Glancing down the darkness, Kiyomi felt her stomach twisting a bit. It wasn't artificial darkness that genjutsu made, but she knew it was darkness created due to the lack of light. Something that still managed to make her feel restless. Sitting on top of her mount, Kiyomi narrowed her eyes slightly.
Slowly she would dismount the creature that had carried her around. A soft sound was produced as her boots landed on the stone floor. "Ironic." She mumbled, glanced to the beast next to her. "Every time that we visit this place, you appear smaller. First in your prime... then in not even half and now..." smirking, she patted the large creature next to her, "you're adorable, do you know that?"
Kiyomi's mount glared at the letting and let out a low growl. "Just count yourself lucky I'm not at full size." Baring his fangs as Kiyomi patted him, Matatabi nipped at her half heartedly. "So little one, now that you are done mocking me, how are you feeling?"
Closing her right eye, she snickered for a moment. Only for her to grow silent as she turned her gaze back at the darkness of the cave in front of them. "Conflicted." She said, tilting her head by a bit to the left. Trying to weigh the words and hoping to phrase it right, she lowered her left hand to the hilt of the blade she carried with her. Just a safety measure, just in case she would need it. "I'm glad that we can travel a bit around. But I also... I'm fine with knowing what I've learned. It just that every time I learn something that there is some dark secret laying in wait to crush my confidence. I've had my fair share of lies and secrets..."
Snorting back a laugh, Matatabi turned his large eyes on her. "Welcome to the real world..." Biting back his harsh tone, the flaming cat sighed. "The path to enlightenment is often a treacherous one. The knowledge you seek... It wasn't meant for the faint of heart, or the weak. If you aren't ready to learn about what we came for, then we should turn back. Once we go ahead with this that choice will no longer be an option." Though his tone was gruff, it was not unkind.
Matatabi knew Kiyomi well enough to know she was no coward. He also knew that what lay ahead would test the girl in ways she might not be prepared for, and at the end of it all, he wasn't even sure if she would like what she found.
Gently nudging the girl, Matatabi's voice grew soft. "If you wish to continue, know that I am with you little one. My fire will not be extinguished."
Staring at the darkness, Kiyomi remained silent. Slowly she clenched her left hand into a fist as she listened to Matatabi. Glancing at the blue flamed creature after he nudged her, her little smile found its way back to her lips. "I want to." Kiyomi answered, starting to take steps into the cave. It seemed more than a decade ago that she had first entered the place with Team 6 and 4. And later visiting again after opening the seal and the start of her and Matatabi's friendship. "I always wondered though," she started, the volume of her voice a bit lower than before, "how things would've been if... you know," making a gesture with her right hand, she tried to explain it, "Do you think that... things would've been different if we never had met like we had?"
Staring sideways at Kiyomi, Matatabi made his best attempt at a shrug. "I can say without a doubt that things would be different. Different how, I don't know... But there are some things that never change..." Grinning, his sharp teeth on full display, Matatabi let out a slight chuckle. "For example, you'd still be the same trouble making, stubborn as all hell, tough as nails little girl. And I think you'd still have found some way to have made it to the top... It's what you're built for little one." Looking away for a moment, Matatabi pondered something. "As for me... Well, I'd likely either be stuck in some damned pot somewhere, or roaming free... That never seems to last for long though..."
"I'm sorry for that." She answered back, feeling another sting of guilt. Knowing all too well that his chance of true freedom couldn't come true unless she would sacrifice herself for it, something they both didn't want, he wouldn't be really free. Even now wasn't a real choice of freedom as neither of them could just decide to turn their back on the Empire and roam around. There was too much that she couldn't let go that. Too many that were waiting back for her at home. Stepping over a large pebble, Kiyomi lowered her head a bit. "Still, it is weird." She mumbled, sounding a bit frustrated. "All the questions are going to... be answered?" She asked him, throwing a skeptical look at Matatabi. His blue flames calmed her as they drove the natural darkness away. "Why not simply answering it yourself?" Kiyomi asked, though not that frustrated about it. At least now they were back in the open. Outside of the palace and away from any state affairs.
Shrugging again, Matatabi walked in silence for a time. While it was indeed true that he would never get true freedom as long as he was sealed inside Kiyomi, he could not say the time had been all bad. They had learned a lot from each other, even if Matatabi's pride would never let him openly admit that. "To tell the truth, I'm not sure all of your questions will be answered. I have never been to this place, but from what I have heard, it holds the largest collection of recorded data on jinchuriki and the bijuu." Grumbling as they walked, Matatabi did not like admitting that he did not know everything. It hurt his feline pride.
"I'm sorry, but I find that somehow hard to believe in a way." She replied back. The hall they were about to enter was where the battle years ago had ravaged. That had intertwined their fate, that of her and him. For some reason it was just odd to walk the side of the fearsome beast while she could remember the first time she had been frozen by the sight of the majestic blue flames. "It is just that sounds almost impossible. A large collection of recorded date on people-- on jinchuriki." Kiyomi corrected herself, knowing that she had to accept the fact. "And bijuu."
"You may be surprised little one, but there are likely many such collections out there. Not necessarily with information on jinches and us bijuu, but information lost for decades, or even longer. This world is a far larger place than you puny humans seem to think. I'm sure there are places full of information that no living person has ever seen..." Scoffing, Matatabi shook his large head, sending small blue sparks scattering. "We have been around for a long, long time; longer than any of us is really capable of remembering. When we first encountered your kind, it was only natural that they wanted to record the information. As time passed and your ancestors began to fight their petty battles, people began to grow wary about letting any one nation hold all of the information. In order to keep it safe they decided to hide it away, somewhere that they could ensure no nation would be able to hold. Time moved on, but people continued to make new discoveries, to create new records. Those too, were taken. Brought into the safety of this place... Or so they say at least...."
Listening to Matatabi, Kiyomi was fascinated by what he told her. While remaining skeptical, she couldn't argue that it was impossible. As they kept walking and leaving the large place, entering a more narrow hall, she thought about it. Lowering down her dark blue hood, she threw him a look. "But do the other beasts kno of this then? Or is this just a place where most of information about you and... those before me are stored?" It made her shiver as she found it oddly exciting. To learn more about the jinchuriki's who had traveled the same path as before her, walking towards this place. Had they done it alone? Had they been friends with Matatabi, walking side by side as they did now? It made her think of something else. "I also have .... a personal request for you. I know that it is maybe too much to ask, but," she thought for a moment about how to word it. "I need some... security. A measure to make sure that things that I and others have build remain intact. And I won't be around forever, unlike you..."
Thinking for a long moment, Matatabi turned to Kiyomi. "I believe most of them are aware of it yes. A few have even lent some information to the collection, in the odd chance they have managed to bond well with their host..." Chuckling, Matatabi padded along down the hall. Kiyomi's request made him hesitant at first, but the fiery beast set his hesitance aside. "What exactly did you have in mind...?"
Staying silent for a moment as she kept walking next to him, the young woman ran her left hand through her hair. It was unkept and not into a ponytail like usual, making the red colored hair flow on her shoulders. "Simple. I can become, what? Eighty? If I'm lucky that is. Not getting killed before hand, though I think that it would fit me more to fall in battle. All hero-like and what not." She casually said, shrugging. "But let's assume that I get old. And that... I can give birth to healthy offspring. Then that is great, correct? An heir follows me up and I think that I can watch over until my times comes. You however," her eyes moved to the side, her gaze locked on him, "you will be likely sealed in somebody else. Somebody we both chose and deem worthy... if we're lucky and all goes like this. But... what then? Will everything that my mentors have build, bleed and fought for stand? I'll try to keep it alive, but I can only do so for a limited amount of time." Pausing for a long moment again, she lowered her head and gaze a bit.
"You won't. And I know that I shouldn't ask this as a friend. But I need to as a leader." Her voice became a bit softer. "Would you mind to become the guardian of... my house?"
