Rustling was heard through the bushes and tree leaves.
Footsteps were heard running, one after the other.
Heavy breathing emanating from those who seemed rushed and hurried.
Jumping from branch-to-branch, the bodies were seen in the black of night, though descriptions were not available from the neglection of light as each branch had been stomped on, creeking with the weight of the bodies, weakening each branch they breezed across.
Seeming as though they finally appeared at their location, a gasp was heard, seeming more like the tone of a female as the shadowed bodies lined up, showing four of them side-by-side, realizing and looking on at the large sea of bones arched upwards towards the sky as each bone seemed to enigmatically orbulate the moon's shine, creating visibility in the area surpassing that of the woodlands.
Symone's "The Heart Of Rain" - A NARUTO Side-Story
[Chapter 32
"Funeral"
"THAT BLOOD... THE SWEET TASTE... HOW DELICIOUS IT WAS. USE ME AGAIN SYMONE. LET ME OUT SO I CAN FEEL THE WARMTH OF THEIR BLOOD JUST ONCE MORE TONIGHT!" stated a voice with a dominant, domineering sense of decrepency.
Running steps were heard echoing throughout the white of emptiness as the surroundings become tainted with black, trailing behind it by a pink tide as it overlaps the darkness of black.
Symone is seen running in that empty space of white, fleeing from the consumption of black and overlapping pink as it covers it whole, shrouding Symone's appearance in a state of night, hiding her as suddenly, the pink chakra forms shape.
Slowly, the pink tide had formed in to a swirling beast, appearing as none other than the Nibi Bijuu, calling out, "YOUR BODY...HMMMMM...IT SUITS ME WELL. YOUR CAREFREE THOUGHTS AND IGNORANCE HAS HELD ME IN FOR TOO LONG, THOUGH IT ALLOWED ME TO BUILD MY OWN MENTAL CAPACITY FROM WATCHING YOU PLAY NINJA. YOU GAVE ME MY INTELLIGENCE, AND HELPED MY POWER GROW. YOU WERE THE PERFECT CONTAINER FOR MY ENERGY. IT'S JUST TOO BAD YOU WEREN'T USED FOR THE PROPER REASONS AND WERE HIDDEN FROM THE TRUTH. KID, YOU'VE GOT A LOT MORE OF ME TO SEE, AND THE MORE I COME OUT TO LICK THE TAINTED FLESH OF ANOTHER HUMAN, THE MORE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT I TRULY AM. HAHAHAHA!".
Suddenly, everything vanishes to black as Symone is seen opening her eyes in shock.
Sweat pours down the beautiful kunoichi's face, seeming as though she had just woken up.
Symone attempts to lift herself up after noticing she was inside what seemed to be a tent as she can see the light of fire shining through, but pain shot throughout her body, causing her to fall back against the ground.
"I wouldn't move just yet if I were you" stated a woman's voice.
Shocked, Symone widens her eyes as she tilts her head behind her as much as possible, noticing a brunette woman in all white, covered in blood.
"Who-Who are you!?" asked Symone in a hesitant, alarmed manner.
"Oh, me? Well, they call me Bui. I'm the Medical Examiner for the tribe here in the forest. You're lucky you know. Any moment, you and your friends would of been dead, so it's a good thing I found you!" stated the woman who went by the name of Bui.
Alarmed, Symone quickly asks, "Mikomi-Sensei! Renji-san! Where are they!?" as Bui replied, "Look to your side. If those two are them, then they'll be okay".
Symone looks to her left side, seeing Mikomi and Renji laying there next to her unconcious as she lets out a sigh of relief.
"It's good to see you calmed down now. The stress isn't good for that wound in your stomach, you know! I do have to tell you... we did find someone else... but unfortunately, it seemed... Well... I'm sorry, but he was dead when my tribe arrived" stated Bui.
Symone's eyes narrow as she just stares blatantly at the point formed at the top of the tent.
"Nova...-Teichou..." thought Symone in sadness as she looks down to her chest, noticing the Wedding ring that was given to her was still around her neck.
