Let's Talk [Neko]

[Naota]

The land of Grass was very beautiful. It felt like never ending spring here. The Hyuuga known as Daigo strolled peacefully on a beaten dirt path. A soft breeze moved the hair attached to his helmet. He couldn't feel much of it but the smells and aura of the area made him feel at peace. He decided after a while of walking to sit down next to a river, under a tree. The tree was in full blossom dropping it's flowers into the water. A single petal fell onto Daigo's hand and under his mask he smiled and drew a deep breathe. 

"This is nice." he'd mutter softly.

He then did something he normally wouldn't do. He fell asleep under that tree. Leaving himself exposed.

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

^Enter.Even as the very first graces of the new season begin to roll through, Kusa's grasslands are as warm and welcoming as ever, barely yet tangled in the icy spider fingers of Father Winter. Before the snow had a chance to finally come and lay a blanket of white upon the land and its village, Harue wanted to stretch her arms and legs and soulwings under the sun as much as she could. It felt like she'd been hibernating for years; inactive, static, a wet blanket. It gnaws at the back of her mind.

A couple dozen meters over the tree tops she flutters aimlessly, a glowing crimson of all three eyes upon her head bright and poignant even against the lovely, sunny day. By a sweet breeze her pink locks sweep in tune with her white silks and hooded black robes, reminding her of the satchel at her hip. She slips a protective hand over it, looping her fingers over the strap to hold her familiar in place. It would be a shame to drop her. It was then she realized-

"Where is that damn fool?" Harue mutters suddenly to herself, coming to an abrupt halt midair and drifting vertically, toes pointing upon the earth's surface as she scans the area a bit closer. He had a way about skirting her radius somehow, usually to chase a bug or rodent no less.

Only a moment later she catches sight of him, an impossibly large felidae beast of bizarrely bubblegum fur sniffing at something. The eye at her forehead blinks upon recognizing the base chakra of this apparent stranger, but not the rest of its makeup; not someone she particularly recognized. Regardless, the reading resembled her wife's. "Hyuuga?" Although her voice is barely above a whisper, Harue's lips move distinctly around the familiar family maiden name. Studying from afar for now as she descends wormlike, inch by inch, Ōmo stands over the shiny man, casting a thick shadow over him, looming even as he lowers his head out of the sun rays to smear a gentle, healthy wetness across the polished armor. Whoever was piloting this suit smelled of no hate or malice or evil, so Ōmo sniffed deeper, wondering about this strange shiny beast snoring so softly under a tree. He sniffs and sniffs, nudging now, until finally he might knock off the helmet.

Big, chocolate eyes stare down upon its face innocently enough.

Naota

[Naota]

His dreams were far nicer to him than reality was. Though this dream was odd. He dreamt of a beast prodding away at him and a soft swat to try and keep the what looks to be lion away. No avail. His helmet was knocked off and it revealed his face. Daigo never allowed anyone to see his face and the blunder he made cost him his sacred privacy. Once the helmet hit the ground the Hyuuga would jolt awake.

"That was no dream!" he'd say in a slightly panicked and non-metallic tone. 

His got to his feet quickly out of pure fear of this giant pink beast giving him the kitten eyes and looked around for others. Then he saw her. Pink hair and 3 eyes. She resembled a goddess herself floating like that. In utter awe at her beauty he spoke. 

"Is this your lion?" he would say then curse himself in his head.

He didn't often find himself struck by women as he was very strict in his training and life as a ninja but she was beautiful. The view she would have of him would be of a man in his mid twenties with long blonde hair in a pony tail. His features seemed more feminine than masculine. Pale grey eyes, this signature mark of the Hyuuga gazed back at her. 

Daigo

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

Both parts of the pink duo prove amused by the armor man's reaction, Harue's lips curling momentarily into a simple smile as Ōmo takes a gentle step back, maw following the man's movements with curious interest. Bare, pristine feet finally touch the ground as her slow descent ends, standing now a couple feet behind the beast. She nods, expression expertly minimal as she gazes at him, studying him. Thankful she didn't have to activate her doujutsu, the Tasukeru shown brightly from all three irises already. At the center of her forehead the third rolls in its socket strangely, up and down and side to side as it analyzes.

