A Haunting in the Ancient Forest [Private]

[Okada Kaji]

Story continued from "Lofty Heights"

Several Months Ago

“I picked up some holy water from the fountain at the Soaring Thunder yesterday,” Kaji said as he shook a capped mason jar with a taped on label in one hand. Stacked in his other hand was an assortment of other odds and ends: incense, a rope of large black prayer beads (at least that’s what they said the beads were for), a religious talisman the size of a dinner plate, and a holy scroll eight times the age of both Kaji and Yuii combined. The paramours were together in the largest space of a bungalow Kaji moved in just a few days before. It was a wooden home of modern design and decent repair, found in the ancient forest. The spacious room was a nest of comfy floral and plushy furniture set chosen by the previous owner, a dusty television set Kaji hadn’t used yet. The walls were lined with two book cases loaded with random novels and awful self-help collections. Everywhere you looked had useless novelty items and charms. Warm lighting lit the room from a spinning ceiling fan, which created a low electric hum. A chorus of frogs and crickets joined the sounds of the night outside and entered the room through the cracked windows and open screen door. They had casual dinner set aside in brown paper bags: pressed paninis to go from that place with the Susukino District with the good carbonara.

And to think Kaji got all this for absolutely nothing... though he received it on one condition: it was his as long as he could free the home of a long standing ghost problem. “Thanks for helping me with this mess, Blue” Kaji said with a reluctant smile, knowing he would have been helpless in exorcising an earthbound spirit without the help of Yuii, who had a connection with kind of stuff. “They never discussed exorcisms in any of my training.” He then laughed solidly. Kaji set down his collection of suggested exorcism paraphernalia and went to the kitchen where he pulled glasses for beverages. All things considered, Kaji wasn't on edge despite their task and wasn't even dressed for battle. He lacked leather or armor in favor of a red, long sleeved "Konoha Blaze" t-shirt with rolled sleeves and gray sweatpants. Eelspine also had the night off and was left on his sword rack in his bedroom.

It was the evening and the night was young. The night was a perfect time to prepare a seance, as from the previous owner’s recollection and Kaji’s experiences from the last few days, the spirit haunting the bungalow primarily acted at night. At first, Kaji felt minor disturbance— the occasional item would playful evade his grasp, or he felt a tickling sensation at the most inconvenient times. But as Kaji persisted in staying, the ghost became more aggressive. Items would fly off the shelves at times, his bed began to quake whenever he was sound asleep, and the rooms would suffer uncomfortable temperature changes. After a couple of sleepless nights and enough failed efforts to deal with the ghost himself, Kaji brought Yuii to witness the haunting and see what she could do. Together, they prepared to attempt their first exorcism as a couple.

- Kaji Okada has entered the thread.
- Requesting Yuii Kagetsu.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

It was Yuii's first time in the enchanting little house Kaji had been so generously given on a single stipulation. While the decor was not what she could picture her practical-minded lover living in- though the idea of him dusting all those trinkets in an apron was enjoyable-, Yuii couldn't have pictured a better place for him to live. The proximity to the forest stirred the rare embers of envy and the garden space was more than most of the vertically built Kumogakure people could dream of owning. There was enough space that he wouldn't need to board his horse which would save a small fortune, and the peace and quiet were palpable. Once they took care of the spirit created miasma of anger that made everything look two shades darker to her eyes and made the thick and difficult to breath, it would be perfect. That was the subject of the night's visit. Remove the spirit haunting the little forest home and secure it as Kaji's property. By the looks of it, Kaji had been preparing.

"That was generous of them. I wasn't aware they created such a thing, but I suppose it makes sense. Water attracts lightning, and lightning is the act of Raiden. I wonder what they do that makes it holy." The blue woman chimed around her sixth ginger snap cookie while staring curiously at the odds and ends Kaji had assembled. Like usual, her partner was well readied and had pulled together a pile of relics for their night's cause. The talisman looked to have come off the side of a temple, the scroll from the depths of the library and the beads... well. Along with the holy water, they stood a good chance of drawing out and expelling the spirit plaguing the homely little house Kaji hoped to inhabit, at least in theory. She hadn't the first inkling of how to actually use them after all, and could only hope Kaji had done some research on the topic for the both of them. The water seemed familiar, and Yuii recalled a similar smaller talisman on the person of one of the minks she had helped to exorcism and old manor, but that was all. Yuii had hoped to check the library after he had brought the housing dilemma to her attention, but like so many things in her life, work had taken precedence. She had barely had time to return to her own shoebox of an apartment to change into loose, casual clothing.

With that thought, Yuii gave a wry smile in return to Kaji's own and decided not to mention her lack of direct experience on the matter. Her usual route was to help a ghost detach and move on if they needed to, not expel them from their home, but those spirits were usually just lost and afraid. The malicious spirit that Kaji had described seemed unlikely to respond to gentle coaxing, and so it would be acceptable to approach it as if it were an enemy.

Hopping up from the floral couch she had taken a seat on at arrival, Yuii gave into the magnetic urge to close the space between them under the guise of helping with the exorcism's supplies. "Really, I don't mind. It sounds like it's escalating in its attempts to get you out. I wouldn't want you to get hurt," she said with a playful smirk, "though I must admit, an exorcism was not my first thought when you said you needed help breaking the house in. I think I was played. You'll have to make it up to me later with more than toasted sandwiches." With a laugh for her own joke, Yuii darted for the next room and feigned interest in the old-lady chic decor. The number of knick-knacks and photos in every corner was a bit overwhelming for a minimalist like Yuii.

"So it normally shows up after dark? I don't see anything out of the ordinary but I must admit, the whole place is making me feel on edge. Like it's poisoned the spirit world."

 

[Okada Kaji]

Kaji followed Yuii back into the parlor with a bottle of cheap champagne and couple of glasses in his hands. He went to the coffee table at the room’s center and set things down beside the paper bag as if it was all ingredients for the seance. In truth, Kaji expected the spirit to appear on time that night, and expected a casual dinner before they got into mingling with the dead… the easygoing strategy he was following may have been misleading, especially when Yuii admitted that she came expecting something other than a seance that night. Of the duo, Kaji usually matched Yuii's deviance and smirked when she revealed a bit of disappointment that the housewarming party wouldn’t include much partying at all. “Then consider me in your debt” Kaji answered as he popped the lid on his bottle of elixir. “I owe you a proper tour of the place once we get rid of the unwanted voyeur creeping in the walls.” He looked about, wondering if the ghost was listening and might cue an item flying off a wall in protest. “You know, I swore there was a painting with one eye that followed us in that hotel room, but I didn’t say anything cuz I thought it might freak you out… but if you’re into that sort of thing...” Joking, his smile widened and he stopped to pour two glasses of fizzy drink.

