Open Starry night

[Kureji]

Kureji had just got done performing a concert about thirty minutes ago. It was out near the edge of Soon's Harbor and there has been no Sand worm disturbance. He thought about that crazy idea he had back a few days ago to get rid of the guy controlling the Sand-ta Rays. That must have been the most excitement that the sandworms have had for quite a while. He bets that they must have went into deep hiding for a while unless if something were to really disturb their territories.

But not tonight. The rockstar had found himself on a lonely pier, laying on his back on the wooden boards as he stared up at the starry sky. He had a toothpick in his mouth as he reminisced about the good ol times. The limited time that he knew Shinjo and Monika. But now he is by himself. What a lonely world he lives in. He has no one to really turn to so he just goes where he wants and causes his own mayhem. Sure he's low ley a criminal, but he really does try to help the civies that can't defend themselves.

But enough of that. He would trace the star constellations with his fingers to make imaginary shapes in the sky. "That one looks like a dog. That one looks like a guitar. And that one looks like..." He hesitated, trying to think of what it could be. "Maybe a tree? Eh, who cares." He would shrug to himself as he would relax staring up at the sky.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

It might come as a bit of a shock to most people, particularly given the odd appearance of the secretive serial killer, but she adored music. Not just some here and there, but all of it. She sported a pretty face, odd as it was, and an attractive figure, but most people still would be quite shocked at how charmingly sweet and feminine her voice could be when she sang...and she did so quite often, though more so in private, whenever she found the time. But she also made sure to take time out to visit local concerts whenever she could get a chance.

She never really had much opportunity growing up to learn an instrument, but she could certainly appreciate the hard work it took to master one. Traveling alone as a child throughout the country did not bode well for instruments that usually were discarded, destroyed or stolen, so she would enjoy the works of others. One particular instance was a recent concert at the Harbor. Initially donning a disguise of a more reasonable sized adult woman, she attended but once it was over, she shifted back into her own skin once more.

She took a break and walked upon the pier absolute enthralled with the new music she had discovered and was humming in a tone that would shock those who knew even a glimpse of her darker nature. She hummed it slower and more casually than the way they played, she was a more casual mood that night as she strolled along the pier, taking rather large, exaggerated steps with her hands behind her back. The tune was slowed down, but still very much on point as she stopped and heard a familiar voice, spotted a familiar face on his back, recognizing a man from the concert as she went up silently. "Is this what big time rockers do in their spare time?" she queried, her feet pointed towards his head, bending over and looking him square in the eyes as she put on a delightfully adorable smile before tilting her head with a soft giggle. "I do hope I am not intruding, but I would be rather amiss not to say that I very much enjoyed the performance tonight. It was rather quite memorable."

 

[Kureji]

Kureji would still be minding his business as a girl would suddenly enter his view. He would raise an eyebrow, mostly because he wasn't really expecting anyone to find him here, much less approach him. He sat up and said, "Sup." He thought about what she had asked him. "Just ones that are living the solo life and have a ton of time on their hands." He would see a pebble that had found its way on the docks and he would pick it up and try to skip it on the ocean. No luck.

"See, the problem with too much time on your hands is sometimes you'll run out of things to do, and you'll just be sitting here, like this." He gestured to the night sky, "Just here."

He would listen as the girl would speak, saying how much she enjoyed the performance. He would smile and say, "Well I'm glad you liked it. Rock and roll reaches out to the soul, at least in my opinion, much more than any other genre of music. Not bashing on other genres, as they all have their ups and downs depending on the listener, but out on the stage, roaring crowds. The raw emotion that rock and roll brings is usually, in the purest form.... real."

That was Kureji alright. He kept it real and unfiltered of his thoughts. It's what sets him apart from... well anyone really. He has yet to meet a person that would be real with him. Only one that came close was Sazuki Nao, the current Hokage. "Tell me, what brings you out to the concert? I usually don't get a lot of Village ninja coming to my concerts." It was a hint that he suspected her of being a ninja. He's nowhere near the level of sensor type ninja, but being experienced means that all ninja have this aura about them. It was also a hint to her that he is a ninja himself but works outside of the lines of a Village, how she takes that information is up to her.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

She made sure to keep a gentle, welcoming smile upon her face. It was rather genuine, though that was a tad difficult to distinguish from the general smile she wore at all times. However, she was in such a good mood from seeing live music performed that even should she try to force a frown, it would do no good for any sort of music being played well would always put a smile on her face.

