The most dangerous game... Flying death snakes

[Cacophony]

Watching the young man go through a few emotions in a short time was a little funny to the Couatl. The mythical creature hadn't really encountered many people in it's life. "What is your name young one." The beast asked Shiki when he was done rambling. "They may not be 'Evil' but Jet Couatl and the other Couatl are bitter enemies. They may not have what you're looking for, but other than that, most Jungle creatures are Neutral"  The passive being said to the Kumogakure shinobi standing in front of it. "But before anything I must ask one important question of you." The creature closed it's eyes after it finished speaking, awaiting Shiki's reply.

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Shiki put his sword away and gave a small smile despite himself. "Shiki... Shiki Senri is my name." Shiki sat down on the tree branch obviously somewhat disappointed with the turn of events. Shiki looked at the monster and waited for its question. "What do you want to ask?" Shiki swung backwards so he was dangling upside down from the tree branch. His white hair dangling from his head as he gazed at the monster with his big, bright, sapphire eyes.

[Cacophony]

Watching the boy set the beast ease while he playfully hung from a branch upside down. As the couatl heard the name, it rung through his head. "I would share my name, yet I have none. I have been called many things, but none I would dare repeat in good company." It said, trying to make a light hearted joked about a somewhat bitter subject. The Couatl landed and coiled up in a clearing close to the tree that the shinobi hung from. " What do you fight for Shiki. Why do you hunt. I know my parts are valuable to humans, but that's not what I'm asking."  Awaiting a response, the avian bowed its head until Shiki would answer. 

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What do I fight for? 

"I fight for honor. I fight to bring glory to my name and my house. I fight for more then just to survive. I kill for balance, for power, and to earn my place as someone who can bring justice to this world." Shiki paused for a moment. 

His mind drifted back to Junko. To his time on the ship and his battle with Peis. A battle where he would have been dead if it had not been for the intervention of people stronger then himself. Shiki gave an involuntary shudder. "forgive me..." he said solemnly. He thought of Junko's face, her charming smile and her bubbly personality, the feel of her lips against his. "... I fight to protect that which is precious to me. I fight to be strong enough to shelter those I love from the cruel storm that is life."

Shiki let the memories consume him, starting to day dream as he waited for a response. 

[Cacophony]

The creature sat back as he listened to Shiki speak about honor, glory, and survival. All these ideals, were all human nature. To the couatl these seemed like very foreign subject. When Shiki paused could see the face of the young woman he had thought of. A horrific battle, and noble deeds by those who could have easily let the boy die, or worse. The almost other worldly being gasped as it stopped sensing the ninja's thoughts.

"I see many thoughts of yours, and truth behind your words. I may not relate to honor and glory, but survival... Survival is not just a word, it's the life most live in this world." The radiant beast said in a low tone, trying not to condescend to the young man. "Although our bodies our different, I can see much of myself in you. Both bound to our lives by the choices that we've made." The serpent said to Shiki in all honesty. "Perhaps our meeting was luck, perhaps fate. What I do know is it was no accident." It said as it coiled up a little tighter, folding it's wings. It knew so little about Shiki, but learned so much already. It's thoughts centered around the thoughts it had just seen as if it were it's own. "I hope I didn't upset you, it was not my intention." The beast hissed in a somewhat playful manner.

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Shiki paused and evaluated the creature. "You may not know this... but almost every part of your physiology is powerful to humans. Your blood cures all diseases, poisons and trauma a person has suffered." Shiki looked at him conflicted. "Money aside I could help so many people..." Shiki watched the serpents tongue... "your venom is nothing to play with either a vial of it would kill a monster." Shiki gazed at the coatl... "I don't suppose you could be convinced to part a few flasks of either of those?"

Shiki smiled. "I'd rather not hurt each other... how about a game of wit?"

[Cacophony]

The couatl was stunned by the boys request. "I do know I'm valuable as both a medicine and a cosmetic. It is the reason I don't trust many people any more. Such is the life I must live now." The serpent said with a hiss. Breaking into a slight trance, the beast pondered Shiki's words. Give him my blood, it thought? Or my venom? It was timid about the request, since usually when it would reply no, the humans would normally attack it. 