With a sudden recollection, Kaji answered Yui's inquiry of the ghost’s habits, “Yeah, it usually waits for me to go asleep, which is normally pretty late. And it never seems to cause trouble while I’m away… I’ve never come home to a mess or anything.” And as their focus came to the matter at hand, Kaji took a sip from his glass and then set it aside in favor of the old parchment scroll. He’d say “The old owner of this place has kids who started their own families, and she left here in favor of an apartment in Seki… She said it was too much to manage by herself— I’m thinking maybe this spirit could be her significant other.”

Unfurling the long parchment scroll, Kaji mulled over the wisdom left from ages ago. He had managed to decipher most of the instructions in advanced, just following tips given to him at the monastery and abroad. But next on the list came the instruction to gather something precious to the afflicted spirit. “The scroll says to find something important to the ghost” Kaji said, relaying the info to Yuii. There were useless trinkets all over the room, but they were, undoubtedly of any importance unless the spirit really loved tabletop board games with missing pieces, or a stuffed turkey with starring dead eyes. “Hmm,” he hummed, “come here and take a look at something,” Kaji said, inspired. His tall figure shot upwards from the couch again, and he sought to lead Yuii to another room down the hall.

The hall was a short walk, to say the least, with a shag rug on the tiled floor, unlit candle sconces on the walls, and a mirror at the end to create an illusion of more space. The hall was dim, drenched with darkness with the parlor's ceiling fixture as the only source of light. There were three rooms and one bathroom on the way to the back. The first room to the left was where they turned, and an office suite was revealed. “Someone had a hobby, I’d wager,” said Kaji as he opened the door wide and led Yuii into the cramped space. That glass of champagne then rose to his lips again, as he absent-mindedly brought it along. He pulled on a beaded chain hanging from the ceiling, which triggered the click of a single, lonely lightbulb mounted on the head of a dusty ceiling fan. The walls were lined with yellowed maps of all sorts of sizes and printed locales. Many were framed, while even more were rolled up and sticking out of bins. Navigation tools were strewn out across a broad desk, all caked with dust as if this room was not touched in some time. One map, in particular, was pinned to a board above the desk, and marked with red thumbtacks; it was a top-view of Kumogakure but seemed kind out of date or something.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

A smile played across Yuii's lips and she quirked one brow up with amusement. "Really?" she warbled cheerfully, placated at the promise of a 'proper' tour. Her blue eyebrows flicked upwards suggestively then creased back down at the mention of a painting watching their more...intimate moments. Had they really been watched all along?

When you dealt with spirits, you also dealt with their ability to get anywhere. A pervert didn't stop being a pervert just because he had died, making for some very awkward moments when she caught spirits in bathhouses, hotels and academy changing rooms. It had taken her an embarrassingly long time to figure out what they were doing, but after that, she had learned to be careful of the vanished voyeurs. And so, it was a shock she had missed something like a moving painting, and horrifying to know they could have been watched. "N-no! You know I only wa..." she squeaked indignantly in response to the teasing. The rest of her sentence melted into inaudible mumbling.

Yuii back-tracked to pluck up the second glass of cheerfully bubbling champagne while listening attentively to Kaji. Her eyes raked over the array of little figurines as she sipped experimentally at her beverage. What odd taste the people who lived here had. Yuii's own apartment was very uniform and clean. Having so many little trinkets that could break if you looked at them wrong or that demanded dusting constantly would be a nightmare.

The revelation that the ghost could be the deceased husband of the very woman who was giving the house to Kaji pulled her back to Kaji. "Oh, that's sad," she hummed, as Kaji unrolled the scroll that thankfully held some instruction to the process of "I wonder why he's lingering here when she's ready to move on. Maybe he was controlling and hopes that scaring you off will make her return. Or maybe the house is important." Ghosts tended to latch onto things they cared about. They were usually happy to stick with those they cared about or wander about enjoying themselves once they formed properly too. Building up enough strength to move objects in the mortal world was very difficult and usually was anger or fear driven. It didn't make sense that a presumably happy man with a full family would stick around to throw pillows at intruders.

Relief; Kaji really did know what they were doing. "That sounds right!" she chimed happily, glad to have the first step of their goal laid out. Finding a personal item in someone's home ought to be easy, and that would gain her a smaller less enjoyable tour to ease her curiosity. Kaji knew exactly where they should start from too, so off they were down the most demure little hallways Yuii had ever seen and into an office that wasn't much smaller than her apartment bedroom. She squinted at the light and held back a sneeze from all the dust.

"Maps." she observed, tilting her head to the side, "Old maps? Huh." Not what she had been expecting, but interesting enough.

Let loose upon the room like pet first allowed into a home, Yuii began a curiosity-driven search through the personal belongings of their presumed poltergeist. Her search wasn't linear in its progress, nor did the things that caught her attention make sense in its order of importance. She spent as long contemplating the map lover's chair of worn leather and the pattern of the carpet as she did on the maps pinned everywhere. There were a few books, mostly about the maps. She spent some time leafing through them then brought a few back to the dusty desk to rest on their spines to see what pages they were most often opened to. Nothing interesting, it seemed, unless one liked knowing the historical markings used for cave entrances and mines.

"I guess someone has to like this kind of stuff," she chimed, lifting her gaze to the old ceiling. A small hatch caught her eye, likely the panel cut when electricity was added to the house."What will you do with this space when it's officially yours? An office I suppose?" Without explanation, she dragged the chair from under its place beneath the desk until it sat under the hatch. That explained the odd twist to the carpet.

Yuii's eyes met Kaji, and she gave an excited smile, "maybe there's treasure?" she laughed, hopping up to have a look before he could say otherwise. Treasure, wires, or empty space at least it was interesting, she mused while stretching to open the little hatch. Sadly, there was no treasure, but she could see a pile of papers in the dim shadows. Thoughtlessly she reached and pulled them out, then screamed.

