Snuggles and Business [Semi-open, PM to enter]

[Shinrya Kahako]

A soft ‘click’ filled the quiet and dusty room. Just as she instructed, Kahako’s office remained untouched, unsettled dust the proof to the lack of life that filled the room the past few months. Many people wondered where she’s been. Others-namely a charming main branch Sennin- kept her up to date on the many things that happened while she was gone. Keiji was missing, the Harvesters creating a silent protest to Kitsune’s reign-ultimately shutting down the division as a whole, Ayumu’s promotion to Main Branch Sennin.

Truth was, she wasn’t doing anything as boring as ‘being a parent’ (but if anyone had asked her, she would have much preferred that). Instead, she was traipsing the province that was ruled by the Shinrya clan. Mainly it was for Kitsune’s ongoing research since the Medical Sennin could not pull herself away as easily from Kumogakure. But it was also for Kahako’s own benefit. While she was out there, she learned of something… interesting… and slightly disturbing. What she found ultimately brought her back to Cloud.

Days earlier, she sent missives to those closest to her informing them of her return. She would only stay for a day or two, long enough to gather up higher-end research supplies and say hello to family before heading off again.

It didn’t take long for her to settle into her medical office and begin the great catch up. Books left scattered along a long table. Unfinished reports that could last a little longer before they REALLY needed to be finished. But there was something in particular she was searching for. A trail she long thought had gone cold. ‘Ah-ha’ she whispered, pulling out a dusty old file, her somewhat childish handwriting scribbled on the inside.

Just then a knock came at the door. “Coming!” She called, before she slid the file inside her desk drawer. It was going to be one of a few people, but it was better to be sure. She reached for the handle, not knowing what this next moment in her life would be.
[spoilername="OOC"]People who would know of Kahako's return: Sentou Henkan members, Kogami Ayumu, Ketsueki Satou, and the Shinrya clan.[/spoilername]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Kahako had been absent from the village for quite some time on business for her branch. It all sounded very interesting, her research, although Ayumu couldn't claim to understand most of it. Meanwhile, he remained in the village doing that boring thing known as "being a parent". When Kahako was in the village, Ayumu had spent a lot of time at her home at the guest house of Shinrya Kitsune. In her absence, Ayumu had taken Susumu to stay with him at his own place where Ayumu's parents had been visiting often as very doting grandparents to the boy. This was a godsend really, as Ayumu had become naturally very busy being elected as Sennin of another branch. He still made probably more time than he should to be home, though. Now Kahako had returned and unfortunately for her it was right back to work. She had probably been to see Susumu whom was being babysat by Ayumu's parents, but she hadn't had the chance to see Ayumu yet. Ayumu knocked on her office door, aiming to rectify that. Her voice suddenly coming from the other side of the door made him more nervous than it should had given how long they had been dating. He haphazardly ran his fingers through his hair stealing a quick glance at his reflection in the shiny door handle before he watched it begin to turn. And there she was in all her beautiful slightly disheveled professional glory. The nerves seemed to just disappear as Ayumu walked in the door and shut it behind himself barely pausing before wrapping his arms around Kahako and kissing her out of the blue.

A few moments passed before Ayumu regained his composure and broke the kiss, taking a half step back to give her some breathing room after what was probably a very unexpected surprise. "I... sorry, I hadn't realized until that moment how long I'd been waiting to do that," he apologized, although he was not truly all that sorry. In truth he hoped that it took her off guard and left her slightly embarrassed because that was always highly amusing for him. Alas, there wasn't a whole lot of time to revel in that. As much as either of them had been into it, it would have been impossible not to notice the new guest in Kahako's office. "But it seems you have another guest," Ayumu said, turning his attention to the one who had just entered.

He couldn't help being slightly disappointed that someone had shown up. Of course he had wanted time to catch up with Kahako. He had gotten some letters from her, naturally, but there could only be so much written in them as time was a limited resource when she was travelling. Regardless, he was happy to just have her back in the village. Many things had happened while she was gone. Maybe she had questions about that. There were revelations, too, that he wasn't sure he could share with her about her sensei. He hadn't fully decided yet. It was a difficult position to be in.

Edit: Made a slight edit to the end of my post. Due to Satou joining the thread when he did it wouldn't have quite made sense as it was! Now it does, though.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Another day, another morning of dreams flashing through the demons mind as he got up from his cot in cold, dark dank basement room he slept in. Getting up from his bed, standing before a mirror he looked over his worn face. Shaving what stubble had grown, Washing his face and body, picking out a nice suit to wear. Tying his hair back and getting dressed, he paused when hearing a letter fall down the stairs. Waving his hand the letter came to him, taring it open and reading the content inside. A letter from Kahako, it was nice to hear from her and how she was fairing. He had other letters, but rarely responded to them other then her asking of him. He would see her today, and a tension in his stomach turned as a burning filled his throat. He put the letters with the others. And left the house soon after looking well kept but worn through like a walking dead man.

Satou was taking building by building. Each foot after the other leaped and bounded him across rooftops. The smells of the world around him almost intoxicating as he couldn't breath more then short breath or be overwhelmed by the sent of those mortals below him. Doing their daily routines, not paying mind to the sudden feeling of death looming overhead as the demon zipped by like a flexing shadow till his feet stopped at the gates. The hospital looked to be calm at this hour. So, why not find an alternative to entering? He wasn't some simple mortal. No, he had other methods. He knew the door to her office as well where the windows were located. He had spent some time watching over her, her silent protector. He instead was now scaling the building, flipped a window open slowly and slipped inside the room.

His eyes of demon glow caught a seen he was taken a bit back by. Kahako was being kissed by some man he'd never met in person, this was an odd jolt to see his Master after so long to find first glance of her in soft embrace with a man. It almost made him laugh a bit at the sheer irony of it all, from the noise of the window opening. He wasn't completely silent. But he did'nt approach or intervene this couples reunion. No, this shadow was a servant. A shadow to his master, he gave off a gentle radiation of his dark aura, both Kahako and Ayumu could feel the demons presence around them. As did everyone who entered the premises. The feeling of something "Evil" around them. Like a dreaded twist at the bottom of your stomach that there was something wrong or out of place around you.

After having opened the window and slipping into the office room to sit down and light a cigarette. Sitting back relaxed as he allowed his powers to work outward and get a feel around the room. His dark aura moving about the room like silent tendrils of force. Files and notes moved about the room. Organizing and putting things in place on her desk. Cleaning and tidying the room as usual. Once done, Satou took a long inhale of his cigarette. Tapping the ashes out the window.

Again the sight of Kahako kissing that man, memories poured into the demons mind. He could bring images of times he'd been with a real lover. Someone who kept him close, who truly needed his love as much as he needed theirs. It was touching, almost tear shedding as so many eyes and lips passed through his mind. Love was powerful, but also painful. Satou did'nt realize he inhaled his entire cigarette in one breath. Tossing the bud out and breathing the heavy whit smoke from the window. Window was soon shut, and the demon sat down in a chair facing her desk. Leaning back relaxed as he emptied his thoughts while waiting for the love birds to finish.

 

[Shinrya Kahako]

She barely registered who was at her door before Ayumu slipped his way in and kissed her. It startled Kahako backwards a few steps before his arms wrapped around her torso to steady her. A rush filled her as she eagerly return the action, a split second later laying her hands lightly on his arms, silently asking for more. How long had it been since either of them had a moment like this?

But the moment didn’t last, as a familiar chill ran down her spine just as Ayumu pulled away. By now, her ears stained an embarrassed red as she looked up at him, the surprise and quiet desire just starting to recede from her face. "I... sorry, I hadn't realized until that moment how long I'd been waiting to do that, but it seems you have another guest," he apologized, probably smirking at the desired effect he had on her. ‘Not sorry at all,’ she wanted to say with a slight pout, but instead turned to the heavy sigh behind her.

Her eyes watched the last bit of disheveled papers neatly make their way to her desk before catching the bright red eyes of the one person she considered just as precious as the man who currently held her. “Do you always have to make such an ominous entrance, Satou?” Kahako called, clearly trying to rub away the deeper hue of red that gathered on her cheeks. The statement was filled with weak admonishment, as it was clear she was more embarrassed about being caught rather than Satou’s grand entrance strategy. Grandeur should have been the man’s middle name, after all.

This also gave Kahako a moment to gather her thoughts. Ones that she unexpectedly needed desperately. As happy as she was to see the both of them after so long, she was not happy that it ended up being at the same time. There was a lot of unspoken history here; secrets kept because 'anytime' was never a good time to admit them. Hopefully, she would have a few more seconds, days, or years before having to explain. The story was very, very long.

