Snippet Dump: ATF (Naruto) and TRC
Because I'm itching to post something, even if it's not complete. Maybe it will make me feel a little more accomplished.
First, snippets from Chapter 18 of After the Falls. This chapter is really challenging: pretty much all dialogue and introspection. Hopefully it gives both exposition and character development. If anyone is reading, feedback on the character depiction is appreciated.
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[...] He twirled a piece of dango at the end of a stick distractedly over his empty miso bowl, his brush of gray hair slightly drooping, and felt every moment of his twenty-seven years. It couldn't have been an accident that he was assigned Naruto and Sasuke (though, he’s ready to believe it’s some sort of cosmic joke), and the expectations of ghosts has weighed on his slim shoulders ever since. He’s made mistakes left and right, and very nearly failed irreparably when Sasuke defected to the Sound. And now he bore the responsibility of unraveling the mysteries of the Sharingan-a gift not by blood, but by obligation-and be enough of an expert to entice Sasuke to stay. Or, at the very least, teach him enough to control it and hope some values can be instilled in him along the way.
Kakashi frowned under his mask. He told Sakura and Sasuke about Naruto's trip that afternoon (though he kept Naruto's condition sufficiently vague) and Sasuke didn't seem too happy about it. Whether it was Naruto's or Jiraiya's absence that caused the boy's reaction, he wasn't sure, but either way, he'll need to be vigilant.
And Naruto...he's been a complete wild card since day one. Kakashi's mind wandered to a memory of the Kyuubi, seared into him over a decade ago. He'd never disrespected its power, but with Naruto's irascible optimism and resolve, somehow he allowed faith to creep in. It clouded his eyes and missed the early symptoms. Again. What could I have done? What could I have done differently? In practicality, Kakashi knew he can't do everything, (far from it), but it still stung knowing that the only way he could help was to let him go. What if--
In an instant, his trained senses reeled in his thoughts and he was on alert: there was someone behind him. [...]
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Next is probably the longest no-action-dialogue scene in the whole story. Ack! Nervous!
===========================
A few blocks away, two other legends sat at a diner with a spread reminiscent of their reunion not so many months ago. Tsunade ate her food distractedly. There were precious few people left to whom she can drop her Hokage status and she was bothered by the urgent pressure to talk to Jiraiya. Across the table, Jiraiya regarded his long-time friend with a slight twinkle in his eye. Remembering how the old girl had adamantly refused responsibility, he marveled at how much she’s shouldered since and, while it hasn’t been exactly smooth sailings, he’s more confident than ever that he differed the offer to the right person. Not that selfish motivations didn’t have anything to do with it, but he really was better suited for other things. This time, though, with an extra child to watch over (and a Hyuuga of all people), it may prove to be more challenging than usual.
“So you’ve cleared it with the Hyuuga?” Jiraiya asked. He swilled his sake bottle agitatedly, his cheeks slightly flushed.
Tsunade downed the contents of her cup. “Aa. I’ve informed Hiashi of the trip, but didn’t give any details. Hiashi can legitimately not answer to the others if he’s questioned.”
Jiraiya grunted in approval. “Damn family’s all backwards.”
“You know they’re not the only ones. But they are the only ones who could’ve helped.” Jiraiya snorted incredulously and Tsunade drew her brows in. “Don’t give the boy a hard time.” Like a petulant child, the toad sannin turned his face away and pouted.
They were silent, and Tsunade studied the empty cup in her hands.
“Thanks for doing this.”
”Hm?” Jiraiya shifted his eyes towards Tsunade and waited.
“I wish there was more in the archives, but there’s hardly any documentation for anything related to souls. Even with Neji-kun’s help, I can’t do much with it without an extremely high risk of failure.”
Jiraiya’s expression softened and he faced his old friend. “There’s no helping it, right?” he said with a smile to counter her frown. “Messing with human souls is forbidden in the Leaf; naturally they wouldn’t keep study material lying around for idiots wanting to…” He trailed off. “Besides, my wandering feet were getting restless. Always glad for an excuse to travel!” His forced cheer settled into a heavy, uncomfortable silence between them. Tsunade refilled her cup.
“Tampering with the soul is best left to the gods,” she said in lieu of the unspoken topic hanging between them. She sipped her sake. Jiraiya, however, had just enough to drink to loosen his tongue and let out a humorless chuckle.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if we found what we needed at Orochimaru’s?”
Tsunade stared at him as if that was the most unfunny thing she’s ever heard, but she spared him the reprimand. “He needs three years?”
