Is one life is all we ever get?

[Kumori]

“Please don’t hurt me.”
Three teen-aged boys stood blocking the only exit from the alley. A small ball of dark-colored clothes with a face was curled up in the corner, scared out of his mind, shaking. He looked like a terrified hamster, staring at the face of death, yet unready to welcome it. Big violet eyes with streaks of a wide array of colors looked up at the three jailers, the abstract nebulae that made up their appearance constantly changing like smoke gone wild.
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“Look at him!”
“I bet he’s pissing himself!”
“Why not call for mommy?”​

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The voices pierced through his ears like a sharp knife, killing him with each sound without drawing blood. He stared at them, but dared not listen to them for another second. He wanted to run, but was too scared to act. He didn’t care if they punched and kicked him… but he was afraid of what they would do once they grew accustomed to the stains of his blood.

<COLOR color="#0000BF">I don’t want to die.​

He was terrified of death. Always had been. He was so scared of it, in fact, that he would do anything to stay alive... anything. He was prepared to become a slave... to kill... to break his arms and feet. He was ready to rip off his skin and stitch it back on hundreds, thousands of times, every inch he was ready to give up as long as it gave him another year to live. Not that he enjoyed his life. He hated living, but his fear of death was so much that even that he was prepared to do.
The three boys stepped forward, getting closer to Kumori. One was wielding a knife. The second held a heavy chain with both hands. But the third was the worst of all... the third had determination in his eyes and was ready to deliver the worst fate. The clock began ticking.

Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock​

.

The scissors of fate were ready to cut the thread of life.
Five seconds remaining.​

 

[Junan]

This was his turf.

No he didn't physically own the property, though now no-one owned property in this godforsaken village, but this area belonged to his bosses boss. They worked here, and for Junan this was a place where he performed his trade.

To be perfectly fair he was in a bar, waiting for orders, when he heard that some kids were having a scrap nearby. Torturing some other kid. Now although Junan didn't care about what others did, who they killed, who lived, who died, what he did care about was where they did it, and how long it took. You see, for them to be doing this here was fine, it was a nasty neighborhood, one where death was dealt on a monthly basis. However it was normally dealt by him, or someone associated with the organisation.

The issue with this was that it meant that every time someone died the ANBU came down hard in the area, arresting any suspects and interrogating them. It was why it was only a monthly occurrence. The organisation wouldn't be pleased if Junan knew about this happening and didn't do something about it.

So it was that he entered the alley behind the three boys as they approached the sack of cloth at their feet.

He was dressed in slightly more style than usual. Wearing a white shirt and tie, dress pants, but still the pink boa and unusually shaped shades. Not clothes one would get into a fight in it was fair to say. But then, he didn't really care.

You've had your fun kids. Move on.

The expression on his face told the story that his words did not. He was very displeased. His eyes were hidden behind the glasses, but the scowl on his face was evident. His body language however didn't say that he wanted to fight, but it did show a complete lack of fear, and probably complete lack of respect for the children, knife and all.

 

[Kumori]

He was not by any means ready to accept his fate.

Kumori was ready to beg, trade, or fight in order to keep himself from facing that final destination. The little ball uncurled itself and raised his head up to look at his attackers. He looked them in the eye, his mind racing, going through memories of his days in the academy; of the day he joined the ANBU branch. He was not useless; he knew enough… not enough to mean something, but enough to survive. He stood up. He was ready… Finally, he was ready to face one fear to save himself from a worse one.

The boys took another step, and just as they did, another figure appeared. This belonged to a man. Someone even weirder than Kumori perhaps? But maybe not… though he tried.

“You had your fun kids. Move on.” – said the man, stepping out of the shadows. He was dressed with tight jeans, high-heeled shoes, and a pink boa around his neck. His clothes were weird, but the weirdest part was his glasses, which looked like the kind you would buy in a joke shop and often found paired with a fake nose.

“And who the hell are you?” – said the boy holding the knife.
“Look at his clothes! Are you a clown or something?” - said the one with the chain.
“Beat it, freak…” – said the oldest one.​

Who are you? The words would not leave his mouth. I’ve never seen you before. His eyes were wide open in a trance as he looked at the man’s clothing. He liked it. Is he like me? Kumori was the kind of person who loved getting attention, though for some reason he never did. He did not dress as flamboyant as the other dude, or whatever he was… he liked being comfortable, and so he simply wore a grey cardigan, charcoal drop-crotch joggers, and a white, wide-collar t-shirt. Instead, he depended on his overly adorned skin with piercings, sleeve tattoos, glued paper, and stitched cloth patches all over his body and face.