"This is hard to say also. Well... there was someone else. We saw a hand sticking up out of the ground, and we tried pulling them out... but... well... there was just a hand... and we tried recovering a body, digging through the ground to find someone, but all we found... well... there were just a few pieces of scattered limbs. The impact it had to of taken to do that much damage had to of killed him without pain at least. I'm so sorry, child" stated Bui as her brown eyes narrowed downwards with sadness.
"Shouten-san..." hesitantly thought Symone as she tightened her eyes, creating a river of sadness as she thinks back on Nova and Shouten.
"Will my friends heal fine?" asked Symone with a scared, worried expression glazed within her eyes.
"The one with the gray hair... he was lucky. Even though he got pierced through the chest, the object somehow went out through the side of his ribcage, avoiding his lungs. Unfortunately for the other guy, it seemed the impact of the object that pierced him cut one of his lungs pretty bad. As you can see, he'll be okay... as long as we keep pumping the blood out of his lungs and keep feeding him through an IV, giving him room to breath and time to heal using that tube that's inside his mouth. Thankfully, I'm trained in Medical Ninjutsu, so I can emit the small amount of chakra my body has in to each of your wounds, increasing the regeneration of cells to fully heal everyone. Once every hour since I've found you three, I've been giving you this procedure and treatment, and even though your friend over there with the punctured lung was in critical condition, I sustained him. If things go well, he should heal and be able to walk in about a week or two. The gray-haired guy should be moving in about three to four days. Your wound though, child... thankfully, didn't puncture ANY organs. Somehow, that huge bone that we found you on actually slid in between each esophagal track and organ, sliding only through the flesh. You should just be lucky it missed your spine by an inch, otherwise you'd technically be able to heal, but walking may never be an option for you again" dictated Bui, giving a full Medical analysis on the situation of the injured three.
Symone just emotionlessly closes her eyes, seeming depressed and sick, just generally feeling like a big mess.
"Girl... were you the one who killed Genburori?" randomly asked the Medical Specialist.
"Honestly... I can't give you that answer. I'm not sure myself, but I know he gave out his final attack, killing himself in the process" stated Symone, seemingly unaware of the transformation to an extent.
"Well, either way, it's good he's gone. That tyrant and his damn ninja robbed us of our goods constantly. We would literally have to sneak around through the thick forest at night just to get water and hunt for food. A few of the already small percentage of tribesman here have died due to starvation and dehydration. Thanks to you and your friends, we shouldn't have a need to worry about our poor circumstances anymore, so I am grateful to you, child... and so is everyone else. You really saved our lives" stated Bui with a shocking bit of information as Symone widens her eyes, asking, "We... really helped save you?".
Bui replies, "Yeah! Ofcourse! I'm sure those poor villagers a few miles off in Tsunzaku are thankful, too. The way they'd be terrorized and feared just leaving their home, having innocent blood constantly spilled... they had it the hardest, and you saved them from being taken over!".
Symone's shocked, widened eyes then turn narrowed... finally showing a smile as she closes her eyes, thinking, "Sensei... I've stated your words on the mother bird over and over again in my head... but until now... I never truly realized what it meant... deep down. You were helping me find my Nindou(Way of the Ninja), giving me the power to know what's right".
"Now that's a face I should see! You're very beautiful when you smile!" ecstatically spoke Bui as Symone giggled a little.
Her facial expression widening with joy.
"Remember... it's easy to be sad, but it takes work to be happy, and the work you put in for the people around you... truly made them happy as well" stated Bui in a motivational manner.
"You kinda talk like my Sensei" stated Symone, rubbing the back of her head as she giggled.
"Oh? Well... your Sensei is a very smart man then!" stated Bui as a familiar voice replied, "Oh yeah! The smartest!", showing that it was Mikomi, now awake as he painfully and hesitantly laughed himself, enjoying the moment.
Symone is surprised as she yelled out, "Sensei!!", happily smiling as she looked to Mikomi.
"He-Hey, My precious little student!" stated Mikomi as Symone asked, "How are you feeling, Sensei!?".
"Well, to be honest, I totally had better days, but knowing that you... and Renji are alright... I couldn't be better!" joyously states Mikomi as Symone nods her head, agreeing, feeling the same exact way.
