Not a home but a haunt

The Hozuki settlement for the clan was as bustling as usual. Business conducted as if nothing was ever astray here. Perhaps it was that no one usually dared to challenge the might of one of Kiri's most powerful clans. After all there were consequences for taking on one of the major powers in the nation. Something that would not be let go so lightly if one so much as slighted them. They held such impressive power and influence over the village itself and had produced dozens of powerful shinobi. One could even state they were a cornerstone of the economy. So it would simply be a fools errand to cross them. To be cross with them alone was likely endangering your well being. Holding grudges against an entire clan, how foolish. So as a result peace reigned over the clan compound. A massive thing stretching out over a large area with the woods pushed back nearly a quarter of a kilometer away. Even the mist seemed to avoid this place as if it may be consumed by their impressive blood line. Markets opening up to sell food and drink and even weapons for those so inclined. Yes indeed it was a peaceful morning in the Hozuki clan compound.

Along the tree line where the mist still clung though there was something else. Something created partially of their blood line and yet readily abandoned by them twenty years prior. Perhaps even forgotten by most after so many years. His grandparents, they lived somewhere down there. Cousins, Perhaps even nephews and nieces. He had no real way of knowing. He had never had contact with any of them. No one had once ever visited him in his long stay in the hospital and now that he was free of that place, he doubt they even knew. He doubted they knew of the danger lurking just beyond their settlement. Of the man who had been slighted by them and forgotten. He too held that Hozuki tradition of holding grudges. But he was no fool. He knew he lacked the strength to even be a threat to them. He needed to gain power and influence to challenge them and force them to regret the decision to abandon him. To let him suffer alone for two decades. He would let out a low growl that seemed to make the mist swirl around the tree's and the shadows stretch.

Ice blue eyes seemed to glow in the dark of the woods in the still rising sun of the morning. A damp cold clung to the branches and forest floor from the mist of the night before still as he stood next to a tree looking over them all. He was wearing something a little odd. Around his legs appeared to be bone layered pants. Almost bleached white over black boots. A black shirt with a high collar a little too big for his pale, frail form hung loosely on his body with a white doctors coat down to his knee's over it. His blue hair seemed wild with a single bang hanging about his face. His jawline on the outside seemed to also jut out with no skin over it as he stood there. Hand holding himself up as he rested against a tree to his right. He would make no move on the clan compound, but he wanted to see them. He couldn't make out details or even faces from this far away. Merely that it was lively and peaceful. However no creature stirred in the section of woods he was in. Silence was the sound that marked him. His aura pouring out like a beast stalking the mist. He was this far away because he knew if he approached....they would know him.

The glowing red eyes of the Yurei would glare out from beneath the black hood that covered his all white hair, his facial features hidden by his Rebreather painted with a demonic lipless grin upon the front. The male was in all black from head to toe, long sleeve jacket with a hood zipped all the way up to the Rebreather, black pants, black shoes. The only part of his outfit that was not black was the steel Kirigakure Hitai-ate, which he was using as a belt. His hands would be in his jacket pockets making the only visible part of him would be that of his eyes, he like it better that way. He didn't like people and most people avoided him when they would see him walking, the lipless grin painted upon his mask mixed with the all black clothes seemed to offset some people. Azrael did not why not did he care he wore it because it was comfortable, well the clothes at least. He wore the mask because from the moment he had seen it he knew it would complete his ensemble, the painting of the grin served two purposes. The first and most beneficial so far, people avoided him which meant he didn't have to talk to them. The second wouldn't be useful until he was actually confronted by someone, but he hoped it would prove useful with his Genjutsu.

Azrael was walking through the most of the forest surrounding Kirigakure, his sensory Technique active as well as his Chakra Ghost Technique. One could never be too careful when alone, and more than that it was slightly comforting for the male. The ghost allowed him to feel as though he wasn't alone, without the feeling of needing to talk. All the comforts of companionship without all the awkward words that are exchanged between them. His entire life all he knew of the world was the cruelty of his mother and his ghost friends, but once he escape the joining of society was far too overwhelming for him. He retreated into the forest where people where less likely to bother him, over the months he would gain the courage to make brief trips into the village but he would never stay long. The mask would help him with the trips into the village now however, people avoided him after he purchased it in the marketplace. He hoped his next trip would be just as peaceful.

