Sunrise

[Azure]

Encased in a shadow entrapment, Disgust could no little more than spit in their faces, mock them and drive at their mentality. His rebelling self wouldn't admit to his inability to actually do a thing in protest. With his fish still exposed to the world, Rakirian's augmented fist slammed in to the spiritual skeleton of the amphibious wonder, causing it tear and crumble in the process. The fish deteriorated it's connection was severed, even the guard's body felt the anguish of the attack as his skin was even rippled. Disgust wailed in a cocktail bound by fury and pain before his body fell to dust from its large strain. It was as if the guard never existed, but the pain the duo inflicted and the mark they left were so very real.

Next to the Gennin, the pair of experienced shinobi acted in one final move to crush the remaining four sentinels blocking off their path. Once it had been ascertained that the dual between Soujiro and Taizen was growing too out of hand to forego any support Tsubasa and Noel decided that wasting chakra was a necessity to balance the odds. With the understanding that the guards had become an extension of the captain's metaphysical body, Tsukasa released a shrapnel shell of poisons, seeping in the four guards which caused their host bodies to slow to only a creep while Noel finished his staff, chiming along words to every written symbol. At the end of the ceremony, the tips of his staff trailed a tiny bit of visible light, quickly followed by tangible light blades curving and elongating. In swift motions, the priest impaled the fish of a guard, which followed by the destruction of the other three. The boundary erected to seal off both parties came crashing down as the reactionary strike traveled back to Taizen. This all happened relatively near when Disgust was vanquished, meaning that the repercussion occurred at about the same time. With all five remaining guards annihilated, the spiritual connection ripped through the mind of Taizen like a scourge tipped with steel ripping through his exposed flesh. His two hands gripped his head and a growl escaped his breath. This was enough time for Soujiro to sink his black blade in to the abdomen of the captain. Tearing a hole in to his stomach, it appeared that the advantage was finally won by Soujiro. Taizen looked up practically helplessly at the man standing with his blade injecting through his belly. "Whatever obsession you have with the dead, you'll join them soon and fill your thirst. When you meet Ryuichi again it'll be in the afterlife!” Soujiro cried as he ignited his chakra conducting through his blade. Before the flames could reach Taizen they were halted by a shock of electricity. "The threads separating this world from the next are thinner than you think. Death isn't always the end. Sometimes, it's a release of reality.”

Taizen emitted a large shock of chakra, pushing Soujiro back far enough so that he could remove the blade, letting his blood drip on the tower roof. With a shout, he extended his arms out to his side with his fingers pointing skyward, standing straight and erect, his voice boomed a single a coherent name "Eijin!” With a flash of illumination, Taizen's body was wrapped in an aura of teal haze before it simmered down to reveal his face replaced with a mask. The mask resembled an ancient tribe mask, stern and judgmental with several points and edges. The mask was pale and its cryptic eyes provided a shade of even deeper uneasiness than Taizen's last words. "He's merged with his spirit. From a clan of spirit callers, now he's reached the pinnacle of his power…” Noel muttered a tone of horror in his voice. It seemed that Taizen always had something more up his sleeve, something bleakly horrifying but this would be the end of his augmentation. His previous wound didn't appear to faze him nearly as much as it did before. Now it was as if he ignored it, his blood had even clotted in the process of the transformation. "Would Namiko want to see you like this, Soujiro?” The refreshed Taizen called out. Soujiro suddenly erupted in a fit of anger and rage, with a brief outline of flames growing around him. "Don't you dare talk about my sister like you know her!” He yelled back at Taizen, lifting off his feet for another physical strike against the captain. Taizen caught Soujiro's wrist with his hands and parried the man off his strike, "Oh but I have seen her many times haunting the afterlife. After all, you were the reason she was sent there. If you never would have returned to Kinomi no Toshi, she wouldn't have died and you wouldn't have killed all those people.” Soujiro scoffed, letting in and releasing a breath of fresh air, "You can't coax me in to losing my head so easily Taizen, I won't be tricked by you.” Taizen simply chuckled at this response. His hands whirled in a melody of complicated seals; there was very little time to prevent the captain from summoning his next technique.

"Tricks are only what you believe them to be, but you cannot ignore the truth. Let me show you what I have seen, just how transient these bodies are.”

