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Recherche	By : Eggburtshamslice Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Iruka Views: 4188 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 43
- 44
- 45
Archeology is both a social science and a branch of the humanities. Archeological science AKA archaeometry consists of applying scientific techniques to analyze archeological materials to provide a timeline for when said materials were in use in a culture’s history. It is related to methodologies of archeology.

“You!”
When the bear of a man spun about, he wasn’t surprised; when that flesh covered meat hook gouged into his wrist and cigar tinctured breath filled the space between them, these too were met with an overweening smile. But when those nothing left to lose eyes looked straight through him, a chill shot up his spine.
Still, the cocky captive shook off intimidation. "So, the reflexes and temperament of a bouncer haven’t abandoned you Mr. Morino.”
Recognition dawned; muted pain in the eyes meeting his, spark remorse and prompt slackening of the viselike grip. “Idiot! Tryna get your head bashed in?”
“What’s the matter big fella ... can’t tell the difference between a jest and a threat?”
"Nobody got time for your foolishness, hear?”
"Fine. Thought you gave a good speech… what little I heard of it. Ya happy now?” Blunt nails dug deeper into his wrist. "Guess not," his laugh as awkward as the free handed punch aimed toward the other man’s chest, “c'mon Inspector, loosen up.”
One joint exchanged for another, Ibiki catches hold the man’s elbow jerking him forward. "Walk with me, and for god sake,” he growls, “keep your voice down.”
“Well that much hasn’t changed. No good deed goes unpunished eh, Inspector?”
He’s met with a withering sideways glance as their awkward shuffle through the plaza continued. “Get the message about the livestock?”
“Yep, bustin’ at the seams and slap out of everything. Animals gettin’ on fine, it's the people what’s the problem--”
“Focus, Idate,” chuffed out as they come to halt. “The horses ... you got ‘em or don’t ya?”
“I swanee .... regular menagerie up there. Horses, sheep, pigs ... some real strange lookin’ ducks--”
“Damn it man!” Ibiki pulls him close once more, “Patrol didn’t tell ya?”
It’s Idate’s turn to frown up as he finally wrenches free his arm. “Weren’t no patrols on the back roads. What is going on?”
“Wrong time for stupid questions,” scrapes against his ear as Ibiki steps behind him. “Tell ya in my office. Now move.”
As if he had a choice; arm pinned above the small of his back, he’s no more than a plowshare while Ibiki steers them toward the station house.
Recherché
POP!
To Izumo and Iruka’s relief, the tiger dissipated into small bubbling puddles of blackness. Naturally, Kotetsu had a different take on liberty newfound.
“Oi! Ain't you got no home trainin’ boy?”
Sai walked to the opposite end of the table saying, “Yes sir. A majority of my training was accomplished at home--”
“Look smart ass, you mess it up … you clean it up.”
“Oh, that. With pleasure. Mind your steps as dirty soles will corrupt the ink’s integrity.”
“Gotta lotta cheek kid.”
“Tetsu … let it go--”
“Me? He comes in here splatterin’ stuff all over the joint, then gets uppity about us contaminatin’ his stuff? That ain't right.”
Izumo hooked him by the elbow and together they hopscotched through the maze of splotches.
“I realize these things are abstruse to one such as you Mr. Tetsu, nevertheless--”
“He just call me obtuse Zumo? Lemme at him!”
“Not happening.” Gesturing to the chair at Iruka’s right side, Izumo tightened his grip. “Go on then.”
His oppugner firmly in check, Sai closed his eyes and with a wave of his hand the blotches on the floor start reaching out for one another. Mesmerized, Iruka and Izumo watch them congeal into a writhing mass of fat black snakes; Kotetsu cares nothing for the spectacle. It takes but a moment for them to slither up the table leg and back into the scroll’s inkpot.
“Alrighty then; my comrades are at rest and if you gentlemen would take your seats, I’ll bring you up to snuff on last night’s events.”
“How’s he gonna do that Zumo; I didn’t see him nowhere ... you?”
“Maybe if you shut up for a minute, we’ll find out together.”