Akari gave a small giggle as she, herself, straightened out while the man sat up and tried to skip the rock, to no avail. She knelt down a bit to be closer, picking up a smooth stone and playing with it between her fingers. "Oh? Nothing wrong with that, I see, it can give time to think, reflect...master new skills, perhaps," she said as she tossed the stone with force, causing it to the skip on the waters several times before eventually sinking.

After she said her piece, she allowed him the time to respond, making sure to nod in agreement to his words as she decided to be a bit forward and took a seat on the pier right next to him. Perhaps it was impolite to invite herself in such a matter, especially since he was a sort of celebrity. Perhaps he preferred his free time and didn't want to be disturbed, but Akari decided to take the opportunity nonetheless.

"Oh, I happily concur! I truly adored your performance, though I do admit I love most forms of music. Vocals and instruments harmonizing so perfectly, particularly with Rock 'n Roll which blends the passion of the musicians with a story so beautifully set to words. It is rather, inspirational, I dare say. Oh, how I have longed to be able to play an instrument, performing in front of others, sadly, I lack both time and talent...I have a quaint singing voice, but nothing set for the value of others..." she stated before turning her head to the side. She was certainly not wearing any identifying pieces of clothing that would distinguish her as a ninja, but he seemed to clock her nonetheless. True, she stood out like a sore thumb, but that was neither here nor there.

"Oh, dear, I guess the secret is out...though, I'm quite a terrible one, a kunoichi in name only, even. I mean, it's not beneficial to have someone who is rather...so unique as myself for the ordinary work of a ninja, but I also have about as much skill as I do with instruments, but I suppose it's better than retail, is it not? However, I just love all music. If there's a concert I can attend, I am almost compelled to go...I'm afraid it might be an unhealthy obsession of mine..." Taking a moment she pulled her legs in, hugging them to her chest and resting a finger upon her lips in thought, turning towards the silver haired rocker once more. "Though, I suppose you're a ninja as well? Or, perhaps, were? To have eyes so keen in identification of others, I mean..."

 

[Kureji]

"Oh, I ain't complaining about the type of life I lead." He said plainly, "Just sometimes leaves me thinking more often. I'm all down for causing some trouble here and there with also rocking out. Just whenever I'm not doing something, the silence is deafening." His hand would reach out into the air and a guitar would appear out of nowhere. A power he has to bend reality. "I believe so much in freedom that my bandmates, total badasses, are allowed to leave the band whenever they want to pursue a life of their own. And while they do that, I move forward to keep rocking out."

He would hand the guitar to her and say, "You say you lack the time and talent. Well, looks like you have time now. And you're looking at a world-famous rock star, so hit me with what you got. You'd be surprised by how much people can connect to you based on your music."

The conversation went on to about who they are, how he guessed that she is a ninja, and how she guessed that he was one. "Village life just ain't my style. I've had my own reservations about Village ninja, but you seem alright. Not as uptight as a bunch of them." Having a conversation like this with a village ninja brought back memories, to a young girl he had taught. Whom seem to look up to him even when she figured out that he is in fact a missing ninja. He took a deep breath. "Don't let em mold you to the way they want. Your uniqueness, your love of music is what makes you, you." He got up and stretched his body out. and put his hands in his pocket.

"All it takes is practice and a goal. I knew what I wanted. To make music. I've learned it all, but I always go back to the Guitar. Nothing like shredding the chords." That is how he originally unlocked the powers of Cadency. He was able to weave genjutsu into his music. He can just as well easily do it to a crowd at a concert, but that would quickly put him out of business as that is where he makes most of his music.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

Akari craved knowledge and though music generally kept the lead of her passions at almost all times, even if by a slight edge, as her crimison hues followed his hand, her lips parted curiously as the man manifested the guitar he had played on stage...out of nothing. She knew many things and yet, it was at times like these that she remembered just how truly lacking her education was. She arrived very late to the academy and now racked her brain to remember what power or bloodline could bend reality.

