Hello again everyone and welcome to chapter ten of Monster. So as you are all aware, we're at a point in the anime when there is a period of thirty days in which we don't see crap apart from Naruto really and so this means there will be a few filler type things written because I can't just randomly have a developed relationship between Gaara and Kiki if I just time skip until the final exam. That's unprofessional and impractical. Not to mention unrealistic. So this chapter isn't exactly 'skippable' because I don't believe in such chapters, but it isn't the most exciting either. So sorry in advance for that. Another thing I wanna say before I get to the recent reviews. I had originally had the plots for each chapter drafted and usually it only changes depending on the length of it once I've made enough events happen. This time however I had a goal in mind and when I started writing my muse got carried away and I ended up with something completely different than what I had intended for this story. I fear it might upset people when they see it within the first chunk of the chapter, but at the same time I feel that the way I did go was the right way. So there.
Gemeni's Revenge: I'm so sorry I don't update faster. With my fluctuating inspiration and my responsibilities and need of rest I rarely get a lot of writing done quickly anymore.
Trisana: I am so glad that my characters are so appealing! I worked so hard on individualizing them. It's nice to know too that through my mistakes and the rewriting of a familiar timeline, my story still captures your interest and it is a great privilege to know that you think so highly of my work ^_^ I get so giddy reading that stuff.
えいこ: Thank you so much!
Tea For The Soul
Toshimora was making a cup of tea, one he had made himself with herbs and other relaxing qualities that Kiki had discovered when he had hired a private medical ninjutsu trainer. It was sweet yet held that natural aroma that made it so relaxing. He hadn't even dressed for the day yet, still in his grey sweat pants and a white wife beater. His dirty blonde hair was down and fell down his neck, over his shoulders and over his left eye. The hazel orbs themselves were trained on his ingredients.
"Nice of you to come see me... Kakashi."
The Copy Ninja couldn't help but smile beneath his mask as he stepped away from the window. "You always could tell when I was near, Toshimora."
The Rain ninja smirked, pulling another cup from the cupboard. "You're not exactly the hardest to sense despite your prowess. Then again you have that specific aura that I can just feel in the air. Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." Kakashi gently sat down on the sofa that lined the middle of the room adjacent to another. "If I didn't know you better Toshimora, I'd say it was only me you could sense like that."
"Hm, don't flatter yourself Hatake. I sense my students just the same." He gathered the tea and began heading to sit across from Kakashi, who noticed a small disheveled cot off to the side.
"Have guests last night?"
"Kiki didn't want to be alone. I let her stay with me. I have a habit of letting people do that it seems..." Kakashi gingerly accepted the cup as Toshimora handed it to him.
"You're kind hearted. It's not a bad trait to have." The look the Rain ANBU gave him though said otherwise, and he knew why. "I need to ask a favor Toshimora."
"You never used to be so formal you know? There was a time when you could address me as a close friend." The smile he gave made it impossible for Kakashi to deny him the friendship he spoke of.
"Toshi, I need your help," he pleas. "Last night one of our Jonin was attacked and killed. We think that there is a strong possibility that it's one of two threats. A spy from the Sound Village named Kabuto Yakushi, or the Sanin Orochimaru." At this the blonde frowns and looks down at his drink.
"I see... And because you're telling me this I assume your Hokage has permitted it?"
"Yes. I asked him personally to allow me to ask for your help. I want you to help me Toshi. To protect my village..." Toshimora sipped his tea and inhaled deeply, exhaling in a slow rhythm.
"Drink Kakashi, you shouldn't be so worried. It's bad for your health."
"Toshi-"
"You very well know that I would go to the ends of the earth and lay down my life if it meant you would sleep better Kakashi. I'll do anything I can, so long as you drink your tea and promise to relax..." The Rain shinobi kept his eyes on his tea, drinking it when he paused and allowed the herbs to keep him from his harmful emotions.
"Toshi..." He grabbed his cup that had been prepared for him, his fingers trailing to the brim of the mask that covered his face. Toshimora looked up as he began pulling down, the black fabric sliding over his nose, his lips, then finally his chin. He blinked in awe as he watched Kakashi drink.