Ω Shinzuiton: Choujikuu Seki Suibou Ω

(Spirit release; Super-dimensional Gate Collapse)

The sky outlined in a deep shade of black night, eclipsing over the afternoon sky. Thunder rolled in and a chill whispered through the air. Fixed in the sky, an outline of a giant gate with ancient symbols some too far whittled down in history to interpret in to vernacular. The gates broke open and a flood of purple haze very similar to what had floated in to the sky emptied in to the air, followed by a plethora of screaming orbs appearing in front of each person, their surroundings fading away as each orb began overtaking them and a form or two would be molded in front of their eyes. Within each of their heads they could hear Soujiro's out of place words ringing once again before their world grew bright.

"Remember your dream.”

Within each little space of light, each warrior would find themselves alone with a figure in front of them. It could be one or two, or even more people, but they were cut off from the rest of the world and the figure took the shape of someone that had died that was very close to each warrior. Whether it be a parent or family member, a friend or even a person they hadn't seen for a long time that possibly did die. There was someone for everyone. Each spirit remembered that person so eloquently, down to the very last detail. Even the speech that each spirit whispered reflected the voice of that loved one.

"Please stop before you die. Come with me and we'll be together again, without the need to painfully die. It'll all be alright, hush hush, come on.”

It was now their decision whether to follow the beck and call or to rebel. To trust that this person was real, or an illusion misleading them. They had to call upon the greatest shinobi tool they had, which weighed all of their experience and training in its better judgment. They had to listen to their heart.

• • • • • • •

Ooc; One post to roleplay what your character does while meeting with this spirit. It can be anyone of your choosing, but it must be someone. Also, post the wordcount of the post too.

[Baromosa]

Before Hyuuga Takashi appeared the spirit of a distantly familiar form. All the other colors of the room around him dulled and faded away, leaving the only conscious perception Takashi could receive was that of the long white hair and cream colored robes of an elderly man. His back was to Takashi at first, but as the man turned to face him Takashi's mouth parted opened. No words were spoken, but the familiar elder of Takashi's past gave off a gentle smile glowing with pride.

"Takashi-kun, You have really grown big while I have been gone. I hope you didn't forget me, did you? Your own grandfather?" The rich voice sounded, followed by a hearty laugh of amusement. It was true, this elderly gentlemen in the light robes with skin that was well preserved for its age and brilliant white Byakugan eyes. Memories from Takashi's youth flooded back to the younger Hyuuga, when his grandfather would visit on hot summer days. His heart resounded from joy of seeing his favorite family member again, one he had grieved for long ago. The more emotions that were brought forward, the confusion of how he could be here was more firmly trampled into the ground.

"You've gotten to big, but has your heart grown big as well? I am proud to see you here Takashi-kun. Keep set on your path, and you will be as righteous as you are strong." The grandfather fell silent and began to turn away, his sparkling white eyes leaving the young boy for the first time since he began speaking. The anxiety shot up in Takashi so suddenly it demanded a response.

"Grandfather! Wait!" Takashi yelled out and moved forward, reaching out to touch his robe, but fell just short of that. His grandfather turned and seemed to say in perfect clarity, "Please stop before you die. Come with me and we’ll be together again, without the need to painfully die. It’ll all be alright, hush hush, come on." With that his grandfather backed up and beckoned him to follow.

It took but a moment for Takashi to decide. He had come this far, and his heart told him to press on and trust in his Grandfather. For whatever reason the spirits or Gods or whatever ruled over the world, they had saw fit to send this guardian to guide him to a safer road.

Words: 397

Edited May 30, 2009 by Baromosa

[cntrstrk14]

As the fight would come to a finish, Tsubasa would hold himself upright, watching Disgust fall to the ground from the final blow. His eyes would turn towards the other fight, his azure blue eyes focusing on the two men. The small halo around his left eye just faintly visible against the natural blue color of his iris. Though Tsubasa had no idea what the creases and markings on everything he saw meant, he had made the connection to his left eye fairly quickly. Before Tsubasa could even assess the situation though, the fight would reach a climax, the enemy bursting forth with some type of strange chakra as a wash of cold would fall over the battlefield. Tsubasa's sight would be flooded with light and everyone around him would be gone in an instant.

"Tsubasa..."

Turning quickly, Tsubasa would look to see an older man standing behind him. He knew who it was before he had even looked, standing there was Ro Yoshi. The only person in the world Tsubasa cared about aside himself. He stared blankly for a few moments before his eyes would adjust. The creases and lines were gone, though his left eye was still uncovered.

"R-Ro sensei?! What are you doing here?"

"..."

