The empty glass bottle hit the small living room coffee table with a loud thud before rolling off and to the ground. It's a wonder the damn thing didn't shatter. Kaishi's large left hand hit the wall of his home hard, and he struggled a moment to remain standing. His right hand, dangled lifelessly at his side. Close to the coffee table...

This sort of thing didn't happen often, really it didn't Kai wasn't one to just get drunk. Though, it did seem that with each passing year these fits of negligence seemed to happen ever more often. He wasn't a bad person, and he didn't even enjoy drinking to any degree he counted as worth it all. But what was worth it was when everything faded. When his vision blurred and his towering form fell backwards hard against the pavement. Blackout. That was worth it. Not because he was some thrill seeking adrenaline junkie, or rowdy party boy. But because for just a moment, when everything faded... so did "She."

The doorway was wobbling.. or was it him. Kai couldn't tell at this point having downed the last bit of an older bottle of sake... then proceeding to open and clear a brand new one. He could hear her. Right there, he couldn't see her anymore, like the visions he'd had earlier but he could hear her plain as day. She giggled, and mocked him. Then said, "I love you." In the tender way only she could.

It took everything he had to walk out that open door, and not tear the whole damn house down instead.

Now, for a man who was drunk. The straw farmers hat on his head kept his eyes well hidden, and you'd be surprised at how well he actually got around out in the open streets. He didn't make a fool out of himself, and he stuck mostly to back alleys and never veered from his path. Ultimately, he was headed to a lesser know place. It was a local bar he liked to frequent called, "Sharky's." Why he liked it, well why does anyone become fond of one bar over the other? No reason in particular save for the fact they had the drinks he liked, and he'd come to know the crowd a bit. The latter part meaning a bit less to Kai that to most.

After a bit, he walked in the door. It was a dusty old place, full of sailors and fishermen who didn't clean up much between shifts out at sea. Hell, not like they had time. But you know the type of place. Smoke filled the air like a thick fog, and obnoxiously loud laughter filled the place as if it was coming from a top grade surround sound. Kai simply tipped his hat gently to the sea dogs as he walked in, and they in turn raised their glasses to him and carried on with their conversations and gossip. Tales of unbelievably large fish and what have you.

Finally, he took a seat right up against the bar, on an old wobbly stool. He layed a large hand down on the counter top with a bang, which immediately got the bar keeps attention. He meant nothing by it though, and the bar keep greeted him pleasantly.

"Ah! You again eh? What'll ya' be havin' then?" He asked.

Kai finally removed the straw hat from his head, letting it hang against his back held in place by a loop around his neck.

"2 shots of the usual please..." Kai said simply. And the bar keep proceeded to pour up 2 shots of dark rum.

Again, he heard her giggling behind him.

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Word Count - 614

Syn was almost coming to like to old pirate-like air of Shippuugakure, though he himself was more accustomed to the more eccentric and clean landscapes of Boufuugakure. The night he had stayed in the hotel he got turned out be rather fruitful and full of wonderful rest. Now that the night had long passed however, and it was well into the day – almost noon- Syn felt that now was the prime time for him to go out and enjoy the foreign nation he would soon, hopefully, come to enjoy. Walking along the road, Syn found himself lost and making some sort of gargantuan circle after finding himself back where he started, so with a quick plead for directions and the swift yet deliberate help of the local villagers, he soon found himself at a bar. It wasn’t much to from the outside and probably not the inside, but Syn, thinking ‘Why the hell not?’, entered anyway with a complete and total lack of awareness and disregard for what could be his health. Who knew how the people here would react to a new comer? Syn didn’t care much as he was confident in himself.

Upon entering, Syn quickly took note of a couple things with a just a sharp glance around. It was a dusty old place, full of sailors and fishermen who didn't clean up much between shifts out at sea. Smoke filled the air like a thick fog, and obnoxiously loud laughter filled the place as if it was coming from a top grade surround sound. Either way, Syn walked right up to the barkeep as if he owned the place and was quite a regular despite this clearly being his first time there. Sitting down next to the man who had just order he said,”I’ll have what he’s having”. And calmly waited for a response in kind.



