Not a home but a haunt

There was a home. Deep in the lands owned by Kirigakure. Not off the road but many went to the opposite side of the street when passing the property. Many whispered they saw spirits there sometimes at night. It was a game to the local kids to step passed the open iron gates just barely onto the property line. To show they were tougher than the others. More brave. However none stayed long. They could feel it. The moment they crossed those gates there was eyes on them. Watching and waiting. Each on when asked said there was an Enenra there. A spirit of smoke and darkness. No one had seen him yet but they knew he saw them. It was said that if anyone went to the front door and knocked three times, they would be consumed by the spirit and be chained to the property for an eternity. No one ever did more than step beyond the front door. No one aside from a couple of shinobi who had come here either for curiosity or for the power of the one who resided there. A man who lived alone, It was he that caused those sensations. It was Five that haunted this land.

The property itself was barren except for some lifeless tree's along the edge. A dark Iron fence with vines growing along it covered in thorns surrounded the property. The Iron gates were open and lit with lamps but someone had placed prayer seals on the pillars with the lamps. Something to seal in evil spirits. The edges of them burnt slightly like it was struggling to do so. Overgrown grass and moss filled the yard aside from one stone path straight to the door. Stone sculptures were worn down and broken along the path. Old stone shapes of monsters and screaming people. The full moon seemed to have set behind the house itself as it towered high. Bats circling around an old bell tower at the top where they had set up their nest. Mist creeped along the ground like a blanket but didn't seem to touch the pathway to the door. A red door on a black house. The only thing pristine on the property. Behind it a green glow seemed to fill the first floor. The shuttered windows and door showing a dim green glow as it glowed bright and then faded only to return and repeat the process.

The rumor of three knocks inspired an old desire for knowledge in the occult in the young genin. Tales of demons and spirits of sulfur and chaos always prompted curiosity in Jess for you see if someone's outside appearance was frightening then most humans would automatically judge them and leave them isolated. This meant that if such things existed they would be lonely and thus need friends, Jess could be that friend and restore some balance to this hostile world.

Though the woman had no idea what an Enkirideon was like the kids said, she knew from the description it would be a spirit of smoke or static. Something that scared humans when caught in the perepheria for the sole reason if not passing as human, Jess intimately knew the pain that being born in the wrong type of body could bring and thus her sympathy for such creatures was higher than most and much higher than it should be.

The first thing Jess would notice from her fascination both of the occult and Fuuinjutsu was the prayer seals upon the poles that housed the internal flame known as lanterns. By themselves it simply reinforced the superstitious nature of humanity and thus the genin carefully removed them, stopping this action if her suspicions would be raised before approaching, before touching, during touching or removal.

If this went off without a hitch the young woman would remove these seals simply on the off chance they were preventing the spirit from escaping. A cornered animal will always attack and Jess wanted it to have a way out other than through herself.

The gargoyles that lined the property fit the iron fencing, overgrown but not fully neglected which lead the ninja to believe that at the very least one human lived here. While there were tales of Spirits interacting with the physical, Jess doubted very much that one that could would choose to keep the grounds in semi functional order and leave the posts the pray seals were on unscathed.

The green glow behind a red door seemed familiar and so using the same precaution as with the prayer seals Jess would approach and knock on the door three solid and spaced out times.

"Hullo if there is a spirit here feel free to reveal yourself, I come to commune but offer nothing other than my name given by myself." A standard greeting Jess used in these endeavors from the tales of bargaining spirits who would attempt to filch your soul for something disappointing.

Someone was at the boundary again. He could feel them out there. Slowly there was a release of something being removed that had constrained him recently. It was removed and now he could feel his full power rushing back to him like exhaling a breath. At the gates a gust of cold wind would push back against her as she crossed the threshold. Some sense of foreboding like something hungry was watching her. It's maw dripping with anticipation with each step she took. Eyes following her as she could feel them. Like each statue was staring at her. Pleading for her to flee. The creature within was no mere man. Still she pressed onwards. Her path set in her determination now. In the distance it sounded almost like a child was laughing in the mist only to be drowned out by the increased sounds of the bats screeching. The wind pressed against her as it rattled along the old frame of the building. Almost whistling with the force of it. Each moment she grew closer it seemed the noise increased and above thunder rumbled in the sky but barely any clouds were there. It was only when she knocked that suddenly it was all gone. Silence filled the air as her first knock echoed through the air. The bats hurtled themselves back inside as the moon seemed to glow ever more. The second knock rang forth and the bell tower chimed with no bell. Just once. On the third knock the latch to the door opened.