Maybe starting with introductions would help. She smiled to both of them with her usual calm smile that came so naturally, not really moving away from Ayumu yet no longer in his arms. “I guess you two haven’t met yet. Ayumu, this is Ketsueki Satou. I’ve known him for a long time,” She began, clearly dropping the usual formality she would give Ayumu in the presence of others. “Since my time as an academy student, actually,” she chuckled lightly. “Raiden-sama, has it really only been that long?” It felt like she had known him in another lifetime. Well, in a way, she did.

“And Satou, this is Kogami Ayumu. He’s… the one I’ve been telling you about…” Kahako trailed off softly with returning blush and a glance away from the two. Even now, it was hard for Kahako to outright call Ayumu her boyfriend. ‘Lover’ always seemed inappropriate and slightly degrading to say out loud, but ‘boyfriend’ was never enough. Hopefully Satou would remember that conversation she had with him, because she would probably die if she had to say it now.

Additionally, the part of her that was ‘Sukino’ panged with relentless guilt, making it even harder for her to outright say it to the demon before them. Whenever a passing thought of Ayumu came by, she would always feel this. It was frustrating at times. ‘Satou was yours, Ayumu-kun is mine, please respect that,’ she mentally called to the spirit within her before continuing. If he paid close attention, Satou may have caught a flash of blue streak across Kahako’s emerald green irises when she caught eyes with him again.

“Ah, Ayumu is also most recently the Main Branch Sennin, so I guess you should also be formally introduced to your new leader,” Kahako recounted before returning her attention to the man next to her.. “Despite my best efforts, Satou remains a part of the main fleet amongst your branch. Please take care of him.” She sighed with fake exasperation, “He won’t move into the Shinrya Mansion, so it’s difficult to keep good tabs on him,” she jokingly jabbed at Satou as she beamed up to her lover. Maybe she was pushing this introduction too hard. Would they notice the slightly more hyper and anxious demeanour?

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu, distracted as he was by the enjoyable action he shared with Kahako, could not miss the sudden presence of another with them. If he didn't notice him entering through the window or rearranging the room with telekinesis he could easily be sensed by the aura that emanated from him. The one thing he wouldn't be noticed by was speaking as he had not said a word since he had entered, which only added to the eeriness his aura founded. It wasn't the first time Ayumu had felt the likes of it. Kumogakure had a thing with demons, it seemed, as they appeared to be drawn to it as far as Ayumu could tell. Thankfully there had been no profound incidents since the demon invasion before Ayumu was born, but there were still cases where demons had been involved and a small number of shinobi such as the one before them who drew from demonic power. Ayumu recognized the man, though not from personally meeting him. Back when Ayumu was just a trainee in ANBU, a message had been sent out to the branch to watch Satou because of his demon situation.

The same announcement listed Kahako as a known associate, so Ayumu had always known that they were acquainted. Kahako never talked about the man, though, and Ayumu respected her enough not to pry. Kahako greeted Satou, confirming Ayumu's recognition of him, addressing him by name. She introduced the two of them at last, giving some insight into how long she had known him. It had been a long time from the sound of it, though Kahako seemed to think it wasn't. At the introduction, Ayumu smiled and nodded. "I've heard your name before... it's good to meet you, Satou," Ayumu said politely. He wouldn't mention how he had heard the name, as that could only lead to awkwardness. Ayumu on the other hand was introduced as the one Kahako had been telling Satou about.

"Oh, yeah... boyfriend... father of my child, no big deal," Ayumu teased, waving his hand to emphasize the "no big deal" part. He chuckled, but he wondered how much she had actually told him. It was slightly embarrassing to think of Kahako telling other people about him. He was at a bit of a disadvantage here, because she hadn't really told him anything about Satou. From the sounds of it, they were actually very good friends, especially if he was one of the first ones to know she was back in town. And then she brought up the fact that Ayumu was the Main Branch Sennin, which was a bit surreal in a way. He cared more about being introduced as her boyfriend than as the Main Branch Sennin. It was also weird to be referred to as "new leader". Kahako asked Ayumu to take care of the man.

"You don't really seem like the type that needs taking care of," Ayumu said with a laugh. From the sounds of it, the two of them were very good friends. It seemed like she was trying hard to get them to like one another despite this being the first time they were introduced. It begged the question why she had waited so long to introduce the two of them. She had told Satou of Ayumu, but never mentioned Satou to Ayumu. If they were this good of friends, why did she hide it? Did she think Ayumu was the jealous type. It was puzzling, but at least she had finally introduced them even if only by chance. But then she brought up having him move to the mansion. Shinrya Mansion. Owned by none other than Shinrya Kitsune, the one who had betrayed their now deceased Raikage. Ayumu's expression darkened a bit at her mention, though he did his best to hide it. She didn't know, and he couldn't tell her right now. He wasn't sure if he could tell her at all. What would she do if she knew?

"Well, I don't blame him for that... don't you think you might want to move out of there at some point? I know she 'adopted' you, but don't you feel like having some more independence?" Ayumu asked, hiding his distaste of the woman admirably well. It was difficult to do. The thought of Kahako living there disgusted him, and their son being there disgusted him even more so. He had no reason to think either of them would come to any harm there, as Kitsune had nothing to gain from it, but it still boiled his blood. The worst part was that she had taken the name.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

The demon couldn't help but laugh at his Master's remark. "Oh whatever, you love it! If it were up to me, my entrance needs more explosions and hookers." He burst into a heavy laugh. His voice, pitch and tone had thickened a bit. His deep dark rimmed eyes glanced from Kahako to Ayumu while being introduced. He seemed rather relaxed as he goes for his second smoke. Screw it, hospital or no. I need this. "Time flies." He mumbled as his gaze ran over Ayumu. Of course he knew who Ayumu was but never met the man in person. And from first glance Satou was judging the character of this man from posture to speech to how he carried himself. "So this is the Daddy? Hope you two plan on getting hitched some point. I'm definitely going to get drunk at that party.Nice to meet you Ayumu-San." His eyes looked over to Kahako and saw but a glimmer of something as he squinted a bit. And again the pulse ran through his chest. The soft inhale of his second cigarette burned away the feeling.

"Well, would be nice to walk in daylight and have people not run away screaming in terror at the sight of a lifeless thing like myself." He gestured to his appearance and the blackened aura flowing around him and down the chair he was relaxed in as he smoked slowly. The wafts of smoke flowed oddly around the demon, as if his aura was wrapping about the smoke making odd horrific patterns of horrors that one would have after terrors deep in the night.

"And Kahako is wrong in saying that you are my new leader. As I follow one and only one entity in this world." The demon waved one hand, opening the window across from him, flicking the cigarette out the window following it up with a simple snap of his fingers closed the window as his flowing stand from the chair brought him but a few feet from Kahako. Kneeling before the young woman on one knee as his dark aura flowing behind him like a cloak of darkness. "I follow my Master's every whim, from the night I gave my blood and swore my life to her. If she but utters the words, I would destroy any who stand before her." He smiled a bit as he stayed kneeling until he was released from this position. He was as always to show he would throw his loyalty to Kahako only. Not even the Raikage could command this demon.

"As such, there must have been a reason for Master to call upon me. The mass pile of files on your desk shows you've been digging into something. So you must have something for me to destroy." A giddiness filled the demon, along with it his power swelled as the first demon cloak roared around his form and the ground slightly tremor. "Please, do tell me, my dear Master. Whom do I devour?! What world must I consume!?" The darkness began to envelop him slowly as if more and more he was changing from a man into a heartless monster grinning and ever happy at the thought of slaughter and destruction.

Just as suddenly the power of the demon within him looked to explode about the room, it sucked right back to the epicenter of the man who looked ill for a moment, his posture slacked in his knelt stance. almost looking to fall over, but kept his balance. His head bowed, quieted, awaiting. Swimming inside his mind, the flooding of images silenced him, like the videos playing in rewind. Lost in the ever flowing sea of his mind till he could hear a voice talking to him.

You really want to kill them both don't you?
No, I won't harm her...
Well~maybe not her, but her boyfriend? Why not rip him apart?

Satou's head slightly turned, a glance to Ayumu as Satou could see what his mind could only describe as a hallucination or genjutsu as he watched himself rip Ayumu's head clean from his shoulders as a fountain of red flooded forth and blinded his eyes. Satou blinked, Ayumu was simply standing by him unharmed yet most certainly a look of worry on the mans face from the sight of this demon in this manner. His eyes looked back to Kahako and saw the apparition feeding off her, gripped in a tight hold with her head yanked to the side as the creature was devouring her neck. Satou's eyes closed, unable to keep focus from these illusions.

Eat, feed, you know its all you need. Their lives don't matter. None of them matter, just kill them and FEED!

Stop.