A man now quietly walks in to the tent as he notices two of the injured Shinobi are awake.
"Hm!?" sighed Symone, looking to the man.
"Well, well. The Ninja who defeated Genburori are finally awake, huh!? How are you guys feeling? Better?" asked the man.
"We're doing alright. Honestly... I just want to get well to pay my respects to those who have died in the aftermath of this destruction" stated Mikomi as the man replies, "I understand this, this is why we're preserving the body of one of the men we found out on the battlefield for when you leave. Thanks to everyone's heroic deeds, we will do what we can to help aid you in your time of injury".
"Hmm... Thank you. I appreciate it... uhh..." Mikomi hesitantly spoke as the man interfered, telling his name, "It's Ragna. Oda Ragna, the tribe leader".
"Very well... Oda Ragna. We thank you deeply for your hospitality" states Mikomi as Ragna replied, "No... Thank YOU... uhh..." now hesitantly spoke the man as Mikomi interrupted, "It's Mikomi... Kusa No Mikomi".
"I see. Very well Kusa No Mikomi. We will aid you until you're fully healed, along with this brave, brave child. We here respect you two, and your dear friend very much, and we hope to hear great things of you in the future!" states Ragna as Symone smiled.
Mikomi replied, "Ragna-Sama... This girl... I promise, you will hear about her tales of herocy in the future".
"I count on it... now rest up you two. I'll see how you're doing in the morning. In the meantime, allow Bui to help aid you in any of your wishes. She will be glad to help you out, right Bui?" stated and asked Ragna as Bui replied, "But, ofcourse!".
"Okay... then how about this! Cook me up a nice big dinner! I'm starving!" stated a stuttering Renji, struggling with each breath as his words were hysterically distorted by the tube in his throat.
"Renji-san!" yelled out Symone in happiness as Mikomi is seen laughing.
"Sorry, but you're gonna be stuck on that IV for a few more days! No eating solids unfortunately for a while if you wanna get better!" stated Bui as Renji's face became blank... his eyes turning white as a silence takes over the room.
Everyone in the room stares over to Renji, hesitating as he suddenly spoke out calmly between each harsh breath... "I... could kinda go for some wild boar. Woman! Go cook me some Boar!".
"WH-WHAT!?" asked Bui in a shocked, irritated manner as her right eye twitches.
"Hehehe! Sorry, Bui-san. That's just Renji. You kinda get used to it. Hehehe!" stated Mikomi, rubbing the back of his head as he smiled, laughing a tad.
"Please excuse Renji-san. He's very disrespectful, but he means well!" states Symone as Renji tightens his lips around the tube in his throat, narrowing his eyes as he's starting to get irritated.
"Yes, please excuse him! We know he comes off as a mean, angry man, but Renji-san truly means well... though, it does take a while to get used to his smell" states Mikomi as Renji's eyes begin twitching a pure white gleam, becoming more angry as his face becomes tainted with red.
"...yeah, his smell! Oh, and don't forget his temper! THAT you don't kinda get used to... it's actually kind of annoying..." states Symone as Renji then bursts out, yelling, "WHAT THE HELL!!!??? YOU DAMN PEOPLE SERIOUSLY HAVE PROBLEMS!! WHAT TEMPER!?!? AND GOD DAMNIT I SMELL LIKE FLOWERS BLOSSOMING IN THE SPRING!!! YOU BASTARDS!!! GAH!!!" as his IV pops out of his arm as he had slammed his fist in to the ground, breathing heavily and deep.
Silence yet again takes over the area as Renji has an expressionless face displayed.
Suddenly, Renji starts yelling... "GAHHH!! MY IV! MY IV!! PUT IT BACK IN!! OH MY GOD!! I'M GONNA STARVE TO DEATH!!! I'M GONNA DIE!!! HELP ME!!!!" as Bui yells, "CALM DOWN RENJI-SAN! YOU'RE GONNA OPEN YOUR WOUNDS MORE!!", but Renji ignores her words as her prediction was correct, as Renji silences himself, along with everyone in the room as Renji noticed a drop of blood dripping down his mouth.
