A Time for Vengeance [private]

[Takahashi Aki]

A twisted and intricate web was before the Steward. All the murders lately had come to one point. One single point. A single dummy corporation that located in Soon's Sanctuary. Medixcorp. Their records hidden and for good reason. The Steward had encountered some time ago an individual from Soon's Sanctuary to be one of their merchant ladies, but she was not who she said she was. She was an Unbent disguised as a human. Suna had trading with Soon's and each time a delivery was made, an additional trade merchant made their way into Suna who was not on the books. This merchant too was disguised as a human and merely conducted his black business, yet in his reports he always wrote to them to a 'Dr.'. A curious name but one that was of interest to Sousuke, given that he knew of only one person referred to as 'Doctor'. A vile human being who was the agent in the creation of Number Seven and his previous form. Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. This was something Sousuke kept to himself. He did not want Number Seven to figure this out himself. The Steward approached his web and wrote Phd MD on the mystery person.

All things. All things in good time will be revealed.

What disturbed Sousuke more was the timeline from when this all started. It all started back when Okibi was missing. The time lines were syncing up. This was no mere coincidence. Had the Doctor murdered Number Seven? Entirely probable. He was dead, but there were powers in this world that did not conform to natural law. Perhaps... perhaps he was not as dead as Number Seven said he was. Sousuke held his face in his hands. This game of shadows. This was a game to the Doctor wasn't it? A playful fun little thing to torment people. Sousuke was regarded as one of the village's greatest minds in its current time. The Doctor of course was an aged mind, based on the descriptions he was given. So it came to be, a game of shadows between the past and the present. The game though was going to come to an end. A very dark and sudden end.

There was a time for all things, and now he had to be honest with those who he cared for most.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The notification came to Tama’s attention rather curtly and with an urgency that he wasn’t used to despite the craziness of his chaotic life.

The scientist was sitting at an outside bar eating lunch when a messenger moved to poke his shoulder hard one time. It told him he had only this chance to pay attention because the man was only going to say it once.
“Your presence is required by the Steward at his office. Please report immediately.<i></i>”
Nothing else was said and the messenger was on his way down the street before his image flickered in the direction of the market to continue on his duties. Without even finishing his meal the blond stood up and placed down the payment for his meal and walked away from the bar.

He was half dressed in pants and a long coat over his body but his chest was laid bare due to the healing of his most recent scaring. White bandages wrapped his torso in leu of a shirt. The wounds were mostly healed and he could return to doing his normal duties so long as he didn’t do anything that involved too much combat. He was warned by the doctor that use of his chakra coil was highly recommended - a warning he mostly ignored. Tama knew full well what his capabilities were at the moment and his wound was almost healed so whatever Souske had in store for him he should be able to handle.
Reaching into the inner pocket of his coat the blond removed a small metal watch to check the time before returning it and flexing his coil a little to send energy towards his feet. He felt a little tug of pain but it was nothing he couldn’t just will his way through.

It only took him a minute to get to the office though a thin sheet of sweat had formed on his forehead. His hand reached up to wipe it away before politely knocking on the door to Souske’s office. Answered or no the scientist turned the knob and quietly ushered himself inside to listen what the Steward had in store for him. Whatever it was it must have been of grave importance to send someone out to actually fetch him rather than the man to come seek Tama out himself.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke had his back turned for a time, "Welcome to my home once more Tama."<i></i> Sousuke would say. Sousuke was standing today. His legs were more or less healed from being broken for several months. He wasn't sure how to go about this now. "I am told that vengeance is an open festering wound that will destroy people. I fear I may have succumbed to it... as I have found those who brought harm to Okibi."<i></i> He turned his face to the side. "I am going to set out in forty-eight hours to Soon's sanctuary. I need you to keep Okibi occupied and keep her mind on another matter for at least seventy-two hours. I fully intend to return, but I will bring a particular group of people low. Very low to the point of total obliteration. I am not proud of the arsenal I have created to aid me in this undertaking, as I would become but a mechanical version of ... ... him. I will show these men what it means to be a superior Takahashi Sousuke."<i></i> The Steward was speaking of Mikaboshi. The Steward had been making an armour to emulate Mikaboshi's unleashed form. Granted Sousuke would not have the vast and deep power of the ancient, but he was tapping a form of it slightly.

He finally turned to face Tama face to face. "This display before you is a map of several murders in Suna over the past six months. I have been working on it for some time. Listening to news, reading papers, observing foreign dignitaries. I have been maximized my reach of information, and have ... come to gather information pointing me to Soon where our enemy lurks."<i></i> Sousuke paused. "Okibi does not need to be part of this, and while I think you are ... entirely within your right of joining me in this ... you are Okibi's future. I am not. She needs to be distracted ... ... for her sake. I would not risk her safety. I would not risk her life. I would not have her be part of this ... this dark deed which I wish to do unto those who harmed her."<i></i> A sort of an apologetic look came over Sousuke, "Doubt gnaws at me. I think I am doing is right. It is within my right... our right. Is it not? This threat will be eradicated for the good of many, there is justice in this? Or has my vision become clouded because ... I am thinking emotionally?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Michino]

A dark and clouded look overcame the scientist’s face the moment he understood what exactly it was that Sousuke had called him in here for. He had found them...the men who had taunted and tormented his mate relentlessly to the point that even the once hyper, super-lovable, Okibi had been shy of any touch to her flesh for months. It had taken a ton of theorpy in the form of reminding her that people were still there caring for her, but he knew that deep down inside she was still terrified. He didn’t know if her father saw the way she looked at the gates when she passed near them, but Tama did. He was insulted for the Wild Child that the Steward wasn’t including at least her, and Tama voiced his opinion as lightly as he could despite feeling the budding over-all anger that came with the subject of his mate’s attackers,

