Contract Lesson: Tyger Tiger by the tail

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro nodded "We do indeed she is one of the head medics of the Toraono clan and my mother's cousin. You might have seen her around, red hair, giant sword, healing crimson sands. We can call her over after we present your trophy to the feline council." Kuro would walk with Kyuji stopping just outside of the center of the temple where Kyuji's actions were played back upon a holo crystal for all present. N'taku covered his eyes when Kyuji used earth jutsu armor. Kuro applauded Kyuji's actual bravery. Byakko was silent as he witnessed the battle from start to finish. Figuring how long the fight took and noting Kyuji's ferocity and noting key details that Kyuji missed he smiled because this was truly his descendant. So much pride... "Before the unveiling of your trophy and a special previously prepared feast I would like to declare my decision based off your actions since arriving in Sunagakure speak to us all about your lineage and potential. You have earned the right to call upon my kin. Once you become a true master you will be fit to visit my home. Now please present your trophy."<i></i>

Kuro would place the massive capture scroll at Kyuji's feat as the temple mechanisms opened to reveal the evening sky letting in some much needed fresh air.
It was time...

 

[Tomomi]

As the descendant of Byakko had assumed, Sashi was a part of their clan. The description of her however left an unsettling feeling in his chest as his brother described her due to her and the one who forewarned him seeming to share similar characteristics with one another; it was unlikely that they were the same person but there was always the possibly that they actually could be the same woman and she had just been someone sent to watch over him as he fought the carnasaur. However, the degree of uncertainty would linger in the air as his brother would place a hand on his back and they would proceed to walk just stopping from the center of the temple. This was because the Feline Council was, apparently, reviewing his fight against the carnasaur through a holo crystal.

As he stood there, he would see Lord Byako and N'taku watching carefully. Of course, N'taku would show disbelief that Kyuji would use an earth-style jutsu to protect himself against a carnasaur who utilized lightning-style attacks which were strong and effective against a basic earth coating. But, the more important figure being Lord Byakko was simply smiling as the fight concluded and Kuro had applauded Kyuji's bravery. It would appear that everything was going in the right direction for the descendant as his lord would announce that Kyuji was allowed to call upon Byakko's kin and when he was a true master, he could visit his home. Our little descendant would merely smile at his words and give a slight bow to his lord in a show of respect.

It was then time to present his trophy as Kuro placed a massive scroll at his feet and the temple would open up to reveal the evening sky. It had truly been a productive and rewarding day to say the very least as Kyuji would roll open the scroll with the assistance of some other members of the Byakko Clan; he would then have the larger-than-life carnasaur appearing in front of him using the proper handseals to summon him. As the creature laid there cold, Kyuji would stand there and simply respond to Lord Byakko with the following "Lord Byakko. Please accept this carnsaur as my trophy for completing the task assigned to me. I hope that you and your Feline Council approve of this gift!"

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Just as Kyuji had thought there was something amiss, the carnasaur which should have been unable to move was glowing with blue & gold lightning touched energy before the ice keeping it captured exploded showering everyone in tiny harmless but still slightly stinging ice cubes. The carnasaur began to change form and size dramatically as it shrank down into the form of an overly fat reptilian man. He looked about and grew pale but tried to maintain his courage.

"It ssseems I have been besssted, and by catsss no lessss, no matter I am still strong enough to take out one of... Oh no... it is N'taku the Flaming Claw AND Byakko of Ice Fangs... no lizard clan has ever seen either of you and lived, so this must be my end. Well if I must fall, I Abura the Glutton patron of Carnasaurs and first among my clan to reclaim the lightning fangsss will not disappoint." He looked about prepared to make his last stand when he saw Kuro next to Kyuji and began to grow even more pale.

"Thisss cannot be, even the Black Sssandwyrm Hunter is here?! Why are so many powerful warriorsss gathered in one place?!"
His mind began to fracture as he could not muster his energies to transform before this many powerful enemies. He began to whimper and cry and soon even his lizard form faded and he was just a fat ninja of odd capacity.