His burning demonic eyes slowly ebbed away to a soft milk chocolate brown."Sorry, I've been careless. Forgive me, Master." His head bowed, almost ashamed he let go of himself too easily. It could have gone worse. But the images troubled him. He never had hallucinations involving himself. He'd have to talk to Kahako, maybe even run some tests. His breathing was calm all be it the bit of tension sweat that dripped slowly down the marble white skin of his forehead.

 

[Shinrya Kahako]

Just as she hoped, introductions went pretty okay. As usual, Satou’s foul mouth was at peak form, which meant that he was in a decently good mood today. "Oh, yeah... boyfriend... father of my child, no big deal," Ayumu teased, waving his hand to emphasize the "no big deal" part. Kahako blushed prettily as Satou lit another cigarette in a hospital and spoke of weddings. She gave Satou a quiet glare as the lighter clicked off, one he seemed to completely ignore as the two men continued to speak. All in all, conversation was as smooth as she could have ever imagined it.

But the light-hearted conversation did not last long. Kahako caught Ayumu’s expression just before he could hide it, and the words, as carefully worded as they were, brought her to confusion and suspicion. "Well, I don't blame him for that... don't you think you might want to move out of there at some point? I know she 'adopted' you, but don't you feel like having some more independence?" Never before had he made such a statement, and it was odd that it would come up now, so suddenly. “What are you talking about? That is my clan’s home...” she protested, prepared to question him on the oddity of his statement. Before she could continue, however, Satou spoke up after he took the last long draw of his cigarette.

"And Kahako is wrong in saying that you are my new leader. As I follow one and only one entity in this world." Faster than she could stop him, Satou extinguished his second smoke before stepping forward and kneeling before her. Her eyes widened a little, quickly recognizing that this situation was headed down a path that she was not exactly ready for. "I follow my Master's every whim, from the night I gave my blood and swore my life to her. If she but utters the words, I would destroy any who stand before her.”

She felt the aura darken, the tell-tale signs of Satou’s demon rising to control slowly creeped upon her nerves. All thoughts of her conversation with Ayumu were temporarily placed aside as the clearer threat in the room made itself known. "As such, there must have been a reason for Master to call upon me. The mass pile of files on your desk shows you've been digging into something. So you must have something for me to destroy." The sick and twisted grin she saw in the dream place so naturally upon Satou’s face. She straightened her back, holding her head high with her eyes narrowed as the darkness slowly crept towards her, moving her short lengths of hair slightly with it’s mere power as it wafted past her.

Kahako lifted her palm in Ayumu direction, a signal to hold off, silently telling him to not make any sudden movements. She kept her eyes on the demon before her. "Please, do tell me, my dear Master. Whom do I devour?! What world must I consume!?" he spoke with such glee in his voice. The aura encroached upon her, as if it were preparing to snatch her entire body and consume it whole in one swift movement.

“I will tell you in my own time,” she responded with a quiet voice. She felt it then. From within, Sukino began to react to the demon’s encroaching aura. Kahako’s body emitting a soft blue chakra that the mednin could not wield. Her eyes alight in flashes of blue as the spirit within her screamed to speak with the demon in hopes to calm him, “and not a moment sooner. Control yourself, Satou.” She commanded in a harsher tone. Sukino was almost deafening her senses to what was going on, making this all the more dangerous. She needed the human in him to take reign again for both their sakes.

And just as quickly as it came, the aura sucked it’s way back to the normal eerie feeling of before. The screaming inside her head quieted, but the blue chakra remained. She could see the red lessen as his breathing labored. He was much paler than before and visibly shaking, making Kahako realize that the last time he fed was probably when she was in the village last. But he was still struggling, it seemed, which meant his internal battle for control wasn’t over yet.

Just for a second he glanced at Ayumu as his labored breathing continued. “Eyes on me, Satou,” she commanded. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine what was going on in his head. But she had a small idea from being in it once before. She did not want Ayumu in any of those thoughts. Eventually the human took full control, the red fully bleed from his eyes.

"Sorry, I've been careless. Forgive me, Master." Kahako only shook her head. Waiting a few seconds before kneeling before him. “I cannot forgive what is natural. It was careless of me to leave you so shortly after your awakening,” she responded calmly. Lifting his wrist, Kahako quietly began to check his pulse. “How often have you lost control like this since I’ve been gone? Was anyone around?” she asked softly releasing his arm. He was probably fine, just exhausted and hungry. She waved Ayumu over to her, her eyes remaining on Satou the entire time, ready to pump him full of calming medical chakra if the need arose. She would explain everything to Ayumu, the jinchuriki before them, the blue chakra that pulsed around her still... Right now, however, she needed the Sennin’s strength.

“Can you stand, or are we going to have to lug your butt into the hospital room next door?” she then joked softly. “Because you are going to the hospital room next door. No ‘buts.’” Regardless of which method he chose, she would lead them both to the private medical room that was across the hall from her office, beginning to pull various pieces of equipment as he situated himself on the cot with or without Ayumu’s assistance.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Kahako was predictably reluctant to leave Kitsune's mansion. Ayumu was under no delusion that she would simply vacate her home without good reason. After all, Kitsune was now her mother by law and more than that she was a very important person to Kahako. She had been good to Kahako and that was at least one good thing Ayumu had to consider about the Medical Sennin. Unfortunately, there was little time to discuss this or think on it. Satou suddenly spoke up, disagreeing with Kahako that Ayumu was his new leader, declaring his allegiance to only one thing. He flicked his cigarette out the window and approached Kahako whom Ayumu still remained next to. Without warning he knelt down before her and declared his undying allegiance to her as his "Master". Ayumu was taken slightly aback by this display. His wildest imagination had never pictured that Kahako was hiding something like this. Somehow or another she had earned this man's utter devotion to what appeared to be a fanatical degree. Kahako had some explaining to do, but now was not the time.

Ayumu did not need a many year long bond with Satou to see that something was going on right now. The demonic energy around him intensified and the bloodlust was palpable within the air. Satou suspected that Kahako had uncovered something she wanted to be destroyed. Ayumu could not imagine what that even meant, but Satou was dangerously thrilled by the prospect of murdering who or whatever it was. The demonic energy around Satou surged as the change in him was audible in his voice. Kahako might have been used to this, but Ayumu was used to this feeling in a different way. He had been a shinobi for a long time and lived through countless men and women trying to end his life just as he ended theirs. Whether demonic energy was involved or not, it was always the same feeling. The sense had developed over time and it only became clearer when he felt it each time. It meant danger, a threat. In this case, a threat not only to himself, but to Kahako.

As Kahako tried to take command of the situation before it got out of control, Ayumu's hand found itself instinctively on the hilt of his blade ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Satou was clearly important to Kahako, but Ayumu would make her hate him before he'd allow the demon to kill her. All at once, the demonic aura in the air suddenly dispersed as it was drawn back within Satou, but Ayumu remained on guard with his arm primed to draw his sword. He could still feel the bloodlust. Satou's gaze suddenly turned to Ayumu, a look in his eyes which betrayed the sudden calm. Ayumu locked eyes with him, his own eyes having lost the light jovial look of moments ago and reverted into a coldblooded glare almost seeming lifeless. Kahako commanded the demon's attention back to herself. Now Ayumu noticed the strange blue chakra that surrounded Kahako, an unfamiliar feeling accompanying it. After a few tense moments, the deadly intent left Satou's eyes and the threat seemed to have passed momentarily.

Satou apologized to Kahako for losing control momentarily and Kahako casually telling him forgiveness wasn't even necessary. As if it were her fault that he had nearly lost control and attempted to kill the both of them. What was this? Was it so casual for this to happen that they immediately slipped into casual apologies and then everything was okay? What threat had Ayumu simply ignored because he trusted Kahako's judgment? This man was dangerous, just as Masao had said years ago. If anything it was worse than Masao had let on. Despite that, Kahako seemed to be completely fine with that. Not the least bit concerned for her own safety, but rather worried about the one who might have killed her but for catching himself at the last moment. Kahako began to ask questions which only confirmed that this wasn't the first time this had happened.

She had clearly been instrumental in calming him down just now, so if he had done this when she wasn't around over the past few months, what would have happened? Would he have killed innocents? Had he? Kahako asked Ayumu's assistance, making no mention of the odd blue chakra pulsing around herself. Ayumu finally released the hilt of his sword. He would cooperate for now, if Satou indeed needed assistance with following Kahako to the cot, but he was permanently on guard now, watching Satou like a hawk. He made purposeful strides to place himself in a position where he could get between Kahako and Satou at any time if need be. The two of them had along history which built trust between them, but Ayumu was not aware of it. It didn't exist for him.

