Desert Symphony {Kikai}

[Aimi]

WHEN YOU WERE STANDING IN THE WAKE OF DEVESTATION
WHEN YOU WERE WAITING ON THE EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN. WITH THE CATYCLYSM RAINING DOWN.
YOUR INSIDES CRYING "SAVE ME NOW." YOU WERE THERE, IMPOSSIBLY ALONE.

Aimi gave a heavy sigh plopped down at the base of a tree. She had passed the hot desert sands of Sunagakure, but they were still in sight. She gave a glance toward the sea of sand and leaned her head against the tree's trunk. It had been how long since Tanaka left? Four months? But no matter how many times she thought of it, she could not erase the image of him coming home with that cold, glazed-over sheen in his green eyes. He had become a completely different person. Is that what higher shinobi ranks did to people? As far as the kunoichi could tell, the shinobi in her village were quite obsessed with the outcome of the mission than the people included; she had even heard of a mission being declared a "success" when nearly all the members came back wounded or even deceased, but they had a handful of words to tell of a location. It was insane! She had patriotism toward Sunagakure, yes, but was it really worth the families that had their hearts broken over the deaths of those on the rigorous missions?

No matter how she looked at it, her country was goal-oriented, and it made her shudder. Even the Kazekage's sister was headstrong and determined for all missions to be successful, no matter the number of injured. Aimi had long ago promised herself that she would watch after those that she cared for, especially her sister, but as soon as her brother scarred his hitai-ate in front of the family, she felt a rip develop in her heart. How could Tanaka do that to them? He was a criminal now, but Aimi still loved him. She wanted him to come home and sit down at the dinner table. She wanted him to tell her stories of his missions until she fell asleep. She wanted him under the same roof with that adoring smile painted on his lips, just like he had been before the mission that made him leave. The worst part was, though, that they still had no idea why Tanaka had abandoned Sunagakure. There had to be a very persuasive argument that he could make in his defense, and Aimi wanted to hear it. She wanted to know why he had made their entire family suffer on his behalf and mourn his absence.

That's why Aimi was here. This was one of her many attempts to find Tanaka and bring him back home. The only problem was that she had no idea where he may be and had not heard anything about him since. It was as if he had simply disappeared. She desperately hoped, though, that she could catch word of him and track his movements. Then she would confront him if she had enough courage. Until then, she would continue working at the Kazekage's command on other missions.

After taking a quick sip of water from her waterskin, Aimi stood back up and brushed herself off before walking again. It would be a long trek, but she had not been given orders for today. So far, everything seemed quiet in the desert village.

AND IN A BURST OF LIGHT THAT BLINDED EVERY ANGEL AS IF
THE SKY HAD BLOWN THE HEAVENS INTO STARS. YOU FELT THE GRAVITY OF TEMPERED GRACE
FALLING INTO EMPTY SPACE, WITH NO ONE THERE TO CATCH YOU IN THEIR ARMS.

[comet]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][cs=2][atrb=style, -webkit-border-radius: 25px; -moz-border-radius: 25px; border-radius: 25px; background: url(http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee475/llamaturtlelove/background1.png); width: 450px; border: 2px dotted #aaaaaa, bTable] READING BETWEEN THE LINES ☆

[atrb=style, width: 100px; vertical-align: top] [atrb=style, width: 100px; background: #aaaaaa; opacity: 0.6] TAGS;; Aimi WORDS;; 533 MUSIC;; None NOTES;; D’: Crappy post. Sorry. CREDIT;; oxygen of ote

