JUSTICE

[ breakfast chat / OPEN. ]

SEND ‘☕️’, THEY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT KEEPS THEM GOING AND LIVING.

The kunoichi takes a solemn sip from her cup, gaze fixated on the hot tea she had prepared before her departure. Still, it’s question with a heavy weight behind it-- such a strange prompt from out of nowhere too. . .

   “My students are more than enough for me to keep on going. They need proper guidance and reassurance, preparation to face this. . .violent world.”

She sighs, leaning back in her chair with a contemplative frown on her face.

Date Fee: $20

Customer Comments: “This was a mistake. (Male in late 20s)”

“Killing ‘em is the easy way,” He looked up for a brief moment, eyeing her less than pleased expression, before going right back to his mess of paper, “…But…My gran used to tell my ma and dad this whenever they started complaining about this sort of thing, ‘If you want to see change in the world, then be that change.’  I was too young back then to know what it meant, but now I know how wise the old lady was.”

A veteran kunoichi of Uzushio, she had never been the type to tolerate complaining. As far as she was concerned, if someone had enough breath left in their body to complain about something, they could be working on changing whatever it was they had a problem with instead. It had been a frustrating thing for a ten-year-old to grasp, but nevertheless good advice in such a world as theirs.

“If it’s botherin’ you that much, change it. Become a politician or whatever and make things become different. And don’t let anybody try to make you think you can’t.”

   “Believe me, I AM trying. I’m not exactly someone privileged enough in my village to go around preaching, though. I’d probably be killed for it,” She frowns. That fact alone is something she’s trying very hard to change within Takigakure, but so far, the process had been slow. Far too slow.

How many other people with their ideals had been killed? When would there even be the slightest change? As much as she wants to see change, Yoshiko fears for her life like any other person as well. Becoming a needless martyr wouldn’t do anyone any good.

   “My parents were killed for even daring to be different from the man my village hated. I’m sure the same injustices are going on in many more places. Things like this? They can’t fall in a day, too many people have this prejudice ingrained in their minds.”

Yoshiko folds her arms, fingers tapping against them as she sits in a comfortable silence to think. But her expression softens, and inevitably, she gives in.

“Then tell me, little miss coward, what would you call what you’re doing right now? Are you being kind? Or gentle? Because all I can see is one big fat flaming fucking hypocrite.”

Her voice emerged as black ice from her throat, edge tipped and smooth. It could have been pretty, if only it wasn’t so cold.

Humans were imperfect creatures, and there was no escaping from that fact. Minami was resigned to it at this point. She’d met many an idiot in the past, had played the role of jester herself, and knew there was little she could do. Trying to argue with Yoshiko was a fool’s errand — words wouldn’t mean much here.

“Yes, I have. If you don’t shut the fuck up, you’ll see it for yourself.”

   “I don’t have to be kind to SCUM like you!”

Her temper, a weakness of hers, the vitriol she has towards criminals and murderers, ESPECIALLY towards Kirigakure shinobi, is large enough to take over. Without thinking, she finds herself moving forward and a hardened fist finds it’s way aiming towards Minami’s cheek.

   “Morality isn’t so simple in a world like this,” She sighs. But what he had said was true, even if it wasn’t something she liked to hear. Yoshiko never wants to stoop to their level, the last thing this world needs is another killer.

Still though, she can’t make progress if she can’t abandon her humanity to get rid of those who lack it. They won’t stop with words alone, and deep down, she knows this.