[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Yosei was staring at one of the many, many shrines that filled the cemetery. The Civil War combined with the Sanbis destruction of the village had left everyone with some form of loss, some form of mourning. Yosei still remembered the Sanbi, the destruction. The fear. It had seemed unstoppable, smoke had filled the boys nostrils as it had destroyed everything in its path eight years ago. And everyone. Which is why the clan elders had insisted the boy go to the cemetery, visit the clan shrine, pay homage to the fallen. The Kuronmeru weren't spared from the Sanbis wrath, but however many had fallen in that attack, the Civil War had been far worse, taken a far heavier toll. Taken far more lives that the boy was expected to pay homage to, to light the candle, to at least pay respects if not give a short prayer. But the boy was doing none of that. He was simply staring at the shrine, thinking of fallen. Thinking of the weak.

It was strange he couldn't help but think. The Kuronmeru weren't ones for sentimentality, it had been drilled into him from birth of how the natural order of things was survival of the fittest. The strong survived. The dead that filled this cemetery, the dead represented by this shrine, they had all been weak. And the only purpose of the weak is to die to the strong. That was life. That was how he was raised. The Kuronmeru were full of failures, that was true, but that was forgivable, it was natural. No one, mot even a clan as great as the Kuronmeru, can always succeed. Watching the Sanbi destroy everything, the Kuronmeru unable to stop it, had taught him much about failure and how when it happened all you could do was move on, that instead of punishing someone for their failures it was better to ask them to do better next time. After all, if the Kuronmeru can fail, anyone can. But there was no weak Kuronmeru. For the weak Kuronmeru were here, in this cemetery. And the boy stared at the shrine, expressionless, wondering what would make the clan elders want to remember the weak with this physical affront to everything the clan stood for

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

Enyo was not much for sentimentality. The elders aside, he was not good at listening even if he was given a command. It was something that ran deep in his own family, a micro-representation of the clan at large. They fell to no one, and listened to their own whims with an audacious bravery. Of course, there was protecting the village and all that nonsense, but they did it for the benefits, not because they had a great deal of loyalty. Enyo perpetuated this concept, he was not loyal to any one concept, or any one person. Loyalty was fickle too, he would do what was best for him in any moment, or what was best for a concept. If it meant running away when others had to die for the sake of a mission? He would do it. He would kill friends too, though the concept of true friendship was bitterly foreign to Enyo who had no one that was truly *close* to him and this was by his own design as well.

So, when he wandered by the memorial area of their compound. Not truly a cemetery - as there was only one cemetery for the entire village - but a place for mourning and saw Yosei, he could not help but sound his opinion. Though, Enyo could never *help* sounding off, he always had a sharp tongue and opinionated mind. Fearless of consequence, or perhaps forgetful of any consequences. It was hard to tell with the boy who had manipulated his own mind to think and feel certain ways. So, he stood for a moment at the threshold before he wandered towards the clan member that he knew well enough - after all they had been academy mates together not too long ago - and joined him shoulder to shoulder.

"Are the dead talking to you?" His voice pierced the silent air, it had a light quality to it almost as if he were mocking those that had been buried.

Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Yosei was so focused on the abomination in front of him he didn't realize he had company until said company was standing directly next too him, Yosei's eyes glancing too the side to see a boy with pale skin and black hair, the telltale signs of a Kuronmeru. And this was one he was familiar with, both having been Academy students only a few short years ago, Enyo, his cousin. The spiky haired boy couldn't contain the laugh at the well dressed boys words, a deriding snort of condescension, not at Enyo but at the dead themselves. The boy turned to face the newly arrived boy now, his red eyes meeting Enyo's blue. When have the Kuronmeru ever given mind to what the weak say? While the genin before him had been subtle in his disrespect of their fallen clansmen, Yosei was openly blatant. He talked ill of the dead with a smile on his face and his voice chipper as could be, as if they were talking about their day, instead of gravely insulting his own clansmen literally on their graves.

