Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Hey! Hey guys~!” Kaze calls loudly, trying to get the attention of the entire tavern at the same time as he walks in through the door. The tawny messenger hawk on his arm looks embarrassed on his behalf before flying off. It carries an unknown emblem on the harness that had been holding on its burden.

Hayato roughly grabs Kaze’s collar and pulls him back onto his seat. This in no way tempers the albino’s enthusiasm and he still waves about the slips of paper in his hands so fast there’s no way they can actually be read.
Wordlessly Hayato grabs the albino’s wrist and forces him to actually put down the envelopes before sipping sake from his cup.

Each envelope has been stamped with a wax seal in the shape of a Red Crescent moon and each has a printed name in a flowing calligraphy that is rather refined and elegant (and therefore by the process of deduction isn’t Kaze or Hayato’s)

“It’s invitations to the Remembrance Festival~!” Kaze says happily with a wide goofy grin. “Everyone’s invited this year!”

“It is also known as The Dansen Macabre and The Parade of Heroes.” Hayato interjects. “I’ve had worse excuses to drink.”

“It’s not all about drinking.” Kaze complains.

“It’s a bit about drinking.” Hayato points out.

“It is just a bit about drinking.” Kaze concedes. “But it’s also a really dignified and solemn occasion that just happens to end in a huge party.”

The albino explains as he hands out the envelopes with some help from Akira who has to read the names for him.

“The Remembrance Festival is one of the most ancient of Kemuri traditions. It’s held every year on the night when the Harvest Moon is full to celebrate generations’ worth of noble shinobi ancestors. It’s a day when you remember all the wonderful deeds of the people who’ve gone before you. It’s a very, very special time for love and respect and remembering...”

Here Kaze pauses and winks.

”But it’s also a time to show how much we appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for us. Every morning every ninja in the forest leaves a letter to their family’s ancestors or a dead comrade or lover and leaves them at the door to their house which is left open. They say that when there’s no-one around the realm of the dead can make contact with the mortal realm and the ghost of the dead can walk around the village and read the letters and accept gifts left for them but no-one ever sees that of course.”

“Not that people haven’t tried.” Hayato adds as he levers open another bottle of alcohol with a taloned thumbnail.

“They stopped since that last guy.” Kaze points out, attempting to glare at him.

“All they found was his thumb.” Hayato tells the rest of the room. “And it was up a tree.”

“Anyway the point is that it’s a very special celebration.”

“Not even a tree in the same forest…” Hayato says under his breath before taking a deep swig.

Kaze pretends not to have heard him.

“But then there’s a big party in Akaigetsu Town with all sorts of yummy festival food.”

Kaze pauses a moment as he thinks of his favourite festival food: Crescent Moon cakes, a single slice of spiced apple in crispy fried dough.

“And everyone tells stories of their ancestors and we light these red paper lanterns with everyone’s names on them and release them into the night sky and the moon glows red with the smoke from the bonfires... Then there’s the Moonlight Ball where they serve the special Moon sake and there’s a wonderful dance with such beautiful music.”

Kaze gives a genuine sigh of misty nostalgia.

“It’s said that even Death himself couldn’t miss it…”

Hayato sniggers, remembering a different part of the Festival regarding a drunken Kaze.

“Normally only the people in the Kemuri area go, in case an outsider messes up the rules or tries to steal village secrets but this year I persuaded the King to let me invited some friends, provided you behave yourselves.”

A few of the people Kaze’s handed invites to try not to meet his eye as he says that.

There’s a few points that Kaze tacitly doesn’t mention about the festival; that it was his invention, for one because he had too many loses to mourn, but also that the invited spirits were not the only ones that were let loose in the village. It had been one of his conditions with Shi, along with the dance. The sake served was made from the fermented apples of the Hephaides after all, along with a drop of the waters of life. It was a combination that no being of power could resist trying at least once.