Sai remained in place while Izumo took the chair to Iruka’s left. Kotetsu went the other way round just to bump Sai with his shoulder before booting his chair away and flopping down.
“Magic ink, mice, tigers and snakes for friends; is it any wonder he’s a twisted nut?”
“I’m devastated sir… you completely forgot about my butterflies--”
“Come over here and say that … I’ll show ya devastation.”
“Had it up to my back teeth with the lot of ya!" Iruka’s palms slammed against the tabletop, " Zumo, Tetsu ... hush; Sai …get on with it!”
Recherché
Rehearsed lies, quickly and easily told. With every good wish extended and every sympathy accepted, the fragile teacup she held rattled in its saucer. Lady Senju Tsunade, center of attention, object of pity … pariah. These strangers, their smiles warm as they pledged unwavering support; their hearts cold and minds active, hatching plots for advantage in this moment of perceived vulnerability. Above it all, panic cleaves her heart in twain each time the free hand searching for its touchstone comes up empty. Frustration builds as does the urge to hie away, till this ambience of fraudulent condolence be done. Alas … she the embodiment of Konoha is helplessly bound.
Recherché
He felt it in his bones … the Master had need of him elsewhere, yet, being here was more expedient. Cold comfort as he stood in a slow moving line outside the Morino homestead. As he fidgeted about, checking and rechecking the applications for purchase in his breast pocket, Kinoe amused himself by eavesdropping on the locals as they rehashed tales from last night.
“... found a bloody kimono in the forest they did,” said one. “Kamons on it brung ‘em to the girl what it belongs to. She’s still alive so, what you reckon?”
“No idée fixe,” came another whisper, “whole territory was a bedlam. Just hopin' my sows wandered over here in the confusion. Damn fools broke outta their pens again and--”
“Sure they broke out? Cause I heard tell animals was gettin’ snatched up everwheres. Them things use ‘em as sacrifices to the moon god you know--”
“Who things?”
“Evil spirits ya dolt!”
The other man sucked at his teeth, “Ain't no such! Sows is stupid; moon struck ‘em lunatick is all.”
Recherché
Even in the sunshine and fresh air, it still felt as if she were suffocating inside a cold dark box. Naked without it, stomach twisting in on itself, just meeting the eyes of the people made her nauseous. Misty eyes search along the path, hoping the heirloom would magically leap from the bushes or call out to her from inside a cobblestone crevice.   Damn thing’s probably lying somewhere in the office. Yeah ... has to be.   She ran first to the safety of her private residence; down the stairs she flew, hefting open and digging through musty cedar chests in the basement. One treasure retrieved. Another fifty feet to the safety of the Complex; it’s waiting area crowded with irritated constituents. As they grumble and complain to the staff, she slips unnoticed through the throng. By the time the door of the outer conference room shuts behind her, she’s in a cold sweat.
“Milady!”
She’s trembling now, legs barely able to keep her upright; staggering to the table, she clings to a chair back. “Ginger tea … quickly!”
“Right away ma’am--”
“Clear my schedule,” she breathed, “Don’t wanna see anyone til tonight--”
“What should I with the lawyers ma’am? We can’t postpone that meeting forever--”
“Shit, forgot about that! Fine, after I get rid of them, don’t let anyone else through to my office … understood?”
Recherché
After several minutes of tense silence, Sai finally speaks. “Two elderly men, a young man and one large family lost their lives at the hands of humans. More than thirty others, including sixteen workmen and another young woman, were lost to gaki. While I can’t say whether the blood moon or the local numen influenced these actions, I do know widespread mayhem is a hallmark of demonic activity--”
“Hell ... I coulda told ya that.”
“Lunkhead," Izumo whispered kicking at his shin under the table "...want him to sic more of his little friends on ya?”
“One table, two smart asses … must be my lucky day,” rumbles from Kotetsu as he threw his back against the chair, arms folded over chest with a scowl knitted brow.