“I think you are mistaken in the way that you plan to put all the weight of this vengeance on your shoulders alone. You rob the chance of Okibi finally getting to strike back at the demons that still haunt her at night, Sousuke. I understand your feelings regarding her safety more than anyone except possibly Seven but she will be unable to have a complete future if something, Kami-forbid, happens to you while you dive your mind into the deep abyss that vengeance creates,<i></i>” Tama moved slowly over to a chair and sat down gently, more out of habit than out of pain, “I personally know what its like to take vengeance, and unless you share it or causes greater positive outcomes for others than yourself it will consume you.<i></i>
“Think of it Sousuke. Even if you were to survive the power it would take to take on an...<i></i>” Tama’s quick eyes motioned over at the maps and papers to scan through them for certain keywords that caused them to widen a bit, “...entire organization by yourself, how do you think Okibi is going to react when she finds out that you put so much on your shoulders and got me to keep it away from her. Which I wouldn’t. I would, and will, tell her as soon as I leave here rather you give me permission or not Steward. The question you need to be asking yourself right now isn’t a quiz for your morals and life lived, but instead how three people should go about taking a collective revenge.<i></i>”

Tama leaned back in his chair a little after making his point, crossing one leg over the other with an utterly serious look on his face that was supposedly non-existant for the blond to have. He was always such an easy-going and non-chalant kind of guy that loved his friends and the place he lived. He was of the scientific mind that saw life at the base and thus found humor in just about everything that humans did, but when it came to the men who had all but tried to destroy the Okibi he knew and loved a different emotion struck the man’s face; one of anger and cold-calculated fury. He remembered Uri’s words given to him when he was found punching lockers at the hospital...all of that anger and terrible need for revenge had never gone away...just focused itself instead, waiting for the time to pounce.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

As expected Tama reacted. He was calm and cool about it, but Sousuke observed him. Emotions came so easily for him. "It's so easy for you isn't it? Emotions. You ... you hole them up for some time but then you just let them flow. I envy you Tama. I don't know why it's so difficult for me to not become attached. I do so, but in a different way, but it always seem I am ... bankrupt of an emotional connectivity. Only recently did I become truly fearful. Fearful of things I saw in the deep, that I could not understand. I still cannot explain. It took me some time to get past it, but my body betrayed me. I've always been able to separate things ... and act in ways people cannot."<i></i> The Steward said lowly. "It is not my intention to wrong you or Okibi... or to take something away from you two. I am sorry."<i></i>

The Steward paused. "I am beyond some things Tama, but I have prayed to the ancestors every day for some clue or some light to be shed in the direction of the ultimate vengeance that is to come. Now it is within my grasp, but you said have brought up how ... how this can be ... not good, but worthwhile for three individuals. For in fact, for I strongly believe without a shadow of a doubt that the Doctor who made Number Seven... who he was in his prior life has returned."<i></i> Sousuke turned to face Tama. There was a sort of predator look in his eyes. The eyes of a hawk perhaps. "Remember some months ago when I sent you and Kitanai to look at a crime scene... at the time it was something inhuman... then later I asked you to study the carcass of a foe I battled on the surface. Those two are connected here. Something is wrong in Soon's Sanctuary."<i></i> Sousuke attended his board and removed an article to give to Tama to read.

 

[Okibi]

Okibi winced as she stepped through the door of the home she shared with Sousuke, his parents, and their menagerie of pets and companions that was growing by the day. They were turning into a literal animal sanctuary. Not that Okibi minded; a lot of times animals were much better company than humans.

"How was your check up?" Seven asked from where he laid, reclining on an overstuffed pillow in the living room, with Kitchy lounging at his side. He had rounds of bandages wrapped around his body, and a splint on one of his legs; he was still recovering from their bout with the giant crystal crab menace. And in fact, thats where Okibi had just returned from - her visit to the hospital to have her own bandages removed. She'd made it out better than either Seven or Tama (which was surprising considering she'd almost been smashed by a giant claw a gillion times her size. In the end, she'd only suffered a few cracked ribs and some nasty bruising. Her abdomen was still tender, and it hurt to breathe too deeply, but all in all she felt almost 100%.

"'Was fine." She muttered, carefully making her way through the house. Just because her ribs were healing and she felt almost all better didnt mean she was going to tempt fate. "Sogay home?" She asked loudly as she stepped into the kitchen, plucking a peach from a bowl on the counter. Chiyoko and Judori had taken to keeping the house well stocked with her favorite fruits at all time, something she absolutely loved the pair for. She heard Seven say something about down the hall meeting with Tama, but he lost track of what he was saying when he started to sputter. Okibi smirked as she took a big bite out of the peach; she'd bet her left boob that Kitchy had just started 'tenderly nursing' him. If things carried on like they were Okibi had a feeling she would be smelling puppies on he horizon.

Leaving the canines be, she gingerly walked her way down the hall, taking care to keep her steps light. She was nearly done with the peach by the time she stopped outside the door to Sousuke's office, listening in on the conversation that was already taking place. At first, she was just going to storm into the room like she would any other time, but her still healing injuries, and the fact that she heard her name come up more than a few times, stopped her outside in the hall. Her brows furrowed as she listened in, plucking the last bit of flesh off the peach and popping the pit into her mouth to suck off the juices.

Her eyes bugged out of her head and she nearly choked on the pit when the jist of the conversation was absorbed. She coughed and hacked, not caring about keeping her presence hidden anymore. Bumbling through the door, she found a trash bin and worked on spitting the pit up into it. She it dislodged she gasped for precious breath, patting her chest as she turned a heated glare on Sousuke.

