Recherche | By : Eggburtshamslice Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Iruka Views: 4182 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
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Recherché: Reflection
Inside the salon, as the aroma of pine fills the room, Maito stands by the fireplace. Beside Kinoe’s vacant desk, seconds tick down on the clock as footsteps in the hall increase in volume. From the corridor, there comes a swish of leather.
The cat o nine, he thinks, quickly removing his jacket and shirt.
As the door creaks open, trembling, he drops to his knees. Master’s footsteps, hushed against thick carpet, his presence overwhelming as he draws closer; waves of anger roll from his body, pushing Maito prostrate against the tiled hearth. Logs filled with sap crackle and pop, sizzling against his skin. The tips of Master’s shoes halt inches from the crown of his head; his body braces for the swift kicks and rapid strikes which will surely come.
His Lord stands before him, considering for a moment and then … he retreats.
Maito dares not lift his head at the sound of hearth warmed leather yielding under Master’s weight. For several unbearable moments is only the sound of his frantic breathing and the dull thud of the Master’s fingers drumming against the arm of the chair.
“My Lord,” he whispers, “your wrath is just … I, your humble servant deserves--”
“Stand to your feet Maito. And for heaven sake... put your clothes back on.”
“Master, I cannot stand before you … my shame and guilt are too great. If it pleases my Lord,” he said crawling on his belly, “allow me plead for the punishment due.” With his breath blowing back into his face from the bridge of the master’s shoe, once more he begs, “I’ve made a fatal blunder. Cast me into the fire, gouge out the eyes which deceived you … cut out the tongue which uttered falsehoods, only do not cast me from your presence--”
“You’ve done nothing worthy of punishment.”
“Yes, but Master … the whip in your hand--”
“This? Kinoe left it on a side table in the hall,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Surely you know I need no weapons to chastise an unruly servant. Come now, take your seat beside me.”
Eyes lowered, Maito reached back for his shirt, quickly covering himself. As the tiny whip falls to the floor, it is accompanied by the squeal of cork against glass, the scent of cognac and the gentle fall of amber liquid splashing against a snifter’s balloon. With a gulp, the empty glass now settles on the marble topped table between the two chairs.
“My Lord, your anger--”
“Has nothing to do with you. I spent the last three hours trapped in a hallowed place, filled to the brim with self-righteous humans; listening to those hypocrites profess dependence and faith in gods made of stone and precious metals … it was sickening.”
Maito pushed himself up to a kneeling position; suddenly, his forearms stretch before his body and his lips graze the carpet, “Forgive me Master. The information I provided was incorrect … I do not deserve such kindness.”
“And if I have to repeat myself … you shall have no more of it. Sit!”
Clambering to his feet, he dared not meet the eyes of his Master. Once more, liquid flows from the decanter and a snifter is nudged into his hand as he settles into his seat.
“Maito, do you understand why I had to return to Konoha?”
“Of course Master. As head of clan Hatake, you must take a bride and provide heirs--”
“Yes, but these are not raison d'être,” he said refilling his glass. “I returned to the land of my ancestors to repay long standing debts and fulfill prophecy--”
“The ancients foretold of a pythonic army united under a supreme ruler … Master,” his eyes widened, “a grievous error I’ve committed--”
“Hush. You can do nothing without my express consent or influence. This supposed error of yours provided the means to exact vengeance.”
“I am certain I do not understand, my Lord. The Hyuga girl’s death … it will only spur enhanced vigilance by the constables and their deputies. Even now are they casting broader and tighter nets over the territory--”
“All for naught, of this you may be confident. Have you ever watched a man’s heart break and crumble to pieces Maito? Ever stood at the right hand of a man as his spirit withered and faded with the passage of each new day?”
“No, Master.”
“The year I tasted the blood of my first kill, my father lost the love of his life and I a mother, at the hands of a Hyuga.” He paused to top off his glass. “In days of old, the Hyuga possessed powerful amulets capable of ensorcelling the most puissant of demons--”
“Do these things still exist, my Lord?”
“You’ve lived these many years unaware of our shared histories … for shame Maito.”
“Anticipation of punishment made my mind a jumble my liege.” He threw down his drink in a single gulp, “I remember all too well. This nation came into being when dragon spirits sprang up from underwater volcanoes; these spirits pushed the land masses apart, assigning their offspring rule over parcels over territories; greed and jealousy spawned wars which further divided the lands. When humans began to populate these areas, they began sacrificing their offspring to ensure protection and blessing from the warring numen--”
“All continued smoothly until, along came proselytizers … missionaries spreading the good news of other, so called gods,” Master said as he refreshed his servant’s goblet. “These deities promised sanctuary from demon spirits in the form of blessed pieces of magma guaranteed to strip the numen of its power. Every powerful clan in Konoha … the Uchiha, Hyuga, Akimichi and Nara passed the talismans down their family lines. But much like you Maito, the younger generation is woefully unaware of their power, keeping them as heirlooms from bygone times. Every family that is, with the exception of the Hyuga.”
The room fell quiet as Master and servant turned their attention to the roaring hearth.
Finally Lord Kakashi spoke. “Long ago, the head of that impure family desired an allotment of land belonging to the Hatake; my father refused to sell it, choosing instead to gift the property to the Senju clan. In retaliation for this slight, on the night of the Great Hunt, ere my mother rose from her rest, she was abducted, her attendants slaughtered and a note left behind in her chambers. Father went on a rampage, killing every Hyuga in the household, save two … a brother and sister hidden away by the servants.”
“Yes, I remember that as well Master.”
