Inheritance

[Kao]

Sunlight spilled through an open window, unhindered by the sheer, pale blue curtains that billowed in the breeze. The warm light fell onto Shizuo’s sleeping face, slowly easing him out of his slumber. When the man opened his eyes the echoes of his dreams lingered, soft voices calling his name and promising the kind of gentleness that had eluded him since war had returned to the world. He stared at the bare walls, momentarily forgetting that he was not in his lab like he usually was. For once he had gone home, forgoing his research and experiments and the too-firm cot in the corner of his office for the soft unfamiliarity of an actual bed.

Once he was nearly fully conscious the jounin took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and did all parts of a morning routine that most people would engage in on a lazy summer day. He wanted his morning to be as normal as possible because he planned to essentially turn his life on its head by doing something he had been avoiding for months. Even though he had already resigned himself to his task he moved through his room slowly, hesitantly, his movements betraying the fact that he didn’t know if he was quite ready. When he opened his wardrobe he was greeted with a heavy bonk on the head by something falling from above, which he deftly caught in his hand. He gazed at the offending object with a pang of sadness forming deep in his belly.

It was a simple wooden staff, and although it looked innocuous in appearance it carried deep, personal meaning for the man. The staff once belonged to a woman he had met as a teenager, and over the years the two of them grew exceptionally close. Even now he could picture her vivid green eyes giving him a furtive glance, barely concealing a deep admiration and fondness for him. The mental image left his chest feeling spread open and hollow. Grief washed over him like summer rain, and Shizuo found himself desperate for shelter. Like many things from his past he wanted to tuck it away so that it was safe in the dark, away from any illumination that may force him to more closely examine his regrets.

The staff’s sudden reappearance was certainly fitting. It was as if she knew what he had planned today and could feel his reluctance. Even from the other side, Kenitsuna Kiyoshi made sure he didn’t waver in his resolve to do his duty to the village. When Shizuo left his home he carried his usual equipment, and strapped to his back was her bo. It was, to his surprise, a great comfort to carry something of hers as he made his way across the village to the home of her successor.

[Valkier]

Many things had changed for Hachiya Kotori in the time since her graduation. Most were certainly changes for the better. She had a team of comrades with which to train and work now, and the steady income that came with it had improved her living standards tenfold. Gone was the tiny storage room above a carpenter's shop she'd first called a home, replaced with a comfortable—if still small—two-room apartment right in the centre of the busy village, with its little pantry kept near to bursting with food. Better still was the fact she might even have a few real friends, the first since her childhood. Strange, how 'childhood' now seemed to be a thing of the distant past. It truly felt like a lifetime ago.

Other changes were of the scarier nature, and none moreso than the phantom beast locked within her tiny body. The early days of that had been rough. She'd felt so alone. So exhausted, and terrified all the time. Too scared even to sleep, lest the creature overcome her while vulnerable. She could only thank Hiroko, her fellow Jinchuuriki, for helping ground her there and help her through the adjustment period. With her help, and that of Heiya-sensei, Setsuna and Kotetsu, and even Amaya's little gang, she was finally making progress with the beast. She could contain it now, at least. Could choose to keep the voices in her head stifled. But always she felt the presence calling to her, begging to be used. Begging for release. Begging to fill her with its terrible and overwhelming power. And she was keenly aware that one day soon she would have to truly unlock that lurking power, and progress farther down her new path in life than simply surviving.

She sat now, cross-legged and straight-backed, on top of her small bed with its real mattress, and tried to focus. She'd never even thought about meditation until recently—she was hardly known for sitting still at all, to be honest—but ever since the Genma sealing she'd found it helpful, calming. A little. When the voices weren't too strong. Something about the calm and quiet helped to steady her mind and strengthen her resolve. And so it had become a necessary part of her morning routine.

Eventually she stood and stretched, washed and ate, and spent some time combing out and retying her long ashen hair. She had no plans for the day, and intended to make the most of it; perhaps she'd go chase down Kotetsu and Setsuna and drag them somewhere fun for once. Except, as soon as she left her home, her eyes fell upon a passingly familiar face. Tall, lean, white-haired. Her first instinct was to scowl and swear at the man who'd stolen away her youth by quite literally plucking her away from her classmates and flying her across the village to be thrown to the Genma. But she resisted. Just. Things had indeed changed. Instead, she stepped back in to the shadow of her doorway and watched him with curiousity. He did look familar, with those pale eyes, but not just from their brief encounter...