In the morning several people would wake up with a surprising lack of hangover but not much memory of the details of last night but a pleasant fog. No doubt some would remember dancing with a man (or was it a woman) carrying a book and they would recall a sensation of coldness on their skin.

And in the village every single letter will have been answered.

______________________________________________________________

Welcome to Akaigetsu Town's Red Moon festival, we hope you have a good time. What do you want to do first; pay respects to the dead by writing them a letter or maybe light the red paper lanterns and have some festival food (and maybe sneak a kiss by the bonfires if you're lucky) or, if you're old enough, you can attend the Moonlight Ball where the lines between life and death, fantasy and reality, man and god begin to blur.
Just remember to have fun and please don't accidently get yourself killed~!

-Kaze

((Feel free to post a one-shot in this thread relating to this event and what your OCs will be doing there heart ))

Move Along

Yuko looked through the mail as she noticed a fancy letter that was sealed with wax in a shape of a Red Crescent moon.

“What’s that?” Chojuro asked as he also noticed the envelop that Yuko was staring at.

“I have no idea” with that, Yuko opened it.

“It seems to be an invitation to the Remembrance Festival and apparently this is the first year people outside the Kemuri village are allowed to attend.”

Yuko read the content of the letter, explaining all of what the festival had in store and what is was about. She vaguely remembered Mei mentioning to before, as one of the stories Kaze told her when she was little. Reading the letter, Yuko was filled with mix emotions as memories of loved ones that were now deceased slowly started coming back to her, including memories that where once long forgotten.

“Maybe I should see if Karasu wants to come, seeing how most of the family is dead and would be good to honor the dead, despite how some ancestors where. Shame that the twins are both busy with their studies and Kotori is away training. You want to come?”

“I might, I hadn’t decided yet. But either way, you should go.” Chojuro reassured his wife. He missed how they once used to before Kotori was born, but figured all he could do is try to save their now broken marriage.
---------------------

It was a few days before the festival and Yuko was trying out different dresses for the Moonlight Ball as she sang.

“He's in my eyes
He is in my ears
He's in my blood
He is in my tears
I breathe love and see him every day
Even though my love is a world away

Oh, he's got me wondering
My righteousness is crumbling”

“No, this dress won’t do either. There’s got to be something!”

Yuko digged through her closest, searching for anything that she could wear to the ball. Eventually she settled for one and packed along with other clothing, not wanting to wear it before the ball. Next, she took a bunch of paper and started writing letters for everyone that she knew that was now gone as well as people she heard about but never got to meet. A few times she had to stop as she broke down in tears, especially while she was writing a letters to her parents and for Itachi.

“I miss you all so much” she whispered as she wiped her eyes before going back to writing.

Once all the letters were written and sealed, she put them inside a wooden lacquer box with cherry blossoms and cranes painted on it. Once packed, she had everything gather so it would be easier to find when she was ready to leave for her journey to Kemuri.
-------

The night before the festival she tossed and turned, both excited about going to a festival she has never been and sadden about having to remember the dead. Not being able to sleep, she decided go to the living room to look out the window, watching the rain fall. The darkened sky seemed to reflect her mood.

“Why not come to bed Yuko” Chojuro went up to his wife and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m not tired” was all she said, not once tearing her eyes away from the window.

“Maybe you would feel better if you cuddled up against me like you used to” Chojuro hoping his wife would return to the person that she used to be.

Yuko sighed and nodded at him, not quite sure how she felt about her husband now but since she was married him; she couldn’t neglect him, feeling guilty as he often stared at her with a hurt look.
----------

It was now the day of the festival and Yuko was up early. She gathered her belongings as she headed out. Chojuro said he would have to meet up with her later but was thankful that her eldest son agreed to come long.

“We hadn’t really traveled anywhere as a family in quite a while” Karasu said as she walked with his mother, the two always been close.

“Yes, it is nice isn’t” she replied. “So how is going? We hadn’t really had a chance to catch up.”

