[Cha 1 Location] Lucky Tiger Casino

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

[sub]((Listen While Reading: Lucky Dragon Casino Theme))[/sub]

"The Lucky Tiger huh? I'm beginning to notice a theme Kami. . . Genichiro then huh? Of Seven Winds. Does that make me Izanagi of Four Peaks? Its...so lit up - definitely going to make it apparent that our technology exceeds that of the shinobi world, if anything it can certainly be said that the line between rural Naraka and KAISEI's territory is certainly drawn here at this point. Regardless, I think you're right. - greedless revenue isn't honestly a thing. The drinks, the lights, gambling - vice. As much as I don't like it... the only thing that works and keeps the flow of wealth prominent is baiting out the greedy hands of Naraka...our forte's must remain harmonious with one another. You've got my approval. Premium weapons merchants, ninja tool showcases and your personally requested . . . hm, seals - will all be delivered. Just don't make me regret this one - huh?" [sub]- Izanagi[/sub]

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

=Once they emerged beyond the curtain into the casino and the blinding light from within allowed their eyes to adjust a moment, Ko and Sakuya's expressions became inverse parallels of one another - like there was a glass between them and they were a split mirror against the other. Sakuya - whom has lived here her whole life and was familiar with the casino already didnt make much of an expression at all. Infact - she was very obviously focused on other things in the moment that were more so important to her then the limelight of the casino itself. More then likely she wasd more focused on trying to make sure no one noticed her by her face and that she kept her hood on. Meanwhile - Ko aside of her couldnt help but be somewhat mesmerized at the bright lights and ambience of the place. His eyes werent completely wide - but they were wide enough to notice that he was taken back by what he saw. Hands in pockets he waited for the rest and looked around - trying to get a good bearing on where he was it in perspective of the casino floor plan itself. In a building like this - you want your patrons to be able to get in and out fine, you want them to be able to get to their favorite attraction and dump all their currency into one place that you know they will dedicate their time. There has to be a map or floor plan - something. Ko looked around for a bit, diverting his eyes past the flirty waitress's that were casting baited glances at him and between the drunken Shogi players and other gamblers. Giving an irritated huff of retaliation he folded his arms and continued to watch and wait for something to give. He'd avoid activating his sharingan in here - far too many prying eyes he knew that it would give him away in no time. Instead - he simply stood there and waited for the others.=

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

— Kagetsuchi Central ——> Lucky Tiger Casino —

You know those game shows where there are three prizes hidden behind a red curtain and you have to pick one of the three options—of course behind one of them is the prize you want, whether that be a car of the latest flat screen TV. You choose one of the options and the game show host turns around and unveils one of the options you didn’t choose—and behind it a box of bricks. Now there are two options in front of you—one with the prize one without. The rather charming game show host, who also knows exactly where the prize is, turns around and asks you if you want to switch answers. What do you do?

Statistically you should change your answer to the other remaining, but most don’t. Most believe that the host is aiming to trick them because they have chosen right. The reality is that when you first chose you had a thirty-three percent chance of making the correct decision. When the game show host reveals one of them and leaves you with two options—you now have a fifty percent chance of choosing correctly. How come people don’t switch more often? Uncertainty.

That uncertainty magnified an immeasurable amount is what he felt as he looked at the curtains wafted a bit, but not enough for a glimpse instead. He didn’t say anything under disguise, just subtle nods and even added a smile whenever the curious doorman would look over at him—her. He had to make sure he remembered that. He wasn’t Kirinji right now, he was Hitoko. Kirinji followed Ko’s lead without hesitation allowing him to do all the talking which paid off as they gained entry. He followed behind Ko and used his hand to peer through the curtain before entering, his heart lightly pounding.

It was blindingly bright—enough to cause him to use his hands to cover his eyes until they became adjusted. But when his eyes became adjusted what he saw was breathtaking. The vibrant colors of red and blue, even a subtle pink, came together in unison with the sharp, geometric architecture paint a beautiful aesthetic that screamed a futuristic, premium ambiance—one that the rich would surely enjoy. Furthermore, the advancements in the technology compared to the waking word were painstakingly apparent.

But he had to push the marvel aside and focus on the task at hand. He looked around at the layout to try and become somewhat familiar with it. He looked for all the exits, security guards, and even cameras to see where exactly they were.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

Blinded by lights as they entered the casino, it seemed like it took Kasami more time to adjust with only one eye open. Squinting uncomfortably she just followed Ko’s lead and stopped next to him to take the sights in. The lights were a little blurred by her agitated eye but it didn’t dull their beauty. This view paled a spectacular waterfall in its complexity and had a certain kind of maturity to it. It felt like she shouldn’t be there. Like it was too mature for her, and honestly it probably was. She was the most inexperienced of the entire group, in all senses of the word, and it made her feel incredibly out of place. Which meant the sooner she transformed and was no longer out in the open, the better she would feel.

She looked at Kirinji and walked over to him as he was doing his scanning and waited til he was done to take his forearm in hand and meander toward the bathrooms. The sign for them wasn’t too far away and caught her attention almost instantly, probably because right now it was all she was looking for. ”This place makes me feel so uncomfortable.” She mumbled the words to him as they went to the restroom, and once inside she waited for the patrons to clear out. There was a quick look around to ensure no one was in there before she scratched her nose and looked Kirinji in his female form up and down. ”And so does this.” Her expression lacked amusement and she looked awkward. ”I’ll transform to a necklace, and make sure you tell Ko not to spend much time getting an audience. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold this.”

She made the hand seal, the smoke followed and what was left in her place was a short necklace that looked like it was made of polished Kunzite, also known as Spodumene, which was a light lavender color and would accent his current appearance well.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

[sub]((Meanwhile))[/sub]

"I have spite...and broken dreams for you...the sweetest candy heh...the most vibrant hues..."

=Crimson red gloves - grafted tight over an ever fearful face...his hand squeezed the shaking man's face tight - horrified eyes rattling, shaking up at him begging silently for mercy as the other red gloved hand seized his throat - squeezing tight his windpipe. Did you know...the human trachea will collapse under about thirty-three pounds of pressure...cricoid cartilage, forty-five. That crimson leather drew more around that abused flesh - squeezing up tufts and ripples around the digits within as he strangled him tighter, soon red flooded into that exposed eye more and more like wasted juice in a glass of wine...lips hovered above his face - parted ever slighty, were they speaking truth to him? Wisdom? Reluctant sympathies? The man started to stammer for words - struggling against his lack of oxygen and the power of the hands he had succum to, and this man that held him with his lips ever so close...mocked and mimic'd his struggling stammers. He couldnt even hold it himself, mimicing the suffocating man only to break mid way through and burst out laughing at the victims struggling. He removed his hand from the man's throat - only to slap it down over the eye with his ring finger curiously prodding the swollen and irritated ocular orb - enough so that it could actually be seen slowly pushing inside of the socket then bouncing out like a buoy of some sort; he drew entertainment from this and the males jittering reaction to such as he continued to recite:

"Your eyes so red...but my skies still blue. . . and we both know - what I'll do to you. . . heh.
I told you twice. It's nothing new. The most painful words - always twice as true."

=As he said this he looked at the man with . . . what could almost be mistaken for a longing, or loving smile - he looked upon him the way that a parent would at their child and even pat the side of his face before exhaling deep and looking around the room at his guests. The lounge was small, more an office really and there was a woman off in a corner playing a rather morbid tune on a piano. Her motions were eloquent and delicate as she touched each key, while the man looked back down at this writhing victim and finally...with a loud resounding crack and pop - sounding like a tree snapping apart in the middle of a storm, he drove that finger inside of the eye socket, effectively using it and the man's mouth like holes in a bowling ball, and the opposite hand slid around to the back of his head as he crushed the man's skull and pulled it apart right there on the spot - with great ease at that. . . he could have at any moment, he only strangled the man to get pleasure out of the suffering...not just physical but the mental suffering - the uncertainty wondering if enduring this abuse was enough, if anything except being killed immediately meant that he would actually get the chance to walk out of here today.

"And the biggest debts - always come due."

=Obviously the man had owed this person more then they knew they would be able to repay in full...and as such a debt needed to be paid - unfortunately for him the price at this point was his life....such was the way when you fell delinquent on payments with the pitt lord himself. This was non other than the man known as Genichiro of Seven Winds. He chuckled as his body seemed to fight against convulsions of laughter as he sat down and started to remove the gloves from his hands. His eyes lit up with vivid flashes of memories.

"Kami!.....Kaaaaami! There you are - come on...we have to go...we have to go! Y-...your eyes...Kami n-no..

-His laughter grew, more and more hysterical as the other voice demanded answers-

"What did you do?! Kami - WHAT DID YOU DO!? Like this!?...LIKE THIS!?...You can't go back to them like this....they wont take you like this, no - what did you do Kami!?"

=Unlike the infamous Izanagi - his hands were clean...ironically - at least of kanji of any sorts. He set the gloves in his lap and sat down on the couch in the lounge. The blood having reminded him of that time all those years ago - if Izanagi had discovered the secrets of the sharingan and risen to power - then surely so would he; he'd not let the tenants of the Uchiha Clan keep him from evolution. And to top it off - unlike Izanagi he had an advantage that was unique to himself, and that was the fact that there was no sacrifice too large for him to make in the pursuit of power...and so he did it. Wild - crazed by the thirst for ascenscion his laughter in this moment to the suffering of his latest victim, the blood on his hands, the flashback - they all pushed him closer and closer to a haze of hysteria, sucking in his breath deep to catch himself and tether him to calmness as he exhaled slow. By now two of his wives came from the bar not too far from them and cleaned the blood that had splattered on his face, rubbing down his features with silken violet clothes as he removed his glasses and had them wipe
it from the lens as well.

"Haha - sorry. Sometimes I get carried away and end up dragging it out a bit. Should always stay business but you know how things go - sometimes we just aren't so lucky as for it to stay that way now are we? I took up your time. Your offering - quite nice. I would say that its well enough for passage to be granted. But - do humor me one thing. Where did you get such a specimen? The world of Shinobi hm? Thats rather curious."

"No no, I have all the time in the world - trust me. Its not a problem. As for how I procured the asset well, heh - I suppose you could just say that she fell into my hands. Quite literally honestly - heh, its quite a long story. To keep it simple, I stumbled upon a bit of luck on my way back between the worlds, thats all."

