Starring:
Goh, Yagyu
Date: March 18, 2017
Summary:
Goh is kidnapped! And it's up to Yagyu to find him.
"Erupt, Yagyu! Show me what you've got!"
Unknown location
Ooohhh noooooo~~!! Goh had been kidnapped again!
Seriously, what was up with this merchant? Did he paint a target on his back? Did he ruffle feathers of all of his rival picklers to a degree that they wanted him killed or taken away? Or was it something more sinister still? Either way, once again he seems to be gone. As he's not really a shinobi or anyone of worth, he sort of slips under the notice of most shinobi decree. Therefore it's up to the hired mercenaries to pick up the slack and get their share of the business!
Given her recent proximity to the Leaf Village, Yagyu had eventually been contacted through the official channels and been offered the gig. It didn't seem too difficult, really. Goh had been caught, with eye witnesses giving her a strong trail to follow if she so chose.
That said, it's now evening. The pickler had been missing since dawn, so fingers crossed he had not been taken too far out! But given the description of the men that took him (i.e.: hired goons), their speed and ability to put distance between themselves is likely limited.
With the sun just dipping over the horizon, the temperature drops and the humidity lessens. The moon was nearly full, providing plenty of ambience to an otherwise quite night.
"What?! Again?! Really?!" Yagyu just couldn't understand what was going on. This guy was a popular target and she had to figure out why, but first she had to make this money. She had work out this way once again and though she hated being in these parts, work was still work and she couldn't pass up a chance to fill her pockets. She wasn't a shinobi anymore, after all. The money wasn't going to fall out of the sky for her. So, she found herself on Goh's trail, taking down all the information she could about his whereabouts and what people had seen and heard.
"I'm seriously up to my neck in confusion right now. I mean, really," she just couldn't get it as she walked out in the forests of the Land of Fire. "What you gotta do to get people mad at you like that? What he do this time? Pickle lettuce wrong or somethin'?" She questioned. ~I don't know, but it appears you have become 'salty' once more. As you have learned me, it is not prefaced with 'the'. No matter, I still prefer my version. How do you manage to stay so upset all the time?~ 4-Tails questioned her to which she replied with a shrug. "Becomes easy when your life is s*** and has been s*** on in different ways."
The trip that Yagyu takes is long. While the trail took her a good bit of the way, it didn't take her all of the way. Some questions would need to be asked of the locals, for instance, of whether they had seen anything too suspicious. By and large these questions were met with a shrug and a shake of the head. One older lady however, had nodded. "Yes." She croaked. "I saw a man like the one you describe on the back of a cart. Getting pulled along by a band of hooligans shouting and hollering." Once she had pointed in the direction they had gone, Yagyu would have her heading.
Eventually her quest will lead her to a clearing deep in the forest. Tied against a tree with his back pressed to the trunk, Goh is seated no far from an open fire. The kidnappers have taken rest for the evening (now nearly midnight), and were beginning to turn in. Four of them in total, each wearing heavy weapons like swords and spears strapped to their back. Other weapons laid on the ground, the crooks obviously having chosen to disarm for comfort related reasons.
"He'll be here soon, he will." One of the crooks mutters to Goh. The pickler, with his blonde hair and blue eyes, just looks at the kidnapper. No word is said.
Some dirty dishes are off to the side. The goons have obviously eaten their dinner already!
Yagyu placed a hand to her face and shook her head. "Yeah, that sounds like the guy I'm looking for," she sighed. "Whelp, I gotta go. Wish me luck," she joked with the woman prior to heading off. In time, she found a clearing and lo and behold, the kidnappers were here. "I gotta go in here and deal with these dudes. Round two…" She muttered to herself in frustration.
~You had best be careful. This lot looks different from the last one you fought.~ 4-Tails had warned her.
~Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't really expecting that…~ she replied back in thanks. She wasn't sure why he was helping her, but what she'd learned of Tailed Beasts wasn't matching what she'd received in this one.
"I'll take it slow like I did last time. No need to draw attention…" She whispered as she sneaked around, hoping to get an edge up on the goons.
As Yagyu begins her stealthy moves, a 'presence' makes itself known. Walking in from the edge of the clearing, on the opposite side of where Goh is tied up, a large man wanders in.
Standing at seven feet tall, the figure oozes with strength. And, given the bright orange haired mohawk, orange goatee and gigantic cigar hanging out of his mouth? Oozes with some style, too! While a grey undershirt can partially be seen, what covers his form mostly is a black, red and white combination. Layers of red and black clothes fall onto each other, with distinctive white 'circles' emblazoned upon it at various points. It looks much like a uniform.
The four goons stand up in alert, bowing their heads in respect. "Sir Akuma, Sir! We have a prime specimen for you!" They glance back to Goh.
Goh, for what it's worth, is smiling. He's grinning like an idiot, even laughing a bit. And, given the reaction that this 'Akuma' figure displays (one of surprise and disgust), it becomes evident. Was this perhaps… a trap that the pickler had set?!
"You pieces of shit," The tall figure breathes, exhaling a flume of smoke as he breathes out from his cigar. "Do you have any idea who this is? And what you've done bringing him before me?" — "W…What do you mean, Sir? This is a prime candidate! He is just what you were looking for—" BOOM! The kidnapper doesn't have any time to finish that sentence, for his head explodes. There's no other way to describe it. In a fiery, localised explosion, both his and the three other goons all lose their heads. The bodies fall into the ground in thumps, necks cauterised so no blood and guts fall out.
'Akuma' is still there, holding up an index finger and them from an outstretched hand. Like he was holding a gun. Smoke steams from it. Whatever it was, it was an extremely high level technique. And now he's taking aim at the pickler. Who is… well, struggling to get loose of his binds. O_O
"You idiot," Akuma breathes. "…you suppressed your strength so I couldn't feel it. Probably with medicine. But now you're not strong enough to take me down. In fact, you can't even get out of that rope. Heh." Akuma throws his head back to laugh, before taking aim at Goh's head. Ready to blow it up too. "…Sayonara, Lord Pickler."
Yagyu cringed. Yeah, she couldn't be ready for that one. All those heads exploding at once? The feeling in her stomach wasn't a good one and 4-Tails had already confirmed this with his earlier warning. It's likely for the best she stayed low, but she doesn't have that option anymore. Time to jump out and deal with this.
She performs handseals and creates a couple of clones, both of which were aimed at Akuma. While appearing normal, it becomes clear that there's a certain instability within them that isn't keeping them well and it shows as they expand and explode.
Her cover likely now broken, she steps out and looks over Akuma saying, "You can't touch him like you did these other guys. I need him alive," she explained. "What's your beef with him, anyhow?" She questioned.
4-Tails hummed deeply to himself. ~You must be careful. Be on guard. This one does not appear to hold back threats.~ He made note to point out the dead bodies currently lying all over the ground. Headless dead boddies, that is.