"I may accept to your idea of a battle of the brains, Shiki. If you can first tell me how you plan to harvest my blood, or my venom without harming myself or yourself." It spoke still wondering how it could possibly test the boy, it was able to read his thoughts for the most part, and it seemed the the Couatl that its many years on the boy many give it the upper hand. 

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"Here is what I propose. If you just bite down on the top of this barrel. Your anatomy should automatically start pumping this bad boy full of venom. Obviously I won't need a whole barrel full. But its the only container I have that you won't shatter... As for the blood..." Shiki held out a syringe... I can course this guy with a numbing amount of lightning chakra so you won't feel anything. You can read my thoughts of course... I don't have any tricks up my sleeve. I'd simply fill these two flasks and be on my way." 

Shiki stretched a little. "My idea is this... I want to help save lives with your blood. I also want to kill evil creatures with your venom. Think of this as a way for me to extend your order outside of this jungle. After our test if you find me worthy I'd like to come back once in a blue moon to find you to get more." 

Shiki paused and back tracked a bit... "I know what you are thinking. 'what do I get out of this?' Good question! In return I vow to never raise a weapon against another creature of your kind or species ever again unless strictly in self defense." Shiki's eyes flashed with excitement as he spoke the words. He would let the words hang in the air for a brief moment before cracking a small smile. 

[Cacophony]

When the Couatl heard Shiki's words, he saw his thoughts too. When he was talking his plan out to the couatl, the couatl could see exactly how he expected it to work." Alright Shiki, it's a deal. You can have some venom and blood if you can answer a riddle of mine..." The great beast said as it gave some thought to a riddle. It wanted to avoid any common ones, mainly because the creature wanted to see how well the boy would handle its riddle. 

The serpent thought of a few, but all to similar to common ones, and others had the same answers to older riddles too. Finally it had thought of something that he thought might stump the ninja. The Couatl wasn't against helping Shiki, but he figured he didn't want to just hand him an easy one. Or maybe the one it had decided to use was too easy. The Couatl chuckled to itself as it thought of it once more before speaking... 

"Yes, that will do. Pay attention Shiki because I will only say it once." It paused to wait for the genin to be completely attentive. "There's a man in one town, and one in another. Both have two sons, but one had a daughter. She knows both her brothers, but never her father. One man is infertile, the other deceased. Which one is the father, Man 'A' or Man 'B'?" The couatl waited to see the boy's answer.

(OOC: I sent the same riddle to loki with the answer to confirm.)

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Shiki pondered for a moment... Finally he spoke up.

"Two Fathers.... A is the infertile one... Father B is the father of the daughter..." Shiki paused...

"It works like this. Father A&B are actually a couple and adopted two sons together. Now deceased father B has a daughter from a former marriage or fling before he got married to the infertile father A."

"is that right?" 
Shiki looked up and blinked at the coatl.

[Cacophony]

The couatl watched the boy ponder the question. It watched as he struggled and squirmed to come up with an answer to the question. Hearing the boy's answer the couatl laughed. "I guess your's might work. But I was actually looking for a different answer. They are both her father, yes but not as a couple. The man who died was the father of 3 children, 2 boys and one girl. He never lived to meet his kids, and being afraid of society's watchful eye. The mother decided to marry the infertile man, so the kids could at least grow up with what they believed to be their father." The couatl said, taking deep breathes where it needed to with it's long winded answer.

Feeling like Shiki at least deserved some credit, the couatl thought for a minute. " You may draw some of my blood. For you at least knew both the men were in one way or another, both the fathers of the same 3 children. But I can't offer my venom. Do keep your end of the bargain, only break it if there is a couatl that lost its way." The couatl chuckled as it prepared itself for Shiki's needle. 

(OOC: Short answer was both are the fathers. One biological, one as the step father.)

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Shiki smiled. He knew when he had been beat but he was happy that the coatl was being so generous with him. He would go through the process of pulling the blood from the coatl in a harmless way and would fill two flasks of blood from it. "Thanks you great beast. You need a name... I hope to meet you again." Shiki smiled as he continued speaking. "You need a name though... How about hank?"


he would let it speak and exit

(exits)