A pile of magazines pasted with nude women fell and scattered across the floor. Yuii buried her cherry red face in her arms and whimpered.

 

[Okada Kaji]

And so they spent a long moment rummaging through the dusty chattels of their suspected ghost. The twosome was like Sherlock and Watson in the way they combed through the details, though if you asked them who was the Sherlock, either was just as likely to say “well, of course, it’s me.” While Yuii observed the desk and moved her attention upwards to the ceiling, Kaji opened a creaky trunk left against the opposite wall. Within he found an even older book with yellowed pages and a language he’d never seen before, though Yuii might recognize the glyphs within as classic Kaminari. As Kaji flipped through the pages he hoped he might find a photograph, but was disappointed and set the book aside for another time.

The longer they searched the more the dust tickled their noses, and this shabby office seemed like a burden of a room. Yuii curiously asked what Kaji might do with it in the future— a thought that he honestly hadn’t considered yet. In truth, he was hoping she’d take an interest in the place with him, but he didn’t want to put pressure on her with the idea of moving in before knowing if she wanted such a commitment. “Well, this is a lot for one person, I can see why Misses Onishi wanted to give it up” he answered, priming the conversation for the following. “I don’t think upkeep will be so hard; there are mostly utilities and you can guess that the property tax is steep. Maybe I should get a roommate to keep me company.” As Yuii took an interest in a compartment in the ceiling, Kaji stood to brace her chair as she climbed. Though she was ever so nimble, any chance of falling meant landing in Kaji’s grasp. He continued, “I mean unless you have a better idea… It’s cramped— might make a decent nursery, though.” There was a warm smile crossing Kaji’s face from cheek to cheek as he made his joke, but he became a joke when the nudie mags began to rain down. An issue of a stiff magazine fell onto his face with most of the pages stuck together. It was like being hit with a barrage of huge, dull shuriken.

“Mhmm, treasure,” Kaji replied bitterly as he took the age-old print in hand. “But as they say, one man’s treasure is another man’s trash.” He then flung the magazine aside. “Don’t stop looking up there Blue, maybe that was just a ruse and our big clue is hidden. Here, let me give you a boost!” Kaji the stepped around to her side and took her by the thighs and knees, using his height to offer an extra two feet the chair could not. In truth, the gesture probably wasn’t that helpful, he just wanted an excuse to fondle her. With an impish snicker, he said: “See anything yet?” He wholly expected her to shriek at the sight of some spiders or a raccoon nesting in the roof.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

Talks of roommates and nurseries were lost in the utter revulsion over finding the magazines. For a moment, Yuii stood as if her entire brain had shut off while processing the discovery of the lewd picture filled, once glossy magazines that now occupied a corner of the small office map retreat. She thought she heard a far-off wail as the 'treasure' was tossed away like the trash it was. Perhaps the ghost plaguing the house did not like that they had uncovered his dirty secret hiding place.

The on switch was flicked back into place, however, as she was lifted aloft with enthusiasm and extra squeezing by Kaji. "What!?" she squealed, recoiling away from the ceiling space, "No way! Who would even hide something important behind something so gross!" A smart man, she answered to herself reluctantly. That was exactly the deterrent someone trying to hide something would use. Being caught hiding porn would be worth keeping an item hidden away. But then, that was her shinobi paranoia talking. A normal man, with a normal family, wouldn't have dark secrets; he just wouldn't want his kids finding his me-time delight.

And yet, she was already up there. Yuii may as well check.

"Uuurg, so gross, it smells up here," the disgusted kunoichi whined, resting one hand on Kaji's mop of hair while the other dutifully searched the confines of the ceiling space. Luckily there were no more magazines to be found. Unluckily her fingers crunched against the dried remains of insects and what she thought were mouse bones as she traced the corners and walls of box. The house was well sealed at least, as there was nothing damp for her to discover, and no mould or mildew with the awful smell of miniature wildlife and whatever was on those magazines. Yuii was ready to call the exploration over, but as she stretched to find the back of what she had expected to be a box, her fingers found only more space.

"It goes back further than I thought!" Yuii's voice warbled with an edge of excitement. Memories of lewd picture books fled as the desire to explore took hold again. Her socked foot caught Kaji's shoulder, then face as she launched herself upwards into the small, dark space into only her toes dangled out.

For a minute she could only blink against the darkness, and try to let her eyes adjust to the dim light that their singular light cast. The space inside was smaller than she had originally thought but went several feet back until the darkness made it impossible to see more. Yuii would have called it a coffin if that didn't sound ridiculous. Otherwise, there was nothing much of interest until her hand fell on the ridges and bumps of a key by accident. reflexively she picked it up just in time to meet a small pair of red eyes.

Before whatever it was attacked, she writhed and squirmed like a snake until he body fell free onto the assumably waiting Kaji's arms.

"I found this." she chimed happily once free and confirmed spider free, "Also, there are like, so many bugs up there. Winter should take care of them though. - Anywhere else to look?"

 

[Okada Kaji]

Kaji paid the price for being fresh when he became her ladder, and Yuii's search took her all the way into the ceiling cavity. As Kaji waited below, he wasn’t the slightest bit envious of Yuii’s task. He was left wiping his face after catching fragments of dust from dedicatedly watching Yuii climb— the sting in his eye was the price he paid for trying to enjoy the view. By the time she vanished into the cavity, Kaji became concerned that the old ceiling might give in. While Yuii wasn’t heavy by Kaji’s measure, that space probably wasn’t built to be explored. So Kaji followed along from the floor as he heard the knocks of movement of crawling in the ceiling.

A brief moment of nervous waiting passed, in which Kaji put away the smutty magazines in the trunk opposite the desk, if only by instinct to clear the clutter. The sounds of sliding and more dust falling served as the cue for Kaji to get in-place he resumed his voluntary ladder duty. He took an accidental heel to the temple and weaved out the way of a second kick before grasping the swinging legs and guiding her descent. Something was causing her to panic up there, and Kaji didn’t dare laugh aloud. With a reluctant grin, Kaji considered himself lucky that powerful taijutsu wasn’t in Yuii's skill set, or else her haphazard kicking might have floored him unexpectedly. Instead, he took her in his arms and brought her to the floor without much trouble.