Goh widens his eyes a bit when Yagyu makes herself known. "…damnit." He mutters under his breath, only capable of watching at this point in time. Akuma turns his head to look at the clones, but only laughs in delight as they explode! In a strange turn of events, the fire that the clones explode with are somehow /absorbed/ into Akuma's mouth! He sucks in the flames as if they were a snack. With a slow exhale, he takes out his cigar and holds it with his left hand.
"Sorry lass," He speaks, voice deep and a little … smokey. "He ain't gonna be alive much longer. That guy there killed my entire organisation. We were a group of twelve. Now we're only a group of three, thanks to your blonde haired friend. So? I'm going to kill him now. And unless you want to die a slow, fiery death? I suggest you step out of the way."
"What are you DOING here, Yagyu?!" Goh barks, seeming angry despite the fact that she just saved his life! "Get the hell out of here! This guy is /way/ above your level!"
Akuma grins. "So what's it going to be, Princess? Going to play the hero? Or going to play it smart?"
"The f*** you just call me?" Yagyu sneered. She didn't just get called that. That ain't what she's about and quite frankly, it don't need to be coming from his mouth. "I ain't no f***** princess!" She ignores Goh's pleas to have her leave the area.
"I don't care if he killed your organization. It obviously means some of y'all were slippin' if he was able to do it! I ain't lettin' you take him out of here. He owe me too much anyway. His life is mine as far as I'm concerned. You gettin' in the way of that."
~This man is no one to fool with. Do you intend to listen to the Pickler or will you stay?~ 4-Tails inquires of her.
~I'm stayin' here. I can't have him losin' his life to stupid s***. Second, I'm learnin' more about him here that could be useful. Third, his a** owe me too much for me to leave him here. So, I gotta keep him around otherwise, he can't fulfill his debts.~ She responded back.
4-Tails chortled with laughter. ~I see you have chosen to stay. I will help you as best as I can. Your resolve has been proven.~
"I called you Princess." Akuma re-iterates, a devilish grin sliding across his face. His teeth are sharp and jagged, but given the fire specialty seems unlikely to represent that clan in Kirigakure. Perhaps he's just a fan?
At the answer, the large man winds his arm around, gripping that shoulder with his opposite hand. "I usually don't like killin' chicks like you, to be real with ya. You got sass. Spunk. I like that in a woman." His eyes flare a little, before he brings both hands down. "But I gotta kill that punk pickler while he's still weak." Clenching his fists, the large man's knuckles crack audiby.
With only the flame from the open camp fire to provide light, coolness truly falls over the clearing. Dew begins to form on the grass near the clearing edge, providing just a bit of wetness to the surrounds. It matters not to Akuma though, who simply CHARGES forward!
The man is impressive, of that there was little doubt. In just a snap of movement he has closed into Yagyu's front, sending a thundering right straight direct for the mercenary's face! Despite his size he seemed to be just as quick, a rare combination.
Meanwhile, Goh works to free himself from his bonds. "Tch," He gets out, wriggling and writhing.
Yagyu was growing upset, but had to maintain her cool. She could give attitude, but serving up anger wasn't going to make this situation any better. She was still a Nara, after all. A level head is generally what they do best. She's at least halfway there, but she's got all the intelligence down, at least.
Unfortunately, none of that quite helps to keep her from getting smacked clear across the face by Akuma, sending her stumbling backwards. She was mildly dazed by the attack, but otherwise fine. At the very least, she has a read on his abilities and has some expectation of what she's up against. She knows he can eat fire and attack quickly. That's two things down, though she has to determine what else is up his sleeve.
She creates handseals and stomps at the ground to send a pillar of earth up from the ground to jut right into his body. She had to keep him at bay, in the least so that Goh could have a bit more time to work himself free or she'd have the time to free him herself.
ZOOOM! Akuma flies high into the air, sent that way by the hunk of earth that erupts from the ground beneath his feet. Seeming to be unbothered by the attack, he begins to take aim at Yagyu from the sky! With a deep breath sucked in, he proceeds to shoot out a myriad of small fire bullets. They rain down from the sky like meteors, threatening to engulf the Nara where she stands.
"He's a close to mid-range type fighter, Yagyu." Goh barks from behind, still trying to wretch himself free. So far he seems to be loosening himself up! But no more than that. "And don't let him grab you! He's from the Miira clan in Sunagakure. If he manages to grasp you and use that scorch technique, it's over. He'll turn you into a husk." Gross.
On any rate, Akuma is now falling back to the ground, eyes wide with glee. Cigar still in his mouth, gel'd mohawk barely flapping in the breeze. "Watch out for his aerial attack!"
Akuma wasn't giving Yagyu much time to counter-attack, that much is sure. He's truly a brute strength type fighter. Designed to just overwhelm the enemy in ruthless combinations.
Yagyu watched Akuma fly into the sky and with him at that distance, she took the opportunity to attempt to free Goh. She ran in his direction, kunai drawn to free him from his binds, but her efforts were halted when fire came raining down from the sky like hail. She wasn't much of a physical fighter, though she was able to dodge a couple, the rest were averted by her crafting a shield to absorb the fireballs with. She could hear each one ping off the shield and chip its surface away, compromising its integrity little by little.
"Gotcha," she remarked when she cleared herself from the barrier she created.
~Use the fire in the area to move, quickly!~ 4-Tails instructed Yagyu.
She followed instruction and flashed through the handseals, utilizing the fires started by the flame attack to replace herself and leave nothing but an ember in her wake while she herself slipped out of harm's way. "This is going to be tough… But I didn't come out here to just back down…" She grumbled. She needed to think this through… So she looked around at the trees that had been set alight. "I may be able to use these to my advantage…"
Moving through the trees, she proceeded to set more fires, selecting certain trees with a trap in mind.
Akuma lands with a heavy thud, the ground splintering mildly under his feet. With a heavy flume of smoke exhaled he stands straight, eyes glancing about to try and pinpoint the location of Yagyu as she darts through the trees. Of course, whether intentionally or not, what she had done is leave the pickler unattended! "Kukukuku!" He chortles in certain delight, taking the cigar from his mouth. "Looks like this is the end, pickler!"
Extending his finger out, Akuma prepares to seemingly 'shoot' Goh like he did the earlier thugs. "Yagyu…?!" Goh calls out, also looking around. "Um … a little help?!" Wriggle wriggle. He moves against the ropes more and more, though it's to no avail. "YAGYU…?!" He calls out again, this time louder. "This guy is about to try and take my head again!"
"You got away the first time, pickler. But not a second. Do-don beam … FIRE!" The end of his finger, already glowing with fire chakra and energy, erupts forward!
