ask-theeyeoftwilight

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

Had he been less distracted by his own situation, Shen may have felt the stones beneath his feet were only smooth, worn so by the unceasing current.  As it was, however, he was too preoccupied to deduce that what Akali had said couldn’t possibly be the true cause of her outburst.  His fingers worked quickly, well-versed in the task they had performed so many times before, yet this time he found the process more…enjoyable.  While he had never disliked working with her hair before, it was only now that he could truly appreciate the closeness of the act.  No longer was it simply a matter of practicality and a small show of his appreciation.  Strand by silken strand he wove his fingers through, gently pulling loose tangle after tangle before cleaning it in the spring waters.   Seconds stretched into minutes, and with every beat of their hearts, the both of them relaxed.  From where he stood he could see the muscles in her shoulders begin to lose their tension, and after some time he became aware that she had begun to lean in toward him.  And for the first time he leaned in closer to her.

Warmth flooded his body despite the chill in the waters, radiating out from where his hand had bumped the nape of her neck.  While his thoughts during this process before had always been of the tasks that lie ahead of them, be it a mission or something else, now all that filled all of his senses was…her.  The way her skin glistened as a single droplet of water followed the crest of her shoulder, leaving a trail down her back before returning to the stream.  The way she smelled faintly of the cherry blossoms which bloomed all around, as if the scent itself clung to her.  The sound of her deep, slow breaths, finally completely at ease and at peace in their own little world.  And the way that, despite countless battles, her hair remained smooth to the touch.

Memories of the night before rose to the forefront of his consciousness and a longing so deep it was almost painful filled his chest.  Every thought but her was driven from his mind and he began to lean forward, but froze as she, realizing he had finished, said something and turned around.  The sound of his own heart thumping in his chest prevented him from hearing what words she’d spoken, but it appeared that she too found herself caught unawares by something as blood rushed to her cheeks, tinting the fair skin there the most delicate shade of pink.  After a moment of stillness she reached up and ruffled his hair.  The contact sent a renewed burst of heat through him, and he found himself unable to think of any way to respond.  And so, unable to abide solely by his duty any longer, did what he’d done only once before.

With a single, swift motion Shen took a half-step forward, eliminating the distance between his body and Akali’s, took her into his arms, and kissed her.

"I accidentally stepped on a sharp pebble. It surprised me…that’s all." Avoiding his gaze, knowing his eyes would find the untruth of her words she kept her gaze on the water’s rippling surface. Relief flooded her features as Shen moved to stand behind her.

Silence passed between them as Shen soothingly ran his fingers through her hair. Despite her earlier embarrassment, her body began to relax, unconsciously leaning against him. Closing her eyes, a small smile crept across her lips as she remembered the first time Shen had done this for her. 

They were teenagers at the time, both training daily to fulfill the roles fate had determined for them. It was grueling and left them very little time to do anything else. Daily they had come to this very stream, letting the cool water ease their sore muscles and relax their minds. One day Shen had come up behind her while she was attempting to untangle the mass of silver hair and wordlessly took the bundle from her. Every day since then, after he was done washing he came and straightened it out for her. She had never really asked him why, just assuming he did so because it was quicker and more efficient. Despite the smallness of the gesture, it was something she had looked forward to each day. 

A sigh of contentment left her lips as his fingers stilled. Her head felt much lighter, her tangle-less hair floating on the water’s surface.

"Thank you. It’s been awhile since we’ve came here together. I had forgotten how useful you were." She teased, turning to face her partner. Heat flooded her cheeks as she came face to face with his incredible pectoral muscles. Forcibly dragging her eyes away after what seemed like an eternity, she brought her gaze to his face. Damn this reaction! Had he noticed? He had definitely noticed. In an attempt to play off her embarrassment she reached up to ruffle his colorless strands, still slick with water.

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

The staccato ring of sharp coughing and strangled choking roused Shen from his mindless scrubbing.  In a single fluid motion he plucked one of the myriad smooth pebbles which lined the bottom of the body of water they bathed in, spun around, and whipped the projectile into a rustling bush near the shoreline.  As the stone flew he scanned for other threats, his eyes first quickly looking over his choking ally, searching for any sort of severe wounds.  A second passed, then another, and he found himself unable to find any source of what could have possibly made her choke.  There were no gaseous clouds, no threats in the water, and as his eyes spied a small critter scamper from the bush he’d just targeted, no assailants on the shoreline.  His thoughts calmed, his instincts retreating to the back of his mind once again.