“The other night, dressed in all her finery for a gathering with family and friends, Hitomi looked upon her father’s face for the last time. Afterward, she gladly ran to meet me, surrendering herself to a hellish existence as my servant. Such a purity in body and spirit, her blood, ambrosia as I took it into myself and now her soul ... forever mine.” He raised his glass to the hearth in salute. “For you my Father. At last, I’ve humbled the clan conceived in incest and propelled to prominence by witchcraft. I’ve stripped a mother of her reason for living, a father of his will to rule and stolen from them the relics which might be used against my seed someday. May the current head of that family know the pain of loss, may it gnaw through his bones and waste away his spirit from this time, until his dying breath.”
“May your curse be as it was spoken my Lord,” he said lifting his glass in like manner.
“Still, it’s not enough. So many years apart, my parents perished in the exact same way; their bodies exposed to the rays of the sun, till nothing remained except memories and ashes. My mother ... killed by the Hyuga; my father ... vanquished by an ancestor of the one who now hunts me.” He took another sip of his brandy and asked, “What have you learned about the son of Umino?”
“Not only did I verify his place of lodging, I saw with my own eyes, the book and weaponry. But the amulets you spoke of … if he possesses them as well, they must be hidden away in a separate location.”
“No doubt. The younger Umino is no fool. Have you other information to impart?”
“Just that on the morrow, they have a meeting scheduled with the Governor.”
“How predictable these humans. Though he did surprise me by showing up at the tsuya tonight; he even endeavored to approach me.” Slowly did his hand rise, undoing the eye patch twined in silver strands. “I could not allow that, for my first encounter with him must be on my terms.” His eyes took on an eerie glow as he continued speaking, “The scent of his blood, from a wound self-inflicted aroused not my hunger, but my thirst.” The hands gripping the bolsters of the chair become elongated, his nails transforming into hooked barbs and his voice deeper. “Had to erect a kekkai between us, ere control completely abandoned me. But the smell of anger and fear pouring off his body ... intoxicating. Surely you understand what that’s like?”
“I do, my Lord.”
“Another surprise … Umino has the blood of an innocent. A man nearly thirty years of age, untouched by a woman; no wonder he funnels every desire of his into avenging his father.”
“My Lord, with your permission I will gladly dispatch them … the yokai are particularly anhungered tonight--”
“Not just yet. A cautious man is Inspector Morino; surely has them under surveillance. If they vanish without a trace, a bumbling investigation by the constables will only hinder me. No,” he grinned, “I have designed a torture exquisite for Umino, when the time is right shall I execute my plan. For now, continue monitoring their movements. If you do well Maito, I will give his companions into your hands or rather, your belly.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Once more they sat in silence, watching the fire dance in the hearth as they sip at the calming brandy.
“I’ve managed to avoid these things for hundreds of years,” he said more to himself than Maito. “But another ‘season’ is upon us and thanks to Kinoe, I’ll be subjected to a parade of vapid women and meaningless conversation. Damn him … he knows I loathe the idea of strangers wandering about my home, yet even this I’ve allowed.”
“It is possible your future bride will be in attendance, my Lord. At least, that is my hope for your happiness.”
“I'll hear no more of that. Go... watch over my prey as he sleeps unafraid in his bed.”
“My liege.” He fluidly rose, gathering up his jacket and bowing low before his lord. Impulse dropped him to one knee, his forehead touching the back of the Master’s hand. “I shall not fail you this time, my Lord.”
Without warning and set on fire by the flames of hell itself, the collar about his neck constricted his windpipe.
“Consider that incentive, Maito … a taste of the punishment which awaits should you fail.”
“You are most gracious my Lord,” he spluttered.
“Get thee about my business!”
Scuttling on all fours, the pain lessened as he reached the salon door. As he prepared to leave, there came the sound of breaking glass and the smell of blood as it inched down Master’s arm. Above it all, was rich, hearty laughter.
“Yes,” he heard Master say,
“How I look forward to our first encounter … spawn of Umino.”
Notes:
Cat o' nine tails: a multi-tailed whip that originated as an implement for severe punishment. Made of nine thongs of cotton cord often tipped with metal or barbs, designed to lacerate the skin and cause intense pain.
Yokai: class of supernatural monsters, spirits and demons. Yokai which can shapeshift are referred to as bakemono obake.
Raison d'être (French): reason or justification for existence.
Err (archaic): to deviate from the true course or purpose.
Pythonic: gigantic or monstrous; a spirit or demon.
Ensorcell: to bewitch.
Puissant: powerful, mighty, potent.
Proselytizer: one who induces someone to convert to one's faith.
Missionaries: members of a religious group sent into an area to perform ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.
Japan is a part of the Eurasia continent made up of more than 6,000 islands. It is formed on the volcanic line, called the ‘Ring of Fire.’ Some scientists believe most of the Japan Islands were under the sea before the Miocene Epoch (a time of warmer global climates roughly five million years ago in which two major ecosystems made their first appearances: kelp forests and grasslands.) Lifting of Japan's islands started in the early Miocene era by volcanic activities which were related to the shift trenches of the Pacific, Eurasia, and Philippine plates. In the late Miocene era, the current Japan Islands were formed by shifting volcanic-arcs from the back-arc to the front –arc when the trenches moved back the trenches. Also, most volcanoes which created the formation of the current Japan Islands exhausted, and they are thought to have disappeared in the early Miocene era leaving scars of their activities on the surface. Japan is located where the Pacific plate collides with Philippine plate; both of these plates are oceanic so the denser one subducts beneath the other. Because of subduction and collision, small islands were formed; over time when the plates moved, these islands came closer together and gradually joined to make the main island of Japan.
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