Sensing the White Dragon (Closed)

Part 2: Kazu-sama, where are you?

“E-Excuse me,” the small blonde murmured, reaching a hand out to tug at the side of the cloak of a tall man walking down the streets of Amegakure. She flanked him on his left side, and barely reached above his hip. Though Kazu had spent a great deal of time moving about or kneeling down during their interaction, she remembered characteristics such as his approximate height and weight with dangerous accuracy. It came with the amount of books the Genin had consumed. She was an intellectual with an insatiable curiosity. And memorizing things like the physical characteristics of a person came easy. This man in both height and build fit the bill, but the second he opened his mouth, she knew she’d stopped the wrong person.

“Whaddaya want?” the man’s voice was gruff and annoyed as he whipped around, wrinkling his nose as a few drops of rain hit his face. He looked down at the child who’d pulled at his cloak with an icy glare, waiting for a response. “Sorry,” she said, bowing her head ever so slightly as a sign of apology. “Huh?” the man huffed, scowling and cupping his ear. Clearly frustrated by the child who had tugged at his fine cloak and was far too quiet to hear over the heavy rainfall. Fumiko slowly unlatched her hand from his cloak, taking a small step backwards and maintaining eye contact with the grumpy stranger.

“Damn child,” he huffed, rubbing the edge of his cloak where her hand had just been. Grumbling about…keeping her dirty paws off, or something. Fumiko watched him in silence. Violet orbs analyzing his face, quickly coming to the conclusion that the stranger wasn’t Kazu. Breathing a soft sigh, she looked to the sky momentarily. Blinking every so often as a drop of rain hit her eyes. That was already the third one tagged by my technique, she thought with a frown. The rain was as heavy as ever, and the chakra signatures of those tagged by her technique were growing weaker and weaker as the crystal particles washed off their clothes. Soon enough she wouldn’t be able to sense anyone. He was going to get away…

“You…bitch!” the words cut through her thoughts like a sharp knife as the man snarled, an arm flying out from underneath his cloak and grabbing her by the throat. Onlookers shrieked, frightened by the sudden showing of violence. And despite the blatant size and power difference, no one dared intervene. Everything seemed to freeze in place for the brief, fleeting moment his hand gripped her throat. “You’re a pickpocket, aint’cha?!” he yelled, accusing her of something she clearly hadn’t done. Perhaps her small stature made it seem as though she was easily taken advantage of. And now that he’d made it close quarters, she didn’t stand a chance. Her gaze met his, but unlike his icy glare her face showed no emotion. No fear, and no sorrow. This only seemed to aggravate the man more, and his grip tightened as he continued to slur out angry accusations.

Ah, she could smell it now. Being held up so high had brought her just inches from his mouth, and she could smell the alcohol, heavy and bitter in his breath. She wrinkled her nose at the awful smell, which must have displeased him. But he’d already gone too far. Amongst his screaming and the rain, he hadn’t heard the small whimper that left her lips. Or the angry snake that shook and hissed beneath her cloak, coiling around her and searching for a way out.

Searching for his prey.

Abruptly Shi shot out from the front of her cloak. A golden flash quickly shielding her face from view as the inland taipan bared his fangs, striking at the man’s hand once as a warning. He screamed obscenities as he jerked his hand away, taking the eight foot long snake with him. Fumiko was thrown to the ground, her cloak shielding her backside from the wet ground. Strands of blonde hair clung to her face as she turned onto her side, gasping for air. When she finally looked up, Shi had coiled around the man’s arm. Cutting off all circulation and sinking his fangs into the man’s other arm as he struggled to yank the snake off. Which was easier said than done. Shi was extremely protective of his human partner, and the man had pissed the snake off.

“Shi, yield.” A small voice called, barely audible amongst the whispers of the crowd and the scream of pain from the man who’d assaulted her. But Shi heard her. Somehow, he always did. The snake was thrown to the ground, and he quickly coiled defensively, giving one last warning hiss as the man stumbled backward. The effects of the venom finally robbing him of his balance, and causing him to feel ill. He continued to stumble backwards until he fell into a keg of beer, left right outside a bar. And Shi quickly returned to his owner, hissing about the rain as he quickly coiled around her and beneath her cloak.

Pushing herself off the cold, wet ground, she darted off in a flash. Her strides unsteady as she struggled to balance beneath the weight of the heavy snake who was still shifting beneath her coat. He’d bitten someone! And that never ended well. She risked losing Shi, but even worse, being thrown out of Amegakure or locked away. I can’t! she thought, feeling more determined than she ever had. Ever since Umashi had taken her from Iwagakure, she’d been braver. Felt things she’d never felt. And though she still couldn’t quite describe why, or even understand it, she wanted to be by Kazu’s side. I can’t…be stopped here. I’m sorry.
In the distance she could sense two others. But the ‘signal’ was growing faint, and she was running out of time. Please let this next one be him. I’ve only got time to check one!

tags: Kurayami
ooc: ohsnap don't fuck wit da snake yo