Go On [Open/Free]

[Takahashi Matsu]

"I know of no others. They are simply true of me. I was...forced to eat as such. However, I've come to savour it and wish not to have it remedied. Like all parts of myself, I like them the way they are."<i></i> He simpled smiled and continued to eat. The food was delicious without question. He'd continued to stuff himself until finally he felt that doing any more would be rude to the house. He sat down, finally, not truly trusting that the bench would support his weight. He lifted his right leg up and cross it over his left. His ankle sat upon his knee and his toes wiggled ever so slightly to some kind of internal rhythm. His tongue flicked up and picked at his teeth, removing any strays bits of food matter, before escaping back inside his mouth to wait. "I look forward to training you, Madam. It's been far too long since I've seen someone who has similar blood to myself. We were everywhere before. Now, sadly, we're few and far between. Unfortunate, really, but what are we to do about that? Nothing. It is not our choice."<i></i>

Sarunishi simply smiled as he would do forever and ever and ever. He reclined happily on the bench for now. It was relatively comfortable compared to most things. It wasn't better than the dirt though. Nothing was better than the earth between his toes, but he'd always keep at least one foot on the ground if able. He hated to be separated from it. He could feel its pulse and it could feel his. He was but a vessel now. An avatar of...well. He didn't really know. That's part of the journey. His hand rested limply on the arm rest, fingers hunger over the edge as he was placated for now.

"So, my most gracious host, do we have more to see or is it time to retire for the evening and prepare for a meeting in the near future?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro eyes darkened a bit but he decided it would be better to make sure Sarunishi knew he had indeed a place to call home should he ever need one. "Why yes we do have two more places to visit, one I am certain you will find interesting, the other is a geothermal spring heated both by the sun and the molten core below. Please follow me..."<i></i> It was evident that Kuro had something in mind by the purposeful manner in which he walked should Sarunishi follow Kuro would show him each panel and attenuate them to Sarunishi's presence and chakra to make sure he could come and go as he pleased. As he led Sarunishi toward a well sealed area Sarunishi could feel the ground change beneath his feet. It was far far older than the rest of the dojo itself and not manufactured. He was standing on ancient stone unmoved simply molded to form stairs by the 'First Men'. As they descended he would be able to feel the presence of men imprisoned yet well kept. Kuro would signal to three guards whom detached from their sentry points and bowed. "Is the child slayer Zeyamu ready for execution?"<i></i> The main guard would bow his head to say yes. "Lord Sarunishi, beyond this entrance is a prisoner, he was once a member of our clan, a member of the main family whom stole my blood from the family clinic in an attempt to take on my power. He then proceeded to use said blood and the souls of five children kidnapped by him to attain his own form of immortality. Before my clansmen caught up to him he had already killed three of the children and sealed their souls within him. I have sworn to their families that his punishment would be severe and that the souls of their children would be returned to the pure world free of this man's taint. I had planned to feed him to a sandwyrm and retrieve his remains from the sandwyrm's sketta but seeing as how the dark tales of male stone giants is true I would give you the honor of dispatching him so that he may be consumed by one whom can actually use the sustenance of human flesh. If you wish it he is yours otherwise as we head to the underground bathhouse through specially hidden gates, this murderer will be led to the surface and left bleeding, screaming, and chained to a pulse stone to bring a sandwyrm to devour him whole."<i></i>

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

Molded stone felt great beneath his feet. He'd decided to follow Kuro about some more as he waited for the full story to unfold. It seemed like everything one would ever need was here. Even below, it seemed like he could have everything he wanted. Prisoners didn't mean much if you didn't use them. He'd learned that. He was used to manufacture drugs and cures for diseases. He was a walking alchemical hazard. He felt like his skin was crawling. His body tensed as his nose took in the air. Death. Death was pervasive. He took in a deep breath and bowed to his host. "I will take this gift. Watch if you wish."<i></i> Steam would vent from his shoulders as he took upon a more animalistic stance. He was salivating somewhat. A bit of his spittle hit the ground and bubbled, hissing, and dissipating. He'd begin.