[atrb=style, background: #aaaaaa; opacity: 0.6] There were few ways one could be useful in such a world as the one's shinobi thrive in. The one Kikai had been born and made for. Shinobi were tools, meant to be used by those who controlled them and, no matter the consequences, they must follow there orders. So, this is what she did. No matter where they would lead her. Kikai followed the order of her leader, the one man in this world who she knew she could not trust or depend on. But, this is why she followed him, Orochimaru, because he would present himself as nothing less than what he was. He'd lie, he'd manipulate, but at least she knew what to expect, unlike other's who had crossed her path in the past. Her family, that demonic doctor who thought it his right to destroy and rebuild her body. She could knew she could trust no one, so she didn't. Her mission had been simple enough. Retrieve the scroll from the messenger in the desert, though it had been harder to find him among the sand and dunes than she expected, but she had found him. She took the scroll but, as he held his hand for his payment, she did as she was order. Without even batting an eyelash, she removed the hidden tanto from her top, slicing the cool metal across his throat with a flick of her dainty wrist. Just because she was petite, he thought her weak. Well, he was mistaken. He was dead before she'd even turned to walk away, his jugular several and his windpipe cleanly cut open. So simply a death, drowning in one's own blood and at the same time bleeding out. His body would be eaten by the buzzards, his bone covered by the sand by time Kikai reached the Oto village. With that in mind, she'd set off, back to the forest that laid before the sands. Inside its cool haven, she rested in the branches, sweat sliding down her pale skin. She was not used to such searing heat. She had lives in the shadows and shade for far to long to endure such temperatures but she'd not let herself have a weakness. She only allowed herself moments to rest, wiping her glove covered forearm across her forehead before she stood again, glassing down. Grass and sand mixed in this area, the coverage was far from proper if she wished to stay unnoticed. But, she didn't longer. Her knees bent, ready to propel herself forward when she heard shuffling below. It seemed she wasn't allow. Silent and still, she observed the girl below her. She was young, around the same age as Kikai, maybe a bit older. Form her clothing and hi-ate, she concluded the girl was of the sand village. What was a lone shinobi doing so far from their village? Scouting? Did she see Kikai's actions when she struck down the messenger? Doubtful but she wouldn't know unless she continued to observe the stranger. Crouching low in the brush, she watched the other continue through the tree before silently following from above.

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[Aimi]

WHEN YOU WERE STANDING IN THE WAKE OF DEVESTATION
WHEN YOU WERE WAITING ON THE EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN. WITH THE CATYCLYSM RAINING DOWN.
YOUR INSIDES CRYING "SAVE ME NOW." YOU WERE THERE, IMPOSSIBLY ALONE.

There had been talk, however, of some sort of growing unrest that swarmed in the upper ranks of the Suna shinobi. What the possible threat was, she didn't know, so Aimi kept to herself while leaving one ear open. If it had anything to do with Tanaka, she would want to know at once, and she didn't expect anyone from above to waltz over to her and tell her the news. If she was going to serve her country to her fullest potential, there was no telling what she would need to do. She believed this to be part of her training as well: listening for information. If she was to go on a mission in another nation, there was a high chance that she would need to listen in for important information, so this was good practice.

It wasn't long before Aimi noticed she was being followed. She mentally reprimanded herself for getting caught up in her daydreams and became wary of the area around her. Being mainly a genjutsu user herself, she suspected that she might be caught in one right away, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There were no tell-tale signs of an illusion, and everything around her seemed to be in its normal position. She had walked the wooded area many times before and remembered many things about it. Perhaps the other was simple watching her? She would not be able to tell at the moment, especially since Aimi herself was not one to start fights.

She kept up her usual pace, though she was certain that the other may have caught Aimi's slower walk as she thought. She really needed to be more careful about things like that, but what was passed was unchangeable. She needed to deal with the here and now, and at the moment, she was being stalked by a possible enemy shinobi.

Honestly, at this point, Aimi did not know what to do. Normally, she would continue walking until something happened, but she wasn't in the mood to play cat-and-mouse at the moment. She simply wanted to find her brother. But what if this really was a malicious enemy? She would definitely have to be on guard. After a few more moments of contemplation, Aimi stopped cold and took a deep breath. "I know that you're there," she called, projecting her voice clearly into the foliage. "I don't intend to fight if I can help it." She hoped that this could clear the air some and get an action from the other.

AND IN A BURST OF LIGHT THAT BLINDED EVERY ANGEL AS IF
THE SKY HAD BLOWN THE HEAVENS INTO STARS. YOU FELT THE GRAVITY OF TEMPERED GRACE
FALLING INTO EMPTY SPACE, WITH NO ONE THERE TO CATCH YOU IN THEIR ARMS.

[comet]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][cs=2][atrb=style, -webkit-border-radius: 25px; -moz-border-radius: 25px; border-radius: 25px; background: url(http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee475/llamaturtlelove/background1.png); width: 450px; border: 2px dotted #aaaaaa, bTable] READING BETWEEN THE LINES ☆

[atrb=style, width: 100px; vertical-align: top] [atrb=style, width: 100px; background: #aaaaaa; opacity: 0.6] TAGS;; Aimi WORDS;; Too lazy to check XD MUSIC;; Rude Boy, by Rihana NOTES;; My muse is coming back~! CREDIT;; oxygen of ote