"FIX IT!! FIX IT DAMNIT! AHHHH! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!" began yelling Renji as Mikomi and Symone just look on at him with a face of pity as Symone twitches her head a bit, laughing in a fake manner.
---
Eleven days had passed as a beautiful morning arises over the woodlands.
Symone and Mikomi are seen outside the tent they were in, standing side-to-side as they look up to the glow of the omnipotent sun.
"We should prepare to leave now to Tsunzaku" states Mikomi as Symone asks, "But... Renji... Can he make the trip?".
Mikomi replies, "We'd have to find a way to carry him. He's still in pain, and his breathing is still shallow, but... we have to find a way to make our peace with the dead before it's too late. Renji I know would want that, especially for Bangai".
Symone looks down towards the ground a bit saddened, agreeing as she nudged her head up and down slightly.
"We'll help you" intruded Bui as she approaches the two.
Symone and Mikomi look on at her, curiously.
"We'll have a few men escort you with stretchers to carry Renji-san with, and we'll do the same for the remains of your other friend" stated Bui as she puts her hand over Symone's shoulder.
Symone smiles gently, not happy about the fact there are those who died helping her efforts in the battle with Genburori, but happy she was able to find the care and help she needed to set everything in place.
"That sounds like a plan then. We appreciate all your help" states Mikomi as Bui nods her head, accepting his thanks, sighing, "Hmm".
---
About three hours had passed as we see Mikomi, Symone, Bui, and a few men carrying Renji on one stretcher, and Nova on another as they appear before one of the woodland entrances to Tzunzaku no Sato as they each quietly look on.
"I'm finally home" thought Renji as he was shown smiling.
"Me and Symone can take care of Renji the rest of the way. Again, we appreciate all your help" stated Mikomi as he and Symone hold the ends of the stretchers as they were handed to them by the two men from the tribe who were first holding it.
"Then with that, we'll be going now. Be safe now, you heard? ...and hopefully someday... we shall all meet again" spoke a smiling Bui as Mikomi nods.
Symone smiles.
Bui and her tribesman walk back the way they came, leaving only two of her men who still held the stretcher Nova's covered body was on, departing from the village as she yells out one last "Goodbye!".
"Hmm" sighed Renji, smiling as he looked at Bui.
---
A crisp, cold fog gently sneaks up on the village, covering it whole as the drizzles of rain start pelting down on the ground as the clouds seemed disrupted, hidden behind the fierce screen of gray as light flickers from above.
Symone, Mikomi and Renji, along with other villagers are seen standing aside eachother, each with a depressive, tainted gleam in their eyes as their saddened lips seem to speak in tragedy as they all hover in front of three dug up graves.
In the first grave, Bangai was seen laying inside, dressed in an all white kimono with his arms crossed over his stomach as his closed eyes seem to show an expression of peace.
The second grave was shown having the body of Nova inside, dressed in an all black kimono with his hands to the side as his facial expression just seemed empty and devoid of life.
The third grave was shown to be empty, as it was apparently a place of memory for the departed Shouten who had sacrificed himself to save Symone, changing his evil ways to a pure heart.
One-by-one the villagers are shown throwing flowers in each of the graves as a few gently leave a kiss on their fingers, extending their hands as if they were giving their love to the bodies who had once lived full lives.
Symone is seen sniffling in her all black dress as a tear rolled down her face, throwing a flower in each of the graves as she slightly widens her eyes a bit, looking down to her chest, realizing she still had Nova's wedding ring.
Symone takes the ring she had on a necklace and takes it off, tightly gripping it in her hand as she closes her eyes.
"This kept me strong... and the fact that you gave me this... it made me cry not just on the outside with happiness, but inside, too. I feel that... this has too much significance to hang around my neck, and the only place I see it fit... is back on you, Nova" stated Symone as she spoke to the body as if it were still there.
Symone kneels down, hunching over the hole that was dug up, placing the necklace with Nova's wife's wedding ring around his own neck as she kisses his forehead.
Mikomi is seen by Shouten's empty grave, throwing an entire bouquet of flowers inside as he thinks, "I pay all my respects to you... not as a strong opponent that I fought, but as an honorable Shinobi... an honorable Shinobi who risked his life, saving my precious student, my love, Symone. For that, I am indebted to you Shouten. I will remember your bravery and strength".
