This Woman's Work

❝  For a star to be born, there is one thing that must happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse. So collapse. Crumble. This is not your destruction. This is your birth.  ☄️

— Kaekō Atsushi — Fandomless OC — Penned by Boo-mun

RP INFO  |  VERSES  |  MUSE INFO

『☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ』 ── ASTRA KNEW THAT THE LIGHTNING WOULD CALL TO LIGHTNING AND SHE KEPT HERSELF GROUNDED AS IT STREAKED ACROSS THE SKY–BUT WHAT SHE WASN’T EXPECTING WAS FOR THE OTHER TO USE HERSELF AS A CHANNEL, CIRCULATING THE LIGHTNING WITHIN HERSELF, TEASING THE EDGES OF ASTRA’S OWN AURA WITH IT.

ON THE LAST TIME, SHE DIDN’T LET HER PULL AWAY, AND WITH A GRIN, HER GLOVED HAND PRESSED AGAINST HERS AND THE CHANNEL BETWEEN THEM OPENED. THE ENERGY ITSELF FLOWED THROUGH THEM EXCITEDLY, LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE TO GO. SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ASTRA KNEW, WAS DANGEROUS, BUT SHE’D DONE IT ENOUGH WITH HER OWN BROTHER THAT IT WAS SECOND NATURE TO HER.

KEEP READING

The serene expression on Kaeko’s face turned quickly to enthrallment when Astra connected with her. She’d never felt such a sensation before. The raw connection made her emotional enough that her eyes began to well with tears. Even so, her lips were stuck in a wide grin as she processed what was happening between them. Kaeko began to giggle uncontrollably when Astra smiled back at her.

“I can imagine!” she exclaimed when Astra commented on how her brother used to love this type of thing. Lightning called to Kaeko naturally and even she was enthralled by this experience! Someone who did not have this rare gift would probably feel immensely powerful being able to feel what Kaeko was feeling. The excitement lingered even after the connection was broken, leaving Kaeko with a giddy feeling in her gut. She looked at her own hands in awe, thinking she might have just learned something new from Astra within mere minutes of meeting her.

Her gaze found itself on Astra's face again. She was wary of recounting her family history, for they had impressed the importance of modesty upon her all the way back down to her youth. It was a core lesson she’d learned and held onto even after their massacre. However, Astra was like her, so… she’d probably never meet a safer person to talk through the truth with.

Kaeko smiled, nodded, said, “I'd love to grab some food.” How long had it been since she’d been in good, safe, comfortable company? She’d been on her own long enough to forget what it feels like to matter to someone. She’d hidden her gifts well enough to forget what it feels like to be special. No more of that.

Now, she could be herself again… granted Astra accepted who Kaeko had grown to become. Although… if she didn’t, if Astra desired something different, Kaeko had a feeling she’d change accordingly. It was too rare to meet someone like herself. Kaeko couldn’t squander the opportunity to bond over anything. She was worried that Astra would judge her the ways her own brother had judged her before he left Kaeko entirely, but she was also hopeful that Astra would understand her in a way that her own brother never could.

Really, he did not know why he was spilling everything to Kaeko. He had it all locked up so tightly over the years, chalking up the death of his crush as just a part of the job to anyone else that previously mentioned it or asked his thoughts on it. But it was so effortlessly coming out to her. She, maybe, actually cared about Sasuke’s feelings and wasn’t going to use them against him later down the road or (like the higher ups here) pull him off the line of duty with the reasoning of being unstable. There was a part of him that did indeed trust the little human before him and was growing fond of her the more she listened and the more he learned about her in return.

              “Am I disappointed in being here?” Sasuke motioned greatly around him, arching a fine black brow before elaborating. “Here in this world of killing my own species? Because the answer to that is rather difficult. Half of me feels wrong about it, but the other half feelings really nothing about it since it is all I’ve ever known.” Then his expression turned to something softer, almost showing the little fondness in his dark eyes for her. “Or here? In this little dorm with you? Because the answer to that is simple.” A beat of time passed before he offered her a faint hint of a smile. “No. I am not disappointed in ending up here with you. It is not exactly what I had expected the first time running into you and your brother, but I am not disappointed in the turn of events.”

