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Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 10, 2018 0:35:07 GMT -5
"No...I'll tell them."
Hinata broke off the hug then, her face wet with tears. She wiped them away with one hand and squared her jaw.
"It's my burden. I won't have you carry it for me."
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Post by Horiuchi Nadeshiko on Mar 10, 2018 0:46:30 GMT -5
Nade smiled and stood next to Hinata then, her plan A to throw the boys off no longer needed. As she watched the boys climb the steps once more she sneakily shifted one of her slap bracelets to the other hand, making sure she had them both at the ready just in case something bad happened.
She still had no idea who Yori was but if Hinata was this spooked he must be someone bad, someone for the Unicorn to research later.
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Post by Daidoji Kobushi on Mar 10, 2018 0:52:48 GMT -5
Kobushi and Yoshi eventually return, each boy carrying two crepes. He smiles as he hands the ones he has to the girls, trying to banish the worries his brief conversation with Yoshi put in his head. He trusted these two girls. He called them his friends. They'd advised him, joked with him, helped him, and counted on him. The idea that they didn't trust him bothered him. He didn't want to question them, but Yoshi got the Daidoji's mind on the thought and now it wouldn't leave.
"Sorry if we kept you waiting. Took a little longer than we thought."
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Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 10, 2018 0:57:03 GMT -5
"It is no trouble."
Hinata took one of the crepes.
"We have something we must talk about. Not here, though; somewhere more private."
From her tone and expression, it was clear she brooked no argument.
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Mar 10, 2018 1:03:35 GMT -5
Seeing how Kobushi had distributed what he'd carried, Yoshi hands one of his two crepes off to the Crane, smiling and nodding at him. Before starting in on his own, he takes a deep breath and turns toward both of the girls.
"What took us a little longer, is that we were talking some on the walk over," he tells them. "Kobushi and I... we were feeling... sort of left out just now, especially after you two went off on your own two days ago too. We don't think it means that... you don't trust us as much... but we wanted to be honest and let you know... it did kind of feel like that."
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Post by Horiuchi Nadeshiko on Mar 10, 2018 1:06:51 GMT -5
Nade lightly nudged Hinata in the side after Yoshis confession, tossing her a smile.
"See, we don't give them enough credit. They're quite perceptive. Well good news boys, follow us to some dark secluded part of the temple grounds and we'll tell you everything we talked about okay?"
She glanced around for a few minutes before noticing a landmark and pointing. "If I remember right, there's a nice secluded little pond this way. Should be just us, if that's okay Hinata?"
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Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 10, 2018 1:07:01 GMT -5
Hinata just...looked at Yoshi for a few moments, then walked over and gave him a quick hug.
"No. I...I realize why you may feel like that, but it is wrong. You are our friends. I trust both of you."
She sighed, shuddering.
"...which is why I have something important to tell both of you. As I said though, not here."
She then looked at Nadeshiko and nodded.
"Yes, that should work. Lead the way."
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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Mar 10, 2018 1:20:49 GMT -5
Yoshi, Hinata, and Kobushi all follow Nadeshiko down the path into the wooded area behind the temple. They were still on the grounds, but this portion wasn't often traveled by visitors or the monks that tended the place. As she'd said, Nadeshiko brought them to a small pond nestled among tall tress that served to block the sight of the city buildings from this little oasis of nature in its midst. Yoshi, for his own part, gives his full attention to Hinata as soon as they arrive.
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Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 10, 2018 1:30:50 GMT -5
Hinata leaned on a tree and took a deep breath, shaking suddenly and clenching her fists. A trickle of blood ran down one of her palms where she dug her nails in. This was it, this could be one of the last things she ever said. She had to say it though, she had promised.
"I...have been haunted by an ancestor for some time now. I did not know who he was, he has been with me for the past year or so, but a week ago he showed himself to me and...it is..."
Hinata sucked in a breath, trying to steel her resolve, or at least force the words out.
"...it is Kuni Yori."
Tears began to well in her eyes, her expression one of agony and terror. Nadeshiko had accepted it and offered to help, but would they? She was not sure. She could not be sure how anyone would react to it. She looked down, tears dropping to the ground.
"...do what you will. I won't stop you."
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Post by Daidoji Kobushi on Mar 10, 2018 1:51:59 GMT -5
Kobushi had been trained by the Crab. He knew a great deal of their history. Of their heroes. Of their villains. And one of the names that came up most often was Kuni Yori. The arch-traitor. The great disgrace of the Kuni. An enemy of the Empire in every way. And there Hinata was, admitting to having his voice, his influence, his presence, his evil in her head.
The Daidoji clenches his fists. His knuckles crack and his body tenses. It would be the right thing to do, to strike. To attack. To do what he could to rid the Empire of Yori.
But Hinata looked terrified. She didn't want this. She didn't ask for it. She'd have told them if she did. She'd have said that she made a mistake in calling an ancestor and instead getting a great villain. No. Kuni Hinata didn't want to have Kuni Yori in her head, he believes that. She didn't want it anymore than Ryuha wanted to bear the curse of the Yogo bloodline.
He wouldn't kill Ryuha for carrying that curse. He wouldn't kill Hinata for bearing hers.
"You need an exorcist. A powerful one."
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