Moving Up In The World (Asahi)

Unbeknownst to Yamato who stood outside the door riddled with guilt and a variety of other wry serious feelings, Asahi was untroubled.  So untroubled in fact, he’d actually fallen asleep with his head on the desk.  It wasn’t until a chime that reveled he was due a meeting rang out that he snapped awake.  The device had been installed he was told after he’d started business.   Yasahiro did not necessitate such a thing…he was told….again……everyday.  Wiping the drool from his face and unsticking a paper from his forehead he’d hear the tentative two knocks ring out in the room.  “Come on in!”  He’d shout cheerfully.  Extricating himself form the chair, and moving around the desk so he could see his friend.  His excitement was almost palpable as Yamato’s dealings had made it nearly impossible for them to meet up, not to mention Asahi’s own cup running over with jobs and duties.  This excitement was so strong in fact; he forgot to control himself.  His spirit reaching out and intermingling with Yamato’s own.  A memory would flash through his friends eyes, he’d see Asahi alone at the entrance of a cave, blood gore all around him as the blonde faced a presumed priest of an evil spirit, though the outcome would not be known to Yamato.  He’d simply see the start.  Still Asahi stood before him, so couldn’t have been that bad aye?

The memory that Yamato held would flash into Asahi’s mind, and he’d slightly curse himself for not controlling his abilities better.  It wasn’t a bad thing, but he did think it a touch rude at times.  An intimate thing memories from one’s own eyes….at least get dinner first.    

Presumably his friend would enter, getting a first look at the office.  It was a standard sized office, that smelled heavily of parchment paper.  The desk that Asahi sat back on was a finely polished, although worn cherry, it’s top clustered with a variety of papers.  A glance would show personal files form the budding militia, a host of official looking mission details, and other documents alluding to different social projects around the village.  Behind Asahi two large windows helped light the room, both open causing the front breeze to rustle the parchments every few moments.  The walls lined with bookshelves, old volumes categorized….clearly not by Asahi….by volume detailing a history of sorts for Tanbogakure.  Leaning on the right side of the desk where two objects.  A finely crafted ninjato in sheath, as well as a large fan that seemed to have a certain power of its own.

Before Yamato had a chance to speak, Asahi would push off from the desk, moving quickly over to his friend embracing him.  “It’s been too long, and after all that nastiness last time.”  He’d say winking as he leaned back from the embrace his right hand touching just over his heart were a black seal had been placed.  “Still, can’t sweat the small stuff aye?  How have you been, what have you been up to, you must tell me everything!”  His smile was infectious, both from the reunion and a good reason to escape the paperwork he’d so diligently been working on.

Though there was one more reason.  He’d compiled a large amount of notes and theories on the evil spirit at this point, it occupying the majority of his free time.  Yasahiro felt with the Zukumiki, Asahi the spirit, it was a good use of their time.  Still, he’d give Yamato a chance to breath and a word in, at least for a moment.  

TWC - 593

Jutsu used - Ninshu

He could see both in the man and in his memories the pride in which he performed his work.  Asahi cursed himself for his chosen words, realizing to late he’d wounded his friend.  He had made the remake off handedly to lighten the mood more than chastise.  Walking forward he’d pay his friend on the shoulder before pulling a chair around from the desk and having a seat as well, he wouldn’t put a desk between them, especially now.  

“Now now..” he’d say “none of that.  There is no hard feelings, I wouldn’t change anything, besides Hikari saw to it I was fixed up, we have nothing unkind to discuss.”  He’d smile hopefully bringing his friend form the revere of guilt.  “That is true….this was not my intention.”  He’d say gesturing around the room.  “In truth it’s a bit tedious, a lot of numbers and talking.  Not that it’s soemthing I can’t do b it……compared to the ebb and flow of working the tea shop, it’s a bit more….dramatic”. He’d say shrugging.  In truth he didn’t think of himself as a Kage, rather an over hyped accountant.  “To busy.”  He’d say shrugging at the date comment, “though there was this girl that took a bit out of me…”. He’d say with a smile pulling down his color, a healing fang mark just visible.  “But what can you do.”

He’d listen as Yamato asked about the mark.  “Not to bad to be honest.  I think I’ve got a full handle on it.”  He looked at his friend and for a brief moment considered sharing his expierences  when he’d died, but then thought better of it.  That could come later, if at all.  He didn’t want his friend to feel any more guilt on the situation.  “Luckily I haven’t had much cause to use it, but…..that day might come, one can never be too careful.  But what about you…what have you been working on?  Got a new experiment yet?”  He’d ask quizzically wondering what all the notes had been about in the memory, as well as the brief case that he still held under his arm.  