"Yes," her voice mingles with the rushing water and gentle breezes, head tilting as her lowest pair of eyes fall sheepishly to the lion in question. The third is intent on scanning, unglued and wild. Ōmo nudges the man's hand, leaning his giant head closer to initiate some kind of comfort. He stood only a foot shorter. "He shouldn't bite." All three eyes squint and suddenly join each other in unity, finished reading. All three eyes roll wayward, around, absorbing their serene surroundings, then fall accusingly back on the prettyboy. She wondered idly about him, about his femininity and what it entailed about him. Gradually, her expression was skewering. You reek of Hi no Kuni and have the qi of the Hyuuga. "You must be from Leaf... not far. Did you walk all this way just to nap?" She meets his pupiless gaze, her vex finally etched out in furrowed brows and sneered lips, yet her eyes were hooded and did not match. She hadn't given him much time of staring before she grew annoyed. Straightening under his gaze, she takes a couple steps forward. Alerted by her approach, Ōmo turns and intercepts with a nuzzle, circling around behind her and nudging a face under her other arm. Harue's body softens as he murmurs a few guttural noises, as if she understands him. She responds aloud to him, combing her fingers through his mane. "You're right, I know, I know."

With a sigh, Harue closes the gap between them quietly with Ōmo at her tail, only to crouch before the Hyuuga on prettily long legs, knees touching as her silks fall slightly apart while she picks up the helmet. As she stands again, dusting off some unsightly dirt gifted by the earth, her doujutsu fades. All three velvet red eyes point to his face as she offers his helmet back to him. "Ōmo likes you, for whatever reason..." As she talks, it's obvious she is ignorant to how bizarre this might be to him, having a stranger gaze at his naked face. Harue paid little mind. "I apologize if I was... rude." She seems begrudging, as if they are not her words. The pink beast gazes knowingly at the Hyuuga from behind Harue.

Naota

[Naota]

He was startled but he sensed no anger from the beast. The pink lion’s snout rubbed under his Gloved hand as if it wanted affection from him. With a reluctant mind his hand paused slightly before stroking the snout softly. Once he did the creature known as Omō returned to it's mistress and she regarded him with backhanded words. Reeked?

A small sniff of his own arm to check if he actually smelled. He didn’t. Then it occurred to him that she had a third eye. It was very peculiar. He didn’t want to ask about it. The air of danger was ever present and she could just tell where he was from through scent alone. He kept calm and spoke back when she mentioned him being from Hi no Kuni and to nap of all things.

”I am on vacation actually. Travelling to find new people and see-” his voice trailed off as he noticed his helmet on the floor.

Then in an act of compassion or maybe just as a casual act she picked his helmet off of the floor, dusted it off and returned it to him after her small chat with her lion. An apology followed. Her voice sounded like silk felt. He wanted to know more about her. It was rare for people to see Daigo’s face so he should at least get her name in return.

”Thank you. He’s a beautiful creature and well taken care of it seems. I am Daigo. A Hyuuga as you’ve seen. May I ask your name?” his usual metallic voice was replaced by a softer based smooth tone.

Once he had helmet in hand he didn’t place it back on his hadjut yet. He felt it rude if he did so in the middle of conversation.

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

Vacation? To Kusa? To make friends no less? Harue didn't want to dishearten the lad, but he was either an incredibly poor liar or a simplehearted and lonely man. The pinklet regarded him not unkindly, but not very warmly either. Sizing him up one last time with an obvious single head to toe scan, this time out of sheer disbelief and attempted better understanding, she blinks and corrects her dismayed expression. She offers her sincerest smile, only half feigned. "Huh. Curious." It was not. Not in the way one would expect, anyway.

Although she knew the gawking meant something, she could not for the life of her make out what that something implied. Like a lost puppy, maybe, or a lightstruck nocturnal. Even tuning into his emotions was a bit of a dull result. Generously deciding to take him at face value, she reflected on what she knew about him thus far, namely what usual characteristics of a man he did not immediately alert her to; he did not so far seem vulgar or disrespectful, or even loudmouthed or flirtatious. Maybe animated and out there, but not annoying. Still, she felt annoyed, and her sexism was a gnawing mistress. She tilts her head. Ōmo, on the other hand, was beaming at the compliment, grumbling something in a pitched octave as he slips up beside Harue. She rolls her eyes, smoothing a hand over the top of his big head. She was barely half a foot taller. "Oh, don't go encouraging him." It's rather unclear which of the two she's speaking to.