With the joy of a job well done, Yuii held up an iron lever lock key that was larger than the hand she held it with. It had an elaborate design with a jade stone embedded in the bow. Both sides of the stone were carved to resemble an ornate lion’s face, mid-roar. “What a find,” Kaji said curiously, though it took a moment of contemplation for him to imagine what the key could be for. The room was thoroughly searched in short order, and the duo of detectives seemed out of options for the moment when Yuii pondered if there were any spaces left to search through. “Hmm” Kaji sighed, perplexed, “come to think of it, Misses Onishi said there was a cellar behind the house but they lost the key to it a few years ago. Maybe this is it— of course, all these maps come with a secret worth hiding.” He then took the glass he brought along to the room and finished its contents with a large gulp; the plot was surely about to thicken if it hadn’t yet. “Isn’t all this just thrilling?” Excited for their adventure, Kaji drifted around Yuii towards the doorway, all the meanwhile patting her softly to brush off some of the dust she collected during her climb. Then he asked, “Think I should bring Eelspine for this?” Perhaps he was joking, as he didn’t turn towards the bedroom and continued out to the den and rear entrance of the house.

And so, Kaji led their way through that eclectic household filled with trinkets and oddities, and a brief pause to put on adequate footwear and whatever they thought to bring along for the search, which now lead to a locked cellar. Kaji chose a pair of hi-top red sneakers with white trimming and rubber soles, single blue stars with white seals on the ankles, and white laces.

Once they entered the elements outside they were met by nightfall, which came during the ceiling escapade. “It's about time for our friend to start making his ghoulish brouhaha,” Kaji said as he took the first steps out into the yard. An ominous wind howled, and light snowfall dressed the area with pretty visuals once Kaji conjured an orb of cyan light in the palm of one hand. As if on cue, sounds of things flying loose within the house began to clamor. The ghost hunting duo was clearly on the right track as even the yard began reacting, more and more as they walked the path. Snow and leaves were stirring up in a flurry around them, flying aside as if making a path for them to follow on their course. The light revealed green, wooden cellar doors laying horizontally at an acute angle from the ground. These doors were not locked, merely latched. It was only once these outer doors were opened that the locked door was revealed, standing upright at the bottom of the cellar steps. This door was a bit sturdier and secure than the external doors, made of steel, and fit with a heavy lock adorned with a lion design surrounding the keyhole. Kaji made way for Yuii, who had the key, and together they’d have their entry into the mysterious cellar.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

For good measure, once her feet were solidly on the ground, she made sure the wood panel door to the ceiling alcove was firmly shut. Whatever was up there could stay up there! Contrary to that action, and the energy Yuii had put into squirming free, she seemed unaffected by whatever had frightened her above. She brandished the newly discovered key with an energetic, excited smile that held none of the trepidation that sat cold in the pit of her stomach. Going up there had been worth it at least, as Kaji had thought, and now that had a new mystery item to add to the string of oddities the house held for them. Said lion key she turned around in her hand back and forth as if twisting it would reveal its use in the elaborate detail. It was a very odd treasure to find in an even odder place and it made her nervous but eager to know what it unlocked. Was it for a treasure, more of those lewd magazines or something more sinister? It had been well guarded and hidden which meant it had to be important at least.

The time between her escape of the key and Kaji's musing about a locked cellar was long enough for her to find balance again, though she'd never admitted to having been a little frightened. The mystery key found itself wedged between a dozen hard candies in her pocket, which was a safe as anywhere. "A Cellar? Really? Why can't it ever just be a key to a cake filled pantry?" she lamented, foreseeing more damp earth and creepy crawlies in their future. Neither usually bothered her, she'd spent enough time sleeping on the forest floor or ranging through the countryside to know there was little to fear from, but Kumogakure's forest had a way of surprising you. Centipedes the length of a human body, cockroaches the size of apples that dribbled acid, spiders that had grown sentient; there were real things to fear in the woodlands around Kaji's new home, underground included. A locked cellar also screamed of nefarious, no good dealings; but that might have just been her shinobi bred paranoia.

"I just hope that delicious smelling dinner isn't cold by the time we're done playing detective!" she and her stomach wailed as she submitted to Kaji's handsy dusting. It wouldn't be long until the ghost began banging around, and who knew what would become of those amazing panini waiting for them. In fact, her abandoned glass of alcohol was also in a precariously vulnerable position too. With a mind to save it she trailed after Kaji with a bounce in her step. Everything would be better with booze.

The question of whether or not to bring Eelspine knocked Yuii's thoughts from food and drink. She seemed to give it real thought, even pressing her thumb and forefinger to her chin for effect, then decided. "Probably wouldn't do you any good against a ghost unless shes any good at shielding projectiles," she accessed playfully, "I'll look after you." hat was meant to be reassuring, but probably missed its mark. Of the pair of them, she had the best chance of dealing damage to a ghost, but the idea of Kaji needing protecting even in this situation was a laugh. If he wanted, he could vanish into the darkness better than any spirit could, or blast it with ninjutsu which seemed to have enough effect to knock them back into a weakened state. It would be entertaining to be the protective knight for once, but try as she could, Yuii strained to picture her lover as a helpless prince(ss). With a half grin, she mused on that idea as she pulled on her practical leather shoes and waited for Kaji to lace his own then followed him out to the garden.

It was cold, mostly dark, and on cue, the ghost started a fuss. Gingerly she wedged herself under Kaji's arm opposite of his light in the guise of protecting herself from the chilly night. Truthfully, the noise and clamour from the ghost was setting her on edge, the same way seeing a human act out in an outrageous way would make anyone uncomfortable. To her ears, the howl of the wind was near deafening and the items that shuttered to life around them stirred with ominous energy. Through the noise, she thought she could hear the voice of the spirit they sought to expel, though the words were lost to her. It was a relief in the end when they found those old cellar doors and descended down to the second set of old, secure iron ones. It was still down here, almost eerily so, as if all the creepy crawlies Yuii had been worrying about even avoided such a place. "This isn't ominous at all," she joked to ease the tension as the key was refound and placed in the lock.

The lock clicked, and with it, Yuii something in Yuii's brain."Wait, why would you need a nurse-" the thought was lost as quickly as it came though.