“Yes ... moving on,” Sai said, “gaki of every description were scattered throughout the territory; all of them under the control of a powerful lycanthrope type beast. Meanwhile, inside the manor, an exorbitant concentration of bakemono masqueraded as party guests. The intelligence gathered suggests they were to appropriate vital essences from the visiting dignitaries. How, or for what purpose the Hatake intends to use these spiritual energies, I’ve no idea.” He turned and bowed deeply, “My apologies Dr. Umino. I intended to present a conclusive summary of last night’s events for you …unfortunately,” he straightened to his full height and glared at Kotetsu, “I was prevented--”
“Sai … that’s not helpful--”
“Pardon sir… I will continue. During the festivities, two bakemono took on the Hatake’s physical appearance; one played chess with the police chief and the other enjoyed a lewd burlesque show in a private salon--”
“What? I missed that?”
"Quiet ya perv ... let him finish."
As Izumo and Kotetsu trade insults, Sai leaned down, whispering to Iruka who said, "No ... that’s not a friendly appellation."
"Understood. Gentlemen, if you could focus for a moment? Another creature appeared before Dr. Umino, this one in the guise of an elderly woman--”
“Yeah, I remember … ugly old broad--”
“Tetsu! She was a Yasha,” Iruka said with a hoarse laugh, “found that out the hard way--”
“You’re both correct. After leading you away and pushing you through a portal, it then took on your appearance and rejoined the party.” Sai stood turning his attention to Izumo, “In one of the manor’s subterranean vaults, Dr. Umino was lashed to a wall and menaced by another creature before the Hatake finally took over. Injecting it's miasma and placing the seal, took less than ten minutes, though I’m sure it felt like hours--”
“Hold up kid, you watched all this happen to Ruka; why didn’t you do anything?”
“Mr. Tetsu, my scouts are witnesses to and reporters of events. Neither they, nor I are to interrupt--”
“You hearin’ yourself? Hell, he ain't even my kin and I woulda tried to help him--”
“Only to have the Hatake kill you before his eyes? How would that help Dr. Umino?”
“Sai ... I got this,” Iruka said. “Your fidelity isn't being called into question Tetsu, but if we’re gonna defeat Hatake … which we will, we first need to understand the methods he employs and the level of power he possesses, okay?”
“No … no it aint okay--”
“Hard as it is to believe, what happened to me last night actually benefits us in the long run--”
“Startin’ to sound goofy again Ruka--”
“Oh cheer up,” Izumo chuckled, “least we know the copy didn’t shy away from us because you’re a stultifying bore.”
“You mean it? Gee, thanks buddy ... hey!”
“Mr. Tetsu, the Yasha only knew it was to be seen by others. Safe to say, it possessed enough of Dr. Umino’s memories to avoid you two; I mean, who else would’ve known it was a replica?”
“That was a compliment, yeah Zumo?”
“Definitely. Answer me this Sai; Iruka said and you confirmed that Hatake bit him. This laceration, was it somewhere in the neck region?”
“Yes.”
“Mystery solved. When we saw Iruka later in the evening, he had a rash around his throat; a reaction to Hatake’s saliva I take it?”
“Doubtful, the Hatake was mid transformation when the bite was inflicted. And as you know, yokai have toxic organic compounds in their um …’flesh,’ so what you saw was akin to a chemical burn, one which,” he glanced at Iruka’s still open collar, “healed quickly?” Both Izumo and Kotetsu nodded. “Excellent, means the numen wasn’t trying to poison him outright. Dr. Umino, have you bathed since the party?”
A quiet, self-conscious “No,” fell flat on the table.
“Then with your permission, I’ll scrape some epidermal cells for analysis--”
“Gonna feed ‘em to your little rat friends huh?”
“Bravo … you’re finally catching on Mr. Tetsu. Using those as markers, my scouts can track the numen’s movements more efficiently. I’m more concerned that traces of the Hatake’s miasma remain in your bloodstream Dr. Umino. Until I figure out an antidote, I’ll keep you supplied with ingredients for that tea. Promise to avail yourself of it?”
“Sai,” eased out as a relieved breath, “if drinking hot smelly brown water is the worst of it, I’ll do it gladly.”
“You do understand it’s a stopgap measure ... not a cure?”
“Got it and thanks. Before you backed me up, these two thought I’d lost my mind--”
“Who wouldn’t sir?”