“Everything is going well?”

“Even your love life?” Yuko asked

“Mom! Don’t you think that’s too personal” Karasu yelled out. Though he acted embarrassed, he was smiling slightly.

“What? A mother's job to to make sure her kids are happy and well.” Yuko smiled happily at her son.
---------

The trip for the most part was uneventful but a nice change. Yuko was amazed at how it looked festive Kemuri looked. It was late in the afternoon and people that came from different countries were just arriving.

“This is amazing!” Yuko said enthusiastically as she looked around the town.

Before long, evening came and the festivities were in full swing. Yuko tried many of the different food, all looking delicious. Though she enjoyed being there, she began to wonder why Chojuro hadn’t showed up. While waiting, Yuko and Karasu took the notes and letters that they left for their dead loved ones and ancestors and lit a bunch of different lanterns. And she listened to all the stories that people were telling over the bonfire, sharing her own stories of the people she was knew or heard about as well.
---------

The sky glowed with all the lanterns and stars that were now out yet and the Moonlight Ball was going to start short. Yuko went to the room that see rented as she got ready, hoping Chojuro have arrived by the time she finished getting dressed.

Yuko now shorter hair had a red rose pinned to one side. Her dress and gloves was also a shade of red. The up of the dress sparkled. It had three strings of pearls on her arms instead of straps that went along with a matching pearl necklace. The skirt of the dress was a four layered tier that was floor length. Once Yuko put on her make-up, she headed out.
-----------

Everyone was having fun drinking and dancing. Yuko continued to wait for a while but eventually gave up and went to sit by herself, almost cry. This place was starting to give her an eerie feeling, as if she was being watched.

“I guess I deserved this.”

“Why are you all by yourself?” She heard someone ask.

She thought it was her imagination or that she was going crazy as she swore the voice sounded like.

“You look very beautiful tonight Yuko.” A man appeared in front of her.

“I…Itachi..” Yuko muttered, her eyes widen in shock. “But how did you?”
“Don’t worry about that, though I only have a short time.”

Yuko couldn’t believe her eyes. Itachi wiped the tears that was now falling from her eyes.

“I hope things are going well. Chojuro treats you good doesn’t he?”

“He does or well tried to do all he can to make me happy, though I don’t deserve it.” Yuko looked down.

Itachi lifted up her chin, getting her to look him in the eye.

“Then you should on and stay by his side.”

“But Itachi I….” Yuko was cut off by him placing on of his figures on her lips.

“It’s time to move on from the past. That doesn’t mean you have to forget about me or anyone less, just that you need to live your life and focus on the people that are still here in this world. I am glad with the time we had and thank you for giving me the gift of our two children, but you need to move on. I can’t be there for you, but I promise to watch over you in the afterlife.”

With that, he gave her a kiss on the lips before he started to vanish.

“Thank you for the letter you wrote md and keep an eye on Karasu to make sure he doesn’t drink too much during the party.”

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I think he is well taken careful.

Goodbye, I will never forget you anyone that I met in my life.” Yuko smiled as she wiped away one last tear.

Just as he left, she hear another voice, this time belonging to her husband.

“There you are, I was looking all over for you.”

“I thought you weren’t going to come?”

“I wasn’t at first, but I didn’t want to feel lonely.” Chojuro took Yuko’s hands in his own.

“Thank you, you have been too kind to me. You kind you can ever forgive me?” Yuko wanted to know the answer, yet she was afraid of what he might say.

Chojuro sighed. Though other men would have left their wifes or lovers after they find out that they have been impregnated by another man and though he was angry and still didn’t want to raise Kotori and acknowledge her as his daughter, he still loved his wife.

“Of course. Come on, let’s go to the ball. This place is giving me the creeps.”

Yuko didn’t say anything, just gave him a kiss on the lips. Chojuro responded by wrapping his arms around her, holding her close as he deepen the kiss. They continued on like that until Karasu ran into them.

