SoleAccord

Cherry Blossoms Under the Silver Sky

-getting the train moving again-

Cherry Blossoms Under the Silver Sky

Her drive nearly made her inhuman.

They had left behind the food and the upcoming talk of the festival some time ago. With the ninken's harassment continuing, Kakashi Hatake was left in awe. Each time he expected Sakura to collapse from complete muscle failure, she had pressed on without complaint. Every second led to some improvement in her struggle, rendering him unable to take his eyes away from the scene that unfolded. A few yelps here and there from the ninken taking her on, but where he might have expected some scoffs or a collapse no such thing had occurred to her. By the time it was concluded, it was the ninken themselves that had gathered back to Kakashi and appeared winded. A few of them were visibly impressed - others remained skeptical of her true potential and wanted to try their hand at another task. Kakashi gazed out at her gathering water, leaving him with Pakkun and the others.

"...So, as I was saying Pakkun. Within a week, she'll be running circles around you." Kakashi teased.

To the chagrin of his ninken, Pakkun chuckled quietly after taking a deep breath. "She never surrendered to us. Perhaps there is hope for her after all. Will you be needing us for another test?"

"No, I intend to teach her something else for now, to get her mind ready while her body recovers. Thanks for your assistance, guys."

"Anytime, anytime. Tell her we'll be back, and it won't be so easy next time. Holding back was difficult."

"Holding back, hm?" Kakashi smiled, knowing very well that in some areas his trained team had resisted using their own variation of ninjutsu on Sakura. That level of competition would be saved for another time. Vanishing in a small puff of smoke, the ninken had left Kakashi just as Sakura had raised her question.

"Well, we're going to give you an extended break. It won't do any good if you're stuck in bed tomorrow from overworking yourself." Kakashi's attention waned, moving skyward. "I told you a long time ago that you had skill in genjutsu; basic deflection served us well when Orochimaru invaded, but I want to help you know how to recognize it and always be ready to counter. Given that I know many types of genjutsu, I can help train you for nearly any type of situation."

Visual. Auditory. Scent. Kakashi had an array of genjutsu fields to tackle Sakura with, and it wouldn't demand much from her body, only her mind.

"You're very motivated, so I'll let you decide what type you'd want to practice against, and what level of difficulty you'd like presented. It doesn't really matter since we have enough time to cover each of them, but I thought I'd let you select for yourself. What will it be?"

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

Pierce go ahead and post with Ace, Osa and Shizuka again - I got nothing for that section.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

Alem had not spoken up at Asahina's sudden and surprising choice of topic; the most he did was pass her a glance that revealed nothing more than curiosity. He had reservations about love - loving him could prove dangerous, and Asahina was so delicate that he could not imagine her enduring his lifestyle. Becoming familiar with the signs of darker emotions - jealousy, anger, pain - he was able to read that Asahina had some concerns about that blonde woman's interest in him. He faced forward as Aseela took a corner, keeping them as far from the main streets as possible. Thankfully it seemed most of Agrabah was gone today, allowing the small team to move without fear of the enemy being alerted. The advantage was still theirs.

"I am not tied to someone of significance, no. I don't see myself ever being married... death could come long before a special person in my life." He responded with a solemn tone; honesty was in his best interest, and it was honesty that Asahina might have been able to understand. Merely a day ago, did she imagine herself being able to lead a normal life when she appeared as she did?

"But," Alem looked over his shoulder again, "You have that opportunity ...you're a good person, I can tell. Someday, you will be able to make someone truly happy."

"Psh, so will you, idiot!" Rika flickered into existence, her personal ability to cloak vanishing once the topic had become of considerable interest. Aseela was an impressive specimen, but her ability to keep pace with her was also something of note, especially given that speed wasn't exactly her area of expertise. She liked a man that could move, almost as much as a man who knew when to keep their mouths shut. Her eyes had locked on Asahina and Alem, yet she was able to maintain her pace and leap from the rooftops effortlessly despite unfamiliarity with the terrain and architecture. "You're good, and you can make someone happy, too! Oh, and Asahina, he's all yours sweetheart. I'm too much for him, he needs a modest girl!"