=The voice was so mischievous and yet, it was polite at the same time. There was something about the voice of the man that was in the lounge speaking with the pitt lord himself. It was inmistakable - unforgetable, and yet they knew not even the name to put with the very distinctive figure that the voice belonged to. For now - he was known only as "The Green Man", Mr. Green some called him in Naraka - but he was known only as a myth, no one was truly aware that he was a real thing or that there was anything going on in Naraka that even bore weight to support the existence of a "Green man" in Naraka. Even Genichiro did not know he was real - even in this moment that he spoke with him he knew not that he was "The Green Man" spoken of in myth and rumor - it wasnt like he walked around telling people to refer to him as such. The exchange between them was cordial - awkward and tensely so, there was a game being played. Perhaps it was cat and mouse, guess who? Sorry. No one knew but there was a linguistic bait and switch transpiring between the two - even in the moments like now where they were just silently looking upon one another - especially in those moments in fact. The silence broke - Genichiro taking the initiative: "What did you say your name was again? Should I remember?" The green man only smirked and placed his hat back a'top of his head as he stood: "I never did." He spoke gently and yet very bluntly answered the question posed unto him. After this the two smirked and simply stared at each other till finally Mr. Green took a moment to glance at one of the three monitors to his right, Genichiro's left - looking at the security camera footage that was there for Genichiro to survey in the comfort of his lounge. No one stole in Naraka, so there was no reason for him to have a bunch of different cameras all over the place - andn no one cheated either, certainly not that. So he had cameras only in the three places that he figured he need them the most. The skylight shrine, treasure vault, and front door - the latter of which seemed to be the focus monitor Mr. Green looked at. He saw Ko and Sakuya come in - Ko seeming to catch his eye the most as he fixated upon him and smirked. Thinking to himself that the team from before finally managed to catch up. His smirk was wider then normal at that, something going on in that mind of his about the last matter that they had endured. But then Kirinji and Kasami came in and his expression flooded into one of irritated confusion as he looked at Kirinji. He then double took - and shifted back to Genichiro who by this point was giving him a bored, and irritated look - he couldnt stand to be...neglected so by company of guests. But then Mr. Green stepped around behind him, hands on his shoulders as he pointed to the monitor and whispered in his ear. Genichiro's brow raising as he looked at the monitor and his eyes shifted aside seeming to pair attention to what the man was saying with what he was seeing on screen. Then too....his lips curled in a smirk as well.=

[sub]((Currently))[/sub]

=At current, Ko and Sakuya still stood outside. Sakuya was staring off into the distance but you could tell that she wasnt really looking at much of anything. It was the kind of stare that you get when your mind becomes too heavy with memories you wanted to bury and thoughts you never wanted to carry. Ko knew it well. He also knew that she didnt started having such things until the mention of Genichiro came up and until they got to the casino - where they effectively were in his abode. He ran his hand in front of her face and snapped to try and get her attention snapping her out of it with a light jolt that caused her to jump a bit. His expression was confused and somewhat put off as he couldnt help but ask her: "Hey come on - seriously now whats your deal? Its just you and me, I've had my hands muddied pretty badly in my time as a ninja and I know you've seen some things. From one victim of society to another - its just you and me, whats your damage? Whats got you so jumpy....wh.....Sakuya...what did he do to you?". It was at that moment that Sakuya's gaze softened upon Ko - the way that he asked what did Genichiro do to her, it both made her want to talk and at the same time did the exact opposite. He sounded so sincere, so concerned when he asked her - she couldnt bring herself to tell him...maybe she should - but to speak such a thing would be an admission of it, and that would make her feel weak...feel like less then she is. Shes been a princess all this time, and shes always been treated like one ever since she came out into the public eye of clan Sakurai. She had never wanted such kind of fame - or to be treated special by anyone because of it. Three people only ever made her feel like she wasnt just a piece of history...and she never wanted to feel that way in the manner that Genichiro made her. She didnt sigh...nothing so apparent - instead she swallowed hard, apparent that she needed to push down more coming up then just her voice and thoughts as she told him in simplicity: "Ko...was it? I - I rather not get into details. Just know...Genichiro, is a terrible man. A murderer and fiend through and through. And once he sinks his hooks into you...it's hard to tell what is and isn't by his design. Don't let him sink his hooks in to you - any of you. If he does....the mask salesman wont be your biggest worry." =As she said this she grabbed his sleeve and squeezed tight, the way that she was squeezing made Ko look down at her hand and then back up to her - seeing the dire expression of urgency upon her face. As she did this they were both interrupted by a rather chipper and . . . bizarre voice.

"Hellooooo! Welcome to the Lucky Tiger - I'am Wu Ming - your guide to the destination, fantasy, or paradise of your choice. Our attractions include World Class Shogi, Ma Jong, Karuta and Jinpo. The Seven Winds Sisters will be performing later tonight, and the Pitt Master is always taking more contestants for The Lucky Tiger Beauty Contest. Hm, you look like you could be a lovely contestant ma'am!"

=The woman then looked at Sakuya - there was a smile a mile long plastered on her face and her eyes were unblinking. It was like there was no one there at all, just a boy moving of its own volition stuck to one particular duty, like the woman was in a trance. When she looked at Sakuya - Sakuya turned her head with an ill expression upon her face. It was like she was turning her face away from some foul odor or something of the sort, she obviously didnt want to look this woman straight in the face by any means that she could avoid at all. "No - yeah no thanks. I'll definitely pass. He has a candidate waiting though." =And with that she pointed over to Ko, only for him to be met with the same redirected split smile that she had for Sakuya to him now - leaning in to get even closer Ko somewhat leaned backwards away from the woman as she tilted her head looking upon him with a demeanor that even though twisted - spelled inquiry upon it: "Shes in the ladies room right now, touching up making sure shes at her best - but I assure you the Pitt Lord hasn't seen anything like her before. I've brought here all this way from Takatane - to gain audience and the auspicious eye of the Pitt lord himself. She'll be out any moment now - you wont be disappointed.=

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

”Only one camera?” Kirinji thought to himself in confusion. He couldn’t have missed any—he double checked, but he was shocked nonetheless. You’d think that in a place like there there’d be more cameras and security in case someone was stealing. He didn’t stare at the camera for long, only a glimpse, and not too long after that Kasami held his forearm in hand and led him towards the bathroom. Kirinji heard her mumble under her breath and responded ”You and me both.” in the same mannerism. But that wasn’t one hundred percent true. He actually kind of enjoyed the scene.

Upon entry Kirinji moved towards the sink and started washing his hands as he waited for the rest of the individuals to leave. He followed the last one out as if he were leaving, but instead closed the door behind them and locked the door gently while Kasami cleared out the rest of the bathroom. She mentioned how his appearance made her uncomfortable and how her facial expression lacked amusement, but he chose not to respond. Simply nodding okay to her next sentence. And with that he saw her formulate a single hand and a poof of smoke arose. The smoke dispersed just as quickly as it had emerged and what was left behind was a beautiful lavender necklace, one which he’d take and put around his neck.

As he tied the necklace around his neck he turned toward the mirror and stared at the disguise, making sure the appearance was intact and that no abnormalities that would give him away were visible. He started from bottom and made his way up—and once he got to the face it was as if he was frozen in mud. There was a look in his eyes, one of reminiscing with a mixture of perhaps even sadness. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in, holding it before realizing, and suddenly opened his eyes with a burst energy. There was a shimmer in his eyes, different than just a moment ago, paired with a loving and warm smile. He was playing the part. And with that he made his way back toward the lobby.

On his way back from the restroom he saw from afar that Ko had been talking to someone. He couldn’t make out the beginning as he was too far but he caught the last part of it. ”She'll be out any moment now - you wont be disappointed”. And as he finished that sentence she had stepped over next to Ko. Had he turned around to look at him, he’d make hard eye contact with him and then towards the woman while simultaneously raising his right hand and gently touching the necklace.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

=And with that when Kirinji and Kasami had come back, reunited with the group Ko would have looked aside at him - catching the grasp of ocular communication and his motion, he knew that Kasami had taken up the appearance of the necklace - affirmed by the fact that he certainly did not have it when he went in and unless he'd met a very generous sugar daddy along the way there. With that he turned back to the woman and jest: "Ha - see she didnt even keep us waiting." =With that being said the woman jolted gooofily as if she was startled by Kirinji's sudden appearance and giggled constantly with that wide smile upon her face. "Oh - hoohoo hehehe, good good good. My - yes she is quite lovely, we can move along then. We dont want to keep." =And that was it, she stopped her sentence mid way through and left it sitting there just like that, staring at Kirinji as she did - unblinking with an emptiness and deepness that rivaled the mariana's =

=She stood there and stared for . . . an uncomfortable moment and then suddenly went back to talking as if she hadnt even missed a beat: "him waiting. The contest will begin soon. As guests and now associates representing your sponsored contestant I'll show you to the VIP lobby where you can wait for The Pitt Lord's decision. Please, follow me." =And with that the woman turned on her heels and scurried across the floor. The way that her dress was there was hardly any of her feet if any visible, and the way her body subtly moved it was as if she floated across the ground - but if you looked at her head you could tell by the motion of her hair that there was rapid bounces in her step, like she was pattering along on little feet. She continued across the first floor of the casino till she went straight across to the back of the room - giving a scenic view of all of the slots, table games and the like along the way. High Limit was on the upper floors as well as Shogi and some of the more explicit attractions along the grounds. Ko and Sakuya followed behind promptly, both waiting till she turned around before they looked at each other and Kirinji and Kasami at the same time and mouthed a silent "What - in the - fuuuuck?" at the way that the woman just stopped right there in the middle of her sentence. The music in the background of the casino almost made it seem a bit more creepy then it was - just such a chipper joyous tune in the back of what seems to be a sanity washed stare. They went into the "back of the house" as they called it in casinos when you went through the administrative areas.

=The halls were long and ...ever so expansive....however did they become such? Certainly the building was not like this on the outside? Did Naraka know no bounds to how bizarre and absurd things could get? It seemed that beyond the Oni and its shinobi force there was even more mystery and bewilderment to be held in the architecture. Between the Mysterious Merchant's shops and this casino - there was something very odd about the spatial consistency of everywhere that they had been. But the thought digress from the point. They continued along - following the odd little lady in the corridor making sure to stay close - otherwise the deep light absorbing darkness of the hallway could get you lost between the red light of the lanterns. As they came along - suddenly it could be seen that if they looked back there would be Ko following along with Kirinji and the lady. But Sakuya was gone. Having silently disappeared during all of this as they moved along. Ko looked back - and as he looked back and noticed this his eyes widened in horror...how was it possible? He had not heard her leave? Noticed a lack of presence in the air or any other disturbance of the sort? Where did she go? Did she go of her own accord? He'd hoped she'd gone of her own accord. She seemed to . . . damaged in her memories of this place - he couldnt imagine why she would go off on her own, but at least that still left the thought that she did so of her own free will and not due to lack there of. The thing that really got to him was the idea of - was it free will? And if not - was this the trick? The plan? Had they gotten them back here in the labyrinthian corridor from which there was no escape nor anyone to hear the commotion just so they could be ambushed in sanguine privacy? The thought put Ko at alert and as he got the thought in his head he turned around with hostility in his eye - for as far as he was concerned their cover was blown and a fight was on their hands. He'd not let them go down without a fight - in fact he'd....realize he'd jumped the gun. As he turned back around the woman would be simply standing there looking at him with her hand directed aside of her - that same ear to ear smile plastered upon her taut features: "Did you hear me sir? The VIP lounge is right through here. If you'd be so kind as to wait in here we'll have you come out when everything is prepared." =At that Ko stopped, and for a moment even someone of his wits hesitated - there was something off about it, the fact that Sakuya had disappeared all a sudden had him uneasy - and he didn't want to separate from Kirinji and Kasami at this point...it just seemed like another one of their numbers being tacked off the list. But he knew that there was only two options at this point - either he cooperate or he blatantly blow their cover and this goes hot very quickly, and considering all they really needed was an audience with the pitt lord - there was no real reason for violence here. He had to remember...these people werent meant to be enemies....were they? He'd nod - and step over to the side meeting face to face with a black curtain that blended in perfect with the dark. He pushed it back and stepped in. The room was low light very relaxing and there was a smell of grapes in the air - though it was only from the light blanket of smoke that was enveloping the room. From there a voice spoke up to Ko:

"New face huh? I guess the lifeblood's gotta keep flowing some how - look young though. What ya into kid?"

