I'm not a Monster. (Tatsuo)

[Ketsueki Satou]

How many months? How many days did he stay within the lab? Coming to himself from a stupor of number crunching and formula working. His long shaggy blonde hair over his burning unnatural eyes, in his white t-shirt and shorts. Hiding within his small warehouse among many, underground in a building on Sordid Avenue, between a few shops and an old book store. The smell of the book store, the moldy old books collecting dust. It was calming when he sat in that small room of book shelves. So he bought all he could find on medicine and illnesses. How he had spent so much time in his lab, the cold icy white room. His computers fired up with blinking screens of information and text going over. Books stacked among his desk, floor, bed. He could not sleep, so long as it whispered to him.

He could see the creature once in awhile, when he felt too tired to keep his eyes open longer then a few minutes. That sleepy delirium touching the back of his skull and dragging him down to lay his head. He shook himself awake, slapping his face. He felt how cold his skin was. How cold he felt siting there, studying as much information he could find on blood viruses and terminal illnesses throughout Kumo's history that matched his.

But he had limited resources, he wasn't a shinobi, he wasn't some ninja, he wasn't even a qualified doctor or scientist. He was just a normal person not that long ago, just a young boy living on his own and striving to advance his village with it's technology and science. But it all changed. When the demon inside Ketsueki Satou attacked him, forced the demon's blood onto him and made him a-

No, no i'm not. He shook his head as he stood from the desk, feeling the blood rush back to his legs made him weak for a second. "@!#$, I need to go for a walk. Sitting here mulling over information, calculations and formulas. I need fresh air, my mind is suffocated down here." He paused and breathed a deep sigh of the cold musty air of the basement lab. "I'm @!#$ing talking to myself. Yup I need to get out now." He laughed as he head for the stairs. Oh, but you're not alone dear boy. Whispered the demon in his mind. The creature was still in his mind, stuck in their like a nervous twitch in the neck. It's voice would come and go like someone walking past you, saying something, and then the feeling of them was gone. You were alone, but the hairs on your neck telling you; It's still there. Like eye's burning in the back of your skull. That unnerving stare.

Keiji spun around to look, and but for a moment he thought he saw it's outline, the freakish height of the beast and it's two burning eyes staring at him. A blink of the eyes and it was gone, It left the outline in the air as if something was pushing the image of the room at him. He blinked the sight away and headed out the door without word or any thought.

It was only when Keiji stood outside the home of his underground lab. The cold night air hitting his dry and pasty lungs. He coughed his first few big breaths of mountain air. Shaking, he pulled out his metal flask, glinting in the light of a nearby street light. It was dark, blank darkness surrounded the corners and deep alleys surrounding Sordid. The chill didn't creep into Keiji's skin till after he swallowed a few mouthfuls of medicine. His stomach churning in protest, craving and crying out for blood. Though again, his resolve would not waver. "I'm not a monster." He whispered And the demon inside replied. No, but they are.

It's words unleashed a feeling in him, his demon blood under his skin felt like it was moving. Something was close, something like him. His eye's darted up and down the streets while one hand held his flask of medicine to his mouth, the other reaching for the custom made pistol tucked in the back of his pants.

He could hear the low growls coming across the street. Deep in the darkness of the alleyway. It was drawing closer, Yet the sound of growling seem to break, the growls became twisted and hideous to listen to. It started to split into three different growls coming from one creature.

Out from the dark, the outline of a giant dog was forming. Possibly one of the Inuzuka clan's hounds. Then the shape began to change and the dog was no ordinary creature. As it stepped into the light, it's face was not one whole, it had three dog heads all mutated and grotesque. in the middle of the split of three heads was a massive circular maw of razor sharp blade like teeth that grind and churned. The middle maw opened as it's hot rancid breath hit the cold air. It exploded in mutated gore that almost made Keiji throw up in his mouth at the sight. His pistol was drawn quickly and aimed down the iron sight at what was now an abomination of a hound slowly etching towards him.

Keiji was solid still, his burning eyes locking onto the creature in front of him down the sight of his gun, he couldn't decide whether to start opening fire or run like a madman. So he did both. Yelling madly and cussing excessively as he opens fire several rounds into the monster, It barreled down the street after him screeching and roaring in horrific noises, seeming only slightly stunned when shot at.

Keiji swore violently while dipping and swiveling his movement to dodge out of the way from the creature lunging at astounding speeds to try tackling Keiji. Managing a dodge or two, he was winded, tired and his body was ill suited. His count of fire was down to three bullets left and clip of eight in his pocket. The creature was winded as well but it's morbid form contorted and shifted as if it was still trying to change. Have to @!#$ing kill this thing before this gets worse!

He unloaded the three rounds and started sprinting, wishing he had brought more ammo and firepower with him. But they were only wishes, he was low on ammo, no condition to fight a giant monster. He tried turning bout a corner and heading back to his place, the creature darted up the street after him, trying to shrug off the precise shots that crippled it's front two legs. Keiji was able to make it to the front of his house, yet the creature had cut an alleyway and leaped just over Keiji and was now between him and the door to his lab where all his weapons lay.

Keiji backed up slowly, slowly loading the last few bullets he had. Staring the monster down, his blood boiling under his skin. Heart pounding and hard to breath. Now it's really hungry. And pissed off as well, good job.

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo had spent the last few days by himself, mostly mulling around the village trying to get his mind off things. He didn't really kill Kuru, Kuru deserved to die, excuse after excuse raced through his mind as he tried to justify his part in killing the man. Many people told him that as a ninja it was something he'd need to get used to, but it was something Tatsuo never wanted to get used to. Death was like a void, there is no room for repentance and Tatsuo always tried to find the good in everyone, no matter how evil they seemed. He never got a chance to find the good in Kuru, if there was even an ounce of good in him.

When Tatsuo arrived back to the village he lied about what happened at that farm, fear, shame, and regret made it easier to lie. The job went without a hitch, as he told them, it was a pack of wolves he ruffed up. They wouldn't mess with the sheep anymore. But no matter how many lies he told, he couldn't really change what happened there. He had spent most of the day lounging around his room, no one had bothered him too much, Kaji and he barely spoke, Hoshi must be on a mission somewhere, and anyone else who'd care would be in a different village.

Just like Keiji, Tatsuo felt the need to get out of the house. Fresh air would do him some good, he could only stare at the walls of his room for so long. He got dressed in a green shirt, with a red Konoha symbol on the front. He put on a black jacket over it and a matching pair of pants. He grabbed a small pouch, which contained a few ninja tools but mostly money. His stomach grumbled, he'd already eaten enough leftovers in the house he needed something else. He left the small bungalow and headed towards the heart of the city. Being a foreigner he didn't have the innate sense of the bad parts of town and quickly found himself watching his back as he cut through shady alleyways. Without a food shop in site, he nearly returned back home, but the sound of gunshots in the distance made the hairs on the back of his neck shoot up.

