[Chapter 2] Ouka Prefecture

[Megumi]

Kasami’s eyes widened slightly at the merchant’s sudden change in demeanor. Sentou wasn’t the only one that found it out of what they had thought to be his character, but she dared not look away to confirm whether or not the others were paying attention to this. In that moment, she felt like she had painted a target on herself, and she wasn’t exactly sure why or how. They could have history, but a lot of people had history here. His reaction was almost… like he was destabilizing. Like the calm and collected merchant that he had always appeared as was cracked by panic. Panic about what? She had so many questions- for Mikaboshi mostly. But it seemed that the merchant had questions of his own. Her eyes were trained on him a little overwhelmed by the energy he was putting off, it unsettled her, rubbing her thumb across her finger to try and soothe the anxiety running its course through her. She fucked up, but she thought he’d known. So he hadn’t been acting cheeky before they got here when she mentioned someone telling her about Kiyoshi not being himself… What an idiot was she for just assuming that he already knew that too since he knew everything else. Now she had to come up with an answer that would calm the situation, and sound confident while doing it.

She blew out a sigh to calm herself and rubbed the back of her neck, about to avert her gaze from him when she noticed it. His visage at the corner of her eye staring the merchant down. Kasami herself froze, forcing herself not to look directly toward him or it might just seem off. Before she could even stutter a response, she heard her own voice and felt her lips moving, but she could hear Mikaboshi’s voice in her mind as well. It wasn’t as if he was giving her a line and she was reciting it- he was using her again. The same way he had before when she punched that mirror. The answer sounded confident because it was spoken with it, but she still seemed anxious. It could easily be chalked up to her reaction to the merchant’s behavior though. The truth was, the new discomfort came from what she had just said. It was such an uncomfortable feeling to have him controlling her body, feeling it moving and hearing herself when she didn’t do it. Mikaboshi could control her body, and she was so grateful for his help, but just what else was he capable of? She’d already had one eye change color. What- was her hair gonna turn purple next? Kasami saw him leave and she couldn’t sense him anymore, but she knew somewhere in there he was paying attention. He spoke when he felt it necessary, even if she had questions. He didn’t always answer. So many things ran through her mind, but she had to focus on the current situation. She left the response that she gave at what Mikaboshi had given to her, trusting his judgment and hoping that she could rely on his guidance.​

 

[CelestialBlack]

Ko stood at the opposite end of the corridor - he had been ready to leave before all of this had happened, embarked on the mission at hand that had seemed forestalled for so long. But when the interaction between the merchant and Kasami had gone down, more interesting proponents of the conversation...perhaps of the situation in its entirety had come into play. Sentou gave him a silent expression of inquiry - to which Ko had only a corresponding expression of confusion to answer back and clarify his mutual lack of information. Refocused on the conversation at hand his fist clenched but his face remained calm - his body prepared but his mind icy to contradict the raging inferno that he held at tight reigns ready to be let loose at any given time. The two of his team mates - he was unsure what it was that they saw. How they interpreted this latest response of the merchant before them. But he knew well what he saw before him. This was no panic, no urgency - this was the demeanor of an infiltrator and not just any infiltrator but one of professional repute that just discovered something very...very dangerous.

That he had perhaps made a mistake.

And like any skilled infiltrator that realized their existence behind enemy lines or at a point of engagement had been compromised his demeanor was holding just as much scrutiny and control as would be expected of just such a subject. Just such a subject that had indeed discovered, that their presence was being observed from a security feed...and what would any skilled infiltrator do in such a situation? Well, they would cut that very feed now wouldnt they? It was that which Ko had seen in the merchant at this time. Asking questions as if he had just spotted an elaborately designed or placed security camera and was asking himself "Is that a lense?" to gauge whether or not he should grasp it and throttle it against the floor. Ko was entirely unsure of the chances that they would have if such a thing were to be initiated - combat with the enigmatic merchant; but what he did know and was entirely ready for was to reach into his bag of tricks and pull out all the stops immediately, right then and there in the blink of an eye go from calm and collected to unleashing absolute fire and brimstone at one centralized target in the blink of an eye.

Scorched earth policy.

However, when he had just come to grips with not just the possibility but the inevitability that they would be engaged in combat - no, survival by an element that they did not yet understand a response came from Kasami. Ko's brow seemed to mirror that of the merchant though the way that each reaction processed what was being put out was entirely different. The merchant, skeptical but seemed to upturn his lip as if he was doing the math and all accounts added up - reciting the sum of his equation a'loud as he grasped it: "A record of memory. Hm. A restructuring of thought and subconscious personality to recompose and compile thought in a manner more understandable...at least to the stronger presence in the vessel. How interesting, such a strong man - a creature of legend deceased and even in death something as simple as his eye is strong enough to overpower the latent facilities of the living. Careful little Senju." He leaned in and looked her in the eye with an expression more serious then either that she had seen the entire time that they had interacted with one another: "There's a tapeworm within you - scuttling and slithering its way around inside you. Not all things in symbiosis hold fair consideration for its host. Take the memories and thoughts you may see and hear as...subjective interpretations at best. . . . . Hmph - no discounts and no interests in what you're selling. I think my time here is to be concluded sooner then I thought. Off you go, less you miss your chance meeting and fate conspire to derail you." He said as he turned around - waving his hand across the stand he had set up only to have the otherwise solid structure wash away into a dust of bitter black and scatter to the winds. Exhibiting a strength, physical demeanor and command and pacing that he had not before. He was...perhaps uncomfortable. Perhaps worse. He snatched the grab bag of goodies that he always carried up with a single hand after distributing any items need be given to the rigors of their commerce and hoisted it up over his back.

