Akari was itching for some sort of excitement. Life wandering on her own without any real direction to work in was about to drive her nuts, but she had a feeling she was just on the cusp of something. What that might be, she wasn’t exactly sure. Nor was she sure that her hunch was anything more than wishful thinking. It helped, though, to tell herself she’d find something to occupy her time soon enough, something beyond basic survival and endless roaming. Positivity was the key here, she just needed to keep assuring herself that things would get better until the universe decided to prove her right.

"Speech."

Asuka Omori It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop The surprising encounter further south in the fjord filled her with a bit of hope, even if it was misplaced. It had made her want to continue moving, even if she was still overly cautious. Her trek was slow and quite arduous, and it wasn't long before she was back to old habits - staying hidden in brush and inside treelines, traveling mostly at night, scavenging was she could to eat. When she reached where two rivers merged, she thought she could stay and rest for a few days. It was a good source of both water and food, and the cover was good enough to make her feel safe. But she also had to deal with the comings and goings of many canines. She was able to stay hidden for the most part, but one figure stood out as she watched from her haven of brush. The silver fur caught her attention first, and the orange and pale yellow markings all but solidified Asuka's hunch. Before she knew it, she was up on her paws and had moved a few steps forward, but she froze before she could even begin to speak her friend's name. Instead, she simply stood there with her lips just barely parted, Akari's name stuck in her throat. Talk talk talk is all you do Thinking is too much work

She wasn’t alone, she was growing more and more certain of it. The scent that had started out as a faint whisper on the wind became stronger and she was more sure she knew who it was. She stopped then, slowly scanning her surroundings, a pickle on her spine telling her she was being watched. The feeling was familiar, though the last time she felt this way, things had not ended well for her. The person watching her now though surely meant her no harm though. Right? Her eyes narrowed slightly, muscles tensing. She couldn’t image the woman meant her harm, but she couldn’t take the chance of falling into another ambush. It could be a trick, someone trying to finish what they’d started.

"I know you’re there. Show yourself." She wanted to speak warmly to Asuka, to greet her old friend and catch up, but it didn’t make sense that the darkly colored woman would hide from her like this. Unless she was trying to test her? Perhaps challenge her to a spar or a game of some sort. A flicker of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she turned slowly, trying to locate the blue and violet eyes from the shadows of the brush.

"Speech."

Asuka Omori It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop Akari was no fool, and quickly knew she was being watched. Soon, she would know by whom, and Asuka's throat tightened in the turmoil of emotions sloshing about her. To see her silver friend so close and unharmed filled her with such joy that tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She wanted nothing but to run to her side and embrace her, but her paws remained rooted to the ground in the shadows. Again, she tried to just whisper her friend's name but her lips remained silent, shimmering gaze stuck to the bright woman. Her chest quivered as she took in a breath, ears flattening when she heard Akari's voice. How she had missed her friend. She turned, attempting to spy Asuka within the brush, but Asuka had yet to move. Her lips pursed shut and she swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking back the stinging tears. Shame boiled in her chest and threatened to swell and overtake her joy; shame at what she was doing, who Asuka was now. Her claws flexed to dig into the dirt, steeling herself against the harsh, but true, emotion. Akari was right there calling to her, and Asuka must answer her. She took in a breath and forced a paw forward, then another, and soon she was halfway from the bush she had been hiding in. Dual-colored eyes soaked in her friend's features, tears welling up once more. "Akari," she whispered hoarsely, almost shivering in the raw emotions broiling within her. "You're alive." Their native tongue almost felt foreign to her, but she longed her hear Akari's voice once more. English Thinking Japanese

The moments stretched on in painful silence, Akari growing more alert, and more alarmed, with each second that passed without her friend showing her face. This was not the reaction she expected, and her body tensed, the thought that it might be another trap flitting to the forefront of her mind again. After what felt like an eternity spent in tense anticipation, she heard a breath, followed by a soft rustling.

Finally, her gaze found the silver and black splotched face that looked so achingly familiar, poking out from the bushes. What she saw was even more surprising than an attack, though. This was not Asuka, not the one she knew, at least.

A stranger stared back at her, one that shared every possible trait with her friend. The same markings in the same place in the same colors. The same violet and blue eyes, but the fire in her was… Gone. Her lips twitched, but the woman’s voice stilled her from making any further assumptions. That was Askua’s voice. "What the hell happened to you?" She wanted to rejoice in having found her, but she couldn’t quell the shock that she felt over what she saw. Her voice was pained, confused. She inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. "Gods, Asuka, I thought I had stumbled upon an imposter." She wasn’t sure how something like that would have worked but the change in her friend was nearly impossible to reconcile with the memories she possessed of the woman.

"Speech."

Asuka Omori It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop Akari's voice felt like ice picks to the woman's chest. Shame welled up within her, and Asuka looked to the side, her ears flattening. Akari spoke again, and she closed her eyes, her tears spilling down her cheeks. The disappointment and confusion was red hot in her friend's voice, and Asuka had to hold back a sob. Shame, shame. She swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed in her throat. She shouldn't have shown herself, she should have kept still, kept silent. After she composed herself as best she could, Asuka looked back to her silver friend, her expression still pained. "I am an imposter," she said softly, openly showing her weakness. "I am changed, no longer shinobi." The woman's chest hurt as her heart thumped in her chest, threatening to rip right through flesh and bone. However, she held Akari's gaze, her posture low and demure. "I understand... if you leave." Her tears had stopped flowing, shame gripping her tightly enough that she believed she was not worthy. She was nothing, a husk of a warrior that was better off crumpled in the thistle. Perhaps finding her clan was not the best idea; they would think the same as Akari, the same as Asuka thought of herself. Shame, unworthy. English Thinking Japanese