She could store and summon things with a self created jutsu, certainly, but there was a tinge of avarice in her eyes that did not taint any other part of her expression. She wanted to know more. To learn these new tricks for herself. "I suppose...I can understand such a sentiment. I have constantly been on the move since I can recall so, save for when I sleep, silence is often a luxury that eludes," pondering for a moment her thoughts before her lips pulled back slightly wider than before. "But freedom is something I know oh, very well indeed. More people need to treasure such a gift. Too many seek to steal it, one way or another."

She blinked in confusion as the guitar was held out to her as the smile faltered for only a moment before regaining composure. She gingerly held the instrument, much as softly and warily as one might hold another person's infant (much more so than she, herself, would hold most people's children, rather disliking them in general despite being of the age many would consider still a child). "Well, yes...I suppose now it is free, but...I am quite inferior in musical talents outside of my voice..."

Thinking, her mind constantly going, she wondered his apprehension about 'village ninja' as he called them. "Perhaps it's because I was not raised in a village. I spent most of my life coming to the village rather than living a comfortable life protected by it..." it was true. She found village life far more comforting than what she knew, but she also didn't have to worry about how to find her next meal or how she was going to pay...or kill for it.

She laid out her legs, having unclutched them from her chest and continued to hold the guitar. She recalled the way his fingers moved to do the chords and tried to recall the way he strummed them, but though it seemed like he gave her permission, the was still hesitation even as she eventually did it. Music was as sacred to her as any family, which was apt since she only had one of those things in her life and was worried about alienating it. It was sacred and she had a tendency to be a bit paranoid. For good reason, she did not play well and stopped after a few strums or so, tenderly handing it back. "Perhaps guitar is not the instrument for me, I fear...one day, though, I'll be able to find the time. Find, steal, or borrow...."

 

[Kureji]

"Silence is both a gift and curse at times. I guess it is dependent on each person and when the silence comes." He would say as she would hold the guitar in her hands. While she held it carefully in her hands, it did look like she felt awkward with the guitar as she had said that she doesn't have any other musical talents other than when she uses her voice.

Kureji nodded. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. He himself had to train his voice for about a year and a half after Monika had disappeared. After she had left, he had to learn to step up and be the lead singer and guitarist. So he understands the sentiment all too well about having weak areas about a subject that you love.

"I've been out on the road now about half of my life. Learned to look out for me and my own. Much I learned throughout the years has been through trial and error. I guess it all started when I threw a rave in the middle of Moon Country." Yeah, Moon Country, a place that was very deep seated in religion. And in a sense, his little playground as he found out who he is. Terrorizing the religious officials with his music. Giving the residents a sense of freedom, even for a brief moment, to the theocracy that holds them captive. Heck, that's even where he met Monika and Shinjo, his two bandmates. Together, they raised hell in Moon country, giving all the religious officials a hard time. He wondered every now and then if his antics in Moon Country have ever made it off that place and had whispers of the crazed rocker and his friends.

She would hand the guitar back to him after she tried to play it with no luck. He simply let go of the guitar and it would disappear. But Akari would be able to see that reality seemed to bend around the guitar right before it had disappeared. He has practiced that so many times. What really is happening is that he made it up with his mind, and when he is done with it, he basically thinks of it not existing to make it disappear right before it hits the ground. Such a thing can be done by the powers of a Chaos Witch.

"Hm...." Kureji contemplated. "You said that you don't have any other musical skills other than your voice? Would you be able to sing? I understand that might put you on the spot and cool if you don't want to. Who knows, maybe I can get pointers from you." As he thought previously, singing wasn't his first musical skill, heck he was bad at singing at first. But over the years, he has gotten better at it. It is mostly his sick guitar skills that cover up for his singing though by now most people wouldn't think that he is a bad singer.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

There wasn't much room to argue, the statement was quite sound and she simple nodded in agreement, having very little to add to the conversation concerning the value of silence. She knew it well, preferably the unnerving absence of sound which sent shivers down the spine of a soon-to-be deceased victim. And in doing so, she added to the accord with her own silence as she focused on the guitar. It did not end well, but she assumed as much. So she continued to listen.

