The Start of a New Life [Kurai or invite][Sunset Isle -> Makkura][NR]

It should have come as no surprise. All of the work he did in Hinowa, beating up thugs, improving the marketplace, doing work for the Administration Complex, not to mention taking on a tailed beast with his bare hands, why wouldn't she? All he could do for the time being was grin...

This Ghost character was pretty strange. He seemed as happy as a small child just because Little Kong knew how to talk. When Ghost clapped his hands and hopped up and down, Little Kong imitated him. Then he was all serious again, saying not to waste time when a pretty girl said something like that, because they might get invaded by aliens and beaten to death. Seeing as an alien just beat the crap out of some guy down the beach not 5 minutes ago, was that meant to be a joke?...

Kurai looked confused. Ghost got up then and said to come with him to eat, and that they were his new friends. Ghost seemed strange, silly and childish, but he didn't seem like a bad guy. Still, with the way he could make copies of himself with no hand signs, this had to mean he knew many other things too. So getting on his bad side was probably not a good idea.

Kurai started to follow him, as did Little Kong. He did happen to be pretty hungry anyway...

Kouki watched as Ghost got excited and a bit child-like acting over Little Kong being able to talk. Little Kong then mimicked him and she giggled softly.

But, then Ghost was turning his attention back on them and talking about how they shouldn't waste time when a girl as pretty as Kouki admitted something like she just had. At his alien comment she looked sideways towards where the fight had taken place: it did make her wonder if there were more aliens like that kid roaming around and waiting to come down and invade the earth...

When Ghost got up and told them to follow him, calling them his new friends, she followed after Kurai. Her stomach grumbled slightly and she realized how hungry she was. Perhaps this would give them a chance to get to know more about this Ghost character. "Now that you mention it, I'm a bit hungry myself."

Ghost walked behind the counter of one of the beach's many bar and store areas. He reached down and twisted open the circular handle of a large door on the floor, then jumped inside. It lead to a slide inside of a long tunnel. The tunnel was made of glass, and allowed for seeing out into the ocean. It twisted and turned several times, leading into a large underground complex.

Ghost was spit out of a hole up near the ceiling of a large room to fall into a mountain of pillows. After gathering himself, he pulled himself out of the pillows and straightened his cape again. "I wonder if Amaranth or Dez know I made that thing..." he mumbled while walking out of the room. The underground complex had many areas that allowed seeing out onto the river's floor, and all around them. Boats and jet skis went overhead every so often.

Ghost walked through the massive complex to the kitchen. There were already an assortment of foods set out onto tables, and mouth already watering, Ghost sat at one of the table to grab up a sandwich in each hand, alternating between the sandwiches to take bites. He waved for them to have a seat and help themselves while making muffled mumbling sounds.

He and Little Kong followed Ghost tot he door in the floor behind one of the bars. Ghost jumped in, and Kurai as well as Little Kong followed with. The door lead to a sliding tunnel that Little Kong too great delight in because of the screeching noises he made. Kurai looked around as he slid, seeing all of the fish and aquatic wild life.

The ride ended when he exited the tunnel and fell into a large mound of pillows with his Simian partner. Little Kong looked highly excited, clapping his hands and performing many flips. After pulling himself out of the pillows, he followed Ghost through this large underground house. It was hard to believe his eyes, and he found himself looking everywhere wide-eyed.

In the kitchen there was a lot of food. Ghost sat and began to stuff his face with two sandwiches. Little Kong didn't hesitate when waved to join in. Kurai sat at another table with seafood on it. It felt appropriate, seeing as they were on a beach resort, and inside of a house underwater. He started eating the fish, shrimp and crab that had been prepared, dipping some of it in the special sauces...

Kouki followed Ghost and Kurai and Little Kong to the hidden area that would lead them to where ever it was they were going. Ghost jumped in first followed then by Kurai and Little Kong. She could hear Little Kong's screeches of excitement and so followed after them. The slide was rather fun, and the sights she could see outside of it were beautiful: colorful plants and even more colorful fish. The slide ended when she landed on a pile of pillows with a giggle. "That was fun.", she said as she pulled herself out.