"If you think for one second that you can leave me behind because you have some messed up ideas about what I can and cant handle . . . you have another thing coming Steward." She said in a deadly quiet tone, her voice raspy. Okibi never referred to Sousuke by his title. That she did so now was testament to how serious she was. "Ill suit up on Tobihi and follow you by myself if I have to." Tobihi was the female half of the pair of Sandrunner chicks she and Maji had rescued months ago. She still wasnt fully grown (she was still growing her adult plumage) and not anywhere near properly trained yet . . . but that was just further evidence to how much Okibi was NOT on board with being left out of this vengeance crusade.

She stepped up beside Tama and sat on the arm of his chair, taking just a moment to wrap her arm around his shoulders and affectionately pat his healing chest. Just barely a brush of her finger tips. She also leaned down and kissed the side of his mouth in greeting. "Though I guess I wouldnt be going alone no matter what, would I?" She said, adressing everyone, but looking at Tama. If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that Tama would be at her side the entire way, even if she had to go against her surrogate fathers wishes.

Turning back to Sousuke with a firm, no nonsense look on her face, she continued. "As if I would ever let you do something like this on your own anyway! Tama's right; do you have any idea what I'd do if you- " She stopped, gulped, and took a breath. "If you . . . If something happened to you?" She couldnt bring herself to say the words that were really tearing about her brain. If Sousuke . . . perished . . . Okibi didnt even want to think about it. She'd lost part of her heart before, she never wanted to experience it again.

Okibi shook her head to dispel the morbid thoughts. "I'm going with you, and you cant stop me."

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Michino]

Tama actually jumped a little when Okibi entered the room but at least there wasn’t a bit of guilt in his facial expressions. He was determined to keep his mind in a set direction and let his mate know of everything that was going on but before he even so much as had a chance to look over the documents the Wild Child had stormed in, spoke her piece, and sat down on the arm of the blond’s chair as the two of them stared down the Steward-Kazekage; from their collective eyes issued the challenge ‘try and stop us.’

In any other shinobi village, Tama and Okibi probably would of been exiled if not executed from the way they just so defiantly told their leader ‘no.’

The bi-colored eyes were the first to look away from the man and down into the documents before him as he tried his hand at double-tasking to speak and read at the same time,
“And I sometimes envy the fact that you have such a hard time with emotions - to have such an ability would be very useful for certain problems in my life - but that’s what we’re here for Sousuke; to guide you when you’re not sure. Being the Steward-Kazekage doesn’t mean that you know everything and that every decision you make is solid gold. It means you’re the head of a household who must learn to hold family meetings to learn what the rest of your loved ones feel,<i></i>” Tama’s eyes came back up from the paper to look at his leader again but with a softer expression, “Family helps family, even if its under the dark guise of vengeance. It is of my opinion that the entire village should be allowed to take part in destroying this blight on our great nation, but for political reasons that’s a terrible idea.<i></i>”

Tama gently scooted to the left so Okibi could start to slide down off the arm and into the chair before he stood up. A lingering finger traced a small line across her shoulder as he went up and she slid down, but there was a serious look in the blond’s face that his mate had probably never seen before. It was the look he got when he was close to a breakthrough and it was one he hadn’t worn since she had returned to the village.

Hopefully it would get through to his two beloved humans in there how serious he was taking it.

Slowly the scientist moved over to a mobile eraser board and used the sleeve of his coat to wipe off what was drawn on there before pulling out so that both Sousuke and Okibi could see it before picking up a piece of chalk. With the lightning speed of a man who was used to writing in chalk Tama very quickly worked out a very well made diagram of the entire compound, the entrances and exits, with multiple graphs of dangers based on what he skimmed through in the report.

“Of course, the three of us should be more than enough. Given our collective abilities and skills, even with the bare recovery of some recent injuries, we should be able to move in and take them out with a two point stealth attack - preferably in a pincher maneuver,<i></i>” Tama looked at Okibi and pointed at the board to a drawing of the three of them and seven in an animated style attacking as two different teams with the enemies trapped in the middle unable to escape, “I surmise it will take at least three different separate missions, because if we’re really going to go in all the way, lets make this man know that even if he was to live he would have nothing left to live for. Lets hit him where it hurts.<i></i>”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke merely nodded his head, "My father was said to be cold and calculating in his day. He had many more friends though to help him in his trials. He didn't have such a rough time growing up, until he turned eighteen. His father passed away early in line, and his sister became Steward for a long time. She too passed away before he was truly ready to become Steward. Perhaps in time I will become as jovial as he is now."<i></i> There was a pause, "You are quite right, our relationship with Soon is at an awkward point in time. I hosted a dinner some time ago, and one of the Soon members was ... what I am going to refer to as an Unbent. Xenomorphic humanoid shape shifters. Soon right now is fighting all actuations that they are who are. The council of seven had sent me a sum of money to repair King's Helm. Even the most frugal of the seven agreed... to do so because she wants good PR because ... she often times doesn't have it."<i></i> Sousuke nodded his head. "Thank-you Tama... as always you have been---"<i></i>

Okibi then stormed in. Her medical visit should have lasted longer... the Steward's face barely contorted into a grimace. "I made a promise to you not to take a particular form in front of you. I am not an oath breaker, and I would abhor to ... ... instill that image once again in your mind."<i></i> It was the first thing Sousuke spoke of. Even with the loss of the grey chakra crystal Sousuke could still call upon a line of sinister darker looking armours. The Silver Centurion Design was still usable, but it had some short comings. "I will need to use the Silver Centurion then."<i></i> Sousuke muttered to himself. It took Sousuke a moment to realize she had called him Steward. Sousuke's eyes shifted over to her, "Fascinating..."<i></i> Only two times had Okibi called Sousuke something proper instead of Sogay. "I would not have you bring Tobihi. She is inexperienced and still developing. Rolling Thunder would be more appropriate, but Rolling Thunder is moody and will only adhere to something truly ... justified. This of course may be something she would adhere."<i></i> The Horse Goddess of the Takahashi clan, or what was believed to be a Horse-Goddess did not suffered foolery. The Steward rode her into battle once, and that was truly a just cause.