"Oh, my, a rave in another country? You are quite the adventuring type. I regret that I have not been outside of the Country of Wind in all my years, but it was rather vast and I have traveled far and wide throughout, nonetheless. However, I'm not certain a rave itself would suit me, I enjoy the music itself rather than the antics of a crowd." Perhaps it sounded pretentious...it most likely did, but she truly did enjoy the music first and foremost in this world as it gave it color to the endless world of sand she called home. That and raves often involved dancing in close quarters with strangers who did not understand the meaning of personal space nor consent. Akari did not like being touched and rarely consented to it. Not enough people lost their lives thinking she could be touched simply due to the fact she traveled alone. Many did. In fact, all that attempted to do so bled out to their death, but it was not enough as far as she was concerned.

The way he created the guitar and, likewise, vanished it all the same was intriguing beyond words. It spoke to her, much like music to her soul. But instead of simply being enchanting, it also gave a promise of power. She had a similar technique, a pocket dimension of shadows which she could leave anything within for retrieval later...but this was different. She stared at the hand which held the guitar as reality distorted. It was power. Power she wanted, but she had already stated that she had little skill. It was a conundrum. Normally she told falsehoods such as those so people would not put up their guards, but now she could only allow it to eat her inside with a smile upon her face. Most people probably never even thought about it when he did such things, assuming it was a magic trick or slight of hand beyond their comprehension.

Akari knew she could comprehend it. She just needed to know how. She'd have to do research, something she loathed doing for it required quite concentration instead of action.

"Oh, dear, me sing? Why...it is rather sudden..." she stated, feigning modesty rather poorly as her face lit up as if she were a toddler given a room full of presents to open. A true smile of unadulterated joy stretched across her face from ear to ear, bright and as innocent a look as she could truly make. For singing was the only thing she could do that didn't involve destroying, property or the lives of others, and thus was also the only thing she enjoyed doing that didn't involve destruction. "Well, if it's a request from someone so talented as yourself, I must acquiesce, mustn't I now? Perhaps you might be willing to play a tune? Any certain requests? I can adapt to most any genre of music, but admittedly, my voice without adapting does naturally tend to lend itself to more...shall we say, upbeat songs?" she admitted.

Of course, generally her musical numbers she summoned the shadows to perform, but she must not expose her own lies so easily. Still, it was rather ironic. Her voice was sweet, dazzlingly charming even, which helped to fool those whom she would rather bury in the ground...but it conflicted so greatly with her twisted personality. And that suited her just fine. Her vocal control was as precise as the shadows she commanded anyways, so anything outside of Death Metal was rather simple for her.

 

[Kureji]

"Everything isn't for everybody," Kureji would shrug, "But that's life. Everyone got their own likes and dislikes about everything. I'm good to roll however I want. Just as long as I'm not sitting in one place for too long. Gets me antsy, mainly since I'm not one to really sit still." He would laugh. It is true. He has visited the three great Villages and even visited Earth, Moon, and even Tea Country. The only Country he has not been to is Water, which seems to be a hotspot for hordes of monsters and temperatures that are so low that even ninjas with fire as their major affinity and Yuki bloodline ninja will meet their ends. Such a place would be a fascination for him, but the drawback was there were no roaring crowds to chant his name. It seemed like a bleak place to even visit, with the only thought going through people's minds if they went there was for survival.

He had noticed that she was staring at him when he had summoned and sent his guitar back to his mind. She wouldn't know that part, but it wouldn't past by the rock star's attention that she was paying attention to him. Most people wouldn't question such a thing or even give it much thought. Perhaps they have seen something like what he does. Or they just expect that type of thing. Either way, it doesn't matter to the missing ninja much. He has grown accustomed to this power to use as he sees fit.

Upon the conversation shifting to her singing, he could tell that she loves it. Possibly loves it more than anything else. That's how he feels about music and playing his guitar. Second to that is fighting. He can't get enough of fighting as he gets to experience how people really feel through their techniques. Just as music helps connect people to a higher degree, Kureji feels that fighting someone deepens that connection to really understand people on a deeper level that can't quite be explained with words. Perhaps that's why he wanted to fight the Leaf's Hokage. To understand.

