▷▶_________〈 Huge 〉〈 EX-class Home 〉〈 Fully Upgraded 〉
Currently hidden about half a day's journey from Kumogakure, Genbu Mountain is actually a slumbering flying turtle the size of a large mountain. In fact, its back side is a mountain, or an island if it happens to rest in a large enough body of water. The turtle, Genbu, met a small girl that during his travels: Mizutou Tsuki, or Nezu as he likes to call her. She happened to save him from a rather deadly encounter, and since then, has graciously allowed her and her spouse to use him as her mobile home. Not like it was any trouble to him, seeing that countless wildlife and vegetation already use his back as their home. He can't feel a thing through his thick shell and skin and even a castle or two doesn't weight him down much more than a mountain already does.
The back of the old turtle is a breathtakingly beautiful place, full of life and water. Lots and lots of water. Pristine rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and the like abound, but not so much that the land becomes uncomfortably swamp-like or marshy. True to the turtle's name, wisterias are the dominating flora on his land, but there are many other types of plants. An equally diverse array of animals can also be seen. Although, since Tsuki's arrival on the island, there's been a distinct rise in the fox population, probably because she's placed seals on a few places, with the turtle's permission, to connect them to the fox summoning realm to allow her friends to come and go as they please from her home and theirs. Cute mechanical guards, in the shape of thigh-high bipedal versions of fluffy animals, are also a new addition Tsuki has brought. They serve to maintain Genbu's mountain/island and to warn of any intruders. They're surprisingly strong for their size, and should not be underestimated.
Atop this island/mountain, Tsuki and Adam live in some ruins they'd found on Genbu's old back. They've been refurbished to be comfortable, of course, but still retain their ancient feel, including all the twisting hallways that make it incredibly easy to get lost. The temple-like ruins are large, and Tsuki usually just teleports from place to place if the walk is too far. She does the same outside her home and on the turtle's back, too, having extensively marked her residence and the lands surrounding it with all sorts of seals. These seals aren't just limited to transportation. Seals for defending the turtle are also scattered everywhere, and the barriers Tsuki can summon or the coordinated traps she can detonate with the seals is nothing to laugh at. They keep turtle's back well-protected.
That isn't to say that seals from some tiny kunoichi is the only reason Genbu is safe. The old turtle has gone through many an ordeal without the little girl's help, anyways. He often likes to boast about how he's had generations of animals growing right on his shell. His skin is almost as tough as his shell and his shell is twice as tough as the toughest mountain. Tsuki's seals? Bah! The only reason she can use them to protect her is because he allows the seals to remain on his body. He has a talent for both hiding his chakra completely and rejecting unwanted chakra from his body, including unwanted seals. It's how he's avoided meeting with pesky people all these years. Also, let's not forget that Genbu is a flying turtle, and don't get him started on how fast he goes considering he's a turtle. Sea? He can swim through it. Air? He can fly through it. Land? He can just fly through the air, but if he absolutely had to, he could dig into it. A nasty bite isn't all his mouth is good for. It can shoot lasers, too, or so he says. Even Tsuki doesn't quite believe that last part.
As a whole, Genbu is still very much a work in progress for Tsuki. She wants to stretch the limits of her seals time-space abilities, and the turtle has been willing enough so far. Her latest addition is a modification she made to the front door. The front door, for those who consciously choose to do so, can open into any one of many places Tsuki has marked on her travels. She's been polite enough about it to not include areas within villages and other potential security hazards, though. Instead, she marks points that are just outside of view of a village's gates.
➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ ➒ ➒
The ring on Tsuki's ring finger glinted in the early morning sun as the hand neatly arranged a flower. She sat on the roof of her home, legs primly tucked under her body, a collection of freshly cut flowers to her side, discarded flower parts to the other side, and a stately flower arrangement forming in front of her. If Tsuki's life had just been a quiet and ordinary one, she would probably have been doing this as a living instead of just a hobby. A thought along those lines passed through her mind, only to be followed by the thought, She put in one last piece to accent the main attraction of the set. Drawing her hands back to place in her lap, Tsuki caught sight of her ring.
Despite having meant to look at her simple arrangement, she found her eyes drawn to the small piece of jewelry. A blush spread across her cheeks as she added, to the thoughts she was having just a few moments ago. Even now, she couldn't quite believe that she had accepted the proposal and even gone through the entire marriage. She didn't regret it. Not at all. If anything, she was really happy about it as completely unexpected as it was. If anyone had asked Tsuki a year ago if she thought she would be proposed to within a year, she would have said no and then started shaking in fear at the prospect of someone doing so. However, not only was she proposed to, but accepting it felt like the most natural thing ever. She had said "yes" without fully realizing it. For the better, probably, because if she had time to think, no doubt her fears would have only gotten in the way.
Touching the ring softly to her lips, Tsuki finally freed her eyes to critique her arrangement. She couldn't remember how beautiful her mother's arrangements were, but no doubt they were much better than the little piece Tsuki had just put together. A sigh escaped her lips as she extended her hand to reach for a flower that she just noticed was a little brown around the edges. She expected that the arrangement would eventually wilt, but it wouldn't do to put in an already bruised piece. Tsuki carefully extracted the imperfect part and looked to her side for something more suitable.
Her happiness about the union aside, Tsuki couldn't help but be worried. Then again, when couldn't she help but be worried? She and Adam were still so young. They were both still growing up. At least, Tsuki felt that she was still trying to find her place in the world. On one hand, that meant the two of them could work together when most people only had themselves to rely on. Tsuki definitely felt more confident with Adam by her side. With him, she would do things that she'd never thought she'd be able to before. However, what if that just meant she was dragging him down?
she tried to cheer herself up, forcing a small smile even though no one was around, . She placed a non-bruised flower where the bruised flower had been and then gently tilted it to the side ever so slightly. Deeming the amateur work finished, Tsuki clasped both hands together and sighed. she soothed herself,
Tsuki added as she started cleaning up,
➒ ➒ ➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. ➒
Base Speed: 7 ↬ no modifier Base Strength: 6 ↬ no modifier Chakra: 250/250 ↬ regenerate +10 chakra per post ↬ no modifier Ghost Shadow: 40/40 ↬ . . .
