Rei stepped off the boat, feeling the unfamiliar humidity of the Land of Lightning settle against her skin as she took her first steps onto foreign soil. She kept her hood up, the cloak she wore blending her into the bustling crowd at the port, though her heart pounded with the awareness that every face she passed was a stranger, every eye a potential threat. The land of lightning was nothing like Enraoi—there was an electricity here, a pulsing vibrancy, and yet every step only reminded her how far she was from Yami.
As she moved toward the gates of Kumogakure, she was halted by guards who inspected her travel papers and questioned her on her intentions. Rei offered careful answers, nodding respectfully, her every word rehearsed in her mind to avoid suspicion. The guards seemed satisfied, though they exchanged skeptical glances, noting the silver hair that marked her as an outsider. They allowed her through, and she slipped into the village, feeling the weight of watchful eyes leave her at last.
Walking into Kumogakure, she felt a tinge of awe despite her heavy heart. The village was different from anything she had seen—a place carved into the rugged mountain landscape, where buildings rose against cliff faces and ropes stretched between the peaks, carrying messages and cargo with ease. People bustled through the streets, many casting curious glances her way. Though she had pulled her hood down, the striking silver of her hair caught the light, shimmering like moonlight against the darker tones of the village around her.
Her wandering led her into the heart of the village, where the sounds of chatter and street vendors filled the air, and the smells of unfamiliar foods wafted through the narrow streets. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the tall, broad figure that had noticed her from across the road. Killer B watched her from a distance, his discerning gaze taking in the way she moved with a hidden grace, the look of sorrow etched in her face, and the quiet, resilient strength in her eyes. The Eight-Tails stirred within him, muttering with both curiosity and interest, sensing the depth of pain radiating from her aura.
"Yo, B, she got that aura of thunderclouds," the Eight-Tails mused. "Heavy heart, hidden strength."
Killer B chuckled, tapping his hand rhythmically against his side. "Hey, yo, let's give this girl a chance to flow, help ease her mind from troubles below."
With his usual swagger, Killer B crossed the street, his eyes gleaming with playful curiosity. As he approached, Rei glanced up, surprised to see the tall man with dark skin and sunglasses, clad in white armor and a red sash tied around his waist. His presence was unmissable—he walked with a confidence and charisma that naturally drew attention, and Rei felt a slight blush rise in her cheeks as he offered a friendly smile.
"Hey, hey, silver-haired lady, you're lookin' lost and maybe kinda shady," B said in his usual rapping cadence, grinning widely. "I'm Killer B, and I see you're new, come have a meal, maybe share what's true?"
She blinked, a bit taken aback by his rhythm and the unexpected rhyme, but something in his easygoing attitude and friendly tone set her at ease, if only slightly. She hesitated, but B nodded encouragingly, gesturing to a nearby ramen shop. With a small sigh, Rei relented and nodded, following him to the restaurant.
Inside, they sat at a small table by the window, the shop's warm, inviting atmosphere melting some of the tension in her shoulders. Killer B ordered for them both, chatting animatedly with the server, who grinned at his quirks and charisma. As the food arrived, Rei glanced out the window, the familiar ache of homesickness and the heavy sorrow over Yami's imprisonment tightening her throat.
"Yo, quiet silver, what's on your mind?" B's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. "Ain't every day I see someone like you, with a storm in their eyes and a heart dark blue."
She stared down at her bowl, gathering her thoughts. Killer B's presence was unusual, but his curiosity and lack of judgment gave her the rare feeling that maybe, just maybe, she could speak without fear of misunderstanding. After a long pause, she began.
"There was…someone I loved. Someone who saved me, protected me. He's powerful, misunderstood. And now…he's paying for that." Her voice softened, barely a whisper. "All he did was save me, and now he's chained, locked away by my village."
B's expression turned serious, his usual grin replaced with a look of empathy and understanding. He didn't interrupt, letting her continue at her own pace.
"Yami," she continued, her voice steady but full of sorrow, "is imprisoned for a crime that wasn't even a crime. He…he did something to save me from a forced marriage. But in the eyes of my people, they saw it as a disruption to their peace. And now, I can't go back there." She clenched her fists. "I can't just leave him. I'll find a way to free him, even if it means turning my back on everything I've ever known."
Killer B nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful as he listened to her story. The Eight-Tails hummed within him, deeply moved by her determination and heartache.
"A tale of love and pain, a choice not in vain," he murmured. "You got a lot of strength, girl, that's plain."
She offered him a small, grateful smile, feeling a bit lighter after sharing her burden. The fact that this stranger, Killer B, had listened without dismissing her pain, without treating her story as weakness, meant more than she could say.
"You know, we got our own tales of pain and perseverance," B said, his voice taking on a reflective tone. "Kumogakure, it wasn't always peace and fun. We had to fight, had to face loss, just like everyone. Sometimes, people fear what they don't understand. But that doesn't mean you gotta stop fightin' for what's right."
They finished their meal, and Rei felt a small spark of hope rekindling within her. She realized that B's words resonated with her on a deeper level, like a guiding light through the darkness she was facing.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a weight of gratitude. "I don't know where to go or who to trust, but…thank you."
Killer B gave her a thumbs-up, his grin returning. "You got it, silver lady. You got the spirit, and if you need help, just holler. Remember, even when it's dark, you got that inner fire—let it roar like thunder."
With that, Rei left the shop, her heart a little less heavy, her steps a little lighter. She'd found an ally in this strange village, a reminder that not everyone in this world would judge her or Yami for the paths they had chosen. She would continue forward, seeking anyone who could help her free Yami, knowing that, somewhere across the waves, he was waiting for her as she moved ever closer to bringing him home.