"Why you choose to hide that face is completely beyond me..." Kakashi looked up, black eye settling on Toshi as he scanned his face. Smooth ivory skin and a perfectly angled chin. Thin lips that pursed just right. A mole that dotted his flesh off to the corner of his mouth. "You're gorgeous..." Kakashi's and Toshimora's scarred eyes lined up perfectly, but the one over Toshimora's nose threw off the symmetry. Kakashi could see clearly now the many scars that riddled his friend's arms and chest now that he was more exposed. How many of those were from protecting him all those years ago? How many came from his student he so readily called his daughter? Could he have prevented them?
"If I went without it then how would I keep from making everyone fall in love with me at first sight? I'd never get any work done," he says with a grin.
"Don't I know it."
"You know you're the only one I trust to see my true face don't you? Only my father and a select few restaurant vendors have seen me without it. And then there's you..."
"It's truly an honor, I won't deny that." Silence befalls them, only their individual drinking breaking air. It was minutes before Kakashi even spoke again.
"You seem happy. I never expected you to be such a dedicated sensei... Or a father for that matter. She's not even yours and yet the love in your eyes is apparent everytime you look at her. Considering the extent of your scars, I can only imagine how deep those feelings go." The blonde sighed and set his empty cup down. Hand going to his face.
"You know how I always hated kids. That was still true the last time we saw eachother. But when Sand ninja entered our borders and presented a bruised and bloody child, a little girl with sheer terror on her face and the eyes of one who has seen too much for their age... I knew immediately that I wanted to protect her always. She was so cute Kakashi. Her short red hair and her big green eyes... She was a doll. To see that there was a monster out there that was capable of defiling such innocence made my blood boil. After the trauma she faced I'm blessed to have such a loving daughter that will share so much of her life with me..." He forced a laugh even. "Heh, you know something? She actually told me about this boy she met during our first day here. She says she's never felt the way she does about anyone until she's around him. My little baby's growing up and finding her first love. Won't be long until she leaves me for good."
Kakashi placed a hand over Toshimora's, his expression comforting. "You're an amazing father Toshi. She'll always love you. And so will someone else no matter how far they are..."
"You talk like this was meant to happen after I pulled you from the field that night..." The silver haired man shrugged as Toshi tightened his grip on his hand.
"Maybe it was. I was on a mission, I needed to save my teammate and I'd already lost one during the war because I wanted nothing more than to follow the shinobi code. So when I was exhausted and unable to go on with a trail of ninja on my tail you pulled me into your own home. Barricading me inside you defeated an entire chuunin squad on your own..." Kakashi let his hand go to a scar on the side of Toshi's neck. "You let yourself almost die to save a complete stranger."
"I don't regret it either..."
"And even though you did all that, in the end I failed. I lost those that mattered to me." Toshimora met his sad gaze with his own, his hand tracing Kakashi's jaw.
"I missed you...
"I missed you too...Toshi."
Kiki kicked mindlessly at the dirt as she walked the street, eyes down and glancing up every now and then to make sure she didn't walk into something. There were dark circles under her eyes and she carried an invisible weight on her shoulders. The tea this morning had helped some, but she still felt like death. She had traded out for some baggy knee pants and a green tank along with a beige vest today for casual wear, just something for comfort. In all honesty she was drained. She hadn't been sleeping much lately and her chakra was being used this way and that since the exams began. She was starting to feel the effects of true exhaustion. Usually she could sleep every few days and her reserves would be somewhat normal, then when she rested up and they were at full capacity she had so much it was hard to control when casting jutsu. Now she barely had any and only her blood would be reliable if she were to be attacked. The frequent nightmares when she slept were no better. She just couldn't wrap her head around it. She only used to have them during that first year or so with her sensei after he took her in, but recently they plagued her more and instead of horrific flashbacks they were terrifying images she didn't recognize as anything she'd experienced personally. She hated to even think about the details.
"You look like one hell of a failed reanimation." She blinked with an audible 'Huh?', glancing about and looking for the owner of the raspy voice that said that. She found her gaze settling on a certain brunette with a wrapped head and face standing near a shop with arms hanging limply as usual. "Rough night?"
She rolled her eyes, her sense of humor not yet functioning this early. "I know I look how I feel. What's it to you why I look like this?"
"Well when I left you last night you were in the company of a beast. You could have been ravaged in one way or another." Despite the lack of laughter and overall emotion in his voice she could hear his attempt at a dirty joke all too clearly. So he had that side to him... Interesting.