It would not be a pleasant experience to say the least. Acid would strip flesh from bone. Bones would be cracked, marrow consumed. Flesh would be chewed, ravaged, and swallowed at various odd intergers. There would be no method to the madness. It would simply be purely instinct. Eat, eat, eat. That's all that mattered in this situation. He just wanted to eat. It had been forever since he lost himself to his urges. When he'd be done, if given the leave to truly consume, blood and bone would be strewn about without any order. There'd be hardly anything left. Maybe a toe or two. He didn't care. Flesh was flesh and at this point he was mostly immune to most diseases. He was, after all, a furnace. He just needed to survive.

Afterwards, Sarunishi would continue to follow Kuro. Of course, he'd be covered in blood which would quickly cook off of his skin, but what was left on his blue and white hakama would remain.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro would have laughed evilly as the man once known as his cousin tried to escape Sarunishi. He lurched back as Kuro opened the sealed door confident that the power he'd gained from Kuro's blood would give him an edge against any threat of death but an honest to god Stone Giant was not something he had ever suspected of as a death sentence. Youki began to beg "PLEASE SPARE ME COUSIN, WE ARE KIN. I CAN CHANGE." Kuro would have tore him apart himself if it were not forbidden for main branch to harm another of their line but the other families kept each portion of the clan as a whole in line. This would be a special moment.. "YOU MURDERED CHILDREN AND DEVOURED THEIR SOULS SEEKING POWER, CHILDREN YOU SYCOPHANT, WHAT YOU FACE NOW IS INDEED JUSTICE, YOU FACE A LEGENDARY STONE GIANT. HE WILL GRANT YOU THE DEATH YOU DESERVE!!"</COLOR><i></i> Kuro did not turn away he wanted to see his cousin's eyes as he received what he had given those children, horror and death. Youki's death was not pleasant but it served its purpose and the message along with a recording of his death for the parents whom demanded accountability were sent out. Sarunishi would notice that the man he devoured had blood that was almost violet in color and it made him feel stronger to feast upon him. Kuro would nod to Sarunishi once the man's spirit was free and stretched in agony as his body was being digested, Kuro made seven seals before three shining flames of white with varying shades of blue to one and crimson to two others floated into the stones above them to the waiting womb of a mother with three stillborn children (soul-less) where the three children would be reborn. They were well ahead of schedule but the mother soon felt the children within her held in stasis by Doctor Toa's jutsu begin to kick and move. The babes would be given to the parents whom had lost their original children, not in compensation but in promised rebirth. For the mother whom bore these children by special circumstance was Youki's mother Washu, Kuro's elder cousin whom had volunteered to reforge bodies for the lost children from her own flesh. <COLOR color="indigo">"Thank You Sarunishi, he deserved everything that happened in his last moments, should the demon blood you ingested cause you any problems I can grant you a Gaia seal to control the dark chakra surges." As Kuro led them through ancient passage ways the air became heavy with sweet vapor as they reached the underground hot springs. Kuro stripped naked before setting his clothing in a neat bin to be washed and pressed and returned. He motioned that Sarunishi's garments could also be cleaned and pressed. "Once the bath is done I can commission some clothing for you if you like."

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

"I will be fine. Thank you. It was a much needed meal."<i></i> Sarunishi's sanity slipped for a moment. What felt like a lifetime in his skull was truly just a few seconds in the real world. Everything was spinning and reminding him of his past. His childhood mostly. Long lost and forgotten in his mind. When he was truly happy. Everything now was just a symptom of his insanity. Not that he wasn't functional, but he definitely wasn't of sound mind. Shaking his head, he spat once more onto the floor a mixture of blood and spit before following after Kuro. It was quite the interesting ritual, but Sarunishi understood none of it as he pressed on. His eyebrows lifted slightly at the mention of a seal however. The only seals Sarunishi knew about were those that were created to contain, protect, and secure. His hand slipped up to his chin and stroked for a moment.

