The Mongrel

The day was young with much to do, yet despite the sun barely peering its head above the horizon the young wolf had been up for several hours working. He was hauling logs by pulling them behind him with a sled. While it might not have been a great deal of wood compared to what the village likely needed but he felt that every little bit helped. Plus, he had to do something to keep his mind away from the nightmares that woke him almost every night in a panicked state, dripping sweat from each and every pore.
 
Sebastian found himself at the gates of the village he calls his own, the Hidden Village of the Stars. He wasn’t entirely sure if he was allowed to simply enter the village without supervision, and in reality he actually preferred having an escort. His long dark hair was damp from the day’s work, and the man would wipe his brow with the back of his wrist. The cloth of his shirt would absorb the moisture and the wolf would simply await a passing guard on duty or someone similar in rank to let him in.
 
Sebastian was wearing loose fitting clothing and his dark brown cloak wrapped around his waist. Behind him was the sled for wood and in front of him was the gate, a mere stone’s throw from him. Still, he was making sure to avoid portraying himself as a threat. As long as he was in control of himself he wasn’t a threat to the village.


WC: 257

It seemed no one was paying enough attention at the gates and weren't looking at the sweaty person dragging a sled of wood along. When the person stopped and the guard was flipping through the pages of a magazine the Terumi would approach. He was wearing his Nova cloak which was open in the front and his lab coat underneath. When the shadow of the man loomed over the guard and his reading material the man would look up and recoil as if he'd just been caught doing something inappropriate. "No, no. Don't get up now, I've got this. You stay here, read your book." The man would say calmly, but with a tone that implied sarcasm. When the ninja went to read his book again the Terumi would grab it and wad it up before throwing it on the floor.  He would then take the guest log from him, to be used as a punishment later.

He would then approach the person at the gate. "Sorry, they have an idiot on guard duty today." The Nova would stop a fair distance away so, that neither could close the distance within an instant. "Do you have your identification?" He would ask waiting for the guy to hold it up if so. Most people couldn't make out small words from a distance, but a ninja could. The Terumi would be able to see the person's name and other details on the ID. If the person held up the ID and he was from Hoshi the Terumi would welcome him in. 

The Terumi would also get an idea forming if he were a hoshi ninja. It looked like this genin was busy hauling his lumber, but the market wasn't going anywhere. Maybe, he would like to make some extra money doing gate duty. The Nova would be there to help and the chuunin that was on duty now would serve as an example of how not to perform the duty and the punishment that followed. "Hey, Innattentive Steve." The man would call clearly meaning the guard that had been reading at work. "I may have a different job for you today, we are going to learn attention to detail and its importance." Holding the clip board away from the chuunin he would read it over quickly. "How many people have walked through the gates since you started today." The answer was seven, but Steve just stood there unsure of the answer before giving a close, yet wrong answer of six. "Seven, now run from this gate to the guard tower to the west three times and report back." 

The man would run off as he was told leaving the Terumi and Loghain the only two ninja that were on the ground. "If he doesn't read the one sign between here and there at least once he's going to do it again." He would say to Loghain when Steve was out of earshot. "Not to mention he left his post without being properly relieved." 
WC: 501

Watching the man approach, Loghain would wait quietly while he disciplined the lazy guard. He wasn’t sure what the guard’s actual protocols were, but it was very clear that he must have done something wrong, likely simply being inattentive at his task. Based on this encounter, Loghain imagined that this man standing in front of him must have been a senior officer or at least a bit higher on the food chain. That was a blessing as it meant that the man could relax, even if only slightly. Should something trigger him, the experienced officer would likely be able to restrain the beast, or at worst put the creature down.
 
When asked to present his identification the young man would pull out a folding booklet of paper, opening it up to reveal his name and his affiliation with Hoshigakure. It also stated very clearly that the man was not permitted to stay within the village walls longer than need be. The details of his dealings with Hoshi and work done in the name of the village might not have been privy to the younger, more inexperienced guard… but a higher officer would recognize the paperwork easily and know what the wolf was. Loghain was technically a Hoshi shinobi, but only in the loosest sense of the word. He was a weapon, and while all shinobi fell into such a role this wasn’t the same. He was more akin to a starved hound than a soldier of the Hoshi army.
 