Stopping in his tracks, Matatabi took a long, hard look at Kiyomi. "You're serious... Aren't
you little one?"
Walking a few steps further, Kiyomi turned around. She locked her eyes with his as she nodded slowly. "Yes. I trust you. And... I don't yet trust others. If anything, you can keep an eye on any idiot or stubborn fool that can follow up." Growing silent, she slightly narrowed her eyes. "Though... there is something else I had been wondering about. And knowing that it might be answered, it is probably a good time to say so." The young woman paused for a long moment.
"After studying how your chakra works and how it affected me so far... I figure it is a possibilty to mix it. More than it already has. First however," she added in order to not upset him as it could give off the wrong idea, "cause you've told me that you've been alone most of the time. But now... I figure that if there is a possibility that I can live with you, how would you..."
A silence formed as Kiyomi made her request. Matatabi listened to her speak, all the while trying to retain control. As Kiyomi let her sentence trail off, the large cat dug his claws into the earth with such force that he could hear the crunch of the rocks below. A low snarl began building, barely noticeable at first until Matatabi bared his fangs, his fury evident. "Do you think me some lowly pet!?" The beast boomed, his flames seeming to grow larger and hotter. The air around them became thick with killing intent as Matatabi's anger overwhelmed him. "The arrogance!" he spat, "What makes you think I want to be tethered to... To some human for the rest of my life!?" Shaking his large head in contempt, Matatabi looked away.
Narrowing her eyes, the bright jade color started to darken as she let him speak. "Seems you can't read me yet, furball!" She sneered back. Clenching her hands into fists, she wanted to stomp on the ground and yell back what she meant and for what purposes. But she knew why he reacted like that and throwing a tantrum would only push them away from each other. "But fine! If you, of all things, view me as a simple human, I'll live with that." Raising her chin, she became silent. Turning on her heels, she would start to walk into the darkness. Giving into her own stubborn pride, she was glad with that he could only see her back and not that her face turned a bit pale as she headed into the darkness.
Growling again as Kiyomi responded, Matatabi wanted to shout, to launch a fireball, to do something to get rid of the rage. Slowly, he retracted his claws, pulling them from the earth. Allowing Kiyomi to walk ahead, Matatabi stayed behind to try and calm himself. He hadn't snapped at her like than in a long time... Shaking his head, the flaming cat had too much pride to apologize. As he began walking again, Matatabi allowed himself to think about what the girl had been asking. It was preposterous! Brazen! Foolhardy! And... touching... Just the sort of thing he should have expected from her.
It did not take the large cat long to catch up, and he walked alongside Kiyomi in silence. Finally, Matatabi scoffed. "You don't truly know what you're asking child."
Stubbornly, Kiyomi kept her gaze in front of them. She was a bit calmer with the blue flames lightening the surroundings, driving the pitch black darkness away, "I'm not a child." She retorted with a proud tone. "And I know damn well what I'm asking." Kiyomi added to her reply, wanting to say something else. But again, she didn't want to offend him or hurt his pride.
"Hmpf." Matatabi muttered, still looking ahead. "You're too damned stubborn for your own good." Dropping the subject for the time being, Matatabi continued walking in silence. He let his flames shine a little brighter, making the way ahead a little easier to see.
For a second, Kiyomi threw a look at Matatabi. Raising her chin a bit up as she turned her head back front again, she replied back. "It is what I am. Or using the words of somebody else, what I'm made off." She told him. Sqeeuzing her eyes, she noticed that by the sound that they were walking into a very spacious hall. Slowling down, she noticed something that made her come to a halt. Seeing a wall of the pitch black darkness rising up, it was evidently clear that it was a cliff. Only a narrow bridge.
"Maybe... we should look for another way? Around this..." Kiyomi suggested, feeling her stomach turning by the idea to walk over the narrow earth bridge of what she imagined to be a pit of her worst nightmare.
Coming to a stop, Matatabi's eyes narrowed. He wasn't all that fond of trying to crawl across a tiny bridge either... "I suppose we could look around. This is a large cave however. How long would you like us to wander in the dark?"
Biting her lower lip, she didn't like it. Neither to turn back and give into the sarcastic reply of Matatabi nor to admit that she was afraid. Taking a deep breath in, she stared at the bridge. For a moment she considered to summon Hayate. Remembering how he had managed to calm her, she knew better. She had to do this without him and it terrified her to her core. Taking a stop closer, Kiyomi focused on her stepping. Step by step, she silently moved towards the bridge. In the corner of her eyes she could see over the edge, into the dark pit that never seemed to end. Freezing, she stared for a moment at it. ".... Just one second." She mumbled, trying to muster her courage to start walking over the bridge.
Letting out a low grumble, Matatabi surged forward. "Second's up!" he said, before grabbing Kiyomi - by the back of her shirt - in his teeth and running along the narrow bridge. Matatabi was quite thankful for his good sense of balance as he tore along the thin strip of earth, Kiyomi hanging from his jaws.
Her eyes widened as she felt how he picked her up - as if she was some young kitten that needed to calm down or to be brought away- causing her to whimper softly. Closing her eyes, Kiyomi pulled her legs a bit up as she didn't want to see or experience more of the run over the bridge.
Matatabi, didn't stop running until he could make out solid ground all around them. Skidding to a stop, the large flaming cat paused to catch his breath. Remembering the girl still caught in his teeth, Matatabi gently lowered her to the ground and released her. "Well... That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
Shivering, Kiyomi remained silent for a moment. Being sure that she was sitting on solid ground, she opened her eyes slowly. Taking a deep breath in, she huffed as she threw a look over her shoulder at Matatabi. "I... I..." Getting up, she muttered some curses as she dusted off her clothes. "Don't do that again! That was.... no! No!" Throwing another glare at him, she frowned as she would turn around again.
Chuckling, Matatabi surveyed the area around them. It was too large for him to see the edges of the cavern they were in, but Matatabi was glad at least that he could see solid ground for quite a ways around them. "What?" The beast asked, grinning. "You were taking too long."
"For a damn good reason!" She retorted, but decided to not dwell longer on it. "Let's just continue. I dislike this... darkness." She said. Feeling tempted to spit a fireball to illuminate the way ahead briefly, Kiyom decided against it. "Let's hope that there on't be anymore bridges like these." Shivering again, Kiyomi started to walk again.
Matatabi scoffed before trotting along after Kiyomi. "This place likely has a lot of nasty things in store, so you'd better get used to it now..." The fiery cat stared ahead, pondering something.
Hearing his warning, Kiyomi wanted to scoff. She had faced nothing but nasty and terrible things and people. However, she had been frozen in fear for a second for something that she couldn't defeat, just not even ten minutes ago. "I'm okay, I'm okay." Kiyomi muttered back. Walking next to Matatabi, she wished that there was some piece of wood. Then she could've a torch. "As long as we don't have to cross another narrow bridge like that, I can handle it... I hope."
"Be strong little one." Matatabi said gently. His flames were not doing as much as they should to brighten the area ahead, and Matatabi's eyes narrowed slightly. His feline eyes were supposed to be better in the dark than most, but even to him the way ahead remained out of sight. It felt almost unnatural and Matatabi let out a small growl.
"Thanks." She said back with a soft tone. While she would've joked back that he was the little one now, even while his shoulders reached the height of her head at the moment in his current summoning size, Kiyomi focused on the task ahead. Silently they would continue until they stood for a wall. Inscriptions of some weird symbols were plastered over a carved circle, giving it the idea of a door. "You've been here before, haven't you?" She asked, staring at the symbols. They had the weird shape of animals, only realizing a second later that there was a thin circled line. "How about you solve this puzzle so that we can continue then?" Kiyomi asked in a cheerful manner.
Narrowing his eyes again, Matatabi stared down at Kiyomi. "I said I hadn't been here before." he grumbled, pouting. "What makes you think I know how to solve this stupid puzzle?"