[Kao]

Shizuo turned onto a busy street, pushing back his silvery white hair away from his forehead. He found his hands were a bit clammy which didn’t come as a surprise. The man was nervous, daunted by the impromptu meeting that was only minutes away. He had decided to not practice what he would say to Kotori, but now that he had turned onto her street he thought that perhaps he should have. The man slowed his pace, admiring the busy neighborhood. Kotori must have been doing well for herself, he thought. It was a far cry from the impoverished area he had found her in on the day he’d snatched her up to have a legendary beast sealed into her.

“KI-YAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Startled somewhat, Shizuo paused midstride, and from his left a tiny body flew toward him with an outstretched leg. But instead of colliding with the jounin they missed and went hurdling into the side of a building with a loud crash. The man stared, bewildered, waiting for the dust to settle and for his would-attacker to stop coughing. A blond child brushed himself off and skipped toward the man, seemingly unfazed by the failed attack. “Shizu-sensei! Shizu-sensei!!”

“Ah, Tenchi-kun. Long time no see! Whaaaa, just graduated from the academy, huh?” he asked, nodding towards the shiny new headband nestled around the boy’s neck. Tenchi beamed at his former tutor’s recognition. “Yep, all thanks to you! I decided to be an active duty genin rather than go work for my dad’s shop!”

Shizuo’s lips formed a small ‘O’ of somewhat feigned surprise. Tenchi, small for an eleven year old, hadn’t been particularly talented in the shinobi arts and had sought private instruction from a few chuunin and jounin. Evidently he’d been more successful under Shizuo’s tutelage and had finally graduated from the academy. But Shizuo had thought the boy would surely opt for entering the reserves. The kid was gentle, much too soft and kind hearted for conquest, and given the Tsuchikage’s recent ambitions and excursions it was certain the boy would see some semblance of war sooner rather than later. But Shizuo maintained his composure and congratulated the boy. “What are you doing over here anyway?”

“Just visiting an old friend, so to speak.”

Tenchi’s grinned widened and became more smug. “Ooh, is it a girl? Mom did mention that it’s time for you to get married.” The jounin blushed and rubbed the back of his head, stuttering his denial. Tenchi didn’t look convinced, but nevertheless he waved goodbye and skipped away. The jounin continued down the street, his smile slowly fading as he tried to redirect his mind. When he finally looked up again, Shizuo found that he was only a few houses away from Kotori’s new residence. His pace slowed to nearly a crawl, and his expression was twisted into an uncharacteristically downtrodden frown.

“Ah,” he mumbled as he bit his lip and stopped just beyond the edge of the building, “I guess I don’t know what to say to Kotori after all….”

[Valkier]

Pressed back into the alcove of her doorway, Kotori peered out towards the street and watched the brief exchange between the white-haired man and the young child with interest. She was still uncertain about him, but the display began to ease her apprehensions; their first meeting had been so serious and urgent that she hadn't even learned his name, let alone whether he was trustworthy. It seemed a stark difference to how she saw him now, chatting amiably and smiling with a child.

Did I misjudge him? She wondered, as the two parted ways and the man continued to walk in her direction. But it seemed to her that reluctance weighed his steps the closer he got. Was he slowing down, and looking at the buildings? Surely he wasn't... No, why would he be coming to see her? She frowned, thinking back to their fleeting encounter. Did they have more unfinished business? The events of that day—and of the sealing in particular—were still a fragmented blur in her mind, more nightmare than memory. Had he been involved in the sealing? She couldn't recall. She flushed with the realisation that he could've been one of those who had not survived the events of that chamber—there had been several who had not—and she'd never have known it.

He was getting close, now, and was obviously not just passing by on other business. Perhaps he was here to haul her off again... But no, he didn't seem serious today. Not like before. She wouldn't try and run, not this time. Actually, she felt a strange desire to do the opposite. Something warm welled up from within her chest—was it Nolosha? It felt different, yet came from the same place—while she watched. It made her want to run over and fling her arms... No, that's ridiculous! Why would I want to do that?