Two years and three-quarter years, Jiraiya didn’t say. “Yup.”
“And the Akatusuki needs three years.”
“More or less.”
Tsunade leaned forward just a little playfully. “Seems a bit convenient, doesn’t it?”
Taking the bait, Jiraiya bristled slightly and crossed his arms defensively. “My sources are reliable. I’m just telling you how it is.”
“Hmm.” Tsunade hummed thoughtfully. “That’ll give us more time.” She felt her heart quicken as the sense of urgency tugged at Tsunade. Say it now.
“You know,” she started a little awkwardly, “it might come down to creating a jutsu involving...” She felt a warm, comforting hand wrap around her fingers across the table. She didn’t pull away.
“I know,” Jiraiya finished, sparing her from voicing her thoughts. He squeezed her hand and withdrew respectfully. Tsunade, however, couldn’t let the topic drop.
“I know if anyone had to, or even could, it would be you, but…” Tsunade searched for the words…
“Just make sure it's not a forbidden jutsu.”
Jiraiya pours more sake for the both of them and doesn’t answer.
“And if you do,” Tsunade looked at him sternly, “make sure you come home first.”
She braced herself for the theatric grin and tease, but he surprised her with a quiet, lopsided smile.
“I wouldn't want to keep Princess waiting for her prince.” He gestured with his cup.
“Idiot.” But she smiled back.
They raised their cups.
===========================
Finally, I’ve been working on a collection of vignettes of Fai and Kurogane in Yama (inspired, of course, by Ontogenesis’ Lost in Translation). I don’t want it to be formatted like a drabble collection (people stop reading after a while) but I haven’t written enough to figure out how to format the collection in a cohesive way. Anyway, here’s one tentatively categorized under the ‘War” section.
===========================
Fai knew the moment he saw Yasha on the field that he was a construct of a wish made reality by a feather. He had better magical acuity than Mokona (though for his own reasons allowed the creature to be the beacon for all things magical) and knew the same way he knew the extent of Seishirou’s powers and that Shaoran was more than meets the eye. But Fai chose not to tell Kurogane, feigned surprise when Ashura made her final wish, partly because it was pointless obtaining the feather without the kids, but more so because he didn’t want to spoil the ninja’s fun on the battlefield by turning his mind back to the mission.
First, snippets from Chapter 18 of After the Falls. This chapter is really challenging: pretty much all dialogue and introspection. Hopefully it gives both exposition and character development. If anyone is reading, feedback on the character depiction is appreciated.
===========================
[...] He twirled a piece of dango at the end of a stick distractedly over his empty miso bowl, his brush of gray hair slightly drooping, and felt every moment of his twenty-seven years. It couldn't have been an accident that he was assigned Naruto and Sasuke (though, he’s ready to believe it’s some sort of cosmic joke), and the expectations of ghosts has weighed on his slim shoulders ever since. He’s made mistakes left and right, and very nearly failed irreparably when Sasuke defected to the Sound. And now he bore the responsibility of unraveling the mysteries of the Sharingan-a gift not by blood, but by obligation-and be enough of an expert to entice Sasuke to stay. Or, at the very least, teach him enough to control it and hope some values can be instilled in him along the way.
Kakashi frowned under his mask. He told Sakura and Sasuke about Naruto's trip that afternoon (though he kept Naruto's condition sufficiently vague) and Sasuke didn't seem too happy about it. Whether it was Naruto's or Jiraiya's absence that caused the boy's reaction, he wasn't sure, but either way, he'll need to be vigilant.
And Naruto...he's been a complete wild card since day one. Kakashi's mind wandered to a memory of the Kyuubi, seared into him over a decade ago. He'd never disrespected its power, but with Naruto's irascible optimism and resolve, somehow he allowed faith to creep in. It clouded his eyes and missed the early symptoms. Again. What could I have done? What could I have done differently? In practicality, Kakashi knew he can't do everything, (far from it), but it still stung knowing that the only way he could help was to let him go. What if--
In an instant, his trained senses reeled in his thoughts and he was on alert: there was someone behind him. [...]
===========================
Next is probably the longest no-action-dialogue scene in the whole story. Ack! Nervous!