The ghost horde would slowly move through the forest, the natural mist of the forest only adding to the ominousness of the horde. Azrael had no real direction just simply wandering with his chakra ghost surrounding him over a hundred meter radius. Then he felt it, a strange and powerful chakra on the edge of the village near the Hozuki. Normally Azrael would avoid encounters with people out here, it was the only real reason he had his sensing technique active. However, the unusual nature of this chakra seemed to call out to him drawing him closer to it. His curiosity of it all ended up prevailing and the horde would change directions and head towards this strange chakra, his movement nearly completely silent in his approach. He wasn't exactly trying to sneak up on whatever it was, but he wasn't one for a loud approach. It wasn't until he nearly got to the edge of the forest that he would find the source of the chakra, a man not much older than him standing next to a tree looking away from where Azrael now stood. Here he could feel the strength of the chakra even more than before, he was just under ten meters away from the man and it was as if he could not only sense the man's chakra but his soul itself. Azrael's hairs stood up on end, but he did not fear this man. No he felt as if this man was a kindred soul, and the power he sensed from the man only made him curious as to who or what the man was. But for now Azrael and the ghost horde would simply stand near the edge of the forest hidden in the shadows of the trees and the mist that surrounded them, the glowing eyes staring at the man. Watching.


Chakra: 99.5/110
-10 Chakra Ghost Technique
-.5 Sensing Technique

Sero would not notice the silent approach until after the horde had closed in. He had thought himself far enough away from the compound to avoid confrontation for the time being but it appeared he had been wrong. Entering into within ten meters of him though, he didn't sense any fear but he could tell someone was close. No real effort to hide their presence made sure of that. He would slowly turn his ice blue eyes to look over his shoulder to those who had virtually surrounded him. Cold blue eyes regarding the numbers with a calculated gaze. Contemplating his odds and their chances. A low growl would stir the woods and dead leaves would slowly drift down from the trees with the breeze. Slowly he would turn to face the horde as he glanced between each on of their silent stares. Blood red eyes staring back at him. So there was another beast or a dozen in these woods. Perhaps they were guardians of the Hozuki. Perhaps enemies of them. It was difficult to tell simply by looking at them. After all not much was visible other than those eyes. Those eyes that met his blues without hesitation.

Sero would watch silently for a moment as the fingers on his hands stretched out. Clenching and unclenching. Waiting for the other to make a move as the shadows seemed to stretch around him. His own shadow growing like some monstrous thing with long claws in place of where Sero merely had fingers. Some long gangly thing with horns. Thin and yet holding some strange power. Sero would take a single step away from the tree as he gave himself space to preform as needed if he had to. His eyes never seemed to blink but they would almost glow blue against the shadows of the woods. The mist clinging to the ground around his feet as he stood ready. Most might attempt to flee a horde of possible enemies but Sero remained calm as he gazed between them. He knew one simple thing these men likely did not if they had come here for his head. He refused to die. He had refused death since the day he was born and he would deny it here as well. If he had to kill every last one of them. The aura pulsed out in a dark wave like a thin black smoke pouring forth filled with murderous intent. When Sero spoke it was a cold voice that seemed to echo like a whisper all around. As if the dead were mocking them.

"If you have come for my life you have come to your resting place. I am no simple man that can be put down with sheer numbers. I am the beast that will haunt the nightmares of any who survive me."

A smile would form on Azrael's face as he watched the man and heard his words, though it would not be seen beneath the rebreather. The phantom felt the cold blue eyes of the man scan over him, for a brief second he saw into the soul of the man through his eyes. There was a power within him, a burning hatred that seemed to drive him despite the cold of his eyes. Azrael could see it in the way he stood readying himself, the shadow seemingly stretching out like a monstrous form, the aura of death that seemed to pulsate from him. Azrael would take it all in, there were many things in this world the male had never experienced yet all other things faded away from him. Never before had he felt such a presence before, it would send a chill of excitement through his blood. It was as  The man thought Azrael was there for his life, but that couldn't be further from why the male was there. Twas curiosity that drew in the phantom of the forest into the presence of the beast, and he didn't need his ghost sense to tell him this man had a long life ahead of him. Still as the man spoke of being the beast that will haunt the nightmares of those who survived him, Azrael couldn't help but wonder what are a beast's nightmares? What kind of horrors were locked away in the mind of a man who thinks of himself more beast than man, what does a beast fear. Slowly Azrael would remove his hands from his pockets while still hidden in the shadows and mist of the forest before forming the snake - rat handseals Azrael would project his chakra at the man, if successful leaves would swirl around the man triggering the Genjutsu and the man would be locked in his trap. The man's darkest fear would become the man's reality, then Azrael would really see what this beast was truly made of.