Then the boy relaxed a bit, his cheeky smile turning calmer, as he turned his head towards the shrine once more. What were they thinking installing that? It was a stark contrast, the pure disdain in his voice while at the same time looking as relaxed as could be. Though the boy wasn't prone to strong emotions, his carefree attitude being his default. And yet, he was upset enough to insult not only the shrine itself, but the elders in his own clan for having set it up in the first place, or if not insult at least show some rebellious thoughts as he openly questioned their intentions. And that wasn't the only question he had, his blood colored eyes meeting Enyo once more, or, at least the color of the blood of lesser beings.

So why are you here anyways? I can't imagine you'd want to be here. Yosei doubted that Enyo was the type to volunteer too come here, to mourn those who proved too weak to live, something so wholly anti-Kuronmeru. And while Yosei wasn't too intimate with the boy, something he wasn't sure anyone was, he had at least known him long enough both in the academy and at the compound too know he could something of a maverick at times. Meaning he really couldn't begin to guess on whether he was here legitimately, or if instead he had hidden intentions that the spiky haired boy simply wasn't aware of.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

Enyo almost smirked, and shrugged almost dismissively. The weak had no place in their clan, that was a well known fact. Strength was perhaps one of the most well known tenants of the clan and it was the reason why Enyo chased and sought after his own siblings at every turn. He wanted to kill them or maim them to show off his own skill. Alas, it had yet to happen and he had gained a cruel nickname within the confines of his own family for it. It was a blessing and a miracle that his black blood had finally made itself known, or else he truly might have been dead.

"It is quite ugly... Not as ugly as some of the other shrines the *other* clans have." Though he was quick to insult the weak, and the dead in this instance, he also believed his clan was superior to the others. In other words, though their weak and dead were in fact, quite weak and quite dead, they were still stronger and better in death than the dead of the other clans. This was a very clear separation.

"Me? I saw you, I was just walking by." He shrugged once more, his presence had no real rhyme or reason. "Why are you here?"

Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

It was nice to see some truths upholding, the young boy almost feeling like he should be questioning his reality while looking at his family shrine, and how the elders could become so adrift that this thing could be seen in any positive way. But Enyo having the same dismissive attitude kept the boy grounded, reassured him that he wasn't the insane one. And once again found himself laughing at his cousin's differentiation between their fellow clansmen and the lesser-bloods rotting corpses. At least they were both normal, saw the truth, even if the elders were getting sentimental in their age.

That's no way to talk about your fellow countrymen, your brothers and sisters in arms. Once again the boys face was nothing but relaxed as he spit out nothing but pure venom, the disdain apparent in his voice as he repeated the academy's mantra of working together. He understood how the clan had ended up using their medical knowledge for as a whole, it helped get them their freedom. But to the scarf wearing boy it almost seemed like a waste of their talents. The most care that Yosei could garner for the lesser-bloods was one of passing interest, as if they were an animal caught in a trap, something you release and if it dies afterwards it's not your problem.

Anc the venom would only continue as Enyo asked what he was doing here. The boys smile would even manage to waver, showing just how much everything about this truely annoyed him. The clan elders, in their infinite wisdom, thought I should find deeper connection to the clan. I suppose I'm supposed to appreciate these weaklings for something... He found himself looking at a cup with a prayer stick in it as he explained. And he immediately had an impulse, an intrusive thought most would simply ignore and wave away. But he did not, instead he reached out and slowly dragged the cup closer and closer to the edge with a finger. And with one little flick, it went over, a shatter breaking the silence of the sacred ground as the prayer stick extinguished itself on the dirty ground. And for the first time today, Yosei let out a true smile. I suppose that might lead to me being haunted now. I wonder if our ghosts are better than the lesser-bloods ghosts as well? Yosei turned to Enyo, satisfaction and happiness radiating at his vandalism of the dead.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

Enyo giggled in response, thinking Yosei's statements to be horribly amusing especially the mockery of their elders and the village-wife belief that they should defend the nation. Enyo only believed in defending the clan, alas, they were a *clan* and therefore not large enough to constitute a village. Though the village hidden in the black blood did have a nice ring to it...