A tender moment occurred between Tama and Okibi. One would have thought that he would have been used to this, the Steward merely turned his face to the side. He was still ... semi-annoyed with Okibi for the whole mistletoe situation with Yume. It should have been more of a private moment, not something public and forced. His ward then went on at length about something happening to him. "Things happen to me on a regular basis. I had my legs broken not too long ago, and then a few weeks back during Magnetica's attack I was skewered by her lackey Sniper-Man."<i></i> He spoke lowly. Injuries were something the Steward was used to. "I understand what you're saying... on an unspoken level. You are my heir Okibi ... in most aspects, and after this is all said and done you will be -christened- by the Mother Suna pilgrims as a Takahashi."<i></i>

Tama went to outline the mission, the Steward raised his hand slightly. "I have ... a friend of my father, who is my friend ... who will assist us with getting in. The Kiriishi matriarch Prime Diamund has an advanced version of Inner Reflection Lure and will bring us within the facility. She ... is a motherly being ... and knows of this plan as well."<i></i>

 

[Okibi]

"Yeah, thats another thing, stop getting hurt all the time." Okibi said as Tama started to shift in his chair, making room for her. She glowered at the Steward, shaking a finger at him angrily. "You think Im the one you need to worry about? Im not the one who gets himself stuck in a wheelchair, or skewered through like a shish kabob, or driven out of my mind with insanity by fear . . . well, okay, maybe Ive been there before." She coughed into her hand. "But I dont get hurt nearly as much as you do. Stop it."

Okibi slid down into the chair, taking up the space that Tama vacated, frowning. The warmth in the seat and his lingering touch made the nerves that had slowly been starting to frazzle simmer down. As much as she hated to admit it, this was a touchy subject for her; revisiting those dark days was, needless to say, not one of her favorite things to do. She watched with a wry grin as Tama drew up a cartoony diagram of what he thought would be a good plan of attack. The seriousness in his expression did not go unnoticed by her, and in fact, she was pretty sure she'd never seen such a look on him before. That he could look so grim, yet make a doodle to illustrate his thoughts was amusing, despite the substance of their conversation.

She shifted her gaze sideways when Sousuke mentioned having a friend who could help them get into the compound. She rubbed her chin as she thought of something. "We're not jumping the gun are we? Do we even know where this place is? Like, exactly?" She asked, glancing between the two men.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The papers ruffled a little as Tama moved to sort through all the papers he could find with the reference referring to this place in soon and the number of times it was mentioned vs the attacks and where they have found victims at. Using his sleeve once again the young man narrowed his eyes in hard calculation to write out a graph and a math problem to which he solved in a matter of seconds; honestly, it took longer to write out the whole thing. Turning back to Okibi he looked her in the eyes and nodded,
“Oh yes...it is there. This place I have mapped out is the place they always have been seen returning too and this Doctor that Sousuke speaks of has been spotted there numerous times.<i></i>
“With the use of an advanced IERL we should try for a surprise attack then. Enter in the lowest part of their facilities but since, according to the documentation, that is where they practice their horrible science we have to be careful where we pop up at. Ideally we should be able to hit the lower area near the elevator shaft and plant an explosive that will have enough force to rush upwards and destroy the rest of the facility via creating a sink hole. Except there is a small problem...<i></i>”

Tama turned back towards the board and flipped it over to a blank side and opened up the folder to where there were a few photographs. He selected three of them, close the folder and placed them on top for a second while the scientist bit the tip of his thumb to create a small pool of blood. Gently picking up each picture he wiped a small part of that blood against the top of the picture and running it onto the board before exerting a small bit of chakra that transformed the blood into an earthy paste that dried instantly, (as so it could be easily removed). He did this two more times and stepped back a little as if to admire his work but there was anything but approval on the blond’s face. There before them were the three men who ran the company.

“These three men are the reason this place exists. Without them the company would most likely collapse in on itself financially and would be exposed eventually, however, I predict that the reason that Sousuke hasn’t already done this is either because he just gathered the last bits of information he needed or he knew that even doing that the company could still wreck private havoc for at least another five years. Knowing you, actually, more like both eh?<i></i>
“Now the bad thing about this mission is that according to the information we have these three guys will all be there at once. One of them basically lives there but the other two are often traveling and researching new depraved ways they can force their power on others. During this one day out of the year, which is tomorrow, the three men gather for an entire twenty-four hours to share their research. This means that even if we can get in easily and set the explosive, we’ll also have to kill these men for it to succeed. If we don’t then they will be able to easily create another and then will eventually track it back here.<i></i>
“Long story short, its one of those all or nothing kind of missions, and I can not believe you were going to try to take all of this by yourself. Super armor or not each of these three men pose an incredible threat just by themselves.<i></i>”

Tama moved his way over to the chair Okibi was in and leaned against the arm with his hand down against the end of the arm so that his weight didn’t outright flip it. A lot of thoughts were going through his head at that moment as he tried to plot out a best case scenario for the mission - so far everything was looking rather grim given their injuries but...this was the only chance they would have to not only take vengeance for the terror they forced upon Okibi, but to remove this stain from the world entirely. He wanted to suggest that they invite more along with them or at leas have back up, but he knew that it was just far too personal to involve anyone but the three sitting in that room.

