The Lost War and Heart: Finding Hope and Courage to Fight [Original]

[Shadows Fall]

"I've come to speak with either an expert or the leader. Beyond that you have no right to know."

Zeke saw that the young girl took a few steps back in order to create an inch of separation between the two. She seemed to be hostile, grabbing a hold of one of her fallen weapons and became defensive. Rolling his eyes at the sight the mentor was going to speak until another person entered the room, this one appearing to be an acquaintance of the previous ninja.

"I can't believe I let this happened!"

Letting out a sigh once seeing how this ninja also brought out a weapon to defend himself, Zeke wondered where the heck these two were even coming from. Hell, he even expected a few more "guest" appearances to arrive any minute. Ignoring the other ninja, Zeke approached the young girl once more and said:

"There's no need for weapons here. I am not an enemy and I am not going to do any harm." Shuffling past her, he walked up to his student and stopped once he was along side him. "And as for the young expert you wanted to talk to, well, here he is." Turning his attention to Ryohei for a second, he added, "Ryohei, it seems that our guests here wants to have a word with you."

Without even looking back at his mentor, Ryohei simply approached the feminine ninja, eyeballing and examining as he stood in front of her. From over his shoulder, he nodded over to Zeke as he turn back to the girl and motioned for her to follow him outside. And from there, he left the room.

[Skitty Cat]

"I can't believe I let this happened!"

Hearing the expolsivie comment she glanced over to see her friend. Blinking reassurance at him she rested her gaze and listened to everything around her. Relaxing slightly she listened as the mentor said calmly, "There's no need for weapons here. I am not an enemy and I am not going to do any harm."

Knowing he was trying to smooth ruffled fur she placed both the weapons in their holster. Watching as he shuffled past, she whipped around as he approached the other ninja and added in the same tone, Shuffling past her, he walked up to his student and stopped once he was along side him. "And as for the young expert you wanted to talk to, well, here he is."

Surprise coming to her eyes since the boy appeared no older than she. Kira watched as he turned his attention and added, "Ryohei, it seems that our guests here wants to have a word with you."

Ryohei is his name. Right, remember that. She told herself.

She watched him as he approached her. Examining as if making sure she wasn't planning anything, nodding curtly as Ryohei signaled for her to follow himself outside. She turned to her 'guard' and shot him a look that read: be a good boy and don't do anything stupid, please.

Following the expert outside she struggled with her thoughts. Once again this seemed to toss her senses into full alert, she shrugged off to small doubt that had flooded her as she was a step behind him. Once they were out Kira had to blink back the surprisingly bright lights. Shaking off most of the daze she turned to him and asked silently: So, you're an expert than?

~- Wind Clan -~

"Ah, sure River, it's been quite awhile. Shall I get you something to drink?" Al asked, who was still at the scroll covered desk, "Please pardon my desk, you know how I'm horrible with paperwork."

Smiling at the offer she watched as he moved over to the lone table. Looking away as he asked, "So, what brings you to the Wind Clan Village? Must be something quite important."

She wasn't quite sure how to break it. Looking at him after a moment in silence she moved over, having her thoughts in order she began, "Well, I wanted to make sure you and your clan was doing fine, Al. Everything is going on okay with us, nothing too important.... aren't I allowed to visit my friend?" Her voice slightly hot at the last piece with anger, she wasn't sure it was the best idea.

~- Hmm, let me figure it out -~

Locks of fiery-gold danced in the night breeze. Staring down she thought about everything, she watched as the thunder crackled. Frowning with complete and total sorrow, she looked up at the full moon and breathed, "How long until the world knows peace forever?"

[Shadows Fall]

Seeing the two exit the room, Zeke turned his attention over to the other ninja that appeared recently.

"She's going to need some luck getting him to talk. Ryohei's known to NEVER to say one word to any of the clan members, not even me. He's mute." he told the ninja, turning around and vanished into the shadows of the room.

Outside Ryohei stood with his arms crossed and with his back turned to the feminine ninja, watching the sun beginning its rest for the day, setting off into the distance. The sky was no longer a shade of blue but instead, had more of a rose color to it. From afar, you were able to see a number of hilltops along with a few forests, the sun now just barely peeking from behind one of the hilltops. The mood had been set to a calm one and the view the two had from there was rather breathtaking.

"So, you're an expert then?"

There was utter silence. The boy didn't speak at all, not even replying to the girl's question. He turned around slowly and simply gave her a nod. Throughout the entire clan, Ryohei was known as the "Silent Wolf" due to his habit of never speaking to anyone. This could be a challenge for the girl. . .

