Starring:
Kiji, Kiyoshi
Date: January 12, 2014
Summary:
After Kiji marches away from the rest, Kiyoshi follows. Eventually, the Kirryu cannot take anymore and confronts the Shimizu directly…
Poster's note: foul language filtered in obvious places.
"For the Birds: Aftermath"
Land of Birds - The Wilds
Once the clouds fully departed the light of the full moon was allowed to rain down on all. The snow glistened with a renewed intensity. It is almost blinding, really, but nowhere near distracting enough to keep Kiyoshi from losing focus on Kiji. She was many things at the moment, though clear minded was not one of those things. So, Kiyoshi would act in that capacity, awaiting the moment in which she turned about to vent her feelings, or for paranoia regarding whether or not Tsiro would come for them soon drive him to act prematurely.
At least on the surface the latter would spur him into motion if enough time passes. But in reality, it would honestly be a matter of his not being able to stand the silence any longer. No. Once the limit is reached he'd speed through the snow, ignoring the biting cold of frozen over clothing and a lack of fur shielding to take hold of her blood covered arm.
Kiji was aware of Kiyoshi behind her faintly, but did not focus much on it. She felt some kind of rage but it was starting to numb. So much was going through her head, most of which was based on yet another failure. So when Kiyoshi grabbed her arm she very nearly jumped out of her skin. To say nothing of the coils of blood that wrapped around her. She winced when she realized who it was and took a breath, forcing the tendrils and blood back into her body so as to not harm Kiyoshi. She stopped and peered up at him, her eyes slowly comming down from that rage high she'd reached. She looked up and tilted herr head as if wondering what Kiyoshi wanted. She wasn't in the grasp of the rage so much as starting to show fatigue.
Once the clouds fully departed the light of the full moon was allowed to rain down on all. The snow glistened with a renewed intensity. It is almost blinding, really, but nowhere near distracting enough to keep Kiyoshi from losing focus on Kiji. She was many things at the moment, though clear minded was not one of those things. So, Kiyoshi would act in that capacity, awaiting the moment in which she turned about to vent her feelings, or for paranoia regarding whether or not Tsiro would come for them soon drive him to act prematurely.
At least on the surface the latter would spur him into motion if enough time passes. But in reality, it would honestly be a matter of his not being able to stand the silence any longer. No. Once the limit is reached he'd speed through the snow, ignoring the biting cold of frozen over clothing and a lack of fur shielding to take hold of her blood covered arm.
Kiji was aware of Kiyoshi behind her faintly, but did not focus much on it. She felt some kind of rage but it was starting to numb. So much was going through her head, most of which was based on yet another failure. So when Kiyoshi grabbed her arm she very nearly jumped out of her skin. To say nothing of the coils of blood that wrapped around her. She winced when she realized who it was and took a breath, forcing the tendrils and blood back into her body so as to not harm Kiyoshi. She stopped and peered up at him, her eyes slowly comming down from that rage high she'd reached. She looked up and tilted herr head as if wondering what Kiyoshi wanted. She wasn't in the grasp of the rage so much as starting to show fatigue.
Though he sensed its movement, Kiyoshi paid them no visible mind. Short of harming herself, the man would not have made a move to impede whatever her fear driven reflexes would've drove her to do. In hindsight, such inaction might've been more detrimental than actually helpful.
As she stepped up the Kirryu's hold loosened and lowered so that it properly held her hand.The lingering black tint in her eyes still worried him, that much was obvious in his expression, but seeing more tired than anything else brought hope to his heart. Still, he finds it difficult to speak. What could he say to make things better? Did he truly even understand why she stormed off in the first place? Kiyoshi honestly did not know at first; and because of that, his gaze falters.
"… He didn't mean it like you thought." He states quietly after meeting her gaze once more.
Kiji could sense Kiyoshi, and when he slid his hand down to hold her hand she returned the touch carefully. But she remained silent as they made their way toward the starting point of this mission. Naoya might have moved much of the water off her skin but she was fast succumbing to hypothermia anyway. She kept her blood pumping fast and hard to help compensate but that would only last so long. She needed her cloak. When they got half way across the clearing Kiyoshi spoke and she pondered for a moment. "He just wants me to get more physical training. he's Kaguya, of course he would think that." That wasn't the problem at all. With a sigh she bent down, only letting go of Kiyoshi to put the cloak and gloves back on.
