Step Into My Parlor

[yaksha]

Lightning Country was as cold and dreary as ever, atop one of its many mountains. The chill seemed to penetrate Yaksha to his very core, bringing an ache that seemed to transcend any sort of logical source; in a very real way, the cold had been a large part of what had driven Yaksha away from Kumogakure in the first place. He sipped at a cup of hot tea, fresh from the nearest shop, but it seemed to do little for the dreariness that seemed to settle over him; his jaw was set in the expression of those used to feeling pain, and knowing quite well the pain wouldn't end any time soon. He drank the fluid, hot enough that it burnt him on the way down, but the blossoming heat drew enough warmth to make waiting a little less miserable.

This had seemed like the perfect place to wait; the hometown of one of Kumogakure's greatest. A shinobi Yaksha could only vaguely remember from his time in the village...a boy very much like himself. A boy he'd enjoy toying with. But he needed to draw him out. For the last two days, he'd been spreading various petty mischief around the village; doors wide open to the weather, the locks picked but the rest of it left utterly untouched. Uprooting several of the plants, only to put them on the nearest doorstep. A touch too ripe, of course, but that was fine by his tastes. All he needed was something just big enough to call a good old country boy home...

[seiuchiblarg]

Ugh. Nostalgia. Katsuo had had enough of this hellhole the last time he came to visit. Nevertheless, his village had asked him, as the one who knew this old place best, to be the one to come and investigate. It was a simple enough mission that a genin probably could have solved, but being all the way at the bottom of Kumo's mountains made the travel dangerous, and it's location alone made Katsuo the ideal choice for it. It would be a nice break, at least, from the strenuous life as a jounin, but he sighed as he wandered his old country. He was greeted by those who used to be his neighbors in the way one would expect -- slammed doors, angry cursing, and at one point, a slap in the face from one very bold young woman in particular. Yup. It sure was good to be back home.

Ugh.

The village looked just as it had before, eight years ago. Then, he had been happy to come back, waves of nostalgia washing over him and thoughts only of his family and old playmates. Now, the nostalgia met him again, waves crashing into him rather than washing over. Old friends now looked at him with scorn in their eyes.

Ugh.

His old home looked just the same as before. Katsuo knew who was there. Word would get to him soon enough that his son had returned, but neither would want to see the other, Katsuo imagined. Kumo's Bleeding Heart looked at that old building with a firey contempt in his eyes, choosing not to even bother asking there and bypassing it.

Ugh.

He stepped into the tavern. People may not be that chatty there, but Katsuo felt sick to his stomach after passing through his old stomping ground. The bar was apparently under new management, and the worker didn't seem to recognize him. Katsuo sat himself down in a lonely corner, thankful for a chance to not be recognized and consider things. Somehow, he would have to find out who was causing these minor disturbances, and he would apparently have to figure it out without the assistance of the townspeople.

ugh.

[yaksha]

"Well, if it ain't the prodigal son. Be still my beating heart." The voice issued from another corner of the bar, where a figure sat, wearing an outfit 2 sizes too big, that seemed to cover up every part of himself. There was gleeful malice in every word, and as the figure rose, looming over Katsuo, he gave a small grunt. He walked forward slowly, almost as if he were relishing the moment. He leaned forward, the familiar face looking almost cadaverously pale in the dim light. He spoke slowly, each word seeming like a strike against the shinobi. "You've got balls, y'know. A lot of balls. You should've known what'd happen if you came back here. But you still came, didn't ya?"

A hand reached out, grasping Katsuo by his shirt, and jerking the civilian's face forward. The face turned into a scowl, as he snarled at the shinobi. "Must've been something good to drag a bigshot like you all the way back here. God forbid you ever actually stick around long enough to pay for what you did, too. Heard you got kids too. You started in on them, yet?" The last words came out as a hiss, as he released the grip; if Katsuo cared to look, he would've noticed the hand was MUCH too pale to match the face...