"None of your business what I do in my spare time Kinuta," she sighs, continuing on to wherever she could with no destination. "If you must know I wasn't feeling too well. Then again it must be hard to tell through my failed reanimation face," she snaps.
"Someone's salty today." He fell into step beside her, causing her to raise a brow.
"What the hell do you want Dosu? I'm trying to have a Me Day while my squad trains for the final exam," she huffs. Kai and Cavuto were pegged against one another so they were training separately so that they could learn new moves neither one had seen yet. They weren't about to hold back just because they were best friends. Men were so idiotic.
"Know your enemy right? Have you forgotten that we're supposed to fight in the final rounds?" the mummy boy points out.
"Couldn't forget even if you'd let me..." Damn, where was she even going? She was piddling around like an academy student.
"Going to the hospital as well?"
"Hm?" She looked up, the hospital was indeed in the direction she was going, but...
"As well?"
"Well it was you who suggested I visit Zaku after all." Right...
"Hmmm... Damn I'm hungry..." The redhead's stomach growls and her head droops as she groans.
"There's shops everywhere. If you're that hungry then get something."
"Shut up I left my wallet in my room..."
"You went out for the day without taking money with you? Are you that stupid?"
"You can shut the hell up because I don't think clearly in the mornings and I'm unpredictable so keep pushing me Sound squirt!"
"What the heck are you guys doing?" The Sound and Rain ninja look up simultaneously to a blonde that had spoke. She was with the pink haired girl talking into one of the shop windows.
"Aren't those two the ones that beat eachother in a tie a couple days ago?" Dosu ponders.
"Yeah Sakura and something about a pig? I don't care..." She breathes in a strong aroma of grilling meat however and she forgets all about the girls, drooling slightly. "Damn that smells good..."
"Hmph, ridiculous."
"Huh?" she blinks.
"You're telling me there's an open window with food in it and you're going to let yourself be tormented over it? Do I need to spell it out for you?" She tilted her head. He meant to just swipe something off the plate of those Leaf ninja. It was a dick move, but she was starving...
"I have been training Ino! Every day all day. Asuma's a god damned slave driver." As the sensei of students laughed Kiki sighed and began approaching the window, Dosu at her flank.
"Slave driver huh? Sounds inappropriately kinky..." The two girls turned to blink at her in surprise and unease, the gazes of the three sitting inside following.
"Ah, Kiki Jakkaru. I hope you're feeling well this morning." The girls both gape at the jonin in shock as he greets the Rain girl warmly.
"Asuma sensei! Why are you being so chummy with her?!" the blonde shrieks.
"In case you've forgotten, she was the one who treated you when you passed out yesterday after your fight," the brunette boy droles. Kiki blinks.
"Hey, what's your name again?"
"Huh? Nara. Shikamaru Nara." She nods.
"I like you." Ino shrieks again at this as Shikamaru quirks a brow and just stares at her.
"He is right though Ino. Kiki treated you and Sakura. Choji too. Everyone who needed care yesterday was looked over by her. It's common courtesy to be respectful to someone who healed your injuries." Asuma seemed to be discreetly drilling the blonde for her outbursts and although they seemed to mean well, Kiki didn't like the false sense of friendship.
"It's whatever. Keep up the training and hopefully I won't have to treat all three members of a squad," she moans. "Ugh, I wish I wasn't even apart of this damn final exam thing."
"I hear you," Shikamaru says.
"I don't want to hear it! There are plenty of people who would give their right arm to be in your shoes!"
"Not me..." Kiki whines. "The only reason I'm doing it is to level up so I can take position as ANBU." It was at this point they actually noticed Dosu standing in the background.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"He's trying to find my weakness so that he can kill me before the exams start that way he can prove something or whatever." Kiki's eyes glowed a soft red as a tendril slipped over the windowsill and formed a sharp point, prodding at a short rib. The group only gaped at her incredulously, unbelieving that she could be so nonchalant about her potential assassin's presence. "He's gonna have to just follow me around until the match I guess..." The blood tendril stabbed through a slab of meat and a growl could be heard. She lifted her gaze to a feral Choji, glaring daggers at her attempt to steal his food. The table grew silent as they awaited Choji's wrath, but a glance at Dosu had him faltering since he had defeated him just a couple days prior. And then there was the fiery glare that was piercing his soul that came from the girl, one that dared him to attack her if he wanted...