"... Why aren't you talking?", Tsubasa said, taking a step forward but finding he couldn't.

"..."

"Are you dead? Am I dead?", his voice was picking up, panicked.

"..."

"SAY SOMETHING!!!", he screamed in anger and fear.

"..."

"This isn't real, this can't be real. Ro-sensei isn't dead, and he isn't here. I KNOW HE IS STILL ALIVE!!!", Tsubasa ended, screaming out as he did. He was wracking his brain, trying to break a genjutsu if this is what it was. What was left of his chakra flared in rebellion, he was not going to go without a fight. There was no way this was a true vision.

He knew one thing though, that even if Ro-sensei had passed away while he was gone, he would not be here presenting himself to Tsubasa. At a time like this a fair well would be dangerous to Tsubasa, but at the same time his teacher had never offered to help him. He had let Tsubasa sink or swim on his own, and in death he would not change that attitude.

[Zereon]

The battle was over and Zereon was still standing, taken by the moment. Suddenly it was like coming back from a dream. Zereon couldn't believe that he was just prepared to sacrifice everything to help Konoha even on the edge of fainting or even die. But this wasn't the only things that amazed Zereon; since as the fight ended the sky was covered with some strange black chakra and before Zereon knew it everything was almost too dark to see.

Before Zereon had the change to think any further suddenly a strong white light was approaching him. Not to damage his eyes Zereon covered them until he got used to it. Suddenly there was a voice. It wasn't familiar voice but it still warmed as the voice of a family member. When it was possible to have glimpse on the white exterior in front of him, Zereon was shocked to see who was standing in front of him. It was a young man that looked a lot like Zereon himself only older and had more of a wiser expression. The man waved with a smile and as he did implant, just like Zereon's, wear seen on the man’s hand.

"Zereon..."

The voice called for him again as Zereon realized that the man in front of him was someone that had meant a lot to him even in his death. IT was Zereon's late ancestor whom he'd only seen paintings of, the very man that had designed the fire implants that Zereon was welding. He was said to have died from a disease still unknown to Zereon.

"Am I dreaming?"

Zereon was confused but the man simply smiled again and shock his head as he probably now knew that Zereon had now realized who he was.

"No Zereon, you're not. I'm glad to finally meet the man who caries my legacy. I'm well aware your goals and the implants. And that's why I want to tell you what happened to me when I got the implants. " The man paused and with a slight sigh and depressing look he continued. "As I grew stronger and more experienced with the implants something happened with me, something strange. The more I sued them the more they became a part of me until the day when the metal in my body started to go havoc and before I knew it all my blood and chakra veins were clogged and I was no more, the pain was enormous."

As the man spoke Zereon looked at his implants regretfully, now knowing that he had made a huge mistake.

"But do not frighten, son. As this was not to happen to you and that is for one reason only, that you are a decedent from me. Since I already had the implants in me when I met my wife the mutation had already started. We tried to have kids but failed every time since they died from the same disease that I was to have later, until finally we got a baby girl, your great grandmother. She still had the DNA of the metal decease only her body was able to handle it. And now I think you have that too, but the only danger is that you also have the implants that killed me and with that giving the body yet another boost of metal. Your chances are slim Zereon, you'll probably die just as me. So why even bother trying? Just give up this fight and come with me and forget everyth..."

The speech ended quickly and Zereon as Zereon interrupted the man.

"NO! That won't happen to me! I'm stronger than any of you!"

The light spirit disappeared just as Zereon finished his sentence. It left Zereon in an ocean of emotions and he had to sit down not to get too woozy.

Edited June 10, 2009 by Zereon

[Rakirian]

Standing right in front of the guard named Disgust, Rakirian could see perfectly how his Kanadzuchi sentou jutsu ripped through Disgust severing his connection with his fish. Pulling away his fist as Disgust would start to fall to the ground, he would shake his fist as if tainted. Turning around, he would catch the last glimpse of the battle between Soujiro and Taizen. Before he could say or even think about what to do next, Taizen unleashed an immense jutsu up to the sky. A giant gate appeared with several ancient symbols on it would then open up above them. A flood of purple haze would stream out with the sound of screams. The screams came from several orbs that approached every single one up on the roof. Rakirian took a step back as his vision started to fade as the orb overtook him with a bright light shining brighter by the second. Just before Rakirian was completely over taken, he could hear a faint voice that sounded like Soujiro: ”Remember your dream” and with that, he was taken.