The genin knew why they were stuck here, but he did not like it and most of his fellow clansmen held the same belief. Only the broken and mentally inept thought otherwise, and they deserved punishment and mockery for all their ineptitude.

Of course, Enyo had tiers... Standards... Someone in Kirigakure was far superior to anyone outside of it. An ally might rank higher thank an enemy as well, on certain occasions. So at least they were in the best village - the slightest of nationalistic brainwashing slipped through his mindscape. Though it never trumped what he had been taught of his own clan.

Enyo didn't flinch or jump at the sudden clatter and crash he just kind watched it blankly and then looked over to Yosei.

"Maybe." If ghosts were real anyway, and Enyo was rather practical and science minded. He didn't believe in those types of silly things.

"Let's go. No point in sticking around here, the elders have no say in what we do with our days." It wasn't true, but Enyo didn't care and motioned for Yosei to follow along down the wealthy paths of their clan compound to a small clearing of grass, sometimes used as a sitting area, sometimes for training.

"How's academy treating ya?"

Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Hm? He wasn't expecting such a suggestion from his black haired companion, to simply skip out on clan duties. Being caught doing such a thing could have unpleasant consequences. But the red eyed boy wasn't going to question it. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that. The boy would step on the prayer stick in one last act of disrespect before leaving.

It was nice to be with a similar mind such as Enyo at least, Yosei feeling like he wasn't losing his mind when the boy had laughed at his remarks regarding all this. And to an extent, he held some similar sentiments regarding the larger world. Kirigakure was the greatest nation in the world, so it only made sense their allies were better than their enemies. Like a stray dog you occasionally feed but never take in versus a rabid animal that's only good as a corpse.

And yet that feeling from before, that uncertainty he'd felt when he'd realized it was Enyo was still there, this hyper awareness of the boys maverick streak that ditching an assignment from the elders themselves only reinforced. Yosei liked Enyo. He felt like they connected on a lot of things. But Enyo made the academy student nervous. But nerves wouldn't be enough to break the draw Enyo had on him, and the boy would give an honest shrug at the question on how the academy was going. Its easier than the training we get at the compound. Though I still need to learn two more jutsus before graduation. He was almost at the end, the finish line in sight. And it was true, no matter how hard the Academy was it never rose to the training at the Kuronmeru compound. The scars on both boys would attest to that. Then Yosei let out a pre-emptive laugh, already looking forward to Enyo's reaction. Nomu is still there. The black sheep of the Kuronmeru, the Kuronmeru who had renounced his own name. The Kuronmeru's biggest failure. And while Yosei might have a tolérance for failures, this was not a universal sentiment.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

Enyo fancied himself a superior of sorts, at least towards the academy students. He had graduated a little while ago and had a bit of experience under his belt. It was enough for him to feel boastful, an ego inflated beyond normal means, despite the fact that those like his brothers still made sure to remind him of his place in the world. He was an ant, easily squashed. But not for long, he would show everyone what happened if they messed with the likes of him. Killing his brothers was not off the list entirely, killing them to prove his strength? It was very much up at the top of the list.

"Which jutsu?" Enyo asked with a sneer, betraying his own feelings. Yosei should not be lagging behind. He had seen a few individuals join the genin ranks recently, that meant Yosei was not moving at the speed a Kuronmeru would be required to move at. To show their superiority by brutally beating the rest of their classmates. The mention of Nomu made Enyo's flesh prickle, the pitiful disgraceful thing. There were people like Enyo, late bloomers who had been written off a little too early and then there were those like Nomu - those who did not deserve to have the beautiful blood that ran free through their veins.

"Lame. Well you better graduate before him. Or you know what that means, right?" There was a tug at the corner of Enyo's lips then as if he were a puppet controlled.

Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

For a boy so obsessed with the idea of failure, and what it means to be one, Yosei has actually very little experience with it in his day to day life. While inglorious, struggling to wield the black blood early on wasn't that uncommon, even some of the highest ranked Kuronmeru had been late bloomers when it came to wielding it. And yet despite that, despite the fact the very boy in front of Yosei had struggled with it at first, Yosei had picked it up quite fast. He could already manipulate the ink-like bile that marked him for superiority, able to control it's movements as if he were using a brush like a painter.