The Mongrel would roll up his sleeve, revealing a Hoshi band wrapped around his bicep, pointing to it with a silent nod. A sly grin would paint his face as the cloaked officer made an example of the guard apparently named Steve.
 
“Are you to be my escort?” Loghain would ask, his voice much deeper than one might expect. “I am here to drop off this week’s lumber and check if I was assigned any tasks.” The wolf would await the reply from the man. Whether or not he was permitted within the village walls was up to the Terumi’s judgement.

WC:350
TWC: 607

The ID the sled dragger showed was longer than most, almost like an instruction manual. The kid needed an escort. The Terumi had just been wandering by, he never did gate duty and was only doing it because inattentive Steve was well inattentive. Apparently, the kid was a wild wolf when provoked and until he learned control needed an escort. Luckily, Akabayashi was there most people would act strangely around him. 

He didn't really know what Sanies Lupinus was, but it clearly turned him into an enraged hybrid of some sort at unexpected times. It sounded like a werewolf, which would make the most sense as Lupinus meant wolfish. He would then show his armband to the older ninja. "Sure, I can escort you. Give me one moment." He would say after hearing a voice much lower than he had assumed. With a whistle he would motion to one of the guards in the towers they were working in pairs. One would climb down immediately. "What can I do for you sir?" He would ask casually. The Nova would give a quick rundown of the events leading to Steve's current task, including the punishment until he learned how to pay attention. 

"It will be done Nova Terumi." He would say before taking a position at the gates to allow people in. The Terumi would then turn to Sebastion. "So where do we need to go? You can go anywhere you want since you are with me." Most people who had to be watched were usually uncomfortable and wanted to remove their onlooker as soon as they could. The man would walk next to the guy wherever he wanted to go. "I am Doctor Akabayashi my main focus is on resurrection." 

WC: 291
TWC: 792

The man would offer himself up as the wolf’s keeper, which meant that at least he would no longer have to wait to finish the task he came here to do. Sebastian would fold up his identification and place it back into his pocket before adjusting the sled to position it again for dragging. Stepping forwards he would give an approving nod to the man known as Doctor Akabayashi as he walked through the gates and another soldier relieved the post.
 
When asked where he needed to go, the young wolf would give a light nod of his head in the direction of the wood being dragged. “Delivery. It goes to the church in the laborers district. It will find its way to those who need it.” The doctor would offer his focus. Resurrection? This man could return life to the dead? Well it was good to know that should the worst happen those victims of his primal fury would have a possible second chance. It wasn’t much, but it was a pleasant thought nevertheless. “I am Sebastian Loghain. Call me your preference. My focus is in surviving.” It wasn’t likely the answer the officer expected, but it was the truth. He was not trying to be short with the man but Sebastian was not really trained much in the ways of the shinobi, only learning the absolute basics before being effectively exiled and given tasks to remove unwanted characters from the areas surrounding Hoshi. One might expect them to better train the young man, but he was expendable and not worth the resources that would be spend on such an endeavor. The beast within was all he was equipped with, and if he died the village lost nothing but an undesirable.  
 
“You may know. Have any rogues encroached on Hoshi territory?” Loghain expected his meaning to be clear, but he would better explain himself if such a thing was needed.

WC:321
TWC:928

Walking toward the laborer's district would be simple, it wasn't far from the gate. Akabayashi would make a right turn assuming Sebastian would follow. If he hadn't the Terumi would have some explaining to do. It would make sense the Church was looking for lumber, they were always building houses for the homeless or the dehomed by the ninja menace. 

When asked about bandits or "rogues" of Hoshi the Terumi didn't take long to come up with an answer. "There are usually bandits on Meteor road out in the border. They wait for caravans of goods coming to the village. The one leaving the village usually have an escort until they get to the next country, then they have to hire mercenaries or request a mission." Maybe, the information was a bit specific, but he assumed that was the information Sebastian was looking for. "I'm not sure of anything else, I just got back recently your Preference." 

As they walked he would ask a question about his strange ID. "So your Preference, why do they have you inxiled? Your ID is one part he's a ninja here and one part don't speak to it. Seem pretty normal to me." The question was direct, but that was usually the best way to get information. However, this wasn't an interrogation and Loghain had no obligation to answer. It was merely a way to sate his curiosity. 