With his eyes closed due to the bright light before, Rakirian would hold both his hands in front of him to shield himself at the same time when suddenly he could feel a hand touching his arms gently to uncover his face. Opening his eyes slowly, his gaze would see a middle aged man standing in front of him with a big smile on his face. His long black hair tied behind his head, a bright white robe covering his entire body with wide open sleeves. At first, Rakirian was stunned; he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was his uncle Kimoto, who had died on a mission some years before the invasion of Konoha took place.

”Uncle?” Rakirian then asked with a weak voice, as if he thought if he would speak any higher his uncle in front of him would disappear.

”Hello Raki, you've grown up…I hope you haven't been fooling around too much with the young girls like you used to do” Kimoto would say with a calm soothing voice as he would place both hands on Rakirian's shoulders looking straight into his eyes.

Laughing slightly as a response, Rakirian's eyes would start to tear up a bit. Kimoto was one of Rakirian's favorite family members and spent countless of days with him. He always used to call Rakirian as Raki. His death had hit Rakirian quite hard and he was depressed for several weeks before he started to go back to his normal cheerful self.

”But how could this be? Are you really here?” Rakirian would ask Kimoto as he tried to hold his tears from coming out.

”Yes…it's really me Raki…it's time now. I have come to take your pain away. You don't need to feel that anymore in this world, come with me and we will be together again…like when you were young. I know a great lake where we could go fishing again. Please come with me…it's all right, just let go….come with me” Kimoto's voice still very calm and soothing as his voice used to be.

Rakirian hesitated for a couple of seconds. Not knowing what to say he would open his mouth but then quickly closing it again. At last he began to let words come out: ”I…I…I can't…I can't uncle…I have so much more to do…to see…I can't let it go. Not yet…I-….I'm sorry.” Rakirian said with a trembling voice. Tears now stroking his cheeks slowly as they traveled down to his jaw as he declined his beloved uncle Kimoto's request. He would then take three steps back away from his uncle now looking at him with a sad and confused expression with his hands still outstretched to him, beckoning him to come to him. ”I'm sorry uncle…” Were the last words Rakirian would say before he turned around to look away from his uncle. His emotions were all over the place but his choice was the right one for him. He didn't know if his uncle was real or just an illusion but he couldn't stop here…even if he would now face a much more painful death.

Word count: 692

((OOC: Sorry for such a late reply. Here it is at least. Decided to resist agianst the spirit.))

[Azure]

Resisting the moment through sheer will power would not unveil the cloth of truth from the sensual entrapment of occult dealings. Some religions teach against dealing with the spirit nature, for only trial and torment can afflict those dabbling in the likes they could not comprehend. Others believe that the next plane of existence revolves around the spirit and that some altruistic beings contend with the task of guiding those still trapped in flesh prisons. Yet in the current world, there was distinction between fact and reality- where did one start and the other begin? Could ignorance or knowledge manifest boundaries between both worlds, defining the final product called perceived reality? Could faith and belief alter those boundaries and amend the laws of each world to their own devices? With only humans leading other humans through the definitions of possible and impossible, fact is only theory.

In each bubble of light, confronting the spirits that discovered them all droned a single topic spiced in other convincing caring conversations. Either rebellion or submission followed for each person and at for the ones that protested the spirit's nature of jovial status, two bright lights flashed in the orbs of light. One white and one black with the sound of a tiger's growl echoing through their minds. Pictures of their comrades in their own rebellious situations flashed before their eyes, along with the three ambiguous shinobi that lead them here. The experiences of Soujiro, Tsukasa and Noel were inserted in to their memory along with the out of body experience of living each of their feelings.

