The Darkest Spire [I.Only]

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

He materialized from nothingness it seemed, landing in a crouch before standing to full height and meeting the figure that stood within the darkness. Green eyes regarded the entity with mild interest, his hands draped along his sides as the gale picked up his cloak and allowed it to whip about. Anotsu had been summoned by this one, and yet no questions of true concern would be shared just yet. He would merely wait, allowing the figure to take care of business before the formalities could progress. Ever alert, his eyes wouldn't leave the shroud of black that had been waiting for him.

"You rang?"

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

The figure spoke his last name without hesitation; someone had been thorough in their research, leaving no shadow of a doubt within the mind of a figure who now stood before him with no intention of granting quarter as to its own identity. The question was presented to him, and the Uchiha's response would come only after seconds of considering his answer. His eyes continued to remain on the cloaked figure.

"I am a man who has seen many faces. Some of which, I am responsible for leaving cold and lifeless. Others, I am responsible for leaving mentally broken and forever grotesque at the deeds that I have done. I grew weary of that life. And now, I have been given an opportunity at redemption. That is a chance that I will not take lightly. Mayu has trusted me with this headband. To tarnish its pristine symbol would be to forfeit my word. Such a man to forsake truth for pleasantries, I am not."

It was true. The sounds of the dead slowly crept up along the back of his memories, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly at the deeds that he had done. A former Kage twice. A killer of innocents. Destroyer of worlds. He was an abomination. But he was also absolute.

Twisted beauty.

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

A new freedom?

The words were weighed upon his mind like a libra scale, the thought of "freedom" being more than subjective within a mind like his own. Anotsu allowed his thoughts to swish around but for seconds, once more parting his lips to speak. "It would be an honor to move in the name of Otogakure. Death shall be administered quick to those who would forsake her name. But my hand will only move at the ebb and flow of Oto's needs. The name may hold weight, but reformation is a must for those who desire to be perfected."

He could easily drown in the blood of his victims if it had been judgement. But here and now, he neither felt conviction or guilt. There was only "chance".

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

The figure spoke to him of the tongue being loose. Many had broken under the veil of torture. They squeaked and fidgeted at the thought of their families being freed or their lives being spared if only they would put the integrity of their own village in the hands of those who would swallow it whole. The question asked, Anotsu wouldn't even hesitate or miss a beat in his response. The answer was extremely simple.

"I will die before I betray my own. There is no other option. A foolish tongue will flop upon the ground before it sees honor in its secrets revealed. Nothing will sway me. I seek no treasure. I see no glory. Only the honor of fulfillment."

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

The Uchiha couldn't help but laugh, watching her discard the shroud of mystery and come back to her normal self. With her being the holder of knowledge, it would do him little good to be concerned about her spreading his true identity. If she wanted him to remain as effective as he could be, then they would hold a mutual agreement about the wealth of information that they both held. "The black and mysterious look suits you, Mayu. I was just about to get around to the courting phase," he joked. Anotsu considered her offer. Though he had many tattoos markings already, another could add character to his musculature.

"Lead the way."

[The God Damn Otokage]

[/i] my friends I needed to go for the Ring Wraith look if I wanted to get a guy." She muttered as she folded up the gear and stuffed it away in her bag. "Alright let's go, I know the perfect place." And with that she would make her way down towards the street with a series of bounds and hops befitting a ninja. She finally hit the street and awaited his arrival. When he did arrive she would speak to him about the nature of the tattoo, as well as the traditional positioning upon the shoulder. "So you just have to pick what you'll have in the circle, though if you want any further modifications on it I'm not one to split hairs." She explained.[/font][/ul]

[Umehara]

"Indeed. Nothing says 'Take Me Now' like darkness and the inability to discern a gender. Enticing stuff."

He laughed softly as he followed suit, his feet leaving the ground with little effort as he followed down toward the lower levels. He seemed to descend with an other-worldly finesse before landing near Mayu, barely making noise upon touching down. Standing close, he eyed her with piqued curiosity as she explained. All were unaware of the tattoos that he already possessed on his person, the tribal markings of Burakku's command etched onto his impressive musculature. "Let's start with the bare basics. As I progress and am successful, so will I add to it. I'm no stranger to ink," he stated.

He could only wonder what Kogaku would have thought of the new look he'd be sporting. Then again, she had never seen him without his garments. What made the Uchiha think she'd ever see a shoulder graphic?

...He laughed again.

Straightening himself and coughing lightly against a raised fist to his mouth, he pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind. "How's Azur holding up?" he inquired. He hadn't forgotten about their mission, nor Azur's enthusiasm. They'd been the first to introduce him into Otogakure. He'd not soon forget the warmth of welcome.

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

He noted the design on her arm, silently admiring it being settled upon unblemished skin. "Any significance?" he asked. Every tat seemed to have a story. Perhaps hers would, as well. The Uchiha laughed lightly at her remark about the AnBu. "You're relentless, Mayu. Such dangerous jobs - you should be put on trial," he joked. The lightheartedness he possessed had been buried underneath an indifferent persona all this time. It was refreshing to be able to socialize in comfort and not the the promise of death on the horizon.