And yet, Enyo's face upon realizing that Yosei hadn't mastered every academy jutsu said just how much that mattered in the end. A Kuronmeru was expected to be the best at everything compared to their peers. Or else they were a failure. And while failure in itself might not upset the usually nonplussed boy, seeing Enyo's sudden mood change had sent alarms screaming throughout his body. The the boy who naturally put Yosei on edge had sent him into full on alert mode, and the increased tension was noticeable. As the red eyed boy felt his breath hasten he realized, it wasn't just that Enyo made him nervous. Enyo kind of scared him. And so he would tell him the truth.

The invisibility cloak... If any of the academy jutsus could be considered an anti-thesis to the Kuronmeru ideals, it was probably this one. Instead of strength or skill, or even any real cunning that could be appreciated by the more pragmatic Kuronmeru it was just...Stupid. A jutsu whose only purpose was to hide in the least effective way possible. Had anyone ever used this after graduating, had it ever changed the tide of a battle. Somehow the red-scarf wearing boy doubted it. Though, while he might be telling the truth on not yet having mastered such a pointless jutsu he left out about still struggling with transformation. Something he would be expected to have a better mastery than he currently did. And with the way Enyo was now, he wasn't going to inform him of this particular failure.

And speaking of failure, Yosei watched with amusement at Enyo's reaction the mere mention of the boy's name. Usually Yosei was more of the carefree sort than a troublemaker trying to get reactions out of people. But it was pretty amusing, how one person, one name could be so despised by an entire clan. And yet the names of other failures in the clan, like those that had died fighting the three-tailed monster, were being remembered by an entire memorial site. Yosei scoffed at his own thoughts. While he might be OK with failure, he didn't like hypocrisy. Especially when it elevated the corpses of weaklings.

His attention snapped back as Enyo started talking again, and Yosei wasn't sure if that was an amused smile or a grimace as the boy referenced the consequences that could come from lagging behind. With Enyo it could be either, even though they both understood just what those consequences would be. The Kuronmeru had no need for weaklings. And it would be beaten out of him. Even if it killed him in the process. His early adeptness with the black blood could only get him so far after all. And Yosei would look down at his arms, his sleeveless top fully revealing them and their scars. He was always proud of those scars, showing how he'd managed to control his the blackness inside him. But he wondered. Would he be proud if they moved onto other parts of him, and then he looked at Enyo and wondered if he had any scars hidden away in shame. Even Nomu was a Kuronmeru long enough to learn that much. Any Kuronmeru who doesn't know and can't accept it...Isn't a real Kuronmeru.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

Enyo was a boy of superficiality. He did not care about the inner mechanics of the mind, he loved what was presented. First, the most important thing was someone's fashion, the way they looked. Did they appear superior to him? They could garner some respect, though most of the time it was he and his brothers who were above all the most well-dressed. Indeed, he was proud of that. Perhaps too proud. Second, Enyo saw the body for what it was, and he studied it thoroughly as was the duty of any Kuronmeru to know the ins and outs of a human body, maximize the damage that one did. Some would consider psychological warfare to be a part of that, but Enyo did not like to dive too deep beyond the surface level.

Which was why the way Yosei was being introspective was annoying him, and in the end he only revealed that was unawares of one technique when he had originally cited two.

Though, what Yosei said next, Enyo had to tilt his head at the other a little. He had no idea what he was saying, what he was talking about. Enyo's smile widened, though it was just that - superficial, tugging at his lips like a pretty doll, unblemished and perfect. He took *good* care of himself. Unlike Yosei it seemed who was covered in scars.

"I don't know what that means," He cooed, almost a touch unpleasantly before he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out three senbon.

"Why don't you take care of those ugly scars, hm?"

Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Look were important, presentation was important. Regality was important. This was another lesson that was emphasized by the Kuronmeru, beaten into them like everything else. And yet, too most it would seem to be something Yosei almost disregarded, his outfit not even resembling something that would be looked at as something one of the top clans of the country would wear. His black sleeveless shirt screamed comfort and mobility over the soft yet stuffy silken traditional robes Enyo was wearing, and they did indeed reveal the scars that lined up along his arms, something Yosei hadn't actually expected him to take such offense too. His pants weren't much better, while of obviously fine quality that befit his clan, the style was far less so with his clothes once again going modern and practical over traditional. In short, he looked like a common bandit instead of a member of one of the great houses. The only thing on him that could come off as regal was the red scarf he wore, bold and eye catching. And even that he wore like a bandanna instead of letting it flow elegantly.

But there was a reason for this beyond the boy simply disliking how such traditional clothes made it harder to move. While Enyo might consider them eyesores, the boy found his own beauty in the scars cut along his arm. They were the evidence of his superiority, he wanted people to see them, to know just why the Kuronmeru were so much better than all the other clans. Beyond the clothes, beyond the titles, beyond the money, was the black blood in their veins. Just because you can't take pride in your scars doesn't mean I won't take pride in mine for being able to control my blood earlier than most. Yosei wasn't dumb, he wasn't going to say what he was thinking, about why Enyo might not be proud of his scars out loud. But that didn't mean he wasn't willing to imply it.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

The words lingered in the air like ash, suspended with time and Enyo found himself staring at Yosei as if the entire world had gone still and silent around there. It had not, the birds were still singing in the background, the wind was still moving, a breeze twirling with the mist that clung to the ground like a lover too sorrowful to let go. But between Enyo and Yosei, it had all gone still, it was the the terrifying stare that Enyo had when something did not go quite how he wanted. The tinge of anger, a calculated brutality. The sound of a blade came, his left hand moving the mechanism of his fumei ha in and out as it flicked in and out of its sheathe along his arm.

A smile started to creep up onto Enyo's features, tugging at the corners of his lips with almost too much excitement.

"Is that so?" The blade kept slicing through the air, disturbing the fog nearby as it did. Even the implication it seemed had been enough to set Enyo's mind ablaze, Yosei had no right to say what he did to Enyo. Or, if he did, he certainly better have the muscle to back it all up because Enyo did not take even subtle insults without a fight. His family was notorious for having some of the most brutal training even among the Kuronmeru, he heard the rumors too how he might have had other siblings but because they had not presented with their kekkei genkai they were put down at a young age. He had been on the brink of such a fate.

But that did not mean Enyo would allow someone outside of his family to insult him, even if it was a relative within the clan of good standing. It was simply not done. Especially someone of lower rank, who did not bear the badge of honor in being a shinobi of Kirigakure no Sato. He was a pip squeak, and he was going to show him that much.

"Hope you're ready to practice something you don't know," His tone took a dark turn as he stared at Yosei. "I would hate to report to your family about how incapable you are."

And so Enyo lunged forward, his fumei ha poised to stab Yosei.

Kuronmeru Yosei

aeron at thq

[Kuronmeru Yosei]

It was strange, the need to speak up the boy had felt there, to point out that he had managed to learn to control his blood far earlier than Enyo had. The usually so easy going boy had gotten annoyed, and not from having his very views on life challenged as had happened at the clan shrine. But simply from the blue eyed boy in front of him insulting the scars he was so proud of, completely unprovoked. It was like Enyo had insulted the black blood that ran through his veins itself, an unforgivable sin from a lesser blood, and an insult that demanded retaliation from a fellow clansman. Even if that clansman was Enyo. In truth the young boy was already on edge, his eyes unable to leave the three senbon being held in front of him,his on edge attitude from before evolving into a very obvious nervousness at being in the same vicinity as the regal boy before him. This hyperfocus almost made him miss Enyo's face. Almost. And when he saw it, it became very clear. He had overstepped.