===========================
A few blocks away, two other legends sat at a diner with a spread reminiscent of their reunion not so many months ago. Tsunade ate her food distractedly. There were precious few people left to whom she can drop her Hokage status and she was bothered by the urgent pressure to talk to Jiraiya. Across the table, Jiraiya regarded his long-time friend with a slight twinkle in his eye. Remembering how the old girl had adamantly refused responsibility, he marveled at how much she’s shouldered since and, while it hasn’t been exactly smooth sailings, he’s more confident than ever that he differed the offer to the right person. Not that selfish motivations didn’t have anything to do with it, but he really was better suited for other things. This time, though, with an extra child to watch over (and a Hyuuga of all people), it may prove to be more challenging than usual.
“So you’ve cleared it with the Hyuuga?” Jiraiya asked. He swilled his sake bottle agitatedly, his cheeks slightly flushed.
Tsunade downed the contents of her cup. “Aa. I’ve informed Hiashi of the trip, but didn’t give any details. Hiashi can legitimately not answer to the others if he’s questioned.”
Jiraiya grunted in approval. “Damn family’s all backwards.”
“You know they’re not the only ones. But they are the only ones who could’ve helped.” Jiraiya snorted incredulously and Tsunade drew her brows in. “Don’t give the boy a hard time.” Like a petulant child, the toad sannin turned his face away and pouted.
They were silent, and Tsunade studied the empty cup in her hands.
“Thanks for doing this.”
”Hm?” Jiraiya shifted his eyes towards Tsunade and waited.
“I wish there was more in the archives, but there’s hardly any documentation for anything related to souls. Even with Neji-kun’s help, I can’t do much with it without an extremely high risk of failure.”
Jiraiya’s expression softened and he faced his old friend. “There’s no helping it, right?” he said with a smile to counter her frown. “Messing with human souls is forbidden in the Leaf; naturally they wouldn’t keep study material lying around for idiots wanting to…” He trailed off. “Besides, my wandering feet were getting restless. Always glad for an excuse to travel!” His forced cheer settled into a heavy, uncomfortable silence between them. Tsunade refilled her cup.
“Tampering with the soul is best left to the gods,” she said in lieu of the unspoken topic hanging between them. She sipped her sake. Jiraiya, however, had just enough to drink to loosen his tongue and let out a humorless chuckle.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if we found what we needed at Orochimaru’s?”
Tsunade stared at him as if that was the most unfunny thing she’s ever heard, but she spared him the reprimand. “He needs three years?”
Two years and three-quarter years, Jiraiya didn’t say. “Yup.”
“And the Akatusuki needs three years.”
“More or less.”
Tsunade leaned forward just a little playfully. “Seems a bit convenient, doesn’t it?”
Taking the bait, Jiraiya bristled slightly and crossed his arms defensively. “My sources are reliable. I’m just telling you how it is.”
“Hmm.” Tsunade hummed thoughtfully. “That’ll give us more time.” She felt her heart quicken as the sense of urgency tugged at Tsunade. Say it now.
“You know,” she started a little awkwardly, “it might come down to creating a jutsu involving...” She felt a warm, comforting hand wrap around her fingers across the table. She didn’t pull away.
“I know,” Jiraiya finished, sparing her from voicing her thoughts. He squeezed her hand and withdrew respectfully. Tsunade, however, couldn’t let the topic drop.
“I know if anyone had to, or even could, it would be you, but…” Tsunade searched for the words…
“Just make sure it's not a forbidden jutsu.”
Jiraiya pours more sake for the both of them and doesn’t answer.
“And if you do,” Tsunade looked at him sternly, “make sure you come home first.”
She braced herself for the theatric grin and tease, but he surprised her with a quiet, lopsided smile.
“I wouldn't want to keep Princess waiting for her prince.” He gestured with his cup.
“Idiot.” But she smiled back.
They raised their cups.
===========================
Finally, I’ve been working on a collection of vignettes of Fai and Kurogane in Yama (inspired, of course, by Ontogenesis’ Lost in Translation). I don’t want it to be formatted like a drabble collection (people stop reading after a while) but I haven’t written enough to figure out how to format the collection in a cohesive way. Anyway, here’s one tentatively categorized under the ‘War” section.
===========================
Fai knew the moment he saw Yasha on the field that he was a construct of a wish made reality by a feather. He had better magical acuity than Mokona (though for his own reasons allowed the creature to be the beacon for all things magical) and knew the same way he knew the extent of Seishirou’s powers and that Shaoran was more than meets the eye. But Fai chose not to tell Kurogane, feigned surprise when Ashura made her final wish, partly because it was pointless obtaining the feather without the kids, but more so because he didn’t want to spoil the ninja’s fun on the battlefield by turning his mind back to the mission.