"Ya know - I thought Naraka had a different outlook on age and such especially if you're a shinobi - risking your life every day may as well be seen as an adult. But this is the first time in all this place that someones called me kid. So how about we just reset and start with names huh? Since you started the conversation how about you start with yours?"

"Heh - spicy. Didn't mean to offend "bud", just saying - kinda young looking to be taking risks like this. Dont worry about names though. Thats for people that plan on being aquaintances more than once. I'm here for a good time, not a long time bud."

[sub]((Meanwhile))[/sub]

=Before while Ko and group had been passing along there was a stop between pillars that a shadowed figure came out from behind - snatching Sakuya by the jawline covering her mouth with a vice grip and using their momentum to push her between another pillar into the dark and out of sight. There Sakuya's eyes grew wild and afraid as her mind race over possibilities of who it could have been that waited in ambush for them so quietly and expertly, till her eyes shifted and came into focus upon a very familiar face.

=Ai Fujimori. The woman stood there in front of her - having set her aside from everyone else out of eye shot down the hall she kept her mouth covered - her eyes looking at her in frustration at the fact that she scared her so much, having thought that maybe Genichiro had caught wind of her presence here and come to greet her personally. But she could not express her protest with how she'd opted to get her attention in the moment - the woman still covered her mouth as she waited for the rest of the group to get far enough away. She'd spent so much time around Sakuya she knew that she would have to wait an extended bit - she'd such a big mouth after all, literally and metaphorically. Once they were away Ai moved her hand and out from Sakuya came a stern: "What in the fuck are you even doing? Ai? Of all the people to run into here - you? So what you doing hits for Genichiro now or something too? Taken one step down this defiant road and now you just cant stop skating down hill huh?" =As she said this Ai simply kept looking at her - the expression on her face and in her eyes never once changing at all. Sakuya started to get a bit uncomfortable, looking at her in confusion as she simply stood there staring her down. "Ai? Hey - what?" she jolted in protest - perhaps feeling a sense of comfort in the fact that she wasnt saying anything at first - getting the feeling thats he could just jest or try and impose her bellowing overwhelming presence against her passive and cold presence. They always used to off set each other so much in the past. But Ai simply kept staring - to a point that Sakuya just started to get more uncomfortable, no almost pleadingly saying her name to try and get her attention - but it was only met with Ai advancing towards her more. They were already so close together between the pillars against that wall up till the moment that Ai's body pressed against Sakuya's chiseled frame. She stood directly up on her - nose to nose till she widened her stance around Sakuya's; feet framing the outside of hers as she turned her face into Sakuya's neck - speaking back delicately but cold: "You always start with that. Its your go to. You always try to talk down to me so much - trying to use a conscience against me in hopes that you'll guilt me into submission huh?" =As she said that she pressed hard against Sakuya, causing the pink haired girl's hood to fall off with the way that she almost fearfully jolted backwards away from her in retaliation, trying to run where there was no space to do so - he back hitting the wall with an awkward *thump* as the realization of her space became apparent, as did her fear...but she was afraid of more then simple conflict...= "A-Ai.....Please." =She asked in a way that was so painful...so hurt....and so blunt and direct that it was jarring to even hear the word leave her lips in such a way. It was the kind of serious pain that you would hear between arguing siblings bickering back and forth - and suddenly the jokes and mocking goes leagues further then it was supposed to...the kind of tone that lets you know that someone involved got seriously hurt. Her expression flushed rather serious - not so much fear in her face, but regret - fear lingering in the eyes with a bit of forlorn tragedy undercarding the regret. Ai still remained right there against her - in fact, her hand grasped the side waist band of Sakuya's shorts tight - forcefully and pulled her into her: "But then again - thats the only way that you could ever make me submit huh? Guilt. You're good at that aren't you Princess Sakurai." =For a moment there, one could detect a bit of emotion leaking out of the cracked Ice Heart of the woman known as Ai Yuki. The way that she spoke to Sakuya was resentful - tinged with animosity and baited contest as if she was daring the woman to do something that she had once done before in their past. Sakuya's lips widened and her tongue pressed behind the pearly teeth which she sucked upon as she tried to inhale the misery that was leaving her chest in the moment. Her breath was deep and it could be seen thats he was trying to keep from very strong emotions in the moment like this...but she wasn't fighting back against the woman that much either. She turned her head away from her - and tried to plead with her yet still with exasperated and breathily taken words: "Please don't...don't...just. Stop. This isn't funny." =As she said this Ai took her free hand - the alabaster soft pale skin contrasted hard against the caramel hue of Sakuya's face just as drastically as their emotions contrasted upon one another as well. Ai directed her face back at her own so that she was looking at her - by now their noses slid across one anothers and they were standing with but a hairline fracture between both their lips as Ai's pulled back in a frown - submitting forward after a moment only for Ai's to match her own and grimace back just shy of touching as she grit her teeth in anger. Her free hand left Sakuya's chin and snatched to the inside of her tank top - delicate flesh almost falling loose as she gasped and tilted forward in a weak attempt at prevention. "Please Ai..Just stop. Father would not approve. This isn't who you are..who we are." =At this suggestion Ai's expression was grimmaced in bewilderment as if she couldnt believe that those very words left the lips of Sakuya. Her hand recoiled backwards - slapping Sakuya across the face and then rebounded back forward meeting her again with the palm before snatching her by the chin and pushing up against her even more, practically grinding her against the wall behind her as she did and her own face lingered just below the pink haired girl's: "What world do you live in? Not who I'am? You don't know who I am. What? The same way The Burning Dawn isn't who I'am? I'm here though aren't I? And what do you mean not who we are? We crossed that damn bridge a long time ago. Thats absolutely who we are...no no, there's not a we...there's just you - and what you did to me now.." =As she said this she brought Sakuya's face to her own, looking her over a bit for a moment there until for a split moment, there was long pause...the machinations of what transpired between those pillars unbeknownst -

as Kirinji and Kasami come to their destination:

[sub]((Critical Immersion: "Genichiro's Lair"))[/sub]

=There they came to the end of the corridor - this end was different from the rest. the entire time that they had been going before the hallway was only somewhat straight, always leading in a curve going around the bend. Even if at some stretches the curve was only slight. But now at this end they came into contact with an odd music - ever calm and droning, in a way it was somewhat erie - giving the hallway that was already creepy before with the red lighting, a rather ominous atmosphere. There was a sound of women beyond the red curtain before them and a sound of only one man inside there intermingling with those women. The guide that had brought Kirinji here turned to look at him with the same smile plastered upon her face, having never waivered at all the entirety of the moment that they have met her till now - and she bowed and motioned her hand towards the curtain in silence, jesting that Kirinji can go ahead and make her way inside. With that she would only stand there quietly awaiting Kirinji to make sure that she chaperoned her properly through the curtain.=

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

Kirinji moved his head backwards slightly as the giggling woman jolted toward her. Out of courtesy he half smiled back at her, but you could tell he was clearly uncomfortable from his facial expression and body language, which was him postured to the side shielding his body with his arms and shoulder. It was hard to tell if he was actually uncomfortable and shy or if he was just playing the part. When the woman began talking he quickly glanced over at Ko and Sakuya before reverting his eyes back onto the woman, making direct eye contact. And when she stopped talking it was like he was looking into an unblinking abyss. An odd feeling indeed—one that would send chills down almost anyone's spine. It almost felt as if she was collecting and computing information and data akin to a robot before she talked again.

She turned around and floated toward what Kirinji assumed to be the path toward the Pitt Lord. Immediately as she turned around Kirinji looked at Ko and Sakuya, no longer shy or uncomfortable, and as they mouthed he responded by blinking hard and shaking his head while shrugging his shoulders in a ”I have no idea”. But nonetheless, she walked past the two and followed behind the woman as she led the way. As they walked across the first floor, Kirinji continued to subtly scan around for any more cameras, security, and even possible exits. He even looked at some of the games that were occurring and faked a slightly interested expression just in case someone was watching them.

The hall felt off—in the sense it was abnormally dark and constantly curving or bending. Outside of your immediate surroundings it was challenging to see because the darkness covered all so he made sure to stick close to each other where they were in visible range. Kirinji walked a bit farther when the woman had stopped before turning around and staring around at their surroundings. It was all so ominous and unsettling. The woman stopped and gestured toward the lounge and when Ko didn’t respond he glanced over at the two with a more keen eye—Wait, where is Sakuya? he thought to himself a second after looking over at Ko. He tried not to panic and remain calm, but his eyes couldn’t see far. The woman spoke again, this time grabbing Ko’s attention, and if he glanced over the woman’s shoulder he’d be met with an equal glare of confusion, but Kirinji subtly nodded his head no before side eyeing the woman.

(Non-Canon: Kirinji would recognize the voice and lunge through the curtains, breaking his transformation, as he yelled "YOU MOTHER FUCK-". The rage visible in his eyes like a flame lit candle dancing before ones eyes, his hands visibly shaking, and his facial expression clearly portraying an immeasurable amount of hatred toward the man. Before a moments notice he was there, in front of the long haired man, as he sent a vicious uppercut toward the-fuck this mans okay.)

As Ko went into the black curtains, Kirinji would hear a voice inside before the woman turned around and walked past him. As she did Kirinji would roll his shoulder backwards opening up his body towards her and as she walked past him he’d take one final look into the abyss trying to search for Sakuya in dire attempt. He quickly turned around and followed the woman before he lost sight of her as well. As they turned into the final bend after what felt like it would never stop, he could tell he was about to meet the Pitt Lord. The final stretched out path led them toward odd music, calming yet eerie, and paired with the red lighting it gave that odd ambiance. He had to be careful. Play his cards rights. Fortunately, he had Kasami here on his neck if he needed help and a gained element of surprise. The guide turned as they became close, with that same emptiness smile upon her face, and gestured after bowing her hand towards the curtain. He nodded and bowed back in respect and moved his hands forward to part the curtain before walking into the unknown.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

"Concubine a concubine - for me? What a gracious offering - really. *he whistled* she's quite a looker. Wu - you can go now your services are no longer needed....Wu? Damnit - we did call this one Wu? Right? I'll have to reprogram her again. She broke for the fourth time."

=As he said this if Kirinji had looked over at the smiling woman that had accompanied them - he would find that she was standing there staring - as she did since they met her in the first place but this time there would be a horror to behold. She had kept the same expression the entire time that they had met her and that she had lead them along through her, but at this moment tears were streaming down her face and her expression was one of horror and desperation. She was looking in different places - at Genichiro, then four other places in the gigantic lounge room, Genichiro and three women were affixed there at the center on a crescent couch - two of the women, barely dressed only covered in transparent silken robes sat over each shoulder of him; rested on the top of the couch with their hands on his shoulders to keep them posted up, and a third - laying across his lap, bust to the air as he sat there...needless to say from Wu's expression the situation was going tits up, no pun intended. Or at least it was hard to tell why she was doing such, what did he mean by programming? Her eyes raced to four corners of the room - each corner having a statue affixed to them, depicting a person with their face wrapped over and over in black tape...it was an odd sort of art - grotesque and dark, however in a way it was heart warming - seeming familiar. Genichiro sat there looking at her - while another woman came from behind the curtain that Kirinji just entered through, ever silent - and her presence was almost non-existent...how was that even possible? Were they shinobi? She moved ever so gracefully and grabbed Wu by her hand, and the side of her face - directing her out of the room as she interrupted the sound of the silent acquaintance with an ear piercing scream - and it wasn't just one but several followed by one another; the woman had become completely and utterly inconsolable. After she was escorted from the room Genichiro would be sitting there looking at Kirinji with a wide smile on his face. "Well sweetie aren't you quite the sight to behold? Pale - delicate as a flower, I'll have to meet your sponsor - certainly they have great taste, may need them to find another or two like you. I'am Genichiro Of Seven Winds, better known to some as Kami, Kami No Shi. Who do I have the pleasure of making the acquaintance and the even brighter pleasure of companionship with today? Do come sit." =As he said this the girl in his lap moved and walked off aside to a mini-bar in the room, as she vacated - so did Genichiro pat his lap as she left from it with a smirk upon his lips. The girls sitting behind him beckoned Kirinji along with the happily seated grouping. The man simply sat there and awaited her motion and introduction next.=

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

There was an overwhelmed expression clearly on his face when he walked in. His teeth were tight and locked and his eyes were wide open as he looked around taking in everything in the room before staring at the ground. One could chalk this up to nervousness and by his body language—her body language she was shy and holding her arm. And her shoulders—oh they were painfully tight and rolled forward. While on the exterior he was portraying a timidness on the interior he was calm and collected, merely acting so he could scout the room quickly.

While on the exterior he seemed shy and overwhelmed, the interior he was calm and collected. He was playing this part so he could quickly look around momentarily to gain some insight. Kirinji was listening to each and every word the man said and when he mentioned reprogramming, he couldn’t help but look back at the woman who led him here, and much to his confusion, he found her horrified and crying? It felt just as odd as when she had that smile plastered on her face. Another woman gracefully came from behind the curtain grabbing Wu by her hand, startling Kirinji a bit as he couldn’t feel his presence—it was non existent and the only thing he could relate it to was his encounters with Izanagi, encounters where he could see Izanagi, his mind registered he was there, but couldn’t feel him. It was abnormal. Something he still hasn’t understood.

But there was something that caused him to tighten his shoulder naturally and snap back toward where the screams originated from. It was startling and chilling at the same time, especially because it wasn’t just one scream, but continuous screams. He glanced back at the man swiftly—feeling uncomfortable with his back to a man like him. And he was right. He was just sitting there … smiling. The man began to introduce himself and when he heard that name the tenseness in his body released. Not of relief or ease, but the sudden realization of what they had gotten themselves into. See to Kasami that name may mean nothing, but Kirinji understood very well that that name held unfathomable weight. Very few in the world can influence the world with just a name alone—Izanagi Mebu, Sam’e Narukagami, and Kami no Shi. Those three were among the few who could influence nations with just a mere mention of their name. They could end wars alone whether that be by their presence or through a … hands on approach.

”Kami no Shi, huh?”

There was a ball of sweat that rolled down the side of his face, from his temple down to his chin and off onto the ground. His fist tightened weakly and without the normal intensity. Kirinji’s voice was no longer disguised and it was his own—the disguise slowly withering away as a snake peeling its skin. The blue haired man’s appearance became apparent and he spoke again, but this time it was like something was stuck in his throat.

”If you really are Kami no Shi, I won’t waste your time. My name is Kirinji Uchiha, and like you, I come from the older generation of the Uchiha Clan. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your name is legendary.”

Every word Kirinji said was true. It was a pleasure to meet the man and his name was indeed legendary—maybe even legendary as Izanagi. Kami no Shi of the past was a ruthless man, killing for sport, whereas Izanagi would be ruthless towards the mission. But outside he was approachable. He worried if this was the same Kami no Shi, or better. As finished his sentence, he bowed slightly towards the man in respect before standing upright. He didn't take a seat as Kami no Shi had previously offered as circumstances had changed. And his facial expression tried to remain calm as possible, but in the back of his mind he thought of where Ko was and hoped he was safe. They had gotten into someone much worse than he had originally thought. There was a sense of worry, perhap even fear, surrounding Kirinji, you could feel it in the air, even taste it upon your lips—that’s how tangible it was.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

From the very moment of her transformation until Kirinji’s disguise faded away, saying that his teammate was overwhelmed would be an understatement. So much had happened to take in. It was almost too much to process, and too few moments to do so. Her nerves were high, running through a million different possible outcomes in her busy mind. Thinking of ways to get out of situations that they could find themselves in. It took everything she had when the time came to face Genichiro as herself to calm down and focus on the present. Overloading herself with what ifs would only cloud her in a moment where they did need to think quickly to get out. She could worry about everything else later. Ko being separated from them hadn’t been part of their plan, and neither had Sakuya disappearing, but it was something she adjusted to at least. It was the two of them against the odds now.

As Kirinji was introducing himself, there was no missing the sound of his voice- so it made her all the more nervous to be front and center before this man without the security of hiding as a necklace on Kirinji. But they were in this together, they had been this whole time, so she wasn’t going to leave him to the wolves alone. Besides, maybe their host would appreciate the transparency and honesty. There were just a few concerns she had about shifting back. Her constant state of near nudity was one of them, but also the blindfold. Not a lot of people were dumb enough to think nothing of it.

”Your name is legendary.”

Smoke accompanied Kirinji’s immediate vicinity, and it cleared quickly. Kasami was standing up next to him and pulling her haori tightly shut around her frame, trapping it beneath her arms as they crossed over her body. She gave Genichiro a bow out of habit and her usual tradition of being respectful to those superior to her, but it was obvious just looking at her she was uncomfortable, and she couldn’t hide it. It was what kept her from giving her name, and instead she just opted for tucking herself closely to Kirinji’s side for a moment, giving a look around the room herself now that she could see with her eyes- well, eye. She made everything about her as small and unnoticeable as she could, hoping it would save her. She’d never felt this out of her depth before. Even when Ko had been torturing her, she’d still felt like she could manage and make it on her own.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

[sub]((Listen While Reading: Genichiro's Lair))[/sub]

=The moment that the voice became normalized in the visage of the dainty girl Genichiro's expression didnt shift in even the slightest. Instead - he took a deep breath and shrugged his shoulders after patting his lap. That being said he pushed his hair back across his scalp once more and started to stand up. "Fuck. Thats no fun, I wanted to actually play some." Speaking with disdain under his voice as he rose - yet when he stood it was as if the entire elevation of the room rose with him. It was an odd feeling, one that Kirinji would know well

=It was almost exactly like when he met Izanagi again for the first time since he had become part of the Takamagahara. "We really shouldnt make this messy, hm?" the words would flash back to that day - when Izanagi held his hand out and simply twisting his hand around on the axis of his wrist caused the world around to seem to twist along with it as if telescoping reality itself. This was much less vomit inducing - yet sickening all on its on in the manner that it would give you that feeling like dropping on a roller coaster, chest heavy and legs light - feeling like being lifted up off the ground suddenly. With Izanagi, this was due to the fact that he was still adjusting to controlling the chakra granted to him by the Takamagahara; in truth - it was a precaution he was taking himself to ease the doubt in his mind about whether or not he was controlling it properly in a moment or not. If someone threw up just because he turned his hand...it was probably a good indicator that he didnt have the lid properly sealed shut. As for Genichiro? It was nothing of the like. Sure, he held his chakra control together for the sake of not raising eye brows - drawing unwanted attention or just overall causing a scene where there need not be one, but the man had a temper - and was simple to irritate. Just the fact that the situation did not go the way that he was hoping it would irritated him enough that he slipped on his control for just a moment as he rose and had to recompose that control once fully standing. Which he did flawlessly once he had caught it. The music droned on - and while it did so once Genichiro was standing the women around him came from sitting on the couch to standing there behind it - seeming to just float from off the couch and silently come to a stand as the poof of smoke formed before the party of the room, giving forth form to Kasami. As she pulled her haori around herself the women made sounds - some giggling and the others faintly whispering to one another. Suddenly - again without even so much as a physical presence being announced - two more women stepped from behind the two before Genichiro, looking Kasami over and then Kirinji as well. There was an odd type of excitement upon Genichiro's expression as he looked between Kirinji and Kasami till finally he just started laughing - at first both hands set together like clapping before his face until finally he couldnt contain it and laughed outright.

"Mikaboshi's rinnegan and a living - breathing Uchiha right before me as I live and breath. Hahaha - it must be my birthday, goodness. I don't believe it ha, there's no way. Show me."

=With that being said he would snap his fingers three times. The entire room seemed to react when he did - like a distorted wave from his hand all the way around the entire room rattling the statues that now seemed to crack a bit from the snapping and hair peeked from between the tape on the statues. Some with tufts of shorter hair hanging down and others with long hair and ponytail. When he had snapped - Kirinji would find that one of the two women that had emerged behind him would set her hands ever gently on his shoulders - and look, wanting to see herself as well - evident that something was about to happen and then from there it would transpire. If he was caught off by any of this he would find that his sharingan was just...on - activated without even a thought. And were he any wiser or alert at this moment he would notice the transition...rough - burning, feeling like his eyes were being dilated if he actually attempted to resist the sensation too hard. As for Kasami - the other woman would come over and press herself against her back ever gently - honestly it could hardly be felt at all; and when she did she would take her hand and try to bring it up - encouraging her to remove the eye patch herself as she did, smiling at her gently, lovingly, understandingly - god forbid she meet the woman's gaze, it was utterly entrancing. Like she knew of everything you had ever wanted, and everything you never knew you did. At this point Kasami would find herself in a much similar position to Kirinji, where if she was too off guard or focused on other things before she knew it her eye patch would be gone, exposed to the open - or if she tried to resist there would be extreme discomfort, like trying to fight against paralysis. Genichiro would be watching intently, the smile upon his face spreading more and more til finally all was laid to bare. He would look at the Rinnegan of Mikaboshi with an almost delicate nostalgia but more so he would be fixated upon Kirinji. His laughs accompanied by the way that he looked at Kirinji and suddenly he would stop. Very obviously he remembered his composure and where he was - adjusting the glasses upon his face as he took slow deep breaths trying to pull himself together. As he did such he responded to what Kirinji had said:

"Legendary. Heh - man thats a different one. In Naraka - I've taken on a different role. Criminality. It's been very long since speaking to anyone that would know me as. . .legendary. Kirinji Uchiha *he tasted the name on his tongue a bit* You do seem familiar. I wonder. . . will I remember you?"

=With that he wagged his finger in towards himself, beckoning for the man to come to him. The moment that he would have done so - Kirinji would feel that same involuntary sense coming over him where if he did not notice from the start - he would find himself walking towards Genichiro without so much as even a thought when he said such. There was something obviously gone sickeningly wrong in the room at some point or another; now placed in a situation where Kirinji was walking directly towards Kami No Shi - perhaps one of the biggest murderers of the Uchiha Clan Golden Age with very little that he could do to escape, and worse to boot - there was something different about the man...he was even stronger then he was back during those times. Genichiro would watch him with excited eyes - looking directly to his own eyes as well without so much as worry or hesitation - infact it was with full confidence as he would glance over at Kasami - watching her observe the helpless situation before looking back at Kirinji and inquiring:

"Why have you come to me today? What do you want? Or rather....what do you think you want?"

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

Kirinji was slightly caught slight not caught off guard with Kami no Shi’s tone when he spoke about wanting to play. He was under the assumption that the man would liken the transparency before him and appreciate that his time wasn’t wasted. But on the other hand he understood the philosophy and the enjoyment behind the hunt. From the sound of it, Kami no Shi already knew of their identities and was only humoring them—or himself. Genichiro rose from his seat and when he did there Kirinji’s mind flashed back to a particular encounter he had with Izanagi, a time when Izanagi was completely wrapped in bandages from head to toe as if he were undergoing a severe change. Unfortunately, Kirinji never knew why or what that was for. He never asked either.

From his eyes one could tell that Kirinji’s attention wasn’t focussed on the immediate, but rather seemed reminiscing of the past. It was only momentary and he was brought back when it seemed as the whole room shifted up with Kami no Shi, a feeling that he had endured before. He remembered the first time he encountered it that day with Izanagi, a simple rotation of his wrist induced a sickening vertigo-like effect upon Kirinji. He couldn’t predict the imbalance that was going to occur so he could only act when it was inflicted upon him. It wasn’t as vomit inducing, but the sickening effect still remained—his chest became heavy and his legs became tight. It was only momentary though as the moment he felt these effects he coursed a current of yang and yin throughout his entire body, reinforcing his mind and body. Smoke accompanied Kirinji’s immediate vicinity and Kasami had stood next to him, pulling her haori shut and bowing before sinking into his side.

He couldn’t fathom what she’d be going through right now and when that thought occurred a protective side of him emerged, one that typically remains hidden. Kirinji shifted forward a bit on the side Kasami was and lightly wrapped his arm around her arm closest to him pulling her sort of into his side and slightly behind him as the man began to laugh and clap his hand. ”Show me.” the man said, three snaps occurred and he could hear the statues crack—something odd was happening with them as he swiftly glanced over at one of them before one of the two women emerged from behind gently setting her hands on his shoulders. He couldn’t feel her again, and he had been on guard the moment he had set foot inside the casino. Why couldn’t he feel her? The thought hammered throughout his mind and as if he were hitting the very thought with a foldable chair. When she looked she was met with a look of confusion and intrigue and his eyes would begin to burn slightly, but he was resisting it well. Enough for him to try and converse with the woman.

”How are you all doing that?”

That referencing their movement. He glanced over at Kami no Shi and then back at the woman, and then back onto Kami no Shi who was glaring intently to see what would come into fruition. But for Kirinji’s case it was nothing. He breathed in deep through his nostrils and out through his mouth at the same time Kami no Shi had adjusted his glasses and took deep slow breaths. ”You do seem familiar. I wonder. . . will I remember you?" followed by the finger wag—a sight almost as traumatizing as the nightmares that cursed his sleep. The sight of the pale lavender Rinnegan behind that very beckon—Vision of the Beast. He felt the urge of wanting to go over there, but he understood and fought it well. Flashes of his crimson optics would come on and off as if one were switching the light on and off, but for the most part it remained off. He listened to the words that Kami no Shi, trying to focus on that versus that subtle pain and urges he was enduring.

”Let's hope it doesn’t come to that, Kirinji spoke referencing if he will remember him, ”We’ve come in hope that you would grant us passage forward towards Izanagi. My understanding is that the gate only yields to two people, Izanagi and you. And seeing how we can’t get to him, we were hoping you could aid us in our journey. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated and ya’know—good karma and all.” With that last bit he aimed to try and make Kami no Shi laugh, maybe even chuckle, and Kirinji surely wouldn’t if Kami no Shi didn’t. But if he did—he’d match one with equal intensity.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

It was both amusing and infuriating how fucked you could feel even just standing in the middle of a room, fully clothed. He’d caught her slipping, there was absolutely no denying that. Kasami had already been one foot in the grave, thankfully not literally, as soon as she’d transformed back. This fear- the paralyzing sense that she is in over her head, she’s felt it before. When she came face to face with Mikaboshi and had to force herself to move. This was just like that, but somehow it was so much more. There was more at stake here, it felt like- somehow. Maybe it was the fact that this was an unknown, and there was no Tengu here to sweep away the problem. At least at the temple, she knew some of what she was facing. He was there for the idol, and that was his main objective. Genichiro seemed like a wildcard. Like a man that had everything he wanted, and everything else after that was just... fun and games. She hardly believed that he had much else to do besides play around with whatever fell into his lap.

He made her uncomfortable, staring at him from Kirinji’s side for at least the better part of her standing on her own two feet. As her teammate slid his arm around her she was startled, a little jumpy at the touch- but she recovered as he pulled her against his side and she felt just a little bit better. Until the women walked toward them at least. If she could have, she’d have melted right into his body to hide.

Kasami looked back up at Kirinji almost kind of frantic as she was touched- and then her expression shifted to confusion for just a moment. Her chakra surged, but it never went away. A new fear settled in. She looked at her hand as it lifted toward her face and then toward the woman, and unfortunately for her- locked eyes with her. Light flooded her eye as the makeshift eyepatch was removed. She blinked several times to adjust before she let the woman look her over, forgetting about keeping her haori shut, as she just stood there with her hands at her sides. If she felt fucked before this must have been like double penetration, cause she didn’t even realize she’d taken it off, of her own accord, until she noticed the ribbon dangling from her fingers. This situation was weird- too weird for her liking. Where was Ko? Why did they get separated? What happened to Sakuya? Where were all these women coming from and why were they so touchy? And what the hell was up with those statues. They freaked her out.

Everything had been tuned out, only partially hearing Kirinji speaking to Genichiro as she tried her best to think of a way out of this situation. If surging her chakra didn’t work, then how could they break this? That had been the only way she’d learned how to. Something kept telling her that things were especially dangerous for Kirinji, since their host seemed to have taken an interest in him, but she couldn’t stop anything from happening. Maybe that’s what scared her the most.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

[sub]((Listen while reading: ...Meanwhile...))[/sub]

"Strong ones around here this time. Didnt think there would be any potential today - guess I should've known with all the unusual arrivals. Heh - still, you're worm food if you dont concede. Not an every match luxury, I'd take it."

=The crowd was roaring out of control - what were the floors and walls made of? Cause it was a wonder that by the sheer numbers and volume of the crowd down in the pitts cheering the entire building wasnt shaking. Down in the cage was the man that had spoken to Ko before - bandages glowing an odd dark aura and his hair floating in the air along with the bandages - which had been extended out and was wrapped around a rather large adversary across the arena that had been resisting against the bandage - which was dug into his bicept and wrapped around his wrist like a serpent, the cloth somehow enhanced to have a razor sharp edge to it. His arm was dripping blood all over the dirt of the arena but the man seemed unphased by the pain, a confidet smirk upon his face."If some trick rags is all you've got and you're expecting me to concede - I'mma have to see what brains ya got in that skull once I crack it open."

=The moment that he said this the crowd would make a low and deep "ooooh" sound...and it definitely was not a good type of sound as if the crowd was liking what they were hearing...it was almost the type of sound as if to say "You shouldnt have done that." and as the crowd made this noise the man would have looked at the large brute of an oni and point to himself with his free hand that wasnt holding the bandage as he said: "Oop...would ya look at that. Looks like the crowd has more of a clue then you buddy...you better apologize to me befor- eh well scratch that actually; its already too late - I don't forgive you. Crack my skull open huh? I dont think you have it in ya big guy...I just dont think you've got the guts - know what I mean? Here...show me." and as he said this he would have withdrew the bandage from the mans arm, coiling back out like the previously referenced serpent - the bandage seemed to absorb the blood from the mans arm into it rather then letting a drop hit the ground before it coiled back around the black haired man's shoulders. He was giving him a freebie by the looks of it - hands in his pockets as he stared at the man with a confident smile to match his own smirk - it was borderline arrogant as he stood there. This angered the brute in the arena and meanwhile in the VIP stands - Ko stood there looking down into the pitt utterly confused. This was more then he had opted for but even being brought here and now watching he couldnt help but be mentally invested in the fight - wondering a'loud: "The hell is he doing? Certainly he's not giving this giant a free hit." But he was doing just that - with an angry yell the brute charged in to strike at the bandage wielding man - and soon the gap was closed, dark black silhouette eclipsing the black haired man as he raised his arm...and nothing came out. In fact - the brute stood there with his arm raised but didnt move at all, deep red eyes glowing from inside the dark cover of the opponents shadow from the brute of a man. You could hear the black haired man's voice coming from the glowing red eyes inside the shadow with a sinister confidence - almost sadistic pleasure. "See man...what I tell ya? No guts." =Though it was quite apparent that the reason this man stopped was not due to lack of intent but something else going on internally - his expression was horrified. The black haired man smirked and the shadowed silhouette of his body being towered over by the brute reached forward and called out: "Gae Bolg" and the moment that he said this it seemed like a time/space aperture appeared behind the male - a gnarly looking lance - adorned at the head by what looked like an ornate dragon drove straight through the back of the brute and out his stomach to the Black Haired man's hand - Ko's eyes darted open and his mouth gaped slightly at the pure brutality; but his expression would only grow more grim as the proceedings occur. He caught the lance and flourished it behind his back - then started alternating flourishes from hand to hand over and over crossing his chest working the lance so fast that it looked and made a sound like nunchaku. Blood flew up in the air with every sound of wind cutting the air and finally after maybe the twelth flourish he rammed the lance into the chest of the man and drove him up into the air...there was nothing fancy about it - simply startling as it was; his body went into the sky quickly like a firework and with an explosion expected of such they lingered there in the air - the black haired man seemed to burst into glowing indigo particles and reshape above the Brute in the air. The pitt ceilings were incongruently high, everyone in the audience even the VIP stands had to look up at the battle as it went on, even Ko found himself gawking at the overhead to keep up. Then once in the air the black haired male smirked - a shift occuring on his lance.