• • • • • • •

When the screaming faded, Soujiro opened his eyes to the sight of blinding light encompassing around his body. The wounds cut deep in his nervous system still plagued him, but nowhere in his sights could he pinpoint Taizen; there was an endless sea of memory. Depicted suddenly in the backdrop was the honest little villa of Kinomi no Toshi endowed in its prime of serenity. A greeting touch on his arm and embrace nothing short of powerful emotion brought before him the smiling orange haired figure of his sister greeting him with gleaming cerulean eyes. She seemed to be only a year or two to his youth and she was as bubbly and warm as he remembered. A deep sensation inside of his spirit called him to surrender himself and drink in the situation for what is was worth. However his outer demeanor was cross, "Namiko, I burned down this place when you were killed. I killed everyone, the entire town and area was incineration. Innocent and guilty, both were consumed, this isn't real.” Her touch felt real, he wanted to so much to touch her and feel her tangible arm and believe that she was real. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, he was almost afraid to discover his answer. "Brother, hush hush, don't worry. Here, this is just one of the planes of the afterlife, molding it to whatever you want. This is our home, we can live here again, and it'll all be forgiven. Believe me. You can't put physical laws on something beyond the physical realm.” She assured him with a bright smile and he began to accept it and lower his cold guard. He saw the construct of his ruined past built up once again in glory. Perhaps the afterlife contained keys to erase the terrible sin achieved in life. "But what about everyone I killed? That can't be erased- they all died because of me. How can I be forgiven?” He was still haunted by his actions to this very day, the memories flashing through his mind of the ruined Kinomi no Toshi. She put her index finger on her lips and said in a very motherly tone as if she knew everything about the world beyond, "Here there is no more pain. No more suffering and no regret. Please come with me before you have to experience the pain of death. Please Soujiro.”She begged as if she was purposely hid something pertaining to the transcendence of death from him. "Okay Namiko…”

He came closer to her and whispered those words in her ears and he began to feel a wet substance drenching his stomach. Her pupils dilated to her gaping mouth as he drew away, blood painted on his shirt from her wounded stomach. His blade fell to his side fresh from its prey. He could feel a terrible power rise up within him, a gut wrenching and empty feeling cascading around deep pain. "A spirit shouldn't bleed…” He choked out, feeling as though everything he knew was falling in shambles; he was responsible for his sister's wound. That was not an accident, he intended to stab her, but now her blood was on his name. Her faint voice spoke up, "Whoever said spirits couldn't bleed? You can't understand this world, only humans will feel pain. You're still under your world's laws and I had to cross over to reach you…” This was more than a wound on his spirit, killing the person he cherished and who tried to save him, he could feel himself breaking inside. Shaking his head, his voice boomed sternly, "NO! That doesn't make up for the people still alive! If anything, they are my redemption. I may not understand what's going on, but I can't leave while my task is unfinished. Ryuichi betrayed The Order; I still have to bring him to justice for what he's done! My life isn't over; I'll discover the real afterlife when my time has come. Until then, I'll carry on.”

• • • • • • •

Streaming across the ectoplasm vision was a golden gate stretching out across the skyline. Bright puffy clouds snuggling against pleasant blue skies provided soft support on the soles of any weary foot. Waiting outside of the miraculous gates was a man dressed in holy robes, with professional and eloquent colors to mark him as official. His bright smile shone as radiant as the son as he met the priest Noel at the heavenly setting. "Welcome Brother, your spiritual journey has led you to this utopia. I'm thankful to see your blessed face again Noel.” He extended his arms in welcome, ushering the priest forward. The normally clam, peaceful and cheery demeanor noel exhibited on a daily basis had taken a twisted turn. He met the current setting in a firm, unwavering tone. "You are not Pastor Zion, I'm afraid if I was in fact dead- or visiting his spirit this wouldn't be where. I highly doubt his spirit would rouse from its slumber, nor would mine until the day I was called back, then I may meet here- but not alone, never alone. So many more faces would be shining here entering through these gates.” The pastor sighed, refusing to relinquish his calm and peaceful stature, instead trying to urge Noel to open the gates and step through the threshold. "Do you rebuke salvation? Come, it'll be fine brother hush now and embrace this holy land.” "Heretic! I will not accept this deceit any longer, be gone!” Noel bellowed out with such strong conviction that it seemed the very fabrications of the clouds would rip apart. Challenging the very nature of the heaven before him could deny him the rite of passage and ultimate preservation of his soul; he played high risk on this gamble. The utterances may condemn him for eternity, but he stayed true.