Throwing a frustrated look back, she gestured to the circles of the puzzle door. "Because it looks old and dusty! And you're old too... next to.. pfffttt." Huffing, she turned back to the door. There were a few symbols. In the middle was a inscription of a blue flame. But what had a child, feline and turtle to do with it? Next to a dragon, which remembered her of Hayate. Frowning, she scratched the side of her head. "A flame... It could refer to you, can it?" She asked, throwing a glance sideways, but continued to think out loud again. "A child..... child. Ah, jinchuriki. Seeing that an adult can't be made a jinchuriki, it is thus the sign of a jinchuriki. Eeehhhh, feline..."
Growling, his pride wounded by being called old, Matatabi had turned away from the puzzle. As Kiyomi begin describing the symbols, however, curiosity got the better of him and he turned back to look. "The feline is obviously me. And that turtle must be Isobu, the three-tails as your people call him."
"Is-o-bu." Kiyomi repeated. She thought about his words. "But that is weird." She then exclaimed, gesturing to the child. "The child is what we can say the jinchuriki. A suitable vessel for holding a tailed beast. Bijuu chakra that leaks through the seal changes the host and we already figured out long time ago that the young body of a child easier adapts to it than an adult." Growing silent again, she was thinking about it. Staring at the blue flame, she couldn't get it. If Matatabi was the cat symbol, then why was Isobu there? If anything, she would figure it made more sense for Kurama - the Nine Tails - to be there as it seemed that the two were opposites. Narrowing her eyes, she gained a thought. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but turtles are slow and patient, right? A feline is nimble and fast. That means that you two are somewhat opposites." But still, where were the other tailed beasts? Staring at the dragon, that also made no sense. "A dragon is in many tales a benevolent guide... spiritual." Letting out a frustrated sigh, she wished that she could use resort to violence. Way easier. "Blue Flame... blue flame... Chakra is often shown as blue when it is pure. Eehhhm..." Glancing at Matatabi, she frowned again. The blue flame wasn't thus a reference to Matatabi. But to chakra itself. Which was the center. Then her eyes widened as she turned back to the puzzle. "I got it! Hang on!"
Approachign the puzzle, Kiyomi placed her hands at the circles and started to shift and turn them. Moving the child underneath the blue flame, she grinned. "The child is the body, the vessel for the chakra." Starting to move the dragon symbol. "The dragon is often a spiritual guide. Spiritual, thus the conscience of the vessel!" Starting to move the turtle underneath the dragon, Kiyomi's smile grew. "A turtle is a patient creature. It doesn't rush things and in order for the host to be able to conjure the chakra they will need it. Rushing teachings in order to learn how to mould and use chakra will only lead to damage and pain!" While she talked, she was already moving the feline symbol underneath the turtle, shifting the circles. "Once everything is in place, an experienced user can be as nimble as fast as a feline... Well, I think don't really prhase that one --"
The wall started to tremble as Kiyomi took a few steps back. Slowly the puzzle door would slide to the right. Proud of her wit, Kiyomi placed her fists on her hips as she stare at Matatabi. With a wide smile, she kept staring at him, waiting for the desired compliment.
"Hmpf," Matatabi grunted, "Got lucky." Turning before his smile could give him away, the large cat walked through the newly created door. As they entered the new room, the door would close behind them, trapping them in this new chamber. Letting out a low growl, Matatabi's fire grew, brightening the new room slightly. Making his way over towards the far wall, the flaming feline could make out more symbols on this wall. "You humans and your damned puzzles," he grumbled, edging his way closer. There were three circular seals on the wall, surrounded by more strange symbols. The seals appeared to be etched deep into the wall, and were very intricately detailed. The smallest circle was on the lower left, running parallel with a slightly larger s circle on the right. The two lower seals were joined by lines to the largest seal above.
Matatabi sat on the stone floor, his eyes perusing the strange symbols that surrounded the seals. "Interesting..." he muttered, more to himself than anything.
A flicker of lightning traveled to the ground as Kiyomi glanced over her shoulder. But staying calm, which was hard as her heart skipped beats, she found some comfort in the light of Matatabi's fire. Walking with him to the next puzzle, a smirk found its way to her lips as she placed a hand on her hip. Staring at the symbols, the smirk however started to vanish. They weren't anything that seemed familiar to her and had something to them. Trying to figure out if they were some kanji or describing something as the previous puzzle, Kiyomi couldn't make anything out of it. Her frustration only grew as Matatabi muttered, making her glance at him. Raising her free right hand towards the next puzzle door, she spoke up. "Frustrating you mean? What is that for gibberish?"
"That gibberish as you call it, is from an ancient language..." Responding to Kiyomi, Matatabi never took his eyes off the symbols. He had not seen anything like them in a long time... A very, very long time. "It's another bloody puzzle that's for sure, and the symbols here are... describing it." Gesturing towards the wall with one large paw, Matatabi began reading from the top. "The symbols above the largest seal, up above there, they mean..." Trying to find the proper words to translate it, Matatabi paused. "Only one of two lives may enter. The path shall be opened by the joining of both flames."
Frowning, Matatabi hoped he had translated correctly. Looking back at Kiyomi, he added, "The smaller seals, the ones down below here, they also say something." Squinting his eyes, he read the left one first. "The seal must be filled with the fire of the heart..." Shifting his eyes over, Matatabi read the right one. "The seal must be filled with the fire of the spirit..."
Listening to him, Kiyomi titled her head by a bit. An ancient language? Wondering if there was anybody else who could decypher them, she remained silent as Matatabi started to translate them. Slightly frowning, she thought about it. "One of two lives may enter... Joining both flames.." Trying to think about it, Kiyomi frown vanished. It was obvious that it was about jinchuriki's. That was why they were here. But yet, how could they solve it? She glanced back at Matatabi. It sounded to her that she had to go into tailed beast mode. Something that she couldn't. Her body nor her control over it were anywhere near that she could even maintain control over the tailed beast cloak, version 2. Feeling disappointed with her own short comings, she stared at the puzzle again. "Fire of the spirit? We saw that they described chakra as a blue flame on the previous puzzle. But.... how do we even solve this? We can't shift the symbols or do much about this puzzle." She stated, her frustration ringing through her tone.
Grinning, Matatabi turned back to the girl. "My first thought was just to spit a large fireball, buuut... You are correct." Sighing, Matatabi stared at the puzzle thinking. "If they really do mean fire as in chakra, then this makes more sense. Think, fire of the heart, fire of the spirit?" His eyes shining as he figured it out, Matatabi glanced down at Kiyomi. "We need to fill it with chakra. Some from both of us. One of two lives, joining the flames." Cocking his head to the side, Matatabi thought of something and frowned. "Only thing I'm not sure of is who puts their chakra where..."
Pouting, the large cat absently scratched himself behind the ear. "Fire of the heart... that could mean... Maybe they mean of the body? If that's the case, then they must mean you! You are the body, and I am the spirit." Nodding his head, Matatabi grinned. Reaching up, he placed a paw against the larger seal on the right. "Come, put your hand on the left there. Once you do, start flowing your chakra into the seal. If I'm right, it should do the rest." As he spoke, Matatabi began leaking a little chakra, allowing it to be absorbed by the seal.
Hesistant, she decided to fall in with his plan. Placing her hand, which seemed so small compared to the paw of Matatabi, underneath his. Starting to pour some chakra through her arm towards the palm of her hand, her eyes glanced to spot any differences. Any signal of movement, but it remained silent as the wall didn't seem to move away. Just as Kiyomi opened her mouth, the wall started to tremble, moving slowly backwards and shifting to the left. Lowering her hand, she grinned as she raised her hand again. "Go Team Blue!"
Smirking, Matatabi shook his large head and wandered into the next room. Glancing over his shoulder towards Kiyomi, he spoke. "So..do you actually think we'll get anywhere... Or do you think they've just designed this horrid maze of puzzles just to trap us down here forever?"