She knew Tsiro might take offense to her just walking off but the truth of the matter was that if she had stayed she probably would have attacked Yuriko again. Not the best idea… Kiji might not survive this one.
She muttered quietly. "Best all around. He should make up his mind… he wanted us to ignore his orders…."
Kiyoshi felt a frustrated sigh coming on, and barely managed to clamp his lips shut in time. He meant to be silent until they reached whatever destination Kiji had in mind. Unfortunately, not all of his nerves agreed on the matter. He needed to stare things away from a known land mine despite how unlikely his success. "It wouldn't have been much of a test otherwise… And yeah, so he maybe he did wish for you to become more physical, but… there are layers to it. Like… Stamina. Toughness. Not just strength and speed… N-not that I'm saying your we-weak, or…" Kiyoshi trails off there, refusing to push his foot any further down his throat at that point.
Kiji noted that sigh of Kiyoshi's even if he didn't follow through with it. She sighed herself. The cloak warmed her just a little but she was still cold. She took a moment before turning to face Kiyoshi again. Her eyes were slowly draining of that black, leaving them looking kind of bloodshot but pale like the snow, a hint of a cloudy blue. She wasn't happy but she wasn't in the depths of depression either. "Kiyoshi… I know and I know he would have found something wrong with me no matter what… I'm annoyed but .." She sighed and ran a hand over her face. "If I'd have stayed i would have gotten into it with Yuriko-san again… She's so sage-preened perfect." That last bit came out like a hiss. But despite her personal frustration with the Golden Child being given so much attention and praise, she worked to help and work together in the mission….
It is clear enough that the cloak isn't enough, but Kiyoshi hesitated in following the urge to hold her close. No, not hesitated, but restrained it further. First it was the test that made him less inclined to follow it, and then there was the mood. Though he knew how she felt about him, the orphaned child within him remained hesitant to act upon impulses that still felt new after so many months of enduring them.
He nearly stumbles into her, so deep in thought was he, but thankfully he stops short and regards Kiji with wary yet curious eyes. The former had quickly begun to wane and transform into something akin to relief. That was until once more the topic strayed back to Yuriko. ALWAYS Yuriko. Even he was starting to get a little agitated with the Kaguya for riling the Shimizu up. Just as quickly as the thought came into being, Kiyoshi wanted to punch himself. Instead, he settled for growling lowly as he pull his hand away so that he could fold his arms across his chest properly. "She isn't as perfect as you're making her out to be. So.. enough with that."
Kiji sighed softly when Kiyoshi told her to drop the Yuriko thing. It had been a frustrating mission from the start. She felt the world threatening to engulf her and then she started shivering. She grit her teeth and turned to lean against a tree It would not be long before the others caught up, she could sense them moving around a bit, probably staging the scene… But they weren't headed for them just yet. Finally she moved over to Kiyoshi and kind of curled against him, pressing her forehead against his chest. "I just…. It's been a very long week…" There was that exhaustion again. She had not been low on energy, she had been prepared for battle, but mentally she felt and looked completely exhausted. She had been pulled from Sorako's training to go on this mission. Now she had new skills but was still not good enough for people's satisfaction.
At the slightest hint of wavering on his part, Kiyoshi clenched his jaw to reign in his weaker side. He hated himself for having done so, but what other choice did he have? They were out in the middle of nowhere slowly freezing to death. Then, there was the fatigue, the promise of future punishment for not assisting in the final leg of the mission, and just… They needed nothing more added on to their plate.
Kiyoshi can no more fight the softening of his spirit than he could push her away once she moved to curl into him. He held out for perhaps a moment more before ultimately wrapping his arms around her with a weary sigh. "And… a very long day… I'm gonna have to do something about that as soon as we get back." He says softly.
Kiji suddenly relaxed when Kiyoshi finally put his arms around her, the tension flowiing from her muscles and nearly leaving her asleep on her feet. She caught herself and rubbed at her face. Her eyes were calmer now, more of a pale blue than grey. "Thanks for pulling me out of the water earlier. I don't know what happened.. Why my water walking failed like that…" She paused then, remembering something then chuckling quietly. "You didn't have much problem with the water huh?" She was teasing him about using his Kirryu form to shake off the water earlier. Tsiro was probably right about Kiyoshi needing to step up more too but she had finally been able to see for herself that though Kiyoshi had protected Yuriko as well, he had not had tunnel vision. He had seen Kiji's trouble as well and had tried to protect her as well. It was enough for her at that moment.