He wanted to get to the information he had about the spirit; but this seemed more important.  He’d cleared his schedule they had time.  

TWC - 971

When Yamato mentioned no need to treat it as no big deal Asahi would lean forward placing a hand on his friends shoulder, “it’s no big deal, I mean it.”  He’d say with a wink.  In truth, he meant it so it wasn’t even a lie.  Though there were some negatives, some difficulties it had all worked out.  Worrying about maybes and what ifs was only good for adding stress, so he’d paced it from his mind.  Besides, it had opened up many more doors for him.  “I didn’t say it, but thank you.  I promise it was a well worth experiment, and km glad I was the one to go through it.”  He’d lean back then, in his kind the matter closed.

At his words of the tea shop a slight flush filled Asahi’s cheeks.  “I know!” He’d say in indignation, “that new guy just doesn’t know what he’s doing, and the old crone could never do her shopping properly.  I hate to leave it like that, but alas…. It does seem like this is going to be my job for some time.  The master of the castle was pretty insistent and seemed pleased to lock Yasahiro and myself into a more permanent position.”  He looked a little indecisive about that.  Though this wasn’t his main choice he still felt compelled to do a good job.  If anything just to spite Yasahiro and show that he could.  “Traveling?”  He asked snapping back to Yamato’s words.  “Well not really much outside the village, but I’ve still be taking some missions.  Yasahiro is in charge of the military perhaps, but…..take a look at this.”  He’d say standing and moving over to his desk.  Pulling out a portfolio that bore his name he’d slide it to Yamato.  Inside he’d discover that of all the registered individuals who were qualified to take missions, Asahi Yagami had competed the most to satisfaction.  

“How’s that, you do a good job get a new job.  I did a gig just the other day even, that took me to the mountains, but we will get to that in a few.”  He’d say.  The conversation moving easily and thoroughly.  He’d missed Yamato, he knew that more now than he had even before.

“Ah I’m sure it’s fine, maybe she was just enthusiastic.  Nothing to bother our white eyed doctor with.”  He’d say with a shrug brushing the subject away, clearly not as concerned about the situation.  

As ahi listened intently as Yamato moved through his excitement and curiosity with Asahi’s seal, and then the other older seal.  This seemed the perfect time to interject some of his research.  “No rush, when you get it finished you are always welcome to come in and see me.”  He’d say.  “But, that seal does it by chance….look like this?”  He’d have gotten up, and moved to the separate table, gesturing for Yamato to come over as well.  Inside was a photo of a lion dog statue a seal scratched into its forehead.  “I found one of these….along with all this…”. He’d wave his hand signaling about all the different papers.  From cautionary tales that all seemed to have a dark entity, myths of spirits, oni and kitsune wars, as well as his own mission reports detailing the grave robbers he’d killed with Kato, and the details of the final grave robber that had been sacrificing horses.  A mission that Yamato and he had started leading to those ruins, but they had not finished.  

He’d give Yamato time to look at the papers before he asked if he needed to get back to work.  “Nonsense, this is work just the same as any other.  I’ve been dying to have a decent detective look over these things.”  He’d give out his own scribbling trying to look at everything he’d seen.  In truth he only had a couple solid facts.  All of the Tanbogakure cautionary tales were based around the same entity, cement release had been used in the old times to seal things, and the lion dogs were remnants of that, and something was brewing with these grave robbers…..and his suspicion they were possessed.  He’d sit back, giving his friend a chance to peruse through it all.  

As he did, he’d use the intercom to call for a bottle of sake.  

TWC - 1689

“Bijuu?”  Asahi would say with a mild amount of confusion.  He’d heard the word before, but was coming up with a blank on what it meant.  “That’s…..a bit of its own legend isn’t it?”  He would say, hoping that Yamato would fill in the blanks.  He’d listen if the man opted to divulge what he knew.  Asahi’s upbringing had been rather, narrow.  Common ideas and knowledge that the shinobi world could take for granted were often lost on him.  

“Mmm, that could be interesting…..”. He would say patiently, considering the information on the tailed beasts that Yamato might give him, on top of what he already knew.  “I wonder…..if what happened here isn’t something similar…..both great entities, both sealed, both……….well I’m not sure.   I think your research in this seal though may be more important than you know.”  He would finish with a seat.  There was always the possibility that what they were hunting….would in time make itself found.  Then what though….Asahi had performed exorcisms before but of minor spirits, of entities that were comparable to himself, something like this though, would be far beyond such normal means. 

As though his friend noticed the dark revere that was beginning to sink it’s claws into him, a present was provided.  Asahi’s eyes lit up, and a sparkling of a held back tear could be noticed by those that paid attention.  “Thank you Yamato…..that…..this…means a lot to me.”  He’d say wiping his eyes.  It wasn’t that the position hadn’t received a fair bit of congratulations, but it had all been very business like.  Very much a reminder of the responsibilities that would be shouldered and the duty that needed kept.  This however, was the first real gift of sincerity.  A true gift, and it meant more to him than he could say.  Whatever had happened, whatever would happen, it was these moments that had begun to tether the Yagami to this place.  He’d thought when they’d set out of the compound all those years ago, that the world no longer had a place for him.  His destiny would be to wander and watch out for Yasahiro, and now….it seemed the world had given back to him.  

Calling out he had a couple plates and forks brought up, insisting that Yamato share the cake with him, no would not be an answer he was told.  In the midst of sugary enjoyment, the rest of the conversation would move back to business.  “The kitsune I can’t say……the Oni though……”  Asahi would close his eyes, and focus.  Opening his eyes he’d reach forward and place a hand on Yamato’s, the ninshu commune activating.  Through it the entirety of Asahi’s dream was shown.  His time traveling through a dreamscape that culminated in meeting a ferocious creature, with the voice of a maiden.  The game that he played against the monstrosity, and ultimately his defeat and signing of the contract with the oni, his mission to help them push back the evil spirit.  

Snapping back to reality, he’d smile slightly.  “So many things happen, so often time marches forward aye?  There will be time for missions together my friend, sooner than you think if fear.”  Hold his friends hand the commune would start again, this time showing his fight against the possessed grave robbers, and then the man who sacrificed his comrades and horses, blood drenched caves all for a creature unseen.  

When they returned Asahi looked serious for a moment.  “Not as a Kage, but as a friend……I’d like you to take this research more serious than I know you already have.  This isn’t something I’ll be able to do alone, and I think you might be the one person in the village who can help.”  He’d take a bite of the cake and then smile, braking the tension, “so no pressure right?”

He’d continue to finish his hit of the cake before getting a second helping, giving Yamato longer to review the rest of the dossiers as well as mull over the missions from Asahi’s own eyes he’d shown him.  

TWC - 2364

“I’m not sure then….”  He’d say scribbling down the word “bijuu”. “I’ll check what we have here in the castle and see if the records show anything.  Maybe they are similar…..that would be more to go on.”  He’d say considering the new information.  He wasn’t sure what the spirit was, was it just that a spirit or something more.  Emotions mattered, past events mattered, all those things granted energy and the energy had to go somewhere.  The past of Tanbogakure was important for its future…..if only he knew more.  “We have an aid here, I’ll have her do some research as well, and have her bring every finding to you, so that nothing is held back, sound good?”  He’d ask a fresh smile on his face.   

A little sheepishly he looked down.  “I mean….I kind of…..glanced over it…”. He’d say in response to the contract.  It made sense that he should have read more into it, but at the time it had seemed the only option.  It was one thing to discuss such matters in the daylight, another to be surrounded by creatures all with bloodlust in their eyes.  “I don’t think I can get a copy just like that, but I’ll see.  I have two oni that respond when I call, but petulant little buggers the both of them.  I won’t submit you to that, if I get anything I’ll have it sent to you as well.  You are the only one I’d really trust with something like that.”  He’d say honestly.  

Soon the cake would be finished and Yamato would discuss leading a spirit team, something that Asahi smiled about.  It was rather grand and exciting, something he would very much like to do, away from the confines of the stuffy office.  Taking the reigns had never been his plan, but helping the village always was.  “I’m confident that may happen.  I don’t know Yamato….I’ll be honest I have a bad feeling about all this…..I don’t want to get too dramatic but maybe it’s the reason I’m here, or a reason to stay…..either way, I’ll need you when the time comes that I’m certain of.”  He’d smile, and go back to sitting at his desk.  Shuffling through papers for a moment, he’d add…”perhaps…..there might be something I’ll need your assistance on soon.  I’ll send you a message when I’m ready, maybe your prayers if a mission will come sooner than you think.”  He’d smile, and watch as his friend would gather his belongings, in all likelihood leaving unless there was more business to be settled.  As if by fate after he left a paper caught his eye that he didn’t remember seeing before, the sound of girlish laughter from two individuals just barely noticeable from no where and everywhere at the same time…….a bit ominous truth be told.  

TWC - 2834

Claims

2000 words towards cement release on Asahi 

834 towards Tojinbo for Ivy Bluemoon

+13 to chakra for Ivy Bluemoon 
+15 to strength for Ivy Bluemoon