"Kahako... I'm going to need an explanation," Ayumu said grimly, stating the obvious. What before now he had accepted as something Kahako just wanted to keep to herself had now undeniably made itself his business. Even if Kahako wasn't Ayumu's girlfriend or the mother of his son, this seemed like it could be a threat to the village. If an explanation didn't happen right at this moment, it would need to happen very soon.

[MFT]

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Solid words from her soft voice kept him steady, vibrating vision, blurred and foggy. It was like being drunk only with a hinged expression that Satou was going to collapse or zone out like some drunkard. A high like any other, a hunger for more. His power soon came back in check, but his body wasn't ready for it still, still "rusty" with handling things at this stage. The demonic cloak was mostly on him from time to time, he couldn't banish it with will alone at this point. He dared not to tell her this, but he could not lie to her. The time shes spent away from him, the more his powers became unstable and he couldn't stop it from growing out of hand like this. Like someone else was moving his lips,his hands, feet and body whole to bid whatever it was inside of him.

Satou was trying to keep on Kahako's eyes, her serene worry filled eyes. It made the man in him smile a bit. And from that his softest whisper under breath when the blue chakra came forth. His heart tightened in his chest. "Sukino..." Her name he only breathed, but he wondered if that soft soul could hear him now. "Ever since, time spent away from you I haven't been able to stop the cloak or the other abilities that I've discovered over time. I took to devouring animals out in the wilds, cats and dogs here in the village that are strays. I've kept to the woods, trying to avoid humans here." His voice was dried, his shaking hands reaching for another cigarette to let it hang loosely on his lips.

Satou could almost taste the killing intent on Ayumu, that also made the man smile. It was good to see that Kahako had so many who loved her and would protect her. The weakened man's chocolate eyes looked to the quiet glare of Ayumu. "How many times have I seen such eyes. Ayumu-san, if it eases you. Know I'd rather die by your sword then harm her." He smiled and laughed a little. "I'll throw myself on your blade if that ever were to happen." He tried to stand now, and what wobbly legs he owned. Satou almost chuckled a bit from the unbalanced feeling. Like his midsection hardened with a heaviness while his limbs felt like gelatine.

The sudden rush again, soft throbbing in his skill. a sickly twisted voice. was playing along with his thoughts. Who are you? His mind whispered. Only to hear the soft reply. I am you. And once more the soft speckles of black dust trailed off his shoulders and down his back, along the floor. The cloak was always there, it only manifested when he was capable of handling its tangible state. His limbs felt a bit more solid but everything felt ten times lighter when standing up. As if his body were made of feathers he feared falling over onto Kahako or backwards onto his back on the floor. "I guess I do need to lay down for a moment..." He mumbled with the cigarette still in mouth.

Why are you doing this?I'm only doing this because you need to be you again. Me to be me? That makes no sense. I am me. No you are not you, you locked the real you away. Remember? I locked memories away, not some other conscious. A thousand years of memories changes a person, it molded you into an unstoppable killing machine. You enjoyed nothing more then murdering every living thing around you to satisfy your true nature. The images of himself murdering and killing humans over and over again flooded his mind like a disgusting horror movie where he was the villain every time killing innocents. men, women and even children. Satou's stomach tightened up at the sight. He tried to remain calm with his face looking to the ground, his eyes shut tight and brow furrowed as if having a migraine having zoned out from knowing his feet were already moving to walk out the room and to find the next across the hall outside Kahako's office. He did'nt say a word to her or to Ayumu, he just kept walking till he found himself laying in a hospital cot. Cigarette lit without remembering when he lit it.

Stop #@!$ing with my mind you son of a @!@#$. Why? This is the truth you wanted! You wanted the real you, the real monster! The demon in you kept quiet, it wanted to see the real Satou come back and use its power to destroy humanity! And you will! You must! For you were created to kill, and you love the feeling of it. The hot blood running down your throat as you drink! The taste of soft human flesh under your fangs! No! I am not a monster! I was born a man! You were born a creature of death from the moment your lungs filled with air! The mental fight was taking its toll. Satou laid weakened, tired. He could hardly feel his arms and legs as he laid on the cot.He tried turning his body away from those who'd look at him. Keeping his soft ember red eyes closed now as he breathed slowly as to fake sleeping, the cloak of darkness laid over top of him. Like a comforting blanket to him.

Quiet, I want the flower fields. And his memories bright forward the images he needed to see, fields upon fields of colorful flowers. He and his beloved Sukino laying together amongst the color, embraced in one another. He could faintly smell the flowers now, even feel Sukinos soft lips upon his. A tear couldn't help but be shed from the memory, hand wiping it gently away as he could hear her soft voice in his ear. Whispering sickly sweet words that soothed him, his heart could not feel heavy anymore. His mind eased as everything felt blank and emptied out. Laying there, he wondered what would happen. Was Ayumu to scold Kahako? His body wanted to get up to be by her side. Yet his mind just wanted to stay there, laying beside Sukino amongst the flowers. Softly breathing in the heavy smoke from his cigarette, he left the soft smoke bellow past his lips. Eyes opened, a dark blood red color fighting over the soft milk chocolate.

 

[Shinrya Kahako]

"Kahako... I'm going to need an explanation." The mednin swallowed, pausing her supply gathering before taking a deep sigh up at the ceiling. The blue chakra still pulsed around her. She briefly wondered how long it would take to stop, as it was a new development for her as well. The only difference between her knowledge to it and Ayumu’s was that she knew where it came from. “You might want to sit down,” she managed calmly. “If the severity of the situation doesn’t bring you to your knees, the length of an adequate explanation will.” A lame joke. One that did not lighten the mood.

She had never seen Ayumu so readily willing to kill someone before without batting an eye. Even now, the coldness in his voice gave her chills. If Satou grew hostile, Ayumu strike him down without second thought… and Satou made it clear that he would be perfectly okay with it. Well, Kahako wasn’t. “If you are wondering if Satou is a threat to this village, the short answer is yes. He is unstable as any jinchuuriki, only worse because he does not remember how to control a large portion of his powers.” Kahako had finished gathering various items from the cabinets, moving the tray to the metal table and then looking at the large man’s broad back. “A little over a year ago, I helped him unlock a part of what he was, but I have to start from the beginning for you to understand why.”

At this point, Kahako moved to the sink in the room, washing her hands and arms, all the while talking. “On the first night I met Satou, he had a stab wound so deep, that he would have bled out before I could call for help.” She paused, glancing back at the man on the cot. “You never told me what you were doing in that alley, by the way.” She called out to the demon. No response and his eyes were closed. He was either so tired that he fell asleep or was still fighting for control. Either or, it gave her the time to explain.

“I was twelve. It was one of my first nights in Kumogakure. I still hadn’t been taught any means to defend myself nor did I know the streets. I didn’t even know what demons were. I mean, I knew the stories, but commoners rarely come across them out in the country.

“I had gotten lost, and ended up in a shady area. A man approached me, trying to make me go with him. I ended up running away, eventually hiding in the alley that Satou came upon wounded. The man caught up with me, took one look at Satou, and pulled a knife on us both. I was given a choice. To run and save my life, ending Satou’s there in an alley, or to try and protect him, which was probably going to end mine.” Kahako chucked, finding the irony in protecting her now protector, “I decided to stay.”

As she leaned against the counter, Kahako stared Ayumu in the eyes. “Satou...or his demon... gave me a third option. He could save us both if I created a bond with him. It would unlock a little of his power, pulling him from death. Power that would be at my complete disposal if I agreed to become his master.” She kept her eye on Ayumu as she stood up. She refused to look at anything else but Ayumu for the time being. Willing to accept whatever expression crossed his face to her next words. “When he said it earlier, it was not merely a title he gave himself. Satou will do everything I order him to, even if it is against his will.”

Kahako paused. Her next words clearly the most difficult for her to say. “And the price,” she said softly, pulling at the red scarf that covered her neck, “is my blood.” That was the only moment she looked away from the man she loved. Underneath, he would would remember her soft skin. Marred by scars he had seen before and not once ventured to ask about. Old ones and new ones. Ones he knew had partners that travelled down both arms and oddly looked of bite marks. “Shin-sama encountered us that night. He tried to seal Satou away again in an attempt to control him, but he didn’t when I protested. He may have saw something in Satou too, but he never learned of the price it took to control him.”

There was another lengthy pause, as she tried to reign in her thoughts. “I never told you because there was never a chance,” she said with barely a whisper. “Our relationship moved so quickly and we rarely saw each other… and then there was Susumu, the Raikage’s death, my leaving for the Shinrya province…” she trailed off, fingers twining and untwining between each other. “But Satou’s lack of memory for his past was slowly making him lose more and more control. Plus it was killing him. Before I knew I was pregnant with Susumu, when you were gone on a long mission, we made a resolution. I would help him find his memories in hopes that his human side could gain better control over his demon powers. It was necessary… through the years, I saw what Satou could do if he lost control. At his current state, he will eventually be killed for attacking someone innocent.” A form of determination filled her eyes. “No matter what he is, there is a part of him that does not deserve that kind of death.”