“I guess the circus is in town…” – said all the boys in unison.​

Kumori simply stared.​

 

[Junan]

False bravado, it was so funny watching children act the tough guy. They regarded him as beneath them as they were holding a weapon and he clearly was not, of course his attire didn't help, but then, perhaps that was part of the trap. Perhaps he was more like one of those fish in the ocean, the ones which were brightly coloured to display that they were in fact poisonous, deadly, more that than the bird which he more or less portrayed.

He grinned at them, his hands moving to rest in his pockets, his demeanour was of someone who seemed at ease, like someone around his best friends ready to have a laugh.

I guess I am a clown huh. He said looking from side to side at his clothing, then he looked at the trio before looking at the boy on the ground.

It would be easier to clean up after them... perhaps he should just let them kill the kid... The thought would be clear on his face as he regarded the four individuals. It would also be quite clear that he didn't consider any of them as anything more than an irritation.

And then he remembered why.

His body moved forward, almost comically as his upper body moved forwards before he moved forward, his grin having resumed its position on his face as he moved past the trio as if they no longer existed, and yet he spoke to them as he did so. The crack of his heeled shoes on the pavement, the grin on his face, and then the licking of his lips as he anticipated the bloodshed that might come.

I told you to leave. So now you leave. What would his punishment be if he killed them here and now? He was here to stop bloodshed, not increase it. Was there another option available to him?

He stopped and turned, now standing above the boy who had been attacked. The exit to the alley was now open, able to be moved through without having to move past himself. It was an option he was giving them... but would they take it?

What kind of Clown do you take me to be. His voice took on a dangerous tone as he said this, he dropped his head to their level, almost daring them to attack him, to give him an excuse to butcher them. They were clearly new to these parts if they didn't know who he was. No-one would think twice if they disappeared in this neighborhood. Junan would be in trouble with his bosses of course, but then, that wasn't uncommon.

 

[Kumori]

I guess I am a clown huh.

A fine drizzle began pouring down from the sky, slowly wetting the ground, painting it in darker shades. The three boys stood, frozen in place, staring at the man silently, taking a few seconds to think their next actions. They were shinobi, genin, but among those of the rank, they were considered strong. They were a known in the slums are trouble-makers, and while no one but their families would miss them if they were gone, their deaths would still be noticeable...

"Forget this guy." - the knife-guy let out a heavy breath, looking up to see the color of the gathering clouds. "We'll get him tomorrow."
"What do you think we should do Koto?" - said the one holding the chain, glancing at the tall one. "Its starting to rain man."
"Fuck this clown man..." - Koto took a step forward, tightening up his fist.

I told you to leave. So now you leave.

"And I told you to fuck off!"

His heart began racing.

The took another step.​

His walk turned into a sprint!​

"I will kill you! and then I will kill the wimp!" Koto's eyes glowed with confidence as he charged towards Junan, a different hand-seal for every step. He was only a yard away from his opponent when a ball formed in his hand, wielded like a rasengan. This was not a rasengan though, that much was obvious. The sphere resembled a balloon, big and about to burst. Only a short distance between them, he pushed it forward in an attempt to hit Junan with it anywhere. It did not matter where he was hit, as long as the balloon touched his body. He had spent a long time developing this jutsu, and he used it so much after mastering it that he became known for it. The balloon acted like a charge, extremely unstable, a strong bomb capable of destroying a brick wall. In order to protect himself, he made it in a way that he did not have to channel chakra once the balloon was made, instead, he would use charka to create a sort of forcefield around his arm, like a cone, diffusing all the fire-power in the opposite direction. Koto was strong... and he hated losing... he tended to go overboard every time. "DIE!"

The rest just watched in silence.

 

[Junan]

Junan watched as the group questioned themselves, hesitated as they began to realise that this was going to be too much of an issue. They had beaten the kid up sure, but this new character was someone who was confident in his own abilities, and was clearly not afraid of the three of them.

One of them wanted to leave.

The other looked to the third to make his decision for him.

The third had too much pride.

He stepped forward, cursed Junan who smiled and his head tilted to the side slightly. Was the boy going to attack him? He'd have to make a decision on what he should do. Junan told them to leave, he knew it'd antagonise the situation, but at the same time it was the best thing they could do, for all involved.

The straw broke the camels back and the boy charged forward. Over the moments between his feet skidding on the pavement to propel himself forward towards Junan, and reaching the man he had formed a jutsu which covered his arm. Junan didn't really care about what it was, the type of attach was melee, and that was all he needed to know. Melee contact needed to be made for it to work, which meant this kid must have been more a tai specialist than a nin specialist.

