He absolutely hated the Sietch Zensunna. As grateful as he was for Sousuke letting him crash in the living room, the neighborhood was never really his thing. He stood out far too easily, and received far too many odd stares. The wild unkempt hair and cheap attire turned the nose of many a fashion connoisseur. It seemed that he wore the same loose red over shirt, with the same shorts, and the same old pair of geta. Sometimes he didn't shave, and let the stubble grow out, other times he didn't. Nobody knew who he was, and yet he was seen entering and exiting the home of the Kazekage without explanation. All they knew was that he showed up a few months ago, and was the son of a Takahashi traitor. A man who's father had turned his back on the noble ways of his ancestors without a care in the world.It wasn't something he had known all his life, happening before his birth. It wasn't that the man retired after siring children. The rogue simply had become better at hiding what kind of a man he truly was. It would be mistaken to think that meant he even faked the role of a good father. Meshita would come home and leave whenever he felt like it seemed, and there was always a problem when he happened to be there at all. Whatever romantic personality he'd used to lure Jin'ichi's mother had been thrown away after a couple of years. Now, the sins of his father came back to brand him with a quiet stamp of disapproval. It wasn't as though he himself had been a saint growing up in the harsh urban environment of the island's metropolis, the island he'd from off the coast of Wind Country's shores.
Shortly enough after saving enough money from his first couple of missions, Jin'ichi would thank his cousin for the hospitality and move out. Not quite patient enough to wait and find a decent apartment first, the pariah of the Takahashi family shacked up in a motel. It was located in the Red Lights, and not the most welcoming of environments. This district being beneath the sand's made it different from Project Rebirth. Not using the same bright lights as the rest of the underground, the Red Lights gave off an impression of eternal night regardless of the time above. It was a place filled with bars, dirty clubs, and restaurants that never closed. The only reason denizens knew when it was night or day, happened to be the bloody shade crystals would take on after certain hours. It was a place where cheap companionship and dangerous pathways mingled.
He fell into that category, having been caught for violence a few times throughout the years. That was part of what made it so hard for him to get involved with a regular job back on the island, his record wasn't exactly the most attractive. While not quite the thief, fighting had been a recurring problem despite his usually quiet demeanor. There were gangs as well as simply assholes from within and without the neighborhoods he'd lived in that made things difficult. In the end he managed to cause enough damage that it was known he should be left alone. Here in the Red Lights though, and Sunagakure in general, no one really know that much about him. As such he was prepared to be tested at any moment, but thankfully it never seemed to come. While he was tasked with handling the lower level problems of the village, he chose not to shit where he ate, and thus stopped accepting any missions coming from the Red Lights. For him, it was to be a place of rest and obscurity. Somewhere he could isolate himself, and truly begin to plot his future once again.
Sousuke's house was far too noisy, and there was the uncomfortable thought that the Kazekage of the village could be over your shoulder at any minute. Sousuke never made things uncomfortable himself, being rather laid back and down to earth. Still, the man was who he was. There was no animosity between the two clansmen, but Jin'ichi was aware of their standings outside of each other's preferences. Jin'ichi and his family had never been a part of the main clan, and thus never really involved in the Kazekage affairs nor held any special posts. Both men bore the same name and yet for one it meant shame and another a legacy. It was hard not to be slightly envious, if not due to the intellect and power that Sousuke possessed. If Jin'ichi had such strength his father would have been found and slain ages ago. Instead, such power was held maintaining a repetitive cycle of civilization that ultimately didn't do anything other than perpetuate itself. All the strength Sunagakure had, and it was concentrated on mercenary affairs, hired out instead of freely serving the greater good. That was the reason the Cabal had so much influence over the populace in the first place, and why so many cheered as the village crumbled all around them. Sunagakure had stayed underground while everyone else got ripped apart. None of that mattered though, his loyalty was to Sousuke now in turn for the favor of being allowed into the village at all.
---Inside the Motel Room---
There was a little groan and the popping of joints as Jin'ichi woke up from hours of uncomfortable sleep. Everything was hazy at first when he opened his eyes, but the ceiling fan came into focus spinning steadily. The cool breeze hit his face, cooling down skin that felt like it was burning. His head felt like it was being split in two, aching in the center and dizzying at its most benign. Acid burned the back of his throat and the feeling of undigested food and liquor sat on his stomach. "Hello there." The voice was feminine and mildly teasing, coming from his left. The scent of smoke filled his nostrils, and as he sat up the world around him seemed to wobble. Looking at the barely covered body of the woman next to him reminded him of where he was, and what he'd been doing just a couple of hours before. "You didn't tell me you had a Bloodline Limit." She practically whispered, reaching over as the two lay on the bed. Her soft hand and slender fingers were gentle upon his scarred chest. "What are you talking about?" As far as he knew, he wasn't special or unique in any way, much less possessing of any Kekkei Genkai. None of his elemental affinities had manifested themselves, and he certainly didn't remember sporting any rare physical traits. Aside from his above average senses, there was little to suggest any advantageous mutations within Jin'ichi at all. This woman begged to differ. "When we met, your hair was a dark brown... Now it's black shadow. As are your eyes." Pulling away from the young woman he'd step onto the floor. Wearing jeans that were unbuckled but pulled up around his waist, he stopped in front of the bathroom mirror.