Lowering her hand, she huffed, but quickly darted towards Matatabi's side to walk next to him again. Hearing his question, she thought about it. "I'm not sure." Thinking out loud, she shrugged. "I---" Halting for a moment, they would be able to feel the ground tremble as the last puzzled door moved back in place. "I think that who ever designed this place surely made one thing clear." She said, looking over her shoulder. "Once in, there is no clear out." Turning her gaze back in front of her, she paused. "Though I must add that I like this. You know, us solving puzzles together. Working together."
Grumbling at the thought of being stuck here for eternity, Matatabi marvelled at the irony. As Kiyomi commented about enjoying herself, Matatabi snorted. "I suppose there could be worse things." Glancing down at the girl, he couldn't help but smile. "You really are a crazy one, you know that?"
"I can't help it!" She said, winking at him as she spread her arms a bit. "If I wasn't crazy, would we be here? Or then I would've never been in a lot of adventures or troubles before." Though she wanted to continue, Kiyomi grew silent as she also came to a halt. Feeling some vibrations moving through the ground, she looked around them. The darkness however didn't reveal what was the cause of the trembling. Her right hand shot towards the handle of her sword, as she narrowed her eyes. "You know what I really don't like?" She asked, half turning as she didn't want to be flanked. "Surprises in the dark..."
"You and me both." Matatabi growled as he felt the vibrations. Trying to determine the source of the vibrations, Matatabi closed his eyes. Turning, he opened them again. "There!"
The vibrations grew louder and it was evident that something large was coming their way.
Turning around, Kiyomi already dropped into a stance. Only for her eyes to widen as they could see their foe. A silence passed as a huge panda, made of granite was staring with its stone eyes at them. The cracking sound of granite moving sounded as the jaw of the panda opened. "Why is it never something.... easy..." Kiyomi muttered, noticing however some movement at their right. The right arm of the statue moved down into a sweep, trying to smack them away.
Jumping backwards, Kiyomi narrowed her eyes. "What is that?!"
Snarling, Matatabi spat out a stream of blue fire towards the towering statue. As the flames washed off the massive being, Matatabi was disturbed to see the thing lurch forwards, unscathed. Backing up, Matatabi continued growling. "It would appear to be a giant fucking stone panda." He said, wondering why his fire had had no effect.
Skidding into the dark, Kiyomi muttered a curse. Letting lightning course through the blade of her sword, she made some light around herself. Not as efficient as Matatabi's, but it was something. Frowning, she noticed that the devestating blue inferno didn't even fazed their enemy, Kiyomi frowned. "Yeah, I see that too!" She called back, trying to rush forward as she wanted to try to attack it with her lightning. It seemed that the attention of the statue was fixed on Matatabi, giving her room to move in with a hack to slice through the right leg of the panda.
A loud thud rang and Kiyomi's eyes widened as she felt the heavy vibrations moving through her arms. "Son of...." Muttering the curse, she noticed that not even a crack was made as the lightning didn't even seem to touch the granite.
"Did you not see how ineffective my flames were!?" Matatabi called out, trying to dodge the giant panda as it swung a massive stone paw towards him. Leaping back, the flaming cat hissed, his flames growing even hotter. "How the hell are we supposed to hurt this thing?" The creature lumbered, off balance as its swing missed Matatabi. Shifting its leg, the panda tried to strike Kiyomi now.
Quickly moving backwards, back into the darkness, Kiyomi felt the gust as the leg moved. Barely in time had she managed to avoid getting kick away as a pebble from the stone creature. Skidding to a halt, Kiyomi frowned. "Hell, do I know!" She shouted back. Quickly analyzing how her attack had went, Kiyomi realized something. It was almost the same thing as before. "Shit!" Realizing what it meant, she stared at the big shadow, trying to beat Matatabi.
Focusing, she would send him a message over their bond. "He can absorb chakra. Let's try to outrun it." Already starting to turn around, Kiyomi made more chakra flow through the sword to increase the light around her. Starting to run, she could feel her heart skipping beats as she hoped that they could find some place to escape the big stone panda statue.
Receiving the message, Matatabi glanced around trying to see where Kiyomi had run to. His eyes could just barely pick out the slight glimmer of light in the distance and he bounded towards it. Matatabi was forced to dodge in between the legs of the massive panda as it swept its arms in another attack. Feeling the air pass over him as the panda's attack missed, Matatabi pushed himself faster. He caught up with Kiyomi after a short sprint and glanced at the girl.
"Need a lift?"
"Hell yeah!" She said as she sheathed her sword. Glancing over her shoulder, she could both hear and feel the statue giving chase. With a quick sprint, she moved with a fluid movement on the back of Matatabi. Leaning forward, a wicked grin appeared on her lips again.
Running as fast as he could, Matatabi tried to gain some distance from the panda. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see nothing, but he could still feel the vibrations as the behemoth lumbered towards them. "So where are we going???"
"Do it look like I have a map of this place?" Kiyomi frowned as she tried to think of a solution. While it seemed that they were in a big hall, she was sure that it wouldn't go on like this. There had to be a way out of it. It had after all taken a bit before they had been attacked by the statue. Trying to think of something, Kiyomi gained an idea. "Keep it going, I will make some beacons!" Straightening her back, she started to weave handsignals as she took in a deep breath.
Shaking his large head, Matatabi did as commanded, surging forwards. "Hope you're right about this little one." Briefly a smirk plastered over Kiyomi's lips as she would then narrowed her eyes to slits. Spitting out a small ball of fire, the blue fire would lighten up the area in front of them. A wall, thus a dead end. Focusing on keeping the chakra moulded, Kiyomi would turn her head left and spit another blue flaming ball. As it soared through the air, it would reveal that the way wasn't blocked by a wall.
Getting the hint, Matatabi turned sharply to the left. "What happens when we find that we're blocked in on all sides?" He could hear the panda getting closer now, and it was obvious the thing had somehow seen them turn. "I'd say we should turn and fight this thing, but if it can absorb our attacks, then I have no idea how to hit it!"
"Then fighting it wouldn't help! He will crush us as soon as we're tired out!" Kiyomi answered back over their telepathic bond. Focusing on her task, she would spit another small of blue fire over. Then she saw it. As the ball of fire would move through the air, towards a wall, she could see an opening. It was thus like a maze! "Let's try to shake him off!"
Eyeing the opening, Matatabi put on a fresh burst of speed. The stone panda was gaining ground on them and Matatabi could feel the growing presence behind them. Almost there...
Leaping forward, Matatabi and Kiyomi sailed through the opening just in time to hear something crash into it from behind. Slowing, Matatabi looked back. They were safe. For now...
"Heh." She had leaned forward, making herself small on the back of Matatabi as well holding on - attaching chakra to her hands and body to remain on top and not fall off easily. Looking at the stone panda statue, trying to wringle his way through the opening, Kiyomi grinned. "And you wanted to fight that? And who is crazy now, huh?"
Scoffing Matatabi shook his head and turned back. "What now? ." She pointed to the darkness, away from the ever moving statue that seemed to bent on crushing them. "We need to move on. Unless you feel the need to be crushed by that statue." Kiyomi answered with a cheeky tone.
"Hmpf," was all Matatabi said. Making their way further ahead, the pair certainly looked like an odd one. The hall that they found themselves in was far narrower than the prior ones, and Matatabi felt slightly uncomfortable. "It's strange to think of people creating things like this... You humans can certainly be too clever for your own good."
She felt the need to correct him when he said 'you humans', but decided against it. "I think it was largely our own fault. We poured chakra in the previous puzzle. It took a bit, unlike that other door, didn't it? Perhaps we activated it somehow and due to fighting back for a bit, kept it activated." Kiyomi suggested as she stayed on his back. More relaxing than walking. Glancing around, she took the surrounding in. "I wonder what is awaiting us next."
