her crossed legs as she looked at the picture, and at Amaki. Her pain made so much more sense now, Amaki had lost her parents years ago no doubt... How long had she been raising herself? How long had she been without parental guidance? And of course she had so many questions about what lead to this moment, what lead to their deaths, but she couldn't bring herself to ask any of that yet. It felt too soon, too raw... Chances were good it would always feel like a question that couldn't be asked. "Were they shinobi as well?" Was about the only question Shizune could think of to ask that wasn't too harsh... And even still, her voice carried a hesitant concern.

Shizune scooted a little closer to her friend, her knee brushing up against her friend's leg as she moved to be within reach of Amaki in case the girl needed consolation in the form of physical touch. It was uncomfortable sure, at least it was for most people, but Amaki had proven herself a lot over the past few months. She was a good friend to Shizune, respectful of her personal space and her do's and dont's. She was being vulnerable and revealing her pain to Shizune... the least she could do in return was be there to comfort that pain.

[Bexhex]

Amaki sat staring at the family marker, a small half-smile formed across her lips as her friend played along with the introduction. Despite the awkward feeling it felt nice to share this side with someone after so long, letting the upbeat exhausting attitude drop. She wiped the tears that were falling down her cheek, and looked to Shizune, "They were, at least at some point.. They were more like researchers than shinobi since I can remember," Amaki said as she drew circles in the dirt they were sitting in. She undid her eye patch, leaving the malformed and horrid scar lay bare. She remembered the study in their home lined with row upon row of books and scrolls all tucked away. The long hours her parents would put into their study of spirits and the like, and when they had begun to introduce Amaki to their work. She was horrified of spirits still to this day, the sounds of snapping bones and fleshy tones of their bodies in the basement, She was afraid to summon another spirit, to mess up again, to summon him.

Amaki's gaze descended into a thousand yard stare before she finally shook her head, recollecting herself. "I can sympathize Shizune, one day everything can change. The smiles of your family, the happiness you would feel embracing the ones you love, can be torn away in an instant. My home is gone, my parents ripped from me unable to say goodbye. All I have left is this burnt picture and tattered coat that still smells like my mothers perfume, and a handful of years to grieve" she began to pour her soul out to her friend.

"They didn't die a heroes death, they died in their home, that has long since burned down. It's funny really, I can remember that night like it happened yesterday. The smells in the air, the copper and smoke that filled the space before I was awoken by the shinobi who saved me, the sounds of that night as I laid their unable to help. I can't remember their faces unless I look at this picture or the embrace of my mother without this coat. I had my future ripped from me that night, and my past shattered by what I saw" Amaki said dully, before she pulled her coat tight around her, imagining a hug from her mother like she would receive as a child.

She felt Shizune's brush against her, "I can only guess what you have been through, I can surmise some things, others I wouldn't dare to ask you, but I do know what its like for your life to completely change. We are survivors, we don't get to leave the scene of the crimes committed against us, for us we live there. Every day we relive that trauma through nightmares, scars, and random triggers we see anywhere we go," she said with a sniffle, before wiping her face again.

Amaki laid back looking up at the sky, "I don't have many years left ya know, its why I live the way I do, it's why i wanna see the things I can. I want to love and be loved, to taste sweet things as well as bad things, to laugh and cry with friends, who will miss me one day when I'm no longer here, I wanna be a.... ," she cut off realizing she was beginning to overshare with her friend. She danced around her past, shuten-doji didn't need to be mentioned the graphic visuals of that night didn't need to be shared. She smiled an let out a laugh, it may have still seemed half hearted even though Amaki tried to fill it with emotion like normal.