[atrb=style, background: #aaaaaa; opacity: 0.6] Something faltered, Kikai could see it. The girl hesitated, if only for a moment before continuing on, her pace only a fraction slower, he body slightly tenser. Most wouldn't notice such small changes, but Kikai did. Body language was something she knew, studied, and analyzed on a daily basis, so it was fairly simple to conclude that the unknown shinobi was aware of her presence in the trees. This didn't stop her from continuing to follow. If anything, it made her more determined to find out whether or not the girl had seen anything she shouldn't have. Kikai was very careful shinobi. She wasn't the type to leave her messes behind for other's to clean up, unlike many she knew. She made sure there were no loose ends and, if there was, she took care of them. That was simply how she worked. As long as she was efficient, she would be useful, and what was a shinobi if they weren't useful? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And she wasn't about to let herself fall that far over something so simply. The girl stopped and so did Kikai, hidden deep within the lush leaves of a tall oak. She stared down, her silver eyes cold and calculation, listening to the other's words. She didn't intend to fight? Well, neither did Kikai. Even if the Suna shinobi did see her previous actions, there would be no fight. Only a quick, clean kill. She hesitated only a moment before shifting and letting herself drop several foot to the ground, landing silently in a low crouch only a few foot to the other's right. "Out for an afternoon stroll?" Kikai's voice was icy and feminine, matching the teenager's petite body and looks. She stood to her full height, which really wasn't much to be truthful, arms limp at her sides, her tilted slightly to the left as she examined the other, searching for weapons, anything that may be a threat. Like mentioned before, she trusted no one. And that wasn't about to change. There was nothing on her that would indicate that she was from the sound. Her outfit was simple, hair tied in duel braids held together near the end by metal loop clasps. Her oddest feature though was her shiny, silver nails. Upon first glance, most would think it something more than paint but, it wasn't. It was the metal the extended across most of the girls skeleton. Of course, a stranger would never guess at something like that. It was beyond unheard of, even in such a world.

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[Aimi]

WHEN YOU WERE STANDING IN THE WAKE OF DEVESTATION
WHEN YOU WERE WAITING ON THE EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN. WITH THE CATYCLYSM RAINING DOWN.
YOUR INSIDES CRYING "SAVE ME NOW." YOU WERE THERE, IMPOSSIBLY ALONE.

Aimi was caught off-guard. She didn't expect her call to do much good, especially cause the other to suddenly appear in front of her. She thought that the kunoichi would stay in the foliage of the trees and dart about, following Aimi's every motion. Of course, this would have also made the Suna-nin jumpy and easily taken advantage of, but she was thankful that the other shinobi didn't seem to have malicious intentions that Aimi could detect straight off the bat.

The woman's tone sent shivers up Aimi's spine, though she did not make a visible reaction. She seemed a tad off in some way or another, but Aimi could quite grasp just what yet. "Something like that," Aimi replied, her eyebrows knitting together into a sheepish expression. She supposed there was no harm in telling the truth. She wasn't too hopeful, but she decided to see if the other possibly had some sort of information. "My name is Aimi. I'm looking for someone named Tanaka. He's tall with white-streaked red hair and greenish eyes. Have you possibly seen or heard of him?" It was a longshot, but it was the only thing Aimi could think to do, and she certainly wasn't just going to let an opportunity slip by. What if she did know Tanaka and Aimi let her go? The Suna-nin would never forgive herself for it if she found out later that this woman had any knowledge on the location or acts of her brother.

Aimi brought a pale hand up to fiddle with her silver necklace. It was a gift from her mother when she was younger, and she still remembered how both her father and Tanaka had given her compliments on how good it looked. It had become a habit now; whenever she was nervous in the least, the necklace became something of a fallback for her. Aimi loved her family, and all she wanted was for them to all be together again. Her mother and father didn't even know that she spent her free time searching for Tanaka, although she was certain that the two wanted to do it themselves or send the special forces to look. The heels of her pink shoes rubbed together for a moment as well, and within seconds, she freed a hand and untied a black string from her wrist before pulling back her red hair into a ponytail. She was greeted with a breeze of dry, cool air from the trees. It was refreshing, especially after leaving the heat of the desert.

AND IN A BURST OF LIGHT THAT BLINDED EVERY ANGEL AS IF
THE SKY HAD BLOWN THE HEAVENS INTO STARS. YOU FELT THE GRAVITY OF TEMPERED GRACE
FALLING INTO EMPTY SPACE, WITH NO ONE THERE TO CATCH YOU IN THEIR ARMS.