For the first time, Yagyu drew upon the strength of the tailed beast within her to give an extra boost. A cloak of chakra formed over her and a tail sprouted from it, it being part of her attack as it lashed through the trees and cut all the torched branches down to cover Akuma in a pile of raging fire. As the branches fell, she dropped down before Goh, ready to intercept the attack that was meant for him. It struck her form, causing the chakra to ripple and lose shape before covering her once again.
A clawed hand reached up and swiped at his binds to free him, though it appears she didn't have much to say on the matter, currently. Her focus was largely still on Akuma. His actions triggered a defense, one that, for all intents and purposes, was a manifestation of anger and hatred and its only aim was to kill.
~I don't have control anymore… Why?~ She asked of the 4-Tails within her mind.
~This man has drawn out the Cloaked Form. However, it is given fuel by your thoughts and energies. Whatever you have felt against this man has caused the form to arise in your defense and his demise.~ He replied back.
Yagyu felt tense for a few moments. She knew exactly what caused it, but now she doesn't have the fortitude to fight against it at this moment. For now, it's the cloak versus Akuma.
The pickler believes he is done for. His blue eyes shut, but … no death happens! In fact, when he opens his eyes, he spots Yagyu right in front of him. Furthermore, the cloak of the four tails surrounding her! His mouth nearly hits the ground in surprise, saved only by the fact that he's now standing up. Free of his binds thanks to the jinchuuriki. "That's… uh, a nice surprise." Goh says simply, glancing back to Akuma.
The man had been indeed been struck by the pile of raging fire, his body covered in the inferno of burning tree branches. Yagyu's sudden increase of strength and speed had ensured they had struck! With a howl Akuma throws the debris off him, revealing some torn clothes and scratches upon his frame. Noting that Goh is now free, AND the traditional jinchuuriki cloak? He grits his teeth in frustration. "Looks like you are a Princess after all."
"I can't fight," Goh intones, standing at Yagyu's six. "…I can back you up though. Just attack how you normally would. If, you, uh, can use any more tails? That would probably be useful too."
Yagyu was unresponsive to the debris that flew off and out to the surrounding area. Goh was free and Akuma was back on his feet. She looked back at the Pickler momentarily as if to process his words and then back to their common enemy. If this man was truly like what she was reminded of, she would need more tails for the job. Another soon joined the first to make two tails and the cloak's form swirled and frothed with more energy. There was that word again. 'Princess'.
Yagyu burst forward and leapt into the air only to drop back down with the force to crater where she landed, sending four pillars towards Akuma this time instead of one.
~It's getting worse. I don't like where this is going,~ Yagyu spoke to the 4-Tails.
~I don't either, but if you intend to regain control, then you must manage what it was that drew the cloak up in the first place," he advised, attempting not to be invasive in regards to her thoughts. He knew what the cause of it was, but this was her battle and she had to be the one to take back control of the battlefield.
The tails were soon sent forward with the intent of wrapping around and crushing Akuma with clear intent to kill and maim his body with the vorpal chakra created by the cloak.
As the second tail forms around Yagyu, Goh keeps a ware eye on her figure and control. Over his years he had had a great deal of experience with jinchuuriki. Both with those who could control their powers and those who could not. Hopefully this mercenary is not of the latter variety.
Regardless, as she moves to jump up and attack, sending a throng of earthen pillars shooting for Akuma, the pickler flies through a set of seals at breakneck speed. As he finishes, a small tongue can be seen popping out of the ground! The appendage wraps about Akuma's right ankle to keep him pinned there, much to his chagrin. The Miira clan members glowers down when he's unable to move, though is able to heft himself free just in time to avoid critical damage. The pillars of earth still catch his torso though! Just before he flips away to the side.
"Tch," Goh mutters. "As expected. I'm only at about a quarter strength."
"KAKAKAKA!" Akuma bellows in a taunting way, feeling blood drip from his side and onto the ground. "Even together you are no match for me!" With purposeful glee his eyes widen, a crazed expression falling across his face as the tails come his way. "Yes…! This is the moment I've been waiting for!" Akuma booms, preparing a technique of his own. Just as he appears to counter-attack the attack though, the area around him suddenly becomes charged with electricity. It's as if a 'cloud' forms around him, with miniature electric bolts of charge striking within.
"Rrrghhh…" Akuma growls. While the storm attack doesn't do a heap of damage, it looks like it does rob him of some energy. Certainly enough to throw his counter-attack off! And just like that, Yagyu's offensive 'grab' is successful, the tails wrapping about Akuma and squeeeezing tight.
Akuma is visibly uncomfortable, the burly man thrashing and kicking wild to free himself. "AARGHHHH!"
The sight of blood only drives the cloaked form to harm Akuma further. The overlapping similarities between him and the memory that formed the cloak have almost become indistinguishable. The form, at this time, has moved from being a defensive form to an offensive one as the tails continue to wrap around his body, one slithering up his torso and bearing down upon his neck to crush it inward.
~I'm trying, but it isn't enough. It's harder than I thought it would be…~ Yagyu lamented within her mind, but she couldn't hide the fact that this power and the attacks against the enemy fed a certain bloodlust within her. She knows where it comes from and hates herself for it, but can't deny that the feeling was satisfying.
~Your thoughts are aligning with the Cloak. You want to see this man destroyed and broken beyond imagination. You must cease that desire if you truly wish to regain control or else, it will only fulfill what you wish it to.~ 4-Tails described to Yagyu.
While she gave his words some thought, a thick, glowing bubble of red hot earth was developing in the maw of the Cloaked Form, soon to be released on Akuma to watch the skin melt from his bones from the lava that was soon to come forth.
Akuma was caught. He was heavily wounded at this stage and growing ever more pained.
As this is happening, Goh is watching Yagyu with a very keen eye. While still unsure of her control, the almost sinister nature of the chakra that looms from her and the hot earth that develops beneath causes him to swallow audibly. Walking around from her six to her front, the pickler faces her — trying to block her vision of the man.
With an air of confidence he speaks, the pickler perhaps long gone at this moment. Replaced by the once-great Salamander. "Yagyu," He begins, voice deep with seriousness. "That's enough. He's defeated. Reel yourself in and gain back some of your control."
Akuma at this point has lost consciousness, the open fire in the middle of the clearing providing enough light to indeed see that his eyes are closed. Well, that's if she makes an effort to look /around/ Goh! Since he's standing right in front of her.
The bubble continued to grow until it reached a proportion large enough to bring damage to Akuma. Goh's pleas to take back control nearly fall upon deaf ears, but the call is answered and the glowing ball is fired towards the ground before it can be released to skin. A crater may be left in its wake, but a dead body was not one of those things.
~I…I've got it..~ She spoke within her mind, having used what remained of her mental strength to contain the Cloaked Form.