At this, Kahako moved to tend to her patient. “But he couldn’t walk through the memories alone. They were muddled and confusing. Nothing was making sense for him. We learned that one could enter Satou’s mind through induced sleep. I believe it to be a natural form of genjutsu his demon can control. So far, I have been the only one to successfully make it through a dream of his, which unlocked the current power you see now.”

She paused, unsure if she should say what the memory was about. But Ayumu needed to know. If only for their own relationship. “It was the memory of his late wife Ketsueki Sukino, and her final days. In an attempt to save her from what would have been a humiliating death, he fully unleashed his demon and killed her. Consuming her soul… or her chakra… or whatever you want to call it... it was some part of her being” Kahako’s hands started shaking. She couldn’t say what Sukino’s last days were, but Ayumu could tell by her paleness that it was bad. “In the dream, I was seeing what happened through the mind of Sukino.” She lifted her hands, the blue glow now barely noticeable. “And whatever was left of her that Satou consumed, forced its way into me while I was there. All of her memories, her dreams, her death… I have seen it all as though I experienced it myself, a series of memories and strong emotions that replays in my head.”

Finally she walked over to Satou, tugging him gently over so she could get a good look at his face. His eyes were partially glazed over, like an addict riding a high. “Satou,” she called softly. Her hands began to glow, her medical chakra creating a tranquilizing effect to his mind in hope to help with distinguish reality from his mind. “Can you tell me where you are right now? Do you know who I am?” Kahako waited for a response before addressing Ayumu again. “There is still a large amount of his memories missing, which is why he is still struggling with the power. I do not know what will happen to him when he remembers everything, but I know what will happen if he doesn’t.” Kahako finally said, as she she began to roll up a sleeve.

She looked up to Ayumu with a painful expression on her face. He would disapprove, knowing full well that any normal human being would not have gotten themselves tangled in a creature such as this. “He was here, by my side before even Kitsune-sensei. When I had nobody to rely on, to trust. When I was completely alone.” she trailed off, allowing whatever silence to fill the room.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Satou lied down on the cot with a lit cigarette once again in his mouth. Oh how Kitsune would have been pissed to find out someone was chain smoking in her hospital. Even more so to know the demon possessed Satou was so close to going on a rampage if not for Kahako's calming influence. Ayumu crossed his legs and leaned back against a wall of the hospital room they had moved into. He'd asked for an explanation, but he was frankly somewhat surprised that one was being offered so readily. Kahako had been hiding all of this for so long. She must have realized that what Ayumu had seen wouldn't permit him to turn a blind eye anymore. She prompted Ayumu to sit down, warning him that it was going to be a long explanation while trying to throw a bit of humor into the situation. It was an admirable effort, and most other times Ayumu would have been quick to jump on it with a smart remark, but tragically the humor was lost on him at the moment. He crossed his arms and braced himself for what was sure to be an interesting story.

Kahako chose perhaps the best way possible to begin the conversation, by confirming Ayumu's concern that Satou was a threat to the village. Worse than any Jinchuuriki, whom were already plenty bad as it was. The problem was that he didn't know how to control his powers. 'In other words, he doesn't have full control over the demon... surprise, surprise,' Ayumu thought, shaking his head lightly. That was always the problem with getting power from demons. They wanted something in return and it was so rarely something innocent like a puppy. They were evil personified. Was there ever any doubt that drawing power from them would yield poor results? Time and time again Kumogakure saw those poor results played out over and over. The Hand of the Sennin in Ayumu's branch, now deceased, had also been struggling with a non-figurative demon up until his death. Did it ever end well?

Kahako began explaining from the beginning when she first met Satou. In an alley having suffered a knife wound. 'Because that's not sketchy,' Ayumu thought as Kahako briefly verbally poked at Satou getting no response. It seemed the little guy was all tuckered out. The truly shocking part was that this was when Kahako was twelve years old, even before Ayumu knew her. "You were twelve years old and it seemed like a good idea to wander some back alleys?" Ayumu questioned, but after thinking about it he shook his head. "Nevermind," he said, waving his hand to dismiss the question. "That sounds like every night when I was out on patrol in ANBU and had to save some naive kid's skin," he thought, internalizing the sigh he wanted to heave. It was the founding for most of the threads in The Sordid Avenue, really. Kahako went on to explain that she had been lost, which justified where she had ended up to some extent. Unsurprisingly, a shady character had shown up trying to kidnap her. Upon encountering Satou he'd drawn a knife- probably human survival instinct given what Satou was.

Then came the infamous third option. A deal with the devil, so to speak. All she had to do was one little thing to have Satou's power at her disposal and save them both. Ayumu couldn't much fault her, she was put in a bad situation where her only perceived salvation was the third option. It was admirable that she didn't want to abandon Satou, even though he was a complete stranger at the time. Ayumu wasn't sure she could ever have known what would be given up for that choice. Ayumu could see where this was going now. He had seen the marks on her and opted not to say anything. He had hoped that one day she would trust him enough to bring it up herself. Maybe he was a little naive to think that. He had been in some kind of denial. The price, as she revealed, was her blood. She displayed the marks where she had been bitten time and time again. Ayumu watched as she revealed the most prominent one that she hid with her scarf. He couldn't help the slightly disgusted look that washed over his face now that he was finally availed to the source of the marks.

Ayumu looked away, closing his eyes to no avail as the image still displayed itself in his mind. His fingers shook and curled into a fist, the nails digging into his palms as he continued to listen. He felt sick to his stomach as he pictured the demon biting Kahako and drinking. Kahako enduring the pain for his sake. Shin had come upon the two of them and deigned not toseal Satou, but Shin was always merciful. This wasn't any surprise or comfort. The moment of pause Kahako provided as she thought did nothing to help Ayumu's racing thoughts. After moments passed, she gave her reason for never telling Ayumu. There was never a chance, she said. She rattled off events that had occurred since they had been together that had dissuaded her from telling him, Susumu being the first.

'How many times has Susumu been near this man? In danger?' Ayumu thought, unfolding his arms and hiding his eyes as if he had been stricken with a sudden headache. He hoped the answer to that was "none". Kahako went on, explaining that Satou was losing more and more control due to his missing memories. Kahako had promised to help him regain those memories. She insisted that it was necessary, given what she had apparently seen him do whenever he lost control. She knew that he'd eventually be killed if he snapped. As strong as the demon made him, he was in a village of abnormal humans that found their power through chakra and other means. A monster had more than a mob wielding pitchforks and torches to worry about in Kumogakure. Kahako's determination made itself apparent as she insisted that he deserved more than to have his life end in that manner. Ayumu sighed at this. Loyalty was one of Kahako's most admirable traits, but in times like these it was also her most frustrating. She placed that loyalty above self-preservation and Ayumu couldn't blame her for that because when it came to his friends and family he was much the same.

Kahako moved on to explain how she had helped Satou with his memories. Using Genjutsu from the demon itself she was able to enter Satou's mind and sift through the memories herself in the form of a dream. Kahako hesitated before continuing with what she saw. Satou had killed his wife- and apparently this was some sort of salvation for her? Ayumu had not seen the dream Kahako saw, so he didn't know. She was obviously shaken up just thinking of it. Even worse, Kahako revealed that she had seen it through the eyes of Sukino. Experienced it. There was that sick feeling again. Somehow, through the experience, the consciousness of Sukino forced itself into Kahako. This explained the odd blue glow. It didn't really, but Ayumu assumed that it could somehow be attributed to Sukino's presence. That left him to wonder just how much of the person standing before him was Kahako and how much was Sukino. How much influence to Sukino have? From all appearances, Kahako hadn't appeared to change to his knowledge.

As Kahako walked over to Satou again, Ayumu was on edge once more. She pulled his shoulder to turn him onto his back, calling his name as she activated a medical jutsu. She looked to Ayumu again, informing him that many memories were still missing. She admitted that she didn't even know what would happen if he gained them. She was doing all of this blindly. For all she truly knew, gaining all of his memories would turn him into even more of a monster. She looked up at Ayumu, the desperation clear on her face, and told him what Satou meant to her. It was even more than Kitsune. Kitsune, whom she would come to find out was no saint soon enough. She really knew how to pick them, didn't she? What did that say about Ayumu? Silence prevailed now as Kahako had finished speaking. Ayumu was given the floor to respond at last.

