Sheer Determination

[King of Cats]

The mist in the village was as thick as it always was on this cold winter morning. Snow was falling ever so gently and Menma was standing outside at the Aisu clan Sekisetsu dojo. He was attending a ceremonial sparring match and acting as the combatantant for an up and coming swordsman in the clan. Menma was of greater skill than the boy he was facing, but he still took the match very seriously. His goal was to win despite being a mostly custodial agent in the ceremony, when it came to the sparring match he was expected to win. It was up to the boy to show off his skills against a greater swordsman. Menma was excited to show off his knowledge of the basics against the boy, he wanted the boy to win but he wasn't planning on pulling any punches.

Standing in the courtyard Menma had until night time to practice his form and he planned on utilizing all of his time to be prepared. The boy he was facing was named Aotso and was a kenjutsu specialist. The boy had been a genin for a few years so he had some skill to back his practice up. Menma knew he would have to be in perfect form to win. Menma wasn't a kenjutsu specialist in reality. He was more dependent on ninjutsu in battle and had more skill with Hyouton in his left foot than Aota did in his whole body. Unfortunately ninjutsu was banned in this showing of skill so Menma would be reliant on only his skill with a sword. He was ready despite the challenge he would be facing. Menma never backed down from a fight and he was chosen by the elders to be Aota's challenger.

Holding his ninjato in his right hand Menma kept it sheathed. He was focusing on his breath and leveling the amount of time he took drawing in a breath. He took a sharp inhale and drew his blade, he slashed it horizontally in front of him. The steel blade sung in the air and Menma sheathed it again. He had been doing this for an hour, perfecting his draw for the match. Menma was a perfectionist and despite not having natural talent for kenjutsu he was proficient in it thanks to tireless practice. Menma leveled his breath again and then drew his blade, the same stroke was cast and he felt like he had mastered the swing. Menma followed the strike with another horizontal strike the other side, then he twisted his wrist and came downward. He followed through with his attack until his blade his the ground. The whistling of his ninjato was a perfect replication of a dog whistle. Menma was pretty impressed with himself. He felt like he was in perfect form. He felt like he could win.

As he was putting his blade away a young woman stepped from the shadows. She didn't have any snow on her shoulder so Menma knew she was watching him from afar, underneath the protection of the temple walls. Menma gave her a smile and waved as she walked closer to him. She was a pretty young Aisu woman with black hair and a slender build. Menma wondered why she was watching practice and called out, "Hey, what got you out here lady?" He smiled brightly, his white teeth shining in even the foggy light of Kirigakure.

[King of Cats]

The woman was smiling and replied to Menma with a cheerful tone of voice, "I'm watching you train, I think you got that move down pat." The girl winked and began walking in a circle around Menma. "You're the guardian tonight huh? You're gonna do great. I'm Maise." The young woman stopped and held her hand out to Menma. He dropped his sword and shook her hand ever so gently, it was cold like all Aisu flesh was but Menma didn't notice anything unusual. Maise was a beautiful girl with delicate features and he was quickly blushing from watching her elegantly dancing around him. Maise had a tanto equipped to her backside and she was wearing a Kiri headband. Menma wondered how skilled she was at Sekisetsu and put his hand back on his ninjato.

Speaking in a friendly manner Menma introduced himself, then he asked "So Maise, what brings you to the festival tonight? Are you training kenjutsu?"[/b] Menma drew his sword from it's sheathe and pulled it out for her to see. His ninjato was short compared to tohers but it was oiled and perfectly sharp, an impressive weapon to say the least. Maise giggled and rubbed the broadside of the blade, pushing it away from her. Menma's arm gently went where Maise pushed it, he was entranced by her cute little laughter. Menma was falling in love fast.

Maise told Menma, "I'm a practioner of Sekisetsu. In fact Aota is my rival. He's a chuunin though, I'm still a genin. He's good yanno Menma. Real good with a blade. But I believe in you. You look good. Show me another form." Maise giggled again and drew her own blade. She stabbed at the air next to her. "Try that one."

Menma smiled a cocky smile. Maise was talking about Form 8 of Sekisetsu. A jab. Menma drew his blade and slashed down diagonally then drew his elbows close to his chest and pushed forward stabbing the air next to Maise. It was a perfect display of Sekisetsu. Menma was skilled thanks to his hard work and he loved the chance to show off to people. He was smiling as he sheathed his blade and told Maise, "I know the basics like the back of my hand, kiddo." Menma stuck his tongue out at the girl, he was feeling coy.

Maise balled her fists up and pouted. Her face was blushing and she said to Menma, "Don't tease me! I'm your age!" Maise drew her blade and grimaced at Menma. She had a serious look on her face and it was obvious he had offended her. Menma knew she was challenging him to a sword fight and he drew his blade. The ninjato whistled through the air as he twirled it in his hands and assumed a backwards grip on it. He planned on being the aggressor in this match. Maise said to him, "No ninjutsu. Just your skill with a blade. En garde!" She jumped forward and stabbed her blade at Menma but his defense was top notch and he parried it. Coming out of the parry Menma followed up with a cross cut to Maise's neck but she quickly flipped her grip on her blade and blocked it. She pushed Menma's ninjato away and doubled back increasing the distance between them from 1 meter to five.