Slowly the door would open as thunder with no clouds crackled outside. The green glow filled the room with a green mist coating the carpets. A dozen cats littered the room as all their eyes snapped to the girl and watched her in unison. None blinking. Candles were lit around the room with green flames as a man hovered in the center of the candle lit room. The green glow pulsing from him as he focused on his chakra. Pouring it out and pulling it in. It seemed to exit him in thin vesperal forms like wraiths that would fly around the room and back to him. Bone like faces stretched in a silent symphony of screams almost audible like a distant sound. If she stepped forward his eyes would snap open. Blood red eyes staring straight at her. As if they could see her very soul and they very well could do just that. He would unfold himself as his feet touched the ground and his outstretched arms seemed to pull the wraiths back into himself. The green glow would be faded and the candles were the only thing left illuminating the room. Casting dark shadows across the place as all the cats continued to stare. Despite the darkness those blood red eyes seemed to cast their own glow. Watching her as Five idly ran one hand through his light purple hair. Never breaking eye contact as the door would slam behind her. His voice would speak like a soft melody. Almost hypnotizing.

"What force compelled you to come here child? Do you not know who I am?"

Oooo laughing bats Jess thought as she heard the sounds of the area morph as she progressed. The sense of foreboding was something she was used to and as such continued forward with narry a care in the world, the environment was expected in a haunt after all, something had to scare the kids by distance alone. The slightly surprising part stemmed from the actions that coincided with her knocks which did not much effect her determination, the bats becoming silent was more surprising than the bell in the orphan's opinion and she pressed forward though true surprise arrived when the door was opened upon the third knock, the pauses between were not too long and so the bell was still ringing as the portal sprung wide.

Unblinking fuzzballs greeted her, many felines all that were attracted by her presence and as such Jess was highly flattered. Twelve was usually an orderly number in the occult and this was another good sign besides heralding the slight chance of petting some kitties.

The pulsating light eminated from what must be the chakra of the man levitating in the middle of the room, much as the genin had expected some form of human lived here though with what was occurring she did not blame the children for being mistaken. Screaming faces of contorted bones in agony sprang forth from the green tendrils which would certainly attribute to the rumors.

Proper house rules indicated that one must be invited into a house before stepping foot into one and as such Jess stood outside the door. If the man would then still open his eyes Jess would give a wave in response her metal braclets clanking together in a friendly musical tone. The colors that are here are simply amazing Jess would note as the room grew darker from the man's actions.

As he approached Jess would be pushed into the room by the door that had opened outward instead of inward and thus would have made her stumble in she was not as coordinated.

"No I do not, I was told you where some soot demon of sulfur and I figured such a creature would be lonely. My name is Jess, who are you? May I shake your hand?" Jess would ask before extending her arm if an affirmative was given. This was quite exciting to the young woman who was fascinated by the events had occurred and the decor of the grounds as well as the interior. "May I pet one of your cats?" the chemist would ask as an aside before she forgot about the fluffy poofters looking at her.

Five would tilt his head. This world was certainly full of more interesting characters than he recalled. Most people actively avoided him. They could sense just being near him how dangerous it was to be so close. Like he was one step away from slitting them all from chin to crotch. He tilted his head back a little as those eyes studied the girl.  Glowing red like the dim fire around them. Shadows cast over his face were deep but the glow seemed to break through. It was as if he saw everything she might try to hide from him. A lie to be told. A hidden secret. Anything she might think of the guilt or pride might suddenly reveal it all to him. Yet she didn't act as if she was in danger. That he was dangerous at all. She acted upon curiosity and he would smile to that. The red glow slowly fading from his eyes as he stepped slightly more into the light. His features more revealed now. He was actually fairly beautiful. Pale porcelain like skin, shoulder length purple and blue hair. All of his features dripped of beauty but those eyes. Now they were just purple eyes but they showed no emotion. No connection to the skin he wore or the smile on his face.