He would tap a finger on his chin as he thought to himself before answering, "I'll just improvise to how you sing. That is, if you want me to play while you sing." He would once again summon his guitar, the air around his hands warping as reality bent to his will and once again his guitar was in his hand. He would tune it until he found the right sound and would wait for Akari to start singing and choose the right tunes necessary to compliment her voice should she want him to play while she sings.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

The two of them were such polar opposites it would be outstanding if they truly knew the inner nature of one another. While Kureji seemed to enjoy the limelight, Akari was quite the opposite, due to many years of trying to hide her kills, understanding that being an orphan who took the life of an adult meant that her own would be forfeit and there were always those who were stronger than herself. She stood out enough on her own, anyways, by her mere altered existence. She listened to him and nodded, understanding what he was saying, they really were different in most ways, it would seem, except their love and devotion to music.

He took the offer of picking the song he would like to hear and returned it, putting the option of choice once more in her hands. She tapped her chin in thought, her gaze flickering back towards her hand as the realm of reality would once more bend and as he performed his trickery to summon a guitar from nothing. It was different than her technique, quite different...and she would know what it was...eventually. Now it was a time to perform.

A switch turned on in her head as she remembered a classic Rock 'n Roll song that anyone who truly loved the art form and style would know. Her bright grin shone forth as a dark pocket seemed to open on the ground in her own shadow, the young woman kneeling down and putting her hand inside and pulling out a rather old microphone stand. It was not necessary, but it was how the song was originally sung...and it also showcased some of her own unique ability. It could easily be written off as a bloodline technique since most people outside of the bloodlines were not familiar with every ability.

I see a red door
And I want it painted black
No colors anymore
I want them to turn black

I see the boys walk by
Dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head
Until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars
And they're all painted black
With flowers and my love
Both never to come back

I've seen people turn their heads
And quickly look away
Like a newborn baby
It just happens everyday

I look inside myself
And see my heart is black
I see my red door
I must have it painted black

Maybe then, I'll fade away
And not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up
When your whole world is black

No more will my green sea
Go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing
Happening to you

If I look hard enough
Into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me
Before the morning comes

I see a red door
And I want it painted black
No colors anymore
I want them to turn black

I see the boys walk by
Dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head
Until my darkness goes

I wanna see it painted
Painted black
Black as night
Black as coal
I wanna see the sun
Blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted
Painted black, yeah​

Kureji played along and picked up the beat at just the right times, slowing down and adjusting as if he had played it a thousand times over. The lyrics were slightly altered for a female singer and she, in turn, altered her voice. Kamiya Akari's voice was generally very sweet, feminine, high pitched in her normal speaking tone. It threw people off, honestly, since she was rather tall with an unique appearance, so her naturally sweet tone tended to give them a sense of false security. However, she had long since developed a strong control of her vocal range, even able to imitate that of a man or small child if necessary, as part of her work as an ANBU operative. For this song, especially, she deepened her voice slightly, making it less sweet and more sultry, tinged with sadness and a touch of anger as she felt expressed in the original composition.

Once more, she gripped the mic stand and moved it forward, dropping it into the shadows she had originally took it from and it fell through, as if into the earth. It was absolutely unnecessary that she did it, but having a microphone felt more natural to her to hold on to and focus herself, particularly since she played no instrument. "I do sincerely hope that was agreeable for you. Your playing is absolutely exceptional as well, thank you for humoring me with such!" She stated once more in her normal voice which felt like night and day compared to the voice she used for the song.

Still she pondered for a moment. "I apologize, but curiosity certainly has gotten the better of me...that technique you used...to summon your guitar. I've never seen such a thing. You use no hand signs, speak no words...is it a bloodline technique, perhaps?" She queried. Growing up outside the village made her more dangerous than most shinobi, but it also meant she knew so little about the techniques of the village. So in many ways, she were a novice, but she truly hoped it wasn't bloodline technique. It was power incarnate, as far as she was concerned, but bloodline abilities were something one was born with and couldn't be stolen, not to her knowledge.