As the leaves would swirl around the man, Azrael would step out for the forest and into the clearing allowing the man to see him covered in black from head to toe. The male's Hitai-ate around his waist and his rebreather painted with a evil clown lipless grin. The horde that surrounded the pair would not move when Azrael stepped out into the light so that the man could see him, no they would continue to watch the man with their glowing eyes. Something went wrong though, it was as if there was a barrier around the beast stopping his Genjutsu from effecting the man. This just added to the curiosity, the phantoms excitement of this encounter went through the roof. Thinking carefully Azrael would speak yet his voice was a soft as a whisper distorted by his rebreather, the horde would speak in unison with him to ensure his voice was heard. "We are Legion, we are the walking nightmares of men taken in true form. We are what awaits those whose journey has reached it's end, We are Oblivion. All animals fight to survive, so tell us beast what will you do to survive?" At these words Azrael would form a string of handseals, dog - snake - monkey - ox - tiger. The handseals weren't fast, they didn't need to be. Azrael needed the man to see the handseals to trigger the Genjutsu, this one much stronger than the first be he attempted. The beast seemed to have some kind of protection, but Azrael would still try to break through this barrier and into the mind of the beast. This time Azrael would disappear, fading away into the mist of the forest. He would then move closer to the beast closing the gap down to five meters between them while hidden by his Genjutsu, once there the next phase began and the man would be rendered immobile. Azrael was curious to see what the beast would do when he couldn't move, but there was no need to rush this. Like everything the phantom did it would be slow and meticulous, he wanted to enjoy this and to learn more about this beast.

---

Chakra: 81/110
 - .5 Sensing
 - 5 ghosts
 - 3 demonic illusion: hell's viewing
 -10 demonic illusion: tree binding death

Learning:

Sero would feel something ripple through him. Leaves would float around him as the ground seemed to shift slightly. His ice blue eyes would lower as he felt something pass through him. Like a sickness rippling through his body. It wasn't very strong but it did lengthen the shadows. The tree's around him turning to bone as he narrowed his eyes. A low growl erupting from the woods around them as his lips would turn transparent for a moment almost like they were showing rows of fangs. He was sure now that one of the Kaguya had found him and were making an attempt. His blue eyes would slowly fade to black like the murky waters of the swamps before spreading through the entirety of the rest of his eyes. Pitch black met glowing red as a young man stepped out from behind a tree in dark attire hiding most of his pale features. Mostly just the red eyes seemed to glow as the rest of his face was hidden behind a smiling mask. Black eyes would watch as neither regarded the other with fear. Instead the boy would speak as the rest echoed him in unison. So, either some brainwashing, puppetry or genjutsu. The question was which was it? Surely this wasn't an impressive clone technique.

He listened as they claimed to be what awaits all living things. Or at least that was how he perceived it. All living beings shared on thing in common. The inevitability of death. As soon as the boys hands rose so did his own. They seemed to mirror each other with the amount of hand seals they both put up at the same time. Only theirs were different. Sero would use the following hand seals in rapid succession. Dragon, Dog, Snake, Rat, Rabbit. Without a word he would put his hands up in a triangle and point it at Azreal before watching him fade away. With a growl Sero would shift to kneel down and place his hands on the ground. Feeling himself suddenly become immobile. This was an interesting move. The man had faded from his sight and now he was paralyzed. Still his own technique did not require that he kept sight of the man. As Azreal would approach the ground in front of Sero would shift. His only warning that something was amiss here before Sero's own technique would take hold.

From the ground in front of Sero a bone serpent with blades lined up along its sides (1 foot long each) about five meters in length would erupt out of the ground at C rank speeds. Heading straight for Azreal. It was not connected to the movements of the caster any longer and had selected him as it's prey. The initial eruption would be simple to dodge. As the snake lurched forward in the most direct path. However this was no simple one time launch jutsu. The snake would go crashing through a tree. Toppling it with C rank strength before it would begin its slow turn as it prepared for another pass at it's prey. Following him and hunting him. If he wanted to avoid capture he was going to have to break his genjutsu by moving faster than the jutsu allowed to escape a second pass. Sero himself remained immobile as he watched and waited. As far as he could tell. His jutsu was seeking out an invisible prey.

