Her head turned, eyes snapping to him from his last comment, eyes widening ever so slightly.
"Pardon?" Had I really been that obvious? She panicked for a split moment, but then calmed down. Exhaling deeply, she turned once more towards the fog, this time turning her whole body in the direction.
"No." she said lowly, but then realized he may not have heard her. With a louder tone, she tried to force a more natural sounding response, "I'm fine."
That was merely an excuse to get her by. It was difficult to truly bring her down, mentally and physically. Mentally, only she herself had that ability, she'd like to think. Her gaze slowly unfocused as her mind wandered, an unintended hint of a scowl crossing her eyebrows. After what seemed like even more moments of frozen silence, she broke it.
"It's not your reasoning." She started, "Long ago, a friend of mine had a--" she stopped herself, "...reasons, that drove him. A very strong will, it drove him forward everyday. He worked to his max potential, surpassing even me at the time. He had an unstoppable will, nothing was going to get in his way. Of course, I thought nothing of it at the time. I thought it was just an amazing source of fuel for his ambitions and capabilities."
Akali paused for a long moment, her expression remaining firm. Not a trace of change as she tried to muster up the right words.
"...In the end, he succumbed to it. It consumed him." She preferred to not go into detail about someone so distantly dear to her. "It ended him."
After another long pause, she looked back to him. Her face remained stern, despite the implied emotions a story like hers could have caused to surface from deep within her past. Yet, she remained clear and open to the path she was meant to traverse. It did not blind her, or her judgement, or goals.
"Do you understand now?" Again, she turned away and closed her eyes. "Don't let it consume you."
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 6, 2013 1:02:47 GMT -5
He coaxed a reaction from her, he picked up on it quickly. It seems that he knocked her off her guard but she quickly recovered and looked deeper into the fog as she faced it. He had heard her but nodded to her second response. He never once turned his posture but turned his head to face her, her back turned to him as she recollected. He didn’t see the expression upon her face or whatever else might have been there.
She had brought the story up and of course he listened. He knew her story was intended to warn him but there was less to go off of, so little there. When he looked at himself he saw himself capable of becoming like that, but could have led to such a down fall? A thought fell upon him and he realized that he had so little and what he did have, he would fight tooth and nail for until he was no more just to keep it, just to hang on to it. He lost everything to Zed, the Institute was failing, all he had was himself, his craft and the Rose. There were some who cared for him, he was sure but he was determined to grow stronger for his duty and for himself.
The silence in the air felt thick enough to be touched. She turned her face serious and the emotions she would not allow to stir, to surface. He had seen Shen’s face before: How dead it was, how devoid of emotion it was. But Akali was far different.
“…Will you tell me what happened to him?” He spoke, his voice had taken on a sympathetic tone that was laced with melancholy. Sometimes he forgot she was only a few years younger than he.
The thick silence was broken by Daichi's voice. Her thoughts quickly scrambled back into focus. At times, she had to wonder how Shen could show true neutrality in emotion. Not a flinch, not a budge. Ever. It was a strength she sometimes thought would be impossible, something she at times wishes to have, but perhaps it was simply not for her. Not her purpose.
His question lingered in the air for a moment longer than she had intended. She considers it for a moment before speaking. "Perhaps one day."
In a moment's notice, she turned and found a tall stump of a cut down tree nearby. In one swift, fluid motion she propped herself up into a seated position, palms pressed against the wood as she looks upon him, one ankle over the other.
"If you perceive it as a heeded warning, and if you're seeking for potential prevention advice? Sure. Perhaps." She continued to ponder, almost teasingly.
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 6, 2013 1:58:51 GMT -5
“…I suppose that is part of what I seek.” He responded as she took a seat upon a tree stump. “…though, I suppose another part of me would desire to know more of you and what you’ve seen.” He paused and looked to his right and left for a moment. Aimi wasn’t around. He grinned mischievously and channeled his magic for a moment. Ice quickly formed from just behind him, starting at the ends of his feet and then rose like a pillar. He created a make shift seat in which he could sit.
“Don’t tell Aimi.” He let out a slight laugh though he was certain that Aimi would probably realize he had cheated and used his mana to create the structure.
“…I suppose I would know you better had I chosen to stay with the order. It’s an odd feeling to be speaking to you, to be honest. I chose a different path after…” He paused and shifted his discomfort away in an instance. “…I choose a different path.” He left it at that, repeating himself. Why did it always come back to him…?
Akali shook her head as she watched him form the ice structure.
"I won't tell. But that doesn't mean I can't scold you, myself." She smirked, "Anyway, your desire is double edged. You wish to know more of me, but you keep hesitating at the mention of your own history." she paused, her expression suddenly freezing, "You know who I am. You think it's that easy to open my book and learn about me? I barely know you. You could be a spy for all I know. A very good spy."