Word Count ~ 303

Kai was a real man's man. Salty. Strong. Statuesque. Like a lumberjack, or the sea dogs he shared this wonderful village with. Though his roots were different. He owed his size and stature not to the fish and work on a boat, but instead to his life raised on a farm. In the garden each and every day, and eating fresh home grown produce. The result, a healthy, well sculpted body. His jaw line was strong and boxy, his check bones wide and true. His hair, a rather average brown but it was a full head of hair, usually slicked back and matted down and made coarse from the salty in the air. She's always said most of all though that she'd fallen in love with his eyes. Shades of blue and grey mixed together, reminiscent of an on coming storm.

She on the other hand was the opposite of him. To begin with, she was from some far away land. Though he had a farmers tan she always defined as "Cute" it paled in comparison to her natural dark olive skin tone. Among a see of pail skin, she stood out. And that may or may not have been the first thing he noticed about her. Her eyes were dark brown almost black, and made the whites of her eyes stand out in contrast. The only thing they shared in appearance was their naturally almond colored hair.

But what similarities they lack in upbringing and appearance. She a mere 5'3'' against his 6'6'', they made up for on an intellectual level. Because behind his massive form Kai had an equally impressive mind.

He smiled, and chuckled a little with her. In fact, perhaps it wasn't just a fantasy, as he could just almost feel the warmth of her breath on the back of his neck as she giggled...

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a stranger. He'd come to know the bar fairly well but to be honest, it wasn't often he saw an unfamiliar face. Even when it did come to pass, they were usually some new recruit with one of the fishing vessels, and sat with the rest of the crew. This guy, just came right up and sat next to him. Great. Just what he needed.

The bar keep was cleaning out glasses, a man that very rarely ever sat still for very long. At the strangers request he shot a quick inquisitive look. The kind you'd expect to get at a place like that. Not enough to scare the newcomer off, but enough to let him know this place meant business. He hung the now cleaned glass up, allowing it to air dry a bit and grabbed another. Filled it to the brim with amber colored rum and skillfully slid the treat to the fellow, he nodded slightly an indication he'd mentally noted the guys tab.

Kai waited just a moment. Thinking of how he wanted to go about the situation. Most of the time he really didn't care much for people, and he might have just as soon shrugged the guy off as to pay him any real mind. But tonight, he felt, flirty, in a sense of the word. So he quickly poured his own shot back, slammed the glass down and ordered 2 more of the same.

He indicated this by knocking twice against the oak counter, and said "Next round's on my Bob." He said holding up 2 fingers towards the bar tender; whom without hesitation poured two more glasses and slid one to Kai, one to the stranger.

Kai faked a smile, something he was actually rather good at though he meant nothing by it. He'd simply learned that most people are far more emotional than himself, and that sort of thing was "proper." He looked to the guy, and half as an act, half due he actually WAS drunk; he sloppily raised the shot glass in the air and said.

"Here's to whiskey and women partner! Live by one! Die by there other! And learn to love the smell of both!"

After which, he wasted no time promptly tossing his round back. He expected nothing less of his new "Friend."
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Word Count: 701

Completely ignoring the inquisitive look as if it had never occurred Syn waited until the man filled up his glass and skillfully slid it across the table and into Syn's own outstretched fingers. Nodding in his direction, Syn almost immediately picked up the cup and with the flick of his wrist and leaning his head backwards, knocked down his drink like a pro. Once finished, he slammed the drink down out of habit, however when he did, he did it almost too hard which was the cause for the arched brow and somewhat mean mug from the direction of the bartender in which Syn almost absentmindedly smiled back at.


Ever since Syn was a kid he had always been the chill guy that would subtly provoke those who didn’t like him –as rare as those few people were- with only kindness and a mischievous smile in return. Especially to those who shot him menacing glares, he always found that they produced the most hysterical reactions the angrier they got and the more he showed to not actually care for their opinions and or plight. More and more Syn started to think of his days as a Genin. Aaaaaah, the missions with his team, the training. Enjoying the night skies every night and waking up every morning to the sounds of birds chirping the bright sun as it climbed its way through his optics as he opened his heavy eyes from the night’s slumber.

How excited he was for the Chuunin Exams. The Chuunin Exams... All of the long suppressed memories of that time came flooding back to him. The slaughtering of all of his friends... His killing of all those responsible... His eyes popped open and his right eye turned green as his left turned red and markings started to spread themselves from his left eye down his cheek which announced the activation of his Doujutsu and bam! He snapped back into focus right as the drink was slid in his direction. All of this happening in the span of a few seconds for what he hoped no one noticed.

"Here's to whiskey and women partner! Live by one! Die by there other! And learn to love the smell of both!",he heard the man shout and immediately lifting his glass as well he took back one more shot and smiled in the other guy’s direction in gratitude of the man’s drunk, yet kind gesture. In order to stop the barkeep from sending him another one of his infamous rude glares Syn carefully placed his glass back on to the table, much to the barkeep’s satisfaction of course. The man thus turned away from the two and resumed cleaning and dusting away at his other empty glasses.
 
Turning back into the direction of the large burlesque man in front of him Syn said,"I haven't met too many people since my arrival here, yet the ones I have met including yourself have been fairly welcoming".


Upon the ending of his statement Syn reached with his right hand as means of shaking the polite fellow's hand and saying,"Synyster is the name, but you can simply call me Syn if you please". With that said, he offered another smile in his direction. Just a slight turn up at the corner of his mouth, but friendly nonetheless.


Word Count ~ 556

The amber liquid burned as it trickled down his throat. Though, like the creed he'd just spoken hinted at, he'd learned to love the sensation. It warmed his chest, gave him the chance to really take a big breath of air. Ya know what I mean? He slammed the glass down on the table and motioned at Bob the bartender to fill the glass up once more.

Bob raised a brow.

But who was he to deny a paying customer. In his head, Bob simply took note of Kai's tab, which would need to be paid by the end of the night and filled up the glass once more. This time, although both aloud and in his head Kai was subtly bragging about how much he could drink he wasn't so swift to raise his glass. He'd begun to get a rush in his head, and for a moment he dazed into the void of space, room spinning or was it him? No, it wasn't him. Hell, there was no way he'd be able to spin on that bar stood and remain off the floor. Good, logic was still in tact.

His new acquaintance made a remark about the village. Mentioning leisurely how friendly the people of Shippugakure had been towards him. Well that was to be expected. It was a trade town after all, as well as a popular vacation spot by outsiders. Tends to happen with beach front locations. And with trade and tourists, the locals have to learn to meet and greet everyone if for no better reason than the next guy could be an easy buck. Kai smiled, waved a sluggish hand in the air gesturing towards the fellow as if to say "No problem man," and lifted his shot glass as he tried to speak coherently.

"Of course, these poor bas'ards gotta look at nothin' but damned ol' fish all day! That an' the same ol' ugly faces. Stra'ger like you 's guna always be welcome 'round here." He made a face. Drunk but still rather intelligent and realizing how poorly those words had been annunciated. He stuck out his tongue, disgusted with himself and decided the best course of action to down the shot, and gesture Bob for another round.

When the hand shake was presented, Kai move unexpectedly fast and precise for a drunk man. As if the motion was automatic, practice a thousand times and worshiped as an art form. More of his country boy roots showing through. His large hand gripped tightly, without remorse for the other man's own safety. Not out of malice, or cruelty, but out of expectation that Syn be able to give a good hearty hand shake of his own. All the while Kai's stormy orbs gazing into the other man's own. Strength and eye contact. Key points in a good hand shake.

"Kaishi Senshi. Pleasure to meet ya' Syn." He said with some degree of sobriety... but only some.

Bob watched the two meet perform their meet and greet. And simply filled Kai's glass one more time.

...And checked off another round to his mental tab...

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Word Count: 520

"Man, you sure can put those damn things down!", Syn exclaimed as Kai gestured for another round,"How long have you lived here in Shippuu by the way if you don't mind me asking?"

Syn was awfully curious as even as a child he had been quite the perceptive boy and none of that had changed during his growing up. If anything his skills had only gotten sharper and from what he observed, there were always these small moments, barely noticeable and quick as a flash, but extremely obviously full nothing, but what had seemed like, pain, sorrow, and sadness in the view of Synyster.

Every time he had seen the flash, almost instantly it was as if he had been swept up out of his sorrowful reveries and adjusted back to the bland and agonizingly cruel reality they had both known to call home all of their lives.

Maybe that's why he's drinking so much, Syn thought.

The hustle and bustle of the shop merely intensified with every second as more and more of the loud and boisterous locals of Shippuugakure hurriedly filed into the bar. Taking notice to this sudden increase in activity, the barkeep, with a sheepish grin passed Kaishi his next drink with as much skill as he hand when handling Syn's own share and with a loud welcome, went to work away at the pockets of the newcomers.

Word Count ~ 229

It was true enough Kai was a bit distant. Distracted. Disheartened.

The man commented on his drinking and Kai stared back at him for a moment, not sure how to react initially, then quickly recovered and threw the new comer a wide grin. It was big, warm, and welcoming. Be it the pearly whites, or the dimples that outlined their edges something about that smile was simply...

Human.

Even with the pain he felt, more so tonight than others, he was damn good at making those around him believe everything really was fine. It wasn't that he really tried, it was just something he had picked up along the way, growing up. This ability to show emotion, even when it wasn't there. So he put on that smoke one more time. That mask, the facade. But can you blame him? We all wear masks of some kind. Don't we?

Kai noticed the bar keep leaving, going to make his rounds for and a mixture of thoughts, trivial as they might be, ran through his head. The drunkenness, combined with his scrutiny for detail wasn't always a good thing, but at least it kept him distracted. God knows how long he'd been staring off at the fishermen coming in the and man who served him writing down drink orders. It could have been a split second, could have been an hour but he quickly jolted up right, staring back at Syn and realizing how poor of an acquaintance he was being. "Pardon. The drink is startin' ta' get ta' me. How many years ya say? Hell, been my whole life I reckon. Though, as a younger man and as a child I grew up way out in the sticks. My parents was rice farmers." Upon that revelation, his accent, which only grew increasingly thick the more he drank, became clear.

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Word Count: 309

Syn once again mentally noted that Kaishi was once again lost in one of his reveries enabling a small smile to play at the corners of Syn’s mouth as he related this to his own habit of being lost in thought half the time. Almost as quickly as it had come however Kaishi bolted upright saying, "Pardon. The drink is startin' ta' get ta' me. How many years ya say? Hell, been my whole life I reckon. Though, as a younger man and as a child I grew up way out in the sticks. My parents was rice farmers." Upon that revelation, his accent, which only grew increasingly thick the more he drank, became clear. Syn mentally noted the thick accent it seemed the man had been brutally hiding behind his exterior. Perhaps he was ashamed of his lineage? Whatever the case, it didn’t concern Syn enough to give it much thought.

“Aaaaaah”, Syn said, “I was practically by my lonesome for the vast majority of my life. My parents died when I was young, however not before they could teach me the way of my clan and the history behind them which would explain why I ended up in such a poverty. Apparently at some point in time my clan had been very rich before the fall of Kazangakure of course and after that became scattered. It’s a very interesting history indeed, but anyway sorry I seem to have gone off on a tangent”. Syn softly scratched his head like a kid who had done something completely odd and not realized it. Syn rarely if ever told anyone about his past, upbringing, or foolish clan. However, there was something about this man that Syn really seemed to trust and like, as if he was sort of a kindred spirit.

Maybe it was the pain in his eyes..

Word Count ~ 308