The room beyond was the typical cellar found in the lightning country. The underground structure seemed to predate the house be several hundreds of years by the construction and age of the dark stone. The walls had been created of rock sheets called up through jutsu, and the floor was hard packed cobble that had dipped at the doorway after years of use. Even the chiselled alcoves that existed for lanterns to be deposited and the doorway itself were shaped in the traditional keystone architecture that was found throughout the oldest buildings in Kumo. Kaji would need to bend his head a little to fit inside the door, but the ceiling had vaulted for integrity and give him more than enough space to stand once inside. There was no signs of mould or moisture, a testament to the resilience of her ancestors, and thankfully not a bug in sight. Several modern shelves had been set up along the back of the square room, likely once used for cold storage, and a dozen larsge casks took up an entire corner. The layer of dust on everything confirmed that the area had not been used for some time. All of that, and more was easy to see by the soft, otherworldly light of a lantern placed in the centre of the cellar and surrounded by glyphs she could not recognize.

"T...that has a person in it," Yuii gasped quietly.

 

[Okada Kaji]

And so their adventure into the mystery of the ghost haunting the bungalow brought them to that ominous cellar door. Kaji loomed over Yuii's shoulder with his orb of light casting brightness as she plugged the heavy key into the lock. As the intricate mechanisms clicked they hinted at the incredible security put into what was supposed to be a regular old cellar. Considering the air of the occult around them and the excitement of the ghost, it couldn’t have been more obvious that they were on the edge of some great or horrible discovery. Kaji’s heart began to speed just a bit, and he became a little jittery with excitement, almost wishing Yuii would open the door slowly so they could savor the moment.

“Blue, I love you so much” he professed suddenly. Of course, it wasn’t for the first time yet it the affirmation always felt new and profound. But was this really the time for an avowal? Well, "when wasn’t it the time", Or so he wondered as he leaned against the door and read her face for beautiful, sundry signs of affection. He then cracked a smile and huffed an awkward sigh, because yes every admission still felt like the first. Perhaps he just wanted to say it one more time. They might have been in for a rude awakening once they opened that door— something worse than a spirit spilling salt shakers or knocking the books off the shelf. It was Kaji Okada who loved the thrill of every adventure possibly being his last, and in expecting danger, each confession felt deeper, and he was certain in his beliefs. “And... I know you have us covered and all, no doubting that. But, if the ghost gets me, make sure my panini doesn’t go to waste.”

So then the entrance gave way and the cold air swept past the duo to intrude first into the dank cellar space. Kaji held out his orb-bearing hand to shine a light but it seemed unnecessary as he and his beloved Yuii could see within the space just fine. There was a central light in the room, which Kaji fell short in noticing for its special nature. “So this is the thing driving up my electricity bill” he complained jokingly despite Yuii already admitting that she sensed a spirit coming from the lantern. All things considered, a lantern bearing a soul paled in comparison to some of the things Kaji had encountered in underground hideouts in his past. A confined soul was bad, but banshees and frost giants were much worse.

With Yuii being the expert in the occult, Kaji’s attention drifted around this archaic room. Despite the messes upstairs, this room was in nearly pristine order besides the coat of dust on everything from years of sitting still. Most of the cellar was used for a regular function and kept barrels of wine, oats, millet, and tools. However, the other half of the cellar was converted into a shabby mining operation which didn’t go farther than about ten feet and slightly downward. There was still dirt in a pile in the corner from where construction had only just begun before ending abruptly. “A spirit? Think that’s our ghost?” Kaji asked Yuii, yet his tone seemed presumptuous. “Could this really be that open and shut?” He then joined her in presumably taking a closer look at the lantern, which didn’t seem to pose an immediate threat. “I’ve heard of sentient objects before, but I’ve never seen a possessed item. What do you think we should do? Should I go get the talisman and the beads? Shit, we probably should have brought that stuff with us.” He then leaned closer to the lantern, and with a sneer, he said “the power of Raiden compels you” in an exaggerated tone, and snickered.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

This really was not the time for a profession of love! Yuii's head shot up, and her head swivelled around to stare at Kaji like he had grown two heads and a third arm. Her mouth fell open, but only a squeak escaped like a puppy's chew toy. It was as if the swell of emotion reached up and grasped her throat tight. He always did this, she lamented with an edge of panic as awkwardly silent seconds ticked by. First, it was telling her he would be staying in Kumogakure just before being literally held at knifepoint during one of the most difficult missions of her career. Next, he had announced in from of the Raikage, who had not known of their relationship, that he intended to stay in Kumogakure. Now this, a profession of love just before they opened a mystery door, with a mystery key during a mysterious investigation! What next? Would he propose during a gun battle!? Announcing he had been promoted to Sennin during a hostage situation!?

"I-I-I-I-I" she stuttered, too startled and touched to put into words the feeling she'd had from their first night together. Her face was beginning to turn a bright shade of pink as she didn't know whether to laugh or happy-cry but she had to hold back the urge to swoon regardless. Articulating feelings was hard, especially for Yuii, and it was shocking cruel or deviously clever that he had put her on the spot like this. Saying words like 'love' never get any less meaningful or difficult. Perhaps out of pity for her, or to dispell the awkward choking sounds Yuii was making, Kaji cracked a joke. Instantly, it was as if a silence jutsu had been lifted from her. "If you die I'll throw the panini off a cliff and make your spirit watch as punishment!!!" she screeched, delivering a gentle flurry of light blows to his shoulder, "Then jump after it! So don't you dare get any self-sacrificial ideas!"

That lantern wasn't as anti-climatic for Yuii as it seemed to be for Kaji as she stared down an older, eccentric looking man who hovered over the lantern in spirit form. He looked quite calm, for all that it was a chaotic mess above, and was strikingly clear to see for a spirit. Tendrils of spiritual energy extended from the lantern, up and through the cellar walls to the house above. Her gaze travelled upwards and watched as they moved through the stone. They explained how the ghost had been terrorizing the household while remaining hidden from Yuii's second sight. She cracked a smile at Kaji's joke and shook her head. "He's definitely our culprit, but he's just some spooky looking old dude," she explained, giving the elder a sour face. The lantern seemed to be impeding its ability to speak, which was an exceptionally good reason for the author to be lazy. "Why is some old dude in a lantern throwing around decorative figurines and Tupperware?"