• • • • • • •

The collapsing spiritual gate released two orbs floating through the atmosphere, caressing themselves around the simple shepherd. With his staff, he feebly tried to ward off the ghostly embers but suddenly he could feel his grip on consciousness lapsing and falling out of coordination. He felt his head become light and a warming, longing feeling fill a place in his heart with these two spirits. His violet eyes brought him images of his deceased parents, elderly and graying. It was just as they were on the last day he saw them, only three years ago. "Tsukasa, my how you've grown.” His mother wept at the sight of her child more mature from the passing time. She was always so proud of her little boy. In this unprecedented circumstance, he retreated back to his meek ways, after recently overcoming part of the social handicap for some reason when faced with his two parents he was wordless. "I'm proud of you son, you've taken quite well of the flock and house!” The foreground bended to the sight of a small forest cottage fit like one of the many childhood dream houses. Secluded in nature, the house was surrounded with sheep grazing along the lawn and various animals scurrying through the trees. The smells of his mother's exceptional cooking marched out of the glass windows and filled his nostrils. This nostalgia was almost too much to handle. He tried to fight back the tears from his inner child, but it was all in vain. His wall of social separation was melted by parental satisfaction and love, "After Ryuichi killed you, I never thought I'd see you again…” He managed to weakly mutter. He had always kept the cottage in tidy shape, learned many of his mother's recopies and walked the vocational path of his father all in honor of their departure from the world. His mother hugged him to quell his shaking emotions, "Hush hush. What's done is done, now we can live together. Come on, there's no shame in living in peace.” Tsukasa believed his mother and father, the two spirits that he felt could never lead him wrong. After their untimely death, he was shaken so very hard, if Soujiro hadn't taken his cousin under his wing there is speculation whether Tsukasa would have still been in the physical realm. "Okay.”

• • • • • • •

Two orbs of light, white and black broke through the constructed reality that inhabited Soujiro, followed by the ripping timbre of a tiger's growl. The peaceful town of Kinomi no Toshi ripped away in to flames, simulating Soujiro's past actions. The body of his bleeding sister warped in to a decaying body of haunting proportions. Through the instantaneous mental link of every person who rebelled, Soujiro instantly noticed the fact that Tsukasa and Takashi were not among them and through his own burning sense of care for his cousin, Soujiro turned his back on the pleasantries turned nightmare. Without allowing it to overtake him, he tapped in to the inner framework of the construct and switched all of his thoughts on to Tsukasa. He knew he had to find the shepherd and believed fully that he would be able to save him. Casting away the barring doubts of failure and reality's laws, he freed himself from adhering to those laws. He knew he had nothing to lose by believing, but so much to gain. Closing his eyes and taking a step of faith forward, he extended his hand forward envisioning himself next to Tsukasa. The seams of his dimension split and Soujiro interjected in to Tsukasa's world.

When his eyes opened, he could see the shepherd boy with his parents, slowly creeping towards their home. With his hands firmly in his mothers, Tsukasa was oblivious to the recent miracle of Soujiro's travel. Soujiro started to run towards Tsukasa, "It's a lie Tsukasa, if you walk through that door you may never be able to come back.” The family trio stopped in the meandering tracks and turned around, which forced Soujiro to stop dead in his tracks too. "Soujiro?” Tsukasa looked up, puzzled and struck with warring decisions running across his big eyes. "Who's to say he's not the liar son and not an illusion of Soujiro, born to convict you to death back in the other dimension of war and unrest? Has he tried to persuade you to his side with revenge for our killer? All's well now and you don't need to avenge us, we can be peaceful here. Soujiro never knew when to give up. Would your parents lead you wrong?” Soujiro could feel a plight of helplessness hit his stomach. He knew he was real, but getting anger wouldn't solve anything. He couldn't actually vouch for Tsukasa's parents since he honestly didn't know if any of this was real or not, all he could run on was his own faith. The classic puppetry of this stage was undeniable, but it didn't make this motif any less painful. Soujiro lowered his hand and looked towards the ground, leaving out a sigh. Tsukasa could feel the emotional aura around his cousin faltering, seeing as though everything entailing in these dreamy dimensions was weighing down on him. In Soujiro's hurting spirit, Tsukasa felt a spiritual touch of invigoration. His cousin cared so much for him, he always did. Facing the odds just for Tsukasa and everyone he held close to him even if his caring spirit would gain him mistrust, mockery or judgment. He saw it in the eyes of the Konohagakure Gennin when they thought cross of him in all of his antics; he saw it many other times. Soujiro made Tsukasa believe in himself and Tsukasa could feel the contagious light shine inside of him, giving him the courage to do what he believed was right. "My parents…would accept me regardless of what I do. Even if I was prodigal, they would still love me. I'm sorry, but I need to do this.” Tsukasa threw down his mother's hand and boldly strode to Soujiro, who looked up and saw Tsukasa's gleaming smile. Soujiro couldn't help but to let his face twist in to a grin and his heart leapt with true joy, his hope had been restored. He could see the product of his caring being returned and to live to see this single moment made every sacrifice worth it. The same phenomenal occurrence happened, with Tsukasa joining the streamline of memories, everything intertwining under the voice of a tiger.