~Excellent. Your objective now is to rest. Too much strain and you may exacerbate problems with the form," 4-tails noted.
With Yagyu calming and the cloak presumably starting to fade from around her body, the pickler breathes a sigh of relief. "Stay here, please. Take some time to gather yourself. I'm sure you have a few questions for me, just as I have some for you." His demeanour has certainly changed, of that there was little doubt. He wasn't the panicked fleeing merchant anymore. He was now a man in control, standing a little taller with an air of confidence.
Turning about to pace over to Akuma, he exhales slowly. The large enemy was now on the ground, laying there on his back. He had suffered several wounds from the two tails, a few of them quite significant. "Moeru Miira. That' s your real name, right?" Goh asks, looking down at the man. "You may call yourself 'Akuma' to the deadbeats, but that stuff doesn't work on me. You know, you nearly had me there. Seriously. I botched the medicine I took. If it wasn't for Yagyu here? Who's a jinchuuriki?" He glances back over his shoulder to the mercenary for a moment, before blue eyes settle back on to the enemy. "…then you would have had me."
Taking a deep breath, Goh extends his right hand towards the Miira clan member. "I'm going to find the rest of you. And make sure to wipe you all out."
What happens next is quick. A charge of lightning chakra can be seen springing to life around Goh's outstretched hand — before it takes literal shape and /extends/! Like a spear it ejects from his hand, the shaped lightning chakra growing and growing — skewering right into and through Akuma's skull and killing him instantly. Holding that position for a bit, Goh then lets the technique dissipate. Then, crouches. Yep, he's going through Moeru's things. Nothing like some grave robbing!
Yagyu collapsed to the ground, feeling weakened by the whole ordeal. Her breathing was deep, slow and labored. Running wasn't much of an option for her, even though she felt like it. She simply nodded for now until she worked up the energy to speak.
Looking over Akuma, she observed exactly how much damage she did to him and thought to herself for a few moments. Did he truly deserve it? Likely so. She reveled in the idea that she hurt him as badly as she did, but it also frightened her. It was a path she feared walking, but one she enjoyed taking. She shifted position to sit down and relax while a bright flash met her face from the bolt of lightning that went through Akuma's head. She appeared unfazed or perhaps unfocused.
"I know you're not just some pickler that roams around. I had suspicions before, but had nothing to weigh them with until now," the Nara spoke. "Your enemies were more than just common thugs…" She sighed. "A person like this doesn't bother with ordinary people," she nodded her head over to Akuma's lifeless body.
"That's very attentive of you." Goh calls back, finding some documents within Akuma's robes and pocketing them. Once satisfied, he stands to make his way back over to the merc. Standing over her, he puts an arm onto his hip. "I'm going to be as blunt as I possibly can so there's no confusion. You're right. Moeru here was part of an organisation called Boshoku. Twelve or thirteen of them in total. Mushi and I wiped out most of them, but a few escaped. Moeru here was one of those survivors. Yes, I'm not just a pickler. Well, that is my main job, but it's not all I do. Sometimes I also delve back into shinobi work. But to be honest? It's something I keep extremely secret. And for good reason. Ideally, this isn't something I want you telling your Scorpion friends. You have to trust me when I say that those who know about me being like this genuinely get targeted by assassins. That will now include you." Pause. "Sorry." With a rub of his nose he shrugs.
"Then again, you're a jinchuuriki. So let's go on that. Last I knew, the four-tails was sealed in the Second Hokage. When did you become the new host?"
"I wouldn't be living up to my clan name if I didn't at least try to pay attention from time to time," Yagyu responded with a huff. "But I gotcha. Well, this guy is dead now…" She groaned as she stood to her feet. "I haven't been that angry in a while." She looked over Akuma's corpse once again. "Being in the position I am, I have to accept the risks that come with the job. So, assassins hounding me is just another thing to look out for," she shrugged. "Ain't much that can be done. It was bound to happen this way. Just how it all lined up." A sigh parted her lips.
"I won't tell 'em anything if it keeps you secure and protected and you ain't got nothin' to apologize about. This is just how life is for folks like us. As for the how, well, my dad was a giant a**hat and tried to use me as a bid for padding his own power. So, when the time came for a transfer, he went ahead and stole the container he was being kept in temporarily and held up the team retrieving it for long enough that the bijuu began to pose a danger to everyone. So, they had no choice, /but/ to put him within me in order to protect everyone. Thankfully, my mom came to the rescue and whooped his a** and the team long enough for me to escape. So, she went missing, my dad was captured and now I'm out here with a bijuu."
Goh looks at Yagyu in a perplexed way for a moment, squinting his eyes to try and make sense of the story. It seemed legitimate enough. "I'm surprised that the Four Tails didn't tell you that… uh… Well, about me. I've worked and talked with him a few times when he was with his previous host. In fact, I've run some extremely top secret missions for the second Hokage. That really should be for his mind only. So maybe it's a good thing he hasn't told you about those." With a cough he clears his throat. "I mean, I'm no expert in beast and human relations, but… eh. 'Sup, Four-Tails? Hope you're well." He does offer a hand to wave, which looks just a bit strange. Since it's not the Four Tails he is actually communicating with!
"Anyway, your story makes sense. It does. But what's happened to Daisuke in all of this? The previous host? Why was a transfer even on the cards? And is he okay? I thought that…" His last question tails off a little bit as sounds from afar trickles through the cool morning air. At this stage midnight had come and gone, and the flames that lit the open fire are now becoming nothing more than embers.
"If Moeru was with any of his buddies, they will come looking for him. We need to get back to Konoha right now. Think you can move?"
"Yeah, we ain't necessarily talked like that, yet. Talked a few times, but tryin' to get used to one another. He helped me through trying to get that cloak down, at least," Yagyu described. "Our minds ain't exactly linked like that or rather, he knows my thoughts more than I know his. So, that's the relationship we got right now." She lowered her head. "As far as I know, he's still alive. I've been back to Konoha very few times and every time, I'm uncomfortable there. It's even more stronger now than before, but…I can make a return. I should be alright. I just needed some time to adjust." She looked off in the direction of the village. "I know transfers can be done without killing bijuu or host, but they can be hard on the body."
"Well, Daisuke is a tough son of a bitch if nothing else." Goh comments, before gesturing over his shoulder. "We can worry about that later, anyway. Let's chat more when we're back at the Village. I got a hankering for some ramen. Should get my strength back at the very least." Stretching his arms high and wide, the sometimes-shinobi always-pickler leaps into action, pushing up into the branches of the clearing surrounds and using them as springboards to propel himself back to Konohagakure.
Yagyu nodded. "I served much of my shinobi career under him. Didn't really have problems with him, just those that surrounded him. The others. Wasn't his fault they were the way they were. They've always been that way, but I couldn't take much more of their bs, so I just left." She looked up at the trees and once she was certain she had some power to give, she hopped up into the trees and followed Goh's lead. "He should be alright."