500+
200/200 Bone serpent - lesser (C rank) Trained

-5 chakra Bone serpent lesser.

After fading from the man's view, Azrael's path would not be straight forward, no he wanted to enjoy himself a little and take his time. His path would be a slight arc moving to the left of where he was and slowly approaching Sero while still in front of the man but on his right side. Azrael watched as the ground in front of where he once stood shifted before a large snake of bones appeared on the ground, he would watch as the snake launched itself at where he once stood. A smirk formed on Azrael's face as the tree that had stood behind him toppled from the snakes strike, he was glad he was not standing in front of that strike. The smirk however would quickly fade as he saw the movement of the snake coming back from the tree, he wasn't sure what it was fully but it looked like it was coming straight for him this time. By this time Azrael would be right next to the knelt down man his Genjutsu in full effect now keeping the man immobile, Azrael shifted himself to the other side of Sero making it so that the snake couldn't get to him without going through it's master. As the snake drew closer Azrael's heart was pounding as he waited to see what the snake would do to it's master, however it would stop as though it was confused before launching itself over the man and straight at Azreal. Azrael's short stature was finally in the male's favor as he was able to duck the strike by kneeling down, the snake had made sure to launch above it's master and with Azrael being shorter than the man him kneeling allowed the snake to pass over him. He would wait to see if the snake decided to make another pass however it didn't seem to, feeling that he was safe from the snake Azrael would move back in front of Sero. The tree would be fully encasing the man now as it had rapidly grew around him, from here it would be easy for Azrael to kill the man or cause him psychological damage however for now he would simply keep him where he was. Azrael was curious about this beast but just standing here watching the man be unable to move was not going to be any fun, he would only watch for a few seconds before finally revealing himself in front of the beast however his Genjutsu would remain active keeping the beast from moving.

The ghosts that watched from the woods would fade leaving the pair alone, as they always were but now it would be apparent. "Seems like you have failed beast," Azrael would state his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke, though the close proximity they were now even with the distortion from his mask Sero would be able to hear the whisper. He would reach to grab a blade moving forward as if he was about to slit the man's throat, however when he reach towards the man there would be no blade. Instead of stabbing the man Azrael would simply touch the man's jawline where there appeared to be no skin, "Such a beast so easily captured." Azrael would whisper with disappointment before stepping back away from Sero. He would end his Genjutsu allowing the man to move again, he knew the man could turn around and kill him just as easily as he could have killed the man while still trapped in his Genjutsu. Still Azrael would shrug off the thought of the man attacking him and would begin to whisper once more, "I can feel the power within you, I was hoping to have a challenge but your mind is weak and it's no fun to crush such a thing." His eyes no longer the glowing red they were once before and instead his dark blue eyes would be glaring out from under his hood. He would watch the man with careful eyes in case the man decided to attack him, though even if the man did at this distance Azrael doubted he could dodge it.

---

-.5 sensing
80.5/110

Sero would watch as his snake slammed out of the ground and tore through a small grouping of thin trees. It turned and pursued some unseen thing as if it were coming straight for it's caster. Sero would watch calmly. His ice blue eyes watched as it shifted course to go over him and fly off into the woods like a rocket once more. Soon it became apparent though why it had moved straight for him. Before his eyes the red eyed man materialized and spoke. So confident and sure of his victory. Eyes merely shifted to the knife and then back to those eyes as it tapped the bone on the side of his face. This man...this being had called him weak of mind and easily captured. Than as if it wasn't entertaining enough for him the man simply released the genjutsu. Sero felt his limbs freed from this illusion as the other ghosts faded as did the Eyre if the red glow. Still Sero would slowly rise back to his feet as he stood facing the man. A low growl erupting from him slightly as whispers seemed to echo from the mist. This person was playing games. That much was clear.

From the mist behind Sero the snake from before would erupt and charge straight for the man. It hadn't simply gone away. Merely taken it's time to turn around as it was a very straight forward creature. It seemed to be bent on pursuing it's prey. However Sero would simply hold out it's hand as the snake was about to pass him. As if on que the snake would shudder to a sudden stop. The whispers echoing louder in the mist before Sero closed his fist. Tightening it around on of the bone blades on the side of the snake. The entirety of the being would shudder one final time before falling to pieces. No longer being supplied with a constant supply of chakra to give it life. Sero held the bone blade in his hand and stared with a cold blue gaze like ice taking in the genjutsu specialist. So that was what it felt like. Genjutsu. He would tilt his head. Speaking as the voices echoing in the mist suddenly stopped whispering. His voice cold in response.