She was shaking her head, unsettled by the strange notion and off guard, when she noticed him stop almost at the edge of her building. There was no more hiding to be done, now. Nothing else for it. She stepped out into his path and met his eye for a long, quiet moment before a sheepish smile crept across her face.

"Uh... Heh.. Hey?" Was she... anxious? That felt new. Weird. She should leave it at that and keep walking. Should. But her feet wouldn't quite obey.
"Couldn't help but see you coming. Cute kid. Is he yours?" She blurted, nodding behind the man back the way he'd come. She knew it was stupid as soon as the words left her mouth; he probably wasn't even old enough to have a son that age. They didn't even look alike. Too late to take it back, though. She hoped he wasn't offended, and in the same breath, wondered why that would matter to her. For some reason, it did.

[Kao]

For the briefest moment, Shizuo's heart fluttered and threatened to race. This genin was the new host to Nolosha no Ukiyogenma, the same beast that had once shared a body with Kiyoshi. If he concentrated he could almost feel the genma's aura - its soul - encroaching on his own. Almost. Shizuo, unlike most normal people, could innately feel the presence of spirits, even those that had been sealed. He was thankful that even at such close proximity all he could sense was this child. This new host looked strong and healthy. There was no sign of a failing seal: no sickly, otherworldly golden glow beneath her skin, nor was there any sensation emanating from her that suggested the spirit was scraping away at its seal. He gave a soft sigh of relief.

"Uh, uh no," he stammered, taken aback by the question. He nearly followed up by telling the girl he had never thought of having kids but that would have been a lie. There was a time he'd thought about it, had strongly considered the possibility of little white haired children with bright green eyes running around the village. But that dream came with complications, and he'd never had the opportunity to work through them. She had been taken away from him before that could happen. "No, I don't have any kids." The man shifted his weight to his opposite foot, a sign of the feeling of awkwardness that he desperately wanted to keep at bay.

"Listen uh...I get that you probably have no desire to see me. I haven't done a very good job at keeping up with you after we- after you-" he sucked his teeth and briefly shifted away his gaze as he tried to find the right words. "I just thought I should see how you were doing with adjusting and all that. Normally it's my job to oversee our jinchuuriki and monitor their growth but I've been...a bit busy. Preparing for invasions takes up a surprising amount of time, go figure." Shizuo cleared his throat, unsure how the girl would take his attempt at throwing humor into an excuse. "Have you eaten, Kotori-chan? We could go get breakfast. My treat?"

[Valkier]

Kotori ran a hand through her hair and watched the man standing before her, still a little wary about what he could want with her today. Then she frowned, realising with a start that she wasn't the only one feeling unconfortable; he seemed anxious, too. Why? Whatever the reason, it helped settle her own unease, just a bit more. She took a deep breath, glanced away, then shrugged with overly-feigned indifference.

"I managed," she stuck her chin out defiantly, though the way she avoided meeting his eyes gave voice to the lie. But she hesitated, remembering suddenly that this man had been the source of her current situation, and vastly outranked her. She dragged her eyes back, paused, and flushed.
"Well... Mostly. With... A little help, maybe. I met Hiroko." Her senpai hadn't actually been able to offer that much in direct help, of course, but her existence and relative together-ness had been testament to the fact that it was possible to live and contain the powers they each bore. Plus, she'd introduced Kotori to Heiya and her Hen House group, who also seemed able to help. In truth, she was still struggling through each day as it came, but at least she had a few possible lifelines, however rarely they appeared.

"We've both been busy, huh," she conceded and tried a grin to set him at ease, though it wouldn't quite stick. She didn't know what to make of this man, but if he was indeed willing to help her, it was worth at least hearing him out. And say one thing for Kotori—say she never turned down a free breakfast. She perked up immediately at the offer.

"Nah, I ain't eaten yet," this time the lie came easily, forgotten as soon as it passed her lips. "Lead on! Oh, and... Uh, who exactly are you again?" She cocked her head quizically at him, then stuck out a hand. Introductions seemed like as good a way as any for them to start over.

"Just Kotori-san is fine." She couldn't remember the last time someone had called her Kotori-chan. Not since before the war, probably.