Passives ↬ Regenerates very quickly, even when outside of the demon's stages. ↬ +1 Rank Bonus to Sealing ↬ Uzumaki are capable of sealing energy from the environment around them. Meant to prolong battles and slowly debilitate their foes as they draw down their chakra with sealing techniques, the Uzumaki are the best at lasting long and using over-enlarged amounts of chakra. By activating their tattoos, they will gain a number of chakra from the environment every post (10 at sannin). This connection to nature also gives them a sense of nature; they can feel disturbances in chakra, and can greatly perceive others' chakra, though only the shift in chakra (like with technique usage), not the ebb and flow. ↬ The Uzumaki are very accurate when it comes to throwing projectiles. ↬ Fuuinjutsu can be used without without handseals at chuunin rank and above. ↬ All Fuuinjutsu can be shaped in particular ways (for example, a barrier can be shaped into a shield). ↬ Seals, scrolls and barriers can travel through organic and synthetic material ↬ Slightly enhanced perception.
Actives ↬. . .
Fully/Partially Visible Tattoos ↬ Tsuki has a set of tattoos that collectively take the design of multiple wings. At each of her shoulder bones, Uzumaki sealing tattoos etched in white, almost silvery ink extend from her shoulder bones onto her arms, wrapping their skinny shape all the way down to the back of Tsuki’s hands. In the same color is a second pair of wing tattoos that start in the middle of her back, one below the left should bone and the other below the right. These tattoos circle around her waist to the front of her body, where the wing shape that that they design take a steep dip to between the legs. The width of the wings narrow on the way down to the legs and continue to narrow as they spiral down the legs much as the first set of wings spiral down the arms. Once the pair of tattoos reach the knees of the legs they are spiraling down, the seals written into the tattoos are shaped into a ring right below the knees.
Training ↬ Fuuinjutsu technique training is halved.
➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ ➒ ➒
The sun had just reached the peak of its rise, and soon, it would start its descent back to the earth. Tsuki was wandering aimlessly through her home, procrastinating on something she had been telling herself she would get to for weeks. The corridor was bland, much like the rest of the renovated ruins. Tsuki's home was a large but mostly empty place, which she didn't mind. She had just started living here, after all. In time, she was sure she would find more and more memories and objects to fill it with. For now, she was content with having the basic comforts in addition to a few other conveniences.
A sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the blue sky outside. It had been nearly a week since Genbu had landed in this spot. The turtle was currently invisible, so Tsuki felt rather confident in the knowledge that no unwanted visitors would find her, but that didn't mean that she could just lounge around on the turtle's back all day. She couldn't push off the inevitable any longer. It was time.
Time to visit Kumogakure. She had already sent in her intent to rejoin the village, and as a former resident that had been loyal up until the last dissolution of the village, she had been easily approved without having to take a single step into the village. In the letter, she had bared all and truthfully reported her loss of the Kyuubi to an unknown organization with affiliations to the Leaf shogun. What the letter did not contain, however, was that she had managed to recapture the Kyuubi. The demon now resided in a large taiko drum stored in the basement of the ruins.
Tsuki didn't know what manner of ninja existed in Kumogakure. No doubt, there would be sensors enough to sense the presence of the demon within her. She could only hope that they would keep their silence. However, even more prevalent than thorough sensors, in the sannin's experience, were the number of people that could vaguely sense chakra sizes and other properties. The best way to evade the detection of these dangers was to make her entrance with the demon inside her. The spike in chakra could be attributed to her rank up from jounin to sannin since the demon was taken from her, and she had been told over and over that she and the Kyuubi had very similar chakra colors. It was risky, but Tsuki couldn't keep Kyuubi in a drum for all eternity and this was the next best thing she could think of.
This level of secrecy and worry was not something Tsuki had the nerves to even consider in the past. Her ability to do so now was a testament to her maturation over the past year. The order to rip out the Kyuubi had come from the shogun of the very country she had served, and after that ordeal, there were many more. Tsuki was still the same timid, fearful girl as before, but since then, she'd learned through trial and error to prize a ninja's most basic weapon: secrets.
The door creaked open and shut, trapping Tsuki in the darkness of the windowless basement. The dirt around her smelled damp but refreshing in an earthy way. No one would think that a creature of destruction was locked below. Tsuki descended the stone steps, built ages ago by the first inhabitants of these ruins. The girl did not need light to navigate this narrow corridor and uniform steps. When the steps ended, though, she was greeted by a wide open space. Now, she would need light. She flicked up a flashlight and turned it on. Deep in the earth without any ventilation the refreshing earthiness had become stuffy. Tsuki didn't doubt that people could suffocate in here if they spent too much time. She casually located the taiko drum, most of her still dreading the duty she would perform next, and leisurely brought it back up the stairs and out the door, trying to make every second and minute stretch its farthest.
The drum was rolled through the house to a roof-less courtyard. Tsuki was confident, or as confident as a scaredy-cat like her could be, that nothing would go out of control during the self-sealing ceremony she had planned. She would have felt more sure if Adam was around, but she couldn't be a baby like that. The courtyard was thoroughly marked up, intricate seals weaving themselves in circles. Clearly, this was something Tsuki had been preparing for a long while. Centering the drum and herself in the mass of seals, Tsuki took a deep breath and carefully weaved through the hand signs, molding her chakra into delicate nuances that resonated with the seal. As both sealer and vessel, she would need to take extra care. The sealing commenced.
…
The sealing finally ended after many long hours. The sun had set long ago and the moon had risen high into the sky. An exhausted and sweating Tsuki knelt, slumped over the now truly mundane taiko drum, and breathing heavily. Her face was pale, and it really looked like even just leaning against the drum was taking all the energy she could have. Half-closed eyes spoke both her desire to simply fall asleep but her determination to not be lulled into the false security of dreams. She touched the side of her neck, where now, blending in with the medley of all other seals, rested the seal that contained the demon. The seal was complete, certainly, but it was still fresh. Tsuki needed to keep watch over it for a little longer to make sure it had completely settled.
She pinched her neck hard, wincing in pain as she turned around to sit properly. Being alone really was difficult. Tsuki raised both hands, framing the starry night sky between her fingers. A sad smile touched her lips as she fully realized the irony of what she had done. She had just put the thing she feared the most back into her body despite finding a reprieve from it after years of being tormented by the possibility of it breaking out. she closed her eyes, telling herself, Of course Tsuki knew what she was thinking. This whole ordeal had taken months in order to prepare for, both technically and mentally. Anyone else could have been the host of the Kyuubi. It would have been acceptable to simply return it to Kumogakure. Maybe somewhere out there, there was actually someone who truly wanted to be the host. She had already considered all of that, and had been on the verge of going through with any of those outs many times since she had recovered the rampaging Kyuubi.
However, none of that past mattered anymore because now the Kyuubi was definitely sealed in Tsuki's body and all because the now sleeping girl had the silly idea of actually facing her fears for once instead of running away whimpering.
➒ ➒ ➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. ➒
Base Speed: 7 ↬ no modifier Base Strength: 6 ↬ no modifier Chakra: 250/250 ↬ regenerate +10 chakra per post ↬ no modifier Ghost Shadow: 40/40 ↬ . . .
Passives ↬ Regenerates very quickly, even when outside of the demon's stages. ↬ +1 Rank Bonus to Sealing ↬ Uzumaki are capable of sealing energy from the environment around them. Meant to prolong battles and slowly debilitate their foes as they draw down their chakra with sealing techniques, the Uzumaki are the best at lasting long and using over-enlarged amounts of chakra. By activating their tattoos, they will gain a number of chakra from the environment every post (10 at sannin). This connection to nature also gives them a sense of nature; they can feel disturbances in chakra, and can greatly perceive others' chakra, though only the shift in chakra (like with technique usage), not the ebb and flow. ↬ The Uzumaki are very accurate when it comes to throwing projectiles. ↬ Fuuinjutsu can be used without without handseals at chuunin rank and above. ↬ All Fuuinjutsu can be shaped in particular ways (for example, a barrier can be shaped into a shield). ↬ Seals, scrolls and barriers can travel through organic and synthetic material ↬ Slightly enhanced perception.
Actives ↬. . .
Fully/Partially Visible Tattoos ↬ Tsuki has a set of tattoos that collectively take the design of multiple wings. At each of her shoulder bones, Uzumaki sealing tattoos etched in white, almost silvery ink extend from her shoulder bones onto her arms, wrapping their skinny shape all the way down to the back of Tsuki’s hands. In the same color is a second pair of wing tattoos that start in the middle of her back, one below the left should bone and the other below the right. These tattoos circle around her waist to the front of her body, where the wing shape that that they design take a steep dip to between the legs. The width of the wings narrow on the way down to the legs and continue to narrow as they spiral down the legs much as the first set of wings spiral down the arms. Once the pair of tattoos reach the knees of the legs they are spiraling down, the seals written into the tattoos are shaped into a ring right below the knees.
Training ↬ Fuuinjutsu technique training is halved.
➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear, When in fear,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt, When in doubt,➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ ➒ ➒
Nightmares plagued Tsuki as she tossed and turned in her sleep. Of course they would. It was too much to ask for a completely smooth sealing, wasn't it?
"Sorry for the intrusion," the Kyuubi greeted with mock manners. The fox was forced to a halt by taut chains, bound around each of its four limbs, nine tails, and mouth. Tsuki stared silently at the beast. Was this a dream? Or was this real? Relaxing, the Kyuubi stretched and they lay down on his belly. He began talking again, "Nothing? It's been so long since we last saw each other, too. I must say, I like your body much better now. These restraints aren't as bad as last time. Much looser." He nosed the chains, all the while looking at Tsuki with a devious grin that knew all too well that he was getting the reaction he wanted out of the girl. She said nothing and did nothing but stand there shivering, as she looked down at her feet. A snicker from the Kyuubi broke Tsuki's thoughts. she locked gazes with the fox, The Kyuubi yawned, raising his nose up to the dark vastness above him and his host. With a bored blink, the Kyuubi kept up his monologue, "What? Nothing to say? You're the one that chose to visit me after all." That was news to Tsuki, and the surprised blink and start that she responded to that news with made it painfully obvious that Tsuki's thoughts were, . Finally driven to speech, she demanded, politely, "Excuse me? What?". "'Sorry for the intrusion,'" the fox started to repeat everything he had said from the very start. Tsuki did not stop him from repeating everything already said. Nope, she used that time to think instead. She couldn't let herself get caught up in the fox's pace. When the fox had finished, he sighed in disdain, "Really, can't you get a joke and play along with it?". Having patiently waited for her turn to speak, Tsuki declared, "Lies. I won't fall for your tricks." The demon raised an eyebrow as he crossed his front paws, as if to make clear that he would not be incited into a reaction any time soon, "Oh? And what are these tricks and lies? They are certainly news to me, the apparent perpetrator. Is it not true that you wanted to face me, which is why you're here? Poor you, the sealing must have tired you out." There was mockery in the fox's voice. He was mean and had no love for his host. All of that matched what Tsuki knew of the fox and what the fox had learned what Tsuki knew of him. He could not hide this part of his personality from his host, so why try? Tsuki still believed that there was more the Kyuubi was trying to hide. Her eyes narrowed as they traced the meager chains that held the Kyuubi, Before, there were even more chains locking the Kyuubi down and a cage to boot. Tsuki mustered what little courage she had and stood straight, "Don't treat me like one of your new vessels. I know your tricks." "Oh, but I'm not," the Kyuubi defended languidly, "No, I must say, I'm impressed by your folly. It's perked my interest. I know you Tsuki, more than anyone else, I like to think. You were such a whimpering baby all the time. I never would have thought someone like you would not only decide to face against my fully unleashed form but then reaccept me into her body. It's clear I'm not going to be able to get away from you, so why don't we relax and try to enjoy each other's company? Hm?" The line between praise and insult began to blur, as did the lines between hostile jabs and friendly pokes.
The Kyuubi was still laying on the ground, but Tsuki could almost feel it encircling her with his gaze, it's body brushing around her body, tails stroking across her chin, wet nose tracing a circle around her torso. She shivered, and before she knew it, she stumbled backwards, breaking the defiant pose she had adopted. She would not be fooled by the Kyuubi. This wasn't a declaration of defiance. This was fact, hard truth. She knew of the malice it was filled with. She would not believe it to ever be anything but after her body, her life, and its freedom. It would protect her, only so that it could devour her. Everything the Kyuubi was trying to do now, all its cunning trickery and lies employed into trying to improve relationships with its host, did not work on Tsuki.
Now, it was the demon's turn to narrow his eyes. He snarled, still smiling, "How stubborn. You do not believe me?". Tsuki felt compelled to shake her head, it was all she could do. What ambiguity the silent gesture may have had was completely wiped away by the look of terror clear on Tsuki's face. "What a difficult host," the monster growled, "I tried, you know? I tried to be friendly, but you just had to be stubborn." The demon had not moved at all, but Tsuki still found herself scuttling away backwards while still sitting on the ground. The Kyuubi snickered, "Insolent human." He could feel the seals binding him weakening. This wasn't how he had imagined himself loosening the chains holding him down, but it would do. Originally, the fox was going to lure his host into a sense of security that would leave her open to takeover. However, having her so scared of him to the point that she unintentionally loosened the seals would also do.
Ready, the fox stood. The chains stretched taut once more. The demon took a step forwards. There was a short pause as the chains creaked against the chakra monster's strength before they gave way. The next step, another leg free. One more step, another leg free.
As the chains creaked and cracked, Tsuki had reached a point in her fear where she couldn't even move. This wasn't the worst state she could be in, though. At least she could still think, still realize that the Kyuubi was breaking through the seal she made when it shouldn't be able to. She knew she had done everything right. The creation of the seal and its execution were all according to procedure. Meaning, it had to do with a problem with herself. Here, on the cusp of the point of no return, Tsuki had two choices: keep on going or…
Tsuki refused to keep on going. She could not let it end like this for many reasons. She did not have the courage to stand. All she had was debilitating fear, fear that she did not want to accept. Except, this time, she had no other choice but to accept it. She was scared, so she would stand. It is hard to describe the exact thoughts that ran through Tsuki's mind right at that moment when the ninth tail and final chained body part of the Kyuubi was freed, but the result was that Tsuki had chosen to embrace her fear and instead of forcing it back in order to act, she chose to act because of it. She could not run away from her problems because she was scared of them, so her only option was to run at it because she was scared of it.
The Kyuubi towered above her. If this was the physical world and not Tsuki's mindscape, the demon could have eaten her in one gulp. However, things didn't work like that in here. "So you've decided to fight?" the fox asked, raising its head haughtily as all nine tails slammed and created craters in the ground. Tsuki could feel the ground she stood on shake violently, but her fear-filled resolve held her steady. She did not fall. She did not speak. She studied. What was this thing she was so scared of? How would she fight it?
She supposed the first step was to show proper respect to the thing she feared by calling it, him, by his proper name. "Kurama," Tsuki whispered, a murmur that carried all the way the demon fox's ears in the strange physics of Tsuki's mind. "Huh?!" now was the fox's turn to be surprised. "Kurama," Tsuki repeated, "You told this name to my sister, Setsu-nee, and she kept it a secret, telling only Mido-nii. I only found of recently because Mido-nii's diary. You told her your name, yet you ended up overtaking her in cold blood?". Kurama's lips curled up in an unpleasant smile, "That girl, got on my nerves. She was, by far, the most infuriating person to be with. Even when I resided within her, all I could perceive of her mind was a jumbled, indecipherable mess. Getting me to slip and tell her my name was a testament to her skills, I suppose, but in the end, I won. I lured her and overtook her." "I won't let you do that to me," Tsuki replied, "I'm too scared to let you do that?". "Was that… was that just a question?" "Y-yes? Maybe?" Kurama let out a ground-shaking laugh. "Well, look at you," the fox commented as he tilted his head down to face Tsuki, "Looks like you have some of your sister's unpredictability. Family breeds alike, I suppose, even if you two are not blood-related." "S-so does this mean you won't hurt me?" Tsuki asked timidly. " Ha! No!" the Kyuubi refused as he lunged at Tsuki. He moved to devour the little girl.
Except when the demon had snapped its jaws shut and completed his lunge, Tsuki was still standing and untouched. Sure, she was shivering unshakeable and her eyes were shut tight, but she had not been taken. The devouring had been a translation of the Kyuubi's attempts to take over Tsuki. An attempt that had, apparently, failed.
"N-no," Tsuki muttered as she shook her head, body still shaking. She opened her eyes and turned to face the demon, repeating, "No."
The Kyuubi growled as it leaned closer to the ground, threatening to pounce, "What manner of trickery is this?".
Defying Kyuubi Tsuki firmly shook her head, "No. You shall not pass. The seal remains." The chains that bound the Kyuubi may have disappeared, but the cage, Tsuki's entire mind, was still intact. She will not let the demon roam free nor will she let him control her. She was too scared for that. "Kurama," she demanded, "accept your fate." "Never," Kurama denied as pounced.
Tsuki could have repeated what she did before, but that wasn't going to get the argument anywhere. She needed to show the demon that she meant what she said. Chains erupted from every possible surface and surrounded the Kyuubi, latching onto the demon and dropping him mid-pounce. Tsuki charged forwards, leaping directly onto the head of the demon. "I will not let you continue!" she shouted, a rarity for her, "I will not let you destroy again!". The Kyuubi sneered, "And what purpose do I have to listen to a disgusting human? What has your race ever done to deserve the respect of us?!" as he strained against the chains. Several broke, but more came up to replace them. "Uzumaki…," the Kyuubi threatened, truly enraged now, "Release me now! What right do you have to bind me?!". "W-well!" Tsuki gripped tightly to a chain that ran across Kurama's back, "If I let you go, you'll just kill more people!". "Heh, and do you believe those people are worth saving?" "At least some of them are! Like my family was, blood-related and otherwise!" "So a grudge against me, is it? You're just like the rest of your selfish race."
For a while, no response came from Tsuki. Her mind had clicked with something that the Kyuubi just said. The Kyuubi's struggling renewed, taking the silence as a sign that Tsuki's will, and therefore the seals she had binding him, had weakened once more. He was anything but right.
No longer did fear color Tsuki's voice, even though she felt much of it, "Hey, something happened between you and humans in the past, huh? What was it?". For a little bit, she had thought that maybe the Kyuubi was afraid of something, an emotion that she could very well relate to. Only for a little bit. Yes, Tsuki still felt that there was a specific problem that the monster had with humans, a problem with a legitimate reason for being a problem. Although, she thought it being something related to fear was far too far-fetched. The question shut the fox right up. His struggling stopped and he did not speak. His next words were in a low grumble, "Why would you want to know?". He had just realized that he had said too much and could not take it back. Tsuki struggled to find the right words for her thoughts, "I… I know the pain of a bad memory. It's horrible. Plus, if you no longer have a reason to hate humans, then you won't go on a rampage, right?". You think you can fix it?" Kurama asked gutturally. "Well, I won't know until you tell me," Tsuki reasoned, "Plus, you're stuck here until I know that you won't be a danger to innocent lives and, well, my life. I'm sure you'll be out for me after this fiasco if I set you free." The sannin shivered. Being the target of a demon was in no way something she desired.
Kurama said nothing for a good long while, silently scheming. Choosing to not break his host now would mean that his life would be linked to hers. "I will watch for now," was the demon's answer, as he hid his own inability to escape his host's bindings, "As a prize for your stubbornness, my power is yours… if you can handle it."
Giving up and wishing for some privacy, the Kyuubi released his hold on his host's conscious. Turns out, he was the one that induced this nightmare. Tsuki felt herself drifting off as the mental landscape around her blurred into nothingness. Her normal dreams and nightmares returned as her mind drifted back to sleep. (2417 words / 1500 words)
➒ ➒ ➒ ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, Run in circles, ➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒➒ ➒ Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. Scream and shout. ➒
Base Speed: 7 ↬ no modifier Base Strength: 6 ↬ no modifier Chakra: 250/250 ↬ regenerate +10 chakra per post ↬ no modifier Ghost Shadow: 40/40 ↬ . . . Nezumi no Gaito: 01/40 ↬ . . .
Passives ↬ Regenerates very quickly, even when outside of the demon's stages. ↬ +1 Rank Bonus to Sealing ↬ Uzumaki are capable of sealing energy from the environment around them. Meant to prolong battles and slowly debilitate their foes as they draw down their chakra with sealing techniques, the Uzumaki are the best at lasting long and using over-enlarged amounts of chakra. By activating their tattoos, they will gain a number of chakra from the environment every post (10 at sannin). This connection to nature also gives them a sense of nature; they can feel disturbances in chakra, and can greatly perceive others' chakra, though only the shift in chakra (like with technique usage), not the ebb and flow. ↬ The Uzumaki are very accurate when it comes to throwing projectiles. ↬ Fuuinjutsu can be used without without handseals at chuunin rank and above. ↬ All Fuuinjutsu can be shaped in particular ways (for example, a barrier can be shaped into a shield). ↬ Seals, scrolls and barriers can travel through organic and synthetic material ↬ Slightly enhanced perception.
Actives ↬. . .
Fully/Partially Visible Tattoos ↬ Tsuki has a set of tattoos that collectively take the design of multiple wings. At each of her shoulder bones, Uzumaki sealing tattoos etched in white, almost silvery ink extend from her shoulder bones onto her arms, wrapping their skinny shape all the way down to the back of Tsuki’s hands. In the same color is a second pair of wing tattoos that start in the middle of her back, one below the left should bone and the other below the right. These tattoos circle around her waist to the front of her body, where the wing shape that that they design take a steep dip to between the legs. The width of the wings narrow on the way down to the legs and continue to narrow as they spiral down the legs much as the first set of wings spiral down the arms. Once the pair of tattoos reach the knees of the legs they are spiraling down, the seals written into the tattoos are shaped into a ring right below the knees.
Training ↬ Fuuinjutsu technique training is halved.
Miscellaneous (OOC: I'm sorry Gavin, but I needed to get in this demon training before posting for the god raid >< . Feel free to not read. All of it is just taking place in Tsuki's mind as she sleeps, anyways.)
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
[TIMELINE: BEFORE entering Michael's Airship but AFTER finishing his training.]
Upon his lengthy travels throughout the Lightning Country, Yuudai stumbled upon something you don't see everyday. Well, actually, in a world where ninjas can summon giant frogs, drop meteors from the sky, and draw black flames out to destroy enemies, this wasn't ordinary. He glanced up while climbing the mountain to see the underside of a giant goddamn turtle, as well as some soft sighing from the large mountain turtle being asleep. But then the question needed to be brought to attention, is the tortoise sleeping or is he dormant? A question he'd need to answer another day since he was hanging from some rocks, just short of falling to his death.
Yuudai would make his way to the back of the turtle, reaching the top in no time to do a long, needed stretch and then give a long sigh of relief as he survived the trip. He turned his head and looked out to the horizon to see the sun rise, had he been climbing all night and into the morning? It was still quite the sight to see though. He wondered who would even live on the back of a mountainous tortoise anyways. Yuudai turned himself back around and saw the life that stretched along the back of the turtle's shall. So much water, so many trees and plant-life. It was like the turtle had created a new ecosystem with how much bountiful life was poured along his backside. He wanted to see it all.
"Woah, this turtle has definitely been places," He said as he took a few strides over to the pond and looked into it, seeing a reflection of himself before a fish jumped up and tried to snap at his face, making him nearly jump out of his shoes and socks before falling back onto his a**. He clutches his chest and gives a few nervous chuckles before getting himself up, "haha...whew! Well, I shouldn't trust this place juuuuuuuuuuust yet!"