His face was hard and disturbed as he raised a finger to his lips to think harder...

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"I had to have Lord Nobu flex some of his financial power. He wanted to expand his business beyond Suna boarders, and found this company. He was on the verge of buying them out, until one of the three aforementioned individuals had stepped in and firmly rejected the offer. I had a look at the books and didn't like the fact they were growing annually like clockwork. I just needed to have a closer look at the books, even minor gains ... with no source of slow business or a lull time was suspicious to me. After I advised Lord Nobu ... it wasn't in his best interest, he stopped trying to buy the company."<i></i> Sousuke then coughed, "So yes. I had acquired the information not too long ago... but their numbers were playing within a five year program... so yes I would have arrived at the same conclusion too. I'll have Nobu do damage control and advise him accordingly not to do anything strange or exceptional looking ... considering he might consider this to be a lovely time to have a hostile corporate takeover. Lord Nobu is ambitious, but ... he can be told no."<i></i> The Steward rubbed the back of his neck. He expected Nobu then to again feast him, and have him out for drinks.

"An all in. I have no problems with that... I..."<i></i> Okibi then spoke up about how Sousuke was always getting hurt. Okibi gave him a shorter version of the conversation he heard from Raijin, and his parents some time ago. "Yes well I'm capable of doing what I'm assigned to... unlike a certain someone who I asked to go help Keystone out, and didn't want to because of a singular problematic encounter. I may have gotten injured, but I learn from my mistakes. I could have always had my bones mended, but I decided to heal naturally as it is a learning process from my mistakes... you're still welcome to try and fix Keystone. She's not so bad, once you get used to her voice."<i></i> When Okibi inquired if they knew where the place is, Sousuke exchanged glances with Tama. "You are kidding right? You are asking Tama and I if we haven't done our research? You heard it from Tama first, considering if I said it... not everything may have sank in."<i></i> The Steward turned his head back to Tama. "I can have Prime Diamund after she drops us off to run interference. A small quake of sorts, that usually gets the attention of some of lower rank and form."<i></i>

 

[Okibi]

Okibi crossed her arms and glared a Sousuke. "She called me stupid. Repeatedly. Im not fixing her." She said adamantly. Soususke hadnt been there for their chuunin exam, he didnt know how nasty that stupid robot voice person thingie could be; or how infuriating. She'd likely end up bringing the whole institution down if she was forced to go in there and fix the stupid thing. Okibi then turned away with a huff when Sousuke started getting sarcastic. "How am I supposed to know whether you did your research or not? You tried to keep all this from me."

She looked away from Sousuke, simmering in a lowly bubbling anger, but when she saw the three pictures Tama put up on the board, her blood ran cold.

Those were the three men who'd tortured her mind, body and soul. Theyd torn her to shreds both literally and figuratively, and even now, when she thought she was ok, that she had a handle on her own fears . . . she was freezing up. Her eyes bugged as they trained on the board with the pictures tacked onto it and her breathing became rapid and shallow. Okibi curled up in her chair and ripped her gaze away, clinging to the chair back like a lifeline. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in the material. 'Im ok, Im ok, Im ok, Im ok.' She told herself, over and over again. Slowly, her breathing evened out again and her muscles loosened up; sadly, the chair wouldnt heal from the puncture wounds her claws caused. "I'm ok." She said one last time, softly and out loud.

When she turned around, Okibi's face was blank, devoid of all emotion. Such a look on the girl was unnatural because she was always bursting with something, be it happiness, anger or sometimes even sadness. But apathy? Okibi had never been apathetic. "So we go in, take out the bastards and go home. Sounds simple enough." She said in a monotone. Suddenly, she got up out of her chair and made for the door. "Im gonna go sharpen my claws and take a nap . . ." She looked over her shoulder briefly, and the look on her face was nothing short of bleak. "Tami . . . will you come find me when you're done here?" There was an almost inaudible quiver in her voice, but it was apparently that although she was trying desperately to hold in the choking fear that she was going to need some help.

After getting her response from her mate, she turned to Sousuke, her face blank once more. "Two days right? I'll be ready." And with that she swept out of the room, her long hair flowing behind her like a ghost.

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Michino]

To see his mate twist her face at the sight of those pictures made the scientist’s heart wrench with a pain that couldn’t be properly described unless you were in love. Still, with a stalwart’s willpower he continued on through his explanations until it seemed that she couldn’t take being in the same room with the faces.
It was the monotone voice of her recognition towards the plan, the soft but audible ‘I’m okay’, that she told herself to try and remain calm, and the look in her eyes that pierced his soul. He reached out and touched his fingertips to her wrist and felt for a split second the ravaging rolling emotions that she was so desperately trying to keep from spilling over. Fear and anger like he had never known shocked his heart, far worse than he had felt after discovering his mother had been murdered.

How did she stay so strong?

The torture these three men put her through had left such deep scars that one would wonder if she would be able to completely recover. Yet in spite Okibi had came back swinging, reverting back to her old hyper-active habits and becoming the girl his heart had always secretly yearned for again; Tama had just simply crumbled and gave way to the darkness in his heart when disaster struck him. Even now, to this day, there was still a dark little hole in his soul that often threated to take control of his life once again and throw him the abysmal shadows of hate and creative destruction. Tama had already taken vengeance on his mother’s killers but he was still permanently haunted by the events. The scientist began to question his forth coming in bringing Okibi along for this.

But the plan was set, and actions were about to commence with just a single day of rest before the mission.