              “My dreams of where I would end up died the day she did. Now, I do not know where I will end up or if I will end up anywhere but here. Now I am simply rolling with the punches, it feels like and embracing the unexpected in small doses.”

Kaeko nodded seriously as Sasuke began to answer. Of course. Of course the act of being forced to hunt his own kind was going to come with a loaded backstory. Of course it wouldn’t be so easy to answer a question like that… but still, she wanted to know. She wanted to better understand him. She was grateful for what he imparted but still hungry for more. When he mentioned the other angle, the being with her specifically part, she averted her gaze quickly and (for some reason she couldn’t quite pin down) blushed softly. She quietly cleared her throat, rubbing her neck and willing her cheeks to stop getting warmer and warmer. Her gaze found its way back to his face in time to catch a soft smile grace his lips. For some reason, his response deeply relieved her. She can’t help the way her shoulders visibly relax as she closes her eyes briefly and looses a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Somewhere along the line, she’d become deeply invested in being seen as good company to him.

For some reason, it was comforting to know that even if he had his days regretting where he’d ended up in life, he didn’t regret the parts of this life he’d lived with her thus far. Outside of her complicated relationship with her brother, Sasuke was really the only person she’d consider a friend here, and even that was a loose description… perhaps it’s becoming more accurate with every minute that passes by though.

@xkaekox

Tenten locked up for the day and she was on her way through Konoha. She stopped at the note worthy places like the hokage tower and the training grounds. She also showed her where the hospital and shopping district was. 

“Konoha has grown a lot since the war ended. Like this shopping district doubled in size. There are more shops and places to eat.” She said. “Speaking of, was there anywhere else you wanted to see while we’re out?” She asked.

ANGST SENTENCE STARTERS

@xkaekox

“Believe it is and it shall be so.” Madara replied. “I listen to all those who seek my guidance. And if you’re intentions are as pure as you say, I will help you however I can.” He said. 

“The hunters chasing you shall not find this place, as it is under my eyes now.” He said as he looked up at the moon. “Use the moon to guide you like you followed me as a fox.”

Kaeko’s brows scrunched, lips pressed together tightly and turned slightly down into a frown when the purity of her intentions was mentioned. Of course, she’d say her own intentions are pure, but, then again, she also knows of an anger, a deep rage in her heart that thirsts for revenge. Is she truly worthy of this god’s protection when she would just as easily spread the same pain amongst the hunters that they left her to die with?

@xkaekox

Sasuke looked a bit surprised. “Lightening release? I’m well versed in lightening release, have been for a good ten plus years now.” He told her. Having been taught by Kakashi as a child did have its perks looking back on that.

“I can help you. Let’s go to the training grounds. There’s more space and it will be a lot easier to work with once there.” He said. 

Kaeko gave pause, glancing around at her belongings. The area was tidy, nothing where it shouldn’t be, but she was wary of leaving things this way for an extended period of time. She was also wary of actually going into Konoha. In the end, she sighed softly before saying, “Let me just gather a few things...”

@xkaekox

Hinata continued to walk along, taking note of the reactions of the denizens. “They must know we are from Konoha.” She added. “Best not to rile them up and stay focus on the mission.”  

Konoha and the Land of Fire did not have many allies outside of the shinobi alliance. A lot of smaller nations are fighting tooth and nail for sovereignty, verses being absorbed by one of the five great nations. Times were changing, and they were changing fast. 

Once they were at the Daiyomo’s meeting place, Hinata stepped inside and was greeted by the Daiyomo, two elders, and three others representing the clans that reside here. She greeted everyone with a bow before taking her seat at the opposite end of the table. “Well met Shinobi of the Land of Fire.” He greeted. “I presume you have the requested documents?”

“Yeah...” Kaeko agreed absently, showing an equally wary disposition as she fielded wary looks left and right. “The mission...” she repeated absent-mindedly. Then, focusing, “The mission. Right. Stay on track.” But what if these reactions were relevant to the mission? She had half a mind to go off on her own and subtly interview the most wary of the onlookers, find out if there was anything to be worried about. But then again, would anyone tell her the truth if there was something to be worried about?