She followed after them and into the kitchen, her stomach roaring to life at the smell of all of the delicious foods. She sat down and made herself a giant heaping fish sandwich, adding some fries to her plate as well. She dug into her food, staying quiet while feeding her innner beast. She couldn't have imagined such a place like this could exist underwater, and found the whole thing rather magical. She also found herself wondering who else lived here? Were there other people nearby they would meet?

Amaranth had watched from a distance as Ghost, who she believed to be Kurai and Little Kong, and another female disappear. An eyebrow had raised, figuring there was likely a hidden entrance to perhaps the lab that her father had made and she hadn't yet found. Amaranth took the more above ground method; using the metal door not too far down the beach that led straight into what would look like a giant rock. Yet, as this door opened it revealed steps down into the lab; walls made of glass allowing for the underwater life to be seen.

She peaked into a few doorways before coming across the kitchen from which she could hear noise. Grinning to herself she poked her head in to see all of them sitting down to eat. "Oh, this looks like a party! Am I invited?", she asked with a grin.

She pulled her red hood of her cape down and pushed her shoulder length hair out of her face as she took in the sight of the food laid out. She hadn't felt hungry before, but now seeing all of this delicious food, even her stomach began to grumble.

The area around Ghost became a swirling mass of blackness. Within could be seen 2 glowing red eyes.

"HOW DARE THEE INTRUDE UPON THY FEAST. LEAVE MY SIGHT, FOUL WENCH, OR I SHALL HAVE THEE THROWN INTO THE DUNGEONS... GUARDS! REMOVE THIS NUISANCE FROM THY FEASTING GROUNDS."

Ghost snapped his fingers at guards that didn't exist. There were, of course, no dungeons, and Ghost, of course, was joking. The smoke vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and he continued to stuff his face. "No seriously," he said between swallows. " This is Kouki and Kurai from that dark place that Alec brought back with him from the other world, Makkura. They're ninjas, kinda like that blind kid, and that other girl in your head? What was her name again? Missy or something like that?"

He continued to stuff his face. "So uh... what's up with that fight scene earlier?..."

The girl from earlier came in, who looked just like Mitsukai, the girl he'd learned Swift Release from in exchange for his ability to turn somewhat invisible. Seeing as they were both wearing red capes, Ghost had to be her father, ans he had to be the owner of this whole place.

He looked strangely at Ghost when that black smoke surrounded him, and those red eyes appeared. Little Kong looked somewhat scared, but the smoke vanished soon after, meaning he had to be joking. More of Ghost's strange antics. Living with a father that acted like he did had to be an experience in itself...

Ghost asked about that fight, and Kurai looked at her, wanting to know what that was about himself...

Kouki looked up when the female who had a similiar red cape as the one Ghost had on came in. She asked about a party to which Ghost suddenly seemed to make his surroundings dark and scary looking, all before talking about sending her off to the dungeons. Of course, this didn't last more long before Ghost returned the area around him back to normal and introduced them.

Kouki gave a wave of her hand in greeting seeing as she currently had a bite of food in her mouth.She listened as Ghost explained that they were ninja like some blind kid and the girl who was in this female's head. Had they merged like she had heard of some other people doing? Kouki was curious to find out, but stayed quiet as she took another bite of food. She also was curious to find out what that fight was about...

Amaranth, instead of being terrified by the display that her father put on, simply giggled. "Dad, we don't have a dungeon.", she said sticking out her tongue playfully. "You'd just have to ground me to my room or something."

She then listened as her father introduced Kurai - who now she knew was who she thought he was - and the female who was with him named Kouki. Amaranth couldn't help but grin a bit. "Holeman. And her name was Mistukai, dad. And, I know Kurai already - or rather Mitsukai did. I taught him that really fast ability of mine and he taught me how to become mostly invisible in that other world. Right after I met the Ape Sages. It's nice to see you again Kurai, and nice to meet you Kouki. I hope the both of you are finding my island comfortable."