=The thing about his lance was the fact that it was in actuality hollow by a very small diameter. If one looked at the lance they could see a bright magenta light coursing through it from the base all the way up ever slowly creeping till it got to the wings of the dragon, where the odd light would drain off till it started filling the tip of the wings and outwards with that same light. Once the wings became filled the lance itself would begin to glow as well, releasing a field around the spear itself that would diminish the air resistance around it and allow the spear to be swung at full force without wind resistance nor friction. As the black haired man drew it back - he also held a single handseal to his chest with the opposite hand, eyes wide and expression a'blaze with excitement as the trained eye could see something gathering around both himself and the victim in the air with him. He was utilizing dust release - and the same way that there were techniques known to decrease the density of an item - he was doing the opposite, tripling the density of the victim as well as himself. Once this was done and settled as they lobbed in the air he would break the anticipating silence of the crowd with a single word:

"Glower"

=And with that the black haired man's odd energy and chakra that had coursed over himself and the brute focused downwards on their path as he applied the newly altered density - as well as the propelling energy inside the lance to thrust it downwards onto the man and ride him straight down into the arena once more. At ground zero of the crash there was a bright purple exhaust that came from the explosion as the impact was enough to shake everything in the arena - and there at the bottom once the smoke cleared was the black haired man crouched having caught his landing perfectly and the other man? No where to be found.. There wasnt even so much as bloodstain of where the man would have landed or could have been after the fact. The attack had completely atomized him and his corpse. Once the black haired man stood he pushed his hair back over from his face and the crowd went wild - meanwhile Ko in the VIP stands looked off in the distance at him in complete and utter shock...he was strong - insanely so to atomize an opponent entirely. Suddenly - he did not like the idea of being here at all. As a matter of fact he couldnt wait to find his way out as soon as possible, and quickly started to look around the area for an out as the announcer of the pitt fights called: "And there you have it folks - thats what happens when you get overconfident. Your winner here today - and crowd favorite: "Kazekuto Fujimori!"

=Their chakra pathway system - it rattled,shooting chakra through their body in bursts while undergoing the utterly disheartening situation that they had been caught in. Kirinji taking the course to shift the balance of yin and yang in his body as well, Genichiro noticed that and smirked curtly. The statues in each corner of the room - they rattled, almost as if in mockery or amusement at the attempts, the confusion, the helplessness of the two in the room here with Genichiro. They would begin to find that there was much more going on here then any common illusion - genjutsu, or anything of the matter; all the same that when dealing with Izanagi you were likely to learn a lot of different things and witness concepts and manipulations you never thought possible, the same was no different for Genichiro...for all intents and purposes he had become the worst case scenario of what you would think Izanagi was capable of....in fact - if you looked at their appearance it would be a wonder...they looked strikingly similar even down to the red gloves, the only difference in appearance was the hair and small details on the suit. Kasami's haori fell open - and with it Genichiro's attention averted to her with a raised brow and a catcalling whistle - he was attracted more so to her current state of vulnerability then just herself at the moment, wondering what it would be like to taste the fear in her anxiety induced sweat off her skin. He was not ashamed of the darkness in his eyes as he looked at her - in fact instead of regaining his composure like anyone else caught in the act would - he simply adverted and turned that same gaze back over to Kirinji and started to laugh when he asked the woman how did they do that. Then came the moment when he noticed how he pulled Kasami over to him to protect her...heh protect her:

"How fucking heart warming, heh - if I had a heart."

=He couldnt help but say out loud, it was his inner thoughts but they were so strong - so powerful to his character that they couldnt help but spill out to the outside..they rattled him. Then there came the moment that the man spoke of good karma - his eyes widened as if he was surprised to hear of it and then suddenly he started laughing - his laugh rising higher and higher he even bent over and slapped his knee as his head went towards the ground and he continued on laughing - as a matter of fact this laughter could be described as horrifying in itself...it took hold of him, carried him away from the situation and even the joke that had brought it upon him in the first place - plunged him into a spiraling abyss of thoughtful irony - this laughter...

...it rattled him...

=Then something happened, like straight out of an Uchiha clan boogeyman story. Kami No Shi struck his head upwards - laughing but this time it was much more sinister, and much more direct - it was like he was laughing at Kirinji...for something that he'd done...or maybe he was laughing cause he'd imagined it....imagined what he was going to do. His sharingan was now active - eyes wide like foglights looking between Kirinji and kasami as if he was waiting for them both to meet his energy with the laughter. Then suddenly his expression snapped to stoicism as he raised his hand and mumbled:

"Karma....right."

=His mind flashed back to it...he could hear all of it like it was happening right before him again. His hand up - trying to bring down a blade upon Izanagi's crown. The look in his eye...he had been so close to Izanagi, a brother in arms for a very long time - it was he and only he that knew Izanagi's true origin as a Senju and found fellowship with him and his vision for the future. Of course now their attraction was for apparent reasons to the two of them but they had found each other early in the days of Shi'Chi Rou's reign and it was the two of them who'd conspired together - a plan to overthrow and destroy the Uchiha clan and the system of the modern shinobi world. It was he who defeated Izanagi - in the start before he had become what he had, when he was still Mitsunari Uchiha, the first and only defeat....the first and only mercy - that was his mistake. He remember that day knowing what was coming. He'd just put Kirai to rest, a failed attempt made at securing the Shichibi and when he confronted and dismantled Kirai for his failure...he knew that would push the line for Izanagi...he knew that it would only be a matter of time before the reckoning and he knew...that he would not be able to defeat him. He should have stomped out that spark before it grew into the wild fire - no, the solar flare that it was at that day and it was on his mind all through the struggle between the two of them...or more so the struggle with himself. There wasnt a bit of exerted effort on Izanagi's face, and the last thing he remembered was becoming absolutely fed up with his disgrace and humilation of the power that he once held: "Well!? What the fuck are you waiting for!?!?!?" and then...the cold black embrace of death. He remembered waking up after that in a lab on a table...he looked like himself but....not quite - he looked more like Izanagi and he felt...rejuvenated - he felt more powerful then he ever had before but in the same token...he was made to bare eyes upon the truth....and in witnessing it he also felt...ever the more helpless then he had before. He remembered looking at her...her beautiful....other worldly radiance sitting in that doorway watching the dancing Tengu...and her words to him:

"You're a tool now. I'm sorry - but its the only thing a murderer like yourself would be suitable as. You kill recklessly without concern nor consequence - the graveyards you've filled, theres no true repentance for it. You can't stop a hatred like yours...but maybe I can redirect it. You're mine now Kami."

=Property....he'd become - part of Izanagi...yet owned by him. Their bond now - it was stronger then it had ever been, but his will? At any given moment it would not be his own depending on the beck and call of none other then Izanagi. The one person the most infamous murderer in perhaps history...didnt murder...and he came back to not only murder him - but enslave him...enslaved in death, but they'd had such a good relationship. For a moment...he finally stopped seeing red and realized who was in front of him - not whom his mind was set upon and his expression became more calm...he chuckled and then closed his raised hand. "Protecting a Senju...an Uchiha - and your power...it hasnt even fully blossomed yet, even despite your years. Kirinji Uchiha...yes...you all seek to see Izanagi but you in particular have been searching...for him - for quite some time now. You in particular....are looking for Izanagi...your group looking but you in particular...seeking. . . so do it alone - kill her. Kill her and I'll give you passage." =The moment that he closed his hand in such a way, the very pressure of the room they were in seemed to get heavy - those emotionless, careless disdainful spiraling sharingan looking at them not like they were people or anything living...like they were simply data to be analyzed. As he did...he would find that the women around them that had their hands on them would melt inside of them from the points that they were making contact. From the point that they did this the pain of resisting the influence of Genichiro would become more and more intense - it was mind seering and made it almost impossible to even think in the moment. However the pleasure and feeling of obedience....it was euphoria - like an instantly working line of cocaine inhaled from the palm of god himself. The contrast between moments was...a pull of Brobdingnagian proportions to resist. Most assuredly - neither of the two had felt anything like this before not even Kirinji. Of course he had experienced genjutsu under Izanagi before, but this was make it all the more clear - that Izanagi had been holding back and taking great lengths of mercy for Kirinji during combat. He was capable of this as well but never wanted to subject anyone to it...evident at this point that it was genjutsu, but this level of genjutsu? Once you thought you were adjusting to Naraka, Izanagi and the oni - and the new bounds that could be achieved, the bar just gets raised a bit higher; for this was a level of genjutsu that even Team 2 had no idea even existed. The statues in the corner shook - cracking more, and now it was evident - two at the north end had hair poking out from the top and now part of the face....Kirinji and two at the south end of the room ponytails - very evidently female, Kasami - both their faces depicted in the statues wrapped in tape tight. The music seemed to get louder as Genichiro laughed - this time the truest laughter that he had let out; this was the laugh of Kami No Shi as it had always been in the days of old - boisterous and high pitched a mocking laugh of condescension as he approached Kirinji and gave him insight to even more of the genjutsu's effects...to which he would find to be...quite rattling: "Ah - let me make it easy. I know you have a . . . signature method." **with that said he pulled a pencil from his breast pocket - adorning it like a trophy and slotting it into Kirinji's hand where he pat it snug** "Now....write this moment of weakness out of your history. You've seen it...seen a taste of it - YOU HAVE THEM TOO I KNOW YOU DO! The VISIONS!" **By this point he was screaming hysterically, teeth grit tight against each protracted pearly white digit as he stomped his foot with each syllable and tears started to stream down his eyes...not merely at the tantrum...but now he had two...his own vision...and witness to the vision Kirinji bore....the nightmares** "Its heh....its so much isnt it - and yet...its not even the surface level. That kind of power...it can only be achieved by embracing your true self...EMBRACE IT! Y-you..heh...you're a murderer too!" =Utterly crazy, unhinged....psychotic and entirely batshit....he was...rattled - to say the least, slapping his face almost involuntarily as exasperated hicups of joy, fear, anger, and lonliness hammered against his face like coins to the bottom of a wishing well. As he said this he danced backwards - it was like a waltz, spinning and spiraling looking up to the sky laughing as more giggles and laughs of women seemed to echo from around the room....they were coming from the floor - , slowly morphing into ghastly, erotic, yet repulsing moans, all around Kirinji and Kasami's feet - everyone that would touch would melt inside of them; for Kasami holding her in place making her look him in the face as he struggled and for Kirinji - driving pencil in hand towards her heart more and more. It wasnt about the murder....no it was about more then that - which is why Genichiro didnt bother telling that he wouldnt allow Kirinji to kill the girl here and now...no there was more to it then that - much more to it then that and besides - he was having so. Much. Fun. The floor started to twist and build into a small pyramid at Kirinji's feet - comprised solely of the bodies and hands of these silken gown women giggling, whispering, caressing, tasting and tempting Kirinji - what couldnt assimilate into him due to capacity curled and crawled over him, and the same for Kasami with some guiding their hands to her face and caressing her face - licking the side of her cheek while they made her watch Kirinji.Genichiro fell back - stumbling over the back of his heels as he held his chest while laughing, doubling over with that ancient - powerful sharingan trained upon them as now the tears streamed down his face from pains at the laughter...he couldnt stop laughing - the semblance and irony of everything...it hit a certain spot with him. He caught himself on a statue of a tiger and leaned upon it as he observed in glee.=

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

The more he observed, the more he saw the similarities. Between Izanagi and Kami no Shi. It wasn’t like this before however, not how he remembered it and he would know with his memory. The only thing that was different was his hair, but perhaps his eyes were deceiving him, the very eyes that were flickering on and off between the three tomeo Sharingan. He laughed, Kirinji awkwardly followed suit, but the short time they were laughing together—there was an odd feeling that Kirinji felt deep within, an odd ambiance, an odd energy. He became more skeptical when Kami no Shi slapped his head and bent over in laughter. It wasn’t that funny, was it?