Enyo I... The boy was backing up now, unsure of just what to say. That he hadn't meant it? Even though he kinda had? He hadn't stated anything untrue, the red eyed boy had indeed gotten control of the black blood earlier than most others. Earlier than Enyo. And the pride all of that gave him was teaching him another lesson, that pride comes before the fall. And the things were looking, it might end up being the last fall he ever took. Especially when the unmistakable metallic sound of an unsheathed sword was made, and the blade came out of his wrist. The boys nervousness was gone, replaced with fear now. He had tried his best not too offend him, but even the implication was enough to enflame the nerve he had touched, and it looked more and more like it was going to cost him. Another step backwards, trying to create distance from the boy. Enyo... Another unspoken plea, answered by the blade now swinging through the air.

The moment came all too soon, a playful taunt that it was time to learn something new, a taunt one might expect from an older sibling about to test a new move on a helpless younger sibling in a playfight. And then a stab with the blade, showing just how real this was. Yosei used his arms to block the blade while moving back so that it didn't cut too deep. Another cut, another scar. Then he'd try and kick Enyo in the stomach, hoping to at least catch hkm off guard while the adrenaline and experience helped him move past the pain. And then he ran, ran like his life depended on it. Because it did. And then a thought occurred to him, an idea born of desperation and Enyo's taunt of learning something new. All he needed was a sheet, and to survive long enough to get one.

[Kuronmeru Enyo]

blood as black as the ocean

The silent pleas, the calls to his name had fallen upon deaf ears. Enyo was beyond pleas, it was normal in his family - watch your mouth or have your tongue pulled out, ripped out. Enyo never really watched his mouth, he had this tendency to speak too much. But he also took the punishments, and as a result he was more than willing to dish out the punishments no matter how subtle the offense might have been. Perhaps it would teach Yosei to be more silent in front of those superior to him. He was a Kuronmeru, but he was only in the academy, he hardly had any say on things in the world yet, did he? And that was the Kuronmeru chose leaders anyway through brutal battles.

As he lunged forward he almost felt sad that he had too much forward trajectory and momentum that he could not change his direction of his attack. Alas it hit Yosei's arm, the hidden blade burying itself into the boy's arm directly it was a delightful slicing sound, cutting into the flesh. Enyo shuddered with delight at the impact, but Yosei took the brunt and turned to run away.

"Come back Yosei-kun!" He cooed, running after the academy student, bounding after him gracefully. He wasn't slow by any means, but he wasn't much faster than an average genin.

Kuronmeru Yosei

aeron at thq

[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Yosei didn't have a destination, not at first. He was simply running for his life, running to survive. But as he cradled his cut arm, and his mind raced, a desperate plan started to form. A last ditch attempt at survivalsurvival. And the boy would start running back to where it all began, the clan memorial site. They were too far for him to make it to the compound, and if even if they did there was no guarantee he'd be safe. That they wouldn't let Enyo teach him what happens when you disrespect a superior. So he would have to save himself here, and could only think of one way to do it,taking as much advantage of his head start as he could, though while it wasn't by an extreme measure, Enyo was still faster than him. Another reason to choose a close destination, that he'd arrive at soon enough.

Hed run towards the shrine he'd vandalized in what had only happened a short time ago yet felt like ages now, looking for the blanket used to pay respects. It was elegant, beautiful, top quality as to be expected of the Kuronmeru, and somewhat of a waste to be used simply for kneeling on. And it would be the second thing Yosei desecrated here today, grabbing it as he ran, and placing it over his cut, soaking it in his black blood. While Yosei could control his blood, it wasn't exactly fine tuned, only able to do basic things with it. Thankfully, one of those things was control how it spread, and he'd concentrate to make it continue seeping through the blanket, turning it's elegant colors pitch black.

Then he'd turn a corner around the memorial, trying to get out of sight of Enyo for at least a brief moment before hiding himself behind his makeshift invisibility cloak, trying to stay in as much of a shaded area as he could. Trying to hide in the darkness behind the blackened blanket. Trying to control his ragged breaths, keeping himself as small as possible. And hoping that this might be the first time that using the invisibility cloak dis indeed change the tide of a battle, that it had saved a life. Because it was his life depending on it.