She wandered over to the table and plucked and orange out of a bowl. She began to cut into it with her thumb nail and peel it as she thought about what her father had asked her. "Well, from what I was told there is this alien - he's called a Saiyan - who attacked some of those freaky things over in Ground Zero. Uncle Junior sent Vigilante and Ka'lara - who happens to be another ninja who used to go by the name Nanalie - over to investigate. It turned into a nasty fight and the alien kid nearly won. After they went and updated Junior Ka'lara went off and returned to Konoha to train under Spook, her sensei - the other version of my grandad. He gave her some weighs and she becomes super fast and strong when she takes them off, but even that and some new taijutsu moves weren't enough to defeat that alien kid when it came to round two: she says he was still faster and stronger than her. He nearly killed them; but she said something happened that healed her - I think someone intervened personally. Anyway, they won again, but once more it was by barely anything at all. So Ka'lara came here, Mitsukai and Nanalie knew each other from the other world, so I knew who she was. She couldn't find me at first but when she did she was telling me what happened when that Anthony Redgrave guy, who I guess is merged with Gekido who is Nanalie's twin, showed up and asked where that alien kid was because he too had heard the girls story. That's when the alien came out of the river, I guess he had been listening the whole time..."

She shook her head; throwing the peel into the nearby trash can. "I wasn't going to let Ka'lara get hurt on my island because she's part of the Company now; so I felt responsible for her. So, I made her intangible with myself and made sure no one else on the island was close enough to be hurt and just let them duke it out... I gotta tell you, that guy, Anthony? He didn't stand a chance. He didn't land a single blow on that Saiyan. Couldn't react fast enough to stop him. The Saiyan said that if Anthony wanted to try again he could, but he made it clear his real target is Vigilante."

It all sounded like one long, complicated story. An alien called a Saiyan showed up and began fighting with the freaks and demons in Ground Zero. Jr sent Ka'lara and The Vigilante to investigate. A fight broke out that they barely won. Ka'lara went to Konoha to train under that ninja guy who is really another version of Alec named Spook. The alien recovered and went to Neutral City to tear it a new asshole.

The alien came to Edge, and another fight broke out; another in which they barely won, due mostly to the intervention of some unknown force. Ka'lara came here, probably to seek further training, since in the other world her and Mitsukai knew each other. In the midst of telling Amaranth the story so far, her brother Anthony - named Gekido in the other world - showed up pissed off asking where the alien was. it was then that the alien showed up here... and the rest is history.

"This world, the other world, aliens," said Ghost before taking a long drink of a blue colored fluid from a tall glass. "I feel like I live in a friggin science fiction novel now. Lookit us, we're in an underwater complex with glass walls eating seafood..." Ghost sat back and rubbed a hand through his wild black hair that made him look like he stuck a finger in a electrical socket. "So, this guy really wants that super hero guy, huh?... Maybe Ka'lara should stay out of it then... This alien guy, who knows what else he's gonna pull off. It's probably gonna be Jr or another one of those Kanes that handle the guy in the end."

Or maybe even himself, he thought. Ghost hadn't fought anyone in years. He was once the undefeated "secret weapon" of Murder INC. That thing a few days ago with Nova was close, but no cigar, and that thing a few years back with that Vampire, he didn't really count that as a "Fight." That was just mostly torture. Ghost thought of getting the rust out and getting back into the brawl of things for old time's sake...

Now he knew the whole story. Even Little Kong paid close attention. It also seemed that Mitsukai was no merged with Amaranth, which was surprising. It made Kurai want to test the benefits of his years of training. Would the Saiyan show up again? Would it show up in Makkura? Were there more out in space somewhere?

Ghost said there was no telling what the Saiyan would pull off next time, but it did little to deter Kurai. He felt like he could take the thing on. He'd trained too long and hard... but in all honesty, it had nothing to do with him, and the alien didn't even know it existed. There were more than enough people around here to handle things should another fight occur. Kurai's responsibility was Makkura. If it showed up there, then so be it.