Renji is then seen just staring at Bangai's body, standing by himself as all the villagers had left now after paying their respects.
Renji's expression just seemed depressed as his eyes were narrowed and weighed down as his lips had been curled downwards.
Symone and Mikomi appear standing on each side of Renji, looking on at Bangai as Mikomi puts his hand on Renji's shoulder, trying to comfort him, knowing how important Bangai was to him.
"Mikomi-san. Symone-kun. I know you're here for me, but may I be left alone for now?" questioned Renji in an unusual honorific manner with a calming voice.
"I understand, Renji-san" Mikomi replied, nodding over to Symone as she nods in return, knowing to leave Renji, allowing him to try and make peace with his departed friend.
Mikomi takes his hand from off of Renji's shoulder, and begins walking away.
Symone follows her Sensei, stopping for a second as she looked over to Renji with one last glance before asking, "Mikomi-Sensei?".
"Hmm? What is it, Symone?" Mikomi replied.
"You tought me that the Mother bird had protected her children, killing for their sake, and it was the right thing, and I can understand that... but if sacrifices are made while trying to do the right thing, does that still make it okay? Because right now... I feel like we're the ones who lost, not Genburori, as if even though he died, he still kind of had his way" stated and asked Symone as she looked down to the ground in a depressive manner as Mikomi replied, "I can understand your feelings Symone. Believe me, I do. This is just what we as Shinobi have to find answers to on our own".
Symone then asks, "Then... what is the answer you found for yourself, Sensei?".
"To tell the truth... I'm still looking for the answers, but what I do know is that nearly the same motive applies as to the Mother bird, and that the right thing was done, but as for the sacrifices... Well, all I can say is that Bangai-kun, Nova-san, and Shouten-san did not die in vane. I'm sure if they were looking upon us right now, they'd be happy to know the one person or thing they died for is gone, and that each of these men are smiling in the afterlife. We need to honor them and their spirits always... and never forget them... as it fuels us to keep growing strong to prevent any further losses from happening. They each handed us this opportunity, so I just believe we should use it wisely... but is it the right thing? Like I said, find the answers for yourself. Eventually, there will be a day when it hits you, and you can make better peace with your own life" dictates Mikomi with the words of a wise man as Symone nods, walking alongside her Sensei as they leave Renji by the grave.
"Bangai... I can't help but keep apologizing on the inside and out. You were too young to seek death, and too pure of a soul to accept it, but the reality is... it happened. I won't be able to ever find a friend like you again, and holding on to your memory is all I need now that you have passed on. I avenged your death when I killed Bankoku, but even after that... I felt that there was something missing still. Something still wasn't right. I realized afterwords... that killing that man was not going to bring you back to life. I know I made all my apologies, and will continue apologizing until my own time comes, but I haven't thanked you yet. I'm sure you're wondering 'For what?'. Well... I thank you for finding two highly skilled new friends who helped save the village when I couldn't. You didn't listen to me when I was too prideful to accept help, and went out to seek help for me... and for the villagers of Tsunzaku. Me, Symone and Mikomi are treated now as heroes, but really... you were the hero all along Bangai... for bringing those two to our village. Your thoughts and concerns are really what saved this village... and although it may not be recognized by some, I will always recognize this fact of you... you're the true Shinobi... a respected Shinobi... one that I will NEVER forget" silently spoke Renji towards the dead body of his friend, Bangai as rain began pouring down, dripping down the face of Renji, covering his tears.
---
Symone, Mikomi and Renji have all lived on to see another day after the battle with Genburori thanks to the help of the troubled tribes-people of the Amegakure woodlands, though their heroic acts and survival has brung them to tears as they said their farewells to the departed ones who had helped them during these troubled times. Renji spoke his final farewells to the body of Bangai as the graves were shown being covered by the dug up dirt as Renji walks slowly away due to his injury, using what seemed to be a crutch as he gave one last glance to his friends face. Where does this leave our heroes now? The next chapter will be entitled: "Returning Home".