The traveling trip that was full of fun and adventure now turned to a silent trip as Ayame and Grave's last visit in Awe Country seemed to be a more upsetting one. It seemed spirits were longing for something they could not have simply by taking others by force but coming to the conclusion they could not have what they wanted either way because of the way of getting it. Grave knew the pain from seeing spirits before in the past. But it seemed to worsen over the time period Grave sighed lightly as Ayame came from behind holding his hand. This caused Grave to break a smile from having the depression look he had before hand. Coming to the boarders of the Fire Country Grave tilted his head lightly having memories of when he came here the first time to having own brother attack him in the village for no reason before vanishing into the night. Leaving Grave beaten and confused on what to do with his own life. Thinking about it now it seemed like a dream but it allowed Grave to grow a little more and understand himself a bit so he could be able to face the hardest things in life.
Smiling back at it more now Grave thanked his brother from the bottom of his hard teaching him how to fight a little better then what he use to in battle. Ayame smiled seeing Grave's expression before she said, "So what are you going to do now mister? We have only one more place to go then we can return home and relax?" Grave turned his attention to her once more hearing the cheerfulness of her voice lighten the mood. But he thought about it about it saying, "Listen.. Ayame, after these escort missions are done I'm going to leave again as well I have someone I have to watch over for because she's someone that I met." Ayame let go of Grave's hand as she stood beside him with a small bit of depression coming across her face but she quickly placed on a fake smile saying, "Oh well we can always be friends right! Besides as long as you are happy I'm happy that's what truly matters."
Hearing the sadness in her voice Grave's own heart felt like it was being ripped out because of everything they had been through. But the feelings for Ayame were different he saw her as a sister that he could spend time together with and share stories. He never saw her as someone to marry cause of the young age they spend together. But lightly thinking of things it seemed like they had more in common than most. He smiled saying, "Though I have to say…spending time with you has been wonderful I never thought we'd actually get to be alone like this walking from country to country spending nights and days together its been quite relaxing if you tell me." With that she turned with life in her eyes smiling big as though she was wanted to cry. But she held back her tears for a moment as Grave continued walking along side her, he took her hand and smiled saying, "You know you are important to me as well though."
The words he spoke were truth for he knew that the love he had for her was a bit different than the love she had for him. But in the end it was still love that he shared with her. Something both of them could always keep and smile about knowing they were forever within each other's hearts. As they neared the location that was told in the missions of sealing it seemed like a very odd place to come to. But villagers were acting normal as though they had a daily life like everyone else. But Grave noticed something about the towns folks. They seemed like they were dead, as they showed expressions of being exhausted and weaken. Barely able to stand themselves wanting to fall over right in their graves. Taking note of the look on everyone some other were trying to take others back home but got into fights as the people did not move or just stood there looking at the person as though they had forgotten whom they were.
Coming to the Inn Grave looked around for at least one friendly fast but was startled when a man appeared behind both him and Ayame. "Excuse me?" Both of them jumped with Ayame landing in Grave's arms having a blush break across her face and Grave twitching for a small moment. But holding her in that way made her hear beat faster wanting to explode before Grave dropped to the ground saying, "You cannot be scared of the living Ayame!" Ayame landed on her butt rubbing it lightly saying, "Look who's talking!" But Grave's attention of looking at her turned to the man whom seemed to look at Grave saying, "Are you divine ones come to help us with this curse?" Grave nodded to the question of the man saying, "Yes that would be us, but what has happen to this place. Its like a town of the dead but…the energy from everyone is alive just having being pulled out of their bodies it seems." The young man pointed to a sit for them as Grave helped Ayame she sat beside Grave watching the young man whom explained saying, "Its because of the fact that…well an evil spirit seems to be invading everyone's sleep causing these dreams that absorb ones strength so the people get reckless and weak and start not wanting to do anything like the dead. But they hardly move or anything some have actually just dropped over in the middle of the streets." Grave sighed pulling Ayame's hand towards his worrying for her safety.
She took note of the hand gesture and froze with a red line breaking across her face. Before long the young shinobi looked at the male saying, "So tell me something did this all start because of something coming into or around the village or anything strange for that matter." The young male thought about of it for a moment before saying lightly, "Some of our priest at the temple acted strangely to an object they had uncovered calling it some savior to everyone. You have to just ask them yourself though, they have not allowed anyone into the temple for awhile now. I'm unsure why this is actually." Grave took that as a shock as priests are suppose to put the people before them first anything else. It would seem that the temple was the reason for everything as Grave stood up getting ready to walk out. "Thank you we should be able to handle everything from here let's get going Ayame so we can return home after this."
Grave smiled at her as she stood up bowing to the young male as they took note as to where the temple was. Finding the red gate ways was a dead giveaway though it took several minutes to find cause of a different village layout then some of the others they had been to. As both of Grave and Ayame traveled up the stairs to reach the top they had been stopped by several guards whom had been guarding the location. Grave explained everything to them allowing them to pass as they came closer to the temple walls. They both felt a strange aura that seemed to eerie. As they reached the object that was causing the aura to be violent and causing people to be sick Grave talked to a priest about the objecting saying it belonged to the founder of the temple but it seemed to causing others to become more drained of life when it was suppose to give those a peaceful night and blessing their life force. Grave stood back having Ayame to study it for a bit before coming back saying, "That's not an item we should keep it seems the seal on it has been messed it. No telling when but the item is cursing everything instead of blessing in a way."
Ayame sat down and began working on her sealing technique to place over the item that way it could cause the curse to vanish allowing the priest to move it without fear. Seeing as the seal tags quickly attached to it Ayame started to perform the chant. The dark aura was starting to get pulled into another tag that was blank sealing it to allow others to move it. Grave smiled noting that things were going smoothly which meant the final mission was coming to a close as Ayame finally sealed the dark aura away she smiled at Grave, picking up the tag to seal it within a box. Walking over to her, "So everything done?" She nodded saying, "Yes everything is completed and we can finally head home for once we don't have to worry about anymore missions." Nodding to that last statement Grave got ready to get his things set up as well. But they were stopped as someone from Hikari appeared before them only Grave knew of them it seemed that it was something about Kumo. "Sir Grave I've finally found you, its been a while I figured I'd get the chance to catch you."
Grave looked at the young man before nodding wondering what was wrong, "what's up?" Grave looked at him as the young explained everything of the forces in Oto Country were aiming to attack Kumo's forces for some odd reason. Though it was believed the enemy forces were to be followers of a shinobi that had gone rouge. Sighing to this note Grave quickly too everyone somewhere quiet as Ayame was blinking wonder what was going on as they were hiding in the woods now. Grave sighed telling everyone, "Okay so what is this all about Akeno?" The young boy explained once again and ended with, "Your grandfather believed it was in your upmost importance to take on this mission and protect the people or aid the Kumo shinobi as you are still one yourself sir." Sighing to this he agreed to that as he placed his hand on the ground after making several seals saying, "Open"
The dark spiral opened taking them into the world of Limbo only having them float down slowly to the white sands.
As they were confused for a moment before Grave explained to them it was a technique. "Now… I'm going to take you both back to Hikari and Ayame…tell grandfather I'm going to handle this personally okay?" Smiling at that Grave placed his hand in the air having another portal spiral open kicking them out so they'd be safe as it closed slowly having Grave wave goodbye to them allowing him to go back and deal with the other mission. As he had to begin his next Mission that may prove to be a bit risky if he was not careful enough.
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