Grunting, Matatabi was too proud to ever admit he'd had something to do with it. Opening his mout to respond, a sudden tremowarlock end through the earth around them. "You just had to ask!" The hall began shaking, loose bits of earth falling from the ceiling. With a snarl, Matatabi began sprinting again, hoping to make it through the long hall before it collapsed, or worse... "Hold on!"
Her eyes widened as the surprises didn't seem to end. Narrowing her eyes as she leaned forward again, while Matatabi was rushing through the hall, she tried to think of something clever. Opening her left hand, lightning started to crackle. Cursing mentally, she knew that she was already at half of her reserve due to she hadn't yet recovered from summoning Matatabi in the current form he was at. Looking up, she would lash the lightning out to dispatch of a rock. "Best... place... ever!" She muttered.
"Hmpf." Matatabi agreed, charging towards the end of the long corridor. The dark hallway seemed to go on forever and Matatabi groaned. "Remind me why I let you drag me down here again?"
"Because," she paused as she would lash out her lightning again, crushing another falling rock that would block their way, "we're crazy! Hahahahahaha!" Starting to laugh, Kiyomi dismissed her lightning. Knowing that she would need to be on the safe side, she decided to trust more on his speed and skill on getting them out of the hall.
Chuckling despite the situation, Matatabi renewed his focus on the path ahead. Leaping over a chunk of collapsed roof, he twisted to avoid being crushed by another piece as it fell. Running as fast as he could while still keeping Kiyomi on his back, Matatabi saw something that gave him a surge of energy. "There's the end!" He called, sprinting towards it.
"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
Enjoying the speed, Kiyomi did keep herself leaned forward and making sure that she wouldn't drop off. A few tears rolled over her cheek, but she was beaming as she enjoyed the sprint as well the rush of adrenaline rushing through her body. Something she had missed for quite some time.
Shaking his head as he heard the girl's shout for joy, Matatabi dashed through the door at the end of the hall, only to come skidding to a stop as they nearly crashed into another wall. His claws digging into the earth, Matatabi gritted his teeth and prepared for the impact... But it never came. Retracting his claws, the large cat looked around, breathing heavily.
"Eeeeeh...... Hey, Mata-sama."
Straightening her back, Kiyomi looked over her shoulder. Her smile had vanished as she stared at the direction they had came from. "I think... we have been a bit... fooled." She stated, seeing that the hall was undamaged.
Turning, Matatabi cursed. "Damn this place..." he muttered. Looking around the small room they found themselves in, Matatabi tried to see a way out. "See anything to help us get out of here?"
Looking around as well, Kiyomi frowned. It was a dead end? Staying silent, her eyes slowly moved up. "Fancy a climb?" She asked as she noticed that they couldn't see the ceiling in the room. Glancing up, Matatabi cursed again. "I suppose we don't have much choice, huh?"
Grumbling, the large feline gathered chakra at his feet and began the climb. Taking his time, wary of anymore tricks, Matatabi slowly made his way up the wall. "If this thing ends in a dead end as well, I'm going to be one very unhappy cat."
"Why? This is amazing! Solving puzzles, escaping certain big statues and deaths!" Kiyomi replied as she held on to the flaming cat. It briefly amazed her again that she could touch it without feeling any negative effect. Knowing it was due to their bond and chakra, but it briefly came up again. "Maybe we get another puzzle to solve. That would be fun."
Letting out a loud groan, Matatabi continued to climb. After what seemed like hours, they reached the top, and Matatabi was relieved to see that there was, in fact, an opening. "Finally..." The large cat muttered. Pulling himself up to the lip, he glanced over it cautiously. As his eyes peered over the edge, he felt a sudden sense of intense vertigo. A feeling that was entirely unfamiliar to him. Gravity seemed to have shifted so that now they were looking down the other hallway, instead of it being straight on. "Sonofa..."
"Fun!" Kiyomi mumbled, though catching on that Matatabi was getting sick of the puzzles and surprises. "C'mon Mata-sama! Let's explore further." She hoped to motivate him a bit with the 'cheering' as she beamed. "Perhaps we're close to the information we're looking for!"
Climbing over the lip with great hesitance, Matatabi tried to convince himself that this was just a trick. There was no way the hallway could be straight down. Closing his eyes, the big cat let his feelings guide him farther than his eyes. As he landed on solid ground, gravity seemed to go back to normal. Taking a deep breath, Matatabi opened his eyes. The hallway was normal, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "We'd better be close..." he muttered, moving forwards again.
"But it is fun." She said, hoping that it would take a bit before they would get really close. Technically she had a blast already at the moment. Though she couldn't detect any possible hints for any other surprises that they had encountered so far. Wondering in silence, Kiyomi stayed on the back of Matatabi as they kept walking down the hall. Noticing some more of the strange symbols at the wall, she couldn't make anything out of it. Deciding that she would later try to see if she could find anything about them or ask Matatabi to help her learn on how to read them, she noticed that the hall was slowly narrowing down to an opening. Some sort of sentence was made in the ancient language, causing Kiyomi to pat Matatabi's shoulder. "What does it say?"
As they walked, Matatabi found himself looking around at the ancient texts. He hoped that the information inside wasn't all going to be in this ancient language, if that were the case, then he was gonna have to do all the work for Kiyomi. Sighing, Matatabi trudged along. When Kiyomi pointed out the saying on the wall, the fiery cat frowned. "It's a warning." he said finally. "Would you like me to read it?"
"A warning?" Wasn't the stone guardian panda and the puzzles not enough of a warning? Not to mention that the second door made it sort of only accesible for jinchuriki to get through. "What does it say?" She asked, deciding to get off his back. Landing gracefully on her feet, she raised her eyes up to stare at the ancient text.
Stretching himself out as Kiyomi dropped down, Matatabi grumbled. "All of those things were warning enough that we shouldn't enter, but as I told you in the beginning, it gets harder as it goes." Sitting down, Matatabi began to read. "Heed this warning, those who would enter. Below you lies that which you seek, but only the worthy can reap its fruit. From one comes two, as those before. Beyond this lies the final door."
Thinking about the warning, Kiyomi thought about what they were warned for. "Below lies that what which you seek, but only the worthy can reap the fruit?" She repeated. Not making any movements to go further, Kiyomi thought about it. The following was also confusing as from one comes two. Was that a reference to a jinchuriki and a tailed beast? Or perhaps it was refering to something else? Feeling wary, Kiyomi felt a bit initmidated by the words. Taking a step almost back, she considered what they had experienced together. There was no way to turn just back, but was it worth? Glancing at Matatabi, she bite her lower lip. Only to grow angry on herself.
"Psh!"
Taking a few steps forward to stand in the opening, she looked around with a stern expression.
"Worthy or not, I'll make them heed me. Old ancient geezers can kiss my boots! Let's go!"
Though feeling her stomach for a moment twisting as she stepped into the darkness, Kiyomi didn't want to turn around. Remembering what she had told people before that progress as moving forwards, she didn't want to turn around just because she was a bit afraid of what could be awaiting for her.
Grinning as the girl put on a brave face, Matatabi followed close behind. "It is likely that the people who created all this, that they wanted to protect it, and make sure the information didn't fall into the wrong hands. I doubt they would truly mean to threaten those with pure intentions, though... You can never be too certain..."
Waiting till Matatabi was also in the other room, Kiyomi absently nodded. She understood the meaning of such a warning, but the specific details were lost on her. She couldn't lay a finger on what they meant for who it was a warning. For the beast? For the jinchuriki? For both?
Deciding to just see what the last puzzle would be, Kiyomi glanced around. The darkness was pushed back by the light of the blue flames of Matatabi. "Now, just the last test.." Starting to walk, Kiyomi kept paying a close watch of her surroundings.
Keeping close to Kiyomi, Matatabi's eyes searched their surroundings. He had no clue what lay ahead, but Matatabi felt confident they would get through. They were beast and host, combined they were the right mix, and exactly what this place had been designed for... Or, at least so it was said. Glancing back at Kiyomi, Matatabi hoped she would find the answers she was looking for. And he hoped that they were what she was hoping for as well...