Looking down as her beast looks up, holding eye contact with him momentarily, Harue hums. "I suppose you may, only because you so politely gave yours first." It was proper etiquette, after all. She straightens again, dragging her red eyes to his pale ones for the umpteenth time. "Harue Niyjua, destined Rokudaime Kusakage." Delegation called for the proper title, but was it not also polite to disclose her doujutsu? She chose not to mention it, lest he ask questions, for fear of rumor somehow seeping out to her father. "So, Daigo Hyuuga, what-"

"Oh, YYyyy-UCK!" Suddenly, a disruptive rustling spasms at Harue's left hip, the satchel there shaking lamely. Harue does not jump or recoil, instead letting out a sigh as her eyes nearly roll out of their sockets. The third blinks knowingly, trained on the satchel as it pops open. A small, inconspicuous black cat rips its head and torso free, fat ears bouncing perkily to sit pointed atop her tiny skull. Wide, wild eyes dance all over, finally observing Daigo, finally glaring at Harue. "You two make me sick! What happened to the good old days where two ninja of conflicting villages asked questions second! Oh, I'm Daigo! Oh, I'm Harue! Oh, let's go on a mission together and have world peace!" Using her paw like a hand, she imitates a gag. "YECK! Get a room!"

"Oh, hush," Harue suspires, placing an unoffending hand over the top of her head. "Nobody wants to hear your old fashioned xenophobia."

[Naota]

Daigo seemed simple but he always has his master plans. He never really keeps them in mind as they just come naturally to him when he goes out. Though him falling asleep was actually a blunder but he wouldn't be making that mistake again. The three eyed goddess eyed him up and down again. This time all 3 of her eyes seem fixated on him. It was VERY obvious to him as a doujutusu user that she seemed to hold some special power as well. He didn't mention it though. It wasn't polite.

She then spoke her name to him and the sound of it was like a melody to his ears. It was a name he never heard before and seemed very foreign. A small smile formed on his face after he saw he battling herself to be nice. It wasn't hard to see that she didn't like him very much. Something she said stood out though. Kusagakure? Kusakage? She was from the neighboring village. Relations with them weren't the best. He meant no harm by being in her homeland but he could see from her point of view how this could look bad.

Daigo was one of leaf's strongest after all. While in his thought his inner dialogue was interrupted by a voice coming from the Grass kunoichi in front of him. It was a talking cat! Even more the cat raged about them peacefully talking instead of fighting on sight. Daigo laughed aloud.

The cat spoke filth to Harue and she hushed him.

"How many animals do you carry Harue?" he spoke to her in a familiar manner.

He spoke again.

"What's your name grimalkin? I assure you I come in peace" 

Daigo took the approach this time. Getting a bit closer until he was either stopped or it clearly made someone uncomfortable.

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

Per usual, the depth of others falls deaf on Harue. Furthermore, she could not fathom what elicited his small smile; was he endeared by her annoyance? Her name? Usually that might provoke her irritation further, but the way his feminine face breaks in favor of the simper reminded her very much of a beautiful woman of gentle masculinity. A layer of her heart is melted, drawing out a content sigh as she her expression fully softens. Obviously relaxing, her body is no longer stiff and she sways lightly with the movement of her mannerisms. "Only the two you see here with me today," she answers truthfully. Well aware of how her animal menagerie could be considered uncommon, she found his inquiry to be more than expected. "I'm always looking to adopt, though."

Curling a fore and middle finger under Circe's chin, the cat's ears twitch and her eyes narrow yet she purrs and leans her head forward, into the scritching. Despite harboring the soul of an ancient cryptid in the confides of this vessel, she was forever a slave to this feline anatomy. She crosses her forelegs, seeming pleased for at least a moment.

