A tear (Gabriella) Major develepment

[Kuroshi Maki]

The sun was going down, the bright sky turning orange as the sun would make it glow. Standing upon a rock, there I was looking up at the sky. The wind's breeze would make my hair dance. Not wearing the mask today my face would be revealed completely. Nobody was around and I claimed this to be my small area were I could release all my emotions that made me weaker. This area was peaceful and silent. Here I could drop the tough guy act.

Allot of things had changed ever since the day I met her! Gabriella was the one that changed my view on life. Many warriors I faced before told me allot, but she made me feel it. Gave my life another purpose. She even took my side in the darkness I faced. I wasn't even close to be the most powerful warrior but she believed I could be. She maybe believed it more then I did myself. I would give my life for her even if it meant to abandon my goals. If she would hear those words she would probably slap me.

Also there was my mother, what would see think of me when she looks down from above. Would she be proud I made my life goal to kill those that killed her? Or would she turn her back towards me seeing that I changed the way I did. All she ever wanted me to smile and be happy. A feeling I didn't feel for a long time. What would she think of me? Would she see me as a Demon like those men? Or does she still see me as little Maki smiling at her?

The thoughts running inside my head made me lose sense of everything around me. A tear would slide down my cheek, it felt warm and as it past my lips it tasted salty. What was this? What was this feeling? Sadness, or was it joy? Was it the sense of losing my mother that made me cry out of sadness or was it joy of finding somebody like Gabriella? I didn't even know she was behind me at this point.

[Gabriella Santos]

It had been a long day. Her arm ached, she hadn't been able to get her hand on a drink for the last few hours, and that wasn't helping things. However there was something else on her mind, that had prevented her from doing so. Maki was no where to be found in the village. It had taken time, asking around. No one knew where he had gone but, eventually she found someone who at least seen where he had been going. Getting her horse, she though briefly if she get someone to act as a guard while she tried to find him, but decided against it. 

Riding out of town in the direction told, she managed to track him down. Standing looking away from where she was, some ways out of town. Dismounting she slowly approached him silently. Hoping to test him. See how alert he was, but however as she grew closer something seemed off about him. He didn't seem like normal. He was shaking slightly almost unnoticed, like he was laughing but silently. 

Slowly she would walk out from behind him, and see his face as she did. See the fact that he was ever so gently crying. Gabriella blinked, expecting it to have been a trick of the light. The man in front of her, always seemed so strong and while not in control, he was normally filled with anger. "Maki what's wrong?" She asked gently concerned and confused, getting his attention. Carefully she reached up her arm, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me." She said trying to reassure him. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

I could not hear her words as my thought were just running wild inside my head. But I did felt her hand take place upon my shoulder. turning towards her with my face, my eyes showing pain something different then hate. I knew the reason I was crying now as I saw her. I was afraid I would not be able to protect her like my mother. I felt useless and a fool. Why would I promise her to protect her as I'm not even that strong. But seeing her I could not let her go back into that world alone. I would never show the weak side of myself but with her it felt save.

" Would she be proud of what I have become? "

I would look up at the sky, I clenched my teeth trying to hold back the tears, my fist would clench together. "Damn" I wasn't sure anymore if anything I had done until this point was even what she had wanted. Maybe she didn't even want me to take revenge, she probably wanted me to life my life peaceful. Yet I didn't want to be weak like my father.

" I won't let them hurt you like they hurt her, Nobody will be able to hurt you anymore! "

[Gabriella Santos]

Seeing the emotion in Maki that was anger for once was odd. She had seen perhaps pleasure in death and a desire to be stronger, and obviously his protective streak for her. But nothing like what stood in front of her now. " Would she be proud of what I have become? " The question shook her. She didn't really know what to say. She didn't know his mother, but she doubted a mother could be proud of someone living purely for revenge. However he wasn't anymore. "In the past maybe not. But as you are now, she'd be smiling I'm sure." She said. She couldn't bring herself to lie and say that she would have always of been proud of him. 

" I won't let them hurt you like they hurt her, Nobody will be able to hurt you anymore! " "And that why she would be. I am." Gabriella would say, before the first time in a long time doing something she probably should. Forcing every ounce of strength into her bad arm to move it fractionally so that rather then hang at her side is grip to Maki, as she pulled him into a hug. "Without you. I'd be wasting away. Surrounding by uncaring fool. What matters is that we stand side by side." She said, emotion mixing with pain and causing her to cry gently into the larger man shoulder.  