She gracefully hopped off the tree stump, and circled his newly formed ice structure, tracing it with one finger.
"Very well done. You don't often see ice magic such as this. It's too bad you hadn't stayed with the Kinkou."
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 7, 2013 3:37:26 GMT -5
“I could open the book but I’m afraid I wouldn’t know which page to turn to.” He chuckled lightly as she approached his makeshift chair and traced her finger upon the smooth ice. “…” And then silence followed after her compliment, his eyes falling to the ground. “…Very well. I was born into the old Kinkou order. My father was the Iceborn Shadow. As was his father before him. I was molded to be his successor. I suppose I lived happily and was…content with my training.” He didn’t even know if he was truly happy with his duty and obligations, but he knew what he had lost and what had been taken from him.
“…I lost everything I knew due to Zed.” He was forthcoming. There was no point in avoiding it now. Matters like these needed to be met head on sometimes. “…After that I joined the Institute of War as an Ionian representative. Went through the Arcanum Majoris. Stuck with my craft…” It felt awkward, what else did he have to go on. “…I like to write sometimes.” It was tagged on at the end as if he was trying to change the subject. His discomfort was apparent.
The sudden words had spilled from him, taking her by small surprise. She released her finger from the ice, and paused behind him, watching him intently as he told of his story without any eye contact whatsoever. It was as if he was simply telling, sharing, to himself, and she just happened to be there, listening. Perhaps he simply shied away from making direct eye contact with her as he spoke in a rush, as if embarrassed or ashamed. Something he was revealing about himself before he could give himself the chance to regret it. She remained there behind him, listening.
He had also been ruined by Zed. No wonder. That would explain everything. Although she herself has not been directly affected by Zed, she knew many who have. It was not something anyone was openly willing to discuss. It was a bloodbath, she knew that much. The trauma of losing loved ones, as well as the old Order. Revenge sought out by many of those affected.
She certainly didn't want to make him feel any more uncomfortable as awkward as he already was, so she opted to follow up on the subject change after a moment of silence.
"I enjoy painting, myself."
By no means, however, did she give any impression that his words were on deaf ears or mind. Although, she did feel incredibly ridiculous after the words had left her mouth. She rubbed her face. Why was that the only thing I could say? She was never good at reacting to these kinds of things.
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 7, 2013 5:02:48 GMT -5
Daichi blinked and he swore he felt a cool breeze flow by as awkwardness utterly filled the air. He hadn’t mentioned anything about painting. But he supposed arts were a common ground at the very least. He looked towards the ground yet and remained quiet for a moment longer and then let his eyes drift up to her face.
“I appreciate the subject change…going with it. But. I’m done. I’m done with hiding behind the awkwardness around it, around…him. I’ll be frank with you. He has been the thing that has shaped and impacted my current life as it is. Everything I do, everything that drives me ultimately ties back to him.” He admitted it openly and kept eye contact.
“…I like painting too I suppose. I know a little bit about how to do it but I’m afraid I’m not very good. I would like to see you paint one day if possible. I think perhaps it could be an entertaining and interesting experience. I don’t know if I have the courage to share my writings with you however.”
"I suppose I could say I'm not surprised, after all." Akali turned to face him, from the front now. "I know many lives who have changed because of him. Luckily," she felt somewhat awkward starting off with that word, it felt inappropriate, but she continued, "I wasn't directly affected. I still have my mother, and I never had my father. I never made too many close friends at that point. Not since Tadashi." She bit her lip at the mention of the name. The memories are not what had uneased her. She had hardly brought up his story to anyone. However, it was certainly a lesson she had learned from, and would proceed to live by it in honor of him. With how little information she's given thus far, Daichi would have no way of knowing whether this 'Tadashi' individual was dead or alive. She did not define what she meant by 'It ended him.' And she promised herself to keep it this way, for now.
"Aimi has always been there for me. I guess you could say she's like my big sister." Akali let out a deep sigh, "I suppose with my bloody duties and hard training, my status within the Kinkou, and the Tadashi incident, I refrained from ever getting close to anyone since then aside from Aimi. On a personal level." She corrected herself almost instantly, implying she was referring to Shen and Kennen, as well as her students. She was certainly not a loner, but she resisted from building a personal, trusting relation with anyone these days.
"I just don't have the time or energy anymore. I have a status to upkeep. A duty. Emotions cloud judgement, and can be an enemy to true clarity."
Once more, she propped herself up upon the high tree stump, pressing her palms against the wood, looking down at Daichi.
"... And maybe someday." A smile crossed her face as she followed along with the subject change, though it really was not a change at all at this point. "I'm not all about training to kill. Not many view me as anything else." Akali shrugged. "And, to be perfectly honest, I'm fine with that.