After confirming that they were indeed gunshots, he dashed to the source. He jumped to the nearest roof top and continued to travel that way until he was standing above both the hell hound and Keiji. Tatsuo sprung into action, as he jumped from the roof, forming a few hand seals mid air before slamming his hands into the ground below him. Erupting between Keiji and hound was a thick wooden wall, taller than the beast. "Wood Style: Great Wooden Barrier!" The boy shouted in unison with his jutsu. Hopefully his barrier would give Keiji time to arm himself, whilst Tatsuo continued his onslaught. He cursed under his breath, he'd left his sword at home, the silver blade was forged to fight vile beasts such as these, but that'd have made things too easy.

The hound turned its sights on Tatsuo and gave off a gnarly growl as it charged to meet him. It used one of it's back spikes to strike at Tatsuo, who was caught off guard by the flailing limb. It sent him flying backwards into a few trashcans, which lightened the brunt force of his blow. Trash had flown all over the street and Tatsuo grunted as he rolled away to avoid the paw crashing down towards him. The only weapon he had on him, was a small coil of ninja wire, but it'd do him little good against such a massive beast. For now he was on the defensive, as he dodged the beasts devastating blows. To the best of his abilities. Tatsuo was a slippery one, but the sheer amount of blows the beast was capable of throwing out, made it hard for Tatsuo to avoid them all. He gritted his teeth as he avoided each strike, all of them closer than the last. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Keiji was more than happy that he lived in a ninja village. It made instances like this, when being backed up into a wall by a hideous beast, more easy to deal with. Keiji had an inkling someone who knew jutsu would show up. Guards of the town, maybe an ANBU operative? Nope. Some dude in a jacket jumped off Keiji's roof and slammed a big @!#$ off wall of wood between Keiji and the beast, as well as Keiji and the door to his apartment/lab. "@!#$ING @!#$!" He cussed out loud when surprised from the sudden wall of wood shooting up in front of him, Then the ninja running about drawing the creatures attention for the moment.

Keiji took this moment to run around the wall and towards the door to his lab, he knew one shinobi probably could handle the monster long enough for him to grab some more ammunition. Maybe a tool, something to @!#$ the creature up. Keiji was mumbling ideas as he ran down stairs and hit a keypad in his room with the necessary codes. "What is it? A dog demon. A demon which is primarily still a dog. What are dog's weak against most? Smell and Sound." His wall of weapons and gadget's flipped as the walls of his room rotated into an armory that could probably sustain a small militia.

He grabbed Kneecapper and a small metal box that had a small speaker on the side. Keiji ran back outside, seeing that the Ninja who came to his rescue was now struggling to avoid the demon dogs movements. It was chaotic and flailing, it had no pattern of attack. It was struggling and fighting while it was still trying to change and mutate. Keiji took no time to hit the big red button on the box, the speaker began emitting a high pitch screech to about fifty meters. Far enough for the beast and tatsuo to hear. Keiji kept pressing the button and the noise got higher and higher in pitch.

The beasts flailing grew worse but it couldn't focus on either Tatsuo or Keiji. It was slowly backing away from the sound but it looked too crippled from the leg wounds and sound debilitating it. Keiji kept walking forward and hitting the button the sound got higher and higher, then nothing. Tatsuo couldn't hear the unbearable noise anymore. Yet the demon dog was on the ground screaming and screeching in pain. "Sound box, setting it to dog whistle. Used this a few times to wild dogs in the streets and wolves in the woods. Guess it works even better against mutated dogs." He was a bit surprised at the effect, so the mutation also improved it's hearing. Walking right up to the debilitated abomination. Keiji aimed for each head of the creature, blasting a slug through each skull. It's black blood splattering of his shirt and a bit of his face. The screeching beast ceased to make a noise or move.

He pressed and held the button while counting out loud. "Five,four,three,two,one. Boop. Sounds off, have to throw this back later." He slung Kneecapper over his shoulder. The long rifle weapon was a thick barreled gun with a customised stock that made the weapon look compleatly handmade from spare parts. Keiji's glowing red eyes under long messy locks of gold hair looked over to Tatsuo. "Yo, thanks for helping me out dude. Was getting low on ammunition. Would have been a goner. You ok? Need any medical help? I have a first aid station in my lab back in my place." pointing to the door to his lab. His immediate attention was to the demon dog.

Leaning down and looking at it's maw and it's mandibles. Studying it. Taking in it's skin discoloration and the feeling of it's flesh. Pulling out a knife he began dissecting, taking a thick sample of it's skin. The sharpness of it's teeth, slicing off one of the tendrils. "Gonna need to study this for later." He wanted to grab one of the skulls as well, but he'd have to sacrifice this specimen. He didn't expect to be attacked by monsters. Yet he could feel the demon dog just before it attacked him. This was something to look into. He scratched his cheek while thinking and mulling over thoughts when he felt the wet streak of blood on his face. He looked to his hand, the black demon blood. The smell started to hit him as he was pulled from his thoughts by the sight of it. He almost gave into the feeling of licking it off his hand when he noticed Tatsuo still there. He shook the feeling off in a chill up his spin. "Have to clean up, have to clean this mess up." He moved to his apartment, it had a small garage near the front door, he kept some supplies in there. Including lots of flammable oil cans.

After dragging out the oil can, he paused as he see's that the dead thing was in the middle of the road. He looked over at Tatsuo. "Yo, mind using some jutsu or something and throwing the thing in an alleyway so I can burn it to ashes? I'll tend to any of your wounds once we get rid of the corpse." He was rather straight forward in this situation, his voice sounded uncaring and monotone. Tired, hands shaking, eyes burning with dark sagging bags under his eyes. His skin was pale and sickly looking in the dim light of the street lamps. He definitely didn't have the strength to haul the beast into an alleyway and finish cleaning up.

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo continued to bob and weave between the hell hound's blows. Whatever this creature was, it was capable of keeping him on his toes. However it was a game he could only play for so long, soon enough one of the blows he just was a tad too slow for connected. He had managed to block it to the best of his abilities, but he could feel the blunt pain in his arms as he was sent backwards a few feet. Luckily, just in time Keiji had managed to retrieve a weapon that'd make quick work of the beast. The shooting pain in his ears soon subsided but the beast was offered no such mercy. It twisted and turned until the sound finally managed to take the hound down.

As happy as he was to see the beast killed, Tatsuo almost felt bad for it. Killed in such a miserable way, but had Keiji not gotten involved, he would've been nursing more than a couple of bruises on his arms. It was now he finally got a good look at Keiji, who called to him thanking him for the help. Tatsuo looked up to him, and offered him a small grin. "Anytime!" It wasn't long for his grin to be replaced with a curious look. Tatsuo had never seen anything like it. He didn't really have much time to assess the situation as time was not on Keiji's side.
But this seemed to be something out of nightmares, were things like this common in the Village. Like that of an old crone trying to scare children, "I think i'm alright." he said rubbing his upper arms.