“Are you…okay?”  Confusion briefly flashed across his face, a rare occurrence for one whose features generally expressed as much emotion as a stone carving.  He took in her features, looking for any clue as to what could have caused the outburst, but found nothing.  The only abnormality was a slight flushing of her skin, turning the alabaster the color of the palest cherry blossom.   Unwittingly his gaze lowered, moving down from her face to her neck, and then further down still.  Something stirred within him, and only after a moment too long did he realize where he was looking.  Though she was submerged to just below her shoulders, the water was clear and slight glimpses of more delicate curves were visible through the choppy surface.  Quickly, and with more trouble than he had ever had getting his body to do something before, he directed his eyes elsewhere before finally bringing them to rest on Akali’s own eyes.  Realizing that more than just his emotion had been awakened, he flushed, quickly and wordlessly maneuvering himself to a position behind her, careful to keep some distance between their bodies.  He was unused to his body disobeying him, and was not eager for her to see such a failure on his part.  This situation was hardly novel, as they’d both bathed and seen each other nude before, and yet everything felt different this time.

Before she could turn to face him again, he spoke up.  “Your…hair.  It’s knotted.”  Without saying more he reached out and gently took a mass of the delicate strands in his hand and ran his fingers through its length, as he had done countless times before.  It was a process both of them were familiar with, one borne of practicality.  It was far easier for him to work with the silken tresses than for her to try and drape it over her shoulders.  The stresses of combat had left their impressions on it, and he worked as he always did, thankful for a reason to avoid those piercing silver eyes, eyes which he couldn’t bring himself to meet.  Knots and tangles were made quick work of by deft fingers, fingers that seemed to linger longer than they ever had in the past.  His heart thumped in his chest, drowning out the sound of the surrounding world.

Listening to Shen’s retreating footsteps, Akali began to disrobe, folding and leaving her garments in a neat pile that was easily accessible from the stream’s edge. She was making her way into the cool water when an unfamiliar sound from behind her drew her attention. On instinct she turned, unaware of the consequences her movement would bring. 

Her eyes widened, the sound from before completely forgotten as her eyes focused onto Shen. He stood several feet away with his back facing her. A loud thumping began to ring in her ears as she stood frozen, unable to drag her eyes away from his nude form. She had seen men naked before, it was part of her job as a nurse. Shen wasn’t any different, but for some unknown reason her pulse began to quicken and a prickling heat began to pool in the pit of her stomach. Swallowing over the lump lodged in her throat, she forcibly averted her gaze before turning and nearly tripping into the water.

Stopping midway into the stream a muffled groan escaped her lips as she buried her head in her hands. Of course he would be naked. What use was her brain if she didn’t put it to use? Unaware of the eyes plastered on her back she continued to berate herself. Hugging her arms around her midsection, she shook herself slightly before continuing deeper into the water and submerging herself fully. 

The water was soothing to her stinging flesh, momentarily erasing her memories from seconds before, helping to ease the aches and pains that had resulted from the battle yesterday. She would have to get Shen to massage the knotted muscles. She immediately surfaced from the water sputtering. The usual image her mind conjured when thinking of Shen had been replaced with—-that! Continuing to cough up water she tried to force the image unsuccessfully from her mind.  

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

(( So I'm going to be doing a reply to Akali tonight.  Sorry I've been so absent as of late, life is just...very, very busy, to say the least. ))

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

Return

(( Read more for length ))

Thick bristles saturated with black pigment dragged slowly across dry parchment, guided by deft hands adorned with the scars of many battles.  The motion was practiced and fluid, skillfully staining the paper so carefully laid flat with onyx-tinted ink.  Stroke by steady stroke characters began to form, and in time beautiful calligraphy covered the page in such a manner as to be not simply writing, but a piece of art in-and-of itself.  Setting the brush to the side, Shen looked at the paper laid before him, now covered in the results of his talented strokes, before reading what he’d written with dull, unfocused eyes.  Balance.  Duty.  Loyalty.  Honor.  The symbols sat one on top of the other, a hierarchy of importance, tenets he was to live his life by.