[Kao]

Shizuo could see through the girl rather easily. He looked at her with unblinking eyes after she tried to boast that she had been doing well on her own. He knew better than most how much support new jinchuuriki needed, especially those that hosted a genma. Suddenly he felt even guiltier for leaving her without his guidance. But shortly after her sealing he felt like a shell of a man, and he knew he wouldn't have been much help. Being near her so soon after Kiyoshi's passing may have bred disdain, and there was no need to harbor such feelings against an innocent girl. The jounin gave her a half smile that turned sheepish when she asked who he was and followed that up by shutting down the way he'd addressed her.

"Right, right Kotori-san. My mistake," Shizuo said with embarrassment as he realized he was being overly familiar with the young kunoichi. Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't remember him. If Kotori wasn't immediately thrown into hysterics or so terrified of him that she ran away, he would consider it a win that he hadn't traumatized her irrevocably. Still, he hesitated. How much should he tell her? Should he remind her of his role in the event that changed the direction of her life? The questions churned in his mind for a second before he finally smiled at her warmly to hide his discomfort and then shook her hand. She'd find his palm warm and soft save for the small calluses at the base of his fingers. "Oh, I'm Komiya Shizuo." He hummed a little to give him more time to settle on his title. The man wasn't fond of titles. "I'm the head of the Tenkujutsu Research Institute here in the village."

He turned and motioned toward the way he had come. "So I'm sure you can imagine that I know a lot about your...your situation." He began to walk with long, even strides towards a nearby restaurant he knew had an incredible breakfast menu. At a casual pace it would only take them seven or eight minutes max to get there. It was a rather upscale brunch spot, one that Kotori likely had never patronized due to her genin salary. "I can answer any question you might have about spirits, about your genma especially." A lump formed in his throat for a moment and he struggled to swallow it. "Or if you prefer we can talk about anything that's not related to Nolosha. It's up to you, I've just come to offer support and an extravagant amount of food."

[Valkier]

"Okay. Shizuo-san." She shook his hand, finding his touch surprisingly gentle despite the way his palms dwarfed hers. She nodded along to his explanation about the Tenkujutsu Research Institute; Shoshiki Heiya had explained some of what that school of study was all about. Namely spirits, and people like herself. Heiya had explained it like she was a hybrid of human and spirit, or perhaps a container—a human flask with a spirit within—but Kotori still thought of the relationship more like that of a jailor and prisoner. She just wished she knew which was which between herself and Nolosha.

She forced a smile all the same and fell into step beside Shizuo, letting him guide her through the streets and towards an unfamiliar part of town. The passers-by became too clean, their coats too new and unpatched, to fit her usual company. But today no one spared her a glance. Because of Shizuo or because of the headband around her temple, she wasn't sure, but it felt good to go unnoticed.

"Any question, huh? Well, you're only here because of Nolosha, so let's stick with that for now. You just worry about keeping the food coming. Well, unless there's things you want to ask, too. I don't mind." She added, remembering who she was talking to half way through speaking. She began considering what was worth asking while they walked to the restaurant and got seated.

"All right, let's see, then," she folded her arms and leaned back in her seat as the wait staff hurried over to greet them. Kotori ignored them, especially given she had little idea about what waiters were for.
"Ok: How do I shut her up? Shut her in?" She quirked an eyebrow at Shizuo, curious how he would react. Was it even the right question to ask? "It's like, she's always there, listening and watching, waiting to judge... Oh, even now." she faltered and put a hand to her suddenly throbbing skull, feeling the familiar warmth swell up in her chest. "I.. I don't hate it, but..." She trailed off and began chewing her lip, unsure how to properly put voice to her worries. What if She tries something when I'm not ready? How do you ever stop, ever sleep properly, knowing She's there waiting, straining at the seal? How can you ever resist Her consuming every part of your will? "...She knows when I'm weak," she finished lamely, flushing as if she was gossiping about someone to their face. Which she certainly was.

"I mean, when I met Hiroko and asked, she helped me realise that the Genma are more than just monsters. They have personalities, feelings, desires, just like us. But that' ain't much comfort when you have one dammed up inside of you." A five-foot-six dam of doubt and fear, against the immense power that had painted the sealing chamber red with only a faint trickle of its whims. "In a way, it makes it even more terrifying. HIroko said I have to listen to Her, work with Her. And I've seen what She can do, I want to control it... Her..." She looked away again, finally noticing a waiter offering a menu and giving him a quizzical look. "But it's like blowing against the wind."