He restrained his anger as she kept eye contact and the tendril lifted the meat to her lips. She never once broke her gaze as she chewed and neither did he, as much as he wanted to. The meat went down with a pleased gulp and was followed by a concerned look from Sakura and Ino, cringing as she went after another piece and focused in on her teeth tearing into the morsel. It was terrifying to watch her even eat meat...
"Anyhow, Dosu weren't we heading to the hospital?" Both girls shrink back as emerald eyes move to them. "You were going there too right? That's the reason you have cut flowers." Asuma smirks as the two hesitantly nod.
"You should escort them there Ino. After all it's only right that a local escort guests while visiting the village." Kiki smirked. Old man Asuma truly was a slave driver. It took a glare on her part but the two females reluctantly gave and began to lead the way towards the hospital.
"Later Asuma sensei. Nice to meet you. Shikamaru Nara. Choji." The redhead nods as Dosu grunts and follows after her.
The four genin walked to the hospital in silence. Ino and Sakura huddled together obviously and created space between the two groups that barely hinted at their association. Dosu was rather amused and Kiki seemed to be as well. "What's wrong girls? I won't bite," she coos. "Well, not this early in the morning." Both shuddered at this and seemed to squish together the more she gave them attention.
"Keep smashing together like that and you'll form a whole new person," Dosu chips in.
"That's how you get fat people after all. Didn't you know?" The Sound nin chuckles lightly at this, relaxing a bit as he hung around the Rain ninja more. Sakura gave a glare and Ino growled.
"I wish Choji was here to hear that..." Kiki blinks up with changing pace and thinks for a moment.
"Choji huh? Wait a second... There's a difference between healthy and fat. I could call him that but it would be inaccurate. Now when it gets to the point that he can't function physically because of his weight then we'll talk about that."
"What the hell is up with you?!" the blonde snaps.
"One second you're incredibly rude and mean and the next you're preaching about not judging others," Sakura adds.
She shrugs as they approach the front entrance of the hospital, a smirk on her lips. "I like to think I'm the perfect combination of cold hearted sass, burning rage, and thoughtful warmth. Kind of like a mothering predator. When hungry I can be cranky. Touch my children slash friends and I'll maim you thoughtlessly. Play nice with me and I'll do the same. Pretty straightforward actually." She wasn't a complicated person she didn't think. Do unto others and whatnot. Then again the thought of any preacher telling her that made her uneasy. She didn't know why, she believed in higher beings but for some reason talking about them and even being in church made her sick. She didn't think too much of it. She didn't even worship really apart from prayers when they were on a dangerous mission and she had to split from her team.
They arrived at the entrance and went straight to the front desk where a nurse greeted them warmly. "Well hello there! Are you here to visit someone?" Sakura nodded.
"Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee?"
"Zaku Abumi," Kiki murmured from behind. When she spoke the nurse leaned around the two girls in front to see who had said a name when she suddenly gasped.
"Oh! You're the young genin that treated most of the patients from the chuunin exams right?" she beams.
"Huh?" It took a moment for her to register what had been said. "Oh, yeah."
"You really saved us some trouble. I'm sorry to say though that Sasuke, Lee, and Zaku are all in fairly rough shape. You won't be able to stay long."
"That's fine."
"Alright, if you'll just follow me." The nurse led them down the hall with a clipboard stopping at a door not to far down. "Please be out in about five minutes okay?" The red head and Dosu nod, stepping in and closing the door behind them as the nurse led the two other girls on.
Lying on the bed with both arms elevated in heavy casts was an unconscious Zaku, torso bare apart from bandages riddling it from where the backfire of his chakra had wounded him. He seemed to be sleeping but there was twitching of his eyelids when the door closed. There were grunts of pain and discomfort as the wounded boy opened his eyes and turned slightly towards the door. "D-Dosu?"
"You look worse than Jakkaru..."
"I swear to whatever deity exists I will end you Kinuta..." Kiki growls and steps from behind the slouched male with arms crossed and an irate look. The boy on the bed blinks several times.
"Urgh, what the hell are you doing here, hn?"
"Browsing for furniture. What does it look like I'm doing? Your damn teammate dragged me along so he could get your opinion on how to kill me," she snaps.