Arm raised he struck with speed intended to strike Junan in the chest.

There was a moment where it seemed like he was going to, but then he found himself with Junan's hands on the top of his head, legs spread like someone jumping a stand during basic gymnastics training. His friends would see the grin on Junan's face as he leapt over the attack and then landed, back still turned to the boy.

For the boy he would turn around ready again to strike, in his eyes he would see that he had been aided by the boy with the knife, now turned to face Junan once more, while the clown stood beside the boys other companion, the grin on his face there, goading him into trying again. [Genjutsu]

Junan had his back to the boy and looked at the other two, a quiet laugh coming from him as he did so, for only he was aware as to what was going on in the boys mind. His laugh building as he tilted his head back and let loose. For Junan he was going to play with these boys until they grovelled in the dirt and begged him for his mercy.

For the boy he would see Junan, the fucking clown, laughing at him, laughing like a man who had already won, standing beside his friend. He had to be shown his place.[Genjutsu]

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OOC: just to clarify, Junan used a genjutsu via the outer Advanced Puppet through touch. The boy see's the kid with a knife as Junan, and Junan as the kid with a knife.

 

[Kumori]

What the hell.

What is this guy?

“Just die already!”

Im the strongest! I’m the sharpest! I will never lose to some circus freak! Koto’s mind ran wild with threats and cries. He felt hopeless for a second, as the clown jumped on top of him like an acrobat playing around. But his composure would be restored, or so he thought… but that damn smile. That damn smile was the thing that killed him. He hated it, and he wanted to knock out every single one of those teeth. "Is this a show for you?” – his face changed. He was no longer calm, and it showed.

“I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you!” – he screamed with everything he had, running his hands into the appropriate hand-seals again, in hopes of ending the life of the man who dared play around with him. He readied himself to charge one more time… but stopped on his tracks as he saw the smile again. “You wretch!” – he said, glancing towards his ‘companions’. “I will kill you all!”

The water in the puddles splashed around him as he ran, faster this time, towards the ‘clown’ (actually one of this friends due to the genjutsu). He had no smile in his face; it was completely erased, seemingly stolen by Junan.

“Koto…” – the words came out like a whisper as the boy with the chain saw his entire life pass by in front of him. It was like a dream as he felt the full impact of the explosive balloon charge in his stomach.

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DIE!​

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Silence. The whole world became silent. The rain stopped. Koto stopped running. And then there was blood. His belly opened like a ripped leather sack, spilling out guts like confetti. The ground became tainted crimson and he saw. He saw his blood in the ground, mudding it up as his small intestine began falling out and Koto just stood there. <COLOR color="#FF0000">“No… no… I gotta get it back in.” – he said desperately as he pushed it back inside of him, but the sides kept coming out like it no longer fit in there.

“Am I… am I going to die?”

And Koto just stood there, in shock as the genjutsu revealed the actual sight. That was not Junan… it never was. He had just killed his friend. His loyal follower. And it was all because of that goddamn clown. He looked back at Junan, eyes wide open in a rage. This time it was different. He would die trying… but he would never stop until he got rid of that despicable smile.

“J- Juro?” – said the other boy, the one with the knife, scared out of his mind and unable to take in what had just happened. “Juro? Why… why did you do that to Juro?” – he took a step forward and stopped. He wanted to save Juro, but he could no longer move… he was terrified. He glanced at Junan, still smiling, and then at Koto. “No…” He took a step back. “No! No! No! No!” He took another step back, and a second later he was off running away from the scene.

Meanwhile, Kumori was just watching, eyes wide open in amazement at the way the insides spilled out of the boy. “So this is what it looks like.”

He smiled.​

 

[Junan]

There was a moment of stillness, silence, as blood bathed the alley that they stood in. One of the young boys laying back, half of him no longer being, but like a cockroach he lived on, if only for a few moments. Confusion entered the alley as the two boys still alive stood there and stared, words being uttered in an incredulous voice, none of them understanding what had just happened.

The one on the ground started trying to put his insides back where they belonged. His life escaping him, and his mind being unable to recognise that it was already over. The best mednin would fail at saving his life.

A laugh began to fill the alley as they continued.

It grew and grew in intensity as Junan found everything that had just happened hilarious.