Meanwhile, Ko stood further back and yet closer then he had been - having moved away from the exit to get a better listen and grasp at what was conspiring before him. Though he was not looking at the merchant, but Kasami. The response that she gave him had been sufficient - at least enough to deter any drastic action that would have come from otherwise implications at least. However unlike the merchant he knew the woman very intimately, he read her motions and demeanor like an open book - one that had been opened willingly to him many times and he saw the pacifying behavior that she exhibited when she was taking to her fingers as she was. That contrasted starkly with how confidently she had spoken the response to the merchant, and again so after the fact once she was done and her demeanor was still uncomfortable. Like she was left to hope the merchant believed the alibi of a third party that told her "Let me do the talking" before being scolded. But there was something different about Ko...and it wasn't just the new physique or demeanor either. The raging flamethrower of a personality that he had become had been focused...drawn down. The intensity just as hot - not even hotter, but the wild fire had been focused down into that of a blowtorch. He watched silently and drunk it all in - all the while Sentou perhaps unsure of what to think, not even given nor aware of the factors and variables needed to form an equation of his own to solve. Ko however, had taken everything in and made his own assertions and conclusions - though he would not go on to inquire so to confirm anything yet. No, he would simply do that through the act of observation. Seeing what Kasami would do with this, how she would speak of it, frame it...or what answers would come out on their own independent of her. The best way to answer the questions that he had - would be through the actions that come of it themselves. The merchant was packing up - very obviously on his way out and what he spoke about their pacing on the mission was true. They needed to go. With that - calm and collectedly - but with a demeanor that was almost friendly - reassuring. Ko spoke:

"Well - if there's nothing else I suppose we should be on our way then. Are we all set?" ​

 

[Megumi]

Kasami looked down as he told her to be careful. She knew better than any of them what dangers laid within her mind, but that was a conversation for another time- perhaps. It seemed that it was better if she just shut her mouth and stopped doing the talking for everyone. The merchant’s reaction was peculiar to her, but she was not going to pry nor ask Mikaboshi for answers right now. He likely wouldn’t respond even if she asked. She recalled the way he’d made her punch that mirror back at Mebu Castle, and the way the words so effortlessly just fell from her lips. It felt disrespectful to consider him a parasite since he’d helped her multiple times now, but she did know that it was certainly no teacher and student pairing.

She traded her vouchers for the Antivenom and the Channeling Vajra, eyeing the bell one last time before she glanced up at the merchant, took her items and then gave him an awkward wave goodbye. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.” She said in response to Ko asking if they were all set. Minding her business and not looking at the merchant again, she put the antivenom into her pouch and looked at the vajra in her hands while walking away to join him. There certainly was a lot to talk about and a lot to say, but it wasn’t the time or the place. Perhaps after the Merchant was gone.

Embarrassment and frustration flushed through her, pursing her lips and looking over at Ko from the corner of her eye. “Do you… have questions?” She lowered the vajra and looked at him more directly as they walked side by side- just the two of them. “We’ve never really gotten to.. Talk about things. I know before we left Mebu I told you Mikaboshi had spoke to me. You didn’t react at all to it. Does that mean that you… anticipated that this would happen?”

 

[CelestialBlack]