"First of all: I hope that I don't even need to say this... but I do not want Susumu anywhere near Satou. Ever. I'm serious," Ayumu said, the last portion of his statement evident by his tone alone. Kahako was an adult who had made a decision to dabble with something dangerous that she didn't really understand. Susumu was a child who didn't have the capability to keep himself away from danger. Ayumu hoped that Kahako already understood this and hadn't allowed it to happen.

"Kahako... I'm sure there's nothing I can say that you haven't already considered yourself but.... seriously, have you thought about this all the way through?" Ayumu asked incredulously. He finally pried himself away from the wall to walk closer to her. "One memory. One memory you went through with the help of his demon and you've already walked away forever changed by whatever it is that's entered your mind. Who knows what the hell will happen if you keep doing this? I mean, aside from the very real possibility that you'll die," Ayumu said, unable to hold back what had been building up since she had started. He was angry, he couldn't help that. He understood to some extent that Satou was very important to Kahako and that she wanted to help him, but she was risking everything for it. Did she really understand that and yet still persist? "And then Susumu will grow up without a mother," he added, as painful as it was to say. Had she considered that, truly? If the thought of Ayumu as a single father wasn't frightening, he didn't know what was. This was harsh, but he needed her to think about it... or if she already had, he needed to know that she had and made the choice to keep going anyway.

[MFT]

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

The sunlight felt so warm and inviting, sitting in those fields. the soft breeze blowing gently through his long locks of black, his dark eyes looking into soft serene gaze of hers. How he could simply lay there for days amongst the flowers, in perfect silence with her. This was their moment, their perfect moment of calm. The wind blowing across his face held the sweet scents of the flowers, his first breath, soft inhale. Smoke. His eyes blinked, a hospital room. A white ceiling. Cigarette in your mouth.
The fields came back, but she was gone. A hand gripped his shoulder gently and turned him onto his back, he could feel the soft dab of ashes that hit his cheek. His hand brushing his trimmed facial hair as he slowly sat up a bit, his bloodshot eyes looking over to see her, Sukino? Kahako's soft voice came sharp clarity to his ears. No it was Kahako, but the image was fading back and forth between the two. The image of Sukino faded as the soft hue of the healing chakra eased the image to bring him back to this room. The hospital. Cigarette, breath. Soft white smoke escaping his lips as Satou's glowing demonic eyes looked from Kahako to Ayumu, that glare, that cold stare from the man who loved Kahako so dearly that he would jump at a moments notice to risk himself for her.

Everything that had blurred was now clear focus, Satou could feel the steel in Ayumu's voice. "I guess all has been said then? Sad, I was hoping to at least show up for birthday parties. Don't worry, I won't go anywhere near Susumu-kun." He took the cigarette in hand, retrieving from his suit a small silver cigarette snuffer, dropping it in and soft click close while stuffing it into his suit pocket. "Hospital room. Really horrible looking hospital room. " His voice calm yet bit raspy. Clearing it a bit with a light cough as he tried sitting up more. "Also Kahako-chan, that night. I had saved another life, a woman. I took down her attacker, yet the way I did so was to feed my hunger. Back then I'd only fed on criminals. When I had finished, the woman had taken the knife from her attacker, to stabbed me with it when I approached, only asking if she was ok." He smirked and laughed dryly.

The fields kept coming back, the room would fade in and out of focus. As such Satou's eyes would fade in an out of focus as if zoning out. Looking at Kahako, then past her as if seeing something else. She had her sleeves pulled back, his eyes would always look at the markings with close to the same disdain and a pained look in his burning eyes. Along with a sore dryness to his throat. The pulsing feeling, it was louder this time. If he stared long enough, he could see the veins under her skin, pumping that luscious dark and warming red. The sound of her heart pounding, but something else was running through his mind.

Words, voices. His own? No, screams that brought a shock to him that made him pull away from kahako. Was he hearing things, a look of worry on his face was plain to see, looking between Kahako and Ayumu to see if they heard it? No, it was in his mind that he could hear screaming. Men, women and even children. The screams became so loud that it made Satou cringe. Images flooded his mind for a few brief moments, but in those moments he saw the monster inside. Or at the least he assumed was the creature, it head such a horrifying look to it. It wasn't the monstrosity that Kahako had witness in his mind before. No, this creature was more humanoid now. It was tall, at least of seven feet in height and slender in shape. It was covered from neck to toe in dark shades of blue robe the had a blackened tarnished cap tied to its neck as it walked with malevolence surrounding it. Its head was the most distinctive, with flesh of slimy green skin and eyes burning like fire in its sockets, tendrils flowing round its maw. It looked more like a squid, but terrifyingly so on the body of a man as it slowly approached Satou in his mind. Its three fingered hands with blackened nails reaching out to him.

Again the Satou jerked back, his eyes widened a bit with fear for witnessing the creature in such a shape for the first time.Breathing a bit heavily, sweat running down his face, eyes darting around the room. He was back in the room with Kahako and Ayumu. Slowly he calmed down.

 

[Shinrya Kahako]

It wasn’t hard to see the disgust on Ayumu’s face. A part of her knew that he would not digest the news as smoothly as Kitsune had. Kahako was actually quite surprised her teacher took the news well at all. But when he made the rule that Susumu and Satou could never be in the same vicinity of each other, and questioned if she really thought about all this, Kahako felt as if he walked over and backhanded her. "I guess all has been said then? Sad, I was hoping to at least show up for birthday parties. Don't worry, I won't go anywhere near Susumu-kun." Satou said after Ayumu continued to lay out the verbal slaughter by making it abundantly clear what Kahako already knew was mentally and physically dangerous. Her back straightened, eyes dilated as she took a sharp breath in. If the woman was upset before, it paled to how downright livid she was now.

But for now, she had to place her anger to the side. She listened to Satou recount what happened the night before she ran into him. Criminal or not, Ayumu would not let that confession slide. “Satou… did you kill him? The criminal?” Kahako asked as she filtered more calming chakra through him. She hoped he had not. She prayed to Raiden and Shin that he had not. But he had gone quiet again. Instead looking at her wrists as his eyes faded in and out. “I can never get him to focus when he’s like this.” she said tartly to Ayumu as she rolled her sleeve up further and reach for the equipment next to her. Satou pulled away from her frantically, afraid of something she could not see. “Satou, it’s okay, you are in the hospital.” She repeated again calmly. What could possibly have the great man before her so terrified? She looked to the main branch sennin, hidden and unspoken fury returned to her gaze. “He needs to feed to be of any less of a danger, and if you want to interrogate him about what he just admitted, he needs to be of sounder mind.”

Whether or not Ayumu protested, Kahako began the normal steps to draw blood into a blood pouch. She purposefully avoided using needles too often, as rumors of substance abuse would garner more attention than oddly shaped scars. For the first minute while Kahako worked, there was silence. It wasn’t until gravity was performing its job did Kahako speak her mind.

“How dare you suggest I would ever put our son in harm’s way,” Kahako said in a tone that neither men ever heard emit from her mouth. She returned to what Ayumu said earlier. The tone was deep and soft, but the acid in her eyes when she looked up spoke volumes. It was abundantly clear that whatever either man said next may cause her to flip a few tables. “And how dare you throw that at me, Ayumu. You of all people should know that I fear daily of Susumu growing up without his mother. I also fear hourly of him losing his father, the main branch sennin. One of the four individuals with the largest target on his back” She said, slamming his argument back at him twice as hard as he threw it at her.

“You seem to forget that I am a shinobi of this village,” she continued. “I am not just a doctor. I am the head of our combat division and one of the leading psychologists handling the unstable in our ranks. How dare you equate that to living a safe life.”

She gestured towards the slowly filling bag. “Yes, Satou’s and my relationship had far extended that of doctor and patient long before I came into this position. I realize my treatment is unorthodox. I would be heavily scrutinized for this decision I have made, but do not think for a second that I am in any less danger when he is not around.” After it was adequately filled, Kahako cut off the flow to the bag, quickly pulling the needle out of her arm as she did countless times before and applying a small amount of chakra to stop the bleeding. She then cut the bag open, pouring the contents into a cup and leaving it at Satou’s side to drink before before standing to toss the waste away.

“With that being said and done, you can ask again about what happened to the criminal on that night, but note that you interrogation of my patient is being completed when I have deemed him mentally unfit.” Kahako crossed her arms and leaned against the counter again. Whether Ayumu intended it or not, he insulted Kahako as both a parent and as a professional. “And when you’re done, you can leave. And I suggest you don’t come back until you can stop treating me like I’m a glass made trophy wife.”

