Places of... connection.
Grandfather Migoya had spoken to her of such places - for him it was located amidst the boughs of the World’s tree, a spiritual blight on the land of Fire corrupted by the Fire Daimyo some time before. She knew of the greater spirits of the world, entities that were created or came into being and possessed items. The one called ‘Mikki’ was Migoya’s erstwhile companion, and a general pain in her backside, as was a rickety old broom called Twitch. Such… creatures were avoided if possible, as their unfamiliar nature brough uncomfortable feelings of mortality to the young woman.
Grandfather Yong however had a different creature that he worked with - a giant lobster or something. That was far more understandable, even if it was a bit cranky. The rare times Okuni had seen the creature it had been monstrous in size and ability, and devastating in its mock fights between Yong and Migoya.
In any event, Migoya had told her that in order to complete her training, she would need the aid of others, for no one rock could hold back the ocean. She already was accompanied, albeit reluctantly at first, with one of the Tsukumogami, which now rested gently around her armoured shoulders, fluttering in the breeze. Hoyo - a spirit inhabiting a very large piece of cloth - was a strange companion, but the fact that she was mostly silent or did ‘her’ own thing was refreshing. At least she was not Mikki.
The crunch of the snow under her feet brought her out of her reverie, and she silently cursed herself for letting her thoughts wander. The frigid air here at the top of the mountain ranges was bitterly cold, and it slid through her Myakashi armour to chill her to the core. The Tsuskumogami moved to wrap herself around her form, and for once Okuni was grateful for Hoyo’s presence. One step before the next, she trudged through the snow, at times having to use her grappling hook to maneuver herself around stoney outcroppings.
The slow rumble of thunder just brought more ‘joy’ to the situation. A normal person would have sighed in annoyance, by Okuni did not stoop to the emotions of ‘normal’ and continued her journey.
The land of Moon country, particularly the main island itself, stood amongst the vast ocean and even here she could see the waves crashing on the beach below. Six hundred meters above sea level she could also see the tropical jungle, the farmland, each amidst the nation that now sheltered her clan. Normal people would have felt a measure of connection, of elation at this vista, but again Okuni was not normal.
All she saw were places of strategic importance, possible bulwarks and defensive measures. Chokeholds. Places to hide. The simple joys of life were pointless and inefficient when placed against the greater threat and her duty. It was then she saw a simple rock protruding from the mainland, cutting as it were into the ocean itself. For some reason there was no sign of human activity around it - a strange occurrence given the propensity for people to look for such things for lighthouses or fishing berths or the like.
Something however stirred in her heart… a pulling towards this very point.
Again cursing her momentary lack of focus she fell back into a quick ‘cancel’ jutsu to ensure she was not being somehow genjutsued towards this outcropping. Her feelings however did not change, and with a scowl she started her decent towards the outcropping.
It became clear soon enough why there were no people around this area. The smell. Clearly this was some sort of hatchery, or breeding grounds for whatever smelly creatures were here. She sauntered past birds nests brimming with large eggs, casually perched on the boughs of leafless trees. She heard the mating barks of sea lions struggling for dominance. Moving down the mountain was far easier than the ascent, yet the smell grew stronger the more she moved towards the outcropping, and soon enough she could see why.
It appeared that a pod of whales had beached themselves, and at least one of them had begun to rot. Large bite marks provided evidence that they had been running from a greater threat, though other than the fact that there were large bite marks there was little to suggest what that threat was. Large insects now gathered, feasting with joy on the rancid flesh as small creatures, rats and vultures, scuttled to battle over the scraps of blubber that were strewn around the beach. The stench was incredible, Okuni reacting by covering her mouth with her large scarf.
For a moment she took in the view, quite the contrast from the previous one. She could intervene somehow, but this scene seemed to demonstrate the meaning of life - the circle of life. Death, birth, renewal, destruction. To interrupt would cause distress to that balance - to save the life of any of the whales should they live would remove a food source from other animals. Or perhaps whatever drove them to shore would simply kill them or do so again. To remove the scavengers would prevent the carcass from being eaten, causing the smell to increase, and stopping the chicks and pups of those creatures to be fed.