She stood up and sighed as she looked at the sunset, "I'm not okay, but if I smile enough maybe I can live the lie that I'm okay," she looked at Shizune, producing another strawberry from her bag and stuffing it in her face, a wide happy smile appeared across her face as she chewed on it. The chocolate melted inside her mouth leaving a creamy texture that was more delicious than the one she had earlier.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

As Amaki poured her heart out before Shizune, letting all of the horrible pain and trauma that she had suffered flow from her like a faucet of grief and hurt, Shizune simply listened. Her eyes were transfixed on the shrine before her, scanning over the names again and again, trailing to the picture now and again as the faces of Amaki's parents were practically burned into Shizune's memory. To have lost her parents in such a brutal way... Shizune had been through her own trials, but she couldn't imagine her own reaction to such a loss. The Jinrai may have written Shizune off as an outcast for her response to her trauma, but Shizune hadn't written off her own mother and father. She still loved them... And would still feel a terrible pain when they eventually passed, even if the reasons were normal. But a fire? Gone before her very eyes, without a chance of saving them? It felt crushing just to hear.

Throughout all of it, she didn't dare interrupt the girl. She needed to let this pain out, and something told Shizune that she was one of very few who had ever heard how deep Amaki's pain truly went. But she couldn't help but note the way she spoke of her own expiration date, as if it was something coming sooner rather than later. Was she sick? Had fate really doled her out such an awful hand? And if so... how long did she truly have left? She didn't dare ask... It wasn't the time for that. Without even thinking, Shizune's hand had reached up to rest gently on Amaki's shoulder as she gazed out to the sunset, stuffing a strawberry into her mouth as if using it to swallow the pain of her loss back down. When she was finally done, Shizune spoke.

"I'm glad you shared that with me, Amaki." Her voice felt different than normal, the usual timidness wasn't there anymore. There was no stutter, no apprehension; She spoke in a calm, steady tone. "I know how hard it is to discuss trauma. I've been seeing a therapist every two weeks for the past couple years to work on my own problems. And... maybe one day I'll tell you about it. Not today, not here, but someday. I won't give you the usual pitiful condolences either, you deserve better than those heartless platitudes, and if you're like me you're sick to death of hearing people say "I'm sorry you suffered"." Shizune's hand gently rubbed the girl's shoulder as she spoke her truths, and she dearly hoped that Amaki realized this was her way of trying to relate to her pain, not overshadow it with her own.

"Honestly, it makes me so happy to know that you trust me enough to talk with me like this. To let the mask down..." She trailed off as she spoke of masks, the irony of her statement hitting her like a brick. A small chuckle made it's way from beneath her own mask, and she turned slightly to look at Amaki's exposed eye... Her friend was baring herself to her in such a vulnerable way. The least she could do was show her the same trust and respect.

First, she reached towards the bag of strawberries to pull one out, holding it in her hand for a moment as she eyed it over. And then, with a deep breath, her other hand reached up to her mask, her thumb slipping underneath the leather. Slowly, she lifted the leather mask up and off of her face, feeling the air of Kumogakure upon her scarred skin for the first time in months. As she lay the mask on the ground by her side, she looked out to the sunset with her friend and took a bite from the strawberry in her hand. She tried desperately to keep calm and collected, but she was panicking already... She hadn't let anyone see her face except for her therapist and hospital staff in over a year.

Her face was almost entirely covered in scars. Burns, gashes, cuts, gouges, stabs... it was a grisly sight. Two incredibly large cuts trailed from the corners of her mouth up towards her ears, her cheeks clearly having been split open with a knife at some point. Her right eye, without the mask to hide it, could be clearly seen for what it was now - A glass eyeball. Her right eye was gone, a hideous burn outlined the entirety of the ocular socket. The only part of her face that was mostly undamaged was her left eye and the left side of her forehead, but everything else? Scar tissue.

"...To let the mask down." She repeated herself, her voice unmuffled by the leather mask for once. "Even I need to let the mask down sometimes."