It did seem strange. Why would he be in a lantern? Why was he in a locked room where the key had been hidden in raunchy magazines? Why was he being a house keeper's worst nightmare? Did they just need to break the lantern or something to break him out? Most importantly, was her alcohol and panini still alright? "How would I k- I mean. Yes! That is exactly what we should do! I'm sure since he's trapped like that, it'll be an easy solution!" A sly grin crossed her face, one Kaji could easily identify, and she leaned against his side. "Maybe if we do this quickly there would be time for a- hum, preview of that future tour? I mean, if you want to..."

 

[Okada Kaji]

At first, Kaji really saw nothing more than an ornate lantern trimmed in a bronze finish. It glowed with fascinating blue and green light, swirling like the most incredible lava lamp you could ever imagine. It was left there on top of a crate, standing about a foot tall, and filled the room with its glow. It seemed rather normal, yet the way Yuii observed it only supported her claim that there was so much more to be seen. Kaji watched her as she stared above and around the lantern, recognizing when Yuii spotted an apparition drifting. With a bit of humor shared between them, they ponder the spirit’s motives. Kaji grabbed the lantern by the handle and base and noticed that it didn’t give off any heat either. “Poor guy might have been down here for years if we didn’t start searching. Who knows how long he’s been trapped already.” Upon closer inspection, even Kaji could sense the mass of life energy contained in the lamp; it seemed feasible that the spirit was using all the power it could muster to cause a stir in the house— a desperate call for help.

But with this magical, soul trapping lantern in his hands, the solution seems all too simple to Kaji. If they opened the lantern it might set the soul free, or so Kaji theorized. However that did not resolve the greater mystery at hand, that being how he was sealed in the lantern in the first place. Why was it locked away in this cellar? Lastly, what was the purpose of the mining operation beside maybe expanding the room so more barrels of good booze could to age to perfection? So many mysteries, yet Kaji’s focus became clouded once Yuii nudged him suggestively. The only room left to show Yuii on her tour was the master bedroom, and surely he was down to break in the new bed— but not until the spirit was freed. However, the idea put a bit more of a hurry on their present plans.

“Maybe we should just open the lantern and see what happens” Kaji suggested as he began tinkering with the device. “Let’s skip the relics and cut to the chase. ‘I’m sure if things go pear-shaped we can persuade him into pushing through to the afterlife by force.” And then Kaji found what he was looking for— a groove in the lantern which unlatched the top, allowing him to slowly unscrew the lid of the container. Instantly, the couple could feel the power of the trapped soul leaking in tandem— he was not frighteningly strong, in fact, the sensation was almost welcoming rather than malicious. With a whooshing sound, chakra, and light culminated around the room in a swirl as Kaji set the spirit free and the lantern lost its glow!

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

As Kaji took the lantern in hand, Yuii took a reflexive step forward with the intent to knock it away if it turned on them. Thankfully it merely continued to glow with benign green light and swirl hypnotically. Her preemptive movement led to an awkward moment where she stood with her hand half poised in the air with nowhere to go. With all the grace of a feline caught tipping water glasses, she gingerly placed it in the pocket of her sweater. Moving the lantern returned the spirits attention to its prison, however, and to Yuii's eyes, it snapped from its trance then seemed to see them for the first time yet. It squinted at her and Kaji like it was looking through the glass of a dirty window. "I don't think it can see us very well either," she realised aloud. That was probably why it threw such a fit in the house instead of trying to communicate with them. It only knew the lay of the house and that it was occupied; not by whom or how to contact them. Now its lips were moving, but once again Yuii could hear nothing of what it was saying.

Trying to work out what it was and what they should do was moot when there were more important events on the table for that evening suddenly. Kaji was not the type to rush through anything that was as important as a ritual exorcism, and yet he quickly suggested opening the lamp as an alternative to performing one at all. Even Yuii could read between the lines to find where his motives drew their reasoning from. It would have made her look apathetic to admit it, but the ghost walker woman had already come across a lifetime of mysteries presented by the dead. They were a wellspring of historical inaccuracies, lost treasure, mysterious deaths and woeful stories. Between that, and the gorgeous living man beside her the choice would always be the later. Yes, she wanted to look the confused ghost, but yes she also would wantonly try whatever suggestion Kaji made.

And that was how Yuii found herself nodding affirmatively and bracing for something to go wrong as Kaji pried open the glass and gold prison. Once again she need not made the effort as the grizzled man's spiritual essence wisped and twirled gently out like steam from a kettle. His incorporeal avatar regained life and colour before her eyes as it regained the strength it had been denied. It's expression matched the welcoming warmth that Kaji felt, and reflexively Yuii smiled in return, "You did it!" The experience left some lasting weakness in effect Yuii realised though, as the ghost began to speak by nothing more than a dry whisper reached her ears. It tried again when it saw her face writ with confusion, then again when she leaned in closer. Abruptly, before it could finish the message, however, it vanished.

“'The sins of the father are to be laid upon the chi-' it said”, Yuii repeated what she had heard, reaching out into the sudden darkness to take Kaji's hand, "Whatever that means." Her thumb traced over his knuckles in small patterns as she tried to work out why the sentence had been important. It and the mystery of the lamp were doomed to be problems of another day, however, as keeping her thoughts aligned with them became more and more difficult keep ahold of. "I'm hungry," she said in the sultry note that Kaji was certain to identify while encouraging him towards the moonlit cast door, "the effort wasn't great, but surely I deserve a reward? Satiate me?"

 

[Okada Kaji]

And so the duo shared another unique moment as they witnessed the light of a captured soul vanishing from existence. In truth, it was such an exciting moment to behold, and they could share a feeling of accomplishment in knowing that they had succeeded. Once Yuii repeated the ghost’s parting words, Kaji was just as perplexed but his look of confusion wasn’t so transparent in the darkness. With one hand taken by Yuii in the dark, Kaji set down the lantern with the other. Forming just a couple single handed seals he molded chakra to create a new orb of light. The glow created a more intimate setting as it became just the two of them, unhindered by their surroundings as Kaji held the light between them, blackening out the rest of the world. “I suppose we’ll have time to sort out the mysteries another night,” he said with a relieved sigh. “At least now I can get a peaceful night’s sleep around here— long ones when you’re not visiting.”