[Kao]

A sudden, brief pang shot through Shizuo's chest when Kotori offhandedly mentioned that he was only there for Nolosha. Even though he did need to check on her wellbeing and her progress with the genma, that of course wasn't the sole reason for this visit. But he certainly could understand why the genin had so quickly come to that conclusion. He had expertly presented his reasoning for the visit in a way he figured Kotori would find acceptable, but in doing so he thought may have momentarily missed the opportunity to guide the conversation towards the Ukiyogenma's previous host.

The two were quickly seated at the restaurant, and Shizuo took the moment to pleasantly greet the waitress as she handed them glossy, spotless menus. The man asked for a moment to look over their options - water for each of them to start, though - and then he momentarily glanced over the menu, noting how Kotori didn't acknowledge any of the staff. The jounin looked up when she asked her first question, an unapologetic inquiry into how to shut up a genma. 'This one's bold,' he thought as a nearly imperceptible smile turned his lips. Nolosha was a difficult genma to win over, but he knew the beast would have an especially difficult time with a child who was unafraid to speak her mind.

"Like blowing against the wind, huh?" he echoed airily as he pushed the menu to the edge of the table. "That's one way to put it. It's not an easy thing to grasp, controlling these beasts." His grey eyes, piercing, bore into hers. There was a sense that he wasn't simply looking at Kotori. Even as the waitress brought their glasses he hardly broke eye contact with the girl. Shizuo listed off a few food items - Khenti toast, made from the finest Khenti eggs; sweet potato hash; and fruit pancakes to get them started - then took a long sip before continuing, "Your genma has gotten the better of more than one of its hosts in the past several decades. She's proud and stubborn, and she believes that she is Life itself and that it's beneath her to be forced into a human vessel. I'm afraid it's not a being you can just shut up. Never forget: she takes life - destroys it - just as easily as she gives it. Isn't that right," he turned his head to the side, his gentle smile belying his seething resentment towards the beast, "Nolosha no Ukiyogenma?"

[Valkier]

"Yeah, you can say that again," Kotori scoffed, then hesitated and shrank back a little under the intensity of Shizuo’s gaze. For the most part he’d so far seemed earnest and friendly with her, and certainly more direct than others she'd met recently. She was beginning to like him, even. But something in his look now made her feel... exposed, somehow. She unconsciously crossed her arms, but held his gaze until he mentioned the failings of her predecessors. At that, she looked down and away, frowning. She could still picture Kenitsuna Kiyoshi crouching defiantly in the sealing chamber, fighting for control. Could still feel the tenderness of her arms and the resolution in her voice during their brief exchange. And then her body lying broken on the floor in the aftermath of the sealing. So small and thin, a twisted husk of a woman who had nevertheless seemed so much stronger than Kotori herself. Could she be like Kiyoshi? Could she be better?

Perhaps Shizuo could see the memory rising in Kotori's eyes, or perhaps he was looking at something else entirely, because when she snapped her attention back to the present, it was not wholly to her that he talked. Kotori recoiled as an unexpected voice responded, directly into her and his minds. A voice like liquid gold, dripping with power and certainty.

”This one thinks he understands. He is not far wrong, for a human. Have you come to fail this Vessel, too, little human?" The voice hummed with amusement. Evidently Nolosha recognised Shizuo from his connection to earlier hosts, in particular the one most recently departed. ”Most of your kind think only of the living, but Life and Death are only opposite sides of the same leaf. Both are mine. I bring and bestow both at my leisure. It has been a very long time since one of my Vessels tried to use my powers to remove Life." The amusement peaked at the end, with Nolosha being intimately familiar with the lives and ambitions of shinobi.