“Ugh, mom! Get a room!” He yelled at the two.

They broke apart and Yuko giggled a bit. Chojuro a bit embarrassed but happy to have his wife back to how she used to be.

“Maybe we should take his advice later.” Yuko winked at Chojuro and headed toward the ball before the night came to an end.

Note-
I tried writing a story for this. For title, I used the song Move Along by All American Rejects as I thought that song was fitting-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvldabMNtaI&list=FLdBs8V5tmz4vJVORT-KRInA&index=705&feature=plpp_video

The lyrics to the song she was sing is a song by Weezer called I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams as I also thought it was fitting-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMseH5GIVTA&feature=related

As for what she wore to the ball, I made a quick picture for it (yes, I think she would cut her hair when she is older)-
http://fav.me/d51d8ez

I thought it looked very pretty and I wanted to try out new designs and use the Shojo Fashion Manga Art School Year 2 book I bought awhile back.

My Body Is A Cage
I hint at this in "Red Rain," but here is a bit more detailed of Gaara's last Remembrance Festival. I thought of ending it a bit earlier than I did, but chose not to so that it would be a bit more clear on what exactly happened.
Posted here instead of in my fanservice thread in the other guild because this does take place during Kemuri's Festival of the Dead.
Incidentally, "Wild Child" takes place during the same exact time as this one.

"I'm just like you Dad," Chihiro sighed, "That's why you don't miss me as much as you do the others."

Gaara looked up at that, contemplating the words of his eldest daughter, gone were the twin braided pigtails she wore as a child, her red hair was now kept in a chin length page that waved gently, a few clips keeping it out of her eyes, the sand still in the same gourd that she always carried, but now had the symbol for Konoha etched below Suna's, something she had done after her marriage to Kano. Her simple black garb was still the same, though she had added a coat along with a white scarf, identical to his own.

Chihiro was very much like him, he couldn't deny that in the least. When she had left to move to Konoha with her now husband, his only real lament was the fact that he had no one that he could trust Suna to.

"I don't miss you as much because you're still alive and well," he said quietly, "Though I have sorrow when you leave, I know that you will be able to return."

"Dad, you said yourself, she's alive, wherever she is, Karura is still alive," Chihiro sat down, "Haru and Sora..." her voice cracked and she clenched her fists, "I miss them too damnit, but..."

"You think that I shouldn't go."

She slowly nodded, "The Council will be waiting for this chance, it's too risky, I mean, you still haven't chosen who will be the next Kage," she shook her head, "Taran and Arashi will be back, there's already a delegate from Suna overseeing the Chunin exams, there is no reason for you to go as well."

"Naruto is there," he folded his hands, watching her reaction to those words. Once he would have found her slight annoyance amusing, any other time and he would have been tempted to point out Mira's matchmaking plans.

"Oh well if the great idiot is going," she groaned, pinching her nose, "Dad... Ara doesn't need you there, she's a big girl. You can't keep trying to protect her."

He wished that he could tell her the real reason to go to Kemuri, but then she would want to interfere, not understanding that Ara was never really theirs to protect in the first place... That he knew where Karura was, information that had taken years to get...

That Mira would be waiting at the Remembrance Festival...

Instead he gave her the barest of smiles, realizing that this was their good-bye, he had no plans on returning to Suna, had already made the preparations long before coming to Konoha to speak with her, "It's a matter of pride," he said simply, "I was there for your chunin exams remember? I want to see Arashi's triumph as well."

"And you left Uncle at home?"

"I brought Kiyomi and Kiyoshi to extend his pride to Taran," he patted the large scroll next to him on the table, "Kankuro and I already had this discussion."

He tactfully left out the fact that his brother had chosen long ago to avoid Kemuri, due to one of his wife's apprentices being from there and some misunderstanding that he was never given the details over, Mira was too busy laughing over the entire matter.