In silence they walked down further. It was a long walk and for a moment Kiyomi felt the need to jog, run or do something to get her blood pumping again. Slowly the light of Matatabi's flames would show that they stumbled upon another puzzle. One that made her feel her courage drop. It was as the narrow bridge, but this time there wasn't a bridge. There was nothing but a pit of darkness in front of them. "Wolves... no." Whimpering, Kiyomi felt more defeated as she tried to look around for any possible hint. Spotting none, she moved her hands to the side of her head. "There has to be something...." Muttering the words, she wasn't even sure anymore what to think of the scenario. The feeling that they were just one step away from the information and possible way to get out of the mess they were currently in and yet further away before they had even started.
Frowning, Matatabi walked up to the edge of the abyss. Gathering some chakra, he spat out a medium sized fireball, just enough to try and see. Launching it forwards, he had arced it so it would drop. As the light moved, he could make out what appeared to be a wall on the far side of the pit, and then the ball dropped. Watching the fireball plummet, Matatabi waited for it to hit the bottom. Only, it never did... "Great..."
Watching the blue fire, Kiyomi slowly dropped on her knees. Staring as the fireball that vanished out of sight, devoured by the abyss itself, she became silent. There they were.
Trapped in some maze and unable to continue on. The answers that she was craving for, wanting to know if she could live in some aspects the same as any other, seemed to be nothing more than a fantasy. A scary trail she had to figure out herself if they ever would get out of here. Thinking about the warning, Kiyomi wanted to rise up and scold those who had made this place. Just sneering and shouting against the abyss and everything else. But she remained silent, staring at the black pit.
Glancing over at Kiyomi, Matatabi sighed. "Get on my back child." Glancing up, Kiyomi stared at Matatabi. Placing a hand at the ground, Kiyomi would push herself up. Words weren't needed as she gained a smile. Though there wasn't any joy in it, she seemed even a bit tired.
"Heh." Getting on his back, she would place her hands on his shoulder and made sure she wouldn't fall off easy. "You know... this remember me what he once told me." Kiyomi softly said as she mustered her courage.
Adjusting to the weight of the girl, Matatabi glanced back at her over his shoulder. "It better have been to hold on tight." Grinning, Matatabi took one more step and jumped. Pressing her body against his back, she tightly closed her eyes as she could feel that they were falling through the air. Though she felt her heart wildly skipping beats again, she wasn't that happy about it. "Hey Mata-sama..."
Feeling the air fly past them, Matatabi was beginning to wonder if this had been a good idea. Hearing the soft voice behind him, he turned his head. "Yes, little one?"
"T-Tha--"
Feeling some weird sensation moving over her skin, Kiyomi's eyes shot open. The air that rushed around them before seemed to fade a bit away, meaning that they weren't falling as hard as they were before. Quickly looking around, they seemed to be stuck in the abyss itself.
Wondering if it was genjutsu, like before, she quickly made the kai handsignal. But much to her surprise, it seemed to be of no effect. "This is odd..." She mumbled, waving with her left arm in order to see if she could feel the weird sensation of before again.
Matatabi's ears perked up at the sensation when they slowed. Confusion filled the beast and he glanced around wondering if he could see anything that would explain it. He could still see noting but the black abyss and was about to respond to Kiyomi when he felt the same sensation again. "What the... Ooof!" Landing suddenly, Matatabi's legs buckled slightly at the unexpected stop.
Freezing, Kiyomi wondered how they had hit rock bottom without any grave result. Knowing from study that cats were able to fall from big lengths and with the current size that Matatabi could fall from a high height, it was however weird. As she looked around, she couldn't see anything else but the darkness of the abyss. Not wanting to move from the beast back, Kiyomi licked her lips. "Didn't the warning say that the answers were below?" Kiyomi tried to joke, unsure where they should go now.
Groaning, more at the discomfort of stopping without warning than actual pain, Matatabi glanced over his shoulder. "Would be nice if those answers weren't just eternal darkness." The large cat muttered. Moving one paw forward gingerly, Matatabi tested the area in front of him. Still solid. Must be some sort of barrier."" he padding padding the area around them.
"Or we're dead?" Kiyomi half joked as she looked around them. Deciding to test something, she would grab four shuriken. Imbueing them with lightning to make them give some light, Kiyomi threw one towards their right. A thud could be heard as the invisble barrier bounced the shuriken and made it slide into the darkness. Patiently waiting, she memorized the path of the weapon. "Second try...." Throwing the next with more force, the shuriken would slide longer over the barrier towards the wall. "Hmmmm. Would you be so kind?" She asked.
With a wicked grin Matatabi inhaled deeply. His entire body would seem to grow warmer and glow brighter for a moment until he released a huge fireball into the blackness. As the flames traveled, they lit up the world around them. "Happy?" he asked.
Squinting her eyes against the bright light, Kiyomi thought she had seen something. "Not really, okay, turn.... right and keep on walking straight." Kiyomi instructed Matatabi. She was half scared that they would fall to their doom as soon as he would take a step, but if the invisible barrier was truly underneath them...
Sighing, Matatabi had hoped his fire would have had more effect. Muttering to himself, the big cat shifted and begin walking in the direction Kiyomi had suggested. He walked for a time before the feeling became strange. The ground under his feet had become... Normal again. He could feel the cool earth and it was a comfort in comparison to the invisible barrier.
"Now," Kiyomi cheerfuly spoke, "am I happy!" She exclaimed as she would hop off his back. Feeling the solid ground underneath her, she let out a sigh. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see the eternal dark abyss staring back at them. "I doubt we can simply move back up again. I.... felt something before we stopped falling." Kiyomi said, on a soft tone as she would look back in front again. Only way to go was forwards...
Nodding solemnly, Matatabi had felt it too. "It would be nice if they had some bloody lights down here..." he whined, walking next to Kiyomi. Continuing along their path, Matatabi got a strange feeling and it caused his flames to briefly flare up. "I wonder if anyone's still down here..."
"One way to find that out." She replied. Walking in silence next to Matatabi, it became noticable that the hall was slowly narrowing. Already suspecting another surprise or puzzle, they would see a door. This time made of what seemed to be wood. ".... Hey, Mata-sama." Kiyomi said, halting as she kept some distance from the door. "How long do you think it has been that somebody was here?"
Cocking his head to the side as they stopped, Matatabi pondered. "From what I had heard, this was not usually a place where anyone would stay for long. Most would come in search of something specific and leave once they found it. Some would come to browse the library of information. It's hard to say though..." Glancing at Kiyomi, he shrugged. "I doubt anyone has been here for a long time though. Most jinchuriki are still very young, and it would have been decades since any of the prior ones may have journeyed here. I suppose it is possible that some one could have come to simply leave some new data, but even then... "
Glancing towards Matatabi, Kiyomi thought about it. Deciding to take a few steps forward, her right hand slowly moved to the door handle. The wood seemed just new, but how? If it was decades ago and nobody there to take care of it, how was that possible? Her heart started to beat faster as her hand moved closer to the handle. Slowly her fingers wrapped around the handle. "Let's find--- Aaaaaaaah! Let go! Let go!"
Panicking, Kiyomi tried to yank her hand loose. The wood just behind the handle moved around her wrist and she could feel that it was leeching some chakra. Pressing her feet firmly against the ground, she hissed as she tried to get free. Landing on her bottom, she quickly looked up as the wood moved back in place. Scooting quickly backwards, she glared at the door. "Why didn't you warn me?!"
Snickering, Matatabi looked down at Kiyomi and burst into a bout of laughter. "You should have seen your face!" If there had been room in the hall, Matatabi would likely have rolled over in a fit of laughter. As it was, he had to lean against the wall for support. When his laughter subsided, Matatabi looked down at the girl. "I did warn you that I'd never been here, remember?"