[seiuchiblarg]

This man had balls of his own. Katsuo had to respect that. Grabbing a trained shinobi by the shirt, getting right up in his face like that, and saying things that frankly, almost made that trained shinobi lose his cool. Katsuo's fists clenched, his eyes burned, as dark and corrosive as the acid he wished he could use on this idiot right just then, but he kept himself. His job was to help the villagers, not to hurt them. Whether or not they appreciated that was not of import. Murderous intent burned inside of Katsuo, but he held himself back, turning his head as if to ignore the man, and knocking on the counter for another drink, slid to him without effort. The bartender was watching what happened rather avidly, but as someone who didn't know Katsuo by sight, at least he had the good sense to obey a ninja quickly when asked for something.

Hardly even looking at the man, Katsuo knocked back his shot before speaking. "I don't know what kind of man you think I am, but as long as you're from this old town of mine, you're wrong." He wouldn't take another drink. He knew what alcohol could do, as deadly a weapon as any. "And you'd do well to let go of my shirt. I've been trained to attack anyone who threatens an ally of Kumo, friend. That includes drunken old doddards... Especially ones with such odd skin." He noted the difference between his face and his hand, at that point. "I'll tell you what..." Katsuo knocked on the counter twice, and two more shots came down. "Have a drink with me. To... Let's say... new relations, eh?"

[yaksha]

"Kid, there's no way I'd drink around you; I've heard all about those acids of yours. You'd probably make it eat my throat away on the way down, wouldn't ya?" His grin was like a predator watching a small beast try to squirm through a hole just a bit bigger than itself, as he leaned closer. "You may be an ally of Kumo, but you're no ally of mine. You walk in here after years, and try to act like you didn't do anything wrong? Like you're still the good guy? It's actually a little funny." The voice was dripping with venomous hatred as the hand slammed back down on the bar. The voice was slowly starting to break, and there was a hint of something else beneath it...

"You've been trained to attack people who challenge Kumo? Well, ain't it just great to know we're putting our lives in the hands of a glorified guard dog? I bet if someone told you a bunny rabbit was threatening Kumo, you'd never even give it a second to wash its nose 'fore ya burned it off, would ya?" He spat on the ground, his expression almost turning furious. "You been brainwashed, is what it is. Brainwashed by all that talk of love and joy to Kumo's own."

[seiuchiblarg]

Katsuo was quiet for a moment, not even looking up at this admittedly gutsy man. He didn't much credence to what the man was saying, but that didn't mean that he wished things were different. "Glorified guard dog, huh?" He sighed deeply, swirling the liquid in the shot glass absent-mindedly."Well, I guess that may be true... That I'm just part of a big, glorified kennel. But who do you think the kennel stands for? Just who are we guarding, standing over protectively? What'd happen without us?"

Katsuo turned a little, resting his back against the counter, leaning on his elbows. "You guys don't like me. I get it. I'm not exactly fond of this place either. But you're part of Lightning Country, and Lightning Country is my kennel. As long as that is the case, I'll bite anything that isn't welcome here. That means bunny rabbits if need be... but it also means every villian out there that would love to go bump in the day as well as the night, every black-hearted fiend with an army of hired swords behind him to literally bleed your town dry. I'm not an attacker. I'm not the monster you think I am. I am the protector. There are other protectors up there on the mountain, but I'm the one they sent. And even if we hated each other, I would die before I let anything hurt you." finally turning his head to face him, it was steel and not fire in his eyes. "So. How about a little respect for the 'glorified kennel' up there on the mount, eh?"

[yaksha]

"Respect? That's rich. They send the kid that can burn things down to nothing to get back our crops? Yeah, that's some respect for ya." The man's expression was growing darker with every passing moment, and those pale, smooth hands were bunching, as if they were resisting an overwhelming urge. When they finally opened, he pulled his lips away, revealing teeth that were much too white; two of them even seemed to curve forward a bit, as he leaned in close. "Your little kennel doesn't care about guarding us. They care about being in charge. They care that we remember who owns us. You're the carrot; a reminder of why we should behave. But as soon as we act up, it'll be the stick, won't it? You'll bite as soon as we stop letting Kumogakure tell us what to do; how to live."