"To that, I can agree!" Alem replied, causing Rika to grin and wink before she had cloaked herself once again. Although they both had begun to see mutual benefits in working together, both were able to see that romantically the odds were slim that they could properly click. Alem almost smiled at her understanding. She caught on quicker than most, a trait that was both attractive and respective.

The chatter had been cut from then on. Arriving at the passage to the far west of the palace, Okal's signal had been raised some time ago, allowing the servant known as Rafiq to meet up with them and help escort them inside. Having been one of Okal's men for a long time now, his work in the Palace was mostly down to tedious dusting activities and caring for the various needs of those that dwell within; this included maintaining a good working relationship with the guards and reporting any suspicious activity, made easy by keeping close to one of the guard captains - another one of Okal's informants among them. Dressed in modest rags that showed his status as little more than what he was - a servant - he had quietly escorted the small party through the palace. Aseela had been left behind, but was hidden around the Palace's perimeter to be called on when needed.

"Asahina, you're breathing so loudly I could probably hear you ten feet underground. Relax, you're safer here than you are anywhere else, and we're not letting you get taken again." Rika assured Asahina. The girl's inexperience was troubling, but she had known of few that could maintain a respectable measure of silence when they were in areas they shouldn't be. Excitement got to them, nerves were flaring and making it difficult to do anything but jitter around. She had been that girl once ...when she was like five, but still.

"Here," Rafiq took Rika's attention from Asahina, and beside Alem he gestured down a nearby passage that had led to the dungeons, "They've kept him down here, as well as other guards still loyal to him. As I told you upon your arrival, they had kept Princess Jasmine down here, too. If she was ever escorted elsewhere, I would have known about it."

"Alright. Thank you for your assistance, get somewhere safe. Things may get dangerous here." Alem warned Rafiq, who had bowed his head. Quickly and quietly he had departed, shuffling his feet in silence.

"It's been easy ...laughably easy." Rika noted. Rafiq knew all of the guards patrol routes, but they had yet to truly encounter any difficulty getting here. A couple guards had been a minor obstacle, but nothing they couldn't get around in spite of Asahina's nervousness. Staring down the dark passageway that lead to the dungeons, Rika glanced at Alem, and then at Asahina. "I can hear voices down there. So, keep calm. Subtlety is my specialty, but I'm accounting for you, too. If we end up fighting ..."

"Then they die." Alem whispered without remorse, and then began the descent towards the prisoner cells. Rika following closely.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

"Don't sweat it," Rika dismissed her weapon, as did Alem, "Now, since you're all dolled up, how about we get you to meet the rest of the team?"

Alem was less than casual about Asahina's change, and was still processing the power of the weapon that had called to him many nights ago. She appeared less menacing, almost childlike in her innocent smile, and moving her around would be much easier now. His stare had moved off towards the doorway, and not a moment later Rika's stare followed his. They felt something coming towards them with different means.

"Were you followed?" Alem would ask Rika and Okal both, "Someone's coming."

"Impossible, I am notoriously difficult to tail, and I know when I'm being tailed!" Okal argued with pride. His skills in information acquiring and survival were of legend ...well, to him.

"It's not one of ours, I'd have recognized them." Rika placed her hands on her hips, head tilted, "They knew to come here, but they couldn't have tracked us by any common means. We were safe the entire way here, I made sure of it."

Regardless of whom or how, Alem would move to the door and begin drawing stray traces of sand and grit within the barren home. Coming alongside the door, he pressed his ear to the door to try and get a better sense of who was outside. While his detection skills were great, he couldn't identify them without looking at them closely. He could hear ragged breathing on the opposite side. Very few people would know where he made his home within Agrabah, but one casual look over at Okal told him all he needed to know. "One man. He's one of yours," Alem opened the door and beckoned the runner inside, "Okal, that's sloppy of you."

Before Okal could fume and struggle to admit his own slight error, a worn man with even more worn robes had stepped inside and quietly muttered a word of greeting to all inside. His reason for being here - due to a certain honest merchant - would approach him and pat at his side.

"Deep breaths, deep breaths," Okal would tell his man as he patted him, "You must have run a long way."