He'd lift an arm above her head, gently grasping the door and holding it open for her. Offering a hand inside, he'd wait for her to enter. "Ladies first."

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

There was a certain appreciation for her words. As devilish as they sounded, the statement was true. Anotsu followed her as they entered the shop, the patron's casual position offsetting to the seriousness that Mayu had given him only minutes earlier in her shroud of darkness. The smoke from his cigarette danced and spun into the air, dissipating as he seemed to regard them with no concern. Surely, there was more than meets the eye in regards to his external appearance. Anotsu would have been a fool to believe otherwise. Still, he relaxed in the comfort of trust. He had a purpose, and would not be swayed in fulfilling it.

The Uchiha stood and watched Mayu discard her shirt.

And then her bra.

It was almost instinct. Like a forbidden urge that he could not control. Attempting to will his mind otherwise, Burakku immediately surfaced and seemed to take over every notion to turn his eyes away from the beautiful mounds that stole every ounce of his attention. Even his blink was faster than usual, his eyes descending into the scarlet pools of his Sharingan Eye. His tomoe settled swiftly, dancing around before encircling his crimson gaze - he wanted to savor every moment. His muscles tensed, standing statuesque and without a single expression etched across his features. He was too busy appreciating the work of art before him. Blood began to rush southward. Thankfully, his cloak veiled his telltale arousal.

Photographic memory had all of a sudden become his most cherished ability. Even for those few moments, her actions in no shape or fashion intended for him, he silently felt privileged.

And then it was over.

The Uchiha took a deep breath as he disengaged his Sharingan, rubbing his forehead and veiling his blush and widened eyes. Attempting to swallow, it went down the wrong pipe and caused him to place a fist over his mouth as he coughed. "Mm...ah...y-yes....I see...then he is...most uhh...most skilled in breast-..BREATH-taking designs." The Uchiha had truly never been surprised, but Mayu's confidence was astounding. Surely, this woman was far more than he had originally thought her to be. It would be interesting to witness the glory of her ambition in coming days.

"We have a mission, Uchiha. You don't have time for love and pleasantries. Your body betrays you. Do not let your heart do the same."

Burakku growled lowly.

"....But better this vixen than that Old One. Hmph!"

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

"The cat doesn't have my tongue......yet."

Anotsu laughed softly at her question, lifting a hand and rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he smiled back at her. Her carefree attitude had been noted their first meeting - of course it hadn't been for him. He had just been lucky. Still, he'd take his victories where he could get them.

In truth, he'd not given much thought to love and physical pleasure. As alluring as one might be, he was ever vigilant. The ninja world was relentless - take your eyes off of the target, and you would find nothing but to lay with the heroes who had fallen for damsels in distress. The Uchiha was much more than that. "You'll have to forgive me if relationships and sex aren't high on my priority list. At least, not until I've found someone I can trust. It doesn't come easily.." he trailed off. He leaned against a wall and gave her eye to eye contact.

"People lie. There are those who will abandon you. They'll disappear without a word. I am not, and never will be, that person. So before I commit to anyone, I have to believe that the feeling is mutual. I may be old-fashioned....but romance and passion are an honor, not a pastime to be discarded at leisure." His words were absolute. "Though, for what it's worth....it's not every day that you see such a beautiful pair. No offense, of course. I'm passionate and committed, but I'm not blind." He watched with interest as the ink was pressed into her skin.

"Is it safe to talk freely in here?" he inquired. He was unsure of just how much Daichi knew. Moving closer to Mayu and standing nearby, he continued to watch the artist work his magic upon her silken skin.

[The God Damn Otokage]

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[Umehara]

He merely shook his head at her response. He wasn't dodging anything. He couldn't speak on what he knew little about. The only notion that crossed him was the thought of what he would do when he'd actually met a woman in bed. From her statement, he could only have imagined what all of the years he'd been alone would do when he could make up for lost time through his passionate ministrations.

In layman's terms, whoever chose to meet him between the sheets was going to be in for a long night.

Without missing a beat, he'd meet her at her point of reckless words. "Really? I'd love a demonstration from you at some point." He may have been uninformed, but he was also ferocious and bold. There was no doubt that she'd teach him a thing or two. But in return, he'd use his creativity and return the favor before long.

Absently, the Uchiha's more roguish mentality kicked in - he imperceptibly began to mentally thumb through the sexual positions he could put her in.

So this was what he had been missing all this time. He was realizing his physical attractions. And truth be told, he was eager to find out just how much fun he could have. Of course, he was also a man who understood emotional attachments. His body would only follow what his heart had established. No use in being a coward and hiding from chance, he figured. There was no telling where he'd end up. He just hoped that it would be worth it to stick his neck out and die for it.