Back at the bar down the street it was overheard, and a member of the organisation got on his headset Something has happened. He said simply to whoever was listening. They knew this laugh. They knew what it meant, but he stood and left the bar, putting on his jacket, shaking his head. Fuck this. Why did he have to go check up on this psychopath? Junan was bad knews, they all knew it, but they also knew they couldn't simply be rid of him. Assassinations on the man had been attempted before, and all that had been heard through their headsets when listening to the battle had been this laugh.

The third boy looked at Junan as he laughed histerically, the mad clown, the man who had actually done very little, but done it very effectively.

The smile on the boy behind Junan's feet went missed.

The laugh ended as his head dropped once more, the grin perhaps more menacing now.

I guess I failed at stopping the murder. I suppose though there's no need to hold back anymore though is there. What with your friend painting the landscape and all. His voice was vicious, and now he stepped forward with purpose. Even if the boy had accepted his fate he would feel like something so insignificant before this thing. Junan's smile didn't leave his face as he began his advance, the boys breath fluttered slightly with his heart as he struggled for composure. Hatred, rage, they filled the void that was being left by his fleeing confidence.

Arm covered by the jutsu he let out a yell, words failed in his mind, he couldn't think. Hatred, animosity, anger, revenge, terror, all these filled the sound that resonated through the alley which could be heard blocks away, before being silenced.

The man from the bar stood in the entrance to the alley, he looked at Junan and at the mess.

The fuck are you doing. You were told to stop a murder, not perform a mass murder you fucking moron.

Junan flashed him a dangerous look, and the mans heart fluttered for a moment, but his expression held strong and he showed nothing of his growing doubt about this boys mindset.

Because of you we're going to have to hold our operation in the area for several months, at least until things calm down a bit. Aion curse you you fucking idiot. His eyes moved to the kid who was still alive behind Junan.

Look, deal with that one however you want and then get the fuck out of here. We'll clean up your mess. Again. Why the fuck we trust you with this kind of work I'll never fucking know. The last part was muttered, loud enough to be heard, as he turned away. Leaving the pair alone in the alley.

Junan's face was distorted, his fists clenched, his eyes still staring at where that other man had stood, his teeth clenched he eventually turned to the kid.

You were unconcious through the entire thing, you saw nothing, they tried to kill you and after your consciousness fled they died. If you say anything else you will die. He looked into the kids eyes and waited.

 

[Kumori]

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head​

He sat in silent, head against the wall, eyes half-close, staring at the boy that had been threatening him just seconds ago. How petty life was, if it could be ended so easily. His smile refused to fade, mirroring his pleasure watching the boy lying on the ground in a puddle of rain-diluted blood. He was still alive, but just barely, as blood kept rushing out of the hole that now replaced his belly. It was disgusting just looking at his vomit-covered body. He was trembling, struggling to comprehend that death was the only thing waiting for him now. He would never see his mother again, nor his many sisters, or the dog that he so cheerfully walked in the morning.

But then there was Koto. He was still alive. His breath was audible to everybody in the alley, including the man that had just walked in. His eyes were glowing with rage. He wanted to kill Junan. It did not matter that he had already killed one of his friends, and the other had left him… the only thing that mattered at the moment was the death of the smiling clown. And it wasn’t for some petty reason as revenge… no, he wanted to kill Junan just to be able to erase that horrible smile off his face.

“Shut up!” – he shouted. “Stop talking and fight me you damn clown!” – His right hand began glowing again as he channeled chakra into his palm, preparing the balloon for another charge. “Ill kill you! And after I will kill your family! I will kill your pets, your friends, and this fucking idiot that just showed up, ill kill him too!”

He sounds so mad. Kumori just nodded at Junan as he gave him instructions on what to do after. He was gonna keep his mouth closed. There was no way in hell he would do something to anger this man. He dressed like a complete lunatic, but there was something about the air around him that shouted danger. It was easily missed, but his aura stunk in a way that he had never felt before. Kato was a dead man.

Kumori finally stood up. He looked at Junan and smiled, placing his index finger on top of his lips to indicate silence. As soon as Junan turned around, he would climb the wall behind him and into the roof of the building. He was scared, but he did not want to leave… he wanted to see Kato die. And after, he would go find and kill the one who escaped.

No more monkeys jumping on the bed​

 

[Junan]

There was some kind of noise that Junan was ignoring behind him, coming from the direction of the kid he'd just knocked on his ass. The words being said weren't being registered, Junan really just didn't care. What the boy didn't know was that as far as Junan was concerned, that other man was stronger than he was, and also, he had no family. His father died in service to Kumogakure, his mother died after having a previous medical Sennin turn him into a puppet.

Probably when he'd not moved for a period she had assumed he was dead and hung herself due to having her son killed when she wanted him to be immortal.