Alas, she stayed by Hinata’s side and tried to focus. She assumed she would be only marginally welcomed, as Hinata was clearly the head of the mission. She thought she might stay outside and keep guard, but it might be considered rude to not trust the guard duty already posted, so she followed Hinata inside and instead took up post near the entrance. She stood politely off to the side, out of the way, and bowed her head whenever eyes landed on her.

『☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ』 ── “Secrets are my specialty,” Astra assured with a small smile. They were–her family was comprised of interrogators, judges, the government. Their lives ran on secrets and underground dealings and things most people balked at. It was a hard life to live for them but it was necessary for their continued survival. The contract that their forefathers signed made sure of that.

Even if Astra hated it.

“Atria Astra Stellaris is my name,” she introduced herself, “But I prefer being called Astra.”

Her name was relatively well-known–herself for being a duelist that participated in national leagues, winning every year. And even if her first name wasn’t recognized her last name surely would be. Some things were just easier to air out in the open to begin with. This was one of them. There were times where she’d hidden her last name only for them to find it out later… and then they either dropped her or tried to use her.

It wasn’t a good life for her, being in the spotlight like that… but she didn’t really have a choice due to how powerful she was.

The lightning shot through the air–yes–it was getting closer–and Astra’s magic reached out, guiding those particular bolts closer. She could take them easily–her control was spectacular in and of itself. One had to have good control over lightning because it was even more deadly than fire. Of which she also had a good handle on.

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” Another crash–this one shaking the earth. But Astra’s eyes were serene and tranquil, as if this were something she did quite often. As if she were daring the heavens themselves to strike her down where they sat. “Deadly but so very  beautiful.”

The scarring underneath her right glove would attest to that. But she’d long since gotten over her fear of herself in that manner. Luckily enough her father had managed to do that with her. It was one of the few things she allowed him to help with. ── 『･ﾟ⋆*･⋆*･ﾟ☽』

– – – – – – –

Kaeko smiled back when Astra assured that secrets were her specialty. Kaeko was shaping up to quite like this gal indeed. It had been what felt like ages since she’d been in the presence of a kindred spirit. Her last tie was to her twin, now estranged, and she deeply missed being in the company of someone who could understand her. It wasn’t just about magical affinity either, nor the burdens of bearing such an ancient gift. It was about not being alone, mostly, and having a friend. With her twin, he was a built-in friend for life, or so she thought. She had no idea she could sever the bond she had with him until she unintentionally did.

With the meat of her worries now settled like smooth water under the bridge, Kimiko can feel the tense of her shoulders now relax down, her posture sinking back into her seat as she takes a long drink from the sake. Holding the cup to sternum, Kimiko regards Kaeko with a miniscule tilt of her head before she continues on with what civilian work she’d previously been referring to. The immediate response comes as a thoughtful hum and a little nod of her head. It was easy to imagine Kaeko in such a position, for she had always expressed a soft spot for those who could not fend for themselves.

KEEP READING

Kaeko snorts softly, eyes rolling when Kimiko playfully chides her. She ends up humming when the sake is poured, a quiet acknowledgement of the thoughtful gesture. Lips promptly lose their smirking shape and pull down into a frown at the next words that spill from Kimiko’s mouth though. Kaeko opened her mouth to question whatever emotions were layered beneath that remark, but she sealed her lips wordlessly in favor of listening and observing instead. She studied the expression on Kimiko’s face, however fleeting it was, wondering what it could be linked to exactly. The supportive words don’t seem to sound right on Kimiko’s tongue, not with such a sour disposition still lingering in the air between them.

@xkaekox

“Indeed I am.” Madara answered her before looking to the shrine again. “Your people- they used to thrive here. There was peace where is now there is strife and hardship.” He said. “Now, your people are scattered and divided but still hold on to their traditions and practices.”

He then took note of how she was talking to him. “You have your doubts. But I can assure you, I am a child of the moon. A son of Tsukuyomi.” He told her.

Kaeko just stared for a long moment, processing what she’s just been told. She can’t imagine she’s interacting with... well, a deity. She’s believed her whole life, of course, but to have that belief confirmed like this is shocking her to her core. She began to feel less uncertain and more in awe.