"Captured? Did you think me defeated because you brought a knife so close to my throat? I could see why that conclusion crossed your mind. But you would be wrong, and it would have cost you."

With that Sero would spin the blade in his hand so it was pointing directly at the side of his neck before plunging it deep in. His neck suddenly taking on the appearance of a dark, murky water as the bone pierced through. Slicing all the way from one side to the other slowly as if merely passing through water until it came out the other side with Sero unharmed. Sero would roll his neck from the discomfort but beyond that he didn't seem bothered. Instead there was echoes of child like giggling in the mist. With that done Sero would toss the bone blade to the side and let it wither away like ash. He would speak once more as the mist seemed to fall silent reverently for him again.

"I am no common being so easily brought to the brink of death. From birth my own blood has tried and I defy that fate still. If you are done playing games with me reaper, I suggest an introduction. Clearly your intent here was not to kill me. However I would not insult me further. For I am Sero the Abomination. And I do not take kindly to threats."

Azrael would look as the sound of the bone creature came charging at him once again, he had thought it was over. He would step back and was about to form handseals when the beast would outstretch his hand and stop the creature in it's tracks. Getting a better look at it now, the ghost would realize it was a bone snake meaning that the beast was of the kaguya clan. An unseen smile would form beneath the ghost's rebreather, 'how cute, he thought I was going to do something physical to him.' the ghost thought to himself as the beast spoke of not dying so easily and taking a bone through his own throat unharmed, the ability did increase the ghost's curiosity in the beast. Not only did he possess kaguya bones he seemed to also possess the Hozuki's ability to turn into water, it was simply fascinating. Did he kill someone of the other clan and somehow gain their power or was he somehow both. The gears in his mind were turning with questions, though the ghost would not let it show. Keeping it hidden just as his appearance was, "the are more ways than the physical to kill a beast" the ghost would whisper, "we could turn your mind into nothing more than mush, and your little trick wouldn't help you then." Though his voice was no more than a whisper it carried a tone that showed he would not be intimidating by the beast. Azrael wouldn't pay any attention to the whispers in the mist, his sensory technique told him there was no one there. He had used similar tricks against others in the past, to cause them even more fear. When the beast spoke again he would ask if the ghost was done playing games and for an introduction, while introducing himself and advising against insulting him by threatening him. Azrael would lift a single finger before moving it back and forth, "tsk, tsk, tsk." Azrael would lower his hand and stare into the eyes of the beast before finally whispering, "we have already told you who we are. We are the Angel of Death, all things die one day beast and on that day your soul will join us. We do not threaten we speak only truth, none can escape the grip of death." At these words Azrael's eyes would turn back to the glowing blood red they were before, the ghosts returning to the forest tree line where they had been before. Some even coming out from the forest into the clearing to surround the pair, none of them moving fast or threateningly, just menacingly slowly walking to encircle them. This time when the ghost whispered the horde spoke in unison with him once more, echoing his words out into the forest. "Life is the game we all play, different for everyone but the end result will always be the same, Oblivion. We are curious, Sero the Abomination. How many souls will you send to us, before your own becomes ours?"

Sero would watch as the young mans eyes turned red again. Once more suggesting there was more ways to kill than just the physical. Perhaps this being thought himself more capable or more inhuman than Sero. It didn't matter. Sero had no desire to prove himself superior to anyone. He simply had purpose to him. A drive to be something more. However he could not deny that this one was capable in different ways than Sero was. Another creature of drive and purpose. Another being twisted by fate in some horrid fashion. However the two of them together was like a fuel source waiting for a match. Waiting for someone playing with fire. Someone they needed to burn to ashes and make an example of. Sero wasn't a fool that would be blinded by his pride when something appeared before him of use. He would consider his options as this one continued with his talking in circles and metaphors. Much like how Sero himself did. Which was fine so long as this one did not try and command Sero, such insolence was where his reasoning stopped and his pride began. He would need to watch his temper he decided. For his sake and Sayuri's.