“Sosuske, I’ll leave the deeper levels of outlining this mission to you. I know, not from experience, but just from educated guesses that you’re more likely a better strategist than I am. Besides that...the look on her face when I put up those pictures...I need to go see to her and make sure she is okay and can do this. We’ll return to review tomorrow....” Tama wanted to sound sincere but the worry edging his tone was unmistakable. Nodding to the Steward in reaction to his reply the blonde handed the folder back to his leader and turned to follow Okibi out.

When he closed the door behind him he found a dark hall with no one in it. The scientist lifted his nose to the air and took a long wiff of the scents, trying to sort them out until he recognized the one that came from a little silver trinket he had given his mate for her birthday.
Learning how to sort out smells was a new technique he had been practicing as he had found that it didn’t take Inuzuka chakra to be good at being able to discern multiple scents and what belong to whom, but he knew he would never be as quick about it. Being able to share Okibi’s chakra when he touched her flesh had taught him quite a few things about her and the way she used her powers.

The scientist slowly began to walk down the hall one soft step at a time as he focused his nose on that single smell trying to think of what he was going to do to bring her back into a clam. The revealing of this entire mission had undoubtedly shook her up but it was those damn pictures that had almost sent her over the edge. Tama had carefully burned each face into his mind after seeing her reaction knowing that these were the ones that had brought the most harm to her.

His nose brought him to a door he didn’t inherently recognize for he had only been in the Steward’s house once and in that time he didn’t exactly get a tour of it. He could only assume that the room belonged to his mate since that was where the smell was coming from. His hand raised up to gently knock on the door but stopped right before his knuckles could rap the wood. Instead he placed his hands against it and pressed his forehead to the cool wood and sighed gently. He wanted to sweep the door open, walk in, and just rush her off her feet in a metaphorical hurricane of love and care, but something grim had taken a hold of his heart.

Insecurities.

How long had she still been afraid of these men after he had managed to slowly pull her out of that shell? The shadows that she was still terrified of, the memories that haunted her, all of it...in retrospect Tama felt like all he had managed to do so far was make her forget about it for a second instead of actually helping her. Another sigh escaped his lips before he closed his eyes and prayed to his gods that even if he was destroyed in the end, he just wanted Okibi to no longer have a reason to be afraid...

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"I am sure you will be."</B><i></i> Sousuke spoke as Okibi made her exit. He doubted she would be ready, but he had learned not to underestimate her. She would be ready. Sousuke turned his back to Tama as she exited. He listened to Tama speak of how he needed to be with her to make sure she was indeed quite ready for this. Sousuke turned his head and nodded. "Proceed Tama."<i></i> When Tama had let. The Steward would exhale. He turned his eye to the corner of the room. Residing in the corner of it was a bat. A solitary single ebony bat. The Steward eyed it. He still wasn't at his very best since his encounter with the Outsider. Still though he was better than what he was. That was for certain.

We are far from finished yet. Isn't that right Shade? The bat in the corner hesitated and stirred. The creature fell and flew towards Sousuke. <B>We will make this right. You and I. We will end this game of Shadows.<i></i> Upon coming closer to the Steward the form of the bat's form grew and transformed into the ebon blade. The blade floated before the Steward who grasped it tightly. Upon grasping it the Steward's form changed. It began sharp and vicious. It was said that Lady Azame blessed Sousuke with some aspects of the Toraono. The ebon blade itself was but a part of Mikaboshi. Was this form a mixture of both? Or perhaps was one aspect overriding the other? It was hard to say. The Steward's combined form approached the display. He held up a talon-like hand and raked the display cutting all the strings. Metaphorically setting the stage for things to come. "The slight against my family will be paid. All the debts will be paid. Some call it vengeance, some call it justice. Prepare yourselves my foes. For something superior comes this way..."<i></i>

[Topic Left]

 

[Okibi]

"Just go in."

As Tama was preoccupied with thoughts of his inadequacy, Seven had bumbled his way down the hall with Kitchy's help, propping him up. He'd stopped by Sousuke's study to speak with the human briefly before making his way towards Okibi's room. If he understood things, Okibi was having a slight breakdown and she was in need of some comforting. In days gone by, it would have been he, her guardian protector who would have done the comforting . . . but anymore he was finding that she really didnt need him as much as she used to. She was becoming a fine young woman, and hardly needed protecting now.

On top of which, she'd found her life mate. Which meant it really wasnt his job to protect her anymore anyway.

But, he was still her partner, and it was a partner's job to to help the other, even if he couldnt do so directly.