Post by Aimi Sunumi on Apr 7, 2013 23:15:33 GMT -5
In the mist of the conversation, a falcon, a majestic rare bird with golden red-brown plumage landed on low hanged tree branch next to the two. It stretched out its legs, flapping its wings wildly to stabilize itself on its perch. It tilted its head, carefully observing the two. Aimi wasn't there and it clicked its beck with a chirp, rather disgruntled by that fact.
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2013 23:38:10 GMT -5 by Aimi Sunumi
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 7, 2013 23:31:39 GMT -5
“That’s the way the world would choose to view the Kinkou. It’s often hard to remember that even someone like Shen or yourselves are people. I try to keep these things in mind.”
He paused, the awkwardness that seemed to surround Tadashi. Daichi was by no means unintelligent and liked to think that he could reason most things out. It was apparent to him that this Tadashi individual had hurt her through his actions. It was true, a repeat could cause issues. Emotions were a fickle thing, they could provide the strength at times to do what was necessary but at other times they clouded judgment in their entirety. But without it, Daichi felt a person might as well be dead.
“Let’s not talk about what Tadashi and what he did. You said perhaps one day you would tell me.” His eyes drifted off to the side. “…Admittedly, I have few ties to people. And I understand what it means to put your emotions on hold for a duty.” It was a rotten feeling, he hated it. “…I don’t understand how others in the order do it so well.” His eyes drifted towards the woods and the fog. “…I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’m not the best at conversation.”
His eyes drifted towards the bird... He thought he'd seen it before and was sure it belonged to Aimi. Was this here way of keeping an eye on them?
There was a thick silence that fell between them after he spoke his final word. Her eyes unfocused, setting on nothing in particular. The fog of the forest began lightening up, even by only a fraction. The patches of grass underneath them remained a dull, dead greenish color. This forest seemed to never fail with the thick fog that blanketed it, even on the sunniest of days. It was sometimes eerie.
She remained silent as he spoke, but she listened respectfully, quietly forming opinions of agreement in her head, but she was hardly left with much to say aloud. Her mind seemed to go blank for a response, lips would not speak. The expression laid upon her showed comprehension, at the very least. After-thoughts that lingered between the two of them for several minutes.
The sound of flapping wings made Akali blink her eyes back into focus and out of her short trance. Her head turned to the sizable bird, and decided it a good opportunity to change the subject.
"Not many animals around here. I wonder what that fella's doing here. He doesn't really fit in to the silence of these woods..." She muttered under her breath thoughtfully, but loud enough to be audible.
Post by Aimi Sunumi on Apr 9, 2013 19:50:44 GMT -5
The falcon gave a protesting shriek at Akali's comment, as if offended. The bird remembered her fondly...mostly because it was a practice tool. During the days of training, it was instructed to fly around the forest, carrying a target around and was instructed to fly around in full speed. The falcon remember how many students failed to hit her, but then again, the falcon never made it easy for anyone. It used the trees and other elements to deflect the makeshift cushion darts and mock kunai....Akali wasn't one of them, finally able to hit her in less than a day, while it took other students weeks. The bird's master can always aim her needles on the mark...though her archery skills are another matter.
The falcon, known as Kaede, swooping around over the Fist of the Shadow's head, flapping violently around her. The mock pecks and screeching was more or less a friendly chastisement. It quickly settled down, landing on the stump. After it turned over its head to clean itself, it looked at Akali intensely, wordlessly asking "Remember me now?" with a tilt of her head.
There was a few red, black, and golden ribbons tied around Kaede's neck.
Last Edit: Apr 9, 2013 19:54:21 GMT -5 by Aimi Sunumi
Akali blinked in confusion as the bird seemed to react to her utters. What in the world was this bird's issue? She wondered for a split moment if the two were located near a nest of it or something.
Before she could think or react, the falcon then swooped down in her direction and had attacked her.
"Ow! What the—?!" Akali shrieked, covering her head at the loud vicious flapping. Feathers flew everywhere, but only then did she realize she didn't actually feel any sharp beaks or piercing talons. Lowering her arms, she took a look at the bird up close. The bird was suddenly calm, and just looked at her with its large black eyes, twitching its head as it blinked once. It was then she she saw the ribbons tied to its neck. She carefully touched over them, feeling them before looking up at the falcon, then back at Daichi, then back at the bird.
Post by Daichi Hamamoto on Apr 11, 2013 19:22:19 GMT -5
Daichi stifled a laugh at Akali’s predicament. A smile grew on his face as he looked at both falcon and Kunoichi. “Well, the falcon is Aimi’s. I’m not surprised that Kaede is here…though I still don’t see any Aimi around. Does the falcon have a message from her?” He didn’t see one but he did see a ribbon. “Are you really so surprised that she’s here too?” He looked around. Maybe Aimi was spying on them.
“…Maybe this is Aimi’s way of making sure we’re playing nice.” He smirked. "An eye in the sky."
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