Glancing back at the door as he heard a sudden noise, Matatabi watched it swing open slowly. He could see the flicker of light in the distance, casting shadows along the floor. "We'll, it looks like it worked." He grinned.
Shooting a glare at the tailed beast, who seemed to enjoy himself, Kiyomi threw a look as the door slowly opened. "Not thanks to you." Rubbing her wrist, she stayed where she was for a moment. Then slowly she would walk into the new room. Glancing around, she noticed that it was just a library. It seemed rather spacious and could see several lamps, but the only smell that she could detect was that of leather and ink. Staying silent, Kiyomi simply took it all in.
Entering behind Kiyomi, Matatabi was surprised to find that he fit through the doorway with ease. Taking everything in, Matatabi wasn't sure what to think. Truth be told he hadn't known exactly what to expect, so this whole place was new to him. Quietly walking further into the room, the large cat remained silent.
The silence endured for several more moments. "Suppose I should start searching then...." She said. Walking into the library, she looked around. It had something pleasant and yet frightening. The feeling that something was looming over her was ever present, yet she felt at ease. It was hard to explain as she frowned for a moment. Walking next to the book shelves, she found it surprising to see that the titles of the books were in the modern language or a slighter old version, but she was still able to make some sense out of it.
The library was quite large, and Matatabi found himself looking around with a curiosity befitting of a... Cat. Wandering through a few aisles, Matatabi found himself wishing he had proper hands... As it was, it was impossible for him to actually pull anything off the shelves to read and so, after a time, he wandered back to one of the more open areas and laid down. Yawning, he called out to Kiyomi, "Let me know if you find anything interesting."
"Uhu..." She absently replied back. Picking out several books out of the shelves, she would walk back to a table nearby Matatabi. Finding some paper, ink and a pen Kiyomi started to study the books.
Frowning, she stared at the letters. Leaning forward, her left hand was supporting her head as it was placed against her forehead. Focused on the text, the young girl turned a bit paler as her eyes kept taking in the information. Slowly leaning back, she placed her hands on her lap as she thought about what she had read. It had been an old report, two centuries ago about somebody who had discovered that Bijuu chakra indeed forced the host to adapt to the powerful source. But there was a slight catch to it. While she had always considered that it changed it her, giving her traits that would allow some advantages, it came with a cost.
Feeling that she was turning sick, Kiyomi turned around. Leaning forward, she would move her head between her legs as she closed her eyes.
Sensing the girl's discomfort, Matatabi's head perked up. Turning, he noticed Kiyomi with her head hanging between her legs. Getting up silently, the large cat padded his way over to her. Rubbing his head against her shoulder, Matatabi purred. "What did you find, little one?"
"One second."
She simply told him, trying to recover from her finding. She could feel the blood moving away from her face. It wasn't that her worst fear had happened. But it was anything that she had expected. Straightening her back, she wasn't sure how to phrase it. All she wanted was going home and demand Hiron to comfort her. But Hiron wasn't around and she didn't want to go home. Feeling more conflicted, her stomach started to get worked up. Trying to stay calm, Kiyomi took a deep breath in as she placed a hand on her stomach.
"Remember that.... talk we had... about children?"
How could he forget...? Glancing at the girl for a long moment, Matatabi sat next to her. "I remember yes. Did you find something to do with it?" he asked, his voice far gentler than normal. Matatabi feared the worst already, and he could feel his guy sinking. Waiting to hear what Kiyomi had found, the large cat did his best to remain composed.
"I...." Her eyes started to tear as she couldn't believe it. She hadn't really wondered if she wanted children. But after learning the price that jinchuriki female hosts had to pay, Kiyomi felt betrayed. Violated and wrong. "I... I can't...." Biting her lower lip, she pulled her legs up and placed her feet on the chair.
"I.... can't bare real.... children."
Pausing, Matatabi felt his stomach sink the rest of the way. He had no words of comfort, no wisdom to offer, Curling around the girl, Matatabi laid his head in her lap, looking up at her. "What does it say child?" He whispered.
Her lower lip trembled as her eyes started to well up with tears. It was unfair. It wasn't fair! Why was this taken away from her? Slowly she placed a hand on Matatabi's head. Knowing that he couldn't do a thing about it, she couldn't help but find it unfair. Why? Just why? How was this a fair price? Trying to stay calm, she couldn't really help it. It felt unfair and managed to hit her in the core. Deeper than any other weapon ever had. Or harsher than any other scolding.
"They.... won't... be human... It isn't fair..."
Muttering the words, she wanted to scream. Screaming fire, murder and how unfair it was. It was expected that she would later start a family. And she hadn't really ever stood still by it. But the image of her having children with Hayate? It had made her smile. Now it made her feel miserable and disgusted. Managing to regain her composure a bit, she tried to explain it.
"According to... this old scource, there is a price to pay. For...Bijuu chakra changes the host it can create complications.... Still born are common. But... it is highly theorized and believed that if I would bare a non still born that it isn't human." It was starting to hit her again. Irony at its finest. She had always scoffed and said that jinchuriki weren't really human and now some old and detailed information were proving her right? Wanting to turn back her earlier words and reactions, she knew it wouldn't change the truth. But she hated it. Wanted it to be different....
Wanting to be the same as others...
Listening to the girl as she spoke, Matatabi remained silent. As Kiyomi finished, the large cat pulled his head back slightly. His eyes remained locked on Kiyomi's and slowly they narrowed into slits. His lip curled back in a snarl and Matatabi's flames flared up. "Theory!?" He growled, "Are you telling me all these old geezers left were theories!?" Looking away, Matatabi had to fight the urge to tear something to shreds. "And you're going to let that dictate your future? You!? The girl who rides with lightning, the girl who fears no foe!" Scoffing, Matatabi turned back to face Kiyomi. "What proof do they have, hmm?"
"You told me that this place held the answers!" She replied back, though her volume not raising. "You told me that I would find them here! Here! And yes, I am terrified! I feel betrayed!" Her voice became hoarse as she felt tears rolling down her cheek. "This old woman studied the offspring of a jinchuriki! Offspring, know what that means? Children! Babies! Kids!" Growing more panicked, Kiyomi voice started to grow higher a bit in pitch. "Know what it also mean? That once people learn of this, that I will... he.... I...." Her face turned more pale as she didn't want to think about it. All she wanted was going home, but she was disgusted by herself. By the answers. But more because she realized that another problem just found its way to block her way to happiness.
"For the last time I told you I have never been here! I told you this place may hold knowledge of what you seek, not that i knew for certain!" Matatabi was snapping, and he turned in a huff. Digging his claws into the earth the big cat didn't know what to do. A part of him felt he was failing Kiyomi... He hasn't known, and he had no way of disproving what had been written. He had never been bonded with a host that had grown with child, never cared enough to know. But now... Snarling, the beast was filled with impotent rage. Breathing heavily, Matatabi turned back to face Kiyomi, a mix of emotion clear in his eyes. "So she studied offspring! So fucking what!? How can she determine whether or not the child is human!?"
"Because you idiot that they weren't normal! Want me to spell it for you?!" She sneered back, sqeeuzing her eyes as she spoke back in a shaken voice. "Not. Human. Not Normal! Traits and such that humans don't have! Fuck do I know what more I need to make out of that, but that says enough?!" She replied back. Not fighting back against the tears, she wanted to go away.
She could run. Trying to flee from home before anybody else would learn of this. Perhaps that would be better. "I.... I... It is unfair...."
Growling again, Matatabi was disgusted. "So what? You just give up? Is that what you're gonna do?" Shaking his head, Matatabi was angry. Angry at himself, angry at Kiyomi, and at the stupid scroll. "What happened to the girl who could fight through anything huh?"
His eyes locked on Kiyomi, he awaited her response.
Wiping some tears away, she wanted to scream out of frustration. How could she fight against her own body? Rip out her womb and order it to not be affected by Bijuu chakra? Trying to expell him out of her body and hoping that she wouldn't die out of stress and fact that her body was relying on his chakra? But she angrily stared back at the two colored pair of eyes of Matatabi. Somehow his words did managed to get to him. It reminded her of somebody else.