[booklet3]

Kiran stared at Sylfae with intent. "Sylfae, you are not going to get off that easily. I believe your training is still going on. Now your are going to tell me right now why you are out here!!" Kiran did not want this to turn violent, but something about Sylfae told him that it just might.

At that moment, Kiran sensed someone coming into the forest. 'Crap, I don't know that chakra' he thought. Kiran knew this was starting to get out of hand. Sylfae was out in the forest for myterious reasons, and a person with some strong chakra is coming their way.

Kiran waited for Sylfae's response.

[BladeMaster Zane]

"Well, I wanted to make sure you and your clan was doing fine, Al. Everything is going on okay with us, nothing too important.... aren't I allowed to visit my friend?"

Albireo frowned slightly as he set the tea down in front of River. "I see, sorry if I seemed suspicious. You have every right to visit me. It's just with this war going on...every other day I get random messengers from other clans begging for my Clan's help," he said with the same frown as he poured them tea. "Though, your clan is one of the few who has yet to ask." Once the tea was poured he sat himself down at his desk with a sigh. "This war just needs to end...why do some of these Clans insist on fighting. All this will lead to is suffering and death," he continued while drinking his tea. "But there's no turning back now I guess...Oh, I'm sorry. I havn't been letting you talk at all." Albireo said with a small smile, "So how is your Clan doing?"

[Skitty Cat]

OOC: Umm, for incase the ones that haven't guessed or relooked over templates, I added something that has made Kira magically mute. (hehe, this is really fun!) So, everything that's been going on Shadows has either been body language, magic or her eyes. Just pointing it out, hmmm, going to be a short post.

IC: Grinning this was going to be quite a challenge as she watched him nod in reply. Staring at the sunset she was quite surprised, the hills were black specks next the rosy sky. Looking around her trying to see the rest of the territory. Looking back at him with troubled eyes she asked silently: What's the matter?

~- Wind Clan -~

"I see, sorry if I seemed suspicious. You have every right to visit me. It's just with this war going on...every other day I get random messengers from other clans begging for my Clan's help. Though, your clan is one of the few who has yet to ask."

Keeping it up with the smile she nodded her head in understanding. Shaking her head in defense of her clan, she didn't want to ask that just yet. Following him with her tea in hand, she stood a foot way and listened as he continued, "This war just needs to end...why do some of these Clans insist on fighting. All this will lead to is suffering and death."

Nodding showing that she had heard. She froze as she picked up something, dark? Supressing a shiver she half-heard what the young leader said, "But there's no turning back now I guess...Oh, I'm sorry. I havn't been letting you talk at all."

Looking at him with surprised eyes, she replied, "It's okay.... you can continue."

"So how is your Clan doing?"

Startled she really didn't want to betray her clan's problems, but she had to since she was asked by a leader. Figuring away around it she replied flatly, "Fine, Al. It doesn't seem that something's right though, just eariler today before I came to see you, the sun was eclipsed by a cloud.... I'm worried since that's normal a sign of.... nevermind."

[Akans]

"Sylfae, you are not going to get off that easily. I believe your training is still going on. Now your are going to tell me right now why you are out here!!"

Sylfae's smile fell into a frown.
"Are you really that stupid, Kiran? The little respect I had for you is now gone, you fool. I can tell that you know why I'm out here. You can feel the aura of it can't you?" She said, taking out the Ocean Clan's box.

She slipped the box into her belt. "Now. This clan is weak. The war is going on, but we're still neutral? How are we going to attain anything by being neutral?! I'm leaving this sad clan. If you want to stop me..."
Sylfae's bracelet twisted on her wrist, and morphed into a scythe.
"...then I welcome the chance to show you that I do not need any of your pathetic 'training'!"

Sylfae caught a whiff of Sleif's distinctive chakra. So he had arriveed. She should still have time to take down Kiran before leaving to the Darkness clan with Sleif...

[Shadows Fall]

Ryohei closed his eyes for a brief moment, now in a state of remembrance at the day when he had been told that his parents had passed on. Ever since that day he devoted the rest of his life to training and nothing more. Day in and day out, everyone can find the youngest expert of the clan in his mentor's dojo, simply training until his body could no longer go on. That's where Zeke stepped in upon discovering his troubled ability to control his wolf form. Applying two ton restraints around the ankles of his student, this was attached in order to see if Ryohei would eventually learn self-control. Sadly, over the course of five years, there was still no improvement. Determined that one day, he would finally gain the ability of self-control, Ryohei continues this specific training to this day even with no signs of improvement.