Rika cleared her throat to get Okal to start his explanation. Being tailed was an insult to a Masaki, and she wasn't particularly fond of not knowing that this might occur.

"Right," Okal muttered, "I instructed this man to inform me of any new pieces of information. Enemy movements, happenings within the city, whether my wife is still mad at me for forgetting our anniversary..." he shrugged. "Anyway, what news did you bring? A man running around in Agrabah attracts attention, and should you have brought anyone dangerous with you..."


"No, not at all, I took great care in reaching you here." The runner said, voice hoarse. Looking to Alem, the man brought his hands together, similar to a praying man. "This is big: The palace has lost most of its dogs guarding it, they're attacking our new allies in the city."

"Allies?" Alem asked quietly. The man gestured to the strangers of the world, them being Rika and Asahina, who Okal must have gotten him familiar with at some point while Alem was not present.

"Shit. When a safe house isn't safe..." Rika headed for the door and stepped outside with Okal in tow, hoping Asahina would do the same. The runner followed, with Alem being the last to move outside. Whistling for Aseela, she had emerged out of a hidden alleyway nearby and hustled up to Alem, being greeted with a gentle rub to her neck.

"Were they holding their own?" Rika asked the runner, who had nodded feverishly. "Okay, then me and handsome aren't going. If I can get inside and complete our main objective, any battling becomes meaningless. I assume you know your way around?"

"I've been inside enough times, I can guide us to a certain point but if their layout and security has changed, we'll need Okal's informant inside." Alem mounted Aseela while Okal would move to mount his camel. He gestured to Aseela, but she shook her head.

"I'll free-run, I could use a little exercise after the bust in Hollow Bastion. Okal, let them know we're making our move and they can figure out a plan from there."

"What if they need help?" Okal asked,

"They won't, and they'll thank us later for moving ahead." Rika looked to Alem, "I'll follow your lead up top." she moved to ascend up the nearest building with cat-like precision and swiftness. She turned around and crouched, waiting for anything more. "You in?" she asked Asahina.

All eyes moved to Asahina. Alem extended a hand for her to join him atop Aseela, who was much calmer beside her now than ever before given her physical change. "It is your decision." Alem reminded her.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

The Heartless that surrounded the rebels had frozen for an instant, and then resumed their inhuman twitches. Their attention had turned from the small group, instead looking around to the end of the alley closest to the rebels. A young Chinese girl had sharply turned the corner, olive eyes burning brightly with her precious staff in hand. Accelerating towards the group, the Heartless that flanked them had begun to hastily charge at her. As the two opposing forces closed in, Lin had brought her staff forward and spun it briskly. The speed of it had already been impressive enough to knock smaller heartless back, but with flames emerging from the two sides it was dissuading more capable Heartless from taking a risk. With a several shadows making contact, they were defeated quickly with one strike. Once Lin was close enough to get to where she intended, she released her flames and brought her staff behind her just before she crouched and leaped into the air.

From the time she was suspended in the air, she was able to ascertain more of the situation. Knowing very little, two things stood out most to her in spite of seeing three. A heart -- not a real beating one but a heart nonetheless -- in the hand of someone. The most important thing to her now was that Ace was injured, and that a woman was in possession of his blade. Throwing her staff behind Ryoko, the force of her throw had allowed it to lodge itself into the sand just behind her. Emanating intense heat and creating a momentary wall of flame between Ryoko and a route to retreat, Lin had landed back down in front of her, crouched, just in time to catch the blade being swung overhead. Catching it with both hands, Lin’s stare met Ryoko’s.

“This doesn’t belong to you,” She whispered, muscles showing no signs of stress in spite of Ryoko’s efforts, “I’ll return it to the rightful owner now.”

Extreme heat had begun to emit from her palms and travel through Ace’s blade, making it difficult to hold without an incredible resilience to intense, constant pain and heat. Ryoko couldn’t maintain her grasp for long, and recoiled with a bitter swear as she examined her hands. The flesh would be tender for a while, and would have made grasping anything a painful endeavor for quite some time without healing balms or other means. Taking Ace’s blade by the hilt now, Lin absorbed the heat she had channeled through the weapon and quickly cooled it back down. Cocking her head towards Ace, she would toss the blade back towards him. Not a moment after doing so, her staff had returned to her right hand to take the place of Ace’s weapon.