Iruka’s smile crumpled, “Again… that’s not helpful--”
“Sorry,” he said stepping closer to the table, “the seal heralds troublesome times ahead. Placement defines purpose. The Hatake situated it above your heart, right?” Iruka nodded as Sai took a piece of paper from the pouch at his waist. “Describe it please.”
Once more, Iruka bared his chest and went into excruciating detail; his friends sat agape and agog as an exact and slightly smaller image of the seal flowed from the artist’s inkbrush.
“Hmm … a family crest, denotes ownership and protection. And these bold precise lines here, and here, bespeak authority--”
“So, I won’t be free of it until Hatake is ... destroyed.”
“Exactly. Until then, it exerts a trifold purpose. First, letting lesser gaki know you’re under the cloak of a powerful numen as well as representing a claim of your loyalty to the Hatake. Last of all, it acts as a summoning device, drawing you to the numen’s side whenever it has need of--”
“That’s damned annoying kid. Ain't ya got nothing in your bag of tricks to turn it off?”
Sai didn’t look up from his drawing. “I’ll consult my father’s writings for further guidance, but I’m certain tampering with the mark of a beast will unleash severe repercussions for Dr. Umino. One more thing … the numen’s miasma gives the Hatake access to Dr. Umino’s mind, meaning its liable to alter his thoughts and words.”
“Makes sense,” Izumo reached out, patting Iruka’s forearm, “that’s why you felt sorry for him, buddy--”
“Good job I slapped some sense into him.”
“I’d advise against that in future sir.” Sai laid down his brush with care and leaned across the table, looking Kotetsu square in the eye. “The numen considers Dr. Umino its property; repeated abuses of its property will provoke a retaliatory response.” He turned again to Iruka, “Everything comes down to the strength of your will. Any impulse contrary to what you hold true, must be actively resisted--”
“That’s all well and good when he’s awake Sai, but sleep equals vulnerability. What are we supposed to do about that?”
The young man thought for a moment. “Nothing. Mr. Zumo, the numen already has an avenue of access to his thoughts; we might be able to use that to our advantage. If we can cause Dr. Umino to recall things said and done under the Hatake’s influence--”
“Whoa! Ain't that the same as tamperin’ with him?”
“Not changing anything Mr. Tetsu, extracting information--”
“Surely you aren’t suggesting hypnosis?”
He dipped his head, sparing the trio furtive glances beneath a fan of black lashes; his response they strained to hear. “Mr. Zumo, Dr. Umino … yes, it is a pseudo-science, parlor trick at best, but it may be the only option available--”
“Lotta good that hypnotrick stuff’s gonna do once his brains get scrambled. Suppose Hatake tells him to bump us off ... then what?”
“I’m sure killing you two would be contrary to his will Mr. Tetsu--”
“Can ya guarantee that smart ass?”
The atmosphere takes a sudden spin as Izumo and Kotetsu turn menacing eyes on Sai.
“Everybody settle down,” Iruka said, “these are uncharted waters ... for all of us. Nobody is married to the idea of hypnosis, because if done incorrectly, it can lead to confabulation, which of course, would be counterproductive--”
“We'll table the idea for now. Whatcha think Tetsu … has to be a better way to go about this right?”
“No clue what the hell you’ve been talkin’ about all this time and now it matters what I think Zumo?”
“Whatever you decide Dr. Umino …the three of us, your best friends are behind you all the way.” Izumo looked aghast; Kotetsu groaned, rolling his eyes.   Sai continued while readying a different ink brush, “If you describe the amulets, I’ll sketch patterns for the monks to follow--”
“Nix! Rather have some of the ones you got kid.”
“Sir, other than my grandfather’s necklace and the carvings on my body, I have no--”
“Horseshit! Gotta be using something--”
“Tetsu, he said he doesn’t have anything else. Why can’t you just leave it at that?”
“Because it's impossible, that’s why! He told me he was doing up close and personal surveillance on Hatake--”
“You’re doing it again; mountains out of molehills--”
“Really? Hatake knows every time one of us breaks wind. So how can this guy be damn near under his nose without him knowing about it, huh Zumo?” Satisfied he’d asked the unanswerable question of the day, again he folds his arms across his chest with a loud harrumph.
