What Happens To Dangerous Men?

Age : 29 Posts : 3145

Kazuhiko was bewildered by the task presented to him - it was a rather unusual request from his father, a request so obviously urgent and important, that the young chuunin could hardly think twice about it. It was explicitly ordered that as soon as his task in the Hot Springs Country came to an end, either successfully or otherwise, the young noble should head to the Land of Frost and do so at once. He was to trust no one - not even his mission partners - and travel as quickly and yet as carefully as possible; all this, just to deliver a simple message. The chuunin found his father's behaviour unnerving; he feared there was a level of intricacy and depth to the mission, that wasn't being shared with him. Indeed, though it wasn't fear, there was an uncanny tenacity behind his father's eyes when he was giving the youth this task; it was similarly strange that his mother was solemnly present during this largely professional exchange. Was he to expect danger on the way? What could possibly explain such unexpected weariness?

The journey to the Land of Frost was not a hard one, since the Hot Springs Country had built a road directly through this smaller nation, leading all the way to the capital of the Kaminari No Kuni, hoping to thus attract tourism from there. Although perhaps it was unwise to travel out in the open, the youth had the common sense to rid himself of his Konoha garb (he had left his protector and chuunin vest at the ship with Kimiko and her student) and was thus dressed normally and (most importantly) warmly enough so that he didn't stand out. The Land of Frost and its climate and temperature were at their best around this time of year, so it wasn't very surprising that there was no snow or indeed frost to be found in this oddly generic nation. Indeed generic was a good way to describe it. Kazuhiko couldn't help but consider it an odd mix between the Lands of Lightning and Fire - an amalgamation of plains and mountains, hills and forests. Of course, normally all of this would have been covered by snow or ice, or weaker variants of these, but not today. The chuunin was both thankful and yet slightly disappointed.

Although he was given a very specific set of orders, the youth was eventually overtaken by his desire to read the contents of the message awarded to him. His father had anticipated such - the letter was for none other than himself. It directed him to meet a certain man, a friend of the family, who would keep Kazuhiko 'safe'... safe? That very word made the youth's brows furrow, and then rise, emphasising his confusion. Safe from what? What was he not being told? This letter alone had created a great divide in his mind - he felt an innate desire to return home at once, afraid of what he would see once he returned to the family mansion... whilst at the same time, his father's sincerity made the youth greatly uncomfortable with the idea of defying his superior's wishes. He would first meet this figure, before deciding upon a course of action - that's what he told himself.

And with that thought in mind, the youth left the main road, heading up the mountains to a small settlement; a map had been included with the curious letter and it placed this destination dangerously close to the border of Kaminari no Kuni - what was his father thinking? Although there was no war between the two countries, so to speak that is, still the tensions were running quite high. All he needed was a batch of bad luck and he would run into a patrol - be considered a spy instantly - and thus get eliminated quickly or else, be tortured first before (at that point) the sweet embrace of death entertained him and his mangled body. Hopefully, this 'friend of the family' would prove to be just that.

The location was of course none other than a desolate village. As far as the youth could see, the place was deserted, though at the same time, there was no clear proof that indicated whether anyone lived here or not. Kazuhiko was overcome by a strange sensation - the notion that the settlement had been abandoned recently dawned upon him. Was this some cruel joke? Or was the youth just stressed and unnerved by the contents of the letter? Whichever the case, a man had appeared in the distance, dispersing all such needless worries.

The figure was at first distant, but quickly came in to focus. He had an unusual garb - a sense of dress that was very similar to Kazuhiko's, so much that the youth associated this familiarity with the apparent 'family friend' he was looking for. Although the figure was not especially tall, it was rather clear he was older though he clung on to youth and looked to be in his earlier twenties, whereas his oddly scarlet-tinted, emerald eyes told a slightly different tale. He had such a pale skin tone it could be argued he was a native to this Land - surely, he could blend in with snow! His hair was golden and yet a mixture of duller shades also - ecru and scapolite in particular. In a sense, it reminded Kazuhiko of his irises, though they were far more vibrant in comparison. The stranger had an amiable face, though his expressions were oddly limited - he had flashed a smile, though somehow managed to do so without revealing his teeth. How very odd.

"You must be Kazuhiko" the man had spoken, his voice - a perfect velvet - playing a wonderful melody, yet one much unlike Kazuhiko's; the tune was far more subtle and yet distant, denouncing the figure as forlorn. "Your father had mentioned you would be here" the stranger added, his brilliant eyes measuring the brown-haired youth before him. The smile he had previously flashed had now disappeared, instead replace by a grimace. "Tell me... were you given a description?" he had asked, expressing an excess of casualness, that made the young chuunin stand on edge.

"He did not and no, I wasn't given one"
"Oh that's... very good"
"How so?"
"I'm wary of descriptions. They are very unflattering"

How odd he was. The figure seemed infinitely calm and yet his body betrayed a readiness, that almost provoked Kazuhiko to adopt a fighting stance.

"I suppose he didn't tell you why you were brought here?"
"He did not. You are the family friend, I suppose?"
"Oh most certainly. I owe your father a favour, or perhaps he owes me one... I forget"
"Is that so? My father is not one to ask for favours" the youth replied. It wasn't necessarily alarming, but the story didn't quite add up - that, he was certain of. The fact he didn't know the other's name made him even more unsettled, and it didn't seem like the stranger was willing to give it up either; the remark on descriptions made him out to be very clandestine.

"Every man needs a favour" the other replied brazenly, almost breaking in to a chuckle, before stopping himself and, almost in an instant, restoring his old poise. "Some do more than others"

"So what is this about?"
"Your family is in danger, and your father sent you here with the notion that I would be able to protect you"

The youth's eyes widened in shock. So he had been right all along?

"The truth is... your father underestimates me"
"Why is that? I can take care of myself - you don't have to do a thing" the chuunin replied, trying to match the confidence with which the golden-haired stranger spoke. The news, however, had him far too unsettled to be able to maintain such an obvious boldness.

"Well it's not about you Kazuhiko - truly, I wish it was. I think I would have quite liked you"

"You would have?" the noble replied, unsettled by the use of the conditional. Couldn't they get along now or in the near future? Was Kazuhiko's first impression so very negative?

"Well yes... I couldn't possible come to like you when I'm here here to kill you. It would complicate things."

Panting and heavy breathing... were so ungraceful, and yet the raven-haired boy struggled on, crawling desperately towards a direction he had deemed safe; the use of his legs had been lost many seconds ago, and the reason for such was startlingly obvious - the deep slashes in the cloth and skin, and the two long, glistening scarlet trails he had left behind him, indicated quite clearly that the use of a blade had rendered him largely immobile.

Pause... rest.

He slumped against the bark of an oaken tree, finding comfort in something he could control as he certainly couldn't control this situation. The chuunin was rather sure the stranger was still out there, undeterred by the desperate detonation of explosive tags - a decision that had cost the noble greatly. Though he had no visual proof of it, at least one of his ribs was broken; he could feel the swelling and yet was unable to scream - couldn't scream. That would give him away, as if the blood hadn't already.

Close your eyes.

It had been minutes since the stranger had mysteriously disappeared. When he had told Kazuhiko that he was here to kill him, the noble was too stunned to react to the sudden attack - thus, he had lost the use of his left leg with a single, precise strike; that was just the extent of the power this mysterious figure had wielded. Instinctively, the boy relied on his mastery of the elements, but was only able to slow down the progress of his opponent - an attack intended to cut his torso, instead landed on his right leg and yet, this slice was just as clean and as perfect as its sibling. What adaptability!

The smell of blood intensifies.

The sun had long gone down, and it must have been an hour at least, or perhaps two since Kazuhiko had been hurt. Although he was no Medical Shinobi, he could tell that the blood had clotted long ago. An uncanny series sounds had dogged his advance: a distant scream; an odd chuckle that seemed ever so close to his position and yet somewhat foreign and remote. At one point, branches had been broken and twigs had been stepped upon; someone had grunted, before the sound of something heavy dropping to the ground, echoed through the forest - for that was where the youth had dragged himself. The trees were thick and comforting. Nothing would harm him here...

And as he dragged himself, he began to consider the possibilities. He could hide, perhaps in a cave or a big enough hole, and rest there - then as soon as he regained control of his legs, he would sprint back home. That sounded like a plan.

And the youth was fortunate, for he found such a hiding spot. The weakness was evident and made him so very vulnerable - he collapsed as soon as he was sure he was safe; he feared that eternal sleep would take him. But no such thing occurred. When he woke up, it was to the sound of chirping and... the buzzing of flies? He peeked his head out and the sight that befell him was overwhelming.

Bodies - eroded, decayed - half-eaten and rotting; dead, for sure, and yet unnerving, for their empty eye sockets were all starting at them. He recognised the village symbols and the vest colours. Konoha shinobi. What were they doing here... were they enemy or foe?

Ha. Ha.

Ha.

The youth's head spun around as fast as the neck allowed, his eyes dashing towards the source of the unnerving sound. "I think they were trying to find you - help you" the stranger spoke, dragging out every word, as if to build up tension - as if it gave him pleasure. "Don't worry. The animals did all that to their bodies - you were out for a few days" he explained, or at least, stated for there was no proof against or to support his story.

...

Kazuhiko's eye lids are heavy. He feels disjointed. His limbs are dead, or unresponsive and a liquid sticks to him, unconsciously gluing his receptive body parts together. The smell of blood and flesh is ripe. The sound of knives cutting the air is ever-haunting. The stranger is reading a letter - not THE letter, but an invitation. How oddly perplexed and amused he seems. "So you're going to miss a wedding" he speaks, the words flung at the boy, landing painfully upon his tangled mess of flesh. The remark makes Kazuhiko scowl - the thoughts of Kimiko are unwanted at this very moment; she doesn't give him enough strength to carry on.

...

"Just end it" he mutters, the mumble escaping through his teeth. One of his eyes is blinded, or so he fears, though there is an unusual emptiness where his brilliant iris should be. "Sorry Kazu-chan. I was given very specific orders... you know, the same is being done to your parents as we speak, though I doubt the process is just as thorough and careful". The words don't even sting; all emotions are detached; all thoughts are focused on sweet death.

...

Freedom at last. The rope surrounding the carcass is cut, and the body drops, head first, into the snow. The boy spits out the surprisingly red substance. "Why is it red?" he asks, already knowing the answer.

The stranger raises a knife. The blade is marred by the very same shade of scarlet... what a wonderful last sight to see. It's only then, that Shingen puts him at ease.