The Beastly Encounter (Kouzai, Loolaalee)

"Are you calling me ugly, you ungrateful little mortal?" Kokuo demanded. Yami winced. She didn't know what would happen if the tailed beasts started arguing again. "And besides. You? The most majestic? I do believe our comrade Son Goku would beg to differ, Kurama. Yami gave up on following the converstaion at that point. Stuff she didn't understand, random retorts, and who the heck was Son Goku, and all of that jazz. Finally, she felt the connection sever, and sat up straighter to listen to Konoe, who commented on his fox. "Like he's ever been anything but lazy. I would almost say he's the laziest of the bunch." At this point Yami had basically tuned Kokuo out, and instead followed Konoe's gaze.

She examined the map. It was interestingly designed, with random marks Yami didn't understand and showing two different things...but one...but two...it was a little confusing. She had never received any kind of formal education, and though she knew how to read and write and took an interest in history, maps never made sense to her, and she felt that they never would. She was glad that Konoe was steering, or she knew they'd end up hopelessly lost.

He suddenly began telling a tale. Yami had heard the basics before, of the fall of the Ezofuji family and such, but never on this level. The way he told it had a deeper, more personal meaning to it. It was like the story of his own life he was retelling, and in a way, it was. Ever since she was a child, Yami had loved hearing about history. Fictional tales were great and all, but hearing how the world became the way it was couldn't be beat. It was like a building block to the way people lived now. And she loved every bit of it, even though history often paired with tragedy. Like her life was any different. But then he stopped, and Yami's eyes widened. "That's it? Come on, there's got to be more!" She protested, wanting to hear the rest.

Konoe explained that she would likely have to work to hear the story. She figured it was a pretty good way to get her working. But...what kind of work would she have to do? It had to take a lot to be able to take control of Kokuo. What if she couldn't do it? What if it killed her to even try? What if something bad happened during the training process, and she wasn't there to help? All of these questions and more bounced around in Yami's mind. Konoe noticed, and he told her not to worry. But Yami? Have a bright future? She had always figured the future would end up just as gruesome as her past. That seemed to be the way her life was working out so far. And yet, when Konoe suggested that she leave...images flashed through her mind, towns burned to the ground, villages completely destroyed, and herself waking up the next morning to see the aftermath of the destruction caused by her hands.

One final image entered Yami's mind. That of her father lying dead on her bedroom floor, the arrow of her own bow protruding from his chest, blood spilling everywhere. The memory came to her mind as clear as if it had just barely happened, and she nearly screamed. Her breathing sped up and her heart rate increased. "No!" she shouted, "I can't leave. I can't bear to watch myself kill more innocent people!" Tears threatened at her eyes. She tried to calm down, slow her breathing, but she felt like her emotions were locked. No matter what she did, she couldn't calm herself down, and tears began spilling down her cheeks. "I can't...i've seen too much pain, too much death...I can't take it anymore."

"No crying now," said Konoe calmly, "This is not a place for tears. If you let your emotions waver your beast will take that opportunity to break free. You need to remain composed." Konoe left the boat in silence after he spoke. He could hear Kurama, the Nine Tails, rumble around inside him. Being sure to keep his mind separate from Yami's, Konoe spoke with his beast. "Are you sure she's...ready?" asked Kurama, letting out a yawn, "She seems too unsure of herself. Kokuo is crafty, she will eat this child alive given the chance...literally."

"I believe in her," said Konoe defensively, "She's unsure, and she has a right to be. This is a big thing to tackle." Kurama chuckled, "Is that a size joke you just made?" Konoe smirked on the outside, leaving Yami confused. "Perhaps," he said non-descriptively, "Give Yami time. She will tame Kokuo in time." Kurama gave a low growl, slightly upset at Konoe's comment. "One does not simply tame a Bijuu, let alone Kokuo," warned the massive fox. "I tamed you didn't I? retorted Konoe. Kurama merely growled, and returned to "sleeping."

Konoe laughed, having clearly stepped on the fox's tail. Pun intended. Konoe turned to Yami, finally speaking out loud again. "Get some sleep," Konoe told her sincerely, "We'll be there by dawn. You'll want to be rested, because we're going to start the second we make anchor. There will be no rest. Besides, I'm going to be opening your seal, to see how far you can go before losing control." Konoe shooed Yami off below deck to sleep, and continued to sail the whole night.

He was right, because the boat scraped up against the beach just as the first light of dawn peaked over the horizon, looking as if it came out of the sea. Konoe went below deck, finding Yami sleeping next to a sack of potatoes. He smiled, then nudged her awake with his foot. Konoe dragged Yami to the beach, then marched her up the grassy hill towards a wide-open plain on the island. There plain sat between the woods that held the Ezofuji Village, and the small hills that held the Ezofuji Family Tomb. "Are you ready to show me what you got?" asked Konoe, "By the way, how far has your transformation gone before you lost control?