They had lit that candle together, before he had sent Akali out on her mission.  It was a dangerous mission, one he did not want to assign to her, but there was no talking her out of it.  Once lit, it was left burning until the mission was completed…and Akali was late.  She should have returned, or at the very least reported back, hours ago.  Details of the mission and the dangers it entailed plagued him, leaving him unable to concentrate on anything else.  Though he tried to dispel them with rigorous training, menial work, meditation, and now even calligraphy, they continued to haunt him.  Sitting there in a simple wooden chair, a knot began to form in his stomach, and his muscles tightened.  Unknowingly to him, his jaw clenched, and he cursed himself internally as he knew all he could do was wait.

Or could he?  Suddenly filled with determination, he stood up from his seat so rapidly the chair nearly toppled over.  With startling swiftness and agility, he pulled his armor back on, piece by piece.  He’d gone through this process countless times, quickly stretching the mail over muscles taught with anticipation, given new purpose and ready for action.  Only once fully suited did he grab his mask, pausing a moment before sliding it over colorless locks and securing it in place.  Amber eyes fiery with purpose peered out from behind it.  Metal sang as he slid his blades into place on his back.  With one final glance at the dying flame, he strode out of the building and into the night.

“Going somewhere?”

It took a moment for the comment to register with Shen, as distracted as he was, before he turned to face the origin of the sound.  Standing before him was none other than Akali herself, looking slightly battle-worn but otherwise perfectly fine.  All at once muscles which had been tense with worry and fear relaxed, and though he quickly covered it, relief flashed across his masked face.

“Hmm?” she intoned, tilting her face and giving him a quizzical look.

“No.  Just stretching my legs.”  Shen nodded towards a building across the courtyard.  “We can discuss the results over there, after you’ve cleaned up.  I shall meet you there in a moment.”

Akali gave a quick affirmation before turning to leave when Shen spoke up once again.  “It is…good to see you back.”  She paused a moment before giving him a smile, turning, and making her way to her quarters.  Unbeknownst to him a smile of his own sat upon his face as well.

Once she’d faded from view, Shen turned back to the room he’d spent the last several hours in.  He walked over to the table and looked down at the parchment he’d written earlier.  He studied it for several minutes before reaching down and, with a piece of scrap paper, smeared the carefully crafted symbols together until they were nothing more than inky swirls, no longer readable.  As he had spent so much time doing before, he once again looked at the still burning candle.  Though it was nearly extinguished, a tiny flame remained.  The mission having been completed and her having returned, it was time to blow it out.  Leaning in to do just that, he paused for a moment, noting the still-liquid wax which covered the top of the stand.  He thought for a moment before raising a single finger and drawing on the surface of the slowly-hardening ooze.  With a quick puff he blew out the flame, turned, and strode from the room.

Smoke eddied lazily above the new addition to the table; rough edged and hastily drawn, a new symbol sat in the wax.

Love.

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

Awakening

White.  Overexposed, blinding white was all Shen could see in any direction.  It burned at his retinas as his pupils constricted in an attempt to lessen the light which flooded his eyes.  The minor discomfort was overshadowed by a more pressing issue when he attempted to move his hand to block the source: he could not.  The muscles in his arms grew taut with effort as he tried to move them, but it was as though he were held in place.  Craning his neck to the side in order to get a look at what could be the issue, he squinted his eyes against the ever-present brightness of the room.  It took a moment for them to finally adjust, and when they did it became clear why he found himself unable to move.  Wrapped securely around each of his forearms were a pair of unyielding chains, the rings of each pressed so tightly against his skin they had begun to leave an impression.  Attempts to move his legs were met with similar success, and a glance downward confirmed that similar chains coiled around his calves as well.  Disconcerting as the situation was, hanging from an unseen ceiling, his arms and legs restrained as to make him look like a giant ‘X’, far more unsettling was the fact that he was no longer wearing any armor.  Indeed, he was completely unclothed, his body and face bared to the sterile white room.

(( Read more for length.  Rest of story under the cut. ))

Time seemed to have no hold over where he was, as he neither grew hungry nor tired as seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours.  Every muscle in his body was taught with exertion, the effort of holding himself in such a position beginning to take its toll.  The room was beginning to grow hot, and sweat began to bead on the surface of his skin.  Rivulets of perspiration trailed the contours of his body, pulled downward by gravity from the back of his neck, between the blades of his muscled shoulders, finally coming to rest in the small of his back; shimmering trails of moisture covered him, the translucent lines the paths on the map of his body.