“Sorry guys, I slept in a little.”

The heartless that Shizuka and Osa delt with were now effectively cut in half, leaving the rest to begin creeping up behind Lin once again. Although aware of this, she didn’t appear fearful – Lin had changed, somehow.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

This talk of the ‘Keyblade’ was making little sense to only one man in the room. Unlocking one of the most vital organs in the body, and from there separating darkness from the light within itself. A man of information was what Okal was, and pride was not allowing him to immediately concede his confusion. With Asahina’s explanation, his sharp eyes looked from Rika to Alem. The former appeared content by the explanation, the latter’s expression unchanging. It would not surprise him if they both were able to put this together before him. Clearing his throat quietly to acquire a little attention, Okal’s body tightened instinctively once Asahina’s eyes had moved to him. Rika was quite clearly experienced in the odd and unnatural, Alem too was special like her. He was beginning to grow more discomforted by the fact two young people knew more than he was, even more so than the eerie eyes of Asahina just ahead of him. “All right, so let us pretend that not everyone understood what it is you are saying. You mean to say that this ‘Keyblade’ you speak of has the ability to remove darkness out of light?” Okal’s brow was narrowed inquisitively, his concern with Asahina’s appearance turning into one of curiosity. This information was new to him; what he knew of the outside world was unfortunately little, and if information was to be one of his strongest trades then of course he would be interested in knowing what exactly Asahina was trying to explain. “Light and Darkness are one and the same,” Alem moved to kneel beside Asahina once more,“You are ‘pure’, which means that you do not contain both. What the Empire did was force darkness into you, causing you to undergo this change unwillingly. So, if we had a Keyblade here, we could free you of this form and you’d return to normal?” Alem’s conclusion formed quickly, but one mystery remained. Asahina was of value because she did not harbor darkness, but if what she was saying was true then that would also imply that she might be incomplete herself. This brought him back to her identity: Princess. The Arabian native’s attention turned to Okal as the wheels in his head begun to turn with realization. “They stole Asahina away and she was only recently freed, it is no coincidence that the day the Empire came that Jasmine also vanished. Asahina is a Princess, just like her.” Okal’s jaw abruptly dropped at this new line of information. He was still unsettled by Asahina’s appearance, but was growing accustomed to being in her presence bit by bit. To discover that she was of noble blood brought a mix of shock and awe. “P-P-Princess?” Okal sputtered, awkwardly clasping his hands together and bowing his head low out of respect. Okal was no dog who sucked up to royal figures, but he was able to respect the blood and title one carried. Asahina had done him no wrong, her only crime thus far was appearing as she did. If she was correct, then they needed a weapon to make her normal once again, but he had never heard about such a thing until today! “I-I know nothing of a ‘Keyblade’ or how to locate one, but I’ll quickly gather some men together and see what I can do for you.” “That won’t be necessary.” Rika brought her right hand forward and tilted her head, as if reaching out for something invisible to the naked eye. With the attention of both Okal and Alem brought to her hand, Rika resisted the insatiable urge to gush, or perhaps even say something amazing given what she was about to do. Within moments of the eyes all laid upon her hand, within her grasp came the weapon she had not utilized since her encounter with the dark messenger and her quiet maid. Okal had took a quick step backwards out of impulse, while Alem was left unsurprised but curious nonetheless. Her lips spread to a smile as she too admired the weapon. “I could go into a little detail about how this thing came to me, but I don’t think we have time for any of that. So if I somehow use this to connect with your darkness or light and split the two, you won’t be that way anymore?” Rika nodded her head upward, signaling for Asahina to get herself up. “Okay, let’s give it a shot.” “What about two?” Alem asked, standing back up. He took a step backwards and allowed Asahina room to step off of the bed and come alongside Rika. “I only have one, unfortunately. A shame, too. This thing could use a partn—“A sudden appearance of a weapon similar to hers in mystery and legend had come alongside her Oathkeeper. Alem’s outstretched left arm was just a few inches from her right, his hand gripping the handle of a weapon – a Keyblade – tightly. Rika was momentarily speechless, while Okal was busy getting his jaw off the floor. It was simple in appearance: A brown handle with a golden guard, with the very base of it sky blue and curled into the shape of a heart. With the rest of the blade itself being gold, the plainness of the weapon was a good representation of what Alem preferred. No need for a dazzling display, only the ability to achieve the task at hand. Its name rang in his head: Three Wishes. “Y-You had one of those the entire time? And I thought the sand summoning your khopesh was strange, this is just getting ridiculous!” Okal threw his hands up in disbelief at how the world could suddenly change like this in one simple flourish. Sighing and shaking his head merely twice, Okal looked to Asahina and offered a genuine smile. “It pays to have friends, no?” Rika and Alem were both mute when it came to these discoveries, but the stares they gave one another had simultaneously ended. Gorgeous emerald and sharp, hardened gold returned to Asahina now. Neither understood how this worked by explanation, yet the purpose they shared was the same. United by a common goal, Rika and Alem both had decided at that moment to relax their guards and allow their weapons to glow and emit two beats that would pierce through Asahina’s chest painlessly, searching for the foreign elements that invaded her being. Seeking to either rid her body of the cancer or weaken it to the point it could be in Asahina’s control, the weapons worked in unison leaving the masters of said weapons to look upon the target with hidden hope.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