"Gaia seal? Now, I am curious, however I will pass on obtaining such a seal. What kinds of seals are these? I am unfamiliar..."<i></i> Sarunishi trailed off a bit as the entered the spring area. He also stripped down which is something he rarely did. He placed his clothing where desired and would quickly inter himself into the water if able. "I am content with what I have. Thank you kindly, good host. Other clothing tends to fail in function given my particular biological composition."<i></i> His smiled faded as he went to a stoic face. He was ready to finally relax and move his business forward.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

As they relaxed in the hot springs the blood was summarily washed from Sarunishi's clothing as Kuro explained the seals performed at the Toraono Dojo. "I understand the hesitance and they are not something easily given. The Seals of the Toraono Dojo are masterwork dark chakra seals that allow those whom master them to use dark chakra in a manner that allows them to exceed their particular form of battle limitations. For fighters such as ourselves the Gaia seal, named in honor of the ancient earth goddess of war allows a close combat specialist to transform themselves into something demonic in the case of my seals as they are based upon my blood. Being part demon my blood has the ability to alter chakra pathways. Using my blood as a catalyst I can easily form basic battle seals to enhance any living being's combat abilities. A Gaia seal enhances close combat, a lunar seal enhances ninjutsu capability, and a hell seal enhances the mental aspects of warrior who specializes in genjutsu. When I was much younger a true master placed a Heaven Seal upon me to prevent my dark chakra from controlling me so I understand if the blood you ingested which does contain a reasonable amount of my own may cause some physical or spiritual changes that may go unnoticed by one with power such as yours."</COLOR><i></i>

Kuro then reached out and struck a summon seal on the flat stone surface and two hot large clay jars of sake appeared with drinking saucers atop each jar. There was a soft series of knocks indicated some of the women folk wanted to bathe with Sarunishi as well. It seemed curiosity really did run rampant in his dojo. Kuro looked to Sarunishi to judge if it would be okay to allow the women to come bathe him. <COLOR color="indigo">"I think you can guess their intent but if you wish it I can order them to leave."

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

Sarunishi nodded a bit as he took the information in. Interesting how the world had developed in his years being locked away. Sarunishi would quietly listen until the sake arrived. He would nod towards it and simply raise his arms up to rest behind him, outstretched along the edges of the springs. He'd just nod towards Kuro as well when he looked at him. He had no opposition to the women coming into the chamber. Sarunishi was neither shy nor bashful. He was simply enjoying the hospitality and would do little to upset the status quo, whatever that might be. In this situation, he was not going to refuse anyone looking at him in such a way. Most people simply spat or were disgusted by his mere presence. Though Mana, bless her heart, thought he was still a person. How sad and untrue that was. He was really a monster. Of course, he was a monster with good intentions and a penchant for business, but he really wasn't much of a person anymore. Genetics, time, and demonic influences had made sure of that.

"All are welcome. I've no reason to hide myself from the world. In fact, I plan for the opposite very soon."<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro smirked and tipped the Sake dish in agreement as he released a simple pressure lever opening the chamber to the women's side. Twelve women stood in anticipation Nah-iya leading the pack as they all came in wearing light bathing robes with creams and soaps for Sarunishi, they seemed overly anxious to touch his skin and see just how much like stone his skin actually was. As Nah-iya and the girls slid into the water a steam surge kicked up making all their robes partially see through. Not a bad way to start the evening but Kuro was married now and it would not do for his wife to catch him in a hot spring with twelve young women, even if they were entertaining a rare and esteemed guest. It was the principle of the matter. "I leave you in Nah-iya's capable hands, I have a wife to go tend to and I will make sure your room is specially reinforced to compensate for your physical strength."