• • • • • • •

The heavens around Noel began to shake and rumble after the appearance of two orbs of light and dark mass appeared floating around the atmosphere at the call of a tiger. His abdomen will fueled the connecting fire and resonated the sights, sounds and feelings of all his comrades coursing through his brain. He could feel the sense of urgency in Soujiro, instantly deciding to try to save Tsukasa, but the Hyuuga remained transfixed in his own dimension. Using the same tactic as Soujiro, Noel knew that he had to rescue the child and with the façade around him cracking, there was little time to waste. "I walk through this shadowed valley, but I will not stumble. May this light guide me to the lost soul and bring them back from oblivion. In tuo nomen voveo.” As if angelic wings snatched him away from the corrupting world, Noel warped to the nostalgic realm of Takashi. Seeing the spirit lead away the young Hyuuga, the priest slammed down his staff and bellowed loudly, "Leave this boy spirit, he is not yours to take. He is needed for greater things, leave to sleep!” The two beacons of light followed Noel through his dimensional portal and worked their celestial strength to begin to shave away the world transfixed around them. At the choral roar, the spirit was torn away from the setting with a sudden flash of a teal humanoid looking spirit with a bald scalp and crimson eyes. Then the world flashed back to atop the Hokage's tower with the sky black as night.

• • • • • • •

The world around Soujiro and Tsukasa began to tear apart. In a ghastly choir, the two spirits began to scream and howl to inflict the greatest amount of psychological terror on the duo as they could, however their attempt was in vain. The two were already lost to the spirit dimension. "Ready?” Soujiro inquired in a hopeful and cheery tone to his cousin. "We've something to finish. Thank you Soujiro; you don't know how many times you've saved me from myself.” Tsukasa replied back in a sentimental tone, as the two slipped away from the cottage in the forest, Soujiro's words were left betwixt the land. "No, thank you, you've just saved me.”

• • • • • • •

The natural world they grew up in and became accustomed to call reality was reinitiated. Each and every shinobi that became entrapped in the spiritual dimension had found their way back or had been rescued. "Welcome back everyone, I'm happy to see you've chosen the right path. We're all still alive!” The seam up in the sky was still ripped open and Taizen sat in a meditative state under the light of a kanji field. The tribal mask still stuck to his face and orbs of light seeped lazily from the gate and amassed around him, providing shelter. Lying now in the middle of the tower were the two tiger teeth found only a bit earlier. The two children who held them would find them missing, the onyx and pearl teeth that emitted the translucent light that broke through their dreams. While Taizen was still locked in his own ghoulish prison, Soujiro retrieved the two teeth, holding them like long lost treasure. "So it may just be real…oral traditions in the Yochi family told of a legend of two kings back before shinobi were organized in to villages. The land of fire was consumed in a civil war between two rulers. The kings were on the search of a holy shrine, each had various maps and tools to find the shrine but neither wanted to cede each other's resources on fear that the shrine would only grant power to one individual and not two. They were in search of the lost temple of Amaterasu, to become the symbol of the deity's power on earth. However, in the process a third party attacked the continent from the Eastern Ocean islands. The kingdom of Saetaru had enough power to take out each individual kingdom, granted the two kingdoms of Hotaru and Kinome remained at war. The two kings met and ended their search while the island kingdom invaded. In their desperate hour, they combined a summoning rite to plead to the Tiger Monarch to save their land. The monarch agreed under the terms of the peace between the two nations and the agreement that they would not search for the lost temple any more. Under those circumstances, the monarch aided the kings and fended off the kingdom of Saetaru. Afterwards, two teeth were crafted in memory of the two kingdoms, one representing body and the other representing spirit. It's said that the spirit of the Tiger Monarch inhabits the teeth and as long as the will of fire is in the hearts of the children of the two king's descendants the Tiger will protect them. This might just be our answer. Tsukasa, Noel, everyone; there's no turning back so we have to follow our hearts and believe it will work.” Tsukasa and Noel already knew the story he told and exactly what Soujiro was thinking. Soujiro clutched the two relics in his hands and breathed deeply and released the pure air from his lungs.

"This is what we make our reality to be.”

