Sharp like an edge of a samurai sword, the mental blade cut through flesh and bone. Though my mind's at peace, the worlds out of order, missing the inner heat, life gets colder
A lot had changed since the last time he could stroll through the village without the worry of being sent out once more. He'd grown apart from many of his friends, but not by choice. His duties came first during that long stretch of serving not just Hidden Sound, but the clan to who he was indebted for his life. Yusuke could've gone on and on about the honor of the Uchiha, and the legacy that he was supposed to uphold in the eyes of others, but truthfully he was tired of it all. Two years had passed since the last time he'd been home for more than a couple of days, and there was nothing anybody could tell him about duty and legacy after that.
Two long years of the same old routine, and in the end, he knew that it would never be enough. There were always enemies lurking within the shadows, and the ones who chose to hunt during the day were far worse than the others. The Empire was the latter, and its soldiers were a common enemy that he faced during his time away from home. If anything he was just happy to be able to return home, especially when there were plenty of others who didn't prove as lucky as him.
He couldn't help but question if it was worth it during those solitary moments on his own. Whether it was at home in his room, or off on a stroll through the village, the thoughts trickled down into the front of his mind with increasing frequency. They'd gone out into the crucible to face down their enemy, only to find that their victories were always bittersweet in the end. Enough comrades had been lost for the fledgling Chunin to feel the despair that all warriors eventually would have to overcome, but the present time was not the right day for that occasion.
Having reached out to several of his old friends from his time at the academy, he was a bit disappointed when only one of them had decided to contact him back so far. Seeking to get his mind off the thoughts that were troubling him the past days, the two of them had planned to meet up at the old training ground they use to frequent in those days long since past. Yusuke arrived first, deviating from his usual morning stroll through the village to make his way there early. There he could be found lazing on the ground beneath a tree, his hands locked together behind his head as he pressed back against the solid oak. With his eyes loosely shut together, he allowed his mind to ease off into a light nap, patiently waiting until the familiar sound of footsteps began tapping their way closer to the field.
MADE BY VEL OF GS + WW
Last Edit: Sept 4, 2021 3:17:04 GMT by Uchiha Yūsuke
Kaede’s skin buzzed as she stumbled off the front stoop of her family’s townhouse and burst into a full on sprint. The cinnamon pastry being held in her teeth flopped around awkwardly and she ended up with a little dollop of white frosting on her nose as she tugged the sleeve of a purple sweatshirt over one arm. The girl had been a bundle of nerves last night, tossing and turning in her bed and when she finally closed her eyes they had remained that way for too long![break][break]
She’d overslept but hopefully with her rushing she could still make it in time. Yūsuke was back after two long years and they had a lot of catching up to do! It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had her own life to live but she’d never forgotten him and she’d never stopped worrying about her dear friend out there doing the really dangerous work. She was terribly fretful. What if he resented her for not going with him? His family expected so much more from him. What if she didn’t even recognize him after all he’d been through?[break][break]
Her footfalls crunched against the fallen leaves and she was there before she was really ready and there he was snoozing in the grass as if nothing had changed. Her heart skipped a beat. [break][break]
Kaede took a deep breath and cleared her throat, “Hi.” [break][break]
[attr="class","wonderFoot"]i've never seen anybody do the things you do before
Sharp like an edge of a samurai sword, the mental blade cut through flesh and bone. Though my mind's at peace, the worlds out of order, missing the inner heat, life gets colder
A single eye opened at first, his mind calling the small little nap to an end with the appearance of his friend. Yusuke couldn't help but smile when he saw who it was, rising to his feet a moment later and letting out a loud yawn as he stretched his arms into the air. His eyes focused upon Kaede once he was finished getting the laziness out of his body, and the smile on his face couldn't help but expand even further. Kaede had grown up, much like himself, but he couldn't help but marvel at just how much she still looked the same. Their academy years were the bright spot of his past, and one of the few memories that could brighten up his mood during those long days and weeks out in the field. It was a dampener on his mood when he came back to the village more isolated than ever, but Kaede had once more found a way to brighten up his day.
"Yo!"
He pushed off the tree fully, taking a few more steps until the two of them were pretty close. Yusuke looked her over, his hands shoved in his pockets as he did so. "It's kinda hard to believe that you're the same Kaede from back then. I mean, sure, you look the same...but uhh-" Yusuke paused for a moment, considering the right way to frame what he wanted to say. He smiled it off a few seconds later, taking a step back, and smiling softly. "But I'd be a shitty friend if I forgot your face in the span of two years."
Sure, he'd gotten taller over those past couple of years, but Yusuke thought he mostly looked the same. Despite standing at around six feet tall, the Uchiha's features had not changed all that much, other than a plethora of scars that lined his frame beneath his shirt. Luckily for him, those were hidden well enough to leave them as a story for another time. The last thing he wanted to do was to start their reunion off with him regaling her over his battle scars, or worse yet, worrying her about the plenty that was sure to come in the future.
MADE BY VEL OF GS + WW
Last Edit: Sept 6, 2021 18:07:20 GMT by Uchiha Yūsuke
It wasn’t until Yusuke stood up that Kaede could really tell how much taller he’d grown. His voice was a little deeper too but it was still familiar enough to inspire a hug. Overcome with joy, she jumped up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her ear against his chest for just a moment before pulling back to a more acceptable social distance.[break][break]
“Of course! I wasn’t worried.” She lied quickly. “I’m super glad you're back! I’m not going to say things were boring without you but they definitely haven’t been the same.”[break][break]
Kaede looked around the field and back at Yusuke. She wanted to ask him how the last two years had been for him but she knew better than to ask. He’d bring it up when he was ready. “So, what do you want to do now that you’re home?”
[attr="class","wonderFoot"]i've never seen anybody do the things you do before