For the moment it would be better to let his mind wander back to a situation that hadn't really happened to him in his 17 years of life, to that of a female. He'd heard it wasn't a good idea to go jumping into water right after eating, so perhaps they could go lie on the beach somewhere....

Kouki continued on eating her fish sandwich and fries as she listened to Amaranth and her father talk. It was interesting to get a chance to hear the whole story in detail. This alien, or Saiyan, whatever he was, was exceptionally powerful and Kouki couldn't help but wonder if there were more of his kind out there. Could they be waiting to invade? The idea of a fight of epic proportions kind of excited Kouki and it definitly excited Suiro - the poor tailed beast hadn't had a chance to 'stretch her wings' so to speak in... well, ever. No one had wanted to fight in the old world; no one had stood up to challenges, at least no one who lived outside of Makkura. The rest of the world had seemed far too peaceful and forgiving.

"I wonder why the Saiyan only wants revenge on The Vigilante, though... I mean, you said Ka'lara fought him twice too." Kouki paused, speculating to herself for several moments before she shrugged and popped a french fry into her mouth. Her stomach was becoming full and her sandwich was already gone. She allowed her attention to focus on the outside of the 'bubble' of a room they were in where there were plenty of fish swimming around on the other side of the glass, some even pausing to watch them as if these fish held a higher intelligence than most others.

Amaranth popped several slices of orange into her mouth, chewed and swallowed, while thinking over her father's words. "Yeah, it all seems pretty crazy. I might have to tighten the defenses on the island a bit: I'm not going to be pleased if that Saiyan shows up and starts attacking my vacationers." She then looked over to Kouki as the girl spoke and shrugged her shoulders, eating another slice of orange. "Honestly, I dunno. The Saiyan seemed like a real jerk, to be honest. Kind of seemed like he had a big ego so that might have something to do with it."

"I really do hope Ka'lara stays out of it. I don't mind teaching her Swift Release but I'd feel really bad if she used it and it ended up getting her killed or something." Honestly, Amaranth didn't need that kind of situation on her shoulders right now, especially considering what had happened not that long ago with Nova and how she had been blamed for killing Sicarius and Seraphina. A small frown slipped across Amaranth's face and she popped the last orange slice into her mouth. "I kinda don't want blamed again for killing someone else..."

Amaranth turned and walked over to the sink where she pressed the pedal on the floor that turned the water on. She stuck her hands under the soap dispenser to coat her hands in the white foam and then washed her hands well enough that they weren't sticky anymore. When she was finished she tried her hands on a towel and forced a smile back on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. "So, what do you guys plan on doing while you're here? Do you have a place you're staying while you're on the island? You're welcome to stay here, I've got plenty of spare rooms and they're quite comfortable."

Ghost finished feeding his face and washed it down with the rest of the blue stuff in his glass. He sat there for a while to let the food digest, listening to the rest of the conversation. Ghost was neither scared or concerned. Whatever was going to happen was whatever was going to happen. He didn't know who it was that would take the alien out in the end, all he knew was that if it came back to the island, Ghost would be the one.

"The who's, why's and the what's... I donno. That alien did seem like a little asshole with what he was yelling over there, but I think this is all a big game to him. He comes back here and i'll tap dance on his forehead," said Ghost as he stood up and patted his gut several times.

"So yeah, i'll be wandering around here somewhere, keeping an eye on things... You horny kids don't hump on each other too much, it gets sore after the 3rd or 4th time in a row... Do what your uncle Ghost says now kids, ya hear?"

He wandered off down the halls rubbing the back of his neck...

[Exit]

He thought about sticking around here a while, just in case the alien guy did happen to show back up, but Ghost and Amaranth/Mitsukai seemed more than enough for him. He looked kind of embarrassed when Ghost said not to "hump each other too much," prompting a laugh or two from Little Kong.