Kuro smirked before circling Abura, "I think I have this figured out... Abura was not a true carnasaur but a chimera whom had been accepted by them after he managed to take some of their dna somehow. My eyes have determined he has Santaru DNA and one of the giant bloodlines as well. This explains alot as intelligent carnasaurs beyond what their instincts hold would be far too dangerous to leave in the wild. Thank you Kyuji for hunting this being down before he caused some sort of mutation amongst them making them far more dangerous than they already are."<i></i>

Abura saw the open sky at the last moment and thought to chance calling a lightning storm down until he noticed the look upon Kyuji's face. His pride had been wounded ever so lightly but the look in his eyes told Abura all he needed to know. Anything other than absolute submission would mean a fate worse than death.

Byakko clan guards quickly came in and sedated then removed Abura, even N'taku was left speechless as a feast was slowly brought in anyway. He turned to Byakko and bowed before approaching Kyuji, " Very impressive Master Kyuji, not only did you defeat a monster I could not, you revealed his true identity, Thank you, I can sleep peacefully knowing there is one less monster in this world. Welcome to our family forevermore descendant.

N'taku left before the feast began he could only remain within Byakko's presence for so long before his elemental core began to cool and he would then turn into a statue or worse crumble should he remain sedentary near such winter born celestial power.

Lord Byakko nodded to Kyuji before eating his fill and departing. Each of the remaining 10 felines afterward took a portion of the meal leaving a human sized feast in their wake. Mysteries had been solved this day and other problems had arisen. The entirety of the matter in the end was that Kyuji had earned acceptance and could now summon a feline ally. Now he need only steel himself in preparation for contract mastery so that he might learn things from the homeland of the felines.

 

[Tomomi]

This day had been interesting to say the least, but it was not over yet. See, Kyuji had defeated this carnasaur creature easily which left an uneasy feeling in his stomach like something was off. Fortunately for him, his gut feeling would reveal to be true as the captured creature would actually break the ice surrounding its body and sending shards of ice flying. Thankfully, nobody was harmed from the shards and the creature would reveal its true form as nothing more than a human being that had the capabilities of using the lightning element masterfully like a Santaru as Kuro would later confirm. The unfortunate creature would be escorted away by Byakko guards, but the descendant knew that their paths would eventually cross again as he had a feeling that this encounter had only begun something much bigger that would need more than just him to accomplish; still, he was slightly disappointed that he hadn't fought a true carnasaur and survived to tell the tale but a hybrid of human and carnasaur would certainly be something to write home about and include in the Oracle records when he had a chance to go back to the library. In any case, the sheer look of fright on the overweight man's face after seeing so many power entities at one place would have cracked a smile on Kyuji's face if the situation wasn't as tense, but still seeing others afraid of N'taku and Byakko along with his brother and himself made him feel a great sense of power and pride.

But, there would be no time to bask in any glory as N'taku and Byakko would show their acceptance of him as a member of the family after eliminating one powerful foe that was against the Byakko Clan. There would be many more but for now, Kyuji had taken care of the business that had been assigned to him and he was able to call forth his family and allies to his clan whenever he wanted to now. However, there was still a matter that he needed to take care of and thankfully, his brother was still around so he could address him directly about it since he hadn't forgotten what that redhead said to him earlier. So once again, he would place one of his hands on his brother's shoulder and say: "It seems N'taku and Byakko are pleased and accepted me. Is there anything else that I must do to fulfill this pact with them, Brother? Also, I need to talk to Sashi as soon as possible."

