Messenger Bird
It was late - or rather, incredibly early - as Tobirama meditated at the ocean's edge. What better time to experiment with the extent of water bending then under the light of the full moon? He allowed himself to be swept away by the ebb and flow of it's silvery chi, the ocean's dark energy curling up in response.
Tobirama was no longer in his body, it felt like. When he breathed, the world breathed. A guiding hand, the gentle crest of a wave of chi, and Tobirama could feel the ocean, the little drops of water in the air, even the water the pulsed through his own veins as well as those of the flora and fauna around him. Perhaps now, he could......
He slid a thin knife from where it lay hidden in his sleeve, drawing it over his arm with a steady hand. Tobirama set the blade aside and placed a hand over the cut. A gentle breath and a careful nudge at the water in his body, and the cut had healed. Significantly less steady, he placed the same hand over his eyes.
A soothing sort of coolness washed through him, like the gentle spatter of rain in the late spring. His hand lowered and he opened his eyes, smiling as he gazed upon the moon with clear vision.
"The both of you helped me." He stated, extending a leg for the foamy waves to lap at. "Thank you."
A single wave, rising particularly far, engulfed the area where Tobirama sat. When it drew back into the depths, he was perfectly dry.
With a laugh on his lips, the kind that hadn't graced his being in decades, the albino fell back onto the sand. Heart lighter than it had been in years, he fell asleep.
Tui withdrew her light from the mortal world, resting upon her wife's shoulder. "Such a sweet thing he is. I think I'll be quite distressed when his soul returns to where it belongs."
La kissed her beloved on the temple, plush dark lips contrasting in the most lovely way with the moon's own silvery skin. "As will I. Everyone up here's rather fond of him. What a clever one."
"He is." Tui laughed, batting away the striped sea krait that tried to coil around her throat. "That tickles! La, don't do that without a warning!"
The ocean laughed in turn, brushing a webbed hand over Tui's cheek while the scaly coils atop her head shifted. "Right, sorry dear. May I?"
The moon tilted her head to kiss La's palm. "Go ahead."
Tobirama would awake to something poking his cheek. Feeling out with his chi, he smiled at the familiar signature. When he squinted his eyes open, he had to do a double-take. "Huh." He stated, rather bluntly one might add. "I expected you to look at little meaner."
Suki scrunched up her nose, poking him again for good measure. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tobirama yawned and sat up. "Absolutely nothing. The better question is why you're accosting me at this unholy hour of the morning?"
Suki blinked slowly. "..... it's almost nine. At night. You've been gone the whole day."
The albino cast a thankful look towards the tree that shielded him from Agni's light. "Oh. I guess I needed the sleep."
Suki eyed him in a way a little to pointed to be strictly polite. "Yeah, probably." She settled on with a shrug. "But it also means that not only did you miss dinner at the Captain's, but you haven't eaten at all today."
Tobirama had to think for an extended period, mind still slow from sleep. When the realization did dawn on him, however, he's sure his face contorted into something extreme because Suki doubled over laughing.
"What kind of flowers do you want at your funeral?" The young warrior asked once she was able to speak again.
Tobirama shook his head. "I don't think I'll be getting a funeral."
Suki snickered, pulling him to his feet. "Come on. If we get over there quick enough, she might settle for stuffing you with the steamed buns we both know she kept warm."
He sighed, resigning himself to his fate.
A few days later, Tobirama would awake to a familiar rabbit perched on his chest.
"Ōkuninushi." He stated, bland. "Why are you here, exactly?"
The rabbit blinked moments before a disturbingly deep voice spoke in his head. "You're clever. Trivialities aside, you seem to have healed your eyes."
Tobirama stared for a moment longer, processing what he had just heard. "Yes, I did."
Ōkuninushi nodded, seemingly to himself. "Very well. I will I form Seishū of this development. You will likely be permitted to leave the island within the week."
With those final words, the rabbit jumped out of the window. Tobirama sighed, standing to get ready for the day.