The corner of Kiyoshi's lips twitched upward towards a smile. "Ain't no need to thank me for that, cus' there weren't no way I was gonna leave you behind." He admits, even though she knew that well enough by now. His brows hiked up in surprise at the chuckling, and is followed swiftly by a bit of headcant on the Kirryu's art. "Huh?.. Ah.. Mm.. Yeah. I'm used to a bit worse. Though, I rather not go through that again." He shudders at the memories. His discomfort over them reminded him of Kiji's situation, and after a moment's pause, Kiyoshi leaned in to plant a kiss upon her forehead (and bangs if they got in the way) before allowing his body to shift again.
He follows up the perhaps shocking act with an attempt to sweep Kiji off her feet and into his arms. They still had time before the others returned to them. In the meantime…
"Tsiro-sensei might not let me carry you back, so at the very least, I offer this so you can rest until its time to go." He explains, grinning a small grin.
Kiji flushed faintly at the kiss to her forehead, though she did not dislike it and there was no one around to comment on it. When he shifted and stated Tsiro wouldn't let him carry her back she managed a small smile and nuzzled into his arms. She didn't mind his shape-shifting talents and the added warmth finally stilled her shivering. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, not crossing the line into an actual kiss on a mission. She was well aware Tsiro seemed to dislike his attachments to her and Yuriko especially when it interfered with a mission. In that moment she didn't care. She'd walked away from Tsiro before given leave to go and Kiyoshi had followed. She wouldn't be surprised if they both got in trouble for that, but she wouldn't worry about it right now. "Kiyoshi… is it my imagination or does Naoya like Yuriko?"
"…."
Kiyoshi blinks ever so slowly twice before finally thawing out with a curt shake of his head. He truly hadn't given the matter much thought at all. He knew Naoya had helped keep those with impure motives and lesser qualities from trying to court Yuriko, or at least set the ground work for later down the line. He also knew there was some silly and somewhat one-sided rivalry between the two as well. And yeah, the Okumo was rather defensive in regards to her. But beyond that…
"Hmph, yeah right. And I'm secretly an Aburame." He says sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
Kiji watched Kiyoshi contemplate and tilted her head, eyes purple as he laughed at the idea. Kiji glanced back toward where she could sense the rest of the team and thought to herself that Kiyoshi might not have wanted to see that kind of thing to start with. But then she shook herself mentally and just rested her head against Kiyoshi's shoulder. It didn't matter. None of it mattered while she was in his arms. Safe. She felt safe. And not the kind of safe that came of glass windows and locked labs. The security was something she wasn't used to still but it was nice every time the feeling snuck up on her. "I don't care what Tsiro-sama says… I like the way you are… One day I'll be strong enough that you won't have to fight like you do. I'll do the fighting for you."
Kiyoshi had been expecting her to laugh or even punch him good-naturedly for the joke. But after his eyes refocused upon her form it becomes clear her thoughts were elsewhere for the most part. Curious, he cocked his head to the side and mused over whether or not to ask or simply remain patient. His patience wins out, and for that, he is thankful. He smiles and chuckles softly. "I have a hard time imagining leaving the fight to someone else… But, when that day comes, I hope to be fighting with you at my side."
In a way Kiji wished she could take on Kokuo for Kiyoshi as well. It was a nuance of loving someone that she was unaware of but felt it nonetheless. She would give so he could be happy. It did not occur to her just then that he might feel the same way for her. It also did not matter at that particular time.
So she was perfectly happy to be curled up in Kiyoshi's big arms, feeding off his warmth to stave off hypothermia. She wondered if Yuriko was doing any better. True Naoya had control over water but they'd both been soaked before they had even made it to the cabin. It was odd to Kiji that she did not take the death of the boy harder than she was. She should have seen herself in him. but she had merely seen a target. Leaning her head against Kiyoshi's shoulder she stayed quiet for a long time. Finally she broke the silence. "They're headed back this way."