The spirits congregating around Taizen fluttered away and the kanji around him faded away. With a burst of chakra, he emitted a teal aura while he stood up, it seemed that his wounds were healing and his concentration had never been stronger. The curse that corrupted his body had teemed under control, but its power still sucked away at him. He still was flushed by its power and stood against the weary soldiers in a land of his own creation. "Your survived Eijin's trickery. Mind you those spirits were very real, but taken the form of your most valued attachments. Eijin has that effect on people, with the ability to control lesser spirits; nothing is safe from his eyes. You've had a glimpse of the other side; soon you will not be able to come back as you are. Soon all of Konohagakure no Sato will cross over.” Taizen boasted, but with the current standing he held the right of confidence. He was the one who held the high ground, but that wouldn't stop the freedom fighters from trying in the very least. "Our belief can still shape this world and we'll see it through until the end!” Soujiro instinctively dove for where one of his black daggers had landed after it left his possession during the squabble. Grabbing it with his right hand he lathered chakra on the blade and ignited it, slashing at Taizen's chest with his fully strength. The captain seized hold of the blade before it could hit him and stopped the assault with a simple ease. His power was augmented and his chakra protected him from the external wounds the blade would inflict, with a strong jab to the stomach, Taizen sent Soujiro away like a doll. But it was not without a pinch in his lower back. Tsukasa used the distraction to inject a quick acting poison in Taizen's body. The poison couldn't kill him, but it interfered with the brain's transmitting system enough to bind him. The efferent neurons were blocked from his Somatic Nervous System, making his body rigid. On a shinobi of his power, it would only be a few seconds long. Tsukasa was kicked away, crashing down on the rooftop and sliding past the roof. He held on to enough strength to catch hold of the ledge and pull himself up, but not without a bruise that pained his side. ”May you be purged from this land, out spirit!” Noel stepped before the captain releasing a string of seals while twirling his staff. All the jewels began to glow a golden light as he sung out a calling.

.:Sanbika no Mitsukai:.

(Hymn of the Seraphim)

A ray of light pierced through the darkened sky, leaving the clouds scarred in a circular shape, bathing him in a wash of light. From the tunnel of light came several spheres of light, similar to the orbs of spirits only working for the priest. The angelic spirits surrounded Shiro-Akuma Taizen and converged on him, tearing off the tribal spirit mask and releasing the malicious spirit Eijin from his control. As the spheres of light soared it sounded as though a song was ringing out across the sky. They took the teal spirit and flew in to the opened gate painted in the sky. They abducted the stray spirit orbs and sealed shut the foreign gate. It slowly began to fade off in to the sky, leaving only an indent on the clouds. His spirit had been banished at least momentarily and the worlds had been separated once again, but Taizen was beginning to become mobile.

"You're closing in on your own apocalypse, by means of your own two hands. With electricity on his fingers, Taizen threw a handful of lightning bolts at the priest, the surge blew him to his knees, but Soujiro was back on the scene. Weaponless, he clung to the two tiger teeth in his fingers. "This is where we say goodbye Taizen.” Lifting off the ground, Soujiro leapt with a fistful of fire streaming before him, clashing with the bolt of lightning cackling from Taizen. The chakra residues began to rip apart the roof tiles of the Hokage's tower. As the two forces trudged closer, they began to become more rampant and unstable until the two were ripped apart in a violent flash. The two figures were thrown to the opposite sides of the tower, steaming and heat licked, but both survived. In Soujiro's hands, the two tiger teeth were splattered with blood and Taizen had a fresh wound traveling up his arm. In the same respect, Soujiro did too, which he now drew his own blood to feed the relics. His hands spun together, conducting a choir of complex seals, something with a different nature than his normal techniques. That was enough to breathe a premonition.

• Gyokuji Hakobune •

(Sovereign Ark)

The two tiger teeth flung from Soujiro's possession and began to twist and turn in the middle of the Hoakge's tower rooftop. Their dance was nearly intoxicating to watch, a hypnotic lightshow to gaze upon. An aura of azure light outlined Soujiro, developing in to various kanji symbols over his body. Extending his right arm at Taizen, a physical manifestation of chakra accumulated over his right wrist and the kanji around his body peeled off of him and spiraled around his arm and shot away from Soujiro. The blast pulverized Taizen and spread the marks of the kanji across his body. The storm radiating off of the two jewels encompassed both men, the last glimpse anyone could see of the two men before the shining sensation became too blinding was the smirk on Soujiro's face.

"You're our future. May your flames be strong.”

A few simple seconds seemed like hours on end when the light dissipated and the two teeth fell to the ground with a thud. A calm and quiet sensation overtook the rooftop, as if life itself held the very wind breath to see the conclusion of the phenomenon. There was nothