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"Through training and practice." Itachi replied. "I rose in the ranks, the same as any general would."

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Kaguyo frowned. "Because you're obviously not used to hearing someone express themselves. Believe it or not I'm a romantic, Aled." she seperated from him, taking her dress and shedding her robe over the couch as she started to change. "I just thought you should know the reasons I chose you over Ainsu. If you'd rather I just be around for you to f##k every now and again, we clearly have two different things in mind." she scowled.
He had chosen the perfect dress for her however---red wasn't a color she wore often at all, instead opting for darker and more serious colors. It really brought out the blue of her eyes. It was also more form-fitting than Kaguyo was used to, and she shifted uncomfortably. "Hn...!" was her first reaction, moving to a mirror and examining it. "....Then again, stuff like this is going to take my getting used to also." she whispered, fidgeting. The slinky fabric accentuated everything perfectly....
Kaguyo had never in her life felt like such a girl. It almost made her want to vomit.
"I think I want pants and a shirt please." she turned to Aled, frowning. "This... this is... god, Aled, I never get this dressy. Hell, even those fancy kimonos are a little too much for me, and it's not like I wear makeup or jewelry or anything like that. Do you know how hard it was for me to wear the dress I did on our wedding day? I couldn't wait to get it off.... oh..." she blushed suddenly, remembering. "I think you knew that one at least. Damn. Look, just anything that's dark---I like black." she pleaded, running the end of his long hair through her fingers. "Red's just too attention-grabbing... Do I really have to start dressing like this as Queen?" she frowned, squirming again. "Aled, I really don't think this is funny, nor is it right. This is worse than......no, I take it back, just about equal to needle-fear. Why are you smiling?" she blinked, not sure whether to be angry, scared, or mirthful herself.
Then again, he had a point. If she was to be Queen, she'd certainly have to start dressing like it. Baggy cargo pants and tank tops were nice, but they wouldn't cut it---she couldn't look like common rabble anymore.
Which meant maybe one day she'd have to endure makeup and hairstyling.
Ewwwwww.....


"So your real name isn't Fir." Kazuhiko tilted his head. "Even if I heard it I wouldn't tell... When I'm the next Hunter I'll be able to tell anyhow. I'll have to keep close tabs on you. So if they're all so young, who teaches them things?" he frowned. "Momma's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallly old.... so is Auntie Eara but you can't tell with either of them, they look so pretty!" he chirped giddily. "But then again, how do you know they aren't wise? I'm little, and I'm wise. Sometimes. Depending on the sitcheeation. It's kinda fun."

Eara nodded at the two. "You've both a lot better than most of the bards learning out." she murmured. "You have a real talent for this. Alright. Now I'm going to teach you to shapeshift...."
"Auntie Eara, I dunno about that....!" Kazuhiko warned her, but she shook her head stubbornly.
"Hush Kazu-kun!" she warned him. "We have a deadline to reach. Let's try for three days."
"It's gonna take a week." he shook his head. "When Mumma teaches Maeve about holding spirits it's gonna take her a few days to expand and fortify."
"Why don't you teach her?" Eara glanced at him, and the boy looked calm but almost pleased to be able to detach himself from this.
"Because I'm too young to teach, and I have much to learn." he answered with a smile. "And because Badb said so."
"True." she muttered. "Alright. Now, shapeshifting! The thing about shapeshifting is that you have to take on a shape..."
Kazuhiko approached Eara's side, helping her instruct for this one. He was learning too.
"You have to become the animal you're transforming into."
Kazuhiko suddenly began to shift and change until he had become a hawk, resting on Eara's cast. If a bird could be amused, Kazuhiko was it.
"Um... yes... like Kazuhiko here did." she explained. "It's like drawing in the Goddesses or Gods, except that you draw in the animal, and in a way the animal draws in you. It's hard to explain, but you really have to feel it for it to work. Thom, you're able to invoke the God also... You both need to examine reversing roles. Maeve can't invoke the deities all the time, she'll get spiritually burnt out. Invoking the God will fortify you, bless you, heal you in a lot of respects.... Perhaps we should invoke the Dagda for you, or Lugh. Dagda was Morrigan's consort... Not Badb, but still, it would help strengthen you against the crone. The thing about invoking or shape-shifting is that once you become whatever it is you're aiming for, you have to be careful not to lose yourself... You have to be careful you don't let the animal's fears or needs attack you. For instance, if Kazu-kun were weak, he'd start eating his rats right now."
Kazuhiko was watching them closely however. He wasn't going to eat them by any means, but he was intensely protective of them.
"Kazuhiko however wasn't even born a kid, and is a liar because his mind was hijacked from an older fae's body." she smiled slightly. "So he can control it."
He shifted back and stuck out his tongue at her. "I'm a kid!" he protested. "Hag!"
He scampered back to Fir and wrinkled his nose at her.
"Go ahead, why don't you both try? Unless you're too tired for today." she added, blowing more smoke into Thom's face. "Keep up the good work Thom. You're doing fine."

Eara shook her head firmly. "You heard me. You're both bards. You're both capable of this ability. You're both going to learn. Simple as that. Do you want to get better or not? You don't really have much of a choice."

"Oh. I see." Kazuhiko smiled. "What's your favorite mem'ry Fir?" he asked randomly, tilting his head.

Kazuhiko rolled his eyes. "It's not one of the Mysteries!" he chided Fir. "What's your favorite memory?"
He went over to Eara, helping to heal her more. "I bet you don't need that cast anymore Auntie."
Eara smiled. "You're a hero, kiddo." she ruffled his hair. "I bet you're right. Now Maeve and Thom, I understand what you're getting at. The thing is if you really are going to work together as a whole person you need to understand the other's position, do you understand? I know you don't mean disrespect Maeve, you never have... But you see, there will be times when you as a host will be exhausted. Around that time is when you and Thom will have to switch---you play the music, and he invokes. It'll give you sufficient time to rest, and will ensure that once he's done you can possibly invoke another goddess if you're strong enough. It'll take time and practice. Now, for animals... Maeve, Thom, what animals are you closest connected with?"

Garren in the meanwhile was pacing the Nagaroi hideout impatiently. It was nighttime; he had managed to teleport Arashi and himself away before the jaguar struck.
He was awfully tired however.
"Herne..." he spoke up, moving to stand beside the man as he looked out the window, "I have a few questions. One, how goes the research for iron immunity? Secondly, you have a way of finding souls, correct...?"

"Then tell me all of them." Kazuhiko climbed into Fir's arms, resting his head on his shoulder. "I wanna hear stories."

Eara chuckled softly. "Well....that might be a possibility one day, but let's start with something you both could identify with. Maeve, you were in a kitten for a good while... why don't you start with cats?"

Garren shook his head head. "Between the Fianna and Morrigan... we've been quiet for a good while, Herne. They haven't even come after us. Whatever's occupying them must be important enough that they haven't even imagined looking this way... which is exactly why we need to attack now, while they're distracted."

Garren nodded. "The Fianna isn't someone I can conquer right now, admittedly." he murmured quietly. "She's a lot older than I am, a lot more experienced. Fighting her was no treat by any means. Find me Morrigan or one of her kin." he requested of the hunter. "If we start taking them out now, that'll be one less person we have to worry about teaming up with the Fianna... it'll allow a lot more mobility in our case."

Kazuhiko yawned, nuzzling his shoulder. "Good. Start telling."
Coco kept at Fir's side as long as he held the boy; indeed, Kazuhiko's animals were immediately loyal to him. The rats scampered over both their shoulders and heads, making themselves comfortable snuggling around the boy especially.
"I love all of you." he smiled happily. "I like having friends."

Eara nodded. "Yes, I know..." she sighed softly. "Not your favorite. But you know it well. Now you need to remember what it was to be a cat... forget all boundaries of skin and mind, remember the cat. Thom, I need you to try and express the cat in music. See what you both can do."

Garren nodded. "I can imagine. Lucky for me Morrigan isn't so formidable... Nor are any of her siblings, they've all died plenty of times before. She's absolutely petrified of you, I bet." he chuckled softly. "After what happened to her last time who could blame her? We'll take them out and then go to work on defeating the Fianna. Whatever happened to Morrigan's child?" he asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Is he alive?"

Eara nodded approvingly. "Right, right... you're both on the right track." she smiled warmly, encouraging them. "Keep at it. You're starting to shift Maeve... Dive into it. You'll be alright, trust it. Keep a sense of who you are, though."

Kazuhiko huffed. "I don't care about blood and guts and that. Those are ok. Don't tell me any mushy love stories, I hate those." he grumbled. "Girls are icky and have cooties. I don't need that."