“I’m sorry Mr. Tetsu, the only protection I have against the Hatake and those of its ilk lies within.” A few seconds pass as he looks askance of Iruka; permission granted, he adds, “But sir, if I were to trace my lineage in a way he’d apprehend, it would exhaust us all.”
“Do the best you can, for my sake.”
“Yes sir … for your sake." The young man took a deep breath and began, “As a seventh son of a seventh son, sundry powers are mine by birthright Mr. Tetsu.” Slowly did he push back the sleeve of his garment revealing an arm covered in welted scars. “Each time I passed a level of training, different symbols were graven into my flesh; these amplify my innate powers. My grandfather’s necklace is a focal point for my abilities, allowing them to flow through my body and into objects of my choosing, which means--”
“Gibberish.” Kotetsu waves off further explanation with a curt, “Since you act like you know what he’s talkin’ bout Zumo, translate what he just said--”
“He’s speaking Japanese, knucklehead!”
“Takes one to know one!”
“Gentlemen please, no more fighting; I have to conserve my inks. Mr. Tetsu. I’m descended from a family of mystics. Our sole purpose in this world is to hunt down and exterminate demons--”
“Thrilled for ya kid … so what?”
“My abilities allow me sense the presence of malevolent spirits, while masking my humanity from them.” The furrows in Kotetsu’s brow grew deeper as he shook his head. “Because of this, I can funnel my essence into special inks; the creatures I draw infiltrate the haunts of demons and spirits. They gather and relay information to me so that I might know how best to destroy them.” Slightly winded, Sai sags down into the chair beside Izumo, arms dangling at its sides. “Now do you understand?”
Kotetsu cocked his head, rubbing at his goatee. “You got an answer for everything, don’t ya?”
“Pay him no mind. Iruka and I will gladly show your drawing to Lady Tsunade when we see her later this morning--”
“Hang on ... we’re going to see the Governor?”
“Oh right,” gushed out with a titter, “forgot to mention I was gonna drag you there for an exam. You know,” he waved his hand in the neighborhood of Iruka’s chest, “...the whole Kampo thing? Not gonna hurt talking to her and who knows, maybe she can augment the tea’s effects with some other treatments ... no offense Sai.”
“Since you’re goin,’ take this with ya,” a small scroll fished from his pocket hits the table with a bang, rolling toward Izumo. With a jut of the chin he adds, “Kid says it's a picture of whatever dumped that dead woman on the Governor’s doorstep.”
Didn’t take long for the blue ribbon binding the scroll to fall to the floor. The trio craned their necks to see who this mystery creature was.
“We know that guy! Even better … he’s a direct link to--”
“Forget it Zumo. We show this to the Governor, along with our story of the seal and whatnot … it’s gonna look like we’re trying too hard to frame Hatake--”
“Yeah, even a knucklehead like me knows ya gotta present solid corroborating evidence.   Think you can get us some punk?”
“Short of making the Hatake transform in front of witnesses? I don’t think so.”
“Well spoken,” Iruka said as he wrapped up the scroll, “and Mr. Hagane? You’re batting a thousand this morning. I agree, for now we should keep this one close to the vest--”
“Is that a harebrained scheme I smell cookin’ Iruka?”
“Maybe. Sai, you wouldn’t happen to have floor plans of where Hatake lies in repose would you?”
“I have a few prepared sir,” he said searching through the pouch at his waist, “somewhere.”
“Alright then, here’s the plan. Tetsu takes the patterns to our friend Michio at the Temple. Zumo if you would, see what you can find out from your contact at the constabulary. I’ll meet you in the plaza in an hour. Sai … we need to speak privately.”
“There he is,” Kotetsu crowed as he stood, “decisive and to the point. That’s the Ruka I remember. I’m out gents!”
He was striding across the room when a boisterous “Not yet,” halted the exultant exit. “Give this to the monks as well please.”
“What ya got now kid?”
“Courier scroll. When the amulets are finished, the monks simply unroll it and place them inside. The parchment absorbs them and ‘whoosh,’ they’re delivered directly to Dr. Umino.”