None of the trio cowers from Daigo's approach, all standing in their places expectantly. Apparently he is allowed to ease forward, aside from the abrupt glare directed at him from slitted, felidae eyes. The familiar snorts, lifting her head away from the chin scritches to look Daigo in the face. Setting her free hand on her pink steed's head instead, Harue only blinks down at the sith as she offers a snarky remark. "Oh, you want my name, too?" The pink witch shakes her head and opens her mouth to replace this answer, but she is quickly deterred as the black cat flutters in and out of view, blinking back into manifestation upon an armored shoulder. For the first time, Harue expresses a momentary lapse in her perfected mask; she gasps, a soft and breathy noise, disturbed by Circe's inconsiderate prodding.

"I am Circe Bloise, but I have assumed many, many names," she's saying, placing one paw on his jaw and the other on his chin, attempting to examine him, a natural instinct based in her medical fields. First she peers into his pale eyes, if he were to let her. "I can tell that you come in peace, that's the problem. We're long overdue for another war." Attempting to angle his head further, she then tries to peer into his mouth. Unfortunately, Harue knew this routine too well.

Finally intervening, Harue reaches out to take her, but Circe blinks out of existence redundantly to dodge her. "Please don't pay her any mind," Harue says, voice surprisingly lacking annoyance. She sounded simply like a mother warning others of her child's bad behavior calmly. Once Circe reappears perched on Harue's head, taking her own turn in rolling slitted eyes, Harue reaches up to pull her down and then cradle her like an infant. The allseer continues, "We've been hibernating for some time. She's been hibernating.. much longer than I." Red eyes gaze down at her grumpy familiar, but the third eyes Daigo curiously still. 

Naota

[Naota]

The cat seemed to teleport to Daigo's armored shoulder and spoken to as well as checked out medically. The talking cat peered into his eyes to discern if Daigo was hiding lies. Which we all do but these weren't the ones that the cat were looking for. The Hyuuga really did come in peace. Crice returned after speaking to Daigo answering his question. Many name? That means that this cat has had multiple families and each time she outlives them she moves on to the next.  Then Circe claims another war is long overdo? I don't know if any war should every be considered long over due but something or someone from the Land of Fire may have hurt this cat.

"I disagree respectively Circe. Konohagakure's leadership has just changed and I can assure you that my si-, I mean the Hokage will shake up Leaf's current partners also..Hibernation? Like a bear?" a slip of the tongue and even more confusion. Daigo was not speaking to them as a pair rather than just to Circe.

Daigo crossed his arms and slightly tilted his head in thought. A strand of hair fell off of his shoulders and hung slump on his back. This conversation was very interesting to him because peaceful talk between Konoha and Kusa were long away from each other and few in between. He couldn't mess this up.

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

Perpetually bored by political garble, Ōmo picks his heavy pink rear off the ground to saunter around Harue and Daigo and the cat, his big paws carrying him to the edge of gentle rolling water. Lowering his giant head, he takes long drinks from the crystal rapids. Realizing these two have taken on a conversation of their own, Harue wanders outside of herself all the same. Circe, still cradled in the pink witch's arms like a babe, snorts and adjusts with slightly kicking legs to furrow herself deeper, finding comfort in this woman she claims to despise. "Disagree if you must, it is your will, but the truth remains honest."

Stepping away from her shadow, another Harue comes forth to sit beside Ōmo. Faint muttering flutters from the pair, Harue's soft, indistinguishable whispers met by guttural noises of the lion. They spoke together quietly as the Circe settled in the first Harue's arms continues her back and forth with the Leaf being. "Ohohoho-oh?" Circe's prickly feline voice jiggles with amusement. "Will she? Your si the Hokage?" The cat would not let little slipups like that go. "Ah... close relations to the leaders of our worlds will leave you tender." An obvious jab at Harue, the pinklet which holds the sith rolls her eyes

"Watch it," she retorts. The other Harue perks slightly at the sound of her own voice, but otherwise is preoccupied with her conversation with pink steed.