The moment that she had asked him he couldnt help but stop for a second. is body pivoting towards her however his glance entirely rended across her presence and shot back to where they had last known the merchant to be. He was gone, Ko's eyes not helping but dart around to survey the area and see if maybe he had gone up somehow, across or wherever but no....he had simply disappeared quietly out of thin air. He suppose he shouldnt be too shocked honestly - the way that the man seemed to pop up all the time and the things that he had proven he could do; turning up a disappearing act would probably be the least surprising thing that he was capable of. Seeing that he was gone he turned back to Kasami, hands in pockets he was silent for a moment as if he was pondering something in his head - processing how to word it properly...already changing in that way; it was something that was not in his typical mannerism to do in the first place. After chewing it for a while he would regurgitate his thought in a manner that he hoped would not be too....underwhelming: "It's not that I had suspected that this would happen. Or even could happen honestly. I don't know - something about it just didnt quite shock me. In a way its like I knew without knowing. More so - thinking about it, I dont see a way that it could be a bad thing. At least not right now and not in a way that we wouldnt notice before hand. We've got so many enemies. And if Mikaboshi is in your head...somehow - then worse to worse if he has some kind of plan or motive then it would be in his best interest to make sure that you make it out safe right? No body - no chance. No safe harbor. So the way I see it. This may be a net positive for us. Though it does beg the question. If Mikaboshi is in your head...then what did we see at Tatsumi's. You said you confronted him...that Tengu came and broke you guys up. If he's in your head then who was that? Ugh...ya see - this is why I didnt ask anything before. The questions I have I know you dont have the answers - none of us do. And I get more and more frustrated just thinking about all of the things we dont know despite being in the thick of it all. I feel like im bobbing for apples blind-folded in a pool with only one or two apples in its entirety. If im lucky." -Mid way through Ko had begun walking again, knowing that Kasami would keep up he continued till they came out in the middle of the start of the forest. He took in a deep breath - looking up and around at all the wild life and the sun. It seemed more radiant then it had been before. The feeling of the sun's warmth on his skin and in his hair - the way that the forest air filled his lungs. He couldnt tell if it was because he had been imbued with the ability to use Hadou now - or if it was because the forest itself had some relationship or integration with Hadou in itself. He was sure that there was something special about the forest - there was a shrine here after all. The monks held it as sacred and with that kind of territory had to have come very unique strides and properties. His face was still, but he could feel something stirring up inside of him - boiling. It wasnt quite nervousness...but excitement in a way. Was it an excitement about this new found perspective? The forest itself? Seeing what secrets and experiences may await him within - or maybe he was just ready to get this mission under way properly. Who knew. But one thing was for certain with the young man - the fire that burned within him was hotter then it had ever been before. He looked towards Kasami and motioned forward with a nod of his head - and with that he would dash off - ricocheting from tree to tree through the forest like a pinball cut loose. ​

 

[Megumi]

Kasami seemed uncomfortable as she listened to Ko. He was right, it raised more questions they did not have answers to, and no matter how many times she tried to ask Mikaboshi- he was only ever active when he felt like he needed to be, not when she wanted him to be. There was so much she could tell him though, but she found herself unable to slip it into the conversation because she didn't want to interrupt him, and then after a brief moment of basking in nature, he was on the move. Kasami stood there for a second longer before following his lead. She jumped up into the trees, following his direct path to ensure that she did not step on any surface that his feet had not already touched.

The forest was beautiful, Hadou flowing through it all around them like it was the very lifeforce of the world, but Kasami found herself a bit distressed. Would Ko be just as... not surprised, to find that Mikaboshi was already capable of controlling her body? She didn't know how severe that was just yet, since he had only said words and thrown a punch at an inanimate object, but she wouldn't be surprised if he was able to utilize her entire body and chakra honestly. Then there was the question of what that thing was in Kugane if not him. Or the fact that she knew Daikokuten, the miasma wielder that had hurt Ko, was Mikaboshi's son. She couldn't even remember if she learned that from Tatsumi or Mikaboshi himself. Days were blending together. How much rest had they gotten since getting to Naraka? A nap sounded like Heaven.

Now was not the time to be so distracted, but that was something she did often. Always rolling things around in her head, for an audience that would never applaud. She glared toward the corner of her eye as if she was glaring at Mikaboshi, muttering under her breath as she spoke to him as if he was on her shoulder. She watched Ko's movements while talking. "I appreciate the help with the Merchant, but you're going to drive me crazy with how in and out you are. You give bits and pieces of information and then never answer me when it creates more questions." She sighed. Just this once she wanted to be able to have all her questions answered. No more 'just trust us', or 'you'll find out in time'. No more need to knows. Not about this. This was her own mind they were talking about. She deserved to know the gravity of everything right?​

 

[CelestialBlack]

"You know. You dont have to talk out loud to speak with me. I'm in your head remember? I can hear your thoughts. You speak of m driving you crazy but you're the one already talking to yourself."