The mood changed then as the veil of mystery was lifted for the time being, and Yuii sought to pull Kaji out of the cold cellar and back to the warmth and comfort of the house. She said she was hungry, which only widened Kaji’s devious smile as he followed her up the stairway. We a promising tone Kaji answered, “Oh, dinner is hot and ready, just a few paces away.” The last sliver of light faded as a chapter closed for that prison-turned-cellar, and the click of the lock left it secure.

It wasn’t much later that the couple returned to a more casual night, all as if the exorcism had never occurred. There was a noticeable change to the house now, as it felt much warmer and homey now that the ghost was released. A tape deck stereo was on one of the bookcases, and Kaji browsed through a selection of music from the last decade to stuff a bit more recent. “The Onishi family left some good stuff behind”, that much Kaji had to admit as he chose some bearable lo-fi chill to play as background music to their night in. Kaji then slid onto the cozy couch, which had enough room for Yuii to join him. It was a small couch, more like a love seat for two, really. The bag with their dinner was humble-looking at best, just a brown paper sack yet the scents seeping through only bolstered their hunger. “I got these special order” Kaji admitted with an excited tone as he revealed two to-go boxes. “Wait ‘till you get a mouthful of this spicy salami babe— just take it slow or you might choke on it.” He handed her the meaty panini, which was heavy in her dainty hands, but of course he knew she was all game for it. “I’ve been wanting to give it to you all night, we just had to handle that ghost problem first.”

And then Kaji unwrapped his own destined sandwich, peeling back the wrapper slowly to unveil his prize. It was just as wet and juicy as when it was prepared, hot and ready to be taken down. He started with smaller bites, testing the sandwich for sturdiness before really digging in. “It's gushing with flavor; talk about the meanie panini,” he said satisfactorily as the creamy cheese was captured in the scruff of his chin. There was a crispy crunch as he indulged in every bite, with golden grain and grill marks giving way to the taste of nirvana. “I just want to smear this all over me” Kaji added as he sank back into the old couch cushion. The sensation was enough to make Kaji dream that they were together, stuffed between the folds of a giant lover's panini. It was sticky and warm, and tight like a glove as the bread was pressed down onto them by her God Raiden’s electric grill. Kaji let out a long, steamy exhale once he pulled the half-eaten sandwich back from his mouth. He was certain he’d finish it all but wanted to savor it.

But then he set his eyes on the beautiful vision besides him, still enjoying her sandwich much like he was. Kaji didn’t quite put his on the table yet but his attention had shifted to Yuii in a playful manner as rolled over her, face to face in sudden intimacy. “You got some mayonnaise there,” he said as he ran a finger on her cheek and traced a line below her lips. But then he kissed her, not caring about trying to eat or even chewing. It was hot, heavy, and a little gross but he wanted her so much that it didn’t matter. On came the full exchange: tongues tying on the dancefloor in flavortown. He locked onto her for about as long as she allowed, or about a couple short minutes before pulling back and leaning towards the table to set his food aside. Impulse had gotten the best of him. “I’m sorry, the chipotle sauce just made me so hot,” he dared to apologize but it was as insincere is it could have been. “Are you ready for me? I know how much you love dessert.”

- Fade to Black?

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

And so two of Yuii's desires were met immediately as a meal was presented to her, and Kaji also supplied their food. The little loveseat creaked as she flopped down to join him in its comforting folds. "Mmm, that looks delicious..." the soft purr in her breath noticeable as she looked over mans greatest achievement that Kaji presented. It smelled good, looked even better and she couldn't wait to take a nibble and find out just how spicy it really was. Kaji's excitement made the anticipation so much sweeter too. As the girthsome meat was presented to her like the prize it was, though, Yuii realised there would be a logistic problem to her enjoyment. "How am I supposed to get my mouth around something so big," she muttered under her breath as the true scope of Kaji's Panini was presented to her. The salami was so thick and sauce so pungent that she understood now why Kaji had warned her about choking. And yet, despite the dangers, she could not help herself, so after a tentative lick to test the sauce, she dove in like a starving kitten on a hotdog. "If you had made me wait any longer I would have begged," she laughed after the first taste.

There were a happy few minutes of quality background music and moanful eating. The hungry beast in the pit of her belly was no longer making warcries, but her face and hands were casualties in the battle towards satiation. Sauce covered every digit and smeared artistically across her cheek. A meal like this didn't call for manners though or being particularly careful at all so long as every bit was appreciated with the enthusiasm and delight it deserved Yuii couldn't help but steal love filled glances at her lover, as his enjoyment of the moment was almost better than the meat in hand. She wanted to be that sandwich. "It's so good. So hot though," she agreed with heavy breaths, "I'm struggling not to finish too fast." As one they sank deeper into the couch as if the same panini dream had taken hold. This was the heaven of flavour town.

Lost in the soft, silky folds of cheese, the folds of meat and crunchy bread, Kaji's sudden switch from devourer to deviant caught her happily by surprise. Her packed mouth, barely closed around its load, curved up in a dimpled grin. His face had the predatory glint of desire that meant to next course of their meal was about to begin whether she was ready for it or not. It was good that she impulsively swallowed most of what had occupied her mouth up until then because the kiss that followed nearly took her breath. Her whole body shuddered beneath him as desire made something that ought to have been disgusting a pleasurable experience. When it finally ended, she was left with the sinful desire for more. "No offence to those sandwiches," she said tossing her crusts to the containers on the table "but I live for your dessert. You always bring my favourite too."

- ftb Σ(･口･)

"I think, I like this room," Yuii laughed, squirming from the tangle of blankets to nestle herself in the askew pillows. Her heart was still pounding quickly in her chest, and Yuii wondered if it would ever stop. It was that happy, glowing moment where the pleasure from before still numbed the memory of deeds usually done with the boisterous and later blamable effects of alcohol. One drink didn't explain the passion that had taken hold; perhaps it had been the panini.

