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Post by atalanta on Apr 7, 2006 16:31:44 GMT -5
Mesheiko's foot stepped back when Midori embraced stepped, a little startled. He didn't know she had gotten so attached. Come to think about, he didn't realize he had gotten so attached, either, until that moment. He wasn't sure if they'd ever see one another again. They hadn't been around each other too long, but yet the parting was so painful.
Mesheiko rested his hands on her shoulders, his mind replaying everything that had happened. First coming to the forest, the firebenders, the birth of Tarak, arriving in Kei Lan, the sour inkeeper, and entering Bai Seng Sei. He had met many during this time, more friends than enemies, but he and Midori had gone through most (if not all) of it together. And now, to part was quite a sorrowful event.
He pulled away from Midori for a moment, getting an idea. The necklace, it was meant for veterans, but..he wouldn't be one anymore. What was the point of keeping it? Mesheiko grabbed the beads around his neck, and pulled the necklace from out of his shirt.
He pulled the necklace off his throat and over his head, and grabbed Midori's wrist. He folded her fingers out gently, and then placed the necklace onto her palm.
"Here," said Mesheiko, knowing not what else to say.
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Post by midori on Apr 7, 2006 17:45:59 GMT -5
Midori's eyes darted to the beaded necklace that Mesheiko had placed in her hand. Its beads were different shades of green, arranged in a pattern, with a charm of the Earth Kingdom symbol dangling from it. Quickly, Midori wiped her eyes, and her mouth curled into a small smile. It was very kind of Mesheiko to give the necklace to her, and even though this goodbye still felt painful, she couldn’t help but continue her smile as she felt the necklace’s weight. She would have protested, insisting Mesheiko should keep it, but it would have been rude, and she did want the necklace… just so she wouldn’t forget.
“Thank you.” She said simply with a shy grin. A slight redness crept into Midori’s cheeks as she gripped the necklace firmly in her hand, but it was easily covered up by the heat and her face’s natural flush. Midori brought the necklace close to her and lifted it above her head, slipping it over and letting it rest against her neck. Her fingers wrapped around the earth insignia, and she realized that she didn’t have anything to give him. She sighed as her eyes drifted to Mesheiko, then Kurosai, who was waiting for them. Midori didn’t want to leave, it felt too soon, but she was keeping them.
“I suppose I need to be going then.” Midori said, admitting defeat. She smiled at Mesheiko again, her bright eyes observing him for maybe the last time. “Don’t forget me, okay?”
The tearful sensation threatened to unnerve her again, so, determined to leave on a positive note, Midori turned and began a slow stride out of the city.
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Post by kurosai on Apr 29, 2006 15:51:22 GMT -5
Kurosai watched as Midori headed off and glanced back at Mesheiko. "I'll ask again, are you sure you want to do this? I won't accept any regrets once you join. I don't need weak men distracted by other troubles either." Without waiting for an answer, he began walking in the opposite direction towards the palace. Assuming Mesheiko confirmed his decision and followed, Kurosai began to inform him about the preliminary exam.
"I'll test your hand-to-hand and weapons combat abilities first, then your earthbending skill. Once both those tests are complete, you'll have to make it through an obstacle course I designed. If you're lacking in any of these areas, you can either quit or endure my tutoring sessions. I can tell you right now that just because we were in the same division doesn't mean you'll get any mercy from me." He finished coldly as they drew closer to the palace, "Expect to get hurt."
"Speaking of mercy... if you're going to be in my division you'll need to lose that trait entirely. I don't need some firebender coming back to burn us in the rear because you felt sorry for him. We go for the kill now, got it?" Kurosai had noticed how Mesheiko and others in his division had always tried to deal nonlethal blows if possible, so he wasn't about to take any chances. No, if he was going to rejoin the army, then he'd do so as a proper soldier. One who's ruthless towards his enemies.
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Post by krishna on May 30, 2006 12:55:28 GMT -5
The General strode proudly through the streets of the capital while leading his mass of soldiers. It was not the entire Army, obviously, only one thousand men or so. But still, the entire mass of men in green marching as one intimidated many of the citizens of Ba Seng Sei.
He looked up and noticed two young women conversing at their window, giggling and pointing toward the soldiers. Krishna nodded his head a bit, and winked at them. The two young women caught sight of this, the soldiers' laughing at their general's actions, and blushed and shut the window. Krishna shrugged, and dug the heels of his boots into the sides of his emu.
Coming upon a gathering of people, Krishna wondered what all the fuss could be about. Surely the people knew enough to move out of the way when there was over a thousand men coming? Apparently not, since the taller, more confident of the two men continued to ramble. He noticed that man's skill in Earthbending, his words about the army..why, he was one of Krishna's own men!
"Captain Kurosai!" came the warm greeting from the general. He dismounted from the emu, handing the reins to the beast to one of his men. He shook the captain's hand, then called out to the onlookers, "Get out of here, every last one of you!" When only a few left, the soldiers called, "Show some respect for the General of the Earth Kingdom Army!" That certainly scattered the crowd, all aside from the young man Kurosai was talking to.
The General lowered his voice a little. "Captain Kurosai, I need you to take some of your men and head the Fire Nation soldiers off at the west. They're eating away at our western border." Then, out of curiosity, he turned to face the young man that Kurosai was having a conversation with earlier. Strong, sturdy, young, and from Kurosai's earlier words, probably an Earthbender. The captain had better have been recruiting this one.
"You, boy, why are you here in the capital, talking to Captain Kurosai, and why do you have an emu?" Krishna said, feeling that was all that was necessary to know for now.
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Post by atalanta on May 30, 2006 14:16:17 GMT -5
Mesheiko was stunned by the sudden appearance of the Earth Kingdom General. Yes, he had heard that troops were coming to the capital, but he doubted that they would pass through here. He hardly suspected that the General would come near, let alone speak to him. Mesheiko had to take a moment to actually figure out the meaning of the words that had been spoken to him.
"I..I'm here because a lady friend and I decided to visit. Kurosai came over to me; I used to be in the Army, but I quit not a while ago. We were in the same division, and he recognized me. I'm rejoining, General Krishna sir."
"I have Banshee, the emu, here because I ran into him on my travels. His rider was half-dead by the time I reached the pair. He told me to take the emu. The man's dead now." Mesheiko said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Krishna nodded, and smiled a bit at his "lady friend". It was fairly believable. He seemed a bit young to be a veteran, but any man was needed these days. The Fire Nation was steadily advancing on them, and even with the Avatar on their side, they still seemed to be losing. "Very well then. Take your emu and get into the ranks. The recruiter's in there somewhere."
Mesheiko's eyes brightened, and he mounted Banshee. He guided the bewildered emu into the numbers of soldiers. An older man on foot, not wearing any armor but wearing plenty of Earth Kingdom insignia, approached the pair and said "Are you the young man General Krishna was referring to?"
"Yes, sir, I believe I was."
"Well, then, what division were you in earlier?" Mesheiko racked his memory for a moment, trying to remember just which division it was. "The 19th,"
"Did you like it?" The man said. Mesheiko couldn't read his expression. "Yes," he said, grabbing Banshee's reins tightly. "Then you will be reassigned to it. Welcome back to the Army, young sir." replied the elder man, shaking Mesheiko's hand. Mesheiko couldn't believe it; he was back.
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