Ooohhh noooooo~~!! Goh had been kidnapped again!
Seriously, what was up with this merchant? Did he paint a target on his back? Did he ruffle feathers of all of his rival picklers to a degree that they wanted him killed or taken away? Or was it something more sinister still? Either way, once again he seems to be gone. As he's not really a shinobi or anyone of worth, he sort of slips under the notice of most shinobi decree. Therefore it's up to the hired mercenaries to pick up the slack and get their share of the business!
Given her recent proximity to the Leaf Village, Yagyu had eventually been contacted through the official channels and been offered the gig. It didn't seem too difficult, really. Goh had been caught, with eye witnesses giving her a strong trail to follow if she so chose.
That said, it's now evening. The pickler had been missing since dawn, so fingers crossed he had not been taken too far out! But given the description of the men that took him (i.e.: hired goons), their speed and ability to put distance between themselves is likely limited.
With the sun just dipping over the horizon, the temperature drops and the humidity lessens. The moon was nearly full, providing plenty of ambience to an otherwise quite night.
"What?! Again?! Really?!" Yagyu just couldn't understand what was going on. This guy was a popular target and she had to figure out why, but first she had to make this money. She had work out this way once again and though she hated being in these parts, work was still work and she couldn't pass up a chance to fill her pockets. She wasn't a shinobi anymore, after all. The money wasn't going to fall out of the sky for her. So, she found herself on Goh's trail, taking down all the information she could about his whereabouts and what people had seen and heard.
"I'm seriously up to my neck in confusion right now. I mean, really," she just couldn't get it as she walked out in the forests of the Land of Fire. "What you gotta do to get people mad at you like that? What he do this time? Pickle lettuce wrong or somethin'?" She questioned. ~I don't know, but it appears you have become 'salty' once more. As you have learned me, it is not prefaced with 'the'. No matter, I still prefer my version. How do you manage to stay so upset all the time?~ 4-Tails questioned her to which she replied with a shrug. "Becomes easy when your life is **** and has been **** on in different ways."
The trip that Yagyu takes is long. While the trail took her a good bit of the way, it didn't take her all of the way. Some questions would need to be asked of the locals, for instance, of whether they had seen anything too suspicious. By and large these questions were met with a shrug and a shake of the head. One older lady however, had nodded. "Yes." She croaked. "I saw a man like the one you describe on the back of a cart. Getting pulled along by a band of hooligans shouting and hollering." Once she had pointed in the direction they had gone, Yagyu would have her heading.
Eventually her quest will lead her to a clearing deep in the forest. Tied against a tree with his back pressed to the trunk, Goh is seated no far from an open fire. The kidnappers have taken rest for the evening (now nearly midnight), and were beginning to turn in. Four of them in total, each wearing heavy weapons like swords and spears strapped to their back. Other weapons laid on the ground, the crooks obviously having chosen to disarm for comfort related reasons.
"He'll be here soon, he will." One of the crooks mutters to Goh. The pickler, with his blonde hair and blue eyes, just looks at the kidnapper. No word is said.
Some dirty dishes are off to the side. The goons have obviously eaten their dinner already!
Yagyu placed a hand to her face and shook her head. "Yeah, that sounds like the guy I'm looking for," she sighed. "Whelp, I gotta go. Wish me luck," she joked with the woman prior to heading off. In time, she found a clearing and lo and behold, the kidnappers were here. "I gotta go in here and deal with these dudes. Round two…" She muttered to herself in frustration.
~You had best be careful. This lot looks different from the last one you fought.~ 4-Tails had warned her.
~Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't really expecting that…~ she replied back in thanks. She wasn't sure why he was helping her, but what she'd learned of Tailed Beasts wasn't matching what she'd received in this one.
"I'll take it slow like I did last time. No need to draw attention…" She whispered as she sneaked around, hoping to get an edge up on the goons.
As Yagyu begins her stealthy moves, a 'presence' makes itself known. Walking in from the edge of the clearing, on the opposite side of where Goh is tied up, a large man wanders in.
Standing at seven feet tall, the figure oozes with strength. And, given the bright orange haired mohawk, orange goatee and gigantic cigar hanging out of his mouth? Oozes with some style, too! While a grey undershirt can partially be seen, what covers his form mostly is a black, red and white combination. Layers of red and black clothes fall onto each other, with distinctive white 'circles' emblazoned upon it at various points. It looks much like a uniform.
The four goons stand up in alert, bowing their heads in respect. "Sir Akuma, Sir! We have a prime specimen for you!" They glance back to Goh.
Goh, for what it's worth, is smiling. He's grinning like an idiot, even laughing a bit. And, given the reaction that this 'Akuma' figure displays (one of surprise and disgust), it becomes evident. Was this perhaps… a trap that the pickler had set?!
"You pieces of ****," The tall figure breathes, exhaling a flume of smoke as he breathes out from his cigar. "Do you have any idea who this is? And what you've done bringing him before me?" — "W…What do you mean, Sir? This is a prime candidate! He is just what you were looking for—" BOOM! The kidnapper doesn't have any time to finish that sentence, for his head explodes. There's no other way to describe it. In a fiery, localised explosion, both his and the three other goons all lose their heads. The bodies fall into the ground in thumps, necks cauterised so no blood and guts fall out.
'Akuma' is still there, holding up an index finger and them from an outstretched hand. Like he was holding a gun. Smoke steams from it. Whatever it was, it was an extremely high level technique. And now he's taking aim at the pickler. Who is… well, struggling to get loose of his binds. O_O
"You idiot," Akuma breathes. "…you suppressed your strength so I couldn't feel it. Probably with medicine. But now you're not strong enough to take me down. In fact, you can't even get out of that rope. Heh." Akuma throws his head back to laugh, before taking aim at Goh's head. Ready to blow it up too. "…Sayonara, Lord Pickler."
Yagyu cringed. Yeah, she couldn't be ready for that one. All those heads exploding at once? The feeling in her stomach wasn't a good one and 4-Tails had already confirmed this with his earlier warning. It's likely for the best she stayed low, but she doesn't have that option anymore. Time to jump out and deal with this.
She performs handseals and creates a couple of clones, both of which were aimed at Akuma. While appearing normal, it becomes clear that there's a certain instability within them that isn't keeping them well and it shows as they expand and explode.
Her cover likely now broken, she steps out and looks over Akuma saying, "You can't touch him like you did these other guys. I need him alive," she explained. "What's your beef with him, anyhow?" She questioned.
4-Tails hummed deeply to himself. ~You must be careful. Be on guard. This one does not appear to hold back threats.~ He made note to point out the dead bodies currently lying all over the ground. Headless dead boddies, that is.
Goh widens his eyes a bit when Yagyu makes herself known. "…damnit." He mutters under his breath, only capable of watching at this point in time. Akuma turns his head to look at the clones, but only laughs in delight as they explode! In a strange turn of events, the fire that the clones explode with are somehow /absorbed/ into Akuma's mouth! He sucks in the flames as if they were a snack. With a slow exhale, he takes out his cigar and holds it with his left hand.
"Sorry lass," He speaks, voice deep and a little … smokey. "He ain't gonna be alive much longer. That guy there killed my entire organisation. We were a group of twelve. Now we're only a group of three, thanks to your blonde haired friend. So? I'm going to kill him now. And unless you want to die a slow, fiery death? I suggest you step out of the way."
"What are you DOING here, Yagyu?!" Goh barks, seeming angry despite the fact that she just saved his life! "Get the **** out of here! This guy is /way/ above your level!"
Akuma grins. "So what's it going to be, Princess? Going to play the hero? Or going to play it smart?"
"The **** you just call me?" Yagyu sneered. She didn't just get called that. That ain't what she's about and quite frankly, it don't need to be coming from his mouth. "I ain't no **** princess!" She ignores Goh's pleas to have her leave the area.
"I don't care if he killed your organization. It obviously means some of y'all were slippin' if he was able to do it! I ain't lettin' you take him out of here. He owe me too much anyway. His life is mine as far as I'm concerned. You gettin' in the way of that."
~This man is no one to fool with. Do you intend to listen to the Pickler or will you stay?~ 4-Tails inquires of her.
~I'm stayin' here. I can't have him losin' his life to stupid ****. Second, I'm learnin' more about him here that could be useful. Third, his **** owe me too much for me to leave him here. So, I gotta keep him around otherwise, he can't fulfill his debts.~ She responded back.
4-Tails chortled with laughter. ~I see you have chosen to stay. I will help you as best as I can. Your resolve has been proven.~
"I called you Princess." Akuma re-iterates, a devilish grin sliding across his face. His teeth are sharp and jagged, but given the fire specialty seems unlikely to represent that clan in Kirigakure. Perhaps he's just a fan?
At the answer, the large man winds his arm around, gripping that shoulder with his opposite hand. "I usually don't like killin' chicks like you, to be real with ya. You got sass. Spunk. I like that in a woman." His eyes flare a little, before he brings both hands down. "But I gotta kill that punk pickler while he's still weak." Clenching his fists, the large man's knuckles crack audiby.
With only the flame from the open camp fire to provide light, coolness truly falls over the clearing. Dew begins to form on the grass near the clearing edge, providing just a bit of wetness to the surrounds. It matters not to Akuma though, who simply CHARGES forward!
The man is impressive, of that there was little doubt. In just a snap of movement he has closed into Yagyu's front, sending a thundering right straight direct for the mercenary's face! Despite his size he seemed to be just as quick, a rare combination.
Meanwhile, Goh works to free himself from his bonds. "Tch," He gets out, wriggling and writhing.
Yagyu was growing upset, but had to maintain her cool. She could give attitude, but serving up anger wasn't going to make this situation any better. She was still a Nara, after all. A level head is generally what they do best. She's at least halfway there, but she's got all the intelligence down, at least.
Unfortunately, none of that quite helps to keep her from getting smacked clear across the face by Akuma, sending her stumbling backwards. She was mildly dazed by the attack, but otherwise fine. At the very least, she has a read on his abilities and has some expectation of what she's up against. She knows he can eat fire and attack quickly. That's two things down, though she has to determine what else is up his sleeve.
She creates handseals and stomps at the ground to send a pillar of earth up from the ground to jut right into his body. She had to keep him at bay, in the least so that Goh could have a bit more time to work himself free or she'd have the time to free him herself.
ZOOOM! Akuma flies high into the air, sent that way by the hunk of earth that erupts from the ground beneath his feet. Seeming to be unbothered by the attack, he begins to take aim at Yagyu from the sky! With a deep breath sucked in, he proceeds to shoot out a myriad of small fire bullets. They rain down from the sky like meteors, threatening to engulf the Nara where she stands.
"He's a close to mid-range type fighter, Yagyu." Goh barks from behind, still trying to wretch himself free. So far he seems to be loosening himself up! But no more than that. "And don't let him grab you! He's from the Miira clan in Sunagakure. If he manages to grasp you and use that scorch technique, it's over. He'll turn you into a husk." Gross.
On any rate, Akuma is now falling back to the ground, eyes wide with glee. Cigar still in his mouth, gel'd mohawk barely flapping in the breeze. "Watch out for his aerial attack!"
Akuma wasn't giving Yagyu much time to counter-attack, that much is sure. He's truly a brute strength type fighter. Designed to just overwhelm the enemy in ruthless combinations.
Yagyu watched Akuma fly into the sky and with him at that distance, she took the opportunity to attempt to free Goh. She ran in his direction, kunai drawn to free him from his binds, but her efforts were halted when fire came raining down from the sky like hail. She wasn't much of a physical fighter, though she was able to dodge a couple, the rest were averted by her crafting a shield to absorb the fireballs with. She could hear each one ping off the shield and chip its surface away, compromising its integrity little by little.
"Gotcha," she remarked when she cleared herself from the barrier she created.
~Use the fire in the area to move, quickly!~ 4-Tails instructed Yagyu.
She followed instruction and flashed through the handseals, utilizing the fires started by the flame attack to replace herself and leave nothing but an ember in her wake while she herself slipped out of harm's way. "This is going to be tough… But I didn't come out here to just back down…" She grumbled. She needed to think this through… So she looked around at the trees that had been set alight. "I may be able to use these to my advantage…"
Moving through the trees, she proceeded to set more fires, selecting certain trees with a trap in mind.
Akuma lands with a heavy thud, the ground splintering mildly under his feet. With a heavy flume of smoke exhaled he stands straight, eyes glancing about to try and pinpoint the location of Yagyu as she darts through the trees. Of course, whether intentionally or not, what she had done is leave the pickler unattended! "Kukukuku!" He chortles in certain delight, taking the cigar from his mouth. "Looks like this is the end, pickler!"
Extending his finger out, Akuma prepares to seemingly 'shoot' Goh like he did the earlier thugs. "Yagyu…?!" Goh calls out, also looking around. "Um … a little help?!" Wriggle wriggle. He moves against the ropes more and more, though it's to no avail. "YAGYU…?!" He calls out again, this time louder. "This guy is about to try and take my head again!"
"You got away the first time, pickler. But not a second. Do-don beam … FIRE!" The end of his finger, already glowing with fire chakra and energy, erupts forward!