"It's no big deal. You should get going any way. Time's money for you, isn't it?"<i></i> A nonchalant response that carried a little kick to it. "Well don't be a stranger the next time you see me out there." She wasn't as offended as she could've been, but had heard much worse. Over the next few minutes the two would walk back and forth, gathering their belongings. He'd cut his hair and leave a mess along with the empty bottles and filled ashtrays. Having enjoyed himself thoroughly the night before, they'd long since showered together after and decided to rest up. It was during the couple of hours his eyes closed to feign sleep, that visions swarmed his psyche. Images of the boy he'd slain in the Desert Expanse flashed across his mind's eye back and forth, and the wicked energies he'd felt caused a phantom sensation to plague his form. It only faded a little upon waking, but the dreams were starting to become more vivid. As the woman and he clothed themselves, she'd plant a kiss on his cheek before walking out the front door.
Having moved to the Red Lights offered a lot of temptation. Being the man that he was, and lacking the restraint that he did, it didn't take long before he accepted the proposition of a night walker. He'd been minding his own business but upon passing her and noticing her enticing gaze, he would find himself spending the evening drinking and losing himself in carnal distraction. The two seemed to get along despite the obvious business arrangement, and she even talked about herself a little. It was an interesting time, but the oddities she pointed out before he sent her on her way needed to be addressed. Looking into the mirror once more, now clothed and wearing his hooded coat. Staring into his reflection he was seeing a difference in himself. The texture of his hair had softened, becoming more dead rather than fluffy and wild like before. His skin had begun to grow pale, but spending time in the underground was what he blamed it on. The color of his eyes darkened as did his nails, but only to a light shade of gray hard to notice.
To make matters worse he had shaved, and his cheeks and chin were now smooth. Overall he looked years younger than his true age without losing any height or weight. One could almost swear to see a single blue vein here or there, but what color he had left made it hard to tell. He would be somewhat recognizable, to those that knew him somewhat well. Only because of his facial features, the small nose and eyebrows. Today he was wearing his headband loosely around his neck, but the Sungakure emblem was hidden by his jacket's collar. There was no use in flaunting his position in a place like this. Black boots left heavy prints in the sand and soft soil of the subterranean pathways, and loose clothing masked his lithe form. As he stepped out of the motel and into the streets, he'd immediately light a cigarette before looking both ways. The crystal lights up above were blood red, which meant it was late. Unlike other patrons of the night, his recreation took part while the sun still shone. It was in the shadows and disorder he came to life.
A few people were on the street, but since he was a few blocks away from the main road there wasn't much of a crowd. Shady characters posted up at gates or corners but kept to themselves and their companions. Nobody really wanted any trouble with anyone tonight, Jin'ichi was the only one seeking more than a peaceful excursion. Having been haunted by the memory of the boy he'd slain, investigations had started now. Before his disappearance, it was said that someone fitting the child's description had battled with an assassin in Soon's Haven. Word had it that the assassin was in Sungakure, but he knew it would take time to get any information. As he walked down the dark road blanketed in crimson lights and dark shadows, JIn'ichi listened carefully to his surroundings.
The sound of music, conversation, and laughter would grow louder as he approached a right turn. Stopping at the wall's edge to take another puff of his cigarette he looked towards the mass of people. The Red Lights never slept, and it was one of the few places that had a majority population praise the efforts of the Cabal. The people there didn't like law and order very much, but knew that violence was bad for business. Clubs and restaurants littered the buildings that enclosed the main road. It was a lively place, where people tried to sell you everything from alcohol to affection. There were harmless thugs and gangsters here and there, some dangerous but only looking to have a good time. Bad things happened, but when was there ever a time in history that they didn't? There was a small corner store that caught his newly darkened eyes, but he waited before crossing the worn earth. Pupils darted between faces in the marching crowd, but his face stayed calm. He was looking for someone, or something, but what?
WC: 2,283
Marked for Training & Dojo usage.
