The Lonesome Lady(open)

[Nanjirou Soku]

Soku sat in the cafe drinking a small cup of clear liquid. It was not tea, the famous drink in this city but a mix of water and coffee. It was addicting and she couldn't help herself to another one. The girl was enjoying herself when her eyes narrowed feeling a hand on her shoulder as she was jerked out of her seat.
She whirled to face her aggressor, a Tea native who was grinning as he plucked his feet up on the table. "Sorry honey, I needed a place to sit." She smiled evily at him and made a show of looking at the open seats. "And you couldn't pick any of those?"

The man shrugged not replying and smirking before his eyes lit up on her yen wallet which was on the table. Soku made a move towards it but the man clutched it. "Is this yours? Well, tough luck ." The cafe owner and patrons averted their eyes not wanting to get involved. The girl wanted to teach this thug a thing or two but didn't want any trouble.

Soku sighed as she ran her hand across a short blade that was concealed. " I don't want any trouble." The man gave a short bark of laughter as he dangled her yen purse in front of her. He was toying with her and Soku did not like being toyed with. The kunoichi balled her hand into a fist and sent it into his nose. The man suddenly snarled covering his bloody nose and grabbed a fork from the cafe counter. Well, she had antagonized him and this was going downhill very quickly.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin is a rather interesting individual possessing an extremely rare doujutsu called the Tokeigan or clock eye. As much as she is aware, she is the only human to possess such a strange doujutsu. Tokeigan only changes one of a person’s eye and is always visible. Its appearance as one could guess by the name is a clock within an eye. What is really unusual about its appearance is the fact that it is a functioning clock, which tells the correct time. The eye gives the user the ability to look into the future and temporally step into it. The distance however into future is relatively short compared to science fiction novels. Akazukin can see and travel through time on a scale of a couple of minutes. Some would find her restricted vision and travel makes the power mute, but one can do interesting things by seeing events a minute ahead of time.

"Now now, this is no place for a fight." Akazukin was sitting at a table drinking some water as she saw what was going down. She was not going to let this pass but there were better ways to deal with this guy that trying to fight him in his own country. “You look like a man up for some easy money.” Akazukin was obviously referring to the fact that he just stole money in front of her. Akazukin tosses a pair of dice onto the table and they rolled quite nicely. “How about a little game. I mean come on, what do you have to lose?” The money was stolen, so as long as he doesn’t slip into his own pocket he should be fine.

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The young ANBU turned to see who had intervened wiping off her bloodied fist with a napkin. It was a girl, perhaps a bit older than and what appeared to be a clock in one eye. Was this some sort of visual jutsu?
This was most peculiar but right now, the man had her yen purse and she was intent on getting it back. "Your eye....is a clock." She couldn't stop staring at it as the man grinned.

"Sure, I'll play, woman!" It seemed the Tea countryman was no stranger when it came to games of this sort, he looked like someone who got his way no matter the situation, he flung the fork into the table sticking it into the surface. Rubbing his hands, he took a seat and watched as the kunoichi began to lay out the game for him.

Soku collected her purse and watched quietly. It was rude not to someone and she had just saved her butt and averted a possible conflict . Her green eyes scanned the man's expression, it was one of greed as he watched the dice hit the table and the game started.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin gives a small chuckle at the girl’s amazement over her one eye. How often do people point it out? “Yes I had it since I was a child.” It was after a demon ate her soul whole and some priest saving her by ripping her soul from it stomach. The demon tainted her and also kept her looking quite young for though she looked to be in her late teens, she was actually in her early thirties.

Akazukin finishes her water and scoops the dice into the cup. Fortunately the cup her water came in was out of bamboo. “The game is Cho-Han.” Chō-Han is a traditional Japanese gambling game using dice. The game uses two standard six-sided dice, which are shaken in a bamboo cup or bowl by a dealer. The cup is then overturned onto the floor or table in this case. Players then place their wagers on whether the sum total of numbers showing on the two dice will be ‘Chō’ (even) or ‘Han’ (odd). The dealer then removes the cup, displaying the dice. The winners collect their money.

Akazukin waves over a waitress, “Miss, can you come over here?” Akazukin would then hand her the cup holding the dice. “You shall be our dealer.” She then turns to look back at the man. “This is how we will play. Each round is 100 yen in which we bet odd or even. However to make things interesting one can double their earnings if they bet the exact number and triple if they bet two numbers that are rolled. Does this seem fair to you?”

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The man eyes narrowed as the woman explained the game concept. The waitress stood ready to begin the game at the Sand shinobis word. Soku merely watched interested at the way this would play out. She had never heard of the game before but had seen similar versions of it played back at the Leaf. The male nodded in agreement before replying. "Fair enough. Now let's get down to buisness,
woman!" Soku took a seat too interested to see how this would play out.

The waiter glanced at both of them, each eyeing the other intent on the possibility of a few earnings. The cafe owner and patrons were all curiously watching. If the man lost, he would defamed. He had a good reputation in this cafe and usually got what he wanted. The waitress placed the dice in the cup and began to shake it. Everyone's eyes riveted to the cup as it stopped it's motion and was overturned on the tabletop.

"Are you two ready?Place your bets. Odd or even?" Soku glanced between the two looking to see who would reply first. She dared not speak as if not to disrupt the focus of the players, instead making sure the man had no taken anything else of her belongings. She had just come to have a drink and it had turned into a gambling game. She didn't know why the Sand girl had gotten involved but after this, she was going to speak to kunoichi, perhaps ask her about her clock eye which Soku still couldn't get over the fact it was an actual working clock in her eye.

 

[Ryu Hime]

He agrees to her term which she was happy about, but some about his statements towards her was getting a little annoying. “First off ‘man’ I would prefer that you did not refer to me as ‘woman.’ My name is Inugami Akazukin.” Being called ‘woman’ just sounded demeaning to her especially how he was using it. Miss or madam would have been more appropriate. “I assume you have a name as well.” She might her sass later on, but for right now she did not really care of the consequences.

After the dice was shaken, all eyes were on the cup, so no one was watching her. Except for the young shinobi, who would be in for a show. Akazukin just hopes that she would not be too vocal in her astonishment. As Akazukin divines the state of the dice by peering into the future, the hands of the clock within her eye spins sporadically. They spun around in different directions before finally returning back to the correct time. “Even.” Akazukin could go so far as to say snake eyes for she saw the exact outcome, but does not want to show off to early in the game. This was only the first of many rounds or so she hopes.

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The man smirked at her reply. "Suit yourself then Akazukin." He did not reply with his name thinking it was of no importance and who was she to ask his identity in such a manner. "Odd." The waitress nodded once and the rolling of the dice began. Soku was not interested by this, she was staring in disbelief at the chuunins clock eye which was whirring at a incredible speed. "Impossible...how are you doing that..." No knew seemed to know what she talking about as the waitress overturned the cup and prepared to lift it pausing for a second.

The tension was thick in the air as everyone waited for the revealing moment. The kunoichi noted that the woman's eye had stopped spinning and now the clock hands hung stationary in their place. It was some sort of visual jutsu but she couldn't figure out its powers by simply looking at it. In some game like this, using visual powers would be considered cheating but no knew seemed to mind so she remained quiet.

The waitress lifted the cup revealing the numbers on the dice. The crowd surrounding them leaned forward excitedly to see the results expecting a win favoring the man and were taken aback. The native swore angrily seeing the results. Two solid number fives stared up at him, the dice seemed to be laughing at him, mocking him. "Beginners luck, that's all it was! I've been playing these type of games
before you were born." He slammed a fist on the table in frustration as the waitress placed the dice back in the cup and Soku hid a smile seeing the man's rage. Akazukin had used that eye somehow, she was sure.

 

[Ryu Hime]

The man slammed a fist on the table after one lost. This was not a good sign and her instincts were to back out now. Surely if she continues in attempt to win back the money things will become ugly. If this were sand she may risk it, but she was on his home turf. Probably he would not let her leave after a single round. Likely she will have to lose some of her own money for a successful retreat. However, how he treated the other foreigner was not acceptable behavior and she wished to teach him a lesson. This was a very troubling situation and she was not quite sure how she should proceed.

Suddenly there was a stir from underneath the table. From under the table cloth emerges a head of a wolf with a yawn. “Oh, Totoro-kun.” It seems that when that man slammed the table he woke her precious pet from his slumber. “I was wondering what you were doing under there. Sorry we woke you.” The wolf slowly crawls out from under the table and stretches it legs before walking over to its master’s side.

Akazukin pets Totoro on the head before looking back to the man. “Well I haven’t been given the name Lady Luck for nothing.” She is often at casinos where she uses her powers in the name of training. Although Akazukin did not like people joining in on her fun and will purposely loose bets if someone tries to take advantage of her powers. Because of this she has also been called Miss Fortune. “Shall we begin the next round?”

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The man's jaw hung open as the wolf popped out from underneath giving him a offending look. He could not believe what he was seeing. She had a tamed wolf just casually sleeping underneath the table that could devour him in a bite. "What is that beast you call a pet?!" He pointed a shaking finger at the wolf who seemed at ease. Soku liked animals but a wolf was stretching it. She scooted her chair a bit away from the animal and once she got far enough away dared to make eye contact with the wolf who in all honesty looked bored. The crowd around the players immediately fell back a bit not keen to get close to Totoro. The waitress stood there, not daring to move should she startle the wolf and spoke.

"Even or odd?" This time, before answering the man looked seriously at Akazukin before answering and noticed her clock eye. He gave a small surprised sound but replied slowly and confidently. "Odd." The dice shaking began again but this time, eyes were focused on the wolf who was seemingly enjoying the attention it was getting looking around curiously before focusing in on Soku who calmly stared right back.

The cup hit the table and the woman prepared to lift it. The native rubbed his hands in excitement as he awaited, even if she won, he wouldn't let her go gloating about his defeat. He'd rob her too and he had the men to do it. He shot a quick glance at the cafe owner who nodded and retreated into the back of building as if given a signal. The waitress lifted the cup and tension filled the air as everyone took in the results. There was a shout of glee from the male as he pumped his fist in excitment. "Not so lucky now eh?!"

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin gives a loud gaudy laugh, “Dear me, you get so emotional over such trivial matters.” The man slammed a fist on the table after one lost and then he pumped his fist in excitement after a single win. “Please, this is a child’s game we are playing.” Akazukin was trying to get the man agree for it was the first step to set up her little trap. “With your mood swings, I don’t think you have the balls to play a real man’s game.” Akazukin had a game in mind that would end this little endeavor once and for all. It was a game with much higher stakes. “Perhaps I should call you ‘woman’ or would that cause little baby to have a temper tantrum.”

Now the question is would the man attack her, thus proving him to be no more than a child as she claims or would he take the bait and ask about this man’s game she was talking about. If he really cared about his image as she believe he does, he will accept her challenge. However just in case she was wrong, the wolf was not the only thing she was hiding under the table. She had a loaded gun in hand pointed right at his crown jewels. She was ready to fire if things got ugly.

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The man's eyes narrowed at the insulting remark. He didn't like this woman's tone , not one bit and everyone in that crowd except those two foreigners knew when this native was insulted, he did some very violent acts as they were about find out. Wolf or no wolf, he wasn't just going to sit there and let her manipulate him. They would keep playing these stupid games of hers until she was satisfied and he didn't like that one bit. "Woman...I am about to show you what happens to people who cross the line here." The man smirked and spoke a harsh order in a strange language, possibly that of the land and then from there all hell broke loose.

Two bulky strong men broke out from the crowd and seized Soku by the arms pinning her to the wall, a kunai to her throat. The girl was unable to weave signs in this state or she'd would put a hole in both of them."What is the meaning of this!" The countryman ignored her and stared right at Akazukin. "Now we shall play a game. If you win, I'll let the girl go. If you lose, she dies.
Simple." He had laid out the terms and now it was up to her to make the choice. If she refused, Soku bit the dust yet if she accepted, there was also a risk of losing.

"Well, what do you say?" He was eyeing her wolf too keeping a close watch on it in case she decided to try to sic the beast on them. Soku struggled against the men and spat at one of them earning her a blow to the face. The tension was thick as no one dared move a muscle. The dice lay motionless on the table waiting to be used in a game that would determine life or death.

 

[Ryu Hime]

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WCCDyEJVyXc/maxresdefault.jpg​

The man threw a temper tantrum just as she predicted. How she hoped that saying the prediction out loud would change the fact, but it was just not meant to be. The man was a complete idiot. He was trying to force her to do something against her will, but failed to threaten her with anything that would convince her to do so. Akazukin was of Sand and this girl was not; why should she care about her life? What has she done for her to warrant such loyalty? Yes Akazukin stop the two of them from fighting and tried to gamble back the money he stole, but that was simply because she hated him for how he was treating foreigners. It had nothing to do with the girl.

Akazukin laughs even harder than before at the man’s attempts to force her to do something, “You poor naïve child.” Akazukin pause for a moment for another round of laughter. “You seriously have no idea what I am do you?” Akazukin seems to have calm down a bit. She lets go of the gun she was holding and gets up from her seat. She walks off to the center of the establishment and looks at the man. “Allow me to enlighten you!” Akazukin then cast her highest level jutsu she possessed. It was an S-rank jutsu called Avatar of the Divine and the title matched its power. Akazukin found it only fair to match his display of power with a display of her own.

Akazukin changes before his eyes and this was no visual illusion. Her skin becomes deathly pale, her one clock eye was now two and her clothes change into a kimono. However the most unnerving thing about her was likely the giant ethereal clock that floated above her. “Foolish human, I care not if the girl lives or dies. Mortals live such short lives; why should I care if hers is cut shorter?” This might be delusions of grandeur, but in this form Akazukin truly believe she is a god. Even her wolf that once stood proudly beside her, now dives back under the table. It hides in fear knowing all too well of her powers in this form.

The waitress fearing for her life takes a knife from the table and rushes Akazukin. The waitress stabs the blade in Akazukin's chest where there was exposed flesh. Akazukin did not dodge the attack nor did she show any pain from it. Akazukin found the woman brave, but utterly foolish. Akazukin stares at the waitress and she quickly realizes the how big of a mistake she has done. The woman lets go of the knife and attempts to flee to safety. She however did not get very far for Akaukin summon a blade of water and with a singe stoke. Woosh, the woman’s head rolls over to the man’s feet, it eyes open in pure terror.

Smelling the freshly spelt blood the wolf cautiously pokes its head out from the table cloth. It seems the dead body lying on the ground soaked in a crimson red and its mouth waters. The wolf slowly crawls over to its prize and grabs the leg with its maw. He then begins to drag the corpse back to the safety under the table leave behind a trail that would lead straight to him. Once hidden underneath the cloth he would begin his feast in private.

Akazukin unceremoniously rips the knife out of her chest and tosses it. Blood was spelt was that attack and it stained her kimono. The large ethereal clock glows with and eerie aura. Her wound then starts to heal or so one would initially think. It was more like she was reversing time on herself. The blood that stained her kimono and coated the knife returns to her body and the laceration vanishes. This was how her healing jutsu worked; not by mending the wound but reverse time to the specific area to make it no longer exist. The power of time is a very useful thing for it had a variety of uses. Despite being what is called a chimera, there was no need for her to integrate new bloodlines into herself. With the power of time she could use it to mimic core abilities.

She walks up to the man and place a hand on each check. Her flesh felt as cold as a corpse as she pulls him into a patient looking kiss. Again the ethereal clock glows with an eerie aura and now the man would find his time going backwards. A while back the girl had punch him and gave him a bloody nose. After her lips part from his, there was now no evidence that his nose was ever made bloody today. “You see I can be a benevolent goddess, but I can also be a malevolent one as well.” Reversing time was the most effective way to heal a person. However just as she can rewind time to a certain body part, she assumes she could do the opposite as well. If she were to speed up the flow of time to a specific body part it would surely do a considerable amount of harm depending on the rate that time is increased.

She lets go of the man face and takes a single step backwards. “Now if you were to bestow upon me an offering I may forgive your transgressions. Refuse me and I shall smite you where you stand.” She was playing nice before, but now she was not messing around. He had to choose between life and death. Somehow for some reason, with all the poor chooses she has seen this man do, she expects him to pick the wrong choose. In which case she would have to kill him as she has done the waitress, but on the other side. She has shown a great deal of power in front of him. Would any sane man dare refuse her?

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

The man stared up in shock from the dead body of the waitress to Akazukin realizing this was no ordinary woman.He suspected it was something to do with her eyes but he wasn't staying to find out. He had lost respect from the crowd who were staring at him remembering all those times he had dished out his tyranny over this little cafe. They advanced upon him arming themselves with whatever they could find, coffee mugs, brooms and even a chair leg. "N-No! Wait! Wait please! I'll do anything you want! Just let me go! He turned to Akazukin, a look of plea in his eyes as he begged for a chance to redeem himself. He did not want to end up like the waitress who had foolish struck out at the woman.

Meanwhile, Soku who was struggling against her captors noticed their grip had loosened as they observed the Sand shinobis dramatic transformation. "I said...let...me...GO!! Soku bit down on one of their hands and they pulled away howling. She twitched her fingers and a shuriken flew into her hand which she used to ward away the second goon. The girl collected her stuff and donned her headband which clearly identified her as a shinobi of the Leaf. She was a bit taken aback by the series of events which had occurred but nevertheless, she spoke directly to the woman. "Just let him go. He may be abrasive and has a foul mind but we are in his country. Besides, a foreigner killing a country person wouldn't reflect well on your village."

The kunoichi never broke eye contact with Akazukin as she spoke. Judging from her appearance and statements, the girl suspected she had some sort of heavenly chakra speaking about mortals and such. Her power probably revolved around that eye of hers, that was the base of her power. She glanced at the man who was now begging for mercy, threw a cup of water drenching him in it and giving a satisfied nod prepared to leave the establishment before anyone else got wind of what was happening.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin returns to her normal form and looks again to the man, “You should be more cautious with strangers. You never know whether they be god or man.” Akazukin in her travels have heard stories of deities that would visit cities in human form. She found the moral to such tells was to treat visitors kindly. This man has already found out the consequences of mistreating a foreigner and will likely never repeat this folly. “Totoro! We are leaving.” With that she leaves with the wolf following close behind her.

(left topic)

 

[Nanjirou Soku]

Soku gave the man one last glance as he recovered picking up her yen purse and drink which was now spoiled as the crowd dispersed back into their daily routine. "I'll be taking that back, thank you." She turned and faded into the crowd beyond the cafe leaving the man to contemplate on his actions today. She would remember the name...Akazukin. Soku defnitely knew she was a shinobi now. No ordinary villager was capable of that much power and she was willing to bet she was Sand or Cloud but Akazukin was not of the Leaf , that much was for sure. Soku walked on towards the arena thinking are about her little predicament and what to do if Yukio-sensei found out.
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