Daily Routine

Lucius wakes up late in the day.. around 2 in the afternoon or so. He lightly holds his head, wondering to do with today. Umbra sits at his dresser, somewhat dusty from underuse. He hadn't even unsheathed her in over a year - nor did he feel the need to. Lucius was, in his head, retired. His Anbu rank still showed bright red on his chest, a permanent tattoo from the old days. Lazily, he walked down to the kitchen, intending to grab just a small something to eat...

* a knock is heard from outside the door as Akarui waited pateintly for Lu to show up*

Lucius walks slowly to the front door, his hair still a mess and still in his pajama pants. His eyes were a dim brown, and had a vacant look as he opened the door. "Oh.. Akarui. What brings you here..?"

Well I was here to see how your traing was going with Umbra. *he looks at Lucious up and down and gives him a wtf look* Umm do you plan on gettin dressed soon?

He looks down at himself, the crimson Anbu insignia gleaming back at him. He sighed. "I'll be right back then." The door closed, and rustling of clothing could be heard from a window. Roughtly 5 minutes later he was back at the door.

"Umbra.. training..." His head was blank. He hadn't done much of anything with her all week, but couldn't just say nothing.. "..Ah, going well, of course..."

Thats good then So um might I ask whats the deal is?

He staggered a bit at the doorway, still very sleepy from waking up just moments earlier. "Deal..? What are you getting at..." He had a clue at what he was saying.. Over the past year Lucius had been reporting less and less to Akarui to ask about his Zanpakuto, until he let it collect dust over the past months. People could probably tell he was not at all doing well...

Look are you still hung over that Zeik mess? Ok he died big deal people die everyday but this ziek is semi alive which means he has a chance to come back dont you want him to come back?

"Zeik.." He stared vacantly for a bit. Of course he was still not over his death; Zeik was the only man he could really look up to as a friend and mentor. "What do you expect from me.. my Master is dead, his soul twisted to not even be himself anymore. I have.. nothing to follow."

Nothing to follow huh. *he grabs Lucious by the shirt and lifts him slightly in the air* Look at you! You look and act like a lost puppy waiting for his next meal, If zeik were alive he wouldnt want for you to act like this. I lost plenty of masters over the years as a shinobi but it didnt held me back.....It made me who I am today!!!

Are you still going to bitch and whine about his death?

He said nothing, but didn't at all resist Akarui's physical treatment of him. It was true, he had been mourning Zeik's death for over a year.. much longer than he did for either of his parents. Yet the connection to the Cursed Flame was strong, almost embedded in his blood. The fire was missing.

*rage filled his eyes as he lets go of Lucius, but before he cold touch the ground he let off a swift punch to Lus jaw as he gets sent flying insdie of the ran down place of a home*

IS ANYONE HOME?!?!?! *he walks in the house looking disgusted as he walks over to him as he stops and look at the dusty umbra* Oh hell no now your really askin for it *he then continues his walk over to him*

well are you just gonna stand there or do somethin about it?

He slowly stands, on wobbly legs. It'd been a while since he was even in pain. "What do you expect me to do, fight back?" He sighed, slowly grasping Akarui's point, little by little. "You're right afterall. I am merely a follower, and lost without my pack leader." He stood straight now, arms at his sides. "I've nothing to fight for."

SHUT THE FUCK UP AND DEFEND YOU SELF!!! *he rushes in with another punch followed by a round house kick to the head sending him through the wall* IF NOT YOU THEN HOW BOUT THE BITCH YOU CALLED A MASTER!!

Well that stung, and hit a wide open nerve. Lucius already knew the heat Zeik had gotten several months prior to his death, and simply wouldn't stand for it even today. His eyes suddenly filled with yellow color, and a black puddle of sorts began to spill out from his feet.

He slowly rose, and met Akarui with quite an annoyed expression on his face. "You want to say that again?" His voice was much more firm and demanding now..

Ziek..is...a...Bitch. *chaos energy begins to leak from his body* If you feelin froggy...leap!

"That's what I thought you said." Lucius makes no hesitation in flash-stepping directly in front of Akarui, Negation energy forming a sharp thorn on his fist. The very second he appears in front of Akarui, he delivers a punch filled with Dark and Negative energy, further enhancing the stabbing power of it as well.

*akarui slids back some feet he chaos energy pouring from his body took the stabbing power but he felt the punch none the less* Oh aint this sweet you cant fight for your own beliefs but you will for that bitch of a kage. *he flash steps towards lu azure flame forming around his arm as he ends a volloy of azure flame at Lu while still heading towards him.* You dont deserve to even speak his name.

Time itself seemed to freeze in the very moment Akarui spoke those words.

He was once again dead-on correct. Lucius couldn't fight for himself at this point, not at the level of despair he was in. Yet he attached himself to something greater than himself, something he could fully relate to. Like a lost puppy.

"But what are my own beliefs..." He'd thought for a long time that he only lived to serve Zeik and protect the village he created, to live in his shadow. Yet now that he was gone, Lucius was like a barnacle without a post to suck on. In bonding with this man, Lucius hadn't thought for himself.

Suddenly, all went pitch black in his vision. "You've forgotten so much.. darling." That voice.. he hadn't heard Umbra speak to him in over a year. Yet he cast her aside more than half a year ago.. why on earth would she want to speak with him now? "Open your eyes." He didn't even realize they were now closed.



He was in a dark, yet luminescent place. That woman's face was looking straight down at him, eyes looking loving. "Welcome, to your soul's refuge.." He understood now.. he was in Umbra's realm.

"You've forgotten everything, haven't you, Lu.."
"That all depends. on how much you know.."
"Much more than you think.."
"Then tell me.. What have I done all this for?"
"Oh Lu.. the answer is so clear. You just need to open your eyes..."
"Zeik is de--
"That doesn't matter. You have your own ideals to fight for.. you can't just be a stray dog all the time. Stop.. stop confusing yourself."

The visions faded, Umbra's tearful face fading away like mist. He found himself back in his home, Akarui still on the offensive with his Azure flames. Umbra was now in his hand, unsheathed and released. How that exactly manifested he had no idea.

He brought it in front of him, and the blade shifted into a large black shield to fend off his flames. Lucius rose, his eyes having a gleam in them not seen in more than a year.. "Akarui, I get it now. ..thanks."

Good then. *he kicks off the shield and lands on his feet as he notices that umbra is now summoned* So I see you had spiritul refuge with your blade then. *he walks over to Lu and pats him on the shoulder* Welcome back old friend. *he smiles as he looks around at the mess he caused* I think we have some work to do in here huh?

"Ah.." He resealed Umbra, the feeling completely natural to him, and sheathed her. "That's alright.. I'll take care of it later."

A split-second long flash of the deceased, corrupted Zeik flashed in his mind suddenly, as more black energy seeped out from his hand. This was happening more often as the days passed.. Doing his best to hide it, he held it back in his sleeve.

"I.. need to go speak with Vash. ..right away. Thanks again for your insight, Akarui." He hastily left towards his doorway, stopping as he was about to exit, slightly smiling. "And it's good to be back." With that he left, straight for Vash's house.

Heh sure thing. *he look around before flashwarping to his own house*