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Before Kahako could say a thing in response, Satou spoke up first promising to stay away from the child. Ayumu's eyes remained for a moment on Kahako, who he could already tell was livid, but then glanced at Satou. In those moments where he wasn't speaking like a madman, he seemed reasonable and decent. That's how it always was, though. A decent person turned into a monster by a demon inside. He responded to Kahako's question from earlier sounding considerably more calm, acknowledging that he knew where he was. Ayumu supposed that was a good sign. He also added on to Kahako's story of when they had met. He had saved a woman that night only to be stabbed out of fear. With that, he seemed to phase out of consciousness again only to come back a moment later looking terrified. Watching him, Ayumu couldn't help but feel a tinge of sympathy for him, but words he had spoken a moment ago resonated in his mind. He had attacked someone, and when he said "criminals," that was plural. Kahako sounded concerned as she asked whether Satou had killed the person in question but couldn't keep him in the present long enough to get an answer immediately. She shot a venomous comment to Ayumu before returning her focus to Satou briefly to speak calming words to him. Once again she coldly addressed Ayumu, advising him that Satou wasn't of the right state of mind to be interrogated. That much was clear without needing to be said.

Ayumu remained silent as he watched Kahako begin drawing her own blood to undoubtedly give to Satou. There was no doubt what the origin of the bite marks was any longer. She didn't always use a needle and do it the neat way. There was that revolting feeling again. Breaking the silence, Kahako's voice was filled with anger as she expressed her outrage that Ayumu would dare suggest she put Susumu in harm's way. Although that moment of sympathetic feeling had been there moments ago, every angered word that Kahako spat at Ayumu chipped away at it and replaced it with Ayumu's own anger. She turned his argument back around on him, comparing his position as Sennin to the position she had put herself in tending to Satou. She also accused him of forgetting that she was a shinobi and tried to justify what she was doing by stating that her life was already dangerous, as if that somehow made willingly exposing herself to more okay. Ayumu's fingertips dug into his crossed arms as he bit his tongue to let her keep speaking.

All the while, she was preparing a blood cocktail for Satou as if it was a normal thing to do. Ayumu closed his eyes and he tilted his head down, shaking it as anger boiled inside. Had she completely lost touch with reality? Having set the cup down, she told Ayumu that if he wanted to interrogate Satou now he could, but she was protesting it on the grounds that he was currently mentally unfit. Oh, and after he was done with that, he could leave and not return because he was apparently treating her like a trophy wife. Ayumu looked up and opened his eyes now and looked up at Kahako. She had stopped speaking and now it was his turn to say his piece.

"First of all, I did not accuse you of anything. I said that I don't want Susumu near him. I'm glad it didn't need to be said, but you can't blame me for saying it because you are seriously making me question your ability to make sound judgement calls when it comes to Satou. Especially if you really think you're in no more danger with him around. Second, don't compare my position as Sennin to what you're doing here. I am doing my duty as was asked of me and as I swore to do when I became a shinobi. This is not just some patient. This is personal for you and don't even try to lie to me and say that it isn't," Ayumu retaliated, trying to keep his cool but unable to control the heated tone his voice had taken. The words he spoke were angry, but they lacked the acidity that Kahako's had. He was mad, sure, but that was purely because he was worried about her. She had taken that worry and spat on it by attacking him. He sighed as he expended the last of his pent up anger for now leaving him with just exasperation.

"I know you're not made of glass. I just don't want you putting yourself in harms way more than you have to. Would you do this if it was any of your patients?" Ayumu asked, his voice becoming calm once again. Shouting wasn't going to do them any good. In fact, he hoped the hospital room walls were thick, because it could cause a whole lot of awkwardness later. He was prepared for her to keep yelling if she needed to. A bit of yelling and anger wasn't going to send him away with his tail between his legs. Not when it was this important.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

The images were racing past his eyes, one could see it as they frantically darted about the room looking. Observing what things were revealed to him. places he's been to, faces he's seen. People he's taken into his arms, this overwhelming flood. He closed his eyes, solid darkness to clear everything away. Let it all dissolve in the background as Kahako's voice was always present. “Satou… did you kill him? The criminal?” He did'nt appear to move or even bat an eye as images flooded back to that particular night. “I can never get him to focus when he’s like this.”

The body was tall, thick build, must have been roughly two hundred and fifty pounds to maybe even three hundred. Satou could see it, himself. Feeding on the mortal man as the woman was screaming but a few feet away clenching the knife. He could remember, the heated flow of the mans blood. How the mans neck was unshaven. Two, three, four, five. "Five pints, unconscious, not dead." As he recounted each gulp and swallow and the gentle rhythm of the mans heart that quaked and beat slower and slower. Letting the man go, the body collapsed, looking down through the eyes of his former self. He could see the gentle drips from the wound on his neck, still breathing. To turn and see the woman, barely he could breath through trying to swallow the blood still in his mouth within his memory, before uttering inaudible. "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you miss." As the memory was playing back when the woman screamed and thrust the blade into Satou's chest. He heaved forward in the hospital bed. Holding the spot as if pained by the stab. Feeling where the knife had stabbed him. The skin tingled for a moment.

“Satou, it’s okay, you are in the hospital.” Yes, the hospital. Here, now. He tried to compose himself a bit more. Yes he needed to feed his more dark appetite. And he was sure without looking over to Ayumu he would only see disdain from that man's eyes. Like all others when they learned of him. It almost made him laugh when he could not blame any of them.

His eye's looked up at her, saddened. "Sorry, I'll try and keep focus. The memories are difficult to control sometimes." He couldn't peel his eyes from her actions. Even her next words barely came through as Satou's soft eyes became a violent glowing bloodshot red.The steady throbbing in the back of his skull. He was sure Ayumu was eying him, judging him, ready to cut him down if ever he lost control. Yet it did not bother the demonic man, Satou's jaw clenched shut while watching the blood slowly fill the small bag.

Again the trance like gaze and cold empty look in his eyes as his mind filled the room with something of a rather disturbing scene. Blood, the walls, the floor, upon every surface was painted with thick sprays of blood, the floor became a pool. Dripping and pouring from the walls and ceiling, the windows had blackened out with what looked like organs pressed against the glass. A steady throbbing pulse of blood seeping through. Be patient, wait, keep calm. Breath. Eyes closed, a few calming slow breaths, eyes opened to a soft brown once more. The Hospital room appeared normal all be it for a long black haired pale women to be standing beside Kahako.

Satou's eyes veered slightly off from Kahako to stare at the entity in tattered clothing. She simply stood there with her hair covering her face. Satou's reflected a blank quiet terror only in his eyes. Should he talk? Can she hear him if its simply an illusion of the mind? Can you hear me? Who are you? The dead quiet creature simply stood by Kahako, Unmoving even when Kahako stood and produced a cup of blood to Satou.

He did'nt even move, his eyes locked on the dark haired girl across the room, Both of them did'nt even seem to notice her. She was definitely an illusion of some sort. Or so Satou had deduced when glancing away to see if they could see her or made any comment. Once that was established his eyes fell on the cup, whispered words in his mind trailed moments of quiet stare into the red. "Thank you." He spoke rather distanced as he took hold of the cup and immediately brought it to his mouth. Holding it as something precious and to be handled with care as he sipped from it slowly. Trying to hold some semblance of civility.

The warmth slowly running down his throat, spreading through his body, even his complexion and composure eased. Savoring every drop, having to calm his breathing to a few short breaths between sipping the blood, being lost in the haze and keeping his eyes on the girl. Her body began to shake and convulse in a fit of movement as her body came towards him from across the room slowly. Keep calm and don't freak out. This is just an illusion.

Without even paying attention to the two bickering the woman with long raven hair walked over to Satou, her small frame was half his size. Same age as Kahako? No slightly older. She took her small dainty hand that looked caked in dirt and pulled her hair aside to reveal a soft doll like face as her dark blood red eyes looked upon the demon man as she whispered so softly. "Feed her your blood, as you fed me." She smiled, yet her pearly whites were accompanied by a pair of fangs that matched his own. Blood began pouring from her mouth. The sight sent shivers down his spine as he felt his neck tightened up,eyes clenched shut, burning with intense pain as if cut or torn open. He stopped drinking. Only taken two thirds of the cup. Breathing slowly as he listened to both Kahako and Ayumu, their voices grounding him in reality. She's not really there, Kahako and Ayumu are real. You're in a Hospital room.

Listening to the two fight made him wonder. Did I ever get this upset with Sukino? Or anyone? Have I ever loved someone so strongly before? "I'm sorry to be the cause of such conflict. Might be best that I take my leave. Maybe you two should go take a break from work, spend some time together with your son for a bit. Just forget about jobs or responsibilities." Satou whispered, staring into the red that was left in the cup. The girl had vanished in blinking time. The images that haunted him, memories. How twisted would his past be? The thought made his skin crawl. The demonic cloak was once more around Satou, a soft blanket that covered him, comforted him with its power. The sheer magnitude he felt from it when he wielded it. Trying his best to harness,manifest and sustain it. It was comforting, all be it feeling the itch of claws in the back of his mind.