[Kuroshi Maki]

Her answer was right, why would she be proud of a man that became something that killed her. I have killed men even woman that had more reason to life then I did at that time. It was a foolish thing to drive on just hate, hate that turned me into that I really wanted to destroy. If I hadn't met Gabriella, i would probably already been one of them or death. She has given me a reason to stay alive, but with that came more feelings. My body and mind were in battle as one side felt like staying the way i was as the other side wants to chance and give me a chance to change the things I did to shame my mother.

Looking at Gabriella, I saw her lift up the arm that caused her all the pain. Even because she felt the pain she kept raising it up until it was resting upon my shoulder. She battled trough the pain for me, even though it caused tears in her eyes she pressed herself against me. A hug something I hadn't felt in a long time. It felt warm and my arms would close around her. Her words were felt deep inside. She felt grateful as long as we would be side by side. I hadn't let any emotion out for so long it felt painful as my chest was ripping open. Flashbacks would play inside my head as tears would rain down my cheeks.

" I fought for years to destroy those that caused it all, but all I did was turn into one of them. A heartless killer. All I had was hate and anger. I lost track of her, knowing I did what she would have hated. "

The words came out filled with emotion, it was not even understand as it should be because of the crying and emotion. Pain and sadness from 12 years of build up were coming out. Holding it in for long, it was intense till the point the body would shake. The once hateful warrior showed his Human side. To most I was a mean cruel killer. Yet Gabriella saw something different and she was the only one to ever really take my side.

" I'm not alone anymore, and neither would you. I promise. "

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella continued the hug, as Maki bared forth more emotion. It was slightly unsettling to see the strong man  show such emotion. "Yes we're not alone." Gabriella would mutter into his shoulder before breaking the hug. "However I'm still going to help you." Gabriella said raising her voice from the muttering to be clearly heard. "You may be capable of pushing aside the desire of vengeance." She would start to explain. "Justice." She would finish not really explaining what she meant.

What she meant that while, Maki may grow from this not be ruled by anger any more or as much. Those...Those that delivered on to him such lost, such pain. They still deserved what came to them. It would not be a act of vengeance but one of justice. As long as the large man managed to keep it aside. To not make it his only driving force in life, she knew that it wasn't any more, then if the day came that he cut down those who had taken from him. Then a blight on the world that needed cutting aside, would be gone.  "However it isn't just me that need your protection. The people of Totomi deserve it just as much for the kindness they have shown us. To prevent them from ever having to grow up in such pain you have felt." Gabriella would tell him. Looking over to where she had come from and the Totomi village in the far distance.

[Kuroshi Maki]

Her words were right, but I would not call it justice because that would mean I to would have to be slain one day. I have killed men and woman alike that should not have to die for me to take justice. But I did get her point. And when she told me she would still help me a soft smile came upon my face. Her presence at this point felt warm. She would let go and explain that the people in Totomi would also need my protection for there kindness. Not really having felt that kindness because i didn't focus on it I could see she did. As they did her good I could not turn away.

" If I protect those that cared for me, maybe my mother would smile again. But I cannot just change. I have created a icon of myself as a Beast and I have to maintain it. I don't want other people see any change in me. That's a burden I have to carry myself. "

It was true if I just change now, those I seek will never be found. I will go down in the history books as a Beast, maybe they will put my true purpose in there as well but that could not be bothered with now. She will be the only one seeing the true Maki as others will keep seeing the beast that I was before. Some could even start calling me a Villan, because even so cruel my purpose was not to hurt everybody around me. I have to stay hateful so I will not hesitate to strike those I seek. I must not grow soft.

" Promise me this, keep this between us. You will be the only one ever to see the true me. I have to stay the Beast that I am, even if it hurts me. "

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella didn't really agree with Maki, he didn't need the beast, but she understood. She admired that even knowing that it may not be the best for him, it could be used to help others. A figure of intimidation, much like the rumours that surrounded Lord Amakusa rise to power. If those rumour moved into legend there would be no one who would want to face the Totomi, and risk the ire of Takehiro and Maki.

"I won't tell another soul. You're willing to show me. That enough in my book." Gabriella would say, nodding at Maki. "Just don't be afraid to drag me off in to some secluded corner....if there is something you need to get off your chest that is." Gabriella would offer, the break permeated with a smirk. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

Her words were kind, yet some doubt would sink in. The people here were kind yes and they would need to be protected. But even if this land is controlled by a force still there will be people that bend rules and break rules simply because they got more money or have more power then the one below them. I can't change that fact from being a general in this army. I must be more then a man to do this, I have to become a Icon. Being ranked I have also have to keep myself to those rules and can't change it from here. I would have to step out of it and then I will be able to.

" I will protect those that need to be protected, those that are to weak or to poor. I make sure they don't have to fight and make sure they will eat. I will do those things but not as a general in this army. I can't change things in here. "

Looking at her my eyes didn't show sadness or hate, it was a passion burning inside my eyes. I was turning into those I seek to kill but I did wrong and lost myself.