WC: 235
TWC: 1,027

Sebastian would follow, making the right and heading towards the intended destination. He had no desire to break off and possibly run amok in the village. The wood would hopefully be put to good use by the church. One of many small good deeds to try and balance the scales, though they were so heavily tipped in the favor of the beasts vile acts of evil.
 
Your preference? It took a moment for the joke to register, but a light chuckle would escape the lips of the dark haired man. “Meteor Road… noted.” Loghain would just make a mental note to follow the road later. He would have to aim to try going at night as that would hopefully keep innocents away during the carnage that would likely ensue. “I had hoped that we knew of a base, or possibly a stronghold…” He would state, figuring that if the man had the knowledge he would likely have already mentioned it but knowing that it doesn’t hurt to state this. Perhaps the senior officer could . If he had to he could always follow their tracks back to a base of some sort. Some of the bandits may be skilled enough to avoid being tracked, but there was almost always a weak link in larger bands.
 
 The Nova officer would inquire about why Loghain was treated as he was. The young wolf was not keen on the idea of explaining how he was subhuman, but this doctor had been polite enough to escort him to the church and his odd humor was at least entertaining to a degree. He would look around, making sure that they were alone or at least not within earshot of civilians. “My identification serves as a warning. I am not always able to control my actions. I do not know what triggers it, but…” His voice falls to a low growl, “I have hurt people. I have…. Killed innocents…” His jaw would be clenched, his anger at his own shortcomings clear. “For this, I must spend my life trying to make things right…” Loghain would not allow his gaze to meet that of his escort, his shame weighing heavily on his mind. “When offered a way to channel to beast’s rage for the good of the people I gladly accepted. Perhaps God will look kindly upon my desire to repent and forgive me for my sins.”

WC:400
TWC: 1328

Akabayashi would wait for Sebastian to finish before coming to a stop and removing his shades. The scar could be seen with the glasses off, but not his milky white damaged eye. "You sound a lot like someone I used to know, they gave me this." The words were stated calmly. Even though he could see through the eye due to surgery it still appeared as if it was unusable. "He was oddly dedicated to the church as well. Coincidence?" The person he was thinking of was Kyousuke Snow, a man who could go berserk at any moment, but also served the church due to him killing many people caused by his affliction.

"I wouldn't let your shortcoming define you. The second Hogokage was similar to you, he eventually found a way to control himself. But he lived in fear that he would hurt someone again someday." He would then put his shades back on continue toward the church it wasn't far from here just right around the corner.

"I kind of earned the scar, I was sent there to get the protection money he owed my old gang or kill him." Akabayashi would state showing that he wasn't so clean himself. He wasn't part of a gang now, but before Hoshi was formed it was a constant struggle of survival. Attacks by the queensmen or queensguard, bandits fighting bandits, having to work as a thug in order to eat because he was part of a shinobi clan. They were finally at the church where the priest was outside wiping down the stained glass windows as high as he could reach.

"Father this is Sebastian, he has the lumber shipment you requested." The man would look displeased with the Terumi's presense and Akabayashi knew why. He wore the standard garb of the clergy and his nose was misshapen as if it were broken and then allowed to heal improperly.  This was likely the biggest reason the Nova avoided the church not many were fans of him. "Hmm, Doctor T good to see you again." A clear lie based on the tone. "Likewise." 

The details of why the two were on bad terms needed not be stated. Father Brehennon had sent the queensmen to wipeout some of the runners from Akabayshi's old gang a group that was slaughtered because they couldn't defend themselves. Akabayshi was sent to get recompense, the last time he'd seen the father was when his boot was placed over the father's neck. He couldn't recall the prayer the father was saying at the time, mostly because it came out as a garbled mess as the Terumi pressed harder. "I can't kill you because that would just make you a martyr, but the same can't be said for your son." The Terumi would throw the picture of the Brehennon's son on the floor so that the man could see it. The father would make some strange noises and the Terumi would lift his boot for him to speak.

