Three Beasts Walk Into a Forest (Yukina, Kouzai)

Konoe sat on a rock, looked down off the cliffside into the wide open grass plains below. He sighed, a bit lonely, but at least contented that he finally had some time to himself. After a long tour in the Light and Dark States, preparing their armies to be stand alone, independent military bodies, Konoe was finally allowed one month's vacation.

And so he choose to return here, to his little plateau, secluded in the Western Earth Kingdom, where no one would find him but the animals who lived here. It was here, in this little bowl of a landscape, that Konoe had learned to try and control the Kyuubi. It had once been full of trees, but during the process, Konoe ripped most of them apart. But the land was healing nicely, and the grass was growing back.

Konoe smiled a bit, but his smile turned to a frown as the Kyuubi spoke within his mind. "I am the Nine Tails, the second strongest of all the Bijuu, and yet my powers are relegated to leveling forests...what a pitiful host I have. Owlan should've chosen better." Konoe bit back anger, and replied as calmly as possible, "Owlan chose perfectly, if I do say so myself. He knew I wasn't going to let you run wild."

The Kyuubi chuckled from behind his seal, a deep chuckle that was filled with hatred and malice. "Maybe not this you. But the other you....would be more than happy to let me run free. Even you, at once, tried to control me....and let me go in the process. "It was the only way--do not try my patience though. Or I will never let you out again, and our deal will be null."

The Kyuubi just laughed, though Konoe knew it would truly be miserable to be locked away within Konoe forever, until Konoe died an the Kyuubi would be released into the world, only to be revived again years later. "You would not do that to me...you need my power...it has helped you many times." "I don't need it." hissed Konoe, "I don't even want it. But I use it because it is there. Because it pleases me, and because it is my duty as a Jinchuriki.

"Ohoho," smiled the beast from within, "You sound just like me...are you sure this isn't the other you? Konoe wanted to reply, but was cut off as he saw something across the rim of the plateau. "Shh," he said the beast, though why he spoke out loud he'd never know, "I see people." And so he did, two people in fact, two males. But who were they? Well, it was time to find out.

"Y-You are a Jinchuriki -- a powerful, at that.. Y-You h-have, uh.. have an obligation."

"I am a human, and I have no such thing."

Upon the strident tone directed towards him, Yamato couldn't help but shriek in his trek, slowing down his pace to fall back just behind the other. Admittedly, escorting a hot-headed mercenary wasn't how he wanted to spend his afternoon, but as both a fellow Jinchuriki with Tsukuru -- his current traveling companion, whom he had only recent met -- and faithful subject to a greater power, he had no choice. In a sense, one could also say the fate of the world also depended on how well they not only got along, and how well they were able to be under control. Needless to say, there was a lot of pressure riding on the military sniper's shoulders when it came to his "mission."

In a much lower voice -- one that threatened to come out as a whisper -- Yamato began, "Y-You should consider all that there is at stake --.."

"..No," the white-haired mercenary interrupted, abruptly picking up his pace as he sauntered through the woodland path. Despite the comfort of the dirt beneath his soles, he was still on edge from the journey. While he proceeded to go along with the venture, knowing good and well that deep within him it was for the better, he still wanted to keep the idea of throwing it all away open. Blatantly agitated by the other's nonsensical attempt at chiding, Tsukuru couldn't help but tighten his grip on his scythe. It was tempting to slice and dice his colleague, or rather, escort, across the plateau they began footing on, but he refrained the moment he caught sight of another.

Yamato noticed the presence long before being interrupted, but patiently waited for a clearly view. It seemed to only be one figure, but he kept a wary eye around the vicinity in the off-chance more were hiding. He figured as though he could never be too careful, especially given their ranks and worth.

"S-Slow down," the brunette requested before they could reach the distant figure. Like a well-trained dog, Tsukuru listened. "W-We should be careful. Don't just trust anyone you see," Yamato continued, aware of Tsukuru's reputation of blindly allowing his guard to fall for whomever because he saw people in a different way than most.

Because of Yamato's words, the white-haired mercenary lowered his scythe from his shoulder so it dragged along the ground as he walked. "Yeah, whatever."

Konoe paused, closed his eyes and tried to sense his opponents. Two of them, about his age, maybe a bit younger. They seemed strong, but the strength may not necessarily be theirs. They were but a few hundred yards ahead of him, they didn't seem to have noticed him yet. Their loss.

Konoe jumped from the cliffside he was standing on, landing with a giant crash into the ground.  The earth around him was dented, like a rock had hit it.  But no, it was Konoe, in the first level of his Jinchuriki powers.  He was covered by an orange energy, not like the Biju Hood, but it swirled around him like an orange wind.  His fingernails were claws, his teeth were fanged, and his eyes were red and slitted.  He let out a small snarl, but he still had much control over his mind and body.