For the first time, Yagyu drew upon the strength of the tailed beast within her to give an extra boost. A cloak of chakra formed over her and a tail sprouted from it, it being part of her attack as it lashed through the trees and cut all the torched branches down to cover Akuma in a pile of raging fire. As the branches fell, she dropped down before Goh, ready to intercept the attack that was meant for him. It struck her form, causing the chakra to ripple and lose shape before covering her once again.
A clawed hand reached up and swiped at his binds to free him, though it appears she didn't have much to say on the matter, currently. Her focus was largely still on Akuma. His actions triggered a defense, one that, for all intents and purposes, was a manifestation of anger and hatred and its only aim was to kill.
~I don't have control anymore… Why?~ She asked of the 4-Tails within her mind.
~This man has drawn out the Cloaked Form. However, it is given fuel by your thoughts and energies. Whatever you have felt against this man has caused the form to arise in your defense and his demise.~ He replied back.
Yagyu felt tense for a few moments. She knew exactly what caused it, but now she doesn't have the fortitude to fight against it at this moment. For now, it's the cloak versus Akuma.
The pickler believes he is done for. His blue eyes shut, but … no death happens! In fact, when he opens his eyes, he spots Yagyu right in front of him. Furthermore, the cloak of the four tails surrounding her! His mouth nearly hits the ground in surprise, saved only by the fact that he's now standing up. Free of his binds thanks to the jinchuuriki. "That's… uh, a nice surprise." Goh says simply, glancing back to Akuma.
The man had been indeed been struck by the pile of raging fire, his body covered in the inferno of burning tree branches. Yagyu's sudden increase of strength and speed had ensured they had struck! With a howl Akuma throws the debris off him, revealing some torn clothes and scratches upon his frame. Noting that Goh is now free, AND the traditional jinchuuriki cloak? He grits his teeth in frustration. "Looks like you are a Princess after all."
"I can't fight," Goh intones, standing at Yagyu's six. "…I can back you up though. Just attack how you normally would. If, you, uh, can use any more tails? That would probably be useful too."
Yagyu was unresponsive to the debris that flew off and out to the surrounding area. Goh was free and Akuma was back on his feet. She looked back at the Pickler momentarily as if to process his words and then back to their common enemy. If this man was truly like what she was reminded of, she would need more tails for the job. Another soon joined the first to make two tails and the cloak's form swirled and frothed with more energy. There was that word again. 'Princess'.
Yagyu burst forward and leapt into the air only to drop back down with the force to crater where she landed, sending four pillars towards Akuma this time instead of one.
~It's getting worse. I don't like where this is going,~ Yagyu spoke to the 4-Tails.
~I don't either, but if you intend to regain control, then you must manage what it was that drew the cloak up in the first place," he advised, attempting not to be invasive in regards to her thoughts. He knew what the cause of it was, but this was her battle and she had to be the one to take back control of the battlefield.
The tails were soon sent forward with the intent of wrapping around and crushing Akuma with clear intent to kill and maim his body with the vorpal chakra created by the cloak.
As the second tail forms around Yagyu, Goh keeps a ware eye on her figure and control. Over his years he had had a great deal of experience with jinchuuriki. Both with those who could control their powers and those who could not. Hopefully this mercenary is not of the latter variety.
Regardless, as she moves to jump up and attack, sending a throng of earthen pillars shooting for Akuma, the pickler flies through a set of seals at breakneck speed. As he finishes, a small tongue can be seen popping out of the ground! The appendage wraps about Akuma's right ankle to keep him pinned there, much to his chagrin. The Miira clan members glowers down when he's unable to move, though is able to heft himself free just in time to avoid critical damage. The pillars of earth still catch his torso though! Just before he flips away to the side.
"Tch," Goh mutters. "As expected. I'm only at about a quarter strength."
"KAKAKAKA!" Akuma bellows in a taunting way, feeling blood drip from his side and onto the ground. "Even together you are no match for me!" With purposeful glee his eyes widen, a crazed expression falling across his face as the tails come his way. "Yes…! This is the moment I've been waiting for!" Akuma booms, preparing a technique of his own. Just as he appears to counter-attack the attack though, the area around him suddenly becomes charged with electricity. It's as if a 'cloud' forms around him, with miniature electric bolts of charge striking within.
"Rrrghhh…" Akuma growls. While the storm attack doesn't do a heap of damage, it looks like it does rob him of some energy. Certainly enough to throw his counter-attack off! And just like that, Yagyu's offensive 'grab' is successful, the tails wrapping about Akuma and squeeeezing tight.
Akuma is visibly uncomfortable, the burly man thrashing and kicking wild to free himself. "AARGHHHH!"
The sight of blood only drives the cloaked form to harm Akuma further. The overlapping similarities between him and the memory that formed the cloak have almost become indistinguishable. The form, at this time, has moved from being a defensive form to an offensive one as the tails continue to wrap around his body, one slithering up his torso and bearing down upon his neck to crush it inward.
~I'm trying, but it isn't enough. It's harder than I thought it would be…~ Yagyu lamented within her mind, but she couldn't hide the fact that this power and the attacks against the enemy fed a certain bloodlust within her. She knows where it comes from and hates herself for it, but can't deny that the feeling was satisfying.
~Your thoughts are aligning with the Cloak. You want to see this man destroyed and broken beyond imagination. You must cease that desire if you truly wish to regain control or else, it will only fulfill what you wish it to.~ 4-Tails described to Yagyu.
While she gave his words some thought, a thick, glowing bubble of red hot earth was developing in the maw of the Cloaked Form, soon to be released on Akuma to watch the skin melt from his bones from the lava that was soon to come forth.
Akuma was caught. He was heavily wounded at this stage and growing ever more pained.
As this is happening, Goh is watching Yagyu with a very keen eye. While still unsure of her control, the almost sinister nature of the chakra that looms from her and the hot earth that develops beneath causes him to swallow audibly. Walking around from her six to her front, the pickler faces her — trying to block her vision of the man.
With an air of confidence he speaks, the pickler perhaps long gone at this moment. Replaced by the once-great Salamander. "Yagyu," He begins, voice deep with seriousness. "That's enough. He's defeated. Reel yourself in and gain back some of your control."
Akuma at this point has lost consciousness, the open fire in the middle of the clearing providing enough light to indeed see that his eyes are closed. Well, that's if she makes an effort to look /around/ Goh! Since he's standing right in front of her.
The bubble continued to grow until it reached a proportion large enough to bring damage to Akuma. Goh's pleas to take back control nearly fall upon deaf ears, but the call is answered and the glowing ball is fired towards the ground before it can be released to skin. A crater may be left in its wake, but a dead body was not one of those things.
~I…I've got it..~ She spoke within her mind, having used what remained of her mental strength to contain the Cloaked Form.
~Excellent. Your objective now is to rest. Too much strain and you may exacerbate problems with the form," 4-tails noted.