His wooden chakra gave him an effect of being hardened. Physical blows like that wouldn't hurt him as easily, but it could leave a nasty mark or two. "What is it?" he said analyzing the beast as he watched Keiji preform some sort of an autopsy as he began poking and prodding the beast and taking samples. The black bile nearly made Tatsuo gag. He still hadn't completely regained his appetite from the last run in he had with .. undesirable meat. He looked away and felt his stomach lurch and his eyes water. He rested up against a wall and vomited at his feet. He wiped his eyes and shook his head. "It's nothing i'm fine.. just.. nasty is all." he said fighting back the urge to vomit again.

Tatsuo watched as he explained the need to clean up the hound, personally he thought it would best to report such a beast to village officials. But Tatsuo wasn't exactly one for needless village bureaucracy. The beast was done, dealt with, paper work would just complicate things. Tatsuo covered nose as he saw Keiji bring out a gasoline canister. The very thought of the dog's flesh burning made him want to puke again. But with nothing left in his stomach, he'd only have the thought. "I mean-- yeah.. sure just wait till i'm inside to start burning it." the thought made him gag, but with the formation of a few quick seals, a wooden block formed under the beast and slid it into the alleyway.

He headed inside the apartment, as he wanted nothing to do with the actual burning of the beast. Or else he'd fire off more vomit than one could imagine possible. He looked at the dark brown bruises forming on his arms and winced in pain. He really should've used an actual jutsu to block that one, he hadn't imagined the beast could hit so damn hard. These definitely wouldn't heal over night. He intended to take the man on his offer, they didn't hurt that bad, but were definitely unsightly.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

He stayed quiet the entire time. Not breathing a word as he stayed listening to the night air around him, nothing bu the cold wind on his skin. Keiji stood under the street light , the pale light hitting off his blonde hair.

His burning eyes looking over Tatsuo from a distance, as he watched the young shinobi become physically ill, if by the creature or by his physical harm, Keiji couldn't tell. Keiji stood staring till Tatsuo declared he was fine.

Keiji knew better than to trust a person's words and more on what their body was doing, He could plainly see the shinobi wincing at certain area's where the creature must have struck.

As he watched Tatsuo haul the giant husk's motionless body into an alley for Keiji to dispose of. Of course Keiji could also dismember and throw the pieces in the trash, but then that left the chance for other creatures to feast on the poisoning blood inside the dead monster. It had to be burned. "Thanks dude!" He spoke rather calmly and with a bit of easygoing tone. He had to appear more calm in the situation, inside he was screaming in his mind.

The @!#$ing mutation has gotten this bad! @!#$ Kahako's gonna have a conniption fit, and I don't even wanna imagine what the flying #$@! the Raikage's going to do if this becomes an outbreak. @!#$ now I know why Satou drank so much alcohol. He drank for many reasons. And you are one of them. Probably, he didn't enjoy our little talks like this. I don't enjoy our talks like this. Oh, come now. You'd be bored without me. What with all the little idea's I've been giving you.

As Keiji stood there, he came to himself alone in the cold. Standing with a drum of oil and dead monster at his feet. He made sure Tatsuo was inside and no one about, covering the carcass took the entire drum. A quick match and the beast went up in roaring flames that engulfed it. The first to burn was the hairs in a chard black, that wasn't the worse smell before it would die out an be nothing but a piece of burnt remains.
Though he did'nt wish to stay and watch, not only the smell repelling him but he wondered how his new aquaintance was fairing in his home.

As Tatsuo went into the home of Gin Keiji, he entered a small hallway leading to stairs.

A small camera at the end off the hall slowly watching his movements as he exited the hall into the small stairwell that went down rather then up the building. At the bottom of the stairs a vast white room.

Majority of the time, it would just be an average sized apartment room. Wall to wall of solid white and a bed at the end with his work station and computer desk beside that. But since the demon dog attacked, Keiji had turned the room into the Armory, which Tatsuo was now standing in a room filled to the brim with enough weapons to arm the entire village for war. Armaments of all categories lined the walls with each unique organization and tidiness.

As Keiji came in behind Tasuo, Keiji tapped a few buttons nearest to him, which gave him access to all the panels along the armory room that fed the same output as the monotor he was writing and working on. "Ah, Sorry forgot to clean up." He opened up the medical station. One of the walls of weapons turned and changes into a white wall with a desk and bed close to it.

On the desk was assortment of boxes filled with medical supplies and tool's for surgery. "Have a seat and we'll check out the damage." He tapped a few keys, pulling up some of the information on what he had so far for the demon mutation.

"To answer your question as to what that thing was. It was a Akita hound, probably from the local Inuzuka estate, It ate something that was infected with a particular demon's blood." He spoke as he popped up pictures and information crawled along the side. Most of it was on the genetic makeup of a creatures title on the screen as subject zero.

The image was split in two on the screen. both sides of the image showed a single blood cell. On one side was titled average human blood cell, the other was vastly different that had the subject zero. The second blood cell looked a bit larger but it was broken down and pale. With time the clean blood cell looked to be attacked by an infected cell that looked much like subject zero's. Once the infect blood cell touched the clean blood cell, it had a violent reaction. The infected cell seemed to latch onto the clean cell, slowly spreading the infection and changing the clean cell into one of many other infected blood cells.

"The blood is infected first, the demon's blood breaks down the subjects blood cells, taking out the bodies natural immunities in the blood. Once the cell's broken down to change or mutate into something else. The blood then get's carried through the entire bodies vital organs, shutting off the entire bodies natural immune system, the new "host" of the blood slowly starts to develop a feeling of being ill or heavily sick for hours, days and maybe weeks while the body slowly changes. Once the process is completed, the Host either mutates into a grotesque horror or-"

While talking Keiji gathered some gauze, an ointment jar and some swabs of cotton. Sitting down and looking to Tatsuo with eyes burning like the coals in a dying fire. The same burning eyes the demon dog had. "Oh, by the way. My name's Gin Keiji." He forgot to give proper introduction through all the excitement and body disposal.

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo made his way into the apartment, following the hallway and down the stairs. As he passed the camera, he looked up at it and stuck his tongue out before moving into the next room.

Tatuso was instantly impressed by all of the weapons aligning the wall, he hadn't any idea what many of them were for but the huge assortment was impressive enough to the young boy whose weapon of choice was a kunai or his blade. He was busy looking at all of them as Keiji came into the room, he turned to look at him. He watched as he punched in a few buttons and the wall flipped into a more medical looking area and when prompted to sit he sat down on the medical bench and let sighed. His sigh was followed by a sharp wince as he grabbed his side. The hound's blow was particularly nasty, especially since he hadn't time to form his armor despite the physical toughness the boy possessed a thick layer of wood covering your whole body made blows a bit less scary.

Tatsuo had next to nothing in education of blood cells, basic biology or anything of the sort but he tried his darnedest to understand what Keiji was saying. Something about blood cells, infections, take overs and all of that. He grimaced as he saw the infection take over the healthy blood cell, turning it pale and white. It sent chills down his spine, if there was something out there that could turn anything to a creature like that.. the village would have a huge issue on their hands. Something that would even give shinobi a run for their money. However this fear invigorated Tatsuo, for whatever reason, whether it was lack of brightness, his lack of value in his own life, or just intrepid bravery, he had a hard time feeling fear. Every challenge would be met with his best effort, no matter the cost.