The voice inside her head responded, and likely to her surprise quite promptly at that. Tree to tree, branch to branch they moved - and as she did everywhere that she looked out of the corner of her perception there he was; standing in a tree, on the ground, in the brush, upside down on the next branch. He kept up with her as an apparition in her mind but not so much as running along with them - no that was outside of his scope of necessity in his current state of being. It was more like anywhere that she looked he was certain to be present for sake of the conversations continuity. If there was even a conversation to be had. He'd answered her but the girl was full of questions - they all were and where that came into the picture there was never a guarantee for answers depending on what questions were asked. But he was responding to her and in this case that was at least...a start.
As they weaved between trees and kept going on Ko stopped when he heard her - taking a hard cut to land a'top of a tree branch and turning to face her at the following branch she would be landing upon. He stood straight up and for a moment in the way he turned it seemed that he was fighting with an almost reluctant thought before he decided to go through with it and ask her: "Hey, speaking of questions. He was rushing us on - something about meeting our next guide to our destination. But you know how it is with him, always cryptic so it occurred to me. This 'guide' may not be a person. And if it is theres no guarantee that they're friendly - hell, theres no guarantee that they ae even aware that we exist out here. I guess what Im saying is - its best that we keep our eyes open for absolutely anything. If theres one thing thats been a dependable constant ever since we got here its that things are never quite the way they se-" He cut himself off mid sentence - his left hand open in a way that silently communicated that she give her attention to what was going on around, a kind of 'did you hear that' demeanor in his stance. He stood there for a moment watching...listening...smelling, anything that would relay some kind of information about what it was that he heard - or that he thought he heard but nothing came up. "Feel." a voice in his mind implored, and as he heard it he too recited it a'loud as if to urge Kasami of the same - closing his eyes and focusing on feeling...feeling the world around him...the world within him...and his presence upon the world they traverse. His senses gave him no information but this...this hadou - he could feel it loud and clear...something there among all the other colors. A splotch of red - upon a tapestry of grey. He could not discern in fullness what it meant, not in an eloquent fashion at least but one thing was certain. Someone or something - was not happy about them being here...and they were watching with intent to do something about it. "We have to move." He said - tilting his head along the forward path to urge her to move ahead and take point while he hold up the rear. Once she moved on he would follow - exhibiting immense speed as he made sure not to overtake her position, but for every spare second that he had between following her he would ricochet from an extra branch or two just to survey the surrounding area in a bit more detail. They could hear something ahead....water - a stream of sorts and a distance waterfall. They were about to reach a point that the trees cleared and they came out to a more open area in the mountain...but it was clear - the feeling he picked up before was following them; something was on the hunt. ​

 

[Megumi]

'I wouldn't be surprised if I did go crazy in this place... But it's somehow comforting to see you. That merchant didn't seem very pleased... bad blood between you?'

She was not going to bombard him with questions, but she fully intended to sit down and talk with him the moment that she had an opportunity to after this. Her feet never ceased to move, keeping up with Ko until he veered off and stopped and started his own conversation based off of the thing she had said out loud. She stopped herself, on a branch directly next to his and crouched down, resting her elbows on her knees as she balanced there and listened 'Well, at least you both heard me I guess.' She thought, pursing her lips. He was right, as he usually always was, and it certainly wasn't something she had forgotten. How could a guide be hostile though? That kind of defeated the purpose of having a guide.
Her expression was neutral until Ko's words cut short, her brows furrowing as she stood up slowly so she didn't create more noise for him to listen through. He was former Anbu, his senses were trained to higher levels than her own. Even though her repaired eyes had afforded her with better vision than she had had before, even before she went blind, that did not help them when surrounded by trees. When he told her to feel she was a little lost for a moment. What was she supposed to be feeling? How? But she recalled how it had felt the first time that Hadou and entered their bodies. The overwhelming emotion. She had just barely caught on to what Ko was feeling, inexperienced with it all, and he was ushering them on again. What she had felt was unpleasant, but it also made her wary.
With a nod Kasami set to taking the lead, quickly scanning branches ahead of her to decide on where to land. She could hear the water head of them and the loud roar of the waterfall further still. She hated being in places that she was surrounded by uncertainty and threats, yet had to navigate her way through carefully and make decisions. She didn't have experience like Ko did. So when she reached the edge of the tree line she waited for him to decide their next step. She didn't know whether she should jump to the water, or if she should jump the stream and keep going. When being hunted water always helped to throw off the scent, but this creature very well could be using Hadou to sense them just like they had been to sense it. There was no guarantee that basic survival tactics would work here- they certainly didn't against those beasts that she had encountered at her very first encounter in Naraka. Part of her wished now that she had taken some of those bamboo- they could have been turned into toxic smoke bombs. ​

 

[CelestialBlack]