Meanwhile, Kotori winced and brought her hands up to cover her ears, shaking her head. She could feel Nolosha's emotions within, a knotted ball of frustration, amusement, resentment, and... protectiveness? She squeezed her eyes shut. Not now, not now, not now. Those emotions reacted in kind to her resistance, stubborn and too proud to obey, but not without a note of sympathy, either. That contradiction always seemed to be there, making the experience all the more confusing to the young girl. Nolosha tried to speak again, but this time Kotori stamped the feelings down, imagining a cage around that bundle of emotions. She felt them stir, the desire to speak bubble up... but no voice followed. Only silence. She cautiously removed her hands and opened one eye. Silence. Blessed silence.

"...I did it." Her voice quivered and she found she was out of breath from holding it. "She was trying to say more, and I... said no." She even felt a note of pride within, though whether it was her own or from Nolosha, she could not be sure. She looked back across at Shizuo, only now thinking back to what the genma had said.

"You two... knew each other. More than I expected, I mean." Of course Shizuo, in his role, would've had earlier interactions with the creature. But there had been a note of familiarity in the way Nolosha reacted to his voice, perhaps even a note of expectance in his question. "Did you go through all of this with Kiyoshi too? Somehow I can't picture her struggling like this."

[Kao]

The hairs on Shizuo’s arms immediately stood straight up, a visceral reaction to the unmistakable voice that resounded in his head. He could never forget that tone, that arrogance that came from an unquestionably powerful being. Memories of blood soaked bodies flooded his mind, and the image of Kiyoshi’s battered and broken form made his entire body go numb. “I didn’t fail. You killed her.”

What had once been a gaze of warmth, kindess, and a touch of nervousness had mutated into a look of searing hatred. The transformation was as sudden as a lightning strike and just as devastating. His pupils constricted into needle-sharp points, like daggers aimed at the genma’s very essence. Being its vessel, Kotori was directly in the line of fire of his outrage. The change in his demeanor was jarring, leaving a lingering shock in its wake. His typical geniality was momentarily eclipsed, a chilling reminder that darkness could mar even the kindest souls.

Kotori’s desperate attempt to shut the ukiyogenma out dragged Shizuo out of his anger. Grey eyes softened until the tempest behind them calmed. He tried to give an encouraging smile but could only manage turning his lips in a hard, neutral line. There was a pregnant, tense pause after she mentioned her predecessor. He swallowed in a futile attempt to moisten his dry throat then admitted, “Yeah. Yes, we were close.” Finally his gaze dropped, and he focused instead on the glossy wood of the table.

“We went through a lot together. She struggled more than you could possibly imagine. More than what was fair. By the time we realized she wasn’t capatible it was already too late. We- I could only delay the inevitable.” With one hand, Shizuo clenched his opposite hand to prevent himself from fidgeting with his fingers. Grief sat heavily on his shoulders, and he slouched with his head hung. “If I had just known the signs and caught them earlier…but I was distracted. I never want that to happen again, Kotori-san. There’s a few other shinobi in the village who can help, but I tend to be who other tenkujustu researchers defer to nowadays. I think you’d benefit more if I helped you directly rather than working through a middle man. So, if you’re agreeable, I want to be your main source of strength when it comes to mastering your control over the genma.” The jounin raised his eyes again to meet hers. ”What do you think, Kotori-san?”

[Valkier]

Kotori had missed the first signs of Shizuo's anger during her own struggle against Nolosha and the resulting internal turmoil, but her breath caught in her throat once she realised her error in mentioning Kiyoshi. She sat rigid, not daring to move, not trusting herself to talk and break the silence. That silence felt like a dam, beyond which was a weight of emotion that would put even the Ukiyogenma to shame. There was hurt in his eyes, she was sure of it. Once he looked down the spell was broken, and she felt like she should say something, do something. Hesitantly, as Shizuo clenched his hands together and hunched down, she reached out and placed one of her own palms over his tensed knuckles. Gently. Feeble and small beside his strength, perhaps, but felt compelled to do so all the same.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, and felt it to her core. "I didn't realise... I wish she were still here, too." Then she hesitated, thinking about how much the other woman must have suffered towards the end. She couldn't put voice to the thought that perhaps it was some relief to Kiyoshi that her days of grief and hardship had come to an end. Not to Shizuo, not as he was now. She felt emotions stir from Nolosha once more, an upwelling of sadness and regret, encapsulated in a depth of compassion and contrasting warmth. You cared for her too, didn't you? She thought inwardly.