"Can it turn humans into that.. that thing?" he asked Keiji but at this point he caught a glimpse of his eyes. He didn't look like that hound, but he certainty he had the same eyes. Tatsuo gulped a little bit before calming himself down, just as the boy lacked fear, he was too trusting and assumed the best in everyone, Keiji was no different. "And is there any cures or anything?" Tatsuo's mix of questions was in between his long explanation of all the fine details but when he said 'or.' Tatsuo looked at him curiously, when Keiji offered his name he responded with "I'm Tatsuo, of the Leaf." He hadn't been wearing his headband so it was hard for anyone to tell he was a Leaf Shinobi except in maybe the way he spoke, which could sound a bit foreign to some of the heavier accents within the Cloud Village.

Tatsuo wasn't aware if all of the villagers knew about the new founded alliance or if that was kept to shinobi only but his country of residence was something he found great pride in and usually tagged it along with his name as he felt some innate sense of defending his position as a shinobi after spending so much time away from the village.

Tatsuo turned his attention back to the blood cells for a moment, looking at the vivid images and wondering how many things in the village were effected by this and all of the other things that could race through your mind when you're dealing with a possible pandemic of rampaging demons. Despite the appearance of Keiji, Tatsuo was quick to trust and gave him the benefit of the doubt. "How do you know so much about all this stuff anyways? Are you trying to fight it? Can I help?" Tatsuo was quick to speak but he felt it the utmost importance to deal with such a pandemic before it got too bad to handle.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Keiji watched Tatsuo with a blank tired look on his face. His posture was rather relaxed, he wasn't wild or demonic, just his eyes having an unnatural glow to them.

He kept a weak smile when Tatsuo trusted him enough to come sit down. Keiji placed the small jar, the cotton cloth and the gauze in front of Tatsuo. Keiji hoped Tatsuo wouldn't jump when sitting down in front of him. His bright ember eyes looking over Tatsuo.

It was not the first time he noticed Tatsuo wincing and where the spot was. His breathing, arm placement, how Tatsuo walked. It was his side, possibly rib cage had a fracture or internal bruising."I'm guessing your side must hurt like a @#$&% ? " He motioned with his right to the side opposite of what Tatsuo was favoring leaning on. His left grabbed the jar. "The gel in here numbs the skin and and deeper into the area it's applied to. Personal recipe, took awhile to get right.

If you don't have fracture rib's, then this will help you stop feeling the pain from heavy bruising. Doesn't heal you, it'll just numb the pain a bit." He gave the top a flick and the top spun off and onto the desk. In the jar was a soft white gelatin cream. "By the way don't eat it....horrible experience." He smirked and laughed, shook his head and placed the open jar by Tatsuo. "You can apply it to yourself by hand, while having your hands slowly go numb, or use this cloth." Grabbed the small squared cloth about the size of tattoo's hand. Throwing it onto Tatsuo's lap. "Dip it into the jar then lay the cloth onto a folded length of gauze."

Keiji grabbed the gauze and did the necessary length from estimating Tatsuo's torso measurements. He should least help out a little bit, he didn't want to touch Tatsuo, and didn't seem to get too close to the young shinobi, Even though he himself was rather young, Keiji seemed timid around physical contact.

Always staying an arm or two lengths from Tatsuo. Placing the folded Gauze by Tatsuo. "If you need help wrapping just say so." He shuffled by to his desk, looking through some of his notes and drawings.

He seemed rather kind even when monotone or crud in words. "I wish I knew of some cure for the mutation. Yes, to answer your question. As to what the demon's blood could do to humans. You're looking at a prime example of what could happen." Keiji pointed at himself while saying. "This lucky idiot happened to be friend's with subject zero. Inside subject zero, subject zero being my friend Ketsueki Satou. Is an old #@$%ing demon. That old #@!$ing demon has kept Satou alive for a long time, it twisted him into a demon, making his blood toxic to all life." He rubbed his eyes and face, signs of exhaustion his eyelids felt a bit heavy but the harsh dryness in his mouth kept him awake.

"The demon took control of Satou and attacked me awhile back, then Satou left unknowing what the demon did to me, and possibly the village,The demon forced the blood on me and TADA! i'm super #@!$ed!" He exclaimed with a flail of his arms and a defeated sluggish posture in his chair. Yet he kept a goofy smirk on his face.

He sat up, shaking his long shaggy blonde hair. Surprised at how long it's gotten, how much time had it been since he was turned and Satou left the village. It's been completely over his head. "I don't know how long it's been since he left, I've lost time tracking down any creatures that showed signs of mutation, even more that I lost track on my own situation." He looked at his hands, his nails were sharper and pointed, he still had sharper canine teeth but he kept them filed down to have more natural smile. He just looked rather pale, almost as his skin seems a bit more transparent in bright lighting of the room.

He seem to phase out of consciousness for a moment. drifting off while staring at nothing, then coming back blinking and shaking his head. "Well, if @#$% get's any worse i'm dragging mutated corpse to the Raikage's office and requesting Quarantine of the village and outer area's of Kumogakure. We could very well be sitting in an outbreak. But the sightings of creatures has been so few, and I haven't gotten word back from one of my sources in the office that anythings happened. Satou hasn't been called back yet by the Raikage, so i'm going to just keep fumbling for a cure for the mutation." His mouth was getting too dry, he needed to wet his throat a bit.

The small silver flask came out of his pocket in smooth take, cork was off and down the hatch in seconds, gulping the medication like it was water. Even though it tasted putrid and gave off a metallic smell in the air. He had to down the stuff to calm his new nature, the new recipe was working well. If not burning his stomach every drink,

Yet he wasn't struggling with cravings thanks to the medication. Once done downing his drink of choice. Keiji slipped the flask back in his pocket while he talked. "This village may close soon and call out to any willing Shinobi inside the village to eradicate any infected creatures, if a cure can't be made."He mumbled the last few words.

He didn't want to dwell on the thought of a cure never being made. He had to have some kind of hope that science could save this village. A village so rooted in Shinobi culture a civilian like himself didn't have access, to proper tools and knowledge to craft a cure. All he was good at was abusing chemicals he learned in science books he stole from the library as a kid.

"Thing is, i'm not a Shinobi, hell, I barely know anything about Ninja stuff. I just love science and technology, and shooting stuff." He laughed, shaking his head as he got up and walked across the room after hitting the keys on his desk.

Across the room one of the walls began rotating to reveal appliances and cupboards, a small kitchen along the wall. Including fridges,stove, a counter that slid out from the wall and a grill beside the oven. " Want anything to eat or drink? Must be hungry after having the #@$# beat out of you." He gave a simple laugh as he raided the fridge.
Throwing some simple ingredients to make some sandwiches. Hitting a few key's on the kitchen wall above the counter produced a small white machine that looked like a coffee brewer built into the wall. Keiji grabbed himself a cup from the cupboard as well as one for tatsuo.

The machine had only one platform to sit a cup and the overhead spout surrounded by a white case and flashing screen, one could choose a few different hot beverages. Keiji chose coffee, he needed to be more alert. To stay awake.
You know what you should be drinking instead of that. Shut the #$$% up!

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo felt uncomfortable around Keiji for obvious reasons, but the boy had always been quick to trust and even quicker to empathize. The man obviously looked troubled and seemed odd, but as he shared his plight, Tatsuo felt a moral dedication to helping Keiji. Some would say Tatsuo's motivation to help anyone he could would send his head spinning, but if the boy was aware of any issues in the world he couldn't sleep until he made some grounds in fighting against it. Especially helping a man whose life was so drastically overturned because of some disease that would make others think of him no better than the dog they took disposed of earlier.

His determination to help Keiji only grow as he awkwardly offered his medical assistance, Tatsuo wasn't insulted by the fact that Keiji didn't attempt to touch him and placed the cream and the gauze on himself like instructed. It helped eased the pain, luckily none of his ribs were actually fractured just bruised. The relief of pain was quick and Tatsuo was back to his mobile and energetic self. He would cringe as Keiji continued to curse, he hadn't really been around many of those who cursed so often, but he couldn't hold it against him. With all of the things he was going through Tatsuo was sure he'd be doing a lot more than cursing.

He shook his head as Keiji explained the potential of the village going on lock down and them going around slaughtering all of the creatures like that. While the last part made enough sense, he didn't want to see Keiji be slaughtered since after all he really wanted to do was play with gadgets and shoot stuff a respectable life to live by Tatsuo's standards. The boy crossed his arms and boldly exclaimed, "Keiji, i'll help you. I'm no good at all the book stuff, but I might have something that could work.." Wood ninjutsu was the most natural of all the releases, it was the only chakra capable of actually breathing life into something. Tatsuo's in particular had a very strong connection to life as the blood of Kyoubaku ran through his veins. "I have a jutsu that targets and dispels the unnatural energies inside someone. I've used it in the past to defeat enemies who were assisted by demonic energies." He said clenching his teeth thinking about the mission he had just arrived from, "I'm not sure if it has any risks, but i'm willing to try it if it can help you." he let out a deep sigh and began to explain the technique. "Wood ninjutsu has lots of natural energies. It tends to counteract things that are evil in nature. I have a technique that surrounds you with wooden pillars that kind of.. negate the energy I guess? I'm not really sure how it works, not the specifics at least. I just know when i've used it before it's worked. If you don't think it'll help, I understand and I won't try it but it might be worth a try." Tatsuo explained the mechanics of his jutsu as Keiji made the both of them something to eat, as he finished making Tatsuo's sandwich he'd take it happily, munching on it as he debated the use of his technique. He thought it could help him, but he was afraid of whatever side effects if may have.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Keiji had a warm smile as he watched Tatsuo's resolve show clearly on his face. It put him at ease that there are such kind people in this world with big hearts like Tatsuo. Hearing the plight of a stranger, the potential chaos that would ensue upon Kumogakure, if Keiji's hypothesis was correct. The demon blood was still in Kumogakure even if Satou left. And as he stands by the counter, he realizes how much he's taken on by himself to fix a village wide problem. He needed the help, and was appreciative of those who offered. "Thank you." He said first as he offered Tatsuo a simple cold cut sandwich and a bottle of water since Tatsuo didn't move to the brewing machine for a drink.

Keiji stayed leaning against the counter, eating his own sandwich and drinking his black coffee. Both tasted horrid. His pallet must have changed along with the rest of his body, he couldn't stomach more then half the sandwich and few mouthfuls of coffee. He had a docile look on his face, calm and analytical burning eyes watched Tatsuo's every move and listened to every word spoken. An answer to his plight? He had hope in whatever methods he could find. It didn't matter on how to solve the issue, it just needed to be fixed at any cost.

"We'll try it your way. I don't know how this will work either. I would have thought science and medicine could fix this. But it might be more than just the blood to worry about. I guess we'll do this outside?" He looked around his place, of course not indoors. Keiji laughed as he left his food and drink on the counter and headed for the stairs. "Though I don't know what you'll need me to do. I never learned Chakra control or any of that other fancy ninjutsu stuff. "

Once outside, Keiji spoted a bit of grass and a tree nearby his building. "That looks good enough right?' He asked while going to take a seat on the cold patch of land. He looked rather interested in seeing what could happen. The curiosity of human beings. Something twisted inside of him when he could hear the demon's laugh in his mind. Whenever Keiji was curious or wanted insight into something, he would hear the somber deep laugh of that malevolent creature. It always unnerved him and gave him the shivers.

 

[Tatsuo]

As they reached outside, Tatsuo let out a sigh. The boy rarely felt fear but now he was definitely anxious, he could never forgive himself if he hurt Keiji more than he had already suffered. But doing nothing would leave Tatsuo wondering what he could do more for the rest of his days. Tatsuo nodded and said, "Yeah that seems fine. This shouldn't hurt but.. I don't know dispelling stuff isn't really a daily occurrence ya know? If the pain gets unbearable or anything like that.. say uhh.. Konoha i'll stop right away." Tatsuo thought to the last time he was forced to use this jutsu, it seemed to work on that demonic energy so hopefully this one was no different. Hopefully they'd never need to use their code word but if the pain grew too intense for Keiji he would rather him have an option out.

The boy brought his hands together to form a single seal. His fingers intertwined with his palms meeting with a clap. The energy from the boy began to fill the area with pressure, Tatsuo was giving this all he had. From the ground wooden tendrils with the head of dragons rose through the earth, they slowly moved towards Keiji. The natural energies flowing through the wood were usually enough to negate the negative energies inside someone. It could return Jinchurukies to their human forms and pull Hachimon from their increased physical prowess. Hopefully it could work on this demon just the same. Tatsuo continued to support it with his natural chakra. The wooden dragons would draw the negative energies from inside him as long as Tatsuo continued to feed him chakra. It took all the boy had to continue gripping onto him, whatever inside him was no doubt powerful but hopefully Tatsuo could supress the effects even temporarily.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

(Sorry for being slow on post, got a new job, been rough few days.)

As Keiji sat watching, and listening to Tatsuo. As still as stone, just breathing in the cold night air. His burning ember eye's seemed to add to the cold night in the background hidden by clouts of white. His long shaggy blonde hair covered his eyes as he leaned his head forward and closed them to the world around him finding some focus. Or try to focus in some way. Work, please work.

Oh yes! Please work, please remove the horrible monster from my mind! Mocking Keiji, mocking what little hope he had in a strange jutsu. The demon stuck to him like a tick on the back of his neck. It's smudged somber voice filled with a laugh after speaking. You'll never be rid of me, the world will never be rid of me.

He could feel it's voice in his ear, and deep inside, Keiji couldn't help but agree. As the earthen dragon's formed around him, it didn't draw the demon out, or the cursed blood from Keiji's body, it agitated the change.

He could feel the rise of what must have been chakra. But it felt horrible, it felt like a swell in his chest of something vile that made him feel nauseous, like he was growing inside and he wanted to be sick. His limbs felt heavy and constricted. He couldn't get up but only double forward trying to hold himself up from eating dirt.

"Ko-" He tried saying it, but he had to stop as he could feel his fangs sprout where his average canine's used to be, two teeth spat to the ground. "@!#$" He had to force a cough as one shaking hand tried to wipe the blood from his mouth, His other hand feebly keeping himself upright as he tried mumbling, fumbling his words and trying to talk with longer canine teeth. Trying not to bite his lip or tongue, while trying to form proper words was difficult.

Tatsuo could feel that his jutsu wasn't drawing the demon, but rather it's chakra was starting to seep out of Keiji in his weak state. The chakra was dark as the night around them, Tatsuo could feel a malevolence in this chakra, as if it was alive itself, seeping into the dragon's, running along the wooden tendril's, the wood begins to color something pale.

He was able to blabber out "Konoha." As his nails turned to blackened claws and his eye's turned to a different glow, they didn't have the same ember glow as Satou's anymore, but rather eye's of deep silvery mercury. like two silver dollops of light staring Tatsuo down. His breath a heavy heated white in the cold night air, hiding his face. but those silvery eyes pierced through. "I...need....lab." His jaw felt numb, he was still bleeding a bit from the mouth , sure that he cut his tongue on his sharp teeth. He spit the mouthful to the side. He couldn't stand, he barely move. all he could do was wipe his mouth and maybe crawl a bit.

Along the ground the sound of skittering in the alleyways, the softest of screeching, the sound of rodents.

 

[Tatsuo]

(It's cool man, i've been a bit busy myself. I'm still enjoying the Roleplay a lot.)

Lots of times the best intentions result in some of the worst scenarios. Bringing upon such a transformation to Keiji filled his heart with such a pain. He never meant for anything like this to happen. With everything he had he wanted to help Keiji in anyway possible but to see him like this made him realize sometimes how helpless he could be. No matter how powerful he became, no matter how much he trained, sometimes things like this would happen. Ignoring all instincts to protect himself, in case something went wrong. Tatsuo scooped up the now limp Keiji and rushed him into the lab. Luckily the door had been left unlocked from when they last left, Tatsuo rushed to the same bed in which Keiji had him sit on and laid him down on the bed as he looked around the lab for anything that would help. He tried to remember anything that Keiji did that might give him a clue, Tatsuo remembered the putrid flask. Tatsuo reached his hand into Keiji's pocket and grabbed the flask, he looked to him and asked. "Would this help?!" Tatsuo's voice was broken and scared. The uncertainty of the whole situation was bad for the boy, he didn't care of the political or any of the ramifications, those hadn't even entered his mind yet. In the brief moment he spent with Keiji he found him to be a friend and the last thing he wanted was to be responsible for the pain of a friend. "Keiji! Will this work!?" he said waving the flask around him. "Would this help? Anything? I can get it just tell me what to do." he said his throat closing up from stress, he bit the bottom of his lip and clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

Every breath, every inch of muscle movement. The lights dancing and pulsating as the world ebbed and throbbed in an out of his sight. He couldn't move without groaning in the discomfort as his body felt more and more stiff. His skin felt cold when Tatsuo rushed over and hefted the teenager up from the ground.

The sudden movement jostled him as he cussed and cursed softly while trying to stay conscious. He could feel the cold night whip past him as the sudden rush of warm damp air of his home greeted him. As well with the enclosed area, there was less to cloud his senses.

As Keiji was laid upon soft cotton linen's and tough mattress underneath. He breath in the smells around him first, keeping his eyes closed to the light of the room, it seemed so blinding. The smells invaded him, first was the smell of the cot beneath him, freshly clean linen with the scent of vanilla. The cleaning solutions washed into the floor, the smell of the coffee and food on the counter a few feet away.

But most of all, Keiji could smell Tatsuo. Or rather, it was the smell of Tatsuo's blood that made Keiji open his eyes and listen to the words that dribbled from tatsuo's quivering lips. His fear was plain in his voice Keiji laying there pale, still as a statue. Staring up at Tatsuo with eyes of shimmering mercury through strands of messy golden hair. Silently staring for a few moments, looking over the youths skin, the warm blush of veins pressing underneath the skin. Keiji could swear at the time, almost hearing the pounding of Tatsuo's heart behind flesh and bone.

When the ceiling light fixture glistened off his flask and caught his eye, it broke the tentative gaze. Keiji noticed as well when breaking the trance, he was part way of sitting up. Was I? He shook his head, getting rid of the tension. Trying to clear his thoughts, his sight was still hazy. He felt dizzy and weak all over. Without looking, his hand slowly reached out and took the flask without much words. Unscrewing the top was almost a chore in itself. and the contents, he almost threw up on the first mouthful.

Spitting it over his bedside, not even paying attention if it hit Tatsuo's legs or feet. Coughing, breathing, wheezing and then swallows of spit and phlegm. "@!@# me! That is way worse then before!" he finally croaked some horsed words. It was still hard to talk properly with fangs. He had to get around the use of some words.

As he threw himself back to laying down, to breath and relax as his body adjusted. Tatsuo was in a panic, Keiji guessed Tatsuo felt guilty for now being a part of this. "Yo, stop freaking out. I'm alive, i'm alright." He lied, everything was now worse then before.

His body was pale and transparent, vein's almost visible under the skin. His pupils completely changed from the natural smooth forest green, to a sickly shimmering mercury silver glow. His hair a dirty blond slightly shoulder length. Had grown out into a full shoulder length mane of golden blonde strands. His teeth felt like steel in his jaw, heavy and solid, his fangs razor sharp. He had no doubt they could tare through flesh easily, the though gave him an odd shiver at the thought of blood.

A hunger, a thirst. His mouth dry, instinct almost made him drink from the flask again. though he stopped as he twisted on the cap before it reached his lips. "Yo. Go grab me" He snapped his fingers trying to find the words in between the growing Haze. "From the desk I showed you the blood samples, should be a syringe in the top drawer by the chair. I can't drink the medication anymore. It won't stay in my stomach." He had to sit up to do this. forcing himself upright was painful, all his muscles felt like stretched rubber left out in the cold winter night.

He could hardly bend any of joint muscle in his entire. He wanted to rest, yet he needed to get rid of this craving. And with Tatsuo so close to him, the smell of blood under Tatsuo's skin was growing stronger in an enclosed room.

Outside, there came the sound of tiny claws scratching on the windows to the basement, nothing but the darkness seen outside those windows.

In the hallway leading to the basement, the cold night air crept it's way in, the door was never shut behind Tatsuo in his mad dash to get Keiji indoors. The door creaks loudly as it slowly pushes open more, peering from the darkness, tiny small red eyes.

 

[Tatsuo]

The anxiety was beginning to overwhelm the boy, his breathing quickened and his concentration suffered because of it. He was so focused on just trying to help Keiji he was too focused on trying to help. He cringed as the medicine proved ineffective. Cursing under his breath he shook his head and practically begged Keiji for anything else that might help him. He scanned over his body noticing how his hair had grown, his eyes changed colors and his skin seemed to turn to paper. It honestly made him sick, this all was his fault, had he never done anything, Keiji wouldn't be like this. Anything that happens to him would forever be on his shoulders.

When Keiji drank the solution he had hoped it would work, but it wasn't long before he was coughing it up. Whatever had happened he was now immune to the previous medicine. When prompted to grab the syringe he dug through the desk, flinging papers and folders across as he retrieved the syringe. He handed it over to Keiji, but just as he did a chill went down his spine. He finally heard the door creek, the boy's head shot backwards and he saw the creeping beasts. The sight of such beasts had a profound effect on Tatsuo. The boy could be considered a monster hunter by some, especially after training with Kaji for so long there was something about the unnatural that instantly brought the fight out in him. Without forming a seal, a wooden likeness of himself grew out of him. When it finished, it grew human like features making a perfect clone of Tatsuo. Even down to the scar on his cheek. He gritted his teeth, he wished he'd have brought his sword with him. It'd make all of this so much easier, but there was no point in worrying about that now.

Tatsuo's wooden clone had some properties that made it a cut above most clones. While most clones only shared the thoughts of their user from the point of inception the Wood clone shared a mental link with the user allowing the Kyoubaku an increased awareness of the battlefield. His clone made his way over to Keiji and created a wooden barrier. It would protect both Keiji and the clone from the beasts and any of Tatsuo's attacks. The boy took a deep breath calming himself as he shifted his feet into a defensive stance, arms meeting together in a 'Snake' hand seal. It was if the armor grew from him. Vines wrapped around him up to his neck making a sort of muscle-looking structure around him. Then thick wooden plates reinforced the armor creating a bulky but mobile armor that not only protected him from blows but struck back at those who looked to hurt him.

He bit the bottom of his lip as he didn't want to destroy Keiji's lab, he took careful notice of the room and where everything that seemed important was. The room was too crowded for his liking, he couldn't use his forest explosion jutsu here. It'd bring the whole building down. He lifted his arm up and shot a few wooden tendrils that snaked around chasing after the demonic beings hoping to pierce through and subdue them.

Back in the box Tatsuo's clone continued to reinforce the wooden wall, he turned back to glance at Keiji. "Is the syringe working? The real me is outside fighting these guys, as long as he can stay fighting this wall won't go down. If that medicine works, we might need to find a way to get you out of here. I can serve as a distraction, I doubt the beasts could figure out which one is the real me, but if we run around Cloud with you looking like that it might raise some questions. If we can't, the real me will just have to fight." The clone said gritting his teeth, this night seemed to get worse and worse as time went on.

Back outside of the box, Tatsuo's real intention in the fight was beginning to show. It didn't matter how much chakra he had, if he couldn't get that door shut eventually he would be overwhelmed if their numbers grew too great. One of the wooden tendrils shot past the demons, aiming straight for the door to push it closed. As long as none of the demons were in the way it should've been a clear shot, but he had no idea what was in the hallway he was making a blind shot and praying for the best.

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

The room ebbed and throbbed as he tried staying in an upright position. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed to rest his feet on the cold solid floor. When offered the syringe by the panicked shinobi. Keiji took the syringe slowly. Popping the flask open and filling the syringe with it's dark blood like substance. He barely had proper vision to see Tatsuo. Let alone a #@$%ing vein in his arm. He had to do his best with what little resources. his last hope is just filling his body with enough immunity boosting substances, that it would halt whatever progression had happened. Or even the small hope of reversing the recent changes.

As the needle slid into his skin, he could hear a sound that sent more hairs on end than the needle, a door opening. He cussed at both the feeling of the medication and the realization of a breach in security. As the medication flowed through his veins Tatsuo was all about in a tizzy. Summoning an expertly crafted wood clone, Keiji had blinked for a moment, and now couldn't tell the two Tatsuo's apart even if he tried. The medication wasn't alleviating the burning pain through his body. The changes to his physical appearance stayed the same. Cursing under his breath as he waited those few brief moments as Tatsuo panicked and his clone formed a protective wooden barrier around Keiji and the clone itself.

In the box Keiji sat staring at the clone as it talked to him, dead faced and blank star in his bright silvery eyes. Keiji was siting in another place, within his mind.

Spoiler

He wasn't sitting in his bed anymore. It was a room, rather drab looking place. Something out of an old era of fashionable design. The couch was that he found himself sitting on was rather exquisite and felt soft. It felt soft. He could actually feel the fabric. In front of him talking was not Tatsuo, it was the demon. It stood like a mountain over him while sitting. It's long well pressed suit clinging to it's grotesque skin, the moisture of it's skin bleeding through the fine fabric. It's feet but tendrils spread along the carpeted floor beneath it's long thinly legs. It's midsection was large, tight, and broad as a body builder. With wide shoulders threatening to pressed against the fine seams.

It's face was miserable and hideous to gander at. A squid like head with sharpened slits of burning embers for eyes. It's tendrils moved as it's hushed voice talked to Keiji. "So you believe your science will save you? Hmm?" It asked while gesturing it's massive hand's covered with the same sickly gross skin but with three elongated fingers that were extended towards Keiji. The young man drew back on the couch. Pulling away from the distance of the horror. "Yes, I will fix this! I am not a monster! I'm not!" He flailed and tried to get up and run, fear running all through his body as he felt his heart pounding against his chest. He ran away into darkness.

Outside of Keiji's mind and outside the wooden barrier Tatsuo was now facing a rather disgusting foe. What crept past the first door and was now pushing it's way through the second door was a rat, but not some ordinary rat. The creature was grotesque to put it lightly. It's flesh was metling off in long strands, exposing rotting bloodied flesh and veins.

It's eyes a milky egg white, as the skin around it seeped and sagged, it's very jaw broke past the skin of it's face as it's bone maw opened, exposing long decayed crooked fangs too large for the creatures mouth. It's nails extended to razor talons, it's tail elongated and split at the end. Rearing it up like a scorpions tail, it opened and shot fourth a fluid that ignited in the air in a fire ball the size of tatsuo's fist at the young shinobi.

Luckily Tatsuo impaled the disgusting creature with the wooden tendrils as it tried entering the room.sending the corpse to the ground, It's misshapen body writhing on the ground as it's black blood slowly spills onto the floor. closing the door as he noticed there were an unaccountable number of the mutated vermin in the hallway.

Keiji snapped out of his trance, he noticed the wooden box around him, and the wood clone in front of him. But assumed it was Tatsuo till the clone mentioned that the real him was fighting outside the small barrier. Keiji looked daze, weak. And a bit out of it, as if waking up from a nap. He smacked his lips, tried licking his tongue to wet his mouth. Too #@!$ing dry. "The medication doesn't work anymore. I need to make something else." He didn't appear upset, or sad. He just looked slightly miffed or bored at the thought. I'm not gonna give up.

He focused on the clone, then the box, then back to the clone. Without saying a word he pulled out his Tech bracer that functioned as a controller for the entire lab/warehouse. The device seemed to fit over most of his forearm and had a very bland black screen with digital writing sprawling over the screen, then a blip as it faded to black. Then a bright light of a video feed displayed on the device. It was the hallway camera that Tatsuo originally stuck his tongue out at. Keiji was peering the hallway and the stairwell with that single camera. He could see the dozen mutated rats scurrying and flailing about as they tare and bite at the walls.

"Wow, ugly little @#$%ers. Welp, roasted rat sounds nice." He turned a nob on the bracer just beside the screen and the feed changed to a screen of digital text with woords scrolling past at Tatsuo's glance. Weapons and home defense traps. Arming. Locking reinforced doors. "Fire in the hole." He mumbled as the door Tatsuo was guarding locked tight with what sounded like an Pneumatic air lock vacuum sealing the hallway. The door to Keiji's house also sealed shut behind the small mutated horde.

Fifteen nozzles jutted from the ceiling in the hallway, drawing the Rat's attention. But to no avail. As Keiji and Tatsuo could hear the dozen rats being cooked alive as gouts of searing hot flames bathed the mutated animals.

"It runs till nothing is moving in the hallway, once the motion sensor clears. I'll disarm the motion sensor, and we'll be alright to head out." He spoke dryly as he leaned forward with his elbows propped on his knee's, his head hanging low as his long golden hair covered his face and expressions. The medication failed him, jutsu only accelerated the change by maybe a few days. I didn't have much time left anyways. And now the village is gonna fall apart with these monsters running around. I need to get help, I can't do this alone anymore.
Sooner or later, you are going to have to face the truth Keiji.

"I'm not a monster." He would mumble aloud. Then looking up at Tatsuo(Clone). "Yo, once the hallways clear. I need you to help me. I can't defend the village by myself, and the village may need help soon. Do you know of really strong shinobi close by, that you could possibly send carrier birds with messages for help?" He looked up with glowing mercury silver eyes through strands of gold.

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo was beginning to get overwhelmed, the sheer amount of enemies he was facing made it tough even if each individual one went down without much trouble. Firing off a wooden barrier to prevent a rat trying to jump on him he head the clanking of the room. As the hallway turned into a literal death trap Tatsuo jumped out of the way back into the safety of the laboratory. He could instantly smell the burning flesh and it made him want to gag. They smelled even worse when burnt if that was even possible. Whatever these enemies were he was starting to grow worried. Normally the boy would face everything head on, but this seemed just a bit out of his caliber.

With the help of Keiji they were able to secure the building without much trouble. Tatsuo shot off a few more wooden tendrils for good measure to make sure all of the rats were taken care of, but all the necks on his hair stood up as Keiji began to speak. As he explained that there was nothing that could be done and that they'd need a stronger ninja just worried Tatsuo. The wooden clone shared all of Tatsuo's emotions and lowered the barrier when Tatsuo deemed them safe. "Sorry about the clone, I didn't mean to scare you but I didn't want them to get you." he couldn't help but feel like this was all his fault. Had he never tried to help Keiji would still be doing bad but he wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

"I know a few strong shinobi, but the strongest is Kaji. He lives close by my clone can get there in less than twenty minutes if it rushes." Tatsuo wasn't from the village he had no idea how strong everyone is, the only one he really knew was Kaji who might be able to help them. But that's if he was even at the house, he wasn't the type to lounge around at home. "I've got no idea if he's here though. And for the most part I don't know anyone else that powerful in the jutsu. I could send my clone to the hospital, they might be a little better at dealing with this, ya know being medics and all that." They had a choice to make, send the clone to the house and pray to god that Kaji was there, or they could send it to the hospital and find a strong medical ninja who might have a better chance at helping Keiji. "I really don't know what to do. I'm from the Leaf, so I'm not really aware of whose all that strong in the village. Either which you choose won't take much difference we're close both to my house and the hospital."

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

As Keiji got up, his movements were sluggish. He felt stiff all over, like his muscles were hardening under his flesh. He felt more solid and heavy. Did the change improve my physical capabilities? He didn't feel any stronger or faster, he felt quite the opposite. He clued back in when Tatsuo was in a panic speech, the young shinobi's frantic talk didn't help Keiji focus. He had to think, he had to have time to himself to gather everything. They were now in a quiet dead air of the room as Tatsuo finished talking. Keiji stayed listening. The breathing of Tatsuo, or did his clone breath as well. Was he himself breathing. There was it's breath, breathing into his ear as it whispered. How hungry are you?

Keiji could feel the hollow burning run from his stomach and up his chest, all the way to his throat. He was still in this feeling, giving no physical sign of discomfort other then trying to clear his throat. He sauntered by Tatsuo without much word, going for his cup, trying to fill it and drink, it tasted rancid, and his throat remained rather dry. Again the demon whispered. What are you thirsty for Keiji?

He kept his mind silent, cold and dark as the night outside, leaving only equations floating in his head as he spoke aloud. "Well we're not getting attacked again, yet." He gave a small chuckle, then tried clearing his throat again, moisten his mouth with another strong pull of putrid coffee. Oh this is gonna #@$%ing suck drinking this now.

"I'm not dead yet, i'm still able to think clearly. So I'm gonna take that." He pointed to the dead rat on his floor. "And run some tests on it. And also get rid of the burned ones in the hallway. You, my fine ninja friend. Are gonna book it as fast as you can out of here, go round up any friends you can, and make it to be in before the village goes into quarantine. It's late, go get some sleep, if you can." He tried keeping a little bit of distance from Tatsuo, now that his senses were a bit heightened. All he could smell in the room was the blood of the mutated rat and Tatsuo.

He grabbed the mutated rat by it's grotesque tail and dragged it to the table. Lobbing it onto his work desk nonchalantly. "And Tatsuo, like I said. Don't feel bad for what happened. You didn't know what would happen and neither did I. I don't blame you, thank you for trying. Once i'm done my tests i'll leave this place and head to the hospital. I may be put into quarantine. So you may not get to see me very often. Take care and be cautious out at night." He smirked and went to work examining the creature.

He stopped and reached over to grab some documents. They had the specifics of what the demon's blood did to other organic life, mutating anything it touched into demonic entities. He handed the documents to Tatsuo. "If you need to, use my research as proof to whoever you need to get help from."

After Tatsuo leaves the room, passing the hallway of foul smelling burnt rat corpses. The door outside locks behind Tatsuo as he greets the cold open air of the dead streets. Not a sound but the cold wind on the back of your neck.

(Topic left)

(Twas good RP, sorry to cut it short here. I have been a bit busy as of late. I'll try and get things rolling soon enough :3)

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo nodded, listening to Satou's advice. He didn't want to leave, he felt like it was his duty to help. But he really had to go. He was not only planning on leaving the lab, but the village. Perhaps he could inform some of the Leaf Med-Nin who were here. Umashi might know something.. He furrowed his brows and nodded to Keiji. He ran from the labratory as quickly as he could, securing himself in his home. He went on his bed and sat down, confused and still hungry. All he wanted to eat and now he was pulled all up into this mess. What would he ever do...

[Topic Left]
[Hey if you could, check discord when you got a chance.]