Menma circled his prey, waiting for a moment to strike. She holed up into a defensive guard and Maise seemed to be extra perceptive. Menma didn't relent though. He kept circling her like a coyote to a fawn. Despite his feelings for Maise Menma planned on making a show of her. Besides the opportunity to warm up he was hoping he could earn a precious fan.

[King of Cats]

Watching MAise Menma was hyper focused. He could see her chest rise and fall clearly as she measured her breathing and tried to keep calm from the swordsman encricling her. Menma wondered what she was possibly hiding from him, or if she was at all. Perhaps he had already seen the best of her and she was merely waiting to be defeated. He didn't want to push the issue, if that were the case it wouldn't matter to him how many laps around her he did. Menma was a patient man and practiced delicate balancing of his urges. He flipped his sword to a reverse grip and lowered his guard. He was preparing to focus on speed. Menma had a special attack up his sleeve and as soon as Maise let her guard down he would unleash it. Menma kept circling his prey.

Maise called out to him, "You have the patience of an elephant. I wonder if you can land that move you're planning Menma, I've got my eyes on you." Maise dashed forward unexpectedly with her blade. She quickly closed the distance and came at Menma with a horizontal strike. He was quick on his feet and doubled back while deflecting the blade but Maise wasn't to be put off so easily. She retaliated with another strike at Menma ribs and he was caught of guard. She sliced his leather jacket.

"Hey!" Menma shouted and tightened his grip on his sword. Menma wouldn't let a little cosmetic damage stop him from winning this fight. He spun in a full circle and holding his blade in reverse he slashed at Maise's head, cutting off a few hairs. She squeeled and came charging at him with her blade sticking far out. She was obviously mad and Menma was going to capitalize on it. He continued his spin and kicked at her with a side step. She went flying back, coughing out all of her air and stumbling back. She was thrown off guard and Menma charged her with his ninjato turned backwards. He struck her square on the top of her shoulder and claimed victory in one fell swoop. He barely touched her but when he touched her she let out a little "Eep!"

"Looks like I've bested you Maise. As the loser of our match you owe me lunch. Hehe." Menma was grinning and sheathed his steel ninjato, the blade sung as it slid into it's scabbard. Menma felt pretty warmed up and after the match with Maise he was hungry.

"Okay.. Just don't tease me, bucko." Maise put her sword away and grabbed at the hairs Menma had cut off. "You're tipping." Maise stuck her tongue out at Menma. She was pretty sore over her new haircut but she respected him enough to take him to lunch. By where the ceremony was taking place there was a little ramen stand that served good ramen. They put all sorts of vegetables in it so their ramen was loaded with flavor. The two agreed on lunch there and went over to the stall to order.

Sitting with their bowls of Ramen the two chatted up about recent events. It didn't take long for the talk of civil war to break out. Maise was a staunch defender of the Aisu clan and by extension the Hirohito family which was good for conversation because so too was MEnma. He had performed some top secret espionage missions for the Hirohito family, including spying on the Kaguya clan. He was a Hirhito supporter to the end and he expected them to hold the Karagata family by the balls if the need should present itself. The Aisu clan made the Hirohito's powerful, a power Menma believed could be used against the power hungry Karagata.

He didn't say it but Menma had some fears of what the Karagata were capable of, especially if the Kaguya experienced a schism between their clan. Menma tried not to think about it and instead swore that he would stick to his contract with the Hirhito family. He was a servant, an arm of the family in Kirigakure. He took his duties to the Hiroito's very seriously but he was also trying to maintain social standards too. He didn't want to express any doubts or fears, so he wasn't being true to his word with Maise, a case so often experienced in the face of political adversaries.

After lunch the two returned to the Aisu temple and went inside for some meditation.

[King of Cats]

Sitting in the temple it was cold and there were multiple drafts leaking in from the outside. Menma wasn't bothered by it though and neither was Maise, both of them being Aisu who had a natural resistance to the cold. They went to the front of the temple were there was a reflecting pond positioned underneath an obelisk. The obelisk represented the Aisu clans ideals and Menma kneeled before it. Watching the obelisk in the water Menma kept his eyes open and said a prayer.

"I pray that my family is safe, I am safe and the village is safe. I pray for peace among the families of Kirigakure and most importantly I pray for my showing today in the ceremony. I have practiced hard and deserve to win this." Menma unfolded his hands. He suddenly noticed the water before him rippling and the longer he stared the more it seemed like there was something swimming in the water. Menma leaned forward with his eyes fixed on the temple waters and without thinking he plunged his hand into the water and grabbed at whatever was causing a stir. As Menma's hand closed around the Black Pearl of Seimei Menma felt a most foreign energy flooding his body. His vision went black and Menma was suddenly very nauseous. He tried to see but there was only blackness and his hand was growing hotter. As the hotness became a searing pain black light began to seep from the folds of his fingers. Menma couldn't explain what was suddenly happening. All he saw was the cursed light of Seimei Uzuhiko.