While Demon Kuro spoke to Sarunishi as he was gathering his clothing and wrapping himself in a robe. His Sanryoukyogan form was using metal and earth jutsu to mold and reinforce the chamber suite set aside for Sarunishi's visit. This should at least compensate for his treatment at the gate. They were only doing their job but being somewhat direct and polite went a long way as well.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

Sarunishi just laughed as the women entered the bath. His skin was indeed like stone, but was pliable enough to still feel somewhat like skin. It was just course and rough. Sarunishi's was definitely hardened more than most. His skin definitely wasn't diamond. Obsidian was gorgeous, but it wasn't strong. Its strength was sharpness which Sarunishi had in spades as it were. He was like a ball of razor wire drenched in toxins. Diamonds, on the other hand, were something else entirely. Perhaps if given enough time and concentration he could shift his skins composition. It was a curious question. He'd always assumed that he was fixed into whatever body he had and never considered that perhaps the world was more modular. He licked his lips and just relaxed as the ladies went about their business. Curiously enough, Sarunishi seemed to take no interest in them. He waved ever so politely to Kuro as he departed. Rules were rules. He'd do nothing to make this man's wife angry. "If I may, I'd prefer to sleep outside. I don't like to sleep in beds. I'm sure you can understand."<i></i>

Sarunishi just rested. He had no need for such things anymore. People were just meat. That's all it was. His meat was just more difficult to consume.

[I suppose this topic is close to an end and we can move onwards with others, lest you've something in mind, aye?]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro had his room prepared early but adhered to Sarunishi's request to rest outside and as such had a basket of fresh fruit, raw fish, and poached lamb left outside in the stone courtyard with Sarunishi. It was a very serene place with chakra reinforced pond that kept the dust from settling upon it so it always looked clear. Sand fish and Koi swam around in it as a water clock gently cycled the water about. The trickle of the water, the summer breeze cooled by the special construction of the chambers around the courtyard and the large crescent moon which seemed to smile down upon him. Nah-iya meditated in a chamber near the courtyard ever ready to answer any request he might have. There would be time for business later as the night pressed on. It was time for rest and they would all have some after a fashion.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

[Sorry it took so long. I was having a busy week.]

Sarunishi bowed as he excused himself from Kuro to go to his resting area. He was exceptionally grateful and expressed such as he stepped away. Sarunishi was never one to overstay his welcome and in this case he didn't feel like he was. He simply felt it would be time to rest and further more from that it would be time to pitch his business to Sand. What was it that he wanted to do? He was a black market dealer and he'd be the best. After all, who better to do everything than a man no one really knows about. Sarunishi smiled a bit to himself as he stepped into the exceptionally calm landscape. Vibrations filled his feet and he let himself rest comfortably against the earth. They were far too kind to him in some regards. He was nothing more than a monster that would betray most trusts. He left Stone, then Leaf, then everyone. He was alone in the world, as he wished, but it wasn't the most honourable of things.

He sat and stared up into the sky and counted the stars. It had been a while since he actually sat and looked as such. Things had changed in however long it had been. Silently, Sarunishi shed a few tears which quickly evaporated from his skin. Sad, sad times were behind him now. He was far more capable of taking the future on at this point. He closed his eyes and slowly slipped away into dreamland. On the morrow, things would be of a different nature he was sure. For now, Sarunishi would rest and recover uninterrupted. Hopefully.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Nah-Iya was watching Sarunishi wistfully as she saw tears fall from his eyes and evaporate she too began to cry. She was the last living descendant of the strongest female stone giant from amongst the 'First Men' and now her only sight of one was this being or walking disaster. For she was certain he was no longer a man as he lay before her and that brought her true comfort. It was enlightening, he was incredibly powerful, in a sense he was more powerful than Lord Toraono himself. Yet she could almost feel his mind calling out to her, or was it she who was calling out to him. She would follow him with or without the sanction of the Toraono Clan. Seeing Sarunishi made her feel as if she were not alone, and now she could expand her knowledge of her roots. The day was fast approaching and her feet somehow ached from not being in contact with the actual sand, she hadn't had that feeling since her thirteenth birthday when she had accidentally destroyed her sleeping chamber. Now here it was ten years later she was feeling like she might finally gain some kind of understanding. Why she wasn't like the other girls, why she didn't bleed when cut or menstruate, why her hair could only be combed after soaking in salt water. Sarunishi was her answer as far as she could see it and she would learn all she could. She used chakra to hold onto the walls for a bit longer before crawling up to the overlooking balcony and laying down in a bed of earth that had once been her mother's bed. It still carried her mother's scent and it allowed her to rest easy and sweep away the doubt.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