However it didn't seem that the opportunity to hump would come, at least not on this island. His wireless comm was still in his left ear, and he could pick up on a conversation between Kinzoku and what sounded like Jr Kane, although heavily garbled because of them being underwater. Jr spoke of Kinzoku and someone else coming to Edge for a task. Kinzoku said he'd come, but someone had to be in the village to protect it, thus he was waiting for Kurai to come back.

Kurai finished the last of his lobster, wiped his mouth and stood up. "I appreciate your hospitality Amaranth, but it seems I have to return to Makkura. Your uncle wishes for Kinzoku to come to Edge for a task. Were he to leave now, the village would be almost defenseless, so they're waiting on us. When we have more time i'd be happy to return..."

Kouki almost choked on a french fry when Ghost made his comment about the two of them not humping too much. Figuring it probably wasn't safe to eat in case there were more comments to come about what her and Kurai might or might not end up getting up to she simply sat there and stared out at a particularly pink fish that was puffing up its face at them all and deflating it repeatedly: the fish didn't look threatening at all, just simply silly.

Then she heard Kurai comment that they had to leave and she looked to him as he explained that Amaranth's uncle needed two people to come to Edge, and how for them to do that Kurai and Kouki had to go home so that the village wasn't left defenseless. Figuring they could always come back later on at some point she stood up and stretched. She reached into her bag, removed a light blue colored article of clothing, and tugged on the sun dress over top of her bikini; it would at least keep her covered while they made it over to Makkura, and she would worry about changing into proper clothing once her house situation was dealt with.

"Yeah, we'll definitely have to come back at some point.", she said with a grin as she slung her back pack on one shoulder.

Amaranth face-palmed when her father made his comment about Kurai and Kouki and just simply shook her head. She watched her father leave out of the corner of her eye and attempted her best to keep a very straight face; she hadn't exactly been prepared for her dad to make a comment like that, and wasn't quite sure if she should laugh or be embarrassed. Perhaps a bit of both? Eh, no matter.

"Aw. Well, you guys are always welcome. Anytime you come you just come to the door I'll show you out of and knock. You're all more than welcome whenever you feel the need for a vacation. Don't worry about cleaning up; that'll be dealt with by the cleaning service. Come on, I'll show you guys the way out."

Amaranth would then wait for them to gather their possessions before leading the way out of the kitchen. From there she took a left and hit the main hallway that ran through the underground lab. She headed north from there and after a short trip down a hallway she would lead them up a flight of steps and to the thick steel front door. She pressed the green button on the wall and the doors opened, allowing the ocean smell of the island to come flooding in on the breeze that blew; though all of the sand that might have entered seemed repelled by an invisible barrier which was nothing more than a burst of air that came out of some vents: it kept the place cleaner. "There you guys go. It was good seeing you again Kurai and Little Kong, and good to meet you Kouki."

Amaranth would wait for them to leave, wave goodbye, and then head back down into the lab as the door closed behind her, off to check on one of many experiments.

[Exit]

He followed behind Amaranth as she lead them to the way out. When all was said and done, he was going to come back here. He didn't want the trip to end so soon, but he also didn't want to leave Makkura with just Avery and his twin guarding it. At least now, it wouldn't be so boring with only training and Mangas to pass the time. Now there was a female who'd said she liked him...

"It was good seeing you too. We'll return soon," Kurai said in response to Amaranth, and Little Kong waved too, with a screech. Outside, Kurai picked up his simian partner and took to the air, heading back towards the dark patch on the horizon; Makkura. Home...

/Exit/

Kouki didn't mind cleaning up but since Amaranth said not to worry about it she wasn't going to. She tightened her grip on her backpack and followed after everyone else as Amaranth led the way through her lab and to the front door. Kouki still couldn't believe that Amaranth - or whoever- had built such a wonderful place underground. She wanted to know how the female did it, but wasn't going to waste time since it was clear they needed to get home in a hurry.

She waved goodbye to Amaranth, figuring she would see the girl sooner than later, and manifested wings. She spread her wings and took off after Kurai and over to the land of shadows.

[Exit]