In the distance, just outside the range of his vision, Shen could see a vaguely humanoid shape.  He strained his eyes, leaning forward as far as he could while so restrained, his body quivering with effort, but the figure remained an indistinct blur.  Sweat stung at his eyes, and briefly he closed them in an effort to shake off the fluid.  When they reopened, they went wide with shock, and he recoiled.  What was once so far away now stood mere inches from his face, seemingly observing him intently, yet where there should be any marks of humanity there were none.  There was nothing, only a smooth, featureless grey where its eyes, nose, or mouth should have been.  Or at least, that was the case initially.  The being seemingly took pleasure in Shen’s surprise, and a grin formed out of the nothing where its mouth should have been.  It continued to grow, stretching wider and wider, until it was a mockery of the human mouth, instead a Cheshire nightmare filled with rows of bright white teeth.  It pulled back its face, the grin remaining plastered in place, before flourishing a hand and producing a sizeable blade.  In the featureless white room, the polished steel was nearly invisible, but the keen edge whistled as it sliced through the air.  Slowly the creature moved the blade into a position over Shen’s abdomen, and with great care slid the tip upward, all the way to his chest, stopping directly above his heart.  Crimson mingled with the sweat that covered him and stained his skin.

And then, with all the swiftness of a ninja, the blade was plunged directly into his heart.  The room swam for a moment, growing hotter and hotter, the blinding white walls growing shifting to red, all the while the creature in front of him remained motionless, its grin of sheer madness unwavering.

Shen’s eyes shot open as he lied motionless.  His heart was hammering in his chest.  Remaining still, he scanned the room to find his surroundings, but was met with only darkness.  A nightmare?  Confusion gripped him; he did not dream, much less have nightmares.  What had changed?  Slowly, as his pupils dilated and he grew more accustomed to the darkness, he began to make out the shape of a lazily turning ceiling fan.  It did little good, as the room was stuffy.  As he continued to claw his way from the clutches of sleep, more became apparent to him.  He was hot, and the bedding which he was sleeping on was damp with perspiration.  Multiple blankets covered his bare body.  Questions arose in his mind as he became more aware of his surroundings.  Why was he naked?  How had he gotten here?  His body was sore, and his muscles stiff, as though he’d been immobile for a great deal of time.  Slowly, he sat up in the bed, his body crying out in opposition as every movement sent pulses of discomfort through stagnant limbs.  In the darkness it was difficult to make out details, but there were some distinct shapes.  A stack of quietly humming machinery in close proximity to him, a curtain drawn around the perimeter of his bed, and most telling, a stand with a bottle of clear fluid connected to a needle in his hand which he’d not noticed until now.

At once he realized he was in the hospital, with absolutely no recollection of how he got there.  A sound to his right drew his attention, and he quickly turned to face it.  Sitting beside him, huddled in a chair, was Akali.  Her bountiful silver tresses fell over the back, illuminated by a sliver of moonlight which found its way into the room.  Delicate breaths were the only movement as she slept, curled in the cushions of the small seat.  Shen’s heartbeat quickened as he watched her lying there, his eyes tracing the gentle curves of her face, a small smile beginning to play at the corner of his lips.  He sat forward fully, reaching for the end of his bed.  His chart sat there, and he deftly plucked it from its holding place.  The first page held little useful information, only standard admittance details.  The next held more tangible results.  His eyes pored over the words, key phrases sticking out in his mind as he pieced together what had happened.  Summoning accident.  Inexperienced Summoner.  Carryover Wounds.  Critical condition.  Memories slowly began to fall into place.  It seemed as though he’d received fatal wounds on the Fields while being controlled by a Summoner with insufficient training, leading to his real body retaining a portion of the injuries.

He flipped to the final page of his chart; a visitor’s log.  It was short, with only two names.  First was Akali, checked in at time of accident, and Kennen, checked in 20 minutes later, and then out several hours after that.  Shen scanned the page again: there was no check out time next to Akali’s name.  He looked it over a couple more times, but he could find no error in the page.  Emotion swelled inside him as he came to realize that she had been here the entire time.  She’d not left his side, not even once, since the accident.

A grunt escaped his lips as he reached forward, placing the chart back into place.  Pain shot up through his chest and he winced, looking down for the first time and seeing several patches of gauze, including one rather sizeable one just below his heart, adorn his torso.  The sound of shuffling drew his attention to his right, and when he turned he was greeted by the piercing silver eyes of Akali, slightly misty with tears.  Her face was awash with a mix of worry, relief, and joy, and wordlessly she lunged forward and threw her arms around Shen, squeezing tightly.  The smoothness and warmth of her bare skin on his sent a rush of blood to his face, and he could feel his temperature rise.  Bending forward as he was, pain flared up in his chest, and his joyful expression gave way to a wince.  Akali realized what had happened, and quickly released him, changing her demeanor from joyful to matronly in an instant.

“You shouldn’t be sitting forward like that,” she said matter-of-factly as she reached out and, with a gentle-but-firm hand, pushed him back into a lying position.  “Your wounds need to heal.”

“Akali, I-“, Shen began, trying to lean forward once more, but was cut off mid-sentence.

“No, don’t talk.  You need to rest.”

With a nod, Shen reclined once again.  Indeed his wounds must be severe, as he felt exhausted already, sleep nagging at the back of his consciousness.  He fought the sensation, unwilling to go back to sleep with the memory of his nightmare so fresh in his mind.

“I-I’m…cold,” he lied, pointing to the blankets.  “They’re wet.”

“I’ll go get you fresh ones,” Akali replied, moving to get up from her chair, but Shen reached out and held her in place before she could leave.

“N-no.  Just…stay close.”

A look of mild shock flashed on her face before being replaced with a soft smile, her eyes gazing at him with caring.  She nodded, and pulled the chair up directly next to the bed, placing her arm directly next to Shen’s.  Without hesitation he reached underneath it, wrapping his muscular arm around hers and locking their hands together.  He turned his head toward her and smiled, his eyes heavy lidded with exhaustion.  She responded by leaning in and placing her head on his shoulder, resting in the crook of his neck, a contended smile on her face.

Within moments both were whisked away into a peaceful slumber, hand in hand, each dreaming of the other.

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

♖

♖ My character will protect yours

Ninety minutes.

Wiping the blood from his eyes, Shen cast his eyes down at his battered arm.  Rust once inside him now smeared the shredded blue sleeve which now only barely covered his arm, torn from countless skirmishes in this prolonged match.  He shrugged his shoulders, adjusting the weight of the sunfire cape which draped over them.  Despite the League’s best efforts, its weight was substantial, and he’d been shouldering the burden for over an hour.  Ethereal flames licked at the sides of his mask, not harmful to him, but hot; his mask had begun to darken at the sides, and dripped with sweat.  If it were only the cape the situation may be different, but the match had gone on long enough that he found himself carrying a full six items.  The combined weight of the armor, as well as the magical resistance, was substantial.

They had reached this point after both brilliant and unwise strategic moves, and now neither team’s Summoners seemed to know what to do.  His tactical knowledge of the field counted for naught when he was powerless to direct the four with him in the strategies of battle.  And so the match stretched onward toward infinity, with every minute forcing every one of them to spend more time in the limbo between life and death when they fell in battle here on these fields.

Taking a deep breath, he could feel his energy returning with every passing second.  His steeled eyes swept the horizon, searching the unnatural fog which enveloped the arena for any sign of the opposing team’s movements, but he found none.  His gaze continued to rotate, until the huddled forms of his teammates came into view.  They too sagged with the effort of hauling so many magical items for so long.  One stood taller than the rest, a shining example of Ionian will: Karma.

Any other who had not received such rigorous training might have missed it, but not Shen.  A split-second before it connected, his trained eyes caught the unmistakable glint of polished yellow metal moving swiftly, right towards Karma.  Yet he remained motionless, unable to act on the knowledge of what was about to occur, until the Summoner he was tied to so directed him.

“NOW,” he shouted as loudly as he possibly could inside his mind.  “ACT NOW OR SHE DIES IN VAIN AND THE WAR IS LOST!”  It was loud and commanding, not frantic, and without fear.  There was a split-second moment where he could feel the Summoner’s confusion, and instantly after he found himself able to move.

The yellow fist found its target.  It clamped tightly around her waist, a pained look mixed with shock flashing on her face before she was rapidly pulled away, out of his sight.  But he’d already begun channeling his ultimate technique; in battle, he will stand united.  The chant passed over his lips, the hum growing louder until it echoed throughout the battlefield.  The immense internal energy he drew forth from within swirled around him, made visible to all.  It formed a protective shield around him, and instantly, around Karma as well.  And then, in a blink, he was gone.