" I will become a bacon of hope and a symbol of fear to those that do wrong. "

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella looked at Maki face suddenly at what he said, it took her by surprise. It had been because of Maki that she had left the Oda. Left her father behind, not that he was actually around much. And now Maki was just going to up and leave the Amakusa. She couldn't help being slightly annoyed, but the sentiment of what Maki said, was quite true. 

"I'm...I'm not quite sure what to say." Gabriella said hesitantly. "I can't..can't keep moving and leaving groups behind after you. Lord Amakusa is fair, his people good. They don't judge me out of respect, to what there Lord agreed to when you joined." Gabriella said seemingly toar up between the two path in front of her. 

"I will always be here. Wherever you go I will get guard so that I visit. And you better do so to." Her words were picking up speed and confident in what she was saying again. "Maybe one day, when the world is calmer. That when only those evil me you mention hide or run as they no longer rule the land. Then. Then I'd feel like I could leave these people behind in there safety to help you in your goals." She explained, knowing that while Maki would go after people in the  wrong, war could bring greater death and destruction The crime did. 

[Kuroshi Maki]

I could not ask her to follow me, it was true she left behind a old life for me. Seeing as she felt hard to choose between staying here or leaving with me, I would smile gently. I had found a case I was willing to fight for, yet I was not giving up on her either. Knowing she will be save for now inside the army. She had been given respect from the men, and they would fight with there lives to protect her and that made the choice better. But she would never be alone as I will be watching as a Shadow a Silent Guardian.

" I will not ask you to follow me again, You being here now and you found a place you can call home. Yet I have to go myself, in all this hate I have lost myself and I need to regain it again. Here I would be used as a strength in war and I would have been good at it. "

Looking at the village in the distance I would look back at her, I made a promise I would protect her against those that would make fun of her or try to do her harm. I will never break that promise no matter what. She would be proud of me in the end. War maybe a way to bring peace, yet I would go after the real evil in this land.

" Just know you will never be alone, even when you think I'm not with you. I will always be there when you need me most. I will be watching as a Silent Guardian. You make sure you grow to become a strong woman and know that i will always be proud of you. "

As my hands would remove the Jade neck less from my neck, it had belonged to my mother and I had obtained it some time back and I was ready to let go of it. As I would now put it around her neck, after my right hand would be placed upon her left cheek.

" Thanks to you I can finally put trust in somebody else then myself. "

[Gabriella Santos]

Gabriella would listen, reassured by Maki explanation that he would still be watching over her. Letting Maki place the jade necklace over her head. He hadn't told her who the necklace belonged to, but Gabriella could make a reasonable assumption based on the sentiment. Her hand would reach up and carefully hold the necklace. Tear slowly falling out of her eyes, some being caught by Maki's hand on her cheek. 

She said nothing, only stood there holding the necklace. She want to tell him no. To tell him that he shouldn't give her the necklace. That he should keep it. However she couldn't bring herself to do so. The gesture was too meaningful. Making her happy to the core. No one had given her anything but her father. And even that had been more of a gesture of throwing money at a disrupted child, then a healthfelt gift. 

"Thank you." 

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seemed she was really moved by the gift, yet it was the right thing. It used to belong to the most important person in my life and now it does again. As long as she held the neckless she would never have to worry about being alone anymore. Tears would hit my hand and I would with my thumb wipe them from her eye. Her thank you gave me a warm feeling inside. She was the sole reason why I had changed.

" It used to be hanging around the neck of the most important person of my life, and now it does once more. Even thought you would not hear my name, but when time comes you know it was me that changed the word and helped those unable. You lead the men and make them become the most respected force in this land. "

She would be able to lead them better then I would anyway, she even though her heart was in pain and her arm unable to move right without pain, she was smarter then those around her as she held something special but didn't seem to notice it just yet. She had the power to change people and pull them from the darkness. She didn't see because she herself was still there as well.

" Just remember I will come back for it one day so keep it save "

[Gabriella Santos]

(OOC: sorry for the wait. Been busy the last few days.)

Gabriella weakly smiled as Maki told her that she was the most important person in his life. While telling her to note that the changes in the land would be down to he, while she remained with the Amakusa. "Thank you." She managed to force herself to say again. She knew that she was important to Maki, but to say she was the most important was unexpected. 

"I will, I promise . Don't worry I'll keep it safe." She promised him. Not only would she keep it safe but treasure it like no other possession. "Just promise you'll keep yourself safe. Promise me you will come back." She told him. She knew that he had already implied it. But she needed to hear him promise it straight out for her peace of mind.