And of course there was the other reason, one that he knew Chihiro would have news of within the month... Kankuro was training the new Kage in secret right now, in a month, after the Chunin exams were over, that girl would be taking office with approval from him and the council.

It was the compromise he had promised them, they chose the candidate, Kankuro trained her. He could trust his brother to keep Suna in mind, he could trust that same mindset would be passed to her.

Standing, he walked over to her, pressing his lips against her forehead, "Good-bye Chi."

Something in his tone worried her, he knew it from the way she looked up at him, "Daddy..." her voice broke again and she shook her head, "Come visit on your way back."

"Take care of yourself and Kano," he replied, not making the promise as he left the room.

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

The streets of Akaigetsu Town were bustling with the festival as he entered the city, the participants of the chunin exams and the civilians alike both enjoying the excuse to forget about their problems for just a small time.

Gaara made his way to the small bar, one he noted that seemed much like Haven was. There were a good deal more flowers, and the smallest sign on the window was worded just the slightest bit differently, Mira's had simply said that she would disallow services, but Serenity, other than that, was the same.

He entered, not knowing what to expect, though a small part of him admitted that if she really were there...

"Welcome!" the woman with long light red hair tied back into a braid said breathlessly as she bustled about giving out the orders, "Sit anywhere you like! I'll be right with you!"

"You've grown," he said quietly, "When did you get this beautiful?"

Karura turned at the words, somehow managing to place down the food she was carrying before running to hug him.

"You're more graceful than your mother," he whispered, holding her tight, "She would have dropped all of that."

"Can't waste food," she sniffed, "I had heard that you weren't coming, that there was a sort of problem with Suna..."

"They're the same problems that I've had for a long time," he tilted her chin up, "Besides you saw the roster."

She nodded, then stilled, "Not really," she gestured to an empty table, "Er, so Arashi's taking the test this time around? I'll let Yosei know to keep a few rooms in the medical center ready."

"And you're just as bad at lying as Mira was," he smiled wryly as he took his seat, "Don't worry, I won't give you or him away."

She smiled, "It doesn't matter to us, I think it'll be obvious at the end of the exams anyways. Sit right there, I'll bring you something good!"

Just the same as Haven, Karura didn't even ask what he had wanted, and he was willing to bet that none of the patrons actually ordered, which was why it seemed only the townspeople were in here, possibly keeping this a well-guarded secret.

"Aren't you going to take my order?" Matsuri had snapped when Mira had returned with Naruto's ramen and his offal dish.

"Yours is cooking right now," she winked as she turned to the girl's table, "Sorry about the wait, I had a few customers in front of you."

"I thought you said this place was good," the burnette complained to Mikoshi.

"Well, Kazekage-sama eats here all the time," she pointed out, "Just wait a bit, she was right about there being others in front of us."

Both sighed at that and he shuddered, turning his attention back to Naruto, "Kage lessons?"

"Please?" the blond asked placing his hands together and grinning, "Baa-chan said I could take over, but I had to be able to prove to her that I could do all the paperwork and stuff. She says I have no idea what it means to run a village."

"She's right," Gaara said flatly.

"Don't be mean," Mira chided, gently tapping the back of his head as she brought the food to Matsuri's table, ignoring the yelps of outrage at her daring to touch Kazekage-sama, "Naruto is trying, that's why he came to you for help."

"YEAH! I'm trying!" he exclaimed, "And I got some plans to make this world great!"

She smiled, "You're half-way there," she said as she placed another bowl of ramen.

"Eh, why's that?"

"You already know what the most important part of a village or nation is, you can't go wrong if you always keep that in mind," with that she walked away, leaving him a slight bit confused as he turned to Gaara.

"I do?" he asked pointing at himself, "The most important thing...?"

"The people you idiot," Gaara whispered, blinking with surprise as a plate was placed down in front of him.

"Eat up," smiled Mira, and he stared at her, "Don't look so surprised, you came because of the festival, remember?"