Migoya had once taught her that the most controllable emotion one could have was apathy - a lack of emotion - and as such all Myakashi should base their responses on that, lest emotions get in the way of their task. Her training enabled her to base her reactions on reasoning rather than emotion, and now was no different.
Rather than reacting however, she would sit. A small rock, flattered by generations of waves, gave her a small vantage point in which she could sit and become apathetic to that which was around her. Clambering up onto the stack, she crossed her legs, removed her helmet, and gazed into the darkening skyline over the ocean as the sun began its descent over the horizon.
“Why are you here?”
She turned, looking for the source of the voice but not seeing anything. Instinct kicked in and her hand went to the small tanto located in the small of her back.
“I guess humans are not as proficient in speech as they once were. I shall speak slower. Why are you here?”
She could not see where the voice was coming from, yet she could almost feel it. Normally she would have ignored such a request, but right now figuring out who was speaking to her was the tactically wise decision.
“Should I not be?”, was her unemotional response.
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, I doubt you care human.” The voice sounded tired, as if burdened by something heavy. “Perhaps I can ask it another way. Why are you watching?”
The question was somewhat confusing for a second.
“To know.”
“To know? To know what?”
“To know what is, what was, and what may be.”
“So you claim to be an oracle then? Many claim such a title, but I’ve seen many fools”.
“I am not an oracle.”
“Then why do you watch?”
She remained quiet, obviously in thought in an effort to understand what this creature wanted. Banter and companionship it seemed - both which Okuni did not care for.
“Because actions have consequences.”
A dry chuckle was felt in Okuni’s brain.
“Oh - someone trying to be wise is it? Did you read that off the side of a breakfast cereal container? No mortal, stop spouting your one liners and listen to my question and answer honestly. Why do you watch?”
Okuni looked forward, her blue eyes giving no indication that she was getting rather annoyed with this strange voice. It was time to prompt a reaction - something that she could work with. An attack, anything…
“To understand my enemy. To watch for the moment of weakness.”
The tone of her voice was cool, unemotional. She had been forged as a weapon by the Myakashi all of her life. Emotion was something that one only expressed amongst the clan, or used against an enemy to manipulate them. Her very thought patterns were alien to those not brought up the same way as her, as if she was a sociopath. But it was controlled sociopathy, if that was a thing.
She was met with another bark of laughter.
“What if there is no weakness mortal?”
The air as it were felt heavy at this point in time. Something… someone was playing games with her and trying to see through her own defences it seemed. Trying, in vain, to make her doubt herself, or cleverly turning her own attempts at eliciting a response back on her.
Whatever this thing was, it was amusing. It was now her time to laugh - it was cold and merciless, holding no warmth.
“There is always a weakness.”
“True enough mortal, just most creatures do not live long enough to find them,” the creature responded.
Okuni nodded, closing her eyes for a second as if in thought. It what seemed like a longer second than the last, but actually happening in the blink of an eye (pun intended), the tomoe in her eyes activated, and quicker than light she dashed towards another part of the outcropping. A chakra infused fist grabbed the source of the voice, holding it in a vice-locked grip. The creature squirmed at her grasp, yet somehow managed to let out a garbled chuckle.
Okuni looked down at the creature, her face blank but her insides clearly perplexed at what she was holding.
“Time is relative,” she responded.
“Not… bad… mortal. Good… in… fact. Its… been… an… age,” the creature struggled to let out between gasps. It was clear that the mortal had them, but was merely looking at them rather than continuing the attack.
Sea blue eyes - sharingan?
She released the grip, but those eyes held it as strong as any shackle.
“Speak. Tell me who… what you are,” she stated strongly - impressively.
The creature smiled, clearly impressed. “I am… complicated. Here - its better that I show you…”
WC: 1681
Using 'Discovery of Contract of Random Choice' - Moon Country, purchased here :- https://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic....&sid=6f1284d249f2ee3f72469ac3e7cfe1f3#p339722
Grandfather Migoya had spoken to her of such places - for him it was located amidst the boughs of the World’s tree, a spiritual blight on the land of Fire corrupted by the Fire Daimyo some time before. She knew of the greater spirits of the world, entities that were created or came into being and possessed items. The one called ‘Mikki’ was Migoya’s erstwhile companion, and a general pain in her backside, as was a rickety old broom called Twitch. Such… creatures were avoided if possible, as their unfamiliar nature brough uncomfortable feelings of mortality to the young woman.
Grandfather Yong however had a different creature that he worked with - a giant lobster or something. That was far more understandable, even if it was a bit cranky. The rare times Okuni had seen the creature it had been monstrous in size and ability, and devastating in its mock fights between Yong and Migoya.
In any event, Migoya had told her that in order to complete her training, she would need the aid of others, for no one rock could hold back the ocean. She already was accompanied, albeit reluctantly at first, with one of the Tsukumogami, which now rested gently around her armoured shoulders, fluttering in the breeze. Hoyo - a spirit inhabiting a very large piece of cloth - was a strange companion, but the fact that she was mostly silent or did ‘her’ own thing was refreshing. At least she was not Mikki.
The crunch of the snow under her feet brought her out of her reverie, and she silently cursed herself for letting her thoughts wander. The frigid air here at the top of the mountain ranges was bitterly cold, and it slid through her Myakashi armour to chill her to the core. The Tsuskumogami moved to wrap herself around her form, and for once Okuni was grateful for Hoyo’s presence. One step before the next, she trudged through the snow, at times having to use her grappling hook to maneuver herself around stoney outcroppings.
The slow rumble of thunder just brought more ‘joy’ to the situation. A normal person would have sighed in annoyance, by Okuni did not stoop to the emotions of ‘normal’ and continued her journey.
The land of Moon country, particularly the main island itself, stood amongst the vast ocean and even here she could see the waves crashing on the beach below. Six hundred meters above sea level she could also see the tropical jungle, the farmland, each amidst the nation that now sheltered her clan. Normal people would have felt a measure of connection, of elation at this vista, but again Okuni was not normal.
All she saw were places of strategic importance, possible bulwarks and defensive measures. Chokeholds. Places to hide. The simple joys of life were pointless and inefficient when placed against the greater threat and her duty. It was then she saw a simple rock protruding from the mainland, cutting as it were into the ocean itself. For some reason there was no sign of human activity around it - a strange occurrence given the propensity for people to look for such things for lighthouses or fishing berths or the like.
Something however stirred in her heart… a pulling towards this very point.
Again cursing her momentary lack of focus she fell back into a quick ‘cancel’ jutsu to ensure she was not being somehow genjutsued towards this outcropping. Her feelings however did not change, and with a scowl she started her decent towards the outcropping.
It became clear soon enough why there were no people around this area. The smell. Clearly this was some sort of hatchery, or breeding grounds for whatever smelly creatures were here. She sauntered past birds nests brimming with large eggs, casually perched on the boughs of leafless trees. She heard the mating barks of sea lions struggling for dominance. Moving down the mountain was far easier than the ascent, yet the smell grew stronger the more she moved towards the outcropping, and soon enough she could see why.
It appeared that a pod of whales had beached themselves, and at least one of them had begun to rot. Large bite marks provided evidence that they had been running from a greater threat, though other than the fact that there were large bite marks there was little to suggest what that threat was. Large insects now gathered, feasting with joy on the rancid flesh as small creatures, rats and vultures, scuttled to battle over the scraps of blubber that were strewn around the beach. The stench was incredible, Okuni reacting by covering her mouth with her large scarf.
For a moment she took in the view, quite the contrast from the previous one. She could intervene somehow, but this scene seemed to demonstrate the meaning of life - the circle of life. Death, birth, renewal, destruction. To interrupt would cause distress to that balance - to save the life of any of the whales should they live would remove a food source from other animals. Or perhaps whatever drove them to shore would simply kill them or do so again. To remove the scavengers would prevent the carcass from being eaten, causing the smell to increase, and stopping the chicks and pups of those creatures to be fed.
Migoya had once taught her that the most controllable emotion one could have was apathy - a lack of emotion - and as such all Myakashi should base their responses on that, lest emotions get in the way of their task. Her training enabled her to base her reactions on reasoning rather than emotion, and now was no different.
Rather than reacting however, she would sit. A small rock, flattered by generations of waves, gave her a small vantage point in which she could sit and become apathetic to that which was around her. Clambering up onto the stack, she crossed her legs, removed her helmet, and gazed into the darkening skyline over the ocean as the sun began its descent over the horizon.
“Why are you here?”
She turned, looking for the source of the voice but not seeing anything. Instinct kicked in and her hand went to the small tanto located in the small of her back.
“I guess humans are not as proficient in speech as they once were. I shall speak slower. Why are you here?”
She could not see where the voice was coming from, yet she could almost feel it. Normally she would have ignored such a request, but right now figuring out who was speaking to her was the tactically wise decision.
“Should I not be?”, was her unemotional response.
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, I doubt you care human.” The voice sounded tired, as if burdened by something heavy. “Perhaps I can ask it another way. Why are you watching?”
The question was somewhat confusing for a second.
“To know.”
“To know? To know what?”
“To know what is, what was, and what may be.”
“So you claim to be an oracle then? Many claim such a title, but I’ve seen many fools”.
“I am not an oracle.”
“Then why do you watch?”
She remained quiet, obviously in thought in an effort to understand what this creature wanted. Banter and companionship it seemed - both which Okuni did not care for.
“Because actions have consequences.”
A dry chuckle was felt in Okuni’s brain.
“Oh - someone trying to be wise is it? Did you read that off the side of a breakfast cereal container? No mortal, stop spouting your one liners and listen to my question and answer honestly. Why do you watch?”
Okuni looked forward, her blue eyes giving no indication that she was getting rather annoyed with this strange voice. It was time to prompt a reaction - something that she could work with. An attack, anything…
“To understand my enemy. To watch for the moment of weakness.”
The tone of her voice was cool, unemotional. She had been forged as a weapon by the Myakashi all of her life. Emotion was something that one only expressed amongst the clan, or used against an enemy to manipulate them. Her very thought patterns were alien to those not brought up the same way as her, as if she was a sociopath. But it was controlled sociopathy, if that was a thing.
She was met with another bark of laughter.
“What if there is no weakness mortal?”
The air as it were felt heavy at this point in time. Something… someone was playing games with her and trying to see through her own defences it seemed. Trying, in vain, to make her doubt herself, or cleverly turning her own attempts at eliciting a response back on her.
Whatever this thing was, it was amusing. It was now her time to laugh - it was cold and merciless, holding no warmth.
“There is always a weakness.”
“True enough mortal, just most creatures do not live long enough to find them,” the creature responded.
Okuni nodded, closing her eyes for a second as if in thought. It what seemed like a longer second than the last, but actually happening in the blink of an eye (pun intended), the tomoe in her eyes activated, and quicker than light she dashed towards another part of the outcropping. A chakra infused fist grabbed the source of the voice, holding it in a vice-locked grip. The creature squirmed at her grasp, yet somehow managed to let out a garbled chuckle.
Okuni looked down at the creature, her face blank but her insides clearly perplexed at what she was holding.
“Time is relative,” she responded.
“Not… bad… mortal. Good… in… fact. Its… been… an… age,” the creature struggled to let out between gasps. It was clear that the mortal had them, but was merely looking at them rather than continuing the attack.
Sea blue eyes - sharingan?
She released the grip, but those eyes held it as strong as any shackle.
“Speak. Tell me who… what you are,” she stated strongly - impressively.
The creature smiled, clearly impressed. “I am… complicated. Here - its better that I show you…”
WC: 1681
Using 'Discovery of Contract of Random Choice' - Moon Country, purchased here :- https://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic....&sid=6f1284d249f2ee3f72469ac3e7cfe1f3#p339722