He'd never very much liked Kaminari no Kuni, or the Lightning Country. It wasn't solely the fact that they were the ones who'd taken part in the dismantling of his country's power structure. The Fire Country did suffer at the hands of these people, but in more ways than one. Their culture was a sickening one - it bred mistrust, anxiety, tension and deceit. It had been that way for hundreds of years. How many benevolent leaders had come out of this place? Right now, they were led by a woman with a temperament fit for an undertaker rather than a Shogun. And the Kage - violent at heart.
However, as much as Takahara had a subtle dislike of this place, he had been sent on reconaissance to observe the state of the country. The man - utilizing his citizenship with Uzushiogakure - had managed to slip into the Lightning Country without suspicion and observe the cities and infrastructure of the nation. Like most of the shinobi world, it was still recovering from the cataclysm over a century ago, but it had recovered quite well. There weren't nearly as many ruins or starving villages here as in the Fire Country, though he did note that a lot of the ruins in the Fire Country came from the people of these lands. They prospered, though, and would be a grand threat to Otogakure if they ever went to war. He would relay as much.
One of the strangest things he'd discovered while scouting out the country, however, was an island he swore didn't quite have the necessary requirements to be an island. Firstly, he couldn't find shores, but rather a strangely smooth surface leading into soil and forestry that wasn't natural of a tropical environment. Secondly, he could have sworn he'd seen the island move, which wasn't something typical of islands in the slightest. Finally, the island was definitely not an island. Period. Gut feelings and all that. He went forth to investigate, large roots extending from the ground and creating a bridge for him to inspect the terrain. What he found near the southern edge of the island was a neck protruding from the mass, beneath the water. It was an animal.
"Huh," he remarked. He'd expected giant turtle islands to be a Water Country thing, not Lightning. The Senju continued to inspect the island, traveling down the pathways and skirting around an area that seemed to be a... run-down village or something. In the distance, he saw a boy leaning towards a pond, and a large fish flipping out and trying to snap at his face. The Jounin raised a brow. How the hell does a giant turtle island even have a pond? Or trees? Or anything?
He couldn't answer that question, but maybe - he thought - this guy could. The shinobi swept forward and landed on the opposite side of the pond from Yuudai. "Hey," he called out to him. "Is it just me, or is this a giant turtle with its own biome and ecosystem?"
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
"Oh!" He noticed the other shinobi on the other side of the pond and dusted himself off from falling earlier. He took a few cautious steps to the side to avoid where the fish had jumped up from and stepped onto the water, then took another step, and then another. Soon, he was doing normal strides along the pond until he reached the other shinobi's side, his feet touching the solid earth and rich soil. "Yeah, I wondered the same thing myself and how a giant turtle got onto the mountain anyway and how its back was even able to provide water and plant life unless it stole it or something," he said as he reached down and tugged some of the grass from the ground and turned it to see the dirt and soil that kept it alive. "Yeah, this is pretty legit, ya' learn somethin' new everyday I guess. Then again, we're ninjas that know how to summon gigantic animals from another plane of existence and can do things most regular human beings, who haven't harnessed and controlled their chakra, can do." "Ah well, my name's Yuudai, but you can call me Yuu," he said as he glances to the man, standing himself aside as he tosses the lump of dirt of pulled out of the grounnd into the water. It was odd, this rich ecosystem was bountiful, full of life, more so than the war-torn world below them. The view was simply breathtaking from where he was before, at the edge of the turtles back and the sun was just rising, giving a rather lush orange hue to the sky.
He concurred with those questions, silently watching the other shinobi cross the pond and listening to him speak. Indeed, the entire place was odd, but the Kumo-nin spoke true in that this world was full of anomalies. Takahara could shapeshift into a variety of different animals, control wood to an alarming degree and rejuvenate people from a state of near death. He himself was an anomaly. The fact that this boy - Yuudai - could walk across the pond was an anomaly. The turtle was just one of many.
When the boy gave his name, though, Takahara felt a sort of apprehension. Why tell him? He wondered to himself. This was a place of enemies - not only to the Fire Country, where he hailed from, but even the Rice Country where he'd come to dwell. He felt a pressure, though, as the polite and mannerly part of himself entangled jointly with the part of him that whispered not to judge people merely by their collective: their nationality, clan, sex, and all other such characteristics. He took a silent breath and attempted to relax his brow, looking at the man more calmly.
"I am Takahara Senju," he told him. His clan name would very clearly indicate that he was likely from the Fire Country originally. There weren't many Senju in the Lightning Country, not anymore. "I'm vacationing in this country. It's a lot less run-down than where I come from - more modern. Almost hard to tell that the world nearly ended when you're in a place like this. Haven't really seen any place that took my breath away, though. Way too much desert and heat here. I'm glad I managed to find a place like this." He lowered himself, his feet moving into the water as he seated himself against the grass outside of the pond. The man looked up at Yuudai. He seemed young and inexperienced, likely didn't pose a threat.
"Are you from here? I know a lot of people migrated to Kaminari no Kuni after the war. You don't seem as cold as most of the people I've met here, so..." His words were still tense. He resorted to small talk, in a way, unsure just who he'd come across yet. The fact that he approached him in the first place meant he wished to talk, but he only remembered shortly afterwards just how poor he was at speaking to people for the first time.
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
He thinks about it at first, his village was small, not many people were just rushing in and out of Kumo right now but probably neither was Oto. He did remember hearing about that, years ago, the world nearly ended due to a culmination of cataclysms that delved the world into absolute darkness. Yuudai remembered hearing about the tales of gods coming down to earth and challenging the shinobi to survive, of how the shinobi were able to get the strength of gods to combat their very creators, how before all of this, all of the villages were full of shinobi. He looked out into the horizon, watching a dragonfly move along the water and land on a lily pad before a large fish ate it whole. He glanced at Takahara, now knowing his name and even his lineage, his clan of high prestige. It didn't really phase him, nor did it make him want to bow down and beg for forgiveness for his lack of formalities.
Up here, it was just two people talking, nothing more, nothing less. He could even see the tenseness from Takahara's bodily expressions and face, not entirely like a map but Yuudai spent most of years reading people to assess a situation more thoroughly. First, he pulls his hands out of his pockets and holds them up in a way that shows no hostility, palms pointed to Takahara before sitting himself down. He puts his hands on his knees and keeps them there, "Yeah, this is my home. Not everybody from these lands are cold and distant, I'd say it was just bad pick of conversation partners is all. No worries though, I hold no grudges, life's too short to have those." He said as he crosses his legs and looks out to the horizon as the sun finally rises.
"Oh! and since we're being fair, my full name is Yuudai Joukai Yoshimitsu. Nice to meet ya!" He gives an earnest smile to the Senju with no sugary bullshit on his face, it was genuine. "My village is mostly battle ready this and strengthening that, so to come up here and see the world like this from atop this turtle does take my breath away, it reminds me of a time where things were simpler and more comfortable to live in."Yuudai realized something, didn't they just break into someone's house...?
The shinobi nodded. "That's true," he confessed. "Far be it from me to generalize everyone in this country. I guess I have had a bad pick of conversation partners. After all, I was a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf during the Great War. Most of my conversations with people from these lands were during interrogations and the sending off of dying foes." He confessed, knowing perhaps that it would immediately change the dynamic between he and Yuudai - though hostilities between their two villages were no longer open, and so he hoped the other ninja wouldn't feel the need to fret. It was in the past. "I don't hold grudges either. I've realized by now that most of the conflicts across the shinobi world are simply at the whims of our Shogun. Your people and mine are good. They should be, at least. No need to hate each other over being forced to fight." He shrugged. The man was exceptionally different than how he'd usually acted, often more polite and sweet, regardless of where he was or who he was speaking to. He supposed being here put him on-edge, and speaking to a shinobi of Kumo even moreso.
But Yuudai was nice. Yuudai Joukai Yoshimitsu. He had a strong name, and he shared his clan in common with one of Takahara's students.
"Nice to meet you," he said with a polite bow. "I do appreciate this place. It's quaint. Different from everywhere else - isolated. Sometimes the urban life of Otogakure feels suffocating; no matter where you go, there are far too many people crowding at your back. Kumogakure is probably even worse. I mean - with half of your land being rocks and sand, you guys probably tend to flock to the urban centers," he stated, though guesswork at best. He hadn't heard much about Kumogakure, and he'd never gone.
"Honestly though, things are simple now," he said in reply to Yuudai. "Just look at the world around you. Nature thrives as a result of the decomposition of humanity. The wilds are taking back urban centers. I'm not happy that so many of us died, but maybe it's given us time to reflect. On our sins. On what we did, despite knowing better. On the abuse of power at our finger-tips. We are still in a place where we can learn and grow, and try not to make the same mistakes of yore. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I feel." The Senju looked to the lands surrounding him; all green. In the urban world of Shinsei, Kya, Masako and Kaisen, the beauty of nature yielded always to the control of man. Now - it had taken back, although it had taken great cataclysm to do so.
The Anokai often believed that the hubris of man invited Hakan and Tamei - Spirits of Moon and Land - to punish humanity, and the shinobi especially. Takahara did not know if this was true, but he welcomed the thought all the same. He was glad places like this existed. They may have been eradicated some time ago if the powers of before still walked the earth.
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
"I used to do that myself too at one time, I was younger, much more stupid," he said as he puts his hands in his pockets, referring to when he spoke of generalizing everyone in a country. "I had visited Konoha a long time ago with my family, seeing the Senju, villagers, the kage, the shinobi forces, all of them were extreme stiffs to me, but I was wrong, it was a place of high nobility. Being commonplace to see Senju, Hyuuga, and even Uchiha there too."
"Kumo is pretty bad about townsfolk but all of them are incredibly friendly, there's a bar I usually go to and the guy doesn't kick me out due to my age. Got plenty of ramen there too, the shopkeepers let me browse even when I have no money. Oh! and the kunoichi's are pretty grand~" He chuckles, mind drifting off for a second before coming back into reality. "Uh! B-but anyway! This place is definitely nice, like living on a secluded island out at sea. Sounds better than the hustle and bustle of the villages." "No, I can see what you mean, your not wrong. Those people, as grim as I have to say it sadly, had to go. They had a more, pessimistic and dominated way of thinking which brought the world into war in the first place. They only looked out for themselves while having a thought process that they were looking out for others and themselves. They lied to themselves, paid the price, but gave us the benefit of having all of this to enjoy, y'know? Hopefully we never make that mistake again in this day and age, or at least know when to stop." He gives a more melancholy-like sigh as he thinks back of the stories his father told him, of a time where bats and gods existed, the Jyuubi survived by feeding on the living, plague and famine spread throughout the five great nations.
High nobility? Takahara paused. He'd never thought about that, actually, but it was true. He supposed it was because once, Hi no Kuni was at the top of the world. With the Karna Empire's rule, they had expanded to all corners of the shinobi world and had invited clans of all colors to live within Konoha and Bai Don. Then, there were the families of before - like the Senju, that had been around for centuries. Konoha birthed much of the innovation of the shinobi world. They had been around since the foundation of all other countries. He was appreciative that Yuudai could see that nobility.
As for the friendly bars and the "grand" kunoichi... well, the Senju could only slightly blush. He never really drank, and he avoided the more sensual attachments, whether kunoichi or shinobi. He stuck to his tree roots and forest salves - they were much more easy to handle than the complex hearts of human beings.
He allowed the subject to be changed, reluctant to say much in response. He hadn't experienced any of it - so he merely nodded. "I don't blame them for how they were," he remarked. "I mean, look at the people behind them. The people who led them to that point. You had Shinsei Karnata, a radical ideologue who wanted to rule the world and teach Konohakara that they alone had the right to subjugate all others. He did this - seemingly - all for the sake of spiting the creature that lived inside of him, something he'd inherited from his blood. A man who placed his own personal satisfaction over the lives of millions, who he'd culled merely for the sake of it. Dozens of cultures of the old world will never be seen again because of that man. And he wasn't the only one. Kya Jaeger and her whole family - untrustworthy warmongers. Kaisen, an opportunist maniac. Kaiser, a man who wished for Sorana to be the only nation left standing. A place that kept to its lonesome only until it decided it wanted to rain terror on its neighbors. They were constantly embroiled in strife. It was decadence. It was a culture that bred hatred. It's for that reason that they needed to go, and that reason that we must always examine ourselves to see if we're following in their footsteps."
He spoke a lot. The Jounin tried to relax himself - away from his ideological tirade. He lowered himself to sit against the grass. "It is beautiful, though. Honestly, I think the scarred world we've found ourselves in is a marvelous thing. There's so much catastrophe across the land, but that helps us realize the good that we have. I'm glad to have found someone who appreciates it," he said with a slight wink, if only to be a goof. The man attempted to return to his more jovial, playful self. He was much happier like that.
"Anyway, let's talk about the ramen and the people," he said with a smile. "I'm a tourist here, and also a curious guy. You have any stories to share about your times in Kumogakure? I wanna go there next. Stories would excite me." He laughed lightly, arms curling together atop his lap.
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
"I believe a wise man once said, and as cliche as it sounds, those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it," he sits back and looks up into the sky, watching the starry sky above be covered by an overcast of clouds as the day came, "but it wasn't just Konoha, all over the five great nations and even further past that, great leaders continued to think of only themselves, risked the lives of their people, and resulted in them dying. Sad, but that is how fate works, how the universe rolls as it were."
Yuu would lie back and lay there, giving a soft chuckle as the subject changes, he remembers the town and its people, "well, the bar is pretty nice, music isn't half bad except for when the teens leave class at the academy and raid the place. They mess with the peace and quiet of the place. Plus, I think the waitress has a thing for me, but maybe I'm just reading too much into her expressions. She always winks at me, haha!" He laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Yuudai then thought further, "the townsfolk are pretty kind and considerate, this one old lady, named Granny Jichao, sells blank scrolls in her little general store. She gets worried when I don't visit her everyday, even if I don't buy a scroll, she likes talking to me about gossip she hears amongst the people. She's like what? 90 or so years old, but still has plenty of pep in her step! Only rule she has is no money, no business."
Listening to Yuudai's stories, Takahara couldn't help but feel uplifted. A smile covered his face. He nodded as Yuudai went on - about the friendly people, about the maybe overly friendly waitress, and the ancient geezer with some attitude left in her and a heart for gossip. Stories like this reminded him of the small town he'd come from, bordering the Rice Country. A place of refuge for the remnants of the Uzumaki Clan, a people closely tied to the Senju.
"My great grandfather, Christian Uzumaki, was like that. He still worked at the Ninja Academy in Konoha until he was a century old. The people where I come from - Monteiku - tried to emulate his vitality, and so not surprisingly half our damn village is ancient hags who are in their triple digits." He laughed, loudly, making it well known how fond the thought was. "I have some people waiting for me at home, too. I have two really close friends - Ping and Mikoto. They've been my buddies since I was a little guy. Ping is a real s**t-starter. She would never say a word bad about any of her friends, but when it comes to the "competition" - namely all the other girls in the country - she goes buckwild with causing drama. Mikoto knows every person's name and everything they wear, all the tailoring practices and what colors would match best with their appearance. She's the local fashionista. I had another, too, Yuusuke. But he died in the war." He sighed, lowering his eyes in melancholy.
Explaining that whole thing was pointless - but in a way, it was kind of fun to talk about them. The people he left behind when everything went south, and he was brought to the fold to defend his country.
"Anyway, anyway, story time. You bringing up a girl crushing on you brought something into my head. One of those two - Mikoto - used to be really into me. She was like your waitress, alright? Kinda giving me the moves. But I was really focused on my studies, and learning techniques, and serving my Clan. No time for something like that. So unlike you who might be starstruck by this serving girl, I had to zap her right in the heart. Tear off the wart. You wanna know how I did that?" He could barely suppress his laughter already, just thinking about it. It was probably the most malicious prank ever, yet also the funniest.
"I gave her a proverbial kick in the balls to make her hate me forever. When she was falling on her a**, I had a tree root spring up and..." Takahara illustrated it with his hands, "I ended up breaking her hymen somehow, though. I don't know if I've ever come closer to being murdered as when her father found out. Firstly because he thought she was lying and that we did it... secondly because, well, you know." He felt ashamed even bringing up this story, but there it was, with Takahara smiling stupidly behind the words. He didn't even know how this correlated to the waitress anymore, but it was a funny story. Probably.
I am the ＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ. An ＡＮＳＷＥＲ to your problem. A ＰＲＯＢＬＥＭ__ＳＯＬＶＥＲ in the making.
❖
He puts a hand to his mouth, looking shocked and a little disturbed at first, then his cheeks puff up and he turns away to hide his goofy grin. "Pffffft! Snrk! Oh my god! He must've been so maaaaaad! Hahaha! " He couldn't hold it anymore, he laughed loud and high, giving his knee a good smack, it was pretty innocent actually. Like an untouched, innocent cinnamon bun. "Didn't do something like that with the waitress, but once she found out my age, it more like a adult to kid kind-of flirting, like a cougar kind-of flirting, y'know. The old man scolds her for doing that stuff because, well, she's married. But I don't mind it really, certainly wouldn't do what you did. Wow!" He chuckles, "still funny as ******** though."
"That and I remember one time, Granny Jichao noticed that I was going over and messing with the local neighborhood street punks that always walked through town. I tried to explain to her that I wanted to defend her shop cause they usually roam around and steal from the local stores, but she started to beat me with her cane all the way home, that old broad had a shillelagh and it hurt like hell! I still have bumps and scars from her last scolding! She said she could handle herself haha, even noticed that the next day, the street punks were helping her clean her shop," he grins, not as funny as Takahara's, but it was quite the adventure for him.