It changed mid way through though and that’s when he knew. It was when he struck his head upwards and the laughter had taken a turn. It became more sinister, more vile, and he was no longer laughing at the joke, but at Kirinji, whose own falsified laughter was dying out. He didn’t care he was being laughed at, though he didn’t like where this was headed. But when he noticed those wide, barbaric eyes of Kami no Shi and the sudden abrupt stop in his laughter, only one thing went through his mind.

”Uggh fuck.”

The one and only thought that had flashed through his mind. They’d fucked up—that much was clear, but how? Was it something he said? Was he rude? Was business bad today? Was he just crazy—was it? Perhaps the stars weren’t aligned in their favor today. Regardless of whatever had caused them to suffer these consequences, they were in, and they found themselves at what more than likely could be the end of their road. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling, but an emotion he couldn’t put into words surged within him. He could feel his body becoming internally warm as if he had been standing on fire. He didn’t understand why, but he felt such a tightness in his chest that he could hardly breath, much less stand it. The ratting statues became painstakingly more annoying—it was nice they were … mocking him. Kami no Shi was right, Kirinji’s power—they hadn’t blossomed. But his lack of power surely wasn't shortcoming—was they?

Was he showing weakness when he allowed for his closest friends to live? He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about it. The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was tempting—far more tempting than it should be. He could’ve collected both Kouwei and Eikou Uchiha at will if he had wanted, but he didn’t. Was that a shortcoming? Should he have just done it and gotten it over with? Was that his weakness, his shortcoming? A chill ran down his spine and the goosebumps upon his arm became more apparent. And suddenly, suddenly he understood what he was feeling. It was fear. He was reminiscing, or rather, thinking about all the defining moments that had led him to this point. Thinking about what could've gone differently and where he could’ve become more powerful, more stronger so he wouldn’t be in this situation. So they wouldn’t be in this situation. She was so young.

Genichiro’s influence on him suddenly became stronger, but he stood there fighting with all his might, gritting his teeth, visibly shaking. He wasn’t sure if he was angry at Kami no Shi for doing this or more angry at himself for being able to do nothing. It was clear as daylight by now that they had been within a genjutsu—a powerful genjutsu. The women around them emerged and wherever they placed their hands it felt akin to an inferno touching them, melting him from inside out. The music became louder and as Kami no Shi laughed, Kirinji understood that this was the same Kami of Shi of the old. He hadn’t changed one bit. That boisterous, high pitched mock laugh of condescension—he remembered it well. He hated that laugh. Even him. He came closer and the genjutsu effect became more potent, rattling him. And when he came closer and showed him and pulled out the pencil he would’ve chuckled if not the psychotic mannerism of the man. The animal. He was screaming and Kirinji winced in pain slightly turning his face to the side before reverting his gaze back onto him.

The Visions. The Visions. The Visions. The fucking Visions.

If he hadn’t put them in this situation, Kirinji would’ve sympathized with him. Those curseome visions, oh how they tormented him so much. Tears lightly streamed down his cheeks as he pushed his head down, gritting his teeth unbelievably tight. His shoulders rolled forward and his body became tense as Kami no Shi waltzed away. An agent of chaos. It was all Kami no Shi ever wanted. Chaos. It was the only thing that made him happy. The room began to echo with the laughs and giggles of the women, mocking him just as the statues did. Their laughs morphing into ghastly moans all around his feet and with every touch there was an unbearable heat inside of him. He was shaking, his fist so tightly closed that his nails would puncture the skin in his hand and there would be blood on his fingertips. It was quiet during that time he was waltzing back and Kirinji had his head down, quiet for quite some time. He wasn’t battling the thought of whether or not he should kill Kasami. He was battling the influence of Kami no Shi. And a demanding fight it was.

The floor began to twist and build into a pyramid of solely bodies and the hands of the women giggling, whispering, tempting—tempting him to give him. He refused. No, he rebuked it. Not verbally, but visually as he continued to fight the influence of the illusion. It was until moments later he spoke again, his head still down as his hair shielded his eyes, a tear here or there falling from his cheek and onto the ground, or rather onto one of the many women. Kirinji began to speak, his voice clearly choked up and in a petrified state.

”You’re sick ya’know that? Turning us against each other. You sick—”

The thought of Kasami dying—no that’s not what it was. The thought of murdering Kasami and all the ways he could do it with this pencil flashed through his mind like flipping through a thick photobook. It was all that went through his mind along with the pain from the women being registered. But as that emotionally draining thought echoed throughout his head, a powerful chakra in both intensity and magnitude coursed through his body and more specifically to his eyes. And soon as that occurred a state of tranquility and blissfulness washed over him and his fears. His shoulders became loose, tears were no longer streaming down his eyes, and his body was no longer tight. It was as if the whole energy around Kirinji had shifted. And his vision—he could see so much clearer now. The illusion fading away as reality set in, a room with just them three. Genichiro, Kasami, and himself. His oddly designed crimson optics staring back at Kami no Shi with incredible intent and purpose, Kirinji wasn’t going to submit defeat here. And he surely wasn’t going to kill Kasami for this man’s entertainment. The realization occurred. He knew that no matter what—there was nothing in the past that could’ve been done to ascertain enough power to combat this man. There was only the future. His future. Kasami’s future. Eiji’s future. And the future of the Oni. He had to see Izanagi. No, he was going to see Izanagi. And as that realizationed occurred, fears surrounding his shortcomings dwindled into nothing. Along with the fear of death. He—no they—were going to get to their destination one way, or another.

"I'll ask again—and I don't mean to be rude. But we really need to see Izanagi. Could you please open the gates?"

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

It would be a cinematic masterpiece on screen. A performance that would earn many awards and make this man the most desirable actress to play absolute lunatics. But this was no film or play, and the madman could very well turn out to be their executioner. Kasami hadn’t caught the look he’d given her. The predatory gleam in his eyes that could have drank her soul from her body and left nothing but a husk of fear. She’d seen that look before. The look when a woman no longer became a woman and was objectified as an item to play with. It no longer became about physical attraction, but the rush of the game. Cat and mouse. Drawing out the fear and gorging themselves upon it. She knew that there were many people like this in the shinobi world, which is perhaps why she had fallen in love with Ko when he had tortured her. There was a purpose to it, sacrifice and reward, and he’d also saved her. In a way at least. He’d restored her hearing, given her strength she never knew that she could have. He wanted her to be his, in a fashion, though she was sure that a romantic relationship wasn’t what he’d imagined at the start. He’d only been trying to create a weapon.

A weapon that now stood frozen watching the hysterics of Genichiro with eyes open wide. There would be a price, always there would be. So what price would they have to pay? Her eyes shook as if it was the only part of her body that could move- that could translate just how shaken she was into reality. Instinctively she wanted to turn away, but her mind and body were two separate entities in that moment. Her feet didn’t budge. Her heart was painfully thundering in her chest, and she’d been holding her breath long enough to see little white dots dancing across her vision. Her gaze was fixated on his hand, the one he’d raised. A million and one things went through her mind about what it could mean for them, but the last of them would have been the reality.

His hand closed, and the weight of the air became the heaviest it had ever been since she’d awoken here in Naraka. It pushed down on her painfully, but that was the least of her worries as he spoke of his demands. The moment that he addressed Kirinji about protecting her, and mentioned that he as an Uchiha was lacking in power- she knew it wasn’t looking good for her. His emphasis on how much and how long Kirinji had been looking for Izanagi just solidified her theory. But she was sure that her reaction to the news wasn’t what Genichiro expected it to be. She bowed her head, enduring the pain of this quietly despite how absurdly overwhelming it was and likewise that she was still conscious. She remembered her time in Ko’s genjutsu when he had broken every bone in her body over and over, and forced her to break her own. She had fallen unconscious more times than she could count in that torture. This was far worse- and yet she was still aware. For the most part at least. She consumed most of what she was capable of thinking about in a way to get out of their situation, if they could, but she was prepared to do what she had to do if it came to that.

As Kami approached them with more works for Kirinji, she just listened quietly, hiding her face beneath a veil of crimson hair. Was she still afraid? Was she crying? Her shoulders were shaking- so what was it? Was it just the pain? It was all coming to a head within this very room, and then one of his last words struck her, ringing her ears following it with white noise. He called Kirinji a murderer, and this white noise was accompanied by many flashes. Flashes that she could have done without seeing in this very moment when she was already so vulnerable. The look on his face when Kagane was destroyed. All of those men, women and children they witnessed being massacred and the week following, as he hid how he truly felt. They’d spent a lot of time together during that week, and she’d always seen it in his eyes when he thought no one was looking. All the times they’d laughed together…

No, he wasn’t like him. But if this is what he had to do- if this was their only way forward, then she would follow him in spirit. By the time Kasami’s reminiscent thoughts retreated, she’d already succumbed to the partial paralysis of these women, and her face had been turned upward toward Kirinji just as she opened her eyes. It was a damned thing, being a short person, because no matter how low he hung his head and tried to hide - she’d see. She saw it all. It tore her heart apart. Obediently Kasami remained in place and remained looking up at him, which eased the pain and allowed her words to come out as calmly as she felt. All she had to do was tune everything else out, and she found an inner peace in the acceptance of her death.