Instantaneously, he appeared by Karma’s side.  He only had a moments to assess the situation.  His ally had stood beside him, alive and unharmed, his shield having protected her from all damage that had been directed at her.  Swiveling his head quickly, he found himself facing the entire enemy team.  Without hesitation, he feinted, drawing in 3 of his opponents and covering himself in a protective sheath of energy once again.  The path having been cleared from his feint, he saw the enemy ranged carry, Catilyn, leveling her rifle at Karma.  The sound of metal whirring filled his ears as strangely shaped bullet with a honed edge flew by him, slicing his arms and sending rivulets of blood spraying into the air around him.  Yet he was undeterred, and collided with the Sheriff seconds later as he dashed through the shadows.  Suddenly her attention was focused completely on him, finding herself unable to do anything but fire her gun toward the ninja.  Bullets tore through his enchanted armor, puncturing his shield and ripping at his flesh.  Taking his blade, he threw it with deadly accuracy, the honed edge finding a critical weak point in her weapon, causing it to fall into pieces at her feet.

The ground surrounding the two began to glow and distort, warped by gathering energy.  Moments later it erupted in a violent explosion, knocking Caitlyn from her feet into the air only to collide a second later with a sickening thud; she remained unmoving.  The threat neutralized, Shen turned towards his ally to find not only Karma, but the rest of his team behind him as well, standing over the scattered bodies of the defeated enemies.  Shortly after, a voice called out over the Fields.

ACE!

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

Shen, how do you feel about the recent rise in summonings due to your TPA skin appealing to many of the lady Summoners?

Shen eyed the grey apparition in front of him curiously, eyes narrowing from behind the mask briefly before returning to their former state.  It didn't appear malicious, nor did he sense any sort of ill-will emanating from the ghostly form.  Though he always remained alert, he allowed himself to speak with the being in a manner he would speak to any other person: on-guard, but not expecting any attack.

"That is an...odd question, grey one."  He shook his head before continuing.  "I do not feel.  It is a uniform dictated to me by the Institute, I have no say in the matter.  Its appearance is preferred by many, both male and female alike, just as my other outfits are."  Thinking for a moment, he added.  "Any time spent on the Fields is time I can use to hone my skills...I am accepting of this situation."

After a brief pause, he looked back to where the face should be on the figure.  "Have I sated your curiosity, grey one?"

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

A Belated Greeting

Silence filled the small grove, the distinct lack of sound amongst the trees almost deafening in its quiet.  In the midst of the sea of leaves stood a solitary figure, removed completely from the physical world surrounding him, utterly motionless yet fully aware of all that was around him.  The breathing was deep and even, the warm summer air flowing through his body so smoothly it was nearly imperceptible the figure was alive at all.  Very suddenly, with the swiftness of a predator striking down its prey, his eyes shot open.  The pupils constricted, fighting against the afternoon light; his irises enlarged, their amber coloring deep in the bright sun.

Rising from his seated position, Shen bent first at the waist, stretching the muscles in his back before moving on to his legs, and finally, his arms.  Every fiber cried out in protest as he moved between the muscle groups, slowly rousing them from their slumber, massaging life into the sinews.  Steadily every one of his stiff muscles were worked back to their former vitality, and soon the ninja found himself working through combat warmups.  Despite the duration he'd remained completely motionless being weeks, the motions came back to him instantly, and he was soon moving through each form with perfect alignments and not a single obstruction in the flow of his internal energy.

The sun had drawn closer to the horizon by the time he was satisfied with the rejuvenation of his body.  He left the trees and made his way to the exit of the compound, the freshly-limbered muscles in his arms and legs pulsing with vigor.  In his time of extended meditation he'd neglected his ancillary objective of the Kinkou: to expand knowledge of its ways and restore life to its ranks.  With the thought fresh in his mind he began the walk down the path to the docks where those interested were brought.

It was a short walk, and it didn't take long for the murmur of voices to be heard, rather than the lapping of the salty water against the worn wooden pier.  As he drew nearer the scene became clearer, and it was one unexpected by him.  Standing on the docks was a crowd of over 20 people, both Champion and Summoner alike, all gathered here to know more.  Approaching the crowd, all eyes turned to him and it grew quiet in only a moment.  With a bow, Shen was succinct in his greeting.

"Welcome, to Ionia."