He would snap his fingers and just like that it was all gone. The candles, the cats, the dark glow. All of it wised away as if it never was. A mere illusion replaced by a fairly normal room. Lit by lights around the four corners with dark green wall paper. Furniture was scattered in random while the fireplace was cold and empty. It all seemed so much more empty now. Still she held out her hand and suddenly he stepped into her space. Close as he could with his left hand placed on the door next to her face. His right hand hid behind himself as he slowly pulled a trench knife from behind. His eyes staring down into hers a moment. "To try and find a lonely being and become it's friend. What if I told you I have none and have no need of any? What if you simply reminded me of a trespasser?" The knife would come out suddenly. The tip resting under her chin as he would attempt to force her to look up at him. "Bad things happened to those who came to my home while I was away. Thief's and looters. I assure you they steal no more. So if there are no spirits here, would you still play games with the devil you see?"

The trip pants that Jess wore could have held many of these vials but she had only brought three and needed one, the one she held in her right hand and was thrown at the center of the chest of the man as he advanced past where someone would to just shake a hand, one would stop three feet short and extend their hand, when he did not Jess hurled the vial that had been gripped in her right hand comfortable ensuring it would only shatter and take effect when launched and upon impact three feet away from her. The heat may be intense to her but if it landed would only damage the man who had violated an unspoken trust. It would be thrown at full speed as would all of her actions detailed in this post.

It was a liter so if he noticed the movement, stopped short and got onto his knees while groveling and offering recompence while not drawing the knife Jess could tell was on his person thanks to her intelligence rank then she would not throw the vial and instead hold it in a position to do so in a moments notice. "Don't, I have history with handsy men and you wont have anything if this hits you" she would not say this if the above conditions were fulfilled but some other action was beginning. And certainly not if the above actions were not immediately done.

If she had thrown the vial her left hand would open the door behind her and she would twist around the door slamming it shut and then jumping off of the door with her legs while launching her second vial at the door. The jump would launch her eight feet away from the door facing it and observing. The vial would impact the door a bit after it was launched when she was four feet away.

Bad things had happened to Jess when she was alone with men being a homeless orphan and as such she was quite attuned and paranoid about such things.

Five would notice quick movement to pull something bulky out. The light glistening off the glass of it as he watched. How unique. No one had ever attempted to attack him like this before. A chemical perhaps? He was at the very least intrigued. He would reach up his right hand and with some surgical dexterity roll it into a soft catch with no real impact. She was opening the door when she threw it. Still he was just as fast as she was. He was already moving when she started for the door right behind her so when she pushed her feet off of it it lurched open at the same time with a crack. As the door was flung open she would be launched with it as well. It was essentially her plan to begin with but if she wasn't expecting it to open so quickly perhaps her balance would be thrown off. It hardly mattered. Five was quick to pick her out of the air. Flying backwards as was her goal. Out of reach. A second projectile being awkwardly hurled at the door. Was her goal to damage his home? The audacity of this one. The sheer audacity.

Five would underhand throw his own liquid container to intercept the second one while standing in the torn open doorway. The two colliding in the air as fire rained down on the property but not the house itself. A small river of fire between the two of them. The flames dancing in Five's eyes as he glowered at her. Walking along the front of his home out of reach of her treachery. His fingers on his right hand dancing along the railing. His eyes only for her as he thought openly now. Despite the roaring chemical fire he could easily be heard. "A young girl comes to my abode. She enters and speaks of my art and a moment later tries to burn me alive. I am unsure what to do with you. By all means I should slit your throat for this offense. Yet what a waste that would be. Someone so uniquely gifted. Such a fascinating fighting style." He would pause to put both elbows on the railing and plant his chin in his hands as he smiled to her like a Cheshire cat. "You said you came to befriend, Do you prefer your friends dead? Or perhaps someone sent you. Speak up girl, I haven't much patience at the moment."

The catch would naturally switch Jess' actions so while the door was open she would not rush out of it due to the catch. Instead two more followed in quick succession one catching the one five launched if they would with two more coming their way. If five had thrown the vial one of the two Jess had thrown from her opposite hand would smash into it splashing both liters onto the man and angled away from her while the third would also hit if not stopped. As their speed was the same the vials would hit roughly equidistant to each other as five had planned on throwing while Jess was jumping backwards. The angle and curve of the throw was what would cause the splash back rather than the distance.