As the young mans eyes would shift black with a glowing red center so would Sero's but with a glowing blue center. The illusions stepped out of the tree line like a mass of enemies once more and truthfully Sero couldn't tell the difference. He figured it was a genjutsu based on the interaction before. Sero would keep eye contact all the same though despite the dangers. When the young man stopped smoking Sero would calmly walk forward until they were standing face to face if Azreal allowed it. Standing before the real one for now as their dark eyes met. The whispers seemed to pick up more and more as the mist danced at the union of the two monsters. Fate and death dancing along the tapestry of time. For these two to have come across each other now was either a blessing to the nation or a curse dabbling on the edge of madness. Sero would look into the other mans eyes as he searched for something. Perhaps an intact mind not lost entirely to madness. However when he spoke it was calm. Despite the pressure building from the two standing so close together.

"Why wait and see? Join me and we shall reign down death upon the heads of those who have hell to pay. We shall see how many wicked souls we collect before either you or I are killed."

Azrael watched as the beast drew closer to him, the ghost would not waver from his stance. Allowing the beast to get as close as he wished, as the mist dance and the echos on the wind grew louder. He meant to show the beast that he could not scare the dead, nor would he be able to kill it. His glowing red eyes meeting the beast's cold blue, the ghost would contemplate the beast's words of joining him. The idea was intriguing, Azrael did not need to see the future to know the destruction that this man would leave in his wake. The mere thought running through his mind made his adrenaline skyrocket, chaos unleashed upon the wicked. More souls to join his collection, more friends for himself. The male would remain silent for a moment after the beast spoke, allow the whispers of the mist to return. There was a joy in the air, this Sero may have a weaker mind than his own. The man held a power Azrael could never hope to hold, in the ghost eyes the beast might as well be a God.

The ghost would smile as his eyes turned back to his normal color, the red glow fading and returning to dark blue. The ghosts would fade with his eyes, as he lifted one hand to remove the cowl that covered his head with one hand while his other would remove his rebreather. His pale skin and white hair standing out against his all black clothes, his lips pressed together in a wicked grin. "We would be happy to bare witness to the carnage, this one is named Azrael. This one would be happy to serve you, Sero the Abomination, as Chaos is unleashed." His voice would be no higher than a whisper, with his ghosts now gone there would be nothing to carry his voice. It depended on the beast whether or not he was able to hear it, as the male would never speak louder than that without his ghosts. He was curious just how far the man would go to hold true to his words, would he truly unleash the chaos the ghost wished to witness upon the world or was he merely talk with no follow through. Though if he was being honest with himself, Azrael could always hold true to his earlier words of crushing the man's mind if he bored him. The voices on the wind would seemingly grow louder like a choir singing rejoice at Azrael's words of joining the beast, it would seem as though their union was destined to be. And so it would be.

Sero would listen as the young man whispered his agreement to him. So the young mans name was Azreal. What an interesting name. Certainly a different sound from the normal names he heard in passing. He would search into the mans eyes a moment. Looking to see if there would be more attacks coming his way. It seemed however that no such thing would be prominent in the day. At least not from this one who refereed to himself in the third person. A part of this one spoke to Sero of insanity. However he would have his uses. If others would turn him away for the way he was he would fit in well with Sero. After a moment Sero would give a slow nod before turning to look back to the clan compound. Standing so far away would not have attracted much attention from the compound but the toppled tree's would have been noticed more than likely. He could already see there was some commotion below. His eyes squinted as it seemed like there was a man screaming and trying to bar their path from going to investigate. Most likely a sensor type that had felt all the way out to them and was attempting to keep his clan members from marching into their own death. He did seem frantic after all.

"We can't stay here. They will have questions and it is not my experience that those who do not understand me would still seek to treat us well. I would not see them all found dead before I have had the chance to pass judgement, I only seek to purge the wicked."

With that Sero would walk passed Azreal quietly and begin to walk into the woods and deeper into the mist. He wasn't hurrying really. So long as they didn't catch up to them directly they would likely chalk it up to someone training close to the compound. If they did pursue him over a couple of trees or the frantic ramblings of the sensor nin he would deal with that then. He had seen the compound he had hated for so long and now it was back to gaining strength and power. He would glance to his side to see if Azreal was keeping up. If he was Sero would speak up once more. It seemed the people he met were people of very few words indeed.

"Are you familiar with the forbidden dead lands to the south? Feel free to simply nod if you are."