As Ōkuninushi had said, Seishū had found him not long later, saying that after a few final tests, he'd be released from medical care and free to do as he pleased. The only part worrying him now would be how Suki and Captain Hua would act.
He shuddered.
"Now you're certain you have enough money? We'd be plenty happy to send you off with more...." said the woman fretting over him.
Tobirama smiled. "I'm sure, Captain. I'll be fine."
She huffed and passed him a pleasant-smelling bento wrapped in a blue furoshiki. "Some hot food for the road - Suki made you some onigiri as well."
Just as Tobirama took it, the aforementioned girl barreled into him, face in his chest. "You jerk. Make sure you visit, alright?"
Tobirama hummed, his free hand ruffling her hair. Suki couldn't even find it in her to protest. He kissed her forehead, hugged Captain Hua, and stepped aboard the merchant vessel that would take him east across the Unagi Sea to the port City of Anyang.
The ride over was, thankfully, rather calm. Clouds dotted the sky, preventing the light from being too harsh, though they cleared away not long after nightfall. Seated on the deck of the wooden ship, Tobirama bit into one of the steamed buns - lotus leaf, it tasted like - and hummed to himself. Perhaps he should invest in a messenger bird.
The ship made port early that morning. Perhaps it was some form of cruel irony, but Tobirama was met with a furious flurry of black feathers the moment he stepped off the ship. After some struggle, the mass of feathers was revealed to be a raven - not a monitor raven-lizzard or even a crab-raven, just a raven.
The offending bird seemed to take great joy in pulling at his hair and ears, leaving his pack completely alone. Small mercies, he supposed. It was only after Tobirama had made it out of the city that the bird - wich Tobirama had quickly decided he wanted to strangle - perched itself on a branch to stare in a way that could only be judgemental, feathers fluffing up in a way that seemed vaugely familiar.
It titled it's head to the side and-
"Well it took you long enough, for Amaterasu's sake. Your pale ass is a bitch to find, you know that?"
Now, ravens possess an incredible mimickery skill, beyond that of even parrots. So this whole ordeal would have been only mildly strange, if it weren't for the voice the bird used.
"..... Izuna?"
The bird squawked, sarcasm oozing from it's beak. "Oh how honored I am, to have you remember me."
Tobirama blinked then coughed into his hand with no small amount of awkwardness. "Uh, sorry for killing you?"
Izuna(?) flared his wings. "That's where your mind goes? It was a war, moron. No, what I'm angry about is that damn jutsu you used! It's been years and I still can't figure it out!"
That was...... relieving? "I can...... explain it to you? Okay, I'm sorry but are you who's 'supposed to help me?' And why are you a bird?"
Izuna puffed up. Vaugely, Tobirama wondered how soft his feathers were. "I wish I knew. My running theory is that my soul just found an unoccupied body when I was pulled here, very rudely I might add. And what's this about helping you? I'm pretty sure that ain't me."
Tobirama hummed. "You talk more than I remember. Regardless, do you know why you're here?"
Izuna fluttered down to his shoulder. "Ever since you killed me, my soul has been bound to yours. Real bullshit, but at least I've gotten used to you. Do you have real food on you? I'm going to die if I eat another worm."
Tobirama regarded Izuna for a moment before nodding and digging around in his sachel for his bento. "I've got a couple onigiri."
Izuna happily took a rice ball - shaped into a little rabbit - and held it in place with a foot while he picked at it. "Damn, this is good."
Tobirama nodded. "Suki likes making them. Just don't get rice in my hair."
There was somewhat of an affirmative sound as he continued walking. Once Izuna finished the onigiri, Tobirama spoke again.
"Who do you think might have been sent here." He asked while ducking around a low hanging branch.
Izuna clicked his beak. "Not a clue, but it'll be fine as long as it's not your log-headed brother. No offense."
Tobirama hummed, shrugging as much as he could with Izuna on his shoulder. "None taken." There was a pregnant pause. "What if it's your brother."
The bird cackled. "Oh, that would be brilliant."
A sigh. "Shut up."
"Shutting up now."