(( This is in lieu of a new follower post.  In my absence I didn't lose followers, quite the opposite: I gained around 25!  It's infeasible to do such a large number individually, so I want to thank each and every one of you.  I am very appreciative of both my new followers and all of you who have remained interested despite my slowness. ))

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

(( Once again, a read more due to length.  Sorry, it just happens when I'm writing for Akali.  Can't really stop it. ))

A small smile curled at the side of his mouth as his eyes settled on her standing form, silhouetted by the bright sun shining in through the entrance of the cave.  There was a smile on her face, and the sight gave him pause, rendering him unable to do anything but stupidly stare.  It was fortunate that her greeting was in response to his own, as he doubted he could form a coherent sentence at this exact moment.

Matters of mental clarity were not helped as she continued to simply look at him, her hand idly handling a single strand of wayward hair, gossamer in the sunrise.  Already he could feel his pulse quickening.  His smile widened without him realizing as the two simply stood there, looking at one another.  And then the silence was broken as she spoke.

Had he heard her correctly?  His eyes widened almost imperceptibly at the suggestion.  It was hardly a deviation from the norm, and yet....  His already heightened pulse elevated a bit more, and an unfamiliar heat emanated from his ears.  It seemed as though Akali had realized what she'd said almost immediately as well, her hands firmly at her sides but may as well have rushed to cover the mouth the words so quickly escaped from.  The question hung between them for a moment while he considered how to respond, but before he could fully gather himself she was picking up his scattered clothing and talking of the water.  Despite any awkwardness, the fact remained that he had not bathed and so, heart thumping away in his chest, he nodded.

"Yes, let's."

---------------------

The stream was only a short walk away, and the travel passed quickly, albeit quietly.  Serenaded by songs of the birds nested in the trees greeting the day, it was all together very pleasant.

Soon the faint whisper of trickling water became a steady din; cutting through the dense trees and then opening into a silvery pond was the water in which Akali had stopped at last night.  In the bright sunlight of dawn even the thick canopy could not filter all the light, and it reflected off the surface, giving the appearance of gems sparkling among the dirt which surrounded it.

Facing Akali, he looked down and met her gaze before speaking.

"It would seem we've arrived.  I will disrobe over there; you can here."

Walking over to where he motioned, he paused a moment to assess the situation.  Akali had not given him his shirt back, so all that remained was to remove his pants and undergarments.  Peeling the legwear from his body, it clung to him, reluctant to let go of his skin.  The battle had left him stained, and the blood had soaked through his clothing and found what was beneath.  Rusty red patches were in various places on his legs and torso, though his face remained relatively free of such blemishes.  He let out a sigh; what a day it had been.

Without further pause, he peeled the remainder of his garments off, bunching them in his hands in preparation for washing them in the water behind him.  For a moment he stood there, waiting for the sound of movement in the water as he always did, signaling that Akali had made her way into the pool.  It seemed to take longer than all the previous times, but eventually he heard the familiar sound of her descending into the liquid.

Turning to begin his own descent into the spring, he froze mid-step as his eyes fell upon his fellow ninja.  It seemed that she had stopped halfway between for some reason, and while the water obscured her lower half, he now found himself staring at her bare back.  His eyes traced the curve of her shoulder, down to her waist and then out to where her hips began before they submerged beneath the surface; the unfamiliar heat returned to his ears as the muscles beneath the smooth skin worked.

Walking, he should be walking.  Averting his gaze again, not completely without effort or a twinge of disappointment, he resumed his descent into the pool, and a moment later was submerged.  Without saying anything, he began to scrub clean the dirt and blood which had accumulated over the past night and battle.

Akali watched silently as Shen jumped out of his slumber, literally. His back was to her, so she did not witness the panic in his eyes as he scanned the area in front of him. He was still shirtless, the muscles in his back rippled with each movement he made. It was beautiful. She softly cleared her throat, gaining his attention. She couldn’t help but smile at the surprise reflected in his hazel eyes. Did he think she had fled?

She returned his greeting as she tried to still the rapid beating of her heart. After last night she would never be able to look at him the same, and a part of her wasn’t sure if that was such a good thing. Surely her heart wasn’t supposed to feel as if it’d burst at any moment. She toyed nervously with a silver strand that had escaped the elastic holding her hair back, unsure of how to act in his presence. 

She took in his appearance and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Shall we bathe?” She had been able to bathe yesterday, cleansing the blood and sweat from her person, but Shen had not.

She sucked in her breath, mentally kicking herself. Bathing together before wouldn’t have been abnormal. But now! Naked…alone…but she couldn’t take it back now. He’d surely think she was an idiot, which she was.

