[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/MPjm7vT.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SA8dVCV.png[/img] [color=E7DDF6]✡ The Church of Heiwa ✡ (Jonin - Squad 2)[/color] [hr][color=E7DDF6]✡ Time: The Previous Day ✡ Location: Sunagakure - The Cathedral ✡ Interaction: Bishop Daido[/color] [/center] This was one of the harshest of desert nights. One where the sands had cooled to uncomfortably freezing temperatures and anyone residing on the outskirts of the capital city would once again feel nature's frosty wrath. It was characteristically windy, as was common of Sishio, though bearable in the city thanks to the buildings that mitigated the impact. A circle of proselytes gathered amongst one another, un-phased by the air that bit their fingers and ears. Their chants echoed through the quiet sector, a synchronized murmur of words spoken in tongue no one outside the Faith of Heiwa would understand. Heiwa, the God of Peace. They praised him vehemently outside the elaborate doors of the large cathedral that stood before them. And from within, a seemingly lone woman watched them carefully through the pained glass, her arms crossed as she murmured to the beat of their chants. She closed her eyes, becoming awashed in the spirit as a figure approached her from behind. [color=92278f]"You have been blessed child. Heiwa has called you to purpose elsewhere. Have you yet come to terms?"[/color], the voice spoke, its natural vibrato deep and resonating. The young woman turned on her heel, though remained partially leaned against the window. Soft candles flickered around, illuminating her features as she faced him. [color=E7DDF6][b]"Of course Bishop. Any false semblance of trepidation has since seized within my heart"[/b][/color] she said, [color=E7DDF6][b]"Heiwa is the foundation of our faith."[/b][/color] She paused, bringing her palm to her chest, [color=E7DDF6][b]"Through him, and then through ourselves, we must use all opportunities presented before us to share his love and the peace that he wishes to wash over the old...and the New World.[/b]"[/color] The Bishop smiled, walking over to her with arms bent and his hands brought together, [color=92278f]"Then let us pray."[/color] [hr][center][color=E7DDF6]✡ Time: Present Day ✡ Location: Amegakure - Hotel Room ✡ Interaction: None[/color][/center] A teacup, no larger than her fist, drifted slowly across the space of her hotel room. The contents of the cup rippled as it floated forth, seemingly on it's own accord. And once it seemed to have reached it's proper destination, it paused in mid-air, alleviated of its duty by supple hands that had grasped it from both sides and brought it up to a pair of soft lips. Erika, born Chihiro Yamanaka, blew softly into the steaming contents of the cup, sighing deeply as the liquids simultaneously soothed and burned her throat. Erika left the window open throughout the night it seemed; she enjoyed the sound of the rain. The reverberations of this city lulled her into sleep. It helped that she had an unnaturally high tolerance for pain. The smog, though it burned, affected her none. Well into the morning, it was a pain that did little to distract her from the Book of Heiwa, the religious text that lay sprawled open on the bed in front of her. Her eyes gazed upon its contents in fixed admiration, reading applicable scriptures and proverbs aloud between sips of pleasantly steaming hot tea... At last, she looked up from the book and gently closed it, sitting the now empty teacup on the side table near the bed. She breathed in deeply as she closed her eyes, clasping her hands together tightly as if they were glued together. [color=E7DDF6][b]"Heiwa...guide me to this New World"[/b][/color] [hr][center][color=E7DDF6]✡ Time: Present Day ✡ Location: Amegakure - Great Hall ✡ Interaction: Eita Iwasaki[/color][/center] Erika entered the Great Hall alone. She recognized no others from Sunagakure, though perhaps they remained hidden amongst the groups that had assembled. She paced herself slowly and she moved within the crowded space, making sure not to brush up against anyone too roughly. Snugged with her hands was a small bouquet of white poppies, a flower that symbolized peace, the end, and the remembrance of war. It was said that these flowers grew over the dead bodies of the soldiers from the previous wars. She had harvested these flowers several nights before and had them preserved until this very occasion. Her attention shifted around the room as she looked for her accomplices. Two would be from Konohagakure, the motherland of her clan, and the other two, a much more unfamiliar ping that she could not trace. She hadn't utilized much of her time to remembering who she was to be paired with, though the images of these mysterious figures that she had never met before drifted hazily in and out of her mind as she looked around. Erika admitted, she probably should have brought the briefing information with her. As a truculent figure nudged against her on his way out the Great Hall, she snugged the flowers tighter to her chest as her eyes finally fell upon the figure that she eventually able to recall. [color=E7DDF6][b]"Eita Iwasaki..."[/b][/color] she called out to him softly, her presence drifting closer upon him as she took hold of one of her flowers and held it out to him. She took in his figure. His wavy short hair and the heavy fur-like cloak that lay over his shoulders. Just from his looks alone, he radiated with an air of nobility. It was something she could not, not notice. [color=E7DDF6][b]"This flower a symbol of peace. A blessing passed onto you."[/b][/color] If he took the flower, she would sit beside him. If not, she would sit beside him regardless. [b][color=E7DDF6]"Since the dawn of the ether itself, our threads had already been entwined. Only death may sever it now."[/color][/b] A gentle smile rested upon her delicate countenance as she looked upon him, [color=E7DDF6][b]"Erika. Erika Yamanaka of the Church of Heiwa."[/b][/color] One may find it odd that she introducd herself under the title of the church rather than Sunagakure itself. Perhaps this was a showing of where her true loyalties lie. Anything to further the governance of her faith.