With Yagyu calming and the cloak presumably starting to fade from around her body, the pickler breathes a sigh of relief. "Stay here, please. Take some time to gather yourself. I'm sure you have a few questions for me, just as I have some for you." His demeanour has certainly changed, of that there was little doubt. He wasn't the panicked fleeing merchant anymore. He was now a man in control, standing a little taller with an air of confidence.
Turning about to pace over to Akuma, he exhales slowly. The large enemy was now on the ground, laying there on his back. He had suffered several wounds from the two tails, a few of them quite significant. "Moeru Miira. That' s your real name, right?" Goh asks, looking down at the man. "You may call yourself 'Akuma' to the deadbeats, but that stuff doesn't work on me. You know, you nearly had me there. Seriously. I botched the medicine I took. If it wasn't for Yagyu here? Who's a jinchuuriki?" He glances back over his shoulder to the mercenary for a moment, before blue eyes settle back on to the enemy. "…then you would have had me."
Taking a deep breath, Goh extends his right hand towards the Miira clan member. "I'm going to find the rest of you. And make sure to wipe you all out."
What happens next is quick. A charge of lightning chakra can be seen springing to life around Goh's outstretched hand — before it takes literal shape and /extends/! Like a spear it ejects from his hand, the shaped lightning chakra growing and growing — skewering right into and through Akuma's skull and killing him instantly. Holding that position for a bit, Goh then lets the technique dissipate. Then, crouches. Yep, he's going through Moeru's things. Nothing like some grave robbing!
Yagyu collapsed to the ground, feeling weakened by the whole ordeal. Her breathing was deep, slow and labored. Running wasn't much of an option for her, even though she felt like it. She simply nodded for now until she worked up the energy to speak.
Looking over Akuma, she observed exactly how much damage she did to him and thought to herself for a few moments. Did he truly deserve it? Likely so. She reveled in the idea that she hurt him as badly as she did, but it also frightened her. It was a path she feared walking, but one she enjoyed taking. She shifted position to sit down and relax while a bright flash met her face from the bolt of lightning that went through Akuma's head. She appeared unfazed or perhaps unfocused.
"I know you're not just some pickler that roams around. I had suspicions before, but had nothing to weigh them with until now," the Nara spoke. "Your enemies were more than just common thugs…" She sighed. "A person like this doesn't bother with ordinary people," she nodded her head over to Akuma's lifeless body.
"That's very attentive of you." Goh calls back, finding some documents within Akuma's robes and pocketing them. Once satisfied, he stands to make his way back over to the merc. Standing over her, he puts an arm onto his hip. "I'm going to be as blunt as I possibly can so there's no confusion. You're right. Moeru here was part of an organisation called Boshoku. Twelve or thirteen of them in total. Mushi and I wiped out most of them, but a few escaped. Moeru here was one of those survivors. Yes, I'm not just a pickler. Well, that is my main job, but it's not all I do. Sometimes I also delve back into shinobi work. But to be honest? It's something I keep extremely secret. And for good reason. Ideally, this isn't something I want you telling your Scorpion friends. You have to trust me when I say that those who know about me being like this genuinely get targeted by assassins. That will now include you." Pause. "Sorry." With a rub of his nose he shrugs.
"Then again, you're a jinchuuriki. So let's go on that. Last I knew, the four-tails was sealed in the Second Hokage. When did you become the new host?"
"I wouldn't be living up to my clan name if I didn't at least try to pay attention from time to time," Yagyu responded with a huff. "But I gotcha. Well, this guy is dead now…" She groaned as she stood to her feet. "I haven't been that angry in a while." She looked over Akuma's corpse once again. "Being in the position I am, I have to accept the risks that come with the job. So, assassins hounding me is just another thing to look out for," she shrugged. "Ain't much that can be done. It was bound to happen this way. Just how it all lined up." A sigh parted her lips.
"I won't tell 'em anything if it keeps you secure and protected and you ain't got nothin' to apologize about. This is just how life is for folks like us. As for the how, well, my dad was a giant **** and tried to use me as a bid for padding his own power. So, when the time came for a transfer, he went ahead and stole the container he was being kept in temporarily and held up the team retrieving it for long enough that the bijuu began to pose a danger to everyone. So, they had no choice, /but/ to put him within me in order to protect everyone. Thankfully, my mom came to the rescue and whooped his **** and the team long enough for me to escape. So, she went missing, my dad was captured and now I'm out here with a bijuu."
Goh looks at Yagyu in a perplexed way for a moment, squinting his eyes to try and make sense of the story. It seemed legitimate enough. "I'm surprised that the Four Tails didn't tell you that… uh… Well, about me. I've worked and talked with him a few times when he was with his previous host. In fact, I've run some extremely top secret missions for the second Hokage. That really should be for his mind only. So maybe it's a good thing he hasn't told you about those." With a cough he clears his throat. "I mean, I'm no expert in beast and human relations, but… eh. 'Sup, Four-Tails? Hope you're well." He does offer a hand to wave, which looks just a bit strange. Since it's not the Four Tails he is actually communicating with!
"Anyway, your story makes sense. It does. But what's happened to Daisuke in all of this? The previous host? Why was a transfer even on the cards? And is he okay? I thought that…" His last question tails off a little bit as sounds from afar trickles through the cool morning air. At this stage midnight had come and gone, and the flames that lit the open fire are now becoming nothing more than embers.
"If Moeru was with any of his buddies, they will come looking for him. We need to get back to Konoha right now. Think you can move?"
"Yeah, we ain't necessarily talked like that, yet. Talked a few times, but tryin' to get used to one another. He helped me through trying to get that cloak down, at least," Yagyu described. "Our minds ain't exactly linked like that or rather, he knows my thoughts more than I know his. So, that's the relationship we got right now." She lowered her head. "As far as I know, he's still alive. I've been back to Konoha very few times and every time, I'm uncomfortable there. It's even more stronger now than before, but…I can make a return. I should be alright. I just needed some time to adjust." She looked off in the direction of the village. "I know transfers can be done without killing bijuu or host, but they can be hard on the body."
"Well, Daisuke is a tough son of a **** if nothing else." Goh comments, before gesturing over his shoulder. "We can worry about that later, anyway. Let's chat more when we're back at the Village. I got a hankering for some ramen. Should get my strength back at the very least." Stretching his arms high and wide, the sometimes-shinobi always-pickler leaps into action, pushing up into the branches of the clearing surrounds and using them as springboards to propel himself back to Konohagakure.
Yagyu nodded. "I served much of my shinobi career under him. Didn't really have problems with him, just those that surrounded him. The others. Wasn't his fault they were the way they were. They've always been that way, but I couldn't take much more of their bs, so I just left." She looked up at the trees and once she was certain she had some power to give, she hopped up into the trees and followed Goh's lead. "He should be alright."