"That wasn't my intention but not a bad idea..." The injured genin was so confused he looked more visibly hurt than he had before.
"What are you talking about?" The redhead rolled her eyes.
"You have visitors, don't be so ungrateful. Besides, your comrades do care if you're hurt."
"C-comrades?" Dosu moved to sit at the bedside as Kiki leaned against the window and rested her eyes.
"So, what's the situation?" Dosu asks stoically. At this Zaku seems to relax and a frown covers his mouth.
"My chakra and the airwaves were launched full power, right into those damn bugs," he states. "The lack of any place to go sent it looking for a way out, and the only way it knew how was through my very own flesh, hn. My bones were broken and my muscles were destroyed along with ligaments and skin..." It's then that he looks over at the resting redhead. "Said I'd never be able to use my arms again... If I hadn't been treated so well before I got here."
Kiki stares down at the windowsill, feeling the reluctance in the boy's statement as well as the question that hung in its tone. "Well. That's good news right? You'll be up and moving in no time." The atmosphere was cramped, emotionally. None of the three were sure what to say at this point.
"So um, about the last exam..." Zaku directs at Dosu. "What did Sensei say?"
"No sense in beating around the bush. The Rain girl already has a hunch."
"Huh?" He looks to Kiki.
"What? I'm good judge of character. Well, that and I cheated using my teammate's kekkei genkai."
"You did wha-?!"
"Losersaywhat?"
...
"What?"
"Ha! Fell for it!"
"Uggghh..." Zaku quirked a brow but gave a smirk. She dodged the question, but it didn't really matter how she knew.
"Anyway, hn, about the final exam. What are you gonna do?"
"Well, the plan was to show Orochimaru just how wrong he is about my degree of usefulness. He's already dubbed us as disposable. The strategy was kill off my two main rivals and get to Sasuke Uchiha. But..."
"Essentially he's outclassed and he's a pussy," the girl yawns.
"You said that neither of you slept and I'd never catch you off guard!"
"Actually I said Gaara doesn't sleep and that I rarely do. And obviously you're not very bright if you thought your sound would be enough to penetrate two ultimate defenses."
"Wait, you have to face her and that Sand ninja?"
"He has to face Gaara if he gets past me, which isn't happening," she teases. She smiles as the two begin bantering back and forth about the extent of Dosu's abilities. It was almost like listening to Cavuto and Kai...
She let her gaze wander outside, taking a breath and relaxing against the glass. She noticed something outside though in the courtyard. Someone was out there in the grass... Black hair and a hospital outfit. "What..?" Whoever it was was riddled in bandages and had one arm in a sling and for the love of god they were doing push-ups? "Wait a second... Lee?!" A nurse along with Sakura and Ino rushed outside but Lee snapped at them and continued on. "Damn it!" She threw open the window and lept out in a hurry.
"Where are you going?!"
Lee collapsed just as she hit the grass, prompting the nurse to panic. She got to him as fast as she could, dropping to his side and checking his pulse. "Damn!" She gently moves him onto his back and lays him out. He had fallen directly on his broken arm and he had strained himself too much. "Go get a stretcher!" she barks.
"R-right! Stay with her!" The nurse orders the two kunoichi to watch over the two as the redhead ran her hands over Lee's arm, a green chakra enveloping it. Almost immediately she winced. She didn't have the chakra for this, she was running on empty and the healing properties were weak.
"Ergh, damn it..." She poured every last bit of her chakra into healing his fresh injuries, sweat pouring from her brow and teeth grinding in pain. "Ahh!" She grunted loudly just as Lee's bruised skin lightened and before she could survey anything further she straightened slightly and swayed gently. Within seconds her eyes were clouded and she toppled over beside the taijutsu master.
"Kiki!" Ino and Sakura rushed to her side just as the nurse returned with several others and a stretcher.
"Oh no! Get her inside too!"
Gaara wasn't sure why he had believed the Rain girl had felt anything positive towards him, though he was sure it had something to do with some jutsu. Whether it was the way she sang or the way she danced or even just the way she smiled at him, he had believed it for a split second. Just when he felt himself opening up last night she got a panicked look on her face and ran faster than wind to get away from him. He was a fool for thinking she was different. She was just like everyone else...
He went back to the hotel room that night and stared out the window for the longest time as Kankuro slept.
She turned tail and ran from the monster he was...