Alem said nothing to Asahina, instead making for the door. She could at least feel comforted by the fact he hadn’t broken eye contact with her until she had concluded with her short speech about her predicament. She had to work through this on her own. “They’re here.” He said quietly, moving towards the door. Opening it quietly, Okal stood at the doorway, flanked by Rika, hand raised towards the door with intention to knock. Alem and Rika’s gazes met instantly; Alem acknowledged her as a stranger from another world, but Rika acknowledged him as incredibly handsome. Okal looked to Alem immediately, following his stare to Rika. He’d give the girl some credit, she could handle looking him directly in the eye for prolonged periods of time. That took some considerable talent, talent not everyone had. With Okal looking between the two and the girl with him not speaking, Alem took it upon himself to start them off. “You’re the girl from yesterday, the one I couldn’t see.” Alem began, and continued just before Okal or Rika could respond, “You came up silently, I only managed to hear Okal coming, and you clearly recognize me.” “Oh?”Rika spoke, her voice smooth and implying how impressed she was with his guess. “And how exactly do you know I recognize you?” “I can see it in your eyes. You’ve seen me once before, you’re studying my face closely.” “You’re handsome and you don't take shit from anyone. Where I come from, those are some fine qualities. You're practically husband material already.” Rika peered down at Okal, who watched the two of them with amusement. “I guess we better cut to the chase before I make you wait outside while I get more ‘acquainted’ with him. He’s smart, it’ll be good to have him with us.” “As I told you!” Okal chuckled. With Alem allowing them entry and closing the door firmly behind them, the pair would step into the back room that allowed them to take a look at Asahina. Rika appeared less than surprised given she saw her before, but Okal was on immediate alert. He had seen some strange sights in his time, but creatures like this were something he’d need to get used to. “He-hello, and your name would be…?” Okal was noticeably nervous addressing her. Alem assured him beforehand that Asahina wouldn’t attack anyone, but that didn’t stop her appearance from being unsettling. “First things first,”Rika cut in, approaching Asahina closer than Okal dared, “We need to change you back, and hopefully you won’t try to hurt us again. We helped you get out before and you attacked us,but I guess I can’t blame you for not recognizing friend from foe. I think you owe us a little cooperation for that. So, know anything about a magical weapon that can fix you, like a Keyblade?” ‘Keyblade’ Alem listened closely.

Solace In Night: A Kingdom Hearts RP

Thank you for the warning PA. I will be making an effort to post sometime between tomorrow and Saturday, I haven't been feeling myself lately and I didn't want it to affect my characters or the story thus far.

Cherry Blossoms Under the Silver Sky

I failed Chemistry twice, and I didn't fail math once but god I came close. What a nightmare X.X