Deeply. She was my child. I did not enjoy her pain nor her return to my embrace. Distantly, ever so faintly, Kotori thought she heard a scream. Muted and pained, clawing its way out from her heart and reaching through her hand to Shizuo's touch. She only hung her head and shook the feeling away.

”Thank you, for being with her to the end. I.. I’m sure it gave her some comfort.” Then she flushed and leaned back, her seriousness fading as quickly as it had come as she withdrew her hand and became suddenly very conscious that she was talking about Kiyoshi as if she’d known her, to a man who genuinely had. She opened her mouth to stammer an apology, only to be interrupted by the arrival of their meal. Platters and plates quickly covered the space between them, with Kotori flinching uncomfortably every time one of the staff reached past to set her cutlery–what the hell was that teeny tiny fork even for, anyway!?--and set a napkin on her lap. But for once she took little immediate interest in the food, instead mulling over Shizuo’s last words. Not that they required much consideration, but she didn’t like the idea of being overheard.

”I-- Yes, definitely!” She managed a feeble smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes in the wake of their last exchange. ”I’ll take any help you can offer. I’ve worked a little with Heiya and with Hiroko, but I barely see either anymore. I…” The smile faded, and her voice dropped to a whisper. ”..I don’t want to end up like that. I won’t”

[Kao]

Shizuo cleared his throat, a last ditch attempt to beat back the resentment still attempting to rise in his throat. He didn't seek the girl's apology, and there was no need for her to thank him for holding her predecessor as she drew her last breath. Her apology did nothing but threaten to fill the empty spaces in his chest with grief, so instead of acknowledging her words he dismissed them with a slight wave of his hand and then focused on the food that had appeared some time during their tense exchange. "Good. In that case, I'll arrange training for you soon. You have a long way to go. It won't be easy but I'll help you along."

When he first resolved to have this meeting there was no doubt in his mind that it would be difficult to be so close to the beast's new vessel, to perhaps look into her eyes and see the same well of power that had spilled over and destroyed something dear to him. So much had been ripped from him the day he lost Kiyoshi, and with all of his growing responsibilities within the village Shizuo had never truly took the time to feel. To allow himself to fully grieve. But now wasn't the time to delve into those feelings. It wasn't fair to Kotori, who had only just begun what would undoubtedly be an uphill journey. It was clear she was kind, thoughtful, if not a bit rough around the edges. This time, he told himself, things would be different. It would start with him taking a more active role in the jinchuuriki's lives, and to not become complacent just because he felt something as fleeting as happiness.

With that in mind he took a big bite of food, savoring the explosion of flavor in his mouth. "Eat up, Kotori-san. Don't get used to the luxury, cause the next time we meet up I'll have you trudging through the mud like a dog."

[Valkier]

Kotori fell quiet and began slowly helping herself to an assorted plateful of food, though a lot of it was new to her and she hardly noticed what she chose. Her thoughts were on Kiyoshi and her hardships, and on her own challenges to come. She nodded slowly, then again with more determination as she looked up and met Shizuo's gaze again.

"You got it. Don't go easy on me, I want to master this thing. I'll be ready to start as soon as you are." And the sooner the better.

By now her plate was filled to the brim with spoonfuls of a rich yellow curry, chunks of meat swimming in creamy sauce spooned over sticky rice, as well as spiced potatoes and other veg she didn't know, plus breads and various unfamiliar condiments. She dipped an end of flatbread into the sauce and scooped up a mouthful, then froze as it hit her tongue. Sweet gods! As if waking from a stupor she diverted her full attention to the feast and attacked it with gusto, barely pausing for breath and grinning all the while.

While refilling her plate for a second round, she levelled a pair of chopsticks across the table at her new best friend.

"Hell yes! That's a deal. Bring me here again next time, boss, and I'll trudge through that mud all day. On my hands. Backwards!"

Her worries swept away with each bite until eventually she slumped backwards, hands resting on a now-sizeable belly and with a satisfied smile plastered across her face. The two of them made pleasant small talk while they finished up at the restaurant, turning to simpler things and getting to know one another just a little through idle chatter, and eventually went their separate ways. Maybe this Jinchuuriki business was worth it after all, Kotori thought as she arrived home a short time later, and promptly fell into a deep and pleasant food coma.