-He was only a blurring image along the way as the girl went from branch to branch. Not really being there in person it was somewhat off-putting holding direct conversation with the man while moving at this speed, he flickered and appeared in different postures and clarity between the different branches but the one thing that was consistent each time as she had asked about the relation with the merchant was his unwavering and stern expression.: "I've no bad blood worth talking about that hasnt already soiled dirt. Lets just say he isn't a fan of professional curiosity...it puts him on edge."-
With that being said the man did not bother to linger and give any more information, words of wisdom or even so much as company for that matter. With as much as a thought he was gone - and she found herself planted on the final branch waiting for Ko. Dashing from branch to branch he knew that there was something off - he just couldnt quite put his finger on it at the time. His eyes scanning from left to right and dialing back again scrutinized every bit of the forest around them. Suddenly his eyes cast down as he noticed something that in a way, he'd not noticed at all; a twitch and tickle of the subconscious mind alerting him to something that his periphery had consistently been catching but his brain had been yet to acknowledge. The shadows....Kasami had stopped moving and now he could see that there was an inconsistency with the shadows down below - and with that his eyes widened as he spun to meet the issue...the aggressor...the ambush in wait. With a spin of his shoulder just before meeting with Kasami on the tree line he made it just in time to use his arm to bar razor sharp teeth from seizing his bare flesh - aimed directly for his throat. A wild baboon, adorned in fine silk robes - making an assault for the young shinobi. Its grip was tight and strength was considerable, using its neck alone to push towards him it was not easy to keep its jaws a'back. Drawing Kunai from thigh holster he stabbed in to subdue the creature - but soon with a loud impact his hand and subsequent force was blocked by the very same baboon. Quick on its feet, no matter - he would simply shift his grip and come from under his chin...but then something was made apparent. The monkey rolled its wrist with him and continued to counter and dance the kunai around it, away from landing any meaningful strike while it still sought to take a bite of his flesh. Before he knew it Ko and the monkey were falling through the trees down towards the ground having a knife dance between the two of them as he even gave the kunai a few slips and re-catches only to be countered yet again. Then it went even further from there - and the baboon slipped and wrested the kunai from the possession of the boy, stabbing and cutting at him now with equivalent finesse and precision as a shinobi itself. Quickly Ko took to doing the same, countering and parrying out strikes when and where they came before finally all the way on their fall down they would finally approach the gr0und. Flipping forward Ko landed on his hand, grabbing the baboon's ankle to throw off its balance while he used his feet, one to slap away the knife hand and the other to springboard his assailant away while he flipped back up onto his feet landing in a crouched posture. The baboon was of no consequence to him - it wasnt like he was at terrible risk during the assault, he had fought worse. But the ferocity, precision, and killing intent...he could feel it radiating off this monkey, and furthermore....he could feel. it getting even more intense. . . this hadou - it was sickening to take in...is this was the monks at the front would have felt like? His thought answered as the baboon re-postured and rose to its feet, slowly looking up to reveal a big, toothy smile plastered unnaturally on its face just like the monks at the front....it was infected as well..which meant...
A chilling revelation to come to. The feeling started to sink in more as the feeling became more and more potent, looking around the forest to see that among the bush, trees, and some of the sacred huts and shrines around them were emerging more and more monkey (of varying types though each relatively small or human size) all with the same smile on their face, some of which were even more feral looking - clenching their teeth together tightly with bulging necks and shaking heads...he could sense struggle within them, the host trying its best to resist the unwarranted passenger that had stowed away in its body. Rising slowly from the crouched position on the ground Ko's eyes stayed wide...but not in shock or anything of the sort but in absolute concentration. They were...by far outnumbered and he was doing everything in his power to watch every motion and choice that he made...if he rose too quick he could provoke animal instinct and be facing an immediate assault from all angles. In a scenario like this...it was very important to acknowledge the "sequence of equation." at best? One of the others would get bold, and attack first - placing in order the sequence by which one would want to address their aggressor in order to stay a'float in a high density ambush such as this. Ko did his best to keep careful, slow, and precise track of things as he stood almost at full stature and watched those around him. He couldnt look up to Kasami, he couldnt afford to take his eyes off them but he trusted that she would be in formulation of a strategy to help him or simply about to jump in on her own anyway. Ko's eyes went back to the first baboon that had his kunai from before...noticing it was getting more and more tense giving off behavioral patterns that reflected territorial frustration. With a bite and howl it flung the Kunai back at him - and just like that....it was off to the races. The legion of monkey converging in upon Ko as a bright scarlet shine radiated off his body and his calm countenance was emblazoned by celestial chakra. ​

 

[Sentou Sanada]

Sentou had been ready to leave, but he did remain aware just enough to hear out the Merchant’s warning for Kasami. There was a lot of conversing about Mikaboshi that somewhat filled in a few blanks he had after talking to Kasami at the castle, but what little blanks were filled still left room for questions about the matter. He was inside her head? That couldn’t be a pretty situation, right? Kasami had mentioned something about Mikaboshi when she caught him up to speed with the events of Kagane, if he was as dangerous and cunniving as the Merchant made him out to be then they would need to be careful right? Nevertheless, as Kasami and Ko both departed, he too would follow suit as he shadowed the two of them as they started to converse. There wasn’t a lot for Sentou to add to the conversation so he just listened in for a bit, he wouldn’t feel left out in the slightest as he was trying to process it all. Besides, they were on borrowed time still thanks to the Merchant’s medicine. While the two talked about the situation regarding whether or not Mikaboshi was at Kagane or not, Sentou would begin to lose himself in his own train of thought as he too started to notice just how potent the Hadou was in the forest. To think it was all around them this entire time. Now that he was capable of perceiving such emotion, it was a little tantalizing to say the least, he had so many questions and not enough answers. He scrunched his face a bit, muling over what they had experienced in the canal just below the temple. It was infuriating, but dammit if it didn’t make him all the more curious. Just what happened here, and could any of it have been connected to the events of Kagane? Sentou quietly grunted as he raised his hands to his head, as if shielding himself from the onslaught of never ending questions conflicting him. A frustrated sigh left his lips as he pulled himself out of his head and continued listening to Kasami and Ko as they took to the tree tops.