Seven sat down gingerly in the hall behind Tama, glowering, just outside Okibi's door. He didnt bother trying to be quiet, because he knew Okibi would hear them no matter what. "What point is there in ruminating about what you have and have not done for her? I can smell your insecurity. The past doesnt matter; right now, she needs you, and here you are standing in the hall like an idiot. Get in their before I bite your ankle." Yes, Tama's hesitancy was grinding on Seven's nerves, which were already prickly because of his injuries. He wasnt always a gentleman.

~~~~~~~~~~

Inside the room, Okibi was sittin on the edge of her bed, fiddling with the poorly stitched up bear Sousuke had given her when she first moved in. In her youth, she'd torn the toy apart because she didnt understand what it was; somehow it had come back to her repaired, and when she realized what a gift was and what it meant, she'd given it a forever place of honor at her bedside.

Sitting in the bears place on her bedside table was the device Tama gave her for her eighteenth birthday. The scent it emitted, a perfect rendition of his, calmed her in the midst of the storm her mind was trying to drown her in. When she stopped to think about it, it was a rather pretentious gift, assuming she would want something that smelled like him. The thought made her laugh. It was a correct assumption, but an assumption nonetheless. Still, she loved it.

She hoped the real thing would wrap it up with Sousuke soon; she needed something more substantial than her teddy bear to hold on to.

Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, Okibi willed her hands to stop shaking. She was fine, just fine. They were only pictures, and they were only men; mortals who could be hurt just as easily as she had been. She wasnt weak anymore, she wasnt alone anymore. There was nothing to be afraid of.

But the shadows.

'No.' Okibi told herself, shaking her head to dispel the thoughts of the only things she feared. 'Im not afraid. Im not afraid.' She continued. But no matter how many times she tried to convince herself, her hands just kept shaking, wrapped around the toy bear.

Then the moment came when she was blessedly distracted from her fears. She smelled Tama, him and his real scent, tip toeing down the hallway. She didnt hear him, so she assumed he was ninjaing his way towards her. Why he did that, she didnt know. She frowned when he stopped outside her door . . . and just stood there. He didnt come in, he didnt knock, he didnt call to her . . . For a few minutes, he just stood there, and Okibi was starting to get irritated. Did he not hear her properly when she asked him to come find her when he was done? Did he not see the look on her face that she let him see?

Her mate, despite his brilliant mind, could be quite dense sometimes.

Her frown melted away when she smelled the scents of Seven and Kitchy getting closer. They stopped near Tama, and as she knew he would, Seven aptly berated the young human for taking his damn sweet time. Still, things were taking too long.

She needed her mate now.

Standing up, she put the bear on the table beside the scent emitter and marched to the door. Before anyone could know what was happening, she wrenched the door open, fisted her metal hand in Tama's coat and hauled him into the room, slamming the door shut quickly behind him. Once she had him within reach, she wrapped her arms around him (gently, because she didnt forget that he was still healing) and buried her face in his chest. "You were taking too long." She mumbled against his skin, breathing deeply of the comfort his very presence offered.

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Michino]

The scientist’s eyes opened a little and looked down to the growling canine form on the ground. He felt a bit of trepidation coming from Seven though he couldn’t understand what he was saying; not without his mate’s hand. Of course thankfully despite his shortcomings and insecurities the scientist wasn’t an idiot and nodded down at Seven grateful that he had come to growl at him.
He was sure that the doberman had some valid points.
Yet before he could move his hand down to open the door, Okibi twisted the knob and pulled open the entrance. This caused Tama to stumble in a little but she caught him and held on to him tight like a child to its guardian.

Skin touched skin and immediately Tama was overwhelmed with the roaring oceans of fear threatening to swallow her up. He inhaled sharply from the sudden strong emotions wiping away his insecurities. His arms wrapped tight around the woman as he steeled his heart to face the coming onslaught of fear those pictures had inspired. His arms raised up to hold her tight to him as if they were falling down a deep pit and he was hoping to break her fall.

“So...so much terror,</B><i></i>” were the first words he spoke after embracing her, “In all of the years I spent running from my father never once did I experience fear so intense...<i></i>” his hands tightened their grip of her clothes and he pulled her in a little closer, “I am so sorry Okibi...I thought I knew...I thought I could relate just a little to the terror you felt against someone but I couldn’t even come close to understanding...<i></i>”

As he spoke, though, he could feel the darkness releasing its grip on his mate’s heart little by little. He took a shuddering deep breath and began to move his feet so that his arms around her pulled them towards the bed where he took a rather heavy sit. As soon as his legs touched the edge of the mattress they buckled. He raised a single hand up to run through his hair to try and regain his focus as the memory of Okibi’s fear haunted his soul. His eyes closed for a second in an attempt to regain composure before he reopened them again and let out a heavy sigh followed by a half smile,
“I think I finally fond something more terrifying that my fear of women. How you’re able to withstand any of that and stay sane is a feat of strength that would make my strongest jutsu look like I was tickling my enemy with a feather,<i></i>” his breath, caught again from being able to sit for a second, allowed him to seem more calm as he drew her head in to rest under his chin, “But don’t worry about it anymore...I would see Sunagakure explode in a massive fireball before I’d let them get anywhere near you again.<i></i>”

His bi-colored eyes stared out into space as his hand gently began to stroke and play with her beautiful long hair. He wasn’t sure why but the very action of it was causing his body to calm down even further, or perhaps it because she was becoming calm that he could do the same.
Regardless of either it wasn’t what was on his mind. Overcoming fears and becoming stronger danced on his brain wrinkles. He was worried, based on her reaction to just pictures of the villains, that she would freeze up at just the wrong moment and become victim to wounds. Yet he also knew that if she stayed behind and let Sosuske and her lover kill the men then she would never have the full closer. It tore him up a little that she would have to go through even worse than what she was experiencing now just to be able to live a ‘normal’ life.

However that was two days away including tonight, and another incredible thing caught the scientist’s attention whilst he was in the deep thought of how to keep Okibi from getting ultra scarred:

He wasn’t shaking.

His body, calm as a placid lake, held not even a single ounce of fear from having his mate at such a close proximity. His hand moved through her hair without a single worry that it would magically wrap around his wrist and be a part of the cause of his demise; instead it was actually relaxing him.