His hand rose off the table, curling each finger into talons, and drawing them down his face slowly. Like cottage cheese, the flesh there fell off in large clumps, striking the ground. The skin beneath was as pale as the fingers, the bright green eyes almost piercing through Katsuo, as his grin widened slightly. It almost looked like it was going to meet at the back of his head, and the top would just fall away. "I'd know, after all. But, of course...a dog would never bite before his masters told him to, now would he? And especially not when he might miss his mark." His hand snaked out, grasping the bartender's clothing and pulling him closer. The two faces were pressed together, only an inch apart, as he let out a slow, patronizing laugh.

"Isn't that right, little Katsuo?"

[seiuchiblarg]

His suspicions were confirmed. So, this was the guy causing all the trouble... and what's more, he was a shinobi! Such small time crimes, though.... Katsuo assumed it was probably some D-rank nameless nothing who fled because the village didn't worship him enough. That face technique was impressively grotesque, but nothing a basic medic couldn't pull off.

Still, there was a modicum of danger to the situation. This boy had a civilian, and was effectively holding him hostage. Katsuo had no doubt that he could outpace a no-name chump like this boy, and easily put him behind bars... but that would possibly involve hurting the civilian. And, like a good little guard dog, Katsuo didn't want that to happen. He rolled his knuckles, cracking each as he went.

Katsuo would ignore the shot at him personally, and instead address the verbal daggers targeted at his home. By this point, they had gathered an audience, watching from their booths and stools. "We don't collect taxes from these people. That's up to the government. We're just an army of guardians and protectors. On that note, any civilians who value their lives and aren't in the grasp of this man may want to leave...." He glared angrily at the boy who had become his opponent as people began to start filing out, some staying behind to watch the fight, not granting Katsuo any sort of credibility as others did so, not wanting to be around when two ninjas clashed.

"So," Katsuo said, watching his opponent and speaking in the hopes of distracting the foe from the patrons who had decided to leave, "Just who do I have the pleasure of talking to?I feel like I should get a name for the person I'm bringing back to Kumo in chains...."

[yaksha]

"They really never told you, did they? They thought that hiding it from you was the best option." There was almost pity in his voice, as he tightened his grip on the bartender's outfit. His fangs were perfectly visible now, and his other hand continued to claw away at his mask. Within moments, the familiar face was gone, torn to shreds. The only thing that could be seen was a face, as pale as paper, and perfectly smooth; the face could've belonged to a man even younger than Katsuo, but the eyes glowed with a sobering knowledge that made him look twice as old. His tongue, forked into two parts, slid over his lips, as he spoke.

"An army of guardians and protectors indeed. And who protects the people from you, Katsuo? What happens when people need to be guarded from the guardians? When the protectors are the ones we seek protection from?" His voice slid out like warm honey, washing over the shinobi, and almost seeming to slip into the cracks of his mind.

[seiuchiblarg]

Katsuo chose to listen without speaking, letting the enemy finish what he had to say. Allowing the man to complete his thought would show that he wasn't threatened by anything that could come from him, and allow the people who remained in the tavern to gather a vote of confidence. Katsuo was standing, hands in his pockets with an unconcerned look about him as he listened, watched the man pull off that face. A glint of surprise, worry, even, shown in his eyes momentarily as he recognized the man.

"Ha. Dokuja, Yaksha. Of course you'd try and cause dissension towards our village." He wore an arrogant, carefree smile, to assure all the spectators that there was no reason to worry -- regardless of how untrue that may have been. "You know, I'm not sure if the villages have ever needed someone to protect them from us... Unless you count defecting scum like yourself, that is." Still, Katsuo's hands were in his pockets, and he kept up the cocky air. "It's a shame, really. I never knew you to say, but it looks like the village was right all along, doesn't it? So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.... The Raikage has been calling your head back to the village for a while now. he doesn't really care if the rest of you comes with it. How about you let that nice man go, and I'll escort you back to him?"

he was speaking simply, slowly, in nice, small words, as one would talk to a child. Condescending, patronizing, almost flirtatiously... if Katsuo were to roll that way.