“Hey,” she said quietly, and almost too casually for the situation, and if Kirinji looked up at her he would see an expression on her face he’d never experienced before. She was an incredibly expressive person, there weren’t many faces she hadn’t made in their time of knowing each other, since they’d been through so much. She looked… solemn. “It’s okay, really it is.” Despite saying this, and accepting it, something had made her start to cry. Without being in her head, Kirinji wouldn’t know that it was because she was going through all the bits of her future that she’d miss out on. Their team, and Ko. Maybe even settling down and having kids someday. But this was… “This is bigger than us. I’m just one girl, and someone has to get to Izanagi. If he’ll give you passage- it’s a sacrifice we should make.” She cast a sideways glance at Genichiro as he sat there watching them, before quickly looking back to Kirinji. Ignoring the touches and licks and caresses of these ”women” was starting to get difficult, so she’d finish up quickly and they could get this over with. “Do it for Kagane, and the people that were massacred. Get to Izanagi, promise me- and make sure Ko stays alive. Tell him that I’m sorry, and that it’s not your fault. You’re not a murderer, and I already forgive you.” She gave him a sad smile, raising her hand to grab the wrist of the hand that was being forced forward, with the intention of guiding it as well.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

=She started to reach forward for Kirinji's wrist, even with his new found ocular clarity - he would find that the only thing this would bring him...would be enhanced clarity to see every ounce of hopelessness that was brandished upon them in the situation as it stood. His body would still be immobile - and if he payed close attention he would find that upon unlocking the new form of his sharingan, his ability to resist would become less potent despite the fact that the rest of his body would feel rejuvinated and born a'new.

[sub]((Listen while reading))[/sub]

=The boisterous sound of high impact snapping into flesh and bone directly in front of Kirinji would ring out in the room and before he knew it - Kasami was being flung across the room in a wide arch to land upon her back on the ground before it would be clear that Genichiro was standing there with one leg up...thats all that would be able to be made out - even with his mangekyou. That leg up - Genichiro would tilt his head without even dropping his leg balancing perfectly as he looked over with . . . even more snide confidence then before - still looking him straight in the eye without even so much as a hesitation to follow his new ocular prowess. It was like this development - emboldened him -more-. It was like Kirinji unlocking mangekyou sharingan was what he wanted...and that it gave him more advantage. There were indigo particles radiating off Genichiro's body and finally down at his balancing leg they solidified and gave forth his body. Kirinji had seen this before several times - Synaptic Dash, which would explain why he would have been unable to see the initial movement. Little did they both know - Genichiro did not intend for either of them to die....maybe Genichiro didnt even know this. So when the woman started to grab the wrist of Kirinji Genichiro would have dashed in and kicked her in her side just under her reaching arm - his own signature technique - "Flash Ripper", in which he used Hadami No Jutsu to manipulate the mass of his leg and swing it with unbelievable force and velocity, only to build up kinetic energy and stop his kick short just when it fully made contact with its target and project - that built up energy into an impact wave. He'd not kicked Kasami hard...at least not as hard as he was known for with the technique - this was a tutorial of a kick for him, but it was known to break rib cages and nearly cut people in half as well. He finally lowered his foot ever so lightly and delicately and seemed to have something in his hand - a little music box. He lifted it to his face examining it almost intimately like a pet as he started to speak:

"How trite, tragic, and pathetic. Just like a Senju and Senju sympathizer - I see why Izanagi likes you. . . sure you dont have some Senju in you as well? I had planned to torture you, put you through all kinds of horrors and atrocities to force that mangekyou out of you - but this...heh I suppose it will work. And you...Such potential. Kasami Senju. That sanctimonious, precious little sense of morality. It will win nothing. Sweet....delicate....lovable - and all too WEAK for this war...I'll put hair on your chest yet heh. What good does giving your life do? Going down without a fight? Giving yourself to death?. . . I would still have tortured him if he killed you or not. Maybe he'd die during that. Maybe I'll torture Ko too. You give yourself and for what? So he can tell Ko to live on? Without you - teach him to love....then let him go hoo hoo, who is really the cruel one here? Me....or you? Do it for Kagane? Eiji? Their dead - dead. You wont get those people back but your team completing your mission now that...that has potential - but a person short? Tsk tsk tsk - a grave disadvantage that you're willing to put them at and why? Cause your heart...wont let you push him through the suffering. Heh, I'd rather die from an aneurism resisting the genjutsu myself."

=As he said this he would close the music box and the music would stop - with it almost immedietely would their physical control be rested back to them and they would be allowed to move. Genichiro stood there still in front of Kirinji with a smirk upon his face at Kirinji, the statues in the corners now were sitting there as normal - simple statues with no ones face in particular depicted on them. As for the women? They were never there, physical manifestations of the genjutsu victim's rampant cerebral neurons controlling their motion...they were never being manipulated to move their bodies or appendages - but the women represented what part of their brain was being manipulated to move or restrict that part of the body. They were simply in a room - with Genichiro alone. . . a pitt lord like this didnt need security. Had either of them destroyed the statue that had their face upon it, it would have broken a major part of the genjutsu's hold on said person - then all that would have been left would be revealing the music box - that was hidden from their brain by the statues consciousness tether and destroying it. Genichiro turned all the way to look at Kirinji, this time his expression more serious:

"Feel it course through you...hatred - whether its for me or for the feeling of utter helplessness you just experienced in this room and think about this. There are people in the burning dawn that if you do not grow - will make you feel even -more- helpless...the salesman...I cant even begin to describe to you how helpless it will make you feel...you dont want to become -one- of those people from Kagane. You are an uchiha...your power is not in your skill, how many jutsu you know, your power - is in hate. I'am Kami No Shi - the physical embodiment of Susanoo and the true Incarnate of Indra - the Uchiha clan progenitor. Your blood - bares my curse - a curse of hatred. The more you know hate, the more you let it fester inside of you - the stronger you shall become and the clearer you shall see."

=With that being said he would turn his back to Kirinji and begin walking off towards his piano, where there was a seat behind as well covered in a curtain draped around it as if a veil. The man smirked and recited a line that he had always held dear to his heart for a great many reasons: "When a man learns to love, he must too bear the risk of hatred." With that he would snap his fingers and sit down on the seat before the piano - the curtains on the seat snatched back seemingly at his own will as he settled at the piano and popped his fingers before he continued, allowing Kirinji to take a view at what there was to offer:

"I'll give you passage to see Izanagi and continue your mission. But first - you must give me something. . . heh, but you wont know what it is you've given me - till I have it. Let me give you both. . . a high art."

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

”You can’t miss it. Fancy building just around the block, why are you looking to join the Pitt?” Asked a stranger to Sentou, the latter having asked the man about the Casino he was searching for. He had forgotten to ask the merchant about any distinguishable landmarks so he wouldn’t get confused or worse, lost. ”The Pitt? Nah never heard of it. Just looking for some people, I appreciate the help though.” Sentou responded kindly as he continued heading east from his previous location. Just what was he referring to as the Pitt? He was fully tempted to ask, but he didn’t want to ruin his cover as he remembered the Merchant mentioning someone was looking for their group hence the gifted disguise.

Despite his quick departure from the tea shop, the young man had slowed his pace just enough to blend in with the rest of the crowd, there were a ton of people so he figured it would be better to not draw anymore attention to himself. He inwardly prayed that he hadn’t jeopardized himself by questioning a complete stranger, leaving his faith in the cloth that covered his face Sentou slowly approached the Lucky Tiger Casino being left in awe as he started to enter without a second’s notice. The inside was considerably larger than his initial depiction of the building from the outside, it definitely reminded him of the Merchant’s shop and only peaked his interest with how amazing Naraka seemed to be; besides the constant struggle between life or death and aforementioned siblings killing one another, it seemed like a paradise, however the time for Sentou to unravel whether if that statement held any truth mattered not for it was a mystery to be solved at a later time.

As he continued further Sentou turned his nose in disgust to the aroma that was booze mixed with strong grape, the smell was so overbearing he could taste it almost wanting to gag however held his composure strong. Taking caution to reposition the wrap around his head, he’d tie it snug as a poor means of dealing with his current problem before moving down the hall ever so cautiously. He was within arms reach of his allies, but now wasn’t the time to be caught by surprise. As much as he discredited himself of being intelligent, he would need a plan. He was slowly growing up by wanting to use his head first instead of jumping into the fray, perhaps it came from the realization of Totsuka’s death or maybe he was tired of being seen as dead weight. Whatever the cause he had a goal in mind, to blend in as much as he could until he was able to come face to face with the likes of Kasami and Eiji, and should he have to feint a bystander for whatever this event known as Pitt was he would no doubt play the part.

Oni Archives · Mar 5, 2022

--Hitoko Okami-Uchiha--

Pitch black filled her vision. It was such an overwhelming black void that she honestly couldn’t tell if her eyes were open or closed. There was nothing for her nose to pick up on and her hearing had been hindered. The only thought that ran through her mind after what had happened to her as well as her current situation was; ‘This must be what it’s like to be a doll.’ Unmoving like her joints had been stuffed with sad and held in place and her eyes had been replaced with glass. It was a situation she had never dreamed of seeing herself in.
Hito left the safety of her Clan to find her husband – the only person besides her Clans men that she had ever cared for in her entire life. Normally, she was used to Kirinji being gone for long periods of time, but while he was gone this time, Hitoko was pleasantly surprised with the news that she was pregnant and couldn’t wait for Kiri to come back and experience joy with her, but after a while Hito started to feel sick and uncomfortable, her instincts had told her ‘something is wrong. Find help. Find him.’ And that’s when she set off to find her husband, only to end up in this situation which…She wasn’t exactly sure of. All she knew was that the little life she was trying to protect so desperately was gone, despite her efforts and the evidence was lathered in red across the fabric of her trousers, mixed with blood from her other injuries.
Hitoko’s light had been dimmed by force and ‘a doll’ was a rather suitable description. For others that would peer at her, it looked like she was an obedient dog that had been broken and would probably follow orders given to her – on top of that, it was obvious from her damp and blood-stained white hair and her dull mismatched blue and green eyes that her features were that of an Okami. Because of the talents Okami clansmen possess, there were a lot of people will to pay a high price for a dog they could chain up and use, especially ones that were young enough to be broken in which is why a few year prior, a handful of Okami children were kidnapped and when found, the kidnappers killed half of them in spite, though some remained missing while others were rescued and this event always weighed heavily on Hito, just like this current event. She wasn’t expecting to be saved and she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be saved. She felt as though life had no meaning, but of course when this crossed her mind, she wasn’t thinking about the husband she would leave behind or her teenage brother or the Clan and Fenrir who held this woman so highly in their hearts. Perhaps it was best to just stay as a doll and live mute and in silence for the rest of her life.
Before she knew it, Hito’s unblinking eyes were shedding tears while her face remained blank – the last time she shed tears was so long ago that it was a foreign feeling to her now and she wanted it to stop, but they wouldn’t stop spilling even if she tried to use biting into her tongue as a method.

[Cha 1 Location] Lucky Tiger Casino

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator