“Oh, it’s… sad?” Kakesu asked as he let his grip on his makeshift stone weapon loosen a degree. A frown crossed his face as he watched the tears, trying to hold back and failing not to silently wretch. He gasped to keep down the warmth that was rising and burning his throat. He got himself together and was quiet for several more moments, drawing out the stillness that sat in the air once again.
“Or… in pain?”
Unable to understand the response if there was one, the boy shuttered and looked and found the staircase, unlit and with several broken steps as splintered as the ceiling the abomination was wedged into? Still even the unknown of the shadowed stairs seemed more comfortable than continuing to gaze into the horror and the smell of rot that it offended his nostrils.
He started slowly moving towards the staircase, looking back over his shoulder one more time at Benkei. He put his hand against the wall as he put his foot on the first step, feeling the wood bend downwards to his weight. He clenched his jaw and stepped to the side, finding better footing.
"Looks it." My own observations hadn't gone much further than Kakesu's, the sifting shadows with the faintest sound of movement from above. Another waft of rotting wood and - rotting flesh? - penetrated pinched nostrils. I wanted to puke.
Climbing up these doesn't seem impossible. Getting closer, the stairs stone base became more obvious, the weight of a first footstep creaking loudly - but holding my weight. Over my shoulder, a faint glance and nod to the kid. "You don't have to come up. I'll be back."
Probably be better for him not to see... Whatever it was. What the hell can it be?
My foot almost slipped through the floor, reaching the short ascent. Pulling it back out, splinters rained beneath, eye contact with Kakesu if he had remained beneath. A full on whiff of the space, stomach acid filling my mouth - but the light was much brighter.
Before me, in the half lit space between absolute darkness and the shine of midday; a twisted, engorged pile of twisted limbs shook. Faint glistening spotlights as eyes swam to and from, mixing freely where they wanted across the surface of its skin. Flowing freely, my vomit joined the smell; distinctly, it was notably more pleasant. "Fucking hell..." My voice trailing off, another step closer as fingers curled tighter around my swords hilt.
It was - or had - been a man at one point. Fingers, legs, arms - all of it was there, just... Bloated. Where there had been skin was a thick, black mass - new skin, bursting on each surface with eyes. Mouths popped open and close, like the pattering of a loose rain. Another faint sound, almost words echoing from a drowning voice. Quietly, I watched its movement, the guttural speech falling on deaf ears. ....Okay, then.
"Alright, I'll kill you." Quiet, under my breath, followed with another step. The sound of metal freeing into the air, the wet thunk of metal on flesh. Blood curdled as it hit the air, rotting freely as eyes seized up, limbs attempting, failing to flail. Another stab downwards, and another spasm. Again and again again again again - until there was no more.
I had no idea how long it took, time seemed to disappear between my fingers. An hour, a minute - no difference. Yet I drew myself back up regardless, blade freely swinging through the air as I descended back down the steps, the weapon slick with green and black blood. "Let's go." I'd command to the wanderer, face creased into disgust. Today was going to be a hard memory to get rid of.
Kakesu wouldn’t say anything in response. As Benkei had ascended alone, fear had driven him to use his surface walking to start climbing up and avoiding the stairs themselves. When he peaked up over the side of the stairwell, he was the swordsman stabbing and killing the strange being.
He slid back down the stairs and got back into the place he was standing before, a tear coming down his eye that he wiped away before the shinobi returned.
He walked outside following Benkei as they came back out and escaped the stench of the hovel. There was a gruesomeness to it all, and he felt like he was in a waking nightmare. He was silent for a good while.
“What the hell… was that?” he suddenly asked in a raised tone. He thought he knew the answer, but he didn't want to believe it.
Last Edit: Oct 11, 2021 18:08:25 GMT by Kakesu Aoki
Silence hung in the air as I distanced myself further from the building. I didn't particularly care if the kid continued to tag along, but keeping whatever was left of my lunch down was not particularly easy. It also didn't help I had no idea how to respond to his question.
Otogakure was always known for this kind of stuff... or so our mission briefing had detailed. Experimentation that would make most war criminals blush - and more than likely whatever had been in that house. Kinjutsu... Demon... One of those guys with a dozen eyes, what were they called?" A shake of the head, standing still as my gaze turned back through the leaves.
"No clue. Not going to worry about figuring it out, either." I turned, narrow gaze tightening on Kakesu. "Don't think you should, too. Probably never come near that thing again." My tone left little room for argument as I turned away again, moving back towards the village.