Opening his eyes slowly, the young expert happened to notice the area grew eerily silent. Turning his attention over to the ninja behind him, he saw that she had a distinct vibe being released from her body. Walking over to her in order to get a better look at her eyes, he saw that her eyes alone along with her body language was her way of speaking rather than words.

What's the matter?

Seeing how there was no possible way that he could continue to be mute, Ryohei let out a small sigh as he returned to where he previously stood.

"There's nothing wrong." he finally ended up saying, which would be a surprise to everyone if they knew about his habit of being a mute. Without turning to look at the girl, he added, "You said you needed to talk with the an expert. So? What exactly do you need to talk to me about?"

[BladeMaster Zane]

"Fine, Al. It doesn't seem that something's right though, just eariler today before I came to see you, the sun was eclipsed by a cloud.... I'm worried since that's normal a sign of.... nevermind."

A worried expression appeared on Albireo's face. "Is something wrong? It's not like you to drop something that quickly," he paused to take a drink of his tea. "The sun being eclipsed by a cloud is the usuall omen of impending attack isn't it?" The young leader guessed. He was never good with reading the clouds or stars for signs anyway; he preferred tarot cards. Setting the empty cup down, Al continued in his usual gentle tone, "Look, your Clan has always been good to mine. If you did come here to request help in the war...I'll do all I can." He did not like the idea of his clan leaving the neutral side of the war, but he would never forgive himself he let an ally clan fall. Before he let River respond he got up from the desk and headed toward the door, "Let's continue this discussion outside. It's way to stuffy in here."

[booklet3]

"Are you really that stupid, Kiran? The little respect I had for you is now gone, you fool. I can tell that you know why I'm out here. You can feel the aura of it can't you?"

Kiran wanted to try to get the box from her with out her noticing. "Give me the box!" Kiran said sternly

"Now. This clan is weak. The war is going on, but we're still neutral? How are we going to attain anything by being neutral?! I'm leaving this sad clan. If you want to stop me..."

'Great, she has the box and now is leaving the clan' Kiran thought. "Sylfae, do you even know what your talking about. This war is bigger than you think.!!" Kiran knew no words were able to change her.

Kiran watched as Sylfae formed her Scythe. "I guess there is no way around it" he muttered, "I am going to have to finish this quickly, before that man gets here." Kiran finally recognized the mans aura as dark and Kiran has sensed it before but couldn't place where. All he knew that it was on a past mission. Bring his attention back to Sylfae, he said, " Are you sure you really want to fight me! I am one the leading experts, if not the strongest under Alberio! This is stupid and pointless! Just give me the box and lets go home!"

Kiran took his stance. He raised his hands, then relaxed them. As he did this, wind blew out from him. Kiran was in his White Wind stance. He didn't think he needed his Black Wind Stance for this. "Well, then lets get this over with," he said with a sigh.

He put his hands together, making a cross with intertwined fingers. "Wind Walk Jutsu!" Wind Walk was Kiran own speed technique. Only a few can see Kiran when he is traveling with Wind Walk Jutsu. Kiran vanished in front of Sylfae, but decided instead of going for an attack, he would go for the box. He went straight for the box, which was hanging on her belt.

[sephiroth2]

--------------------------------------

As Sleif walked continued to walk through the dense forest, he could easily tell, that the chakra from the two in front of him had greatly increased.
"Seems that those two are fighting each other!" Sleif said to himself as he drew ever closer to them.

After a couple of minutes he soon found himself in the area where the two people were. Due to his powers, he was able to conceal himself in the shadows, without letting any bit of his chakra become noticed. "It appears they are both from the wind clan! But that one with the box, seems promising! Lets see how they both do!" Sleif thought as he continued to watch from the shadows.

[Akans]

Sylfae saw Kiran fall into his White Wind Stance. He was quite famous in the Clan for this technique, and Sylfae was ready when Kiran used his Jutsu.

"Wind Walk Jutsu!"

Sylfae countered with her own speed Jutsu:
"Wind Displacement Jutsu!" Sylfae vanished from where she was standing, to appear on the other side of the clearing instantly in a rush of air, with her weapon ready to block an attack, scanning the clearing... until she felt the box being lifted lightly from her belt.

Sylfae quickly dropped into a croaching stance, and put her fingers together in a shape of a diamond.
"True Sight!" The area through her fingers glowed a bright blue. She sweeped the clearing quickly, and Kiran suddenly appeared, shineing in a blur of glowing green... too far away.

And then suddenly, the box in Kiran's possession exploded in a puff of smoke and turned into a small rock.

Sylfae smiled, and whipped up her scythe and threw it at Kiran, while performing a quick "Barrage of Wind!" Jutsu. The scythe sliced through a few trees and a large boulder on the way, followed by a twister of cutting shards of wind, straight towards Kiran.

[Skitty Cat]

"There's nothing wrong."

Startled she didn't understand why she was, she listened as he added, "You said you needed to talk with the an expert. So? What exactly do you need to talk to me about?" Putting her thoughts in order she replied: I was curious about you're opinion on this pointless war. She didn't want to rush the matter because she wanted to get to know the one she was talking.

Waiting silently for his reply, she glanced around the area until she brought her gaze back to his. I've got to be careful I don't know anything about him. She commented to herself.

~- Wind Clan -~

"Is something wrong? It's not like you to drop something that quickly. The sun being eclipsed by a cloud is the usuall omen of impending attack isn't it?"

Nodding her head at her friend's guess, she added sadly, "But that's not the only thing it brings, it also means that unless there is a way to stop it.... the Darkness clan will win in their battle against our clan by taking Kira's life." She knew that Al wasn't good with the signs from the clouds, yet that was where she was skilled, that plus transformation is her gift.

Setting the half empty cup down, she listened as Al continued in his usual gentle tone, "Look, your Clan has always been good to mine. If you did come here to request help in the war...I'll do all I can." Smiling since that's all River could do in response as he got up and headed toward the door. Twisting in her seat to watch him, curiosity shinning in her eyes she asked, "Why are you heading toward the door, Al?"

"Let's continue this discussion outside. It's way to stuffy in here."

"Okay."

Jumping to her feet she bolted over to meet the young clan leader. Reaching him in a heart beat the young ninja smiled. "It's alright, and think you for your offer in helping us in the war, the Moon clan owes you once more, cause isn't this the third or fourth time you have helped us?" She commented randomly.

[Shadows Fall]

Watching as her eyes and body language managed to form another sentence, Ryohei had to decipher the vibe she was giving off and figured she was really saying, "I was curious about you're opinion on this pointless war."

So, it appeared the ninja simply wanted to know his views and side of this, quoting her words, "pointless war". He shook his head as gave her a slight chuckle as he turned around once more, approaching over to the slope of the hill. There before the dojo was several flights of stone steps that led back down to the village of the Wolf clan. All around the dojo lied a forest as it outlined both sides of the steps all the way down to the last step. Silence had befallen the area as it took quite a while for the young expert to think of a response.

"Well, if you really want to know," Ryohei started with as he lifted up his head slightly as his eyes focused on the rose-colored sky. "I frankly don't care about the war. It just means more fights for me to handle. Let's just say. . . I treat the fights as a simple training session."

[BladeMaster Zane]

"It's alright, and thank you for your offer in helping us in the war, the Moon clan owes you once more, cause isn't this the third or fourth time you have helped us?"

Albireo laughed as his face met the late afternoon sunlight, "Well, your clan has helped mine out plenty of times in the past. You know the Wind Clan isn't the strongest clan...but we do all we can." The Wind Clan village seemed like the wrong place to talk about the war. Other than the training grounds, the village seemed like a peaceful settlement. The streets were lined with cherry blossoms, which were near bloom, and the village square was filled with little shops and food carts. When one thought of the war, the Wind Clan was one of the last things that came to mind. "So, what is the current situation of your clan? The Darkness Clan hasn't attacked yet has it? I can send out a few of my squads by today's end if need be," Albireo went on as they passed a small fountain.

The Wind Clan wasn't the strongest or wealthiest of the Clans. In fact, it was one of the weakest. That was one of the main reasons Albireo opted to remain neutral, until now. If Albireo wanted to provided any substantial backup for the Moon Clan he'd have to go as well. A few moments later they arrived at the crowded central square of the Wind Village. At the center of the bustling square was a large Cherry Blossom tree. Around it were various food stalls, shops, and tables. Maneuvering his way around the myriad of stalls, Al made his way to a table under the tree's shade and pulled up a chair for River. "Ah, this is much better than that stuffy room isn't it?" he said as he took a seat, "Now, where were we?"