With some squirming, she found a comfortable place against her lover's side and buried her face against his neck. There, with the sound of crickets and the faint scent of toasted cheese in the air, she let her mind wander back over the night. To the strange words the ghost had said, to odd hiding spot for the key, and the conversations its discovery has ended prematurely. "Before, in the office, did you mean me? For a roommate?" she asked, muffled but still audible by proximity. Slowly, as if the movement was too much for her tired body, she rose back up to her elbows and contemplated the idea. "Could I?" the question was poised to herself as much as him but as Yuii ran through the idea she realised it could happen. She would need to maintain the lease on her apartment, which Sunuke paid half of now anyway. As long as she was careful coming and going, there wasn't much change her clan would catch on. Yuii took constant trips to the forest anyway. "Unless..."

 

[Okada Kaji]

The good life: choice words Kaji would have used to describe the living he’d made for himself now that his forest bungalow was rid of the haunting spirit. It was all as if the final piece of a puzzle was put into place, and he dared to feel a new level of accomplishment. “Yeah, it’s not so bad” Kaji said, agreeing to Yuii’s assessment of the bedroom, which became their lovenest for the first time that night. “I used to think it was the cold passing through the walls when it got so chilly in here, but it must have been the ghost... ‘I couldn’t feel cozier.” They laid there comfortably in the big bed, just a bit sweaty from their spicy meal, which was hot enough to leave them dripping. It was all too enchanting, but to resolve how soupy it felt in there, Kaji focused on the light panel by the door and reached out with a hand forming a flicking motion between his middle-finger and thumb. As if it were magic, Kaji squinted, flicked the fingers, and caused the second switch on the panel to shift upwards. The overhead ceiling fan began to turn softly, and satisfied, Kaji nestled closer to his sweetheart.

It was shortly after this that Yuii brought something Kaji said previously back to attention, almost catching him off guard as she asked. With his cheeks rosed, he didn’t seem so opposed. But then he jeered her, saying “Hmm, maybe I should think about it.” He turned himself towards her and looked at her, almost seriously, even propping himself on an elbow with his palm pressed against his cheeks. “I mean, it could really complicate things… not that I don’t want it. ‘I really do.” He crossed a bare arm marked with his red lizard scale seal over her, caressing her lightly with his hand. Across her waist over the covers. “We’re already each other’s worst distraction— imagine the option of doing this ♡ around the clock? We’ll eventually slip up somewhere.” Whether it would be making late appearances in meetings or the eventual happy accident, there was a real risk in sharing a bed with the duo being so mad for each other. It was times like this where Kaji’s pragmatism could be such a buzz kill, yet he didn’t seem so disturbed by the idea. “Well, Of course, I think it’s worth it. We can move you in tomorrow if you’re ready. ‘I do think you should keep the lease on your apartment though, and make appearances there from time to time. There’s still the matter of the fraternization policy, let alone your family to take into account. Your umm, roommate should be cool with this, right?” They had never talked much about Yuii's friend Sunuke, in fact, delving into their personal details was a rarity for the couple. Most people would find this problematic, but not Kaji Okada and Yuii Kagetsu. “We might need Sunuke to help corroborate our story if anyone ever caught on. ‘Let’s start covering our bases.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

A smile tugged at the corner of Yuii's mouth as she rose to her own elbow to face Kaji as he echoed her thoughts perfectly. There was one moment of piercing fear that he was serious, that he even needed to think about her offer seriously. It was the playful dance in his entrancing green eyes that betrayed him, however. The hand on her waist further banished her worries. "I," she began, letting her elbow slide away so that she stretched out along the bed, "like to consider you less of a distraction and more of an award for a hard day's work. Like a box of chocolates or... Dinner." Her smile became distinctly predatory as she reached up and picked a spec of cheese from his chin and flicked it to the floor.

Pragmatism really was not an attractive bed-fellow, especially for its post-glow dispelling effect. She deflated a little as her own worries and plans were voiced openly by Kaji. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his caution, it was part of who he was, but somehow she had expected a little more excitement. He had incepted the idea earlier, after all. "I thought of all that. My clan is used to the large number of hours I already spend in the direction of the forest, and they hardly trouble themselves looking into my activities anymore so long as they don't change drastically. Most of them object to watching three hundred pound tigers devour the wildlife, imagine." she brought her wrist up across her eyes and exhaled sharply, "I think Sunuke would be fine with it, he's my friend and had nothing to gain from not helping me. I'm rarely there, anyway, a schedule that was in place long before your arrival. Since he's not a lightning country resident, keeping my name on the lease would be the best option for him too, lest they triple his rent. As for that policy... it's been broken countless times by the few public faces of anbu. Sennin Santaru Rin and Vice commander Takaki Masao come to mind. The later held my position for a time. I very much doubt the Santaru would have stopped marriage prep for their current leader too, had he been appropriate for Anbu Sennin. Perhaps the rule just doesn't apply to the top?"

The question of whether or not he really wanted her around picked at her mind as they spoke. Had she put him in the hard position of saying yes over what had maybe been teasing before? The doubt she felt was bred mostly for a history of being shuffled between caretakers, from less than warm welcomes and finding out the people she adored had far cooler opinions of her. This was her first time navigating the etiquette of a relationship, and even she knew it was a very complicated one. "If it's too much too fast, I can wait? she asked in what she hoped was a neutral tone "give you time to settle, space to breath? I don't mind."

 

[Okada Kaji]

And so, with their options weighed, it seemed as though living together had real potential. Yuii confirmed that they’d have a solid alibi in her housemate if anyone ever came knocking and that Kaji breaking the ANBU’s strict fraternization policy wasn’t exactly setting a precedence. That latter bothered Kaji a bit though; it left him in a sudden, deep contemplation unfitting for their post-coital hangout. The privilege of the stature he gained so quickly in The Cloud meant he could have something his peers could not: it was an idea that went against his desire for equality in the lives of the brothers and sisters he fought alongside. Kaji spent a long moment silent and brooding, thinking of how he should aspire to seek change for the ANBU branch.

But then their silence was broken and Yuii began recanting her interest in moving in, perhaps second-guessing whether they were ready for this next step. Kaji’s emeraldine orbs settled onto her, practically staring into her soul until his lips curled into a smile. “No way, we’re doing this,” he said assuredly. “Clear your schedule for tomorrow and we’ll start moving after breakfast…” Then he nestled closer to her again and offered a kiss to her temple. “I don’t want any space, this is what I want, Blue: you with me.”

Topic Left Unless Stopped.