Clenching her fists, Kiyomi raised her chin a bit. "Psh... I.. I.. will figure something out." Trying to sound confident, it didn't come out like she wanted. It was even a soft whisper, nothing as the usual confident tone she could give to the Tailed Beast with even feeling intimidated.
Glancing over her shoulder, she felt however hopeless. She rather burned the place to the ground and leave.
Still staring at the girl intensely, Matatabi remained silent. Slowly, the ghost of a smile formed on his lips. "That's the spirit girl." he said quietly, his voice gentle once again. His body was large enough to fully wrap around the girl, so Matatabi did so. Rubbing against her to try and comfor her, he placed a paw on her knee and rested his head in her lap once more. "I... I am sorry little one. Had I known..." His words failing him, Matatabi closed his eyes and did his best to provide comfort.
"Then we still had laughed and came..." She whispered back. Starting to scratch him behind his right flaming ear, her eyes closed a bit as she tried to figure out a solution. But how could she fight against her own body? Against that had progressed over years? Finding some comfort in the presence of Matatabi, Kiyomi tried to think of home. What would Hiron and Keiko think? Hiron would likely scoff and state that he had already a handful on her and Aimi. Typically Hiron. Keiko? Likely smiling and saying that she would figure out a way. Mentally cringing, she didn't however want to think of what others would think of it. She then made a decision.
"Nobody.... nobody is allowed to learn of this. This remains... between us." There was an odd serene confidence ringing in her voice. Yes, she would keep it to herself. It was to keep the others safe and perhaps she could hide it behind a lie or another reason? Just until.... she had figured it out.
Purring as she scratched behind his ear, Matatabi looked up. "And what of the boy? The one you wish to mate with?"
The question made her eyes shot open as she frowned. Twisting her head a bit to look at him, she frowned. ".... I don't know." She mumbled back. Knowing all too well that he didn't mean it in any bad sense, it had disturbed her for a moment. Then slowly, but surely she started to laugh. Laughing at the pure irony and the fact that it seemed that she was never short of problems. First the illness and just when she had solved that it turned out that she had to face anothe foe that had been silent for years. One that she couldn't fight with sword in hand and simply beat and defeat. "He is.... strange. So I ... hope he will not mind it. If he ever learns of
it."
Staring sideways at the girl as she laughed, Matatabi smiled."You are pretty strange yourself little one. Perhaps that is why you two work..." Looking away, Matatabi felt a moment profound sadness... What is happening to me? he thought, staring off into the library's depths. He felt... Guilty... Kiyomi was only in this situation due to him, to his chakra. While it wasn't his fault that he had been stuck in here, it was still... Sighing, Matatabi turned back to the girl. "You know that I don't really have a way of telling anyone, so my mouth shall remain sealed." Chuckling at his own pun, Matatabi snorted before smiling. "I may not know much about you humans, but I know how much you beat yourself up when you lie to those you care about. Just don't hold it in too long. You never know, maybe someone might even be able to help you..."
Smiling a little after the pun, she remained silent. Still scratching behind the ear, Kiyomi thought about it. Who could help her? Any other jinchuriki? Midori was also an experienced jinchuriki, wasn't she? But she was all up in Kumogakure and what if she didn't know about this? Would it be fair to burden Midori with this knowledge? She didn't think so. And everybody else wasn't a jinchuriki. She could'nt even approach Zakito with this. No, for now it was just her and Matatabi who should share this information together. "For now I don't want to burden anybody with this. I already caused a lot of people to be hurt when I turned ill. This.... would be only all over, but worse. And..." Kiyomi paused.
"I don't want their pity."
Frowning, Matatabi understood her point. "If that is what you wish." Glancing around, Matatabi wondered what to do now. He had failed at fully comforting the girl, and judging from what they had found so far he wasn't entirely confident that they would find any more uplifting material. "So what now child...?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, her tone being slight sarcastic. "I'll study.... a bit more. There is more that I want to learn. To confirm if my own experience and beliefs about what I am is correct." Kiyomi calmly answered. Gently stroking his head, slowly down to his neck, her eyes stared at his neck as she repeated the motion. "Beside, I doubt we'll be back here any time soon. Best to learn a bit more.... even if it is no fun."
Nodding, Matatabi couldn't stop his hind leg from spasming as tried to scratch where Kiyomi scratched. Grumbling to himself, he managed to calm his leg and curled around Kiyomi once more. "Maybe this place will hold some answers, some that are not quite as..."
Shrugging, Matatabi sighed.
She wanted to agree, but lately her luck with things as these didn't seem to be that great. "I'll manage. Can't go backwards now, only forwards." She said in return. Becoming silent for a moment, she thought of some other questions that she had. If she would try to postpone it, trying to get back later, then it wouldn't be any time soon. And now she was alone, nobody trying to accompany her. "I'll need to study for a bit longer. Just... a few hours."
Nodding his head, Matatabi pulled away, she couldn't do much if he kept smothering her. "I shall stick with you this time... In case you come across something in the old tongue." Offering the girl as warm a smile as he could muster, which really wasn't much, Matatabi hated seeing her like this.
Flashing a smile back, Kiyomi let out a soft sigh. Turning back to the books, she decided to not seek for just the answers on her questions. But also possible solutions.
Writing down the knowledge that the Homura dynasty was thus basically not fully Hon, but having roots with the Sato and explaining that it was according to the law of the Empire also rooted in some other clans, due to adoption, Kiyomi let out a sigh. Closing the book, she would get up. "We should get going then." She spoke up, fixing her clothes for a moment as she would glance at Matatabi. She had managed to regain her composure, though hadn't been able to find a solution for the problem that they had stumbled on earlier. There were some other things that she had managed find an answer on, next to confirming some of her beliefs.
Nodding, Matatabi sauntered over to the girl. Stretching out his stiff limbs, the big cat yawned and gave one last long stretch of his back. Standing he looked down at Kiyomi. "Need a lift?" he asked gently, smiling.
Planting her fists against her sides, she threw him a playful frown. "Do you even need to ask?" She had gained some color back on her face, but seemed still a bit shaken by the earlier discovery. Climbing on his back, Kiyomi looked at the library. Though she didn't feel that she would miss it, Kiyomi wondered if she should try to become back later. Her first idea was to collect some books, but it felt wrong. If other jinchuriki would come after her, they could use the knowledge too. Pulling up the hood, she nodded. "Let's see what is behind that other door. Hopefully not that... big stone panda statue."
Grinning, Matatabi made his way to the next door, finding himself also hoping that there wasn't a giant panda hiding behind it. He had studied the door earlier, while Kiyomi had been searching the library. That was how he had found out about the rule. Taking one last look back at the library, Matatabi sighed. Raising a paw, he placed it against the door, watching as it eagerly absorbed some of his chakra. After some time, he heard a mechanism slide into place and the door rumbled out of their way. Unlike the way in, this way seemed to be lit by the same strange torches from inside the library. Stepping into a long hallway, Matatabi watched as the library went dark, the door sealing shut behind them. "I guess we can only go up from here huh?"
Also throwing a look over her shoulder, Kiyomi made the decision to later pay the place a visit again. There was much knowledge that she hadn't been able to learn, but that could wait. Now with some of her questions answered, it was time to get going. "I suppose so, yes." She answered, getting the idea that he also meant something else with that. "Thanks Matatabi...."
Growling softly, the large cat began making his way up the long tunnel. "Don't mention it, little one." Matatabi replied gently. This journey had been an interesting one, but a part of him regretted bringing Kiyomi to this place. Keeping his head low, Matatabi continued padding along. He hoped that they would be able to find something... Some answer to help them. Perhaps if he were to speak to another of the bijuu... Not that he was on good terms with any of them. Sighing, Matatabi and Kiyomi walked on.