But before Konoe could dash off towards these intruders, he heard the Kyubi in his mind.  "Gyuki! And...Son Goku!" roared the massive beast, "They are near here somewhere.  I can sense them."  Konoe wondered to whom the Kyubi was referring, but right now it didn't matter.  Running off towards the two intruders, Konoe drew a sword, ready to attack them if need be.

As he approached them, reaching closer to their location, he jumped into the air and lowered the blade of his sword toward the ground, toward his opponents.  Then he felt his body go straight down, blade first, slamming it right into the ground between his enemies.  He wasn't trying to kill them yet, just scare them.  First he would determine if they were truly his enemies, then he would determine whether or not they could live depending on their answer and their motive.  Such was the tactics taught to the Head General of the Imperial Army.

Yamamto's eyes were trained onto the distant figure while Tsukuru's multi-colored gaze drifted between his feet and the dirt beneath it. While initially the only noise heard for yards around them was the sound of the latter of the duo dragging his scythe along carelessly, the distinct sound of what they believed to be a miniature earthquake scattered their attention.

The scythe wielder gripped his weapon on instinct, abruptly tracing his heterochromiac eyes back and forth between the scenery spread out before him. He was rather oblivious; he was naive when it came to handle abrupt situations and was quite to resort to violence, which caused Yamato to click his tongue in recognition.

It wasn't hard to judge the other. Considering what he had gathered from their time together, the soldier was able tell Tsukuru was impulsive and rather threatening in times of trouble. While he was never one for lumping people into categories, he could safely describe his traveling companion as an aggressive dog. The other would bark at the drop of the hat, and trust his enemy without a question. Rather than an escort, he almost saw himself as a glorified babysitter, but pushed his thoughts back to the situation at hand -- the source of the sound. The task proved easy enough as their instigator revealed themselves.

The moment the blade was thrust into the air, Tsukuru ran swiftly in the direction of his 'opposer' but halted the moment Yamato called out, "S-Stop!" Like a well-trained mutt, the scythe wielder abruptly skidded in his tracks in the distance between the fallen sword and opponent. Killing was his specialty, but listening to another was his stronger suit.

Yamato, analyzing the situation in the few seconds he had been graced with, raised an eyebrow as he scrutinized the instigator before them. It was a scare tactic -- that was obvious, despite the possibility of it being a warning (in which case Tsukuru would have gotten them into some bad news, more than likely.) Perhaps, they were being tested, judging by how their opponent merely stood in place? Was he observing them? Plotting their demise? His bestial appearance made for some unsettling conclusions, but naturally, one would never know until the first move was made.

He felt intimidated, but was optimistic in that they could find a resolution. Somewhat. His faint heart was showing to the surface, and the fact that his traveling companion was presenting himself as hostile wasn't soothing his nerves, but he had to handle the situation, nonetheless. It was his duty, after all. While he trembled subtly, blatantly nervous, Yamato attempted a confident stance with a stern countenance as he inquired, "W..W-What business do you have here?" A question was all he could muster.

(OOC: Sorry it's not long enough :p I was tired XD))

The two boys stood there observing him as he observed them.  Smart, not to act immediately after the warning shot.  This proved they were immediately hostile, and were rational enough to assess the situation before they acted.  Yet, their presence here still bugged Konoe; it nagged at him on the inside and he didn't know why, and he didn't know what, and that bugged him even more.  They looked at him, quizzical, and asked Konoe of his business here in his private training ground.

Konoe let a challenging smile crease his face, "I could ask the same of you," he stated simply, "This is my personal training ground.  None have ever come here except me...and now you waltz right through like you own the place."  Konoe didn't care who came through here, but their conviction was about to be put to the test, and any uncertainty or mal-intent would be noted of.  But then, something inside of Konoe made him freeze.  It was the same sensation one has after meeting a long lost brother after so long.

Standing up and putting away his sword, Konoe looked at the two boys.  He closed his eyes, and used his other vision.  His senses, specifically that of his Bijuu, and instantly he knew.  They were just like him.  "You're Jinchuriki..." he said softly opening his eyes, "I didn't know.  I didn't think I'd meet any others out here, so far from civilization.  I know we aren't usually allowed out of the palace complex until we're no longer in danger of rampaging.  And even then we can't leave the capital until we've mastered the Bijuu's first tailed form at least.  Meaning you've got some control over your Bijuu.  And here I thought Tsumi and I were the only ones."  

Konoe's thoughts went to the Light Bender, cousin of the Itaruki family and son of the one of the Imperial ministers.  The Seven Tailed Jinchuriki.  They trained together often when they were younger, and they were the only two to fully master the full transformation to near-complete Bijuu.  Konoe gave a low bow, these were royals after all.  Even though Konoe was technically a Prince in both nations, and the General of the entire Imperial Army, he made it a point to be courteous to all other royals as well.  "My apologies for attacking you," he said humbly, "I didn't know who you were."