Sarunishi would awake suddenly and without real provocation. No sunlight. No rustling. No outside stimuli. His body simply jolted up from its lying position and was seated. His fingers had dug deep into the ground as he slept and his eyes were somewhat wide as he salivated profusely onto the ground. Hacking and wretching, Sarunishi released a substantial glob of venom onto the ground as he pushed himself up onto his feet. Sitting was no longer going to cut it. Pacing ever so slightly, his left hand gripped his chest and he spat again. His insides were aching. He felt something and it was not a very good feeling. He felt alive again and feeling alive just hurt. He didn't enjoy emotions at all. He really didn't enjoy most of what regular people felt. It was a gross ordeal. Nah-Iya would likely feel him stepping about and spitting if she were relatively attuned to the earth as he was.

He needed business to occur and he needed that to be soon. Right now, he wanted to remain in such a glorious place, but he had bigger things to do. Groaning, he sat himself back down on the floor. It was dark. It was early. People were possibly up and about. The desert was an unique experience and Sarunishi felt there was much to learn in such a world if he gave it the time. The matter was the time. That time was later.

[Sorry for the wait. Been a busy, busy man.]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Nah-Iya slipped down from the balcony and ran over to Sarunishi, "Are you okay m'lord? Do you need anything? Another meal? I will do whatever you need of me even die for you if you so will it." It had slipped from her lips before she could stop herself, the power she sensed in him, the strange way he released steam, the venom that fell from his mouth. The serrated teeth, the black chrysalis stone like texture of his skin. Everything about Sarunishi brought her to a new high, she was certain they were alike yet different and all she needed was his help to prove it. She had been trained in close combat since the age of three and she was overly skilled with earth and sand jutsu. She felt like Sarunishi was the key to all the answers locked inside of her. If he would only just take her, looking at him made her ache, when she had helped bathe him she noticed that certain portions of his body were truly obsidian and sharp enough to flay skin with a caress yet it did not harm her. His venomous excretions didn't burn her either yet one of the more curious girl had suffered a severe acid burn which she was now having made into a unique tattoo in homage to her time with Sarunishi. "Take me, now... show me what I must do to have true power like yours.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

"I am quite fine. Often times I am reminded of things I wish I couldn't remember. I believe this to be a common ordeal with many of our...professions. Shell shock. Trauma. Those sorts of things. I am quite fine. To have what I have means to give yourself to the world, madam. You no longer own yourself. Something else owns you for a long while. Eventually there's no distinction between you, what holds you, and the earth. And if you're me then you get chained up for an exceptionally long, long time. As requested and offered, I will train you without worry. However, I must finish my business here before I leave. When I do, you're welcome to come with me. Otherwise, when I return, as I will do frequently, I will train you during such visits."<i></i> Sarunishi sighed a bit as he finally settled. His bright heterochromatic eyes looked about as the sun slowly began to crest the horizon. He bowed deeply to Nah-Iya before raising himself back up to stand at his full height.