Half expecting the darn thing to explode or grab him by the arm, Kotetsu turns about approaching the young man with comical stealth. “Bout time you come up with somethin’ that makes sense--”
“Thank you,” he smiled brightly. “And it looks like you ended up being my messenger boy after all.”
The scroll was snatched out of his hand in a blink as Kotetsu grit his teeth and stomped away.
“One of these days … gonna strangle that kid,”
they heard him say before the front door slammed shut.
Recherché
Up the stairs and down the hall of the station house he pushes him. One foot over the threshold of Ibiki’s cool quiet office and the captive is finally freed.
“Drink?”
“Little early in the day for liver picklin’ if ya ask me Biki--”
“Didn’t,” he said closing the door behind them, “gwan … sit down.”
“I think ya dislocated my shoulder, jackass--!”
“Aw quit whinin’ ... you’re fine.”
“What crawled up your butt this morning?”
Question ignored as with determined pace Ibiki crosses the room and sinks down in his chair with a groan. Once, twice, thrice, he taps on the desktop. “There you are my beauties,” he said when a bottom right hand panel slid open revealing his secret stash. From the rear of the cabinet came a clinking as he fished out a half empty whiskey bottle and its accompanying shot glass. A squeal of cork, a bouquet pungent wafts in the air as light brown liquid spills into a waiting receptacle.
“Good god! Smells like turpentine … how can you drink that stuff?”
“Years of practice.” Elbow bent, Ibiki winces in pleasured agony as the shot burns down his gullet; the glass hitting the desk with a satisfied thump.
“Okay … one and done. You gonna tell me what’s going on or what?”
"Figured you’d heard the news by now--"
"Biki … weren’t like I had time for tales over the fence this morning; believe it or don’t, I’m still tryna catch my breath from last night."
Again, he seemed to look right through his brother as a shaky hand tenderly caressed the bottle’s neck. “Yeah. Ain't been round stuff like that since the war. Helluva thing … Uchiha’s prize race horses, choice sheep from the Kokucho and Shimura estates gone missing--"
"By the gods! Hope it wasn’t them--!”
“What?”
“Three stallions,” Idate mumbles rubbing at his nape, “somethin’ tore ‘em up real bad; no choice … hadta put ‘em down. We checked for identifiers first ... weren’t none.”
Ibiki hung his head and laughed, “Can’t win for losing can I?”
Watching Ibiki pour a refill he sniped, “Don’t be so negative. No reason to drink yourself into a stupor--”
“Listen and understand why don’t ya?” Cradling his glass, Ibiki defaults to morose monotony. “When I first heard about the fire, I was sure arson was a ruse to cover theft; figured whoever had the horses set the blaze, right? Then I find out Uchiha Itachi torched the place. So I reckoned, when the horses fled the stables, they probably wound up over to your place; now I can’t prove that either.” He downed the drink in a flash. “All my theories shot to hell … can this morning get any worse?”
When he reached for the bottle yet again, Idate stretched forth his hands. “Hang on, everything ain’t lost yet. Why don’t you come up and look through what we still have?”
“Nah, paperwork needs tending. Gotta tsuya for clan Uchiha later tonight--”
“Say what now? Didn’t realize fire took out the whole clan; oh … so that’s the part of your speech I missed--”
“And here I thought you were just being your oblivious self--”
“Shush you! Know what else is strange? We had a runner from the Uchiha come fetch help round midnight. Naturally, Hana and Tsume saddled up and took off after him. They said he disappeared into thin air and they turned back after seein’ flames come over the ridge--”
“Gods preserve me,” Ibiki swiped at his eyes chuckling, “stuff’s stronger than I remember … damned if I ain’t seein’ double now.” Nevertheless, he spilt nary a drop when he poured another shot. “Reckon I oughta take a lay down soon--”
“Keep swillin’ that rotgut and it’ll lay ya down alright … idiot.”
“Seen what I saw last night, you’d be drinkin’ too … twit.”
“Fine, just … you know … don't let this situation take you down that dark path again, okay?”