He sat the cup onto the table, unfinished. Straightening up, trying to stand felt awkward, always the longer limbs felt so unstable at times, but with fortitude he stood like a statue with a bit of poise. His deep darkened eyes not demonic, not human. But in a trance of between as the cloak flowed about him like an old fashioned cape.

He got close to Kahako, only to raise and hand to her head and began ruffling her hair a bit. His eyes deep in a memory, her being much shorter. More smiling.No matter how much she yelled scoffed,cursed and ranted. She was still that innocent girl who needed his help. Still an example of recklessness to help others.

His own smile was soft and genuine, bringing his hand back to his side he paced to the door in a normal manner. "I'll give you two some privacy." Giving a respectful bow to Ayumu, He looked at the man with respect in his eyes. "I can't say enough how troubling it is, Not in my predicament. But to understand the gravity of every situation. You've burdened yourself with so much responsibility." He turned slightly, glancing to Kahako. "You both have." Giving his attention back to Ayumu.

"I know you both take pride in what you do, You're doing this not only for yourselves, but for others, this village. These humans who need you. But right now you both need each other. Your child needs you both." He walked out the room without another word. He moved at that unnatural speed again. Back into the office, invisible hands of chakra were looking through files as he had originally organized some things so he could find them himself.

Particularly a copy of a file he stashed in this room. One pertaining to a long old document of a creature Kahako sighted. Pause, hands felt around him. Thine soft arms. A warming embrace as he felt her bosom press against his back, her long black hair around him as her soft lips grazed along his neck and her soft velvet voice caressed against his ear. "You must fulfill the contract." Then the stinging sensation again of sharp teeth cutting through the flesh of his neck yet no blood or marks. The stinging pain gave way to a dullness, everything in the room floated about gently to his power as he sat in waiting. Looking through papers with steeled eyes.

mft

 

[Shinrya Kahako]

Her fingers dug her biceps at Ayumu’s retorts. Oh how desperately she felt the need to cut him off. To come up with a strong response to throw his reasonable counter argument into the ground and stomp on it a few times until it gasped for air. Only the small piece of her clinging desperately to the little rock of logic left in her maelstrom of rage kept her tongue subdued. For no matter how he worded it, Kahako still felt demeaned.

She was fully aware of the danger she put herself in. Aware of how Satou looked at her, how he feared for her life in moments of sanity, and hungered for it the rest of the time. And she chose to help him anyway. Because he was a friend. Because it was personal. Because she gave a damn about every villager’s wellbeing-crazed or sane-and probably one of the few most capable of doing something about it.

Yet Ayumu would not see it that way. Satou was a threat to the village first and foremost. In Ayumu’s eyes, Satou was not a villager. He was an outsider. A threat. And her arguing against his first impression of the demonic man would only devolve to circles and screaming matches. So when Satou intervened telling them that they needed to remain resolute together, Kahako took her chance to sweep her anger under the rug.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered an “Okay, Satou” quietly as the demon left the room. Now that she was alone with Ayumu, she felt awkward. A small tinge of regret filled her as she remembered the words she spoke to him only moments before. The insults she threw simply because she was insulted. The anger was still there, keeping her far from a heartfelt apology.

“Say what you will about whether or not I would do this for just anyone,” Kahako said tersely as she kept her arms crossed. Her eyes that were once cast aside were now looking straight into the blue iris that made her heart skip when they first met. “But I am doing this because it is him. Just as I would do the same thing for you, or Susumu, or anyone I call family. This is who I am, Ayumu. I accept people for who and what they are, and I try to help as best I can if they need it. I am not a fair weather friend, and even less so when it comes to those I consider family.”

At this point, she stood and walked towards the door. “I am going to continue to help him.” She said with finality. “And my only sane regret is that you had to learn of everything this way.” She would silently listen to Ayumu’s words. Promising to take them into consideration before she left.

She would not return to her office. Instead, she walked down the hall and out the doors towards the Shinrya Mansion for a moment’s peace.

TLUS

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Satou at last was able to stand up and understandably he was ready to give Kahako and Ayumu some privacy. After all, even a demon would feel awkward listening to a couple arguing- especially if it was about them. Before leaving, however, he had something to say. He spoke of the burden each of them had placed on them in their roles within the village. He acknowledged that the village needed them. But he also acknowledged that they needed each other. Them becoming adversarial and arguing wasn't going to help either of them. Done with his point, Satou left the room leaving Kahako and Ayumu alone. Kahako still sounded angry as she responded to Ayumu's earlier words. She admitted to the fact that she would not be doing this for just anyone. To the fact that Satou was not just anyone, but someone she considered as important as Ayumu or Susumu. This was Ayumu's point. His life was potentially at risk daily because he was doing his duty, but she was not performing her duty when she placed her life at risk for Satou. It was clear now that she placed what she was doing for Satou at the same level of importance, however.

She walked to the door and Ayumu remained silent, not wanting to continue this argument as he was realizing that he wasn't going to convince her to leave Satou alone. To confirm this, she insisted that she would continue to help him and that her only regret was that he found out like he did. She looked as though she was willing to hear Ayumu's response, but Ayumu had nothing to say. There was no point. If she considered Satou as important as Ayumu and Susumu, there was nothing he could say to dissuade her from placing herself in danger for him. Ayumu knew that if he had placed as much importance in someone as he did in Kahako, he would be the same way. As Kahako left, Ayumu wondered if he would have felt differently if she had told him about Satou earlier. There was no telling, but it didn't matter. She had hidden it until Satou walked in giving her no choice. That said something to Ayumu- something he'd have to think about. After waiting for a while to give Kahako time to leave, Ayumu exited the door himself, looking around. Neither Kahako or Satou remained in the hallway.

'Guess he left, too,' Ayumu thought, looking up and down the hallway. He slid his hands in his pockets and began walking as he was left alone with his thoughts. Regardless of what Kahako felt, Satou was clearly dangerous. She couldn't see it because she was too close, or maybe she saw it but chose to ignore it, but the danger wasn't just to herself. That was what Ayumu had to consider. What threat did Satou pose to the people of the village? Ayumu had once been forced to put down a mercenary woman who had attacked innocent civilians in the village. There had been no hesitation. His only regret was that he hadn't been able to prevent her from doing what she did. He didn't want that to happen again. As he exited the hospital, he wondered what the best solution would be for everyone.

[Topic Left]

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Laying back in that chair felt ever so relaxing. The materiel against his cooled skin. The smell of the aged wood desk, the soft swath of dust that slowly crept into the room to lay about. Disturbed as invisible hand pulled documents apart till the demon found one particular folder.

His power slowly pulled the folder across the room to him and inside he retrieved a vividly drawn picture. It was the drawn image of the beast that attacked Kahako, the image looked so vivid and up close. The strange deformity of it. So familiar to him. His other free hand tracing out the face of the creature.

He looked about the room before slipping the image into his clothing as he sent the folder back to its original spot as well as organizing the office, sweeping it of dust and leaving it quietly to return to the previous room where his nose could still smell the blood in the cup where he left it.

Both Kohako and Ayumu left it undisturbed. Or so he believed as he took the cup and its remaining contents, his unnatural speed moving his body out of the hospital getting to a room he needed to be he was beside Kaiji within a few breaths after opening all the doors in the house.

Before the teen could spaze out on the demon, Satou sat the cup of blood on the table. Then took a syringe from Kaiji's medical supplies and drawn out some of his blood and sat it beside the cup. "I want you to run tests on these two samples. Tell me your findings within twenty four hours." He spoke rather distanced as if his mind preoccupied by cluster of thoughts.

Kaiji only was able to sigh before Satou left. "Sure, I guess I'll just play scientist." The boy shook his head, and immediately dropped whatever task he was doing to run tests on the blood. Looking at the Styrofoam cup and wondering who did Satou take it from.

Satou was in the basement, his room. Sitting in bed in a plain T and some slacks. His eyes looking over the picture again as he smoked a cigarette. "What did you find Kahako?..." He needed to know more. He stood, stabbing the picture up on the wall with a thumbtack amongst all the other deformed drawings. His own works of art, nightmares in his sleep. Things he's drawn, something she's seen in the real world. Satou was shaking as he looked at them all. Covering the wall.

"Kahako, what did I do?" He whispered under his breath as he began taring all the pictures down and stored them under his bed. All the while, hearing a twisted girls laughter.

(topic left)