“I-It’s quite sunny, the water shouldn’t be too cold…” she lowered her face, hoping to hide the red staining her cheeks as she walked passed Shen to gather his gear. His tunic and mask were stained crimson. “I’ll wash these for you as well…”

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

☱ ((Are you still accepting these?))

—Event log, 22 April, 23 CLE

Nothing major to report.

It was not long ago that I spoke with Janna.  She had multiple questions regarding the Order and its methods, which I answered readily.  Also discussed were various manners of instructing students, and how to best pass knowledge along.  Her demeanor noticeably changed when the discussion turned to those who sought to disrupt our objectives; I suspect it is because Zed is the primary individual with such motives.  I do not suspect she knew that I was aware of the relationship between them at the time.  It would seem that since that day, another has felt the pain of his betrayal.  I shall monitor the situation closely.

End log—

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

Shen, you look so hottttttt in your new TPA skin. *3*

Shen’s steely gaze locked on to the grey apparition, hovering in front of him.  Usually malicious or mischievous, this one had settled on merely addressing his new Institute-mandated clothing.  It was a mockery of practicality for battle with earmuffs dulling his senses and his blades replaced with batons, yet it was still well-fitting and comfortable.  Perhaps suitable for plainclothes operations where he’d need to hide in plain sight.

“It is form over function, grey one, forced on me by the Institute.  Yet these batons are not wholly unlike tonfa, a weapon I’m quite familiar with.”  Feeling the weight of each of them in his hand, he moved them deftly.

“Do not give me a reason to demonstrate their effectiveness on you.”

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

With a slow nod of his own head, Shen returned the greeting.

"Kennen."

After absorbing the duties of so many others of the Kinkou, and combined with his responsibilities on the Fields, he had precious little time to simply converse with his fellow ninja.  It had been a great deal of time since he'd last spoken with Kennen off the fields or not regarding some mission.  Shen was not one for small talk, but going so long without discussing anything other than duty was unusual.

"Should you wish to discuss anything, I will be at the compound tonight."

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

☱

—Event log, 22 April, 23 CLE

No major events to report.

An observation: though she completes her obligations on the Fields as a Champion of the League, I had seen little of Irelia lately.  Recently, she has returned to activity outside of sanctioned battles.  A fine example of the Ionian strength of will, she seems troubled.  Frequently seen with Yorick Mori of the Shadow Isles.  Given her past brush with death, and Yorick’s occupation, I am led to consider the possibility that the two are possibly related.  Ill magics or influence, perhaps.  Though such personal matters are of no matter to my duty, because of her status an already fragile Ionia could suffer ill-effect were such an icon to fall to the Isles.  Further observation is required.

End log—

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

☱

—Event Log, 22 April, 23 CLE

My attention of late has focused on the city-state of Bilgewater.  There is much unrest among its citizens, far beyond the normal rabble characteristic of the port town.  Such unrest can spread, the sentiment infecting those nearby like a plague.  This cannot be allowed to happen.  A potential solution has already made itself apparent, however.  There is one, another Champion of the League, Miss Fortune, who seeks to unite and strengthen Bilgewater.  She is notorious, but of strong conviction.  Whether she is the ideal solution for the people of the city-state remains unknown, but for the purpose of maintaining balance she would likely suffice.  More information will be gathered.

End log—

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

☱

—Event Log, 22 April, 23 CLE

Too much about Mordekaiser is unknown.  The Shadow Isles motivations and goals remained shrouded to even the twilight, and the paladin himself has become active once more.  I suspect the only course of action is a reconnaissance mission to the Isles themselves.  Dangerous, but it is imperative that more information be gathered.  Were this the old days of the Order this would be a simple task, but as it stands now…I will likely undergo this mission alone.  More thought on the subject is required.

End log—

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

When you find an RP partner that you are completely compatible with, in character and out of character, it is one of the best feelings in the world.

[ask-theeyeoftwilight]

☱

—Event log, 17 April, 23 CLE

There is a peculiar trend amongst another of the void creatures of late.  First there was Cho’Gath dressing in a top hat and monocle, his stated reason being ‘because he is a gentleman.’  It seems another has followed suit, with Kha’Zix insisting to others that he was now dapper.  A large moustache is affixed to his face, just above his mouth.  He greeted me earlier.  The dress is harmless, and while in the garb he did indeed act more civilized.  Whether this is a ploy or some other ruse, I am not sure.  Should more void creatures continue to adorn themselves so, it could signal greater cooperation between those associated with that place.  More observation is required.

End Log—