[center]WHEN THE SUN SETS WE GO HOME TOGETHER
EPISODE HOTARU - CHAPTER 0
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[color=black]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY [/color]
[color=white]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY[/color]
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Hotaru’s quick head count amounted to 12 people once Sayuri lead them all inside the multi room underground bunker. Of the 12, 3 were elderly people, sitting by a large table with a pack of cards; 2 were middle-aged men, including what he now recognized as the mayor, peering at the newcomers with some apprehension; and 6 children of various ages, from toddler to teenager, surrounded the single adult woman who looked exhausted. From the voices, Hotaru figured she’d been the one arguing with the mayor before their arrival. 

He expected the kids to run towards Sayuri, calling her big sister with happy faces, but only the limping dog approached her as she let both Hotaru and Chisato head further into the room in front of her. An awkward silence their only welcome. Hotaru didn’t particularly care though, choosing instead to swipe his eyes across the bunker.

The room was mostly bare, save a few trinkets and toys the children probably used to entertain themselves with. Shelves lined most of the walls, he assumed once filled with food; however, there seemed to be few cans of soup left, and only five containers with water. It made sense the mayor had tried to get them all an opening to run away; they would be running out of food and water soon enough. 

He heard a ‘thump’ and saw Chisato bend down next to his backpack, rummaging through it. [color=FF4500]“Y’all look like a sorry bunch of weaklings,”[/color] he said. The kids wearily hid further behind the woman as he passed by and nonchalantly threw his week’s worth of rations at the table. His gaze softened a fraction. [color=FF4500]“We drove that thing off for tonight, so fill up and rest plenty.”[/color]

Hotaru nodded, proud of Chisato for taking the initiative to help them. Sayuri, he noticed, had an almost smug grin aimed towards the mayor, who kept his eyes down on his feet. Still, there was no gratitude from the villagers, no happiness or joy. They all looked resigned, exhausted from the amount of time they’d spent in fear for their lives. Hotaru grit his teeth and bowed. Once he was back in Konoha, he would find out exactly how long these people had been left like this since their SOS request and who had fucked up to such a degree. For now, all he could do was apologize.

[color=FF00FF]“We apologize for the delay in coming here,”[/color] he wouldn’t offer any excuses, even if they were valid ones. [color=FF00FF]“We ask that you wait a while longer while we do everything in our power to take care of your issue.”[/color]

Chisato had returned back to his side by the time Hotaru straightened up. One of the elderly around the table got up, an older woman who needed a cane to slowly cross the room towards him. She extended her hand towards him and Hotaru took it, reminded of his own grandmother back home. [color=DCDCDC]“I saw my children and grandchildren be taken one by one by that wretched monster,”[/color] her voice broke, shoulders shaking as her frail hands grasped Hotaru’s with the strength of her grief. “It’s a sin that I am still alive but these children…” the old lady looked back at the kids. [color=DCDCDC]“Please, save them.”[/color]

Hotaru gave her hand a squeeze. [color=FF00FF]“We’ll save [i]all[/i] of you.”[/color]

[color=FF4500]“Dude, why do you have to be so gay all the time.”[/color] Chisato yawned, moving back towards the door, picking his backpack up on the way there. Sayuri already leading the way out. [color=FF4500]"Let’s go already."[/color]

Hotaru sighed at his team mates’ lack of sentimentality and gave the lady another squeeze, smiling at her. [color=FF00FF]“We’ll keep watch outside for the night. We head out at first light.”[/color] With that, Hotaru got his own rations out for the villagers and retreated to follow his team outside the bunker.

Sayuri seemed to already have a makeshift camp already set out in the hall, closer to the ladder that had brought them out. She was lighting the lamp, shedding some light on the bedroll and backpack she’d already set up, by the time Hotaru caught up. Both men followed her lead, rolling out their own sleeping bags and forming a triangle around the lamp. He had to confess his surprise when the girl got out her own food and shared with them. Chisato accepted his quietly, but Hotaru was about to thank her for his when she saw her shoulders tense.

[color=00FA9A]“We need to eat,”[/color] she argued, glaring at him as if he was about to chide her instead. 

Chisato rose his hands, palms out. [color=FF4500]“Chill woman, nobody said anything.”[/color]

Sayuri gave a small [color=00FA9A][i]hmph[/i][/color] before setting down on her bedroll. Chisato was already digging into his food so Hotaru just settled down and did the same. The meal was silent and awkward, illuminated by the faint glow of the lamp, and even when they were done eating, Sayuri simply collected their trash into a small bag and quietly took off her shoes before hiding into her sleeping bag, back turned to them. 

[color=FF4500]“Inugami went back,”[/color] Chisato idly told him as he took off his own shoes. [color=FF4500]“I’ll take first shift.”[/color]

[color=FF00FF]“Let me have a look at your arm first,”[/color] Hotaru asked, motioning for Chisato to get his arm closer to the lamp. There wasn’t any blood coming out of his wounds, the acid having sealed the wounds as it burned its way into the skin. Hotaru whistled at it. [color=FF00FF]“You really ought to start thinking before doing.”[/color]

[color=FF4500]“That’s what you’re here for,”[/color] Chisato shrugged, unbothered by the wound or the pain as Hotaru did what he could with his First Aid technique, lavender chakra glowing around the wound as it worked to put back together what was within its power. [color=FF4500]“What? You think I keep you around for your dashing looks?”[/color]

[color=FF00FF]“You motherfucker,"[/color] Hotaru laughed. [color=FF00FF]"There's something called gratitude. You should try it sometime, might find it refreshing.”[/color]

They both suddenly cut off the banter when the sound of footsteps neared their camp. A flashlight lit the way as the dog neared them, making a bee line for Sayuri and settling down next to her, his master following shortly behind. [color=DCDCDC]“Came to check up on ya lads,”[/color] he told them, lowering himself down to the floor and turning the light off. [color=DCDCDC]“If that’s alright with ya.”[/color]

[color=FF00FF]“Good,”[/color] Hotaru told him after exchanging a look with Chisato. [color=FF00FF]“We have some questions.”[/color]