Ignoring her, Circe answers Daigo's curiosity. "Hibernation like a mythical entity sealed in an object as punishment. Long story, really." Circe loved talking about herself and that was evident in the way she took the liberty to launch into her own spiel. Nonchalant, she takes to examining her claws. "Before that, I was a free cat. After that, Harue broke the seal which has bound me to be her familiar given her celestial and witch heritage. I'm stuck with her until... one of us dies, I suppose." Grinning, guffawing suddenly, Circe proved to be a little unstable. "At least if Circe dies, I'll just fit a new name!" There was no lapse in her outward persona that suggested she was actually weary about this fact, knowing she was on her ninth already.

"I think she was better off asleep," the first Harue quips, face however devoid of contempt. Circe hoots with laughter, which draws all three of her red eyes down; this Harue lets herself smirk and laugh a little, hugging the cat close to her. Their bond was a bizarre one no doubt.

"What about you?" The second Harue's voice seeps out of her as she stands again, turning to face the trio. "How do you feel about politics. You have some role in them, I assume." It was a sincere question but it may be posed as somewhat accusatory. The second pink one tilts her head slightly.

Naota

[Naota]

The cat spoke of her many lives with many different owners and it sort of tugged on a heart string. He knew of someone who was in a similar situation. His eyes stayed targeted on the cat as she spoke. The feline also made a jab about his slip-up but also revealing that Harue was connected to her village leader. Daigo then broke gaze when she was finished. The first Harue would ask him about his view on politics. A dangerous topic for two opposing villages but he didn't feel the need to hide who he was here. He spoke with a kind tone.

"I am a chuunin from Konoha. I take a more progressive stance on most things and I'd like to think myself a humanitarian. I dislike violence but to agree that sometimes action is the best form of word." his words were quick, and sharp. Almost automated.

He shook his head. A small smile formed on his face.

"I'm hoping we can be friends. Sounds cliche and I'm sure the grimalkin has her doubts but I would love to meet your comrades and extend a connection from Leaf if possible."

The real meat of this conversation. This meeting was destined it seemed.

neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

His unexpected candor was favorable. Second Harue's expression shifts slightly once he delves briefly into his stance behind politics. His answer had apparently struck her, taking her slightly aback, and she blinks a few times before her painted lips pull into a new hauntingly flamboyant smirk. "Oh." Her voice is piqued, a single octave higher; perhaps she was impressed, amused, giddy - something unlike her previous distaste. A juxtaposition to her own reaction, Circe evokes a faux gag. "Oh, Gods! He's just like you," the sith spits rudely, turning her nose up to glare at the Harue who holds her. This first Harue looks down, red eyes devoid of provocation until suddenly a puff of air is drawn from her nose, accompanied by the corner of her mouth turning up. Amused, then.

Her patient silence lingers however and eventually he continues. The pink witch didn't even have to ask and he willingly offered his desires unto her. It was a mutual craving, yet hers was not necessarily born of familiarity or a want for his friendship. Truthfully, she was much more interested in the connection of villages, good or bad, and which ways she could use his friendship to her advantage. There was no painfully malicious intent of course, but in reality she hadn't a real opinion of this pretty boy. She felt no bond, but her usual sexism which would leave her feeling negative toward him was subsided by his individual being, thus charging a neutrality towards him instead. Yet his shared beliefs resonated within her, tipping the scales in his favor. Maybe, just maybe, that lack of bond could someday be rectified. Maybe a true friendship would someday blossom.

His smile does not go unmatched. "I believe that to be... admirable," she finally says. "As Circe has oh-so-graciously divulged, I share the same outlook. Violence is so primitive, is it not?" Pleasant and for the first time noticeably, sincerely open, she steps away from her pink beast to close the gap, leaving Daigo cornered by two Harues, a cat and the tree he'd napped under. Assertively she extends a hand, her fair skin dazzling, as if her pores refracted the sun's rays. Her third eye blinks, wide and glued to Daigo's exposed face, but its lower counterparts reveal a new softness. "Don't mind the grimalkin, I do not share her doubts. I'd find honor in calling you a friend, Hyuuga Daigo." Circe rolls her eyes, turning her face into the first Harue's chest to wheeze out a scoff. "I'll pretend I did not hear you two," she mutters to herself.

Whatever implications their meeting held, Harue was excited to discover.

Naota