He would then look at the feast that had been prepared and all the empty plates that had surfaced barring small crumbs here and there. If his stomach didn't have a sense of uneasiness, he probably would've also participated in the feast. But, his mind and body were preoccupied with other matters like protecting his immediate and extended family from harm. He also was starting to feel a small amount of fatigue and his body was aching slightly from the traveling and fighting to complete N'taku's task. However, he would just need to push forward for now and he could rest his mind and body when he felt like everyone would be safe. For now, he just needed to wait for his brother to respond and hopefully he could talk to Sashi and complete any last minute things to complete his pact fully with his lord and his followers.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro stepped forth and gave his clan brother a hug and pointed to the contract he carried where Kyuji's blood name would appear. He had been accepted as a Contract student like Yanjirou and was able to call upon the white tiger and his kindred. He would need another quest to become a full master but it would be much easier once he found his own way to contact his fellow felines. "This is the beginning of your trials but the first half is complete. I have a successor to name and once that is done I will have to step away to take care of a private matter with lethal overtones. The next leader will mark you and give you title as I cannot due to my standing as a man and a Sennin. Regardless of my personal matters I am PROUD of you and your efforts. May you and your family continually be blessed as ever. When next you see your son you should have a summons challenge and then both of you should go on a quest to secure the right to enter the Feline realm. I will also notify Sashi to come speak with you as she has some personal matters with Shoma going on while my Kyojin is monitoring Mistress Ava. Rest up and I will check on you later."

Kuro would slip away to leave Kyuji at the mercy of his wife, whom was known to have no mercy. It was time for Kyuji to master Ice jutsu so he could keep up with her.

 

[Tomomi]

Without a moment to stop his brother, Kuro had wrapped his arms around him and was embracing him in a hug. This prompted the descendant of Byakko to smile and return the favor to his brother. As they did, he would see the contract in his brother's hand with his name written already proving that he was truly accepted as a contract summoner of the feline pact. As the embrace from his brother resided, he would be informed that the first half of his trials were complete meaning there was more that he would need to do in the future, but for now he had managed to impress the Feline Court and his brother. He would also be informed that Kuro would contact Sashi and that Kuro had a successor to name since he was going to step away from being the head of the clan for personal matters that had lethal overtones. Of course, Kyuji wanted to ask him about it but he knew that it was not the time nor place to be doing so as he didn't need to be in the business of every single member of his clan. When Kuro was concluding, he told his brother that he was proud of him and his efforts which made the descendant tear up slightly.

At this moment, he wanted to respond to his brother but he was choked up for words as he was feeling a wide range of emotions. So, he said nothing but nodded at Kuro with a smile as he allowed his brother to turn and slip away from the temple leaving him alone with his family members who were speechless like he was at everything that happened. Of course, some would come up to him and congratulate him on completing his task and others would simply give him a bow or a nod. The only reaction that Kyuji could give in respond was a nod and a smile back as he wiped up the tears of joy from his eyes and would be left alone only momentarily.

After his brother would slip away and the commotion from their family calmed down, his wife would walk up to him and put his human hand into her own. While there was a lot that had transpired since Kyuji had come to this village, his wife was still quite impressed and pleased with her husband. However, she knew that the future was still uncertain and with Kyuji being somewhat awestruck at all the events that had transpired to him today, this was the best time to try to get through to him especially with his former apprentice and current resident in their house away from him training away with some of the guards. After her hands wrapped around his, she would look him in the eyes with her beautiful golden irises and speak to him: "Kyuji, it's time that we go back home. With you finally going through this first trial and getting the permission from N'taku and Lord Byakko, you can now summon any feline companion that you want into battle including Lord Byakko himself. However, you and I still have unfinished business to discuss away from the rest of our clan regarding us and the future of this clan. So let's go, descendant of Byakko and my husband in the eyes of our Lord. Time is wasting away."

Without even a moment for him to respond, she would let go of her grip on his hand only to interlock their fingers together and begin to walk away from everyone else. The chilling aura of Lady Yanshi and the flaming aura of Kyuji were vastly different, but maybe that is why there was a saying of why opposites attracted to one another? In any case, the descendant of Byakko had managed to survive an encounter with one of the most strongest creatures known to Sunan and would be able to pass down his knowledge to future generations even if it wasn't a true carnasaur. He also had those feathersteel glass fragments at his disposal now and he would need to carefully think about what he wanted to use them for considering they were so rare and hard to obtain for obvious reasons.

[TLUS w/ Lady Yanshi]
[707 Words]
[Feline Contract Taught and Accepted]