Azrael would replace the Rebreather on his face as Sero looked back to the compound, returning his cowl to cover his head as he began suppressing his chakra. They had caused a commotion and now there would be trouble, the ghost would look down at the compound he expected there would be blood. The beast however did not wish for such things, saying he wished to pass judgment and only purge the wicked. Azrael would tilt his head slightly as the man began to move, questions forming in his mind that he would keep to himself as he moved to follow Sero. The main question on his mind was, Are not all humans wicked? However he would not question the beast, he swore an oath and now he was a tool for the beast's will. He would allow Sero to choose whose soul he added to his collection, and he would do whatever Sero asked of him. He viewed it as an honor to be considered such a thing, having lived so long without a purpose locked away. To finally be free to do as he please, he would follow the man for he could see the bloodshed the man would bring upon this world. For his purpose now was to cleanse this world of the wicked as his master saw fit. "This one is aware," the ghost would whisper along with a nod just in case Sero did not hear him. He had wandered through most of the lands surrounding the village and the far reaches of the island, search for a purpose including the lands the man spoke of. He wondered why the man would want to know about that, unless he planned for them to split up. Of course that was fine with him as well, he could even provide a good harmless distraction for those that might follow if Sero asked. He was use to travelling alone, and if any sensors decided to follow his ghosts would be more than enough to provide Sero with cover from tracking.

The young man would keep up with him easily or so it appeared. Sero would chance a glance over his shoulder only briefly before noting he didn't readily see anyone following them. Perhaps they would merely chalk the sensory nin to being subjected to some part of the technique that toppled the trees and thus driven temporarily insane. Perhaps. Still his ice blue eyes would take in his new companion a moment before they would find themselves moving over the edge of a small cliff a half mile from the compound and coming to a stop in a trench with a creek in it. The water trickling along and providing life to the area around it. He would pause as he took a deep breath. Feeling the air filling his now burning lungs. Like two children from the academy running from an accident they caused. It was humorous in a way. Still Sero would glance at the top of the cliff as if waiting a moment. To see if anyone would clear it and engage them. He didn't trust humans much. Nor anyone from either of the clans he was descended from. Selfish and cruel people that would sell out their own to maintain their image. After about thirty seconds of waiting and listening he would decide that no one was coming after all. His blue eyes returning to look to Azrael a moment before he would speak once more. His voice calm with his breath returned to his normal state.

"A hundred or so meters from the river lays a deep cave that most never wander towards. There is a woman in the cave there named Sayuri. She is also an ally of mine. If you meet her there I will join you when I can. There is still much to do. I have arrangements to see to in order for us to do what we wish without the village coming for us. Will you do this legion?"

Azrael could feel the sting of exhaustion setting in as they ran, though he would not complain. Death is never tired, if he was truly death incarnate he would survive. When the reached the river and Sero would rest, a light sigh of relief would escape the ghosts lips. Happy that Sero decided to grant him some rest, though he would hide the fact beneath his rebreather and cowl. Azrael would look around taking in his surroundings, it was quite a scene but the male had nothing to really compare it too other than it needed to have a little more blood sprayed around. When Sero would mention an ally, Azrael's attention would rise. The beast had a partner already, this would be interesting the male thought to himself as Sero asked if he would be able to do it. "This one will do as commanded, Lord Sero. This one will seek your ally and await for you in the cave. We have waited many years, this one can stand to wait a little while longer." Azrael's voice still the whisper it always was, yet this was the most words he had ever said to a single being. Perhaps it was because the ghost was now starting to view the beast as more god than man, or because the beast had promised him what the ghost sought or maybe it was the possibility of meeting more like Sero that drove him to wish to head to the place Sero spoke of. No matter what the case was it did not really matter, Azrael swore and oath that he intended to uphold. Though he was now more curious than before with the idea of meeting more like him. The Angel of Death would depart from Sero without another word, headed to find the cave and this Sayuri.

{Exit}

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Sero would listen to the angel briefly as he spoke the most words he had spoken thus far. Sero would nod to him as they parted ways and watch the myth of a man fade into the mist. Like a wraith that had attached itself to him. Sero could not deny this one held power. A different power than the kind Sero held but a power just as strong. It may make one wonder what the two of them would accomplish and how much others should fear what was coming. The wicked of the world were to be judged and their judgement would be harsh. Only after the other faded from his limited vision did Sero turn and head away from his position as well. If he was still being tracked he did not wish to be found. So he would move to head to the other clan compound. Unlike the Hozuki this one did wish death upon him. Or had at least ordered as much when he was not yet born and failed to accomplish it. If he held hate for anyone it was the elders of that clan. He did not take attempts at his life lightly. For now the beast of the mist would also fade within it. Hunting and lurking.

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