[Bexhex]

"Of course I trust you Shizune, we are friends, it's just what we do," Amaki said bluntly. She looked over at her friend who was sitting there her statement rang in her head. No one ever talked about her suffering not the physicians, or other hospital staff, not her teachers or her neighbors. Everyone pretended like nothing had happened since that fateful day, when the little girl was brought to a hospital bleeding, broken, burned, and mangled. No one ever told her but she heard the hospital staff talking when they thought she wasn't listening. Everyone was concerned with the little orphan girl who came to them. How horrible it must have been that she lost her family, and now she sat alone. If she was being honest that did bother her, but none of them new the full story. The young family that was lost in a fire, was actually consumed. The only survivor to follow in the comming years. Shizune was right, she would hate to hear those words. No one knew what it was like to suffer like this, to know that each passing year, her timer ticked away, how could she dream or aspire, if she started a family she would never see her children age, her lover would be left alone, if she gained wealth it wouldn't buy her more time. If she made friends, they would have to say goodbye...

She looked to her friend, she had begun pulling her mask down while pulling her strawberry up to her mouth. One day they would have to say goodbye, she thought to herself, tears welled up in her eye before the mask was completely removed from her friends face. Her tears didn't dry up but instead changed to one of empathy. Shizune's face was a mangled mess of burns, gashes, and scars. The most notable stuck out to her, the deep cuts that looked to make her mouth appear like it was a large twisted monstrous grin. It horrified Amaki, as she was given flashbacks to her night with Oni, he abnormal smile that unhinged from his jaw. But before the horror reached her face, she saw the soft skin that had been left untouched above her left eye, a reminder of what once was. Amaki imagined the young shinobi once upon a time was beautiful, whatever happened to the girl that caused all this, was trauma well beyond what Amaki faced. This girl was tortured, this wasn't some accident she happened upon, Shizune came face to face with pure evil.

"I see, you've met demons to then Zuzu-chan,"
The words slipped out before she could think about her next words, "I'm sorry Shizune, that was rude, we aren't so different is what I mean," she quickly said her voice filled with more emotion than earlier. "Our scars tell our stories, for better or for worse," Amaki said after a moment of silence, and one day when you want to tell your story Zuzu-chan, I'll listen, I'll hear every word, like you heard mine today," she ended knowing full well she left out parts of the story, her voice cracked a bit as she held back her tears for friends anguish that was still untold.

"Zuzu....th-thank...y-y-yoouu...," Amaki blurted out as her sniffle turned into a wail, as tears streamed down her face, finally letting all her emotions fly out of her, the happiness, the grief, the shared misery. Everything she was never allowed herself to feel she was finally allowed to feel once again as she dropped her mask along with her friend.

[Jin the Sugar Glider]

Shizune swallowed the strawberry with an audible gulp as Amaki commented on the horrors that Shizune had no doubt experienced. A tear began to well in her eye as she let out a small sigh, flicking away the small bit of strawberry stem left over after she had finished. "Demons... yeah. They may as well have been." Shizune shuddered as memories came rushing back to her of the horrible hell she had been subjected to at the hands of Kirigakure. She didn't pick up on any deeper meaning to the comment, assuming that Amaki simply meant she had fallen prey to some evil enemies, and so her apology left her slightly confused. She simply took it to mean as she had said, that both of them had faced some extreme hardship.

"...Someday. But today has already been so much... for both of us." A few tears streamed down Shizune's face as she leaned in a little closer to Amaki. She could tell before the girl even broke down that the floodgates were about to burst, and was quick to pull her closer as her friend thanked her for listening, turning to better face her so that she could hold her close in a hug. Already the wetness of Amaki's tears could be felt through her clothing, but Amaki's shoulder was going to have a few wet spots of it's own to deal with from Shizune's tears. "Oh, Amaki..." She wanted to tell her that she didn't need to thank her. That she was happy to have someone she could be close with again, someone that she could open up to besides a mental health professional. She wanted to say how cathartic it was to be able to be that helpful hand for someone else, that it helped her cope with her own struggles by being able to be there for a friend in need of a listening ear. That... she was so lucky to have bumped into Amaki on a random rainy day.

But she just sat there and held her friend as Amaki wailed, letting her express her pain and grief for what might have been the first time in however many years. She'd wait with Amaki as long as it took for her to feel better.