[yaksha]

"It's funny, you know...I barely even have to TRY and cause dissent. It's always just sitting there, right beneath the surface. Then again, who's surprised, when Kumo is so quick to forget about their own?" He pushed the bartender's face closer to his own, his grin growing wider, so wide it almost hurt. "I'm not fool enough to give you a clear shot at me, Katsuo. If you want me, you'll have to drag me back, most likely dead. And I can guarantee you that killing me would mean the life of everyone in this bar...possibly even everyone in this town." His eyes were both wide open, blinking rarely, and slowly. Mad glee glinted in each one, as he reached out a hand.

"But I'm not here to quibble over something like philosophy. No...I'm here for a much simpler reason. I'm here to send a message. If not to Kumogakure, then to you." His hand curled into a claw once more, raking off another few thin lines of his pale, natural flesh. "Watch closely, Katsuo...keep your eyes open. Because we're going to be coming. And if you blink, you just might miss it..."

[seiuchiblarg]

The man had done his research, planned it all out so thoroughly and effectively.... For some reason, Yaksha was targeting Katsuo... for what he could not say. If it were simply to kill another Kumo Shinobi or to capture him, they would be fighting already. More's the better that they weren't: it wouldn't do to create civilian casualties. Katsuo knew it was him being targeted, specifically. Not just any Kumo ninja. If it were anybody, they wouldn't have chosen this village in particular. Yaksha wouldn't have seemed so expectant when Katsuo walked through that door. There was something they wanted from him... only him... but what?

And the words. They were said perfectly. He was inviting Katsuo into a trap at this point. If Yaksha had done his research, it would be known how little love was held between Katsuo and his home town. But if Katsuo said just how little he cared about the village, it would prove every point he made, wouldn't it? Meanwhile, if Katsuo spoke about a desire to protect the village, not only would Yaksha not buy it, but those few spectators who had stayed within the building would likely spit in his face as well. However, he couldn't stay silent. He chose to focus on the other part.

"'We? What do you mean, we, traitor? And why exactly should I give the word of traitorous scum any more thought than the shit I took this morning?" He rolled his knuckles, waiting for a chance. If he could just... no, it would take too long, too much risk, too many variables, too many civilians... And besides. it might just be that this man would be valuable alive, if he did have information to some dark purpose. His mind raced, looking for something, anything that could help him... he could already tell how smart this enemy was. If it stayed a battle of wits like this, Katsuo would not have much chance at all.

[yaksha]

"It's funny you would use that phrase...traitorous scum. You know, I've been here all day, and I've had time to ask more than a couple people about you...and you know, that's what most of them call you? 'Traitorous scum', they say. 'Left us behind to go to the big city' they tell me. Oh, I can tell there's no love lost between you and them...so I suppose you can trust my word about as much as they can trust you when you say none of them will die today. After all, I can see your fists curled up...I can see that look on your face...you want to start a fight. You want to start one bad enough to risk the lives of everyone in this bar."

Several of the people began to rise, sidling towards the door; Yaksha's hand jabbed at them, a kunai having appeared in it almost instantly. "No, no, sit down! There's no need to run gentlemen. We're just going to have a nice, civil discussion...aren't we Minamine Katsuo? We're going to sit here, just like old friends, and we're going to talk." His eyes were widening with every word spoken, and he was pressing the bartender's face against his so hard, it almost looked like they were going to fuse into one being. A mad rictus covered his face, as he chuckled once more.

