yourhatred | appointment's post

[Holiday season's coming up, you know. This and the tea has given him... ideas.]

Aa, then I'll just bring mine along. [Hark, did he just feel Amaya rub against his legs? Glancing down.] Oh, hello. You're getting big. [Leaning down to give the kitten a bit of rubbing around the ears.]

[Itachi tilts his head in the cat's direction.]

She is, yes. I won't be able to carry her in my shirt for much longer. [Shame, that.]

[Aw. That was adorable to see.]

Or on your shoulder. She'll be disappointed. [Amaya seems to enjoy that. So do you. Some more rubbing.] She's become accustomed to her rides.

I'm sure I'll find ways to carry her around regardless.

[A chuckle.]

I'm sure you will.

As long as she doesn't forget how to use her own four paws.

Heh. Somehow I doubt that will happen. [Smile. Tea sip.] Amaya doesn't seem like the forgetful sort.

It's true. Cats recall more than we give them credit for.

[Or that most gave them credit for, anyway. Itachi took little for granted.]

She won't ever make a nin-cat, but it's for the best. She wasn't born for it.

[Which brings him to something he's been wondering about.]

Hm? You really have me curious on what those nin-cats are like. [A small smile as he thinks of what Itachi told him on the boat.] Aside from stubborn that is.

You make them sound like familiars.

Familiars? I wouldn't count them as much. Pacts formed with sentient animals, animals capable of speech and techniques of their own, work both ways.

Cats are particularly stubborn and require a little more incentive on their end. My clan had close relations with a group of them.

Aaa... I see. Much more a partnership than a case of master and summons. [His world has sentient animals, as you very well know, and they can be capable of techniques... but things don't work out like that there. Oftentimes people just don't get beyond the animal.

And yes. He remembers that you were telling him about that as well. Catnip bribery and all.]

Yes. Though it's normally more than just one ninja and one creature. The ninja will usually gain access to various members of the chosen species.

[... okay. No fair. That's too neat. Why can't they have something like this on his world?]

You have a contract with any nin-animals? [Summoning is hard but doable here. Yuber proved that. And well, he's so. damn. curious. now.

He wants to meet one.]

...I do not.

[He shakes his head.]

My apologies if you were hoping to see them. You may, perhaps, be able to ask Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto? [He met him once. Briefly. Offscreen. The kid blinded him with orange.] Okay.

What kind of nin-animals does he summon?

Toads, I believe.

Rather large ones.

Toads?

[Blink. A little wide eyed. He may love animals... but frogs and toads aren't exactly in the running for his favorites. And now he's trying to imagine them fighting.

He's getting a very strange mental image here. Of giant toads clutching weapons and engaging in mortal combat.

Okay, man, he's seeing it, but you gotta admit, toads wouldn't be the first member of the animal kingdom that would come to mind as worthy combat partners.]

Nin animals span the entire animal kingdom, don't they?

More or less.

Some are more intelligent than others, and some species have pacts made with them less frequently.

Fascinating.

[... he wrenches himself from his intrigue with some difficulty and sips his tea again.]

When I come back... maybe you can help me with something? I'm trying to keep a certain pirate off my boat. Miss Nami is watching her while I'm away, but the truth is it's only a matter of time before Sparrow takes a run at her.

I was wondering if you knew anything that could prevent a hijacker from boarding.

[That gets Law a raised eyebrow.]

There are many traps that could be put into place, yes. The best might be something illusionary, though that would be more difficult to pull off in these conditions.

Mmnnn, I don't want to hurt the guy, and I don't think regular traps would put him off. Just make him more persistent. He's pretty typical for one of us that way, I think - the more challenging it is, the more enticing.

[Putting down the cup and folding his hands.]

I know it would be exceptionally difficult, but if he could be spooked off the first time, he might avoid the boat altogether afterwards. The man's superstitious and would avoid anything that seems unnatural and perhaps cursed.

I can't make any promises, but I might be able to work out something.

[He would prefer to keep trespassers off his friend's boat as well.]

Or if you'd prefer, I could simply attend to it in your absence.

Miss Nami is watching after her when I'm gone. She should be safe under her care.

[And why he trusts her with his boat? Complicated. And it's not exactly trust - more like an understanding. Fellow pirate. There will always be that caution.

...

No promises. That's okay. Just trying is enough. He nods.]

I'd appreciate anything you could do. Miss Nami will watch her while I'm out for the missions, but... the truth is, I'm so involved with the clinic itself and the new classes we're offering, that I can't check on her for decent periods of time even when I'm back. So I need something set up that can be an effective deterrence for the long term.

[He nods.]

I'll see what I can do.

Thanks, Itachi.

[A warm smile. Another sip of tea.]

appointment's post

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