Menma had an overhwelming feeling of dread as he watched the burning light in his hand grow and light up the darkness around him. The first thing he noticed was that he was standing on top of a pile of skulls. Menma wasn't too disturbed by that but then he noticed the foul smell of petroleum filling the air around him. That was when the pain in his hand became too unbearable and Menma let out a scream but he couldn't let go of the Black Pearl.

Over his screaming Menma could make out a faint laughter. As he began tor ecognize the sound as laughter it became louder and louder until it was directly in his face. Menma focused his vision and found himself looking up to a greater pile of skulls. Sitting on top of the bones was a throne, and on the throne was a man with sharp horns. Menma couldn't make out the man sitting on the throne, but he had a horrible feeling in his guts trying to make out the figure of Seimei.

Speaking with words laced by venom Seimei whispered to Menma, "No one can hear you Aisu, Menma. You are trapped here, in my domain. Scream all you like Menma." The sound of Seimei's voice made Menma want to crawl out of his skin and as he listened to the cursed spirit the burning in his hand grew hotter than the sun. It felt like his fingers were melted together with how hard he was gripping the black pearl. "It seems your body has been chosen as my vessel Menma. Get used to the feeling of fear breathing down your neck. Mwahahaha!"

In just a second the distance between Seimei and Menma was shortened by 90 percent and the Aisu was standing before the Sorcerer. The feeling of dread was quantified by the distance between them and Menma began retching. His vomit spilled into the skulls he was standing on and he collapsed to his knees. He was panting when Seimei began speaking to him. His voice was deep and dark, it reminded Menma of the sound of two cats fighting to the death."My name is Seimei Uzuhiko. I am the spirit of an ancient sorcerer that once traveled these lands. The pearl burning your hands contains my soul, and by meeting with your body my soul has begun pouring my chakra into your body. We are fused together forever, and you shall become my servant!" Seimei lifted his hand up and Menma saw a flash of light before him. He felt no pain but his legs were cut from below him. He hit the ground in a pool of blood. "I am your master." Seimei said and began laughing once more.

Looking up Menma realized that there was no sun here. Just a dim orange light casted upon the piles of bones by Seimei's throne. He was amazed by what he saw and the burning in his hand went away. Menma could feel Seimei's chakra flowing in his body and great strength began welling up inside of him. That was when Seimei's laugher began to fade away and Menma could see the candle light of the temple once again.

Laying in the pond Menma was choking on water. Maise was gripping him and pulling him our of the water. Menma was thoroughly confused. What he had just seen seemed so real, and now he was back in reality gripping the black pearl still.

[King of Cats]

Maise was calling out Menma's name but he could barely understand her. All the shock from Seimei's domain was setting into his body and Menma was overwhelmed with sensory output. His ears were ringing but he could vaguely make out Maise's soft voice. Menma tried to talk and as air filled his lung to be pushed through his throat Menma felt the burning of water in his chet. He lurched over and began puking into the reflecting pool. As the vomit left his stomach Menma realized he was gripping the black pearl and quickly things began to revolve around him. His mind was flooded with information and the haunting laugh of Seimei was heard above it all.

Menma got down throwing up and got up. He hobbled over to a pew where he could sit and tried to regain his composure. His body felt totally drained from the dark chakra of Seimei invading his body from the pearl. When Menma realized what had happened according to Seimei and his body, he realized he should probably put the black pearl down. He just couldn't though, his curiosity got the better of him and Menma stuck the black pearl in his pocket. As the pearl left his hand he felt a sudden calming sensation wash over him. Menma's body felt at ease and he could easily breathe again. "What was that.." Menma whispered to himself as Maise walked over to the pew where he was sitting at. Menma was white as a ghost and he was running a faint fever but the worst of it was over with now. Without the pearl in his hand Seimei couldn't exert his influence over Menma.

"So what the hell was that! You reached into the pool and then fell in and started seizing up! It was absurd! Unreal! What the hell is wrong with you Menma!?" Maise screamed at Menma. He tried to laugh but he just didn't have it in him. Instead Menma groaned in pain and put his hand up to MAise, indicating for her to stop.

"You should have seen it.. Maise. This black pearl.." Menma's voice was trembling. When Maise asked him what had happened he was reminded of Seimei cutting off his legs. He shuddered in between his words. Menma was truly shaken to the core. "I saw something in the water and when I touched it I was transported to this room filled with skulls. There was Seimei, a sorcerer. He cut me down, and he said I was his vessel. Maise.. this pearl is dangerous." Menma was shaking. He had his elbows on his knees as he talked and was looking straight at the ground. The chuunin closed his eyes and a single lone tear was shed from his eye. He was so scared. Whispering he said to Maise, "Seimei said my chakra has fused to his own. It feels so wrong Maise. I feel tainted." Menma closed his eyes and sat back.

Maise sat down next to him and grabbed him by the knee. Holding him firmly in his grip Maise said to Menma, "You're going to make it through this. It's going to be okay Menma." Maise didn't really know what to say. The two of them just sat there in silence for a while.