"That may be true, but I didn't take any of that wine nor did I write one of the letters yet," he sighed, poking at the food, "I'm dreaming again."

"That might be true," she sat across from him, leaning her head in her hand, "I mean, all I could be is a memory of yours. Still, I'd like to think that..."

"I can't smell it," he pointed out before she could finish, "Definately a dream. Even so," he smiled at her, "It is one of the nicest ones I've had."

"Still not sleeping then?" she asked sadly, "Gaara, that can't be good for your health."

"I'm used to it, you know that," he stood, taking her hand, "I won't remember this when I wake, so I might as well enjoy myself."

She smiled sadly, "Y'know the festival would be a lot more fun if you actually tasted the food."

Gaara shook his head, "No, remember what you told me a long time ago?"

Mira scrunched her nose, "About festivals? Er, the naughty or the non-naughty thing?"

"Both," he led her out into the street, "We're together, I don't mind the rest."

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

Karura looked up as Taiyo came into the lobby, "Is he...?"

"He's still alive," he said quietly, "But..." he shook his head, "There's a shadow in his organs, have you sent a message to Arashi?"

She shook her head, "No one can get it out right now, you know that, we'll just have to wait until..." she leaned into his chest, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed, "If he was sick, then why did he come all this way?!? He might have..."

"Shush," he lifted her chin up, "You did all you could, it's rare that a disease can resist your flames, but it happens Kara, he had a good life," Taiyo swallowed, brushing the hair from her eyes, "He came because he wanted to see you one last time... I know that if Natsunoame had left that I would do the same."

"He didn't even get to meet her! There's still so much that..."

"It might be for the best, she's three..." he took a deep breath, "And if he found out where you were from who I think he did, then he knows about her as well, Kara..."

His voice trailed off as she walked away from him, "Is it alright if I sit with him until..."

Taiyo nodded, "I'll ask Yuurei to close the bar and be right back. I don't think anyone will mind if you take a few days off."

"We should contact Suna as well," she swallowed, "I uh..."

"There isn't any need," a voice said and both looked to see Chihiro in the clinic's door, "I already contacted Uncle Kankuro, he told me all about Dad's last medical exam..." she wiped her eyes hastily, "He..."

"He's sleeping now," Taiyo said quietly, "Karura was just about to..."

"You could have wrote! Or something!" Chihiro snapped as she grabbed her younger sister's shoulders, "All that time he..."

"I think that he would want for the two of you to sit with him," Taiyo gently guided the two towards his room, "There isn't much time left."

"You know why I couldn't," Karura whispered, tears in her eyes, as she sat down, gently taking Gaara's hand.

Chihiro clenched her fists, then went to the other side, taking the other hand, "There's no need to give news of this just yet. But you do realize that you and Taiyo are now busted."

"No," Karura smiled, "Just me. 'Hyuuga Taiyo' has been dead for nearly eight years now, that man that is my husband is the blind 'Fujiki Yosei,' if we need to, we have the documentations and plenty of witnesses," she squeezed her father's hand, "It was the last gift that he gave me... look in Suna's records under the Anbu named 'Owl,' Dad made up all the papers."

"It nearly killed him to place you in that tower you know," her sister sighed, "It makes sense that he made sure that you could get out. You know there's a fairy tale based on you now?"

Karura giggled, "I heard, you know people keep trying to climb my hair?"

"Maybe you should cut it..."

Like that, the two sisters kept watch through the night, not seeing when the sun rose outside, or the ones watching hidden from their sight, the woman with long black hair that waited next to two silver foxes, the blond boy that wrote in his book as he walked into the room.

"Did you tell her?" Lucier asked, "I know that you saw his name before the festival."

"There was no need to tell her something she already knew," he said quietly, "It will not change his fate or her decision."

With that he wrote down Gaara's name, ignoring the grief-stricken laments as the heart moniter sounded it's alarm as he always did.