Had he finally done it? Had he finally found the one thing that would break him out of the constant annoying fear of women that had haunted every step of his relationship? His fingers caught a snag in her hair and he gently worked it apart as if it was a snag in his own hair. His heart began to pick up speed at the exciting thought as he wondered just how far his fear had been cured...

“Okibi...<i></i>” he spoke deep and soft, waiting for her to move her face away and look at him. As soon as she did he would raise his hand up to gently tilt her chin up just a little more and press his lips gently against hers.

Hundreds of explosive feelings rushed through his body and not a single one of them was the ultra annoying ‘fainting fear’ that had ruined so much of the fun part of their love for each other. His body wanted more all of a sudden knowing that, so far, that his brain wasn’t going to black out and his kiss deepened as he breathed in deep through his nose, the hand in her hair using her head to press her lips a little closer.

It was then that he realized how wrong his actions could be taken. Too fast, too sudden from a man who but yesterday couldn’t kiss her like this to save his life and all of sudden he could? Right after dealing with the fear of seeing her attacker’s faces for the first time in forever probably wasn’t the best time to test out how far he had managed to banish his own fears.

He broke away from the kiss, slowly, but immediately released the grip on the back of her head as a shot of crimson red rushed into his cheeks. His heart was racing so fast it almost hurt in both excitement and fear of his actions being taken negative.
“<B>S-sorry, got carried away there...” he said sheepishly though, unlike normal, he was actually able to look into her eyes as he spoke it. Normally he wasn’t able to look at her at all after trying to do something intimate that suddenly turned fail whale.

 

[Okibi]

Within the circle of Tama's arms Okibi felt safe, protected; he was way better than any security blanket. She buried her face in the warmth of his skin, only half hearing the things he said as he held her tightly and backed up toward the bed. When his knees buckled and they fell onto her mattress, Okibi immediately curled up in his lap, happily tucking herself under his chin. When he started talking again, this time she heard him, because he was talking about himself and his fear of women too. She laughed quietly at his admission of extreme protectiveness, willing to let the village perish before he let her get hurt again. It was a touching sentiment. Okibi closed her eyes and tilted her chin upward so she could nuzzle the underside of his jaw. When his hand started running through her hair she very well went limp in his arms, becomin not much more than a mass of boneless goop. Felt so good.

She couldnt have recalled her fear for anything in the world with Tama holding her like he was. What was there to be afraid of when she had someone who loved her as much as he did? What reason was there to fear the past when she had nothing but a bright future ahead of her, mate and everything?

Okibi couldnt remember why she'd been afraid in the first place.

"Okibi." Tama said quietly, pulling her attention back to him. She craned her neck back, looking up at him with a sleepy look in her eyes. The hair petting, plus his scent and the warmth of his skin were doing loopy things to her brain. The fear was long gone and if he loosened his hold on her even a little she would probably fall to the floor in a heap of happy feelings.

But, it didnt look like loosening his hold was on his mind.

Her eyes popped open and the fuzziness that came with his petting evaporated like water on the hot desert sand. For some reason, his advance surprised her, and for a second she couldnt register that he was kissing her. Usually, she was the one to initiate any intimate contact, and even then it didnt last long because of Tama's . . . condition. But, when his hand burrowed into her hair and he pulled her close, nearly crushing her mouth with his, any confusion was swept away like mist on a breeze. Byebye! A pleased rumble-growl bubbled up out of her chest as her eyes slid shut and fell into his kiss. She was about to wrap her arms around his neck and take the kiss to another level when he pulled away, leaving her lips seeking after him. A whine very nearly escaped her when his hand left her hair, and she would have grabbed it and put it right back if not for his sudden admission.

He got carried away. Tama did. Not her, but him.

Okibi blinked.

"The hell're you apologizin' for?" She asked numbly, her words jumbling just slightly. Grabbing onto the lapels of his coat, Okibi pulled herself up and shifted her legs so they were straddling either side of his hips. She pushed the coat up and over his shoulders as she sat back down, swaying from side to side for a moment to get 'comfortable'. "If you think you're getting out of here after that . . ." She said quietly, devastatingly so, as one of her hands trailed up the side of his neck and fisted in the hair at the base of his head. "You have another thing coming, mate." And with that she pulled his head back down, but unlike usual, she didnt just up and kiss him. She nibbled at his bottom lip and traced over his jaw with tiny kisses and nips, making her way to his ear. She bit and tugged on his earlobe gently, then let go so she could whisper in his ear. "What better way to get my mind off things?"

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Michino]

A rush of blood stormed its way through his ears as she whispered heatedly into them. His breath felt a little shaky but it wasn’t out of some odd subcontinuous fear that kept haunting him; it was from the thrill of her being so close.

His arms slipped out of the coat and tossed away from the bed as his hands then moved up under her thighs to lift her up, turn, and place her back against the center of the bed as he moved closer to her in an almost crawling fashion. His body language, the hypnotic scent that poured from him, and the hunger in his eyes said everything she needed to hear.
A single finger slowly traced its way up her inner thigh before his entire hand spread out to pet, his mouth suddenly connecting to hers again in a deep kiss.

Oh yes, he had an idea of how to distract her...

[FTB]​

An hour passed, two hours, a lifetime, he wasn’t sure. Time could have stopped for all he cared.

His back was against the bed where the covers had longed been kicked off and a single sheet was laid over their bare flesh, barely covering the nessecary parts though as with time, he doubted that either one of them cared overly much. It was all he could do to simply breath deeply in and out in an attempt to get his heart to stop beating so fast. His flesh was covered with a thin sheet of sweat and his chest with his lover’s head and hair. An idle right hand was playing with the long hair abseil as he continued to try and calm his body down.

He felt more connected to Okibi now than he ever had with their flirtatious back and forth. His mind instantly sprang back to the task that would be at hand before too long and what the two of them would have to face down together. The evil men that had dared to touch her painfully and drown her in darkness would soon stand before her again. Would she be strong enough to fight if they somehow got separated? Of course that is if they were somehow able to actually get them separated in the first place, something Tama doubted they would be able to do easily.

The Ryuu moved his shoulders around a little to snuggle his body deeper into the mattress as his second arm came around to pull his mate a little closer. No matter what, he promised himself, would he ever allow the shadows to harm her again. Nor would he ever let his personal shortcomings get in the way of their relationship. If ever there was a time to grow up a little it would be now before heading out into danger to rectify the past.

Light began to pour in from the bottom of the window...