His wrists popped ever so slightly as he rotated them. His talon like toes dug into the earth ever so slightly. The world was lost to him. He would just continue to do as he did until everything was up in flames. He'd be the fixed point. Sarunishi was great at being the last man standing. After all, all of his family was dead and gone.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Nah-Iya bowed before Sarunishi just as quickly with a happiness inside she did not know she could feel. It was like finding a place in the world that was for you and only you. Suddenly her heart felt hard and heavy and she felt as if she couldn't breathe for as moment as she fell to her knees Sarunishi could feel a slight lurching change in her internal density. Indeed she was well along into the change, a late bloomer to say the least but Sarunishi could feel the internal pressure within her changing. Nah-Iya stood and cleared her throat she felt heavy and almost collapsed before she stood upright again. Her abdomen shimmered a crystalline white for a brief moment before she found her feet again and she managed a reasonable smile. She was happy but she had to admit that she hurt really bad.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

"Ahhh. Now you just need to survive. When I was a boy, they'd beat us to near death in hopes that we would die. Not a single ounce of weakness was allowed. They'd strike us constantly until our skin sloughed off and the hardened layers of skin underneath were revealed. Most of us would go mad if we survived and we ended up being executed then as well."<i></i> Sarunishi simply smiled as he spoke. The words were only truths. They would give little to comfort in these times. He'd pat her shoulder lightly before stretching and lingering in the son. His skin would shimmer ever so brilliantly from moment to moment. His cracks would pulse as if they were lava floes on his very skin. This was but on step before the final stage in Sarunishi's maturity. There was one final stage for him before death, but it wasn't soon. It would take far more time to occur before now.

"Shall we find our gracious host soon? I suspect he'll be up and about somewhere and I'd very much like to conclude business. I've quite the one track mind."<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro staggered into the open foyer just as the sun began to rise. Soon it would be time for breakfast, luckily he prepped almost everything yesterday before he would even know he'd have a guest. Sarunishi was far from the usual guest but his apologies had prevented any of the gate guards from meeting a fate that some would consider worse than death. As Kuro approached he found Nah-Iya kneeling before Sarunishi. She was nothing if not sincere in her pursuits, Kuro was certain he would be the same way if the only way to access the power within him was through the hands of another.

"I trust your rest was unspoiled and fulfilling?"<i></i>

Kuro's hair was a bit wilder than when Sarunishi had met him but it was obvious he had been up for a little while longer than he had as the smell of food being cooked wafted off of him.

 

[Takahashi Matsu]

[Been busier than...well. Stuff. Busy things.]

"I am well enough. That is all that matters, my kind host. Thank you."<i></i>

Sarunishi bowed his head and then his body into a low sweeping bow before straightening himself. He looked as immaculate as the day before, sans the blood on his clothes. Not really having to maintain much more than ones appetite did wonders for ones appearance. Sarunishi simply nodded to Nah-iya then fixed his gaze back to Kuro with an uneasy smile. Well, his smile wasn't uneasy. It was a smile that would make most, but definitely not those in the current area, uneasy.

It was one thing for Sarunishi to just brush off the world and not care. Thankfully, he'd been shown real kindness as of late and felt the need to reciprocate. Unfortunately, his willingness to let things linger much more than they were was wearing thin. He had work to do as was mentally restated time and time again and this was just a chore in learning patience. Sarunishi flexed his hands ever so slightly before stretching in such a way that a somewhat grotesque series of pops orchestrated from his spine.

"So, those important people from Sand. I do hope that I will have the opportunity of meeting them soon. My...operations are underway and the sooner I can get to business the better, you know. Building an empire, be it of people or monetary value, is never easy. I'm sure you know having built all of this...or well, having had all of this built by your family. It is never truly an easy process for anyone to take something from nothing. So, business?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro smiled as he nodded in agreement, "That is true and I will send another summons out for a meeting. I do believe it is long overdue."<i></i> Kuro drew up a couple of documents and placed them on a stand where a messenger quickly picked them up. In the message he had delivered to Sousuke he interred that he had a stone giant at the dojo that wanted to speak of setting up a business market/alliance with Sunagakure. He made sure to note that Sarunishi had been met with threats at the gate and despite his appearance he was a truly fair being.