"You can ignore my word, or you can consider that I may be warning you. It matters none to me. But if the opportunity passes you by, don't blame me because you blinked~"

[seiuchiblarg]

Katsuo considered the man's words, eager to throw everything back into his face, right along with a fit for good measure... He rolled his knuckles as the kunai struck, trying to work through it... This was a battle of wits, and not Katsuo's strong suit. "It doesn't matter what they think... just what i do for 'em. Let 'em be wrong. I'll help 'em all the same." But Katsuo held his tongue on that note: he wanted to reassure the people of his hometown, to perhaps instill some faith in his true home, but the man was threatening something which, to Katsuo, was more important.

"Alright then, fine. Warn away, traitor. You've got my attention... what do you have to say?" As Yaksha's eyes widened, Katsuo's narrowed, looking with more and more anger an rage. The second I get a moment... even half a heartbeat's chance... But until then, he'd listen carefully. He'd play the game Dokuja Yaksha had set before him... but only until they could play his.

[yaksha]

"Just this, little Katsuo...there are monsters that go bump in the night. They've been hiding for a long, long time...and you've kept them at bay for some time. But they're on the rise again...and it won't be long at all before the bogeyman is knocking at your door." He waved the kunai around, almost with a flourish. He still stared Katsuo down, his expression cold and distant as he whispered under his breath. "Henkou's coming...and you're going to have your hands very full...so you'd better start preparing." He chuckled under his breath, tossing the kunai at the door, and then tilting his head.

"You know, I still don't get it...why you came here. Why YOU decided to show up. You knew how it would end...you know what this village would think of you...and yet you came. Out of some misguided sense of justice? Or simply to drive the knife a little deeper into your own ribs?"

[seiuchiblarg]

Katsuo smiled, nice and wide. "Well, that's just the point, isn't it? A'course comin' here hurts. All these people woulda been my friends if I'd stayed here, wouldn't they? Yeah, showing up reminds me of all the people that hate me who maybe woulda loved me. Coming back reminds me of every person that turned their backs on me when I didn't deserve it. But I do it anyway, don't I? And you ask why? Well. I wouldn't expect a traitor to understand. Not a man like you, Yaksha Dokuja.

"I come back because this is my home. Because every one of these people might have loved me. They have it in 'em to do that. And 'coz o' that, I love 'em too. Might be they don't know it. But I know this place better than any other Shinobi in the Cloud. So if a ninja's gotta go here, they like to send me. And I'll gripe and complain about it. But I don't really mind it so much.

"Not until scum like you starts throwing kunai at the people who woulda been my family. Until people press their faces so close to a helpless bartender's that have no part in this." Katsuo paused for a moment to address the stranger in Yaksha's arms. he knew better than to promise him his life, but he wanted to reassure him anyway. He focused his chakra for just a moment, and then a ten gallon hat appeared on his head, formed of the water he used to clothe himself. He tipped the new hat at the man with a soft smile. "My name's Katsuo, by the way sir. You're doin' just fine. You just stay calm a little while longer, we'll be seein' what he wants to let you fine people go soon."

Then, he looked back to Yaksha. his eyes didn't need to travel far. "So. I answered your question. You answer mine. Just what is this 'Henkou'? What business do they have with the Hidden Cloud? And what do you have to do with it, Dokuja yaksha?"[/b]

jutsuShow

Hatsuyu no Mizu: Enpei Sekira -- Enhancing water: To Hide Nakedness
E-ranked Ninjutsu
While Katsuo is capable of wearing clothing, cloth and fabrics make it relatively difficult to connect the creations of his Hatsuyu no Mizu to him. In order to remain effective, Katsuo creates "clothing" out of water, Hiding his nakedness while also ensuring he is able to fight effectively.

[yaksha]

"Might have? You're really risking your life on MIGHTS? Katsuo, I can tell you for a fact that might haves are gone now. There's only what is and what will be. And there won't be any forgiveness for you here; no friends, no great parade in your honor. You might have been their hero...but you're not. You're just a black sheep." He reached a hand into a pocket, almost as if he were caressing something there. When he finally pulled his hand out, he slapped it to his face, pulling it away with a flourish; there was now an enormous mustache on his face, almost curling in on itself until it made a spiral. With one hand, he began to pull the mustache out straight, twisting it between his fingers.