"You, you can't he is innoce..." The father would not get the last word out as he once again made a choking sound as the Terumi reapplied the pressure. "Because innocence is a factor in your war on ninja? You killed people whose only crime was having chakra, yet propose to lecture me on that. You old hypocritical fuck." Akabayshi would raise his boot and swiftly knock out the priest with a kick to the nose. That was the last time he had seen the father. Since Hoshi ninja village was formed a pact was made to absolve both sides of any wrongdoing and these awkward meetings were part of it.
WC: 607
TWC: 1634

The young wolf would listen as the officer spoke of the second Hogokage’s similarity to Loghain, and how he too had issues controlling his nearly all consuming rage. While it was helpful to know that he wasn’t the only person to struggle with such a thing, the man couldn’t help but wonder something, the thought clawing its way through his mind until it was all he could think about. Did that man ever find the salvation he sought? Was he ever forgiven for his sins? The doctor also revealed some of his own past… transgressions. He had been a former gang member, something that came as quite the surprise to Sebastian. The wolf would nod, accepting that the two of them had at least something in common. Neither one of them is entirely innocent…
 
Once they had gotten to the church, there was a clear shift in the mood of the area. There was a silent tension, rising steadily as Father Brehennon and Nova Officer Terumi made their greetings. “Where would you like this, Father Brehennon?” The clergyman would point to the side of the church, and as commanded the werewolf would drag the sled over to the side and he would unload the shipment. Once finished, Sebastian would bow his head and thank the priest for allowing him to be of service. The priest gave thanks to the young man, likely oblivious to what he actually was though he had no way of knowing the mind of the clergyman.
 
“I am finished with my delivery.” Loghain would state, giving the Terumi a nod that this awkward meeting could be adjourned. Sebastian would follow the lead of his escort, knowing fully that he is bound by an invisible leash of sorts.
 
Once they were out of earshot of the priest, Loghain would speak up. “Why do you have such a distaste for the priesthood? Do you hate the men of the cloth so?” He would ask, prying ever so slightly into the mind of the man walking him around. The shinobi likely had their reasons for hating the church as much as they did, and vice versa. The young wolf, technically not raised as a shinobi at all found peace in the church, as it was seen as a road to his own redemption and salvation. He would await an answer, though if one wasn’t presented he would simply follow his shinobi escort back to the gates or wherever the man decided to take him.

WC: 415
TWC: 1743

At least the wolf-man possessed a sense of tact, the Terumi would think to himself as they moved away from the father. The departure between the two had been silent neither willing to say anything to the other after the greeting, an awkwardness Loghain had picked up on at some point most likely immediately. 

"How does someone not detest a religion which brands them a devil for being alive?" The Terumi would ask almost as if the answer were obvious. From the path Akabayashi was taking they were not returning the way they had come, they were actually heading away from the gates. "I have to pick something up from the hospital." He would say as they headed down a crowded street filled with fast food stalls. 

The Terumi recalled Sebastian had said he had a focus on survival and didn't live in the village. Maybe, not hunting for a meal would make the guy seem less tense. The nova would approach a shop and request two orders of bacon and cheese fries. He would hand one to Loghain. He wanted to at least give the kid a meal before giving a history lesson. 

"Not long ago Haven didn't have a hidden village. The people were basically killing eachother those with chakra were branded as criminals, so we were forced to act as such. The church held the power over the queensmen and used the royalty to spread their ninshu is the devil propaganda. They used the crimes we were forced to commit to sway public opinion. Those with high chakra were unable to work. A business would be set ablaze for hiring someone like me even if they hadn't done anything. The fire would be blamed on the employee and overtime we were outlawed."


He would skip to the peace part after that, it generally wasn't acceptable to talk about the past of the village. When the ninja village was formed the new ninja and the church had agreed to detach themselves from their grudges for the sake of both factions. "When Denkiteki and Akihana came and negotiated peace the things done were to be forgiven. Occasionally, some people let the past get the better of them. Generally, people don't talk about it though. Something not seen or heard is easier forgotten." 

When the two got to the hospital people would greet the man as he made his way to the office. The man would take the note from his desk and read it quickly before folding the paper and putting it into his lab coat. He wouldn't say what was on the note, but whatever it was didn't change the doctor's expression. "So, want to go to the library, hot spring, training grounds, anywhere in the village?"
WC: 457
TWC: 2091