Humming in thought as he leapt from one branch to the other, Sentou couldn’t help but observe his surroundings as they were on the move. There was something about nature that was just so surreal, despite the group running into that large spider from before, he’d have completely forgot he was being pursued by killers. Silly him. Sentou would spot the two stopping just ahead as he’d find a branch just above them to perch on once he finally caught up, just in time too as Ko started to pick up on something. He tried to survey the area, but due to all the foliage it was kinda difficult for him to make heads or tails of anything, that was until Ko had urged them to ‘feel’. He was no stranger to such a thing, but he would still close his eyes as he attempted to attune himself with the world around him. When he emerged from his seven day journey thrugh the cave of Yomi, Sentou had grown accustomed to sensing the chakra of others. Now with Hadou it would feel like remembering how to ride a bike, that was if said had been tuned up with an engine. As the young Kenzai became aware of the swelling masses of aggression in the distance it felt like he had reached a higher frequency only to be met by backlash from such potent emotion. There was no time to be amazed or even started by this newfound sensation as Ko quickly alerted them to be on the move. Snapping back into focus, Sentou would kick off the branch he was previously perched on and began stomping at the air using Sky Dancing in quick successive bursts to both propel himself forward and to keep himself afloat to keep up with the others.


He had been so focused on the thought of bolting out of there that he hadn’t even noticed the approaching shadows lurking around them until they had struck. Still trying to catch with up Ko and Kasami, Sentou would see them in the distance but they weren’t alone. It was subtle, but Sentou could feel a sudden surge of unbridled fury before the baboon launched from its hiding. Just before he could even managed to think of shouting out a warning, Ko and the baboon were caught in a scuffle that eventually resulted in the both of them plummeting down towards the surface floor. In one last bound, Sentou would finally reach Kasami, making sure to catch her had she been thrown off balance, he wanted to make the moment brief as his concern quickly realigned with Ko. “Hey, are you okay? I’m going on ahead to catch up with Ko, see ya at the bottom.” He smirked a bit, he was glad to finally let loose but he was a tad nervous. That didn’t look like a simple monkey. As the Lotus Apprentice began to make his descent, he couldn't help but feel that unbridled fury resurface all around them. Had Ko's attacker started taking to high speeds? Searching for the answer, Sentou would quickly discover in fact they were surrounded by a congress of baboons of varying sizes lurking all around. Landing at Ko's back, Sentou took a big gulp as he felt intimidated by their numbers. Maybe there was some way to reason with them? He thought, only to stare down the same gut wrenching grin the monks at the monastery possessed. There wasn't anywhere to go with them surrounded like this, they would need some kind of diversion if they wanted to break for the stream. Whether he liked it or not, it was finally time to stretch his legs. With Ko at his back, Sentou would follow in the Uchiha's steps as he erected his Scorching Chakra Armor prior before charging into the prime ape battalion. After witnessing what the lone baboon was capable of, Sentou was positive his Scorching Aura would prove as a proper countermeasure against so many physical assailants.


He would engage the first baboon within arms reach, Sentou would feint a series of hooks and jabs in an attempt to throw it off balance while also gathering momentum for his committed attack. As he felt he had the baboon on the ropes, Sentou would lead with his left foot as he lunged forward, turning his foot towards his right as he pivoted his hip inward to accumulate strength from his core. In that very same moment that the Kenzai spun towards his right, he'd pick his back leg off the ground as he turned - carrying the velocity all the way around with his foot out with the full intent of cramming the back of his heel against the cranium of the baboon. The execution of the kick was swift, a draft being created as his foot tore through the air. While in motion, Sentou maintained proper posture and kept his head tucked in such a manner that it was both protected yet allowed him to maintain visual on his target. A kick delivered so smoothly he was sure it would connect, however his eyes would show him the truth. Just as swiftly as Sentou had unleashed the kick, the baboon in question would duck under and away from the attack as if it was written in bold letters. He quickly regained himself as he placed his foot back on the ground, “Is it just me, or does it feel like these monkeys have been training?” Sentou asked aloud albeit rhetorically, whether anyone actually decided to respond or not mattered little as he felt something hard smack him on the back of the head. “Ouch, what the hell?” He scoffed, then another struck his head, and another. By the time the third one managed to bounce off the back of the Kenzais thick skull he would be fuming. His eyes darted in the direction it originated from to see three baboons beaming rocks from the trees. “That's it…” He muttered, his Scorching Aura intensifying as he quickly approached the tree with his hands out, “I don't care, I'm smoking them out!” He said, frustrated to hell and back. He knew deep down he would never hear the end of this from Kasami, but grabbing hold of the tree, Sentou would exert a fraction of his Scorching Aura throughout the tree, causing it to instantaneously combust. Smoke plumed as the bark soldered, and before long the tree would erupt with searing flames. Perhaps this would suffice as the proper distraction, if not, he was bound to have royally pissed the baboons off further.