Still, these weren't things that Junan was thinking about right now, as he wasn't listening to that boy. What he was thinking about was I wonder if this kid has something special about him that I can make an interesting puppet from... and he knew that one way or another, he would find out.

The kid on the ground stood silently, he'd nodded his agreement to Junan's statement and headed up the wall. Junan in the mean time turned and looked at the kid on the ground. He looked at the arm which started to glow, and Junan then looked at the boy, his smile returned, but it wasn't as obscene as it had been during the fight.

Then suddenly he looked terrorfied, his foot had tripped on a jutting out paving stone. He tried to regain his balance, and in a comical movement he fell face first on to the boys fist.

The explosion sent pieces of Junan's head everywhere and the body lay motionless.

But something was missing...

It would likely be lost in the initial explosion, the boy probably feeling elated, a miracle had just occurred. The clown had just accidentally killed himself on his fist. The headless body just lay there.

But even in the boys mind he'd know something was missing. Kumori had probably thought it instantly... where was the blood?

Suddenly the back of Junan erupted open, and out sprung another Junan, head and all. The cackling laughter was almost like something from a terrorfying clown, or perhaps a warped jack in the box.

Junan grinned at the boy, given not just hope, but the possibility of victory, and then taking it away from him moments later.

Do you understand now just how much I cared about you actually hitting me? He grinned as his hand darted forward and grabbed the boy by his throat.

I hope you know that your life doesn't end here, but continues on being lived. Just not by you, but by me. Everything you were is no more, but everything you are about to be is all thanks to me. He grinned and his hand tightened around the boys throat, constricting blood, breath, and chakra. The boy fought, the sounds of his hand beating on Junan's chest told him that the boy was fighting. But the sound was quietening, the strength being leeched from him as the seconds passed. Until nothing.

Standing there looking at the dead boy Junan tilted his head slightly mirroring the boys as it lay limply towards the shoulder I look forward to finding out what gifts I can find inside you. I hope it's a good one. It is after all your birthday. He said, his voice taking on pitches which suggested a slight madness.

The body which lay on the ground stood up, still headless, Junan stuffed the body of the boy inside the cavity that he had sprung out of a few minutes earlier. The doors closed, and off they walked.

 

[Kumori]

Kato is no more.

Kumori was sure of it. It was obvious from his point of view. The clown guy was strong. He did not look strong, but in the time and age, the weirdest ones usually had something about them that shouted danger. He did not want to miss a second of the fight, after all… he wouldn’t want to miss his hero defeating the villain. But then, the clown tripped and fell face-first into Koto’s jutsu, the head exploding into a hundred pieces. He was dead. It was a weird death though, just like he was. There was no blood, there were no brains; the only thing you could see were the pieces resembling a shattered hollow statue.

What the hell are you?

Kumori just sat there dumbfounded, trying to decipher what had happened, but nothing came to mind. Was it a trick? Was he immortal?

All the while, Koto celebrated his victory, spitting on the corpse and screaming his lungs out in a ferocious battle cry. “You knew this was gonna happen!” – he turned to look at the man behind him, Junan’s co-worker. “And you? What are you looking out? Want a piece of me too?” – he smiled.

HA! HA! HA!​

The laughter came from the broken corpse, another Junan rising from the back. “Do you understand now just how much I cared about you actually hitting me?” – he grabbed him from the throat and raised in in the air, still smiling at him. This was the end for Koto.

This guy is a freak. Kumori made a mental note about him. The creepy clown was how he would refer to him from now on. He waited for the monologue to end with a smirk in his face; he wanted to say something… to ask for his name. Fuck that though. The dude had just got his head blown off, and was now stuffing Koto inside the previous body. It was time to bounce.


[Topic left unless stopped]

 

[Junan]

Junan walked away with his new corpse inside his old puppet. The manager shook his head at Junan as he took his leave... the moron had made his life harder... or easier.

Leave the alley as it is. If they catch the fucking puppet they'll be doing us a favour. Lay low. Don't return to this area until requested. Go about your day jobs. he said into his comms piece. The ANBU would find this, and likely find bits of puppet around the place, but likely in far too many pieces to get them all or to reconstruct it. Still they would know that a puppet had taken part in the fight. They would have a hard time recreating this fight. After all, there were far too many different puddles of blood and far too few bodies for them to do so.

He followed the puppet for a hundred meters, secretly spraying a mist that would remove the odor. At least that'd give the idiot some time to do what he was planning to do before moving on. He was still alive and still a member of their organization after all... no matter how much he shouldn't be.

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