 

[Kureji]

Kureji would listen to Akari sing and he's gotta admit that he is impressed by it. After a few seconds, he would be able to get the feel for the song and the tone, so he would start playing his guitar, combining the music with the voice to really bring the song to fruition. Finally, the song would come to an end and Kureji would rest the guitar on his lap as Akari spoke up.

The rock star would nod, "You kidding? You were amazing! You are what they call hidden talent! You really need to get an agent and then you can go and be world famous!" He would smile at her, "Maybe one day you'll have a crowd of your own."

He was about to make his guitar disappear when Akari asked about how he does it with his guitar. Kureji would stop before he made the guitar disappear and then looked at her. "I got the power of a kinjutsu, a very powerful ability called Chaos Witch. It lets me bend reality to my whims to some extent. Make ninjutsu attacks turn into illusions. And make illusions into reality. But just like any power like this. Sometimes the best way to unlock it is through trauma!" He would pause before going on. "It seems that you are interested in learning about it. And if you are serious about this, then we will be in for a wild ride. Just know that you might have some... traumatic memories that might reappear and it would be up to you to find a way to face them one way or another."

Chaotic energies would surround him but he would wait for Akari to give him permission to show her. "I'll be honest. I've only done this once of dragging someone into the subconscious mind. Granted, it was by accident and it was my mind. So there's no telling what will happen if we do this and go into your subconscious not only will we see some of your past trauma but also mine as well. And more things that add up in the realm of subconscious could mean to some dangerous things that could show up depending on your own mind."

He would fully stand up, "So you down? Once we start this, it will only stop after you are able to face the worst of your own subconscious." He had dealt with his own messed up mind and is now able to bend reality to some extent to his will. But it was a tad bit easier for him since he is a master of genjutsu. As for Akari, he doesn't know what her own set abilities are, but it might as well be seen once they delve into her mind.

 

[Kamiya Akari]

Being able to sing at any time was always exhilarating, an adrenaline rush since most people never got to see that side of her. However, it was even more fun since it wasn't some sort of shadow beings which had been conjured performing the music, but an actual musician, a professional one at that who played so wonderfully. And then he complimented her! If her skin were able to darken in a blushed state, it just might.

"Oh, I could never, why, I doubt I'd ever overcome my fear of the stage, so it likely will remain a dream..." she said, though her voice was full of mir and playful, though polite tones. It wasn't the first time imagining it, it certainly would not be the last. But she had a goal she needed to accomplish first. Not even her love of music would interfere with it either.

However, he was much more truthful than they had been earlier when they were musician and fan. In fact, she was surprised just HOW up front he was about the...kinjutsu? It sounded familiar, but she never had looked into it. "Chaos Witch....How interesting..." she stated with a tinge of danger under her breath as he went into explanations. Chaos enveloped him slowly and it felt intimidating, she was not very fond of others attempting to intimidate her and though he was admitting what might happen or what needed to happen, she felt the shadow of her own soul spilling out. Much like the chaotic energy that poured from him, the shadows enveloping her grew, seeming to clash with his nature, though not truly violently, just by sure contrast of their existence.

"I would be very happy to learn this....I need power for what I am to achieve...If it's my memories that are necessary, proceed, however if you seek trauma, you'll find none within me. No fear, no regret, no anguish for the past. I've embraced it. There are no inner demons inside my soul, I am the only demon necessary..." And it was true. Akari was not simply crazy. Not simply bloodthirsty, she was a psychopath in the purest form. She could not emphasize, sympathize, she could not care less in her soul, for it was dark as night. Perhaps it was that night her parents returned home in a shambling, half dead state or after when she realized that the initial pain was gone and she felt...nothing about it. But that was why music was so important, it helped open up an emotion for just a moment. Anything else was hate, rage, or a void. Only more power could fill it. It was a truly dangerous expression worn upon her countenance, darkened with the shadows and years of her life grinning brightly, sadistically through it all. A truly warped and twisted soul. "By all means...please, teach me how to use this power, in fact, now that it's in my grasp, I don't think I can turn away from it...but do not be shocked by what you might see..."