​

 

[Megumi]

It was quiet as she stood there on the branches watching Ko look around. Her attention was trained on him, because she knew if he spotted something she would see the recognition on his face in the direction it was, far faster than she herself could look around for any approaching threats. His eyes were keener, his senses sharper, and she trusted him whole heartedly to spot whatever it was that was setting off his internal alarms. But she supposed she should have anticipated it to be above them, looking up and screeching when she thought that she was about to get jumped on by a baboon herself only to find Ko landing atop the branch she stood upon. She looked like she was about ready to chop him straight in the neck, standing on one leg with the other defensively braced in front of her body. His landing caused the branch to wobble, which almost set her off kilter, but he helped to steady her before turning his attention downward. Following his eyes, she saw Ko fighting off a baboon that seemed to have a ravenous appetite for her sweet red head, and as Sentou jumped down, she had every intention of joining them.

But that was when she had her own shit to deal with. A baboon about as big as her landed on the branch, causing it to bounce and ricochet so hard that her knees locked up trying to catch her balance and it took the opportunity to strike. One swift kick into the chest was all that it needed to send Kasami flying into the main trunk of the tree, forcing a strangled cry from her lips when the bark dug into her back and scratched her up. Thankfully, she'd been through worse, recovering quickly enough to slip her kunai out of her pouch as she dodged a monkey fist flying toward her head. It punched the tree, her eyes widening as it splintered from the force of the punch and making her realize that she was completely fucked if any of them landed a hit on her. But Kasami had no Senseis or Masters. She had no formal training or means of protecting herself that did not require her to use her hands, which were far too busy trying to fend off a flurry of blows from a howler than cast jutsu. She needed distance between them, but she'd let the damn thing corner her against the tree that was currently scratching her back to hell each time the splintered bark and meat of the tree grind against her when she dodged.

"Fuck!" She finally shouted out of frustration, pressing her back into the tree as she kicked the monkey square in the chest and sent it flying out of the canopy of leaves above the boys on the ground. With a moment to breathe finally she took a deep breath and let it out, thankful that she'd taken off the haori that Ko had given her, but her back also screamed in pain. She'd have to ask someone to pluck the splinters from her later when they actually had a chance to get out of there.

She was walking across the branch again when another monkey came launching at her from the corner of her eye. She looked up in time to avoid the brunt of the attack from the monkey from clipping her head, but it caught her hard and square in the shoulder, sending her over the branch and falling after dislocating her arm. But she wasn't falling alone, as a baboon jumped on her and she had to grab its neck to keep the thing from chomping off her face. How the fuck was this thing so strong? Snapping its jowls at her like a rabid animal. But which one of them would hit the ground first? If it was Kasami, she'd no doubt become a snack for the primate. But perhaps she could turn this situation around, quite literally.​

 

[CelestialBlack]

Sentou had caught up with them, and by the time that he had hit the ground with the legion of prime apes that had assailed him Sentou was down back to back with him as well - to which he closed the gap between the two of them for more secure coverage of each other while he took in anything Sentou had to say as well as his body language and non-verbal ques: the gulp. "Yeah...there's a lot of them." He confirmed the concern of said gulp as they sized up their assailants - all while Ko's eyes darted up to Kasami every now and then to be assured of her condition and safety. Though the moment came that she was approached by the Baboon that landed with her and Ko reflexively jolted forward to help, but the moment he motioned to do so he was assaulted by a group of two. Furthermore, as he was attacked so too was Sentou, he happened to notice as he blocked and avoided a flurry of attacks, a round house he ducked, a sweep he jumped over, a follow up round house he avoided by falling down on his back only to springboard from another low kick. They were really mixing it up here and while on his back he could see the assault waged on Sentou as well as Kasami above before he sprung back - hearing Sentou's question as to the monkey's training.

"No fucking way."

He thought to himself as he continued to fight off the assault - surging the heat from his scarlet chakra finally as he lashed out and spin around, whipping a wide haymaker at the group that wasnt meant to hit itself, but lashed out like the tail of a dragon with a wide kiss of flame that burned many of them enough to get them away from him. He then answered Sentou: "Monks. Monkey monks. The true monks - are monkeys." He said, reframing the statement bit by bit to be more clear...he was still trying to process it himself honestly but the robes that they wore? The monks outside patrolling? Their skill, the shrines? The monks outside were the neophytes. Protecting the sacred grounds of the true benefactors to the practice. 'Fuck', he heard it up above him - looking up to see Kasami only to be punished with an uppercut and spinning backfist in his lack of focus. He growled out a yell of frustration that seemed to follow right in tandem with Sentou and in that moment he couldnt agree more. It was almost like the Hadou was linking them in that big surge of frustration and he was feeding off of it to fuel himself as well. As Sentou approached to scorch the tree, Ko rubbed his hands together - building a heat as he clapped and a splash of inferno spanned out from his hand. Spinning around he became a veritable flamethrower - casting a high intensity warning to any that dare get at him again as he did. Taking that time he heard Kasami again - and saw her falling out of the tree. His eyes widened, ignited by fear he jumped in the most reflexive manner that he could to get to action - the possibility of losing her to this erasing any form of reasoning that he may have had.