"What is Henkou you ask? You foolish boy, Henkou is the future! Henkou is everything you've rejected in your life given form. Henkou is what's there when you feel like you're being watched. Henkou is hatred, little hero." He spat the last words with disgust on his face, and he let his mustache coil back in on itself, as he began to rise, holding up a hand even before Katsuo could begin to make handseals. "Before you even try, let me ask you a question...have you visited your father yet? It'd be a shame if you didn't at least stop by to let him see how his little boy's all grown up."

[seiuchiblarg]

Riddles and misdirection. Smoke and mirrors. Katsuo gave an honest, complete answer, and all he got was the twist of a mustache and a sneering taunt. But Yaksha at least hinted that it was more than himself... What sort of threat was he coming up with? He stood and listened, merely tolerating the mention of his father, even though every muscle he had tightened in response to his mention. His body tensed and his anger flared, pride bristled and honor bruised. He had no place mentioning Katsuo's family! He knew nothing about them! But... At the same time, perhaps his father could stand to be lumped in with men like Dokuja Yaksha. It wasn't as if he'd mentioned his sister... Aiko...

The danger here was clear. He'd come all this way to target Katsuo, and now was bringing up his family, having said his piece. Something about this was cold... calculated... wrong. "These people turned their backs on me, but they woulda been good. 'might have been's are 'really are's, if you have the right perspective. They were bad to me. That doesn't make 'em bad. That man.... that creature you call my dad. He's not the same as them. I haven't visited him. Now, how about you be a good little trailhand and let that nice boy go?" amber eyes of ice embedded flames of murderous intent over Yaksha's face. He rolled his fingers, knuckles popping. Just give me an opening, traitor.... I'll put an end to that hate you brag about, believe you me.....

[yaksha]

"You really think any of these fools have anything worth redeeming in them? I've been here only a few hours and I've already found out all I need to know. They HATE you, Katsuo. Hate you more than anyone should. They were ready to lynch you, before all of this...look closely Katsuo. They're more afraid of YOU than they are of ME. They still see a monster when they look at you. And I'm sure they can tell I'm one, too...but I was only here to meet you. And I'll be leaving long before you're gone..." He paused, a hand gently coaxing its way across his mustache, and twirling the ends between his fingers. He almost looked lost in thought, as he murmured under his breath.

"The creature you call your dad...he still raised you, didn't he? And he 'might have' been a good man. I still think you at least owe it to him to visit...don't you? Who knows. Maybe he's had a change of faith. Maybe he's been...beaten by loneliness? Or maybe someone finally helped him see the light..." He pressed a hand against the door, disappearing behind it before Katsuo could attack, and already walking towards the town's entrance.

[seiuchiblarg]

Once more, Katsuo could do little more than listen. He was just as right as he was wrong, of course, They hated him. THey despised him, feared him. Even more than they did Yaksha! It wasn't fair! But Katsuo understood. He understood something Yaksha never would about himself, his home, these people... but there was no point to explaining it. He could defend those who hated him with all he was, for all time, but it would get him nowhere. All there was for it was to move on, for better or worse, and see what there was to be said.

Once more, his father came up. Katsuo rolled his knuckles again, each one popping and cracking. His hands were ready, right at his hips, almost giving the impression that he had a six shooter ready to go at a moment's notice. He hinted at something.... Something. Terrible and macabre and who knows what else, and Katsuo hardly cared, but of course he couldn't let one of his villagers come into harm. And perhaps that was where he'd next meet Yaksha. With no worry for paying (yet) or leaving a tip, he ran out the door after the man, hoping to find him. If he could, Katsuo would attack right then, and to hell with his father. If not.... Well, he'd follow the lead.

Right back to the very entrance of his very first rabbit hole.