Kankuro woke up surprised to see him there, not getting him to turn around but still shocked nonetheless. He got dressed and soon after Baki explained that he needed to go over the new plans for the mission. The three met and Baki gave them the basics of what they were each to do, Gaara only half listening since his part would always remain the same. Then when it was over they all sat while individual preparation was made. It was around two hours later that a panic could be heard outside from a Leaf shinobi rushing into the hotel.
"What the heck?" Kankuro stands and moves towards the door as the ninja entered, his cries audible from down the hall.
"What's going on?" Temari wonders aloud. Gaara slunk behind them, curious if nothing else and desperate to take his mind somewhere else other than the singing girl that left him alone like everyone else.
"Toshimora!" Gaara remembered that was the name of the Rain girl's sensei. Obviously he wasn't meant to ignore her existence. He couldn't see from his position in the room, but he did hear some words that even had his eyes widening a bit. There went another new feeling...
Kakashi let his lips brush over Toshimora's neck from behind, his gloved hand feathering over the blonde's bare waist that, along with his naked torso, was riddled with the scars he had come to love to trace. "Mm, Kakashi. You should get going, you're own student will be worried if you aren't there to meet him for training." Toshimora smirked and glanced over at the silver haired ninja through his wet bangs that fell over his eye and clung to his neck to the opposite side that Kakashi was touching. The latter was fully clothed apart from his mask while the Rain ANBU was clad in nothing but a towel around his hips with moisture sticking to his form.
"I'm sure Sasuke can handle being without me for a half hour or so," Kakashi offers. The blonde quirks a brow and his lips take the jonin's in a sloppy manner, tongue slipping into the cavern and mingling with its counterpart. Both sighed into the action as they caressed eachother affectionately. The act was soon ended however slowly and Kakashi pulled his mask up over his nose once more, giving a final peck on Toshimora's lips through the fabric. "We need to get together again before the final exams," Kakashi offers.
"You mean we should do this again before we're separated by village again?"
"Mm, by 'this' are you referring to tea or the other activities that occurred?"
"Hehe, you tell me." The blonde nuzzles into the jonin's neck and takes a chance at nibbling on his earlobe. As much as Kakashi wanted to stay, and he wanted to, he did have to go and meet Sasuke. He took the blonde's wrists and held them in one hand while moving his other hand to the ANBU's towel clad backside and squeezing and he pressed his masked lips to the other male's. Toshimora moaned quietly and smiled against the fabric. "I get it, you really have to to go," he murmurs. With his point across Kakashi releases the blonde and moves towards the door.
"Don't be a stranger Toshi. I can make time for you if you can make the trip." The Leaf ninja had the door open and was returning a smile when a yell sounded from down the hall.
"Toshimora Kinju!" Kakashi snapped around just as a chuunin from Konoha came to a skidded halt before the door. He was panting and leaning forward with hands on his knees. He was going to address Kakashi when he took notice of the scantily clad ANBU standing in the hotel room. Face flaring the chuunin bowed in apology. "I'm so sorry to intrude sir but I have urgent news!" he announces hurriedly.
"What's going on?" Kakashi presses.
"Sir! Toshimora Kinju's presence is required at the hospital immediately! The genin from the Rain village Kiki Jakkaru was reported to have used all of her chakra to heal a wounded Leaf shinobi and has since fallen unconscious!"
"What?!" Toshimora looked livid, his hazel glaring daggers at the messenger.
"S-sir! She's entered a violent mini coma due to what the doctors believe is nightmares, but because she is deeply unconscious and her body refuses to wake until it's recuperated she's been labeled high risk!" Kakashi watched Toshimora's eyes widen as he practically threw his towel off with no shame and jerked on pants like a desperate man. He was half clothed when he stormed out of the room and ran straight for the hospital, dressing as he went. The Copy Ninja stormed after him shouting his name but he was a father on a mission to save his cub, there was no stopping him now that he knew his daughter was at risk.
That's all until the next chapter everyone! I hope I didn't upset anyone too much with the gayness that is OOC for Kakashi. I'm trying to be accurate to the show but one thing led to another and I like where it went. Let me know what you thought!
PS: To the guest reviewer who recently posted, please contact me when you can because I would sincerely love to discuss the thoughts and hypothesis you commented about. Since you were not logged in though and left no name I can't message you myself. Thank you!