Chakra: 50/50

Five would watch as she ducked into her coat to pull out two more. Well shit. One hand was already full and he couldn't catch two more. That was certainly problematic. So instead as they flew out at E rank speed he would shift to back peddling as quick as he could. Getting out of the splash range. After all he didn't know what these did yet. Could be a gas or acid for all he knew. So he raced to behind himself to settle into a chair and watch. One leg crossing over the other as if he didn't realize she could still be trying to wipe the floor with him. Instead both of the bottles smashed into the fireplace and ignited into beautiful flames. He glanced to her to watch for any more things being thrown at him before a smile spread across his face. The remaining bottle balanced on his knee as he rolled it around with a finger on the top. Or vial rather. His eyes examining the liquid within. He was now no longer coming for her personal space. Hopefully that meant she didn't intend to pursue that line of assault. He really didn't feel like kill or be killed games at the moment.

He would watch the fire burning across the mantle and slowly sliding towards the wood floor before glancing over to her. As if they might not be about to burn and die. He didn't want to try to smother it after all less his foot becomes covered in the liquid or something. He needed knowledge now.  Oh how he loved knowledge. So he would speak in a calm voice with humor in it. Though it didn't match his purple eyes. Like a chesire cat. His voice was almost hypnotic. "Oh my oh my. You are a treat. So you value your personal space? Alright. And such ingenuity with the chemical fire. However I must ask that you put it out now lest my whole house begin to catch fire. I do value my things and it would be a pity to see talent snuffed out."

RULING:

Five's post is valid. He has sufficient perception, coordination, and time to utilize Passing Typhoon in order to defend himself from Jess's attacks. Jess has thrown the vials at E+ Tier Speed and given the fact that she is trying to lift and throw 2 liters worth of chemicals at him, I think its perfectly reasonable for him to execute a sealless jutsu that moves 2 Tiers higher than the projectiles being thrown at him.

Parties have 48 hours to post or appeal from the time of this ruling.

While odd two fireplaces did make things interesting, they were both lucky that the bricks were there though the fire would burn on them regardless. Luckily there were doors on both of the wood burners openings, so Jess shut them after the man would explain and she would explain why both were a bit quick to the jump.

Their reasoning was both understandable though the man's had to be inferred so Jess could be taking it wrong, regardless of if she was or not she would shut the doors instantly snuffing out both fires and allowing the material to be recollected though the vials would need to he replaced. "Quite so, unfortunately orphans have a rough life, I wish I was quick enough with a warning. I do apologize but am delighted you enjoy my chemicals, these are probably my least favorite but the only I've had funds to produce." As Jess spoke she would be shutting the door hatches on the fireplaces and collecting the now intert gell. If the doors were not hooks up to a hatch on the top of each chimneys they would not have been able to put out the fire and for that they should both be thankful for the man's odd design choice.

Turning with a wave Jess would leave and speak again, "I had hoped to find a ghost here however if you ever want to discuss purchasing chems of any type or wish to craft together if you have the skill let me know, it should be easy to find me on town now. My hunt for the occult continues, toodles!" With that if uninterrupted the genin would leave the place that lacked any spirits within aside from those created by living chakra.

Five would calmly watch as she went about putting out the fire and collecting the remains. What a unique girl. Still she seemed to have calmed down a tid bit. His house smelled a little funny now though so that was displeasing. He would simply remain where he was and let her go about her business. Still she would explain as she went about her business. Orphans huh? Well he supposed he was now but by no means had his life been hard. He had luxury around him for the most part. Aside from the last decade in prison he had actually rather enjoyed his comfort. Even there after the first week in prison no one came to his cell unless it was to deliver some food supplies. In general after he had made a point with the other inmates he had been left to his studies on medicine. Still it wasn't as if he was blind to the dark side of the world. He had made a name for himself in it ten years ago after all. Likely when the girl went back to their sensei they would find out about who exactly Five - the White Rabbit was. A nobody fresh out of prison that was just a hint of dangerous.

She would mention buying her crafts and a lack of funding. Five would tilt his head. If he could find out more about her funding he could provide. Still he would hold up her bottle for her to take. The one he hadn't lost. Letting her take it without any fuss. "Oh I am sure we will cross paths again. You are a unique young one. With a special set of talents. I won't soon forget." He would smile and wiggle his fingers idly as she said toodles and took her leave. Making no move to stop her. Instead he would wait until she was gone to move over to the fireplace nearest to him and run his finger along the burned bits. Tasting it to his lips before humming in thought. Well that was an experience. He would need to consider meeting people outside in a more open area in the future if he was going to threaten them. For now he would rise to his feet and light up a smoke from his pack in the kitchen. Such a stressful moment. Well no need to freak out for the moment. No real harm was done.

Exit thread