Just like that he spun and spun, and quickly - he jumped off into the air. The flames spat from his hands seeming to propell him into the air like a spinning top straight out of hell as he missled towards her. His focus was absolute and his eyes concentrated solely on where the monkey was connected to her being - intent to sever the confrontation at its roots the moment he closed the distance. For Kasami, at first she would only see the face of the rabid baboon screeching and bearing its teeth to try and get at her. Then suddenly a hand straight into the eye sockets of that same baboon, grabbing it by the face as he ripped the ape from her with one hand and with the other cast his arm around her waist to pull her in and brace her against him. He kicked the baboon down and off towards the tree Sentou had been roasting, thusly adding kindle to the pyre as he landed, keeping her elevated so not to hit the ground of feel tremor of impact as he immediately shielded her behind him - putting her between himself and another tree knowing that they would be broadcasting an air of vulnerability, and that could imply opening. "Babe - are you okay? Do you need to jump-jack!?" The babe slipped, but he was acting off reflex, and as much as he had been so attuned to the teaching aspect of their relationship - to make her capable, secure, and safe. It was an indicator that he always did care and that he thought of her as much more the that. Here in the midst of danger, it simply fell from his lips naturally. After all, they were already vulnerable at this point. What worse could it be to allow himself to be emotionally so too?

But he had been looking back at her too long, and one found it upon themselves to embrace opportunity - zipping towards the two of them only for Ko to turn back towards it quickly. The beast, was a threat. Not just to him - but mainly, to her. It was a threat.

To her.
And he would not abide that.

"Grraaah!" He punched with full force, and it seemed like something was taking over him. Something causing him to dig down into a deep space within himself and fight in a way that he had not before, in a way that he could never fight when he was only protecting himself or an ideal, but when he was protecting something or someone he cared about. Someone he loved. The first punch sent the monkey's head reeling back - having come too fast to dodge, and too hard to even know which way was up once it connected. Its brain must have turned to mush inside its skull at how hard it must have been jostled by the blow. Then the monkey screamed out in a way that seemed so much more human then what they had heard before - followed by the sickly, nasty sound of tearing. Ko's second punch, had effectively caved its chest straight inside of its own body, only to be followed by a second hand that pulled that opening wide and finally - apart. The baboon was dead, undeniably and irrefutably - and the expression of intensity that was on Ko before suddenly washed away. Into fear. Pain. Suffering. His eyes widened, and his body froze - starting to shake a moment as it hit him and slowly he started to realize what it was.

He had shared in its final moments.



The hadou had connected them in that last moment. An emotion as intense, potent, and harrowing as death - strong enough to be felt by those Hadou-sensitive around them and as Ko inflicted it, he also felt the terrifying...final moments of someone sentient embraced by the inevitability of death. His body couldnt quite move just yet, he was making some progress shaking it off...resetting the position of his feet, the primary concern of his mind - protecting Kasami still prevalent, shuffling over in front of her. Then his eyes searched around, finding an abject horror as Sentou burned the tree. The monkey were gathering around the burning tree, screeching, waving their hands, celebrating. Some of them savagely came over and grabbed each other by the head - tossing them in to fuel the fire; he could have sworn that some of them threw small clothes of bundles into it as well....children? He wouldnt humor the thought, the horror. As they celebrated they started to rise further and further in excitement and intensity. The almost religious energy building in such an intimidating way that Ko quickly snapped back and started to ease back towards Kasami: "Your arm. Your favoring it. Are you okay? Can you move?" he whispered not wanting to break their concentration or ritual and draw attention back to them. Then...some of them seemed to be overtaken by their bloodlust...by their sick sanguine need for death and started to shake....locking up and seizing there in place standing up as a sickly sight was produced. A splitting, and bursting of flesh - and centipedes emerged from their bodies, sticking out and flailing in the air as if they too were celebrating. Their husks were bright purple and legs bright yellow. As they exposed themselves there was a wafting aura that cascaded over the area and something just seemed....terribly wrong.

"We've got to get to the stream and hurry to get that idol. The new objective is to just snatch the idol - and jump jack the hell out of here."
He said as he started trying to help Kasami to her feet if she hadnt already nor opted for a jump jack now. He spoke in a hushed tone but just enough for Sentou to hear as well and if he looked his way he would see Ko motioning for him to come on while they were....doing whatever it was they were doing. If it hadnt been apparent before then it certainly was now, that whatever happened to this monastery - was sick and disturbed, turning it into the last place they want to be...especially right now. ​