“Worry too much kid--”
“Gotta say, you do look like hell Biki. Seriously …. anything I can do on my end to help ya out?”
“Yeah,” he murmured into the shot glass, “find me a serial killer before the next full moon.”
Recherché
Notes:
Tincture: trace; a smack or smattering.
Overweening: showing excessive confidence; arrogance.
Livestock: farm animals regarded as an asset; both beef and dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, mules, buffalo and camels. The raising of birds (commercially) for meat or eggs, like chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl and squabs, is treated separately.
"I swan," or "I swanee," was popular in the north of England and in many regions of the southern United States; it's a nice way of saying, "I swear."
Plowshare: cutting edge of a plow.
Expedient (archaic): beneficial; make fit or ready.
Bedlam (archaic): insane asylum or madhouse.
Kamon: Japanese heraldic symbol; family crest.
Idée fixe: an idea or desire that dominates the mind; an obsession.
Lunatic(k): the word derives from lunaticus meaning "of the moon" or "moonstruck."
Abstruse (archaic): secret or hidden.
Obtuse: annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
Lycanthrope: werewolf or alien spirit in the physical form of a bloodthirsty wolf.
Oppugner: one who assails with criticism, argument or action.
Lashed (archaic): bound or fastened with a rope, cord or the like.
Vault: a large room or chamber typically used for storage, especially an underground one.
Epidermal: the upper or outer layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin. The epidermis is made up of flat, scale-like cells (squamous cells), under the squamous layer are round cells (basal cells). The deepest part of the epidermis contains melanocytes which produce melanin, which of course, gives the skin its color.
Stultify(ing): appear stupid, foolish, or absurdly illogical.
Stopgap: a temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need.
Confabulate: fill in gaps in memory by fabrication; unconsciously replace fact with fantasy in one’s memory.
Nix: put an end to; cancel. Expressing denial or refusal when used as an exclamation.
Ilk: a type of people or things similar to those already referred to.
Titter: to laugh in a restrained, self-conscious or affected way as from nervousness.
Lineage: lineal descent from an ancestor; ancestor or pedigree. Descent in a line from a common progenitor.
Seventh son of the seventh son is a concept from folklore regarding special powers given to or held by such a son. The seventh son must come from an unbroken line with no female siblings, and in turn, be born to such a seventh son. In some beliefs, these special powers are inborn, inherited simply by virtue of birth order; in others, these powers are granted by God or the gods because of his birth order.
Gwan: go on.
Introduced into Japan as early as the 1860s, hypnotism was initially presented both as a new and important subject of modern medicine and science and as a genre of Western magic, staged in theaters in Tokyo. Kenzi Ōsau, professor of Physiology at Tokyo Imperial University, was the most famous and influential of the few medical professionals attracted to hypnotism at the time. He translated ‘hypnosis’ into Japanese as ‘Mausi’ (literally, magic sleep), publishing a book titled Masui Zyutsu (literally, skill or technique), wherein he introduced a wide range of Western theories and techniques of hypnotism that included Mesmerism. He gave special emphasis to Charcotism, describing its stages of hypnosis in detail. (Jean-Martin Charcot was a French neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology, best known today for his work on hypnosis and hysteria). Although Ōsau did mention the role of wish in the induction of hypnosis, he emphasized the neurophysiological and neuropathological nature of hypnosis rather than the psychological mechanism. Outside academia, there were also a few essentially different types of practitioners using hypnotism either as a cure or an entertainment, some of whom were clearly in favor of Mesmerism (Animal magnetism, AKA mesmerism, the name given by a German doctor, Franz Mesmer in the 18th century to what he believed to be an invisible natural force possessed by all living/animate beings, humans, animals or vegetables. He believed that the force could have physical effects, including healing. He tried and failed numerous times to achieve scientific recognition of his ideas.) In Japan, those interested in hypnotism at that time, whether academics or not, shared an interest in the scientific explanation of ancient magic, witchcraft and tricks. The general agreement was these ancient wonders were nothing but hypnotic phenomena that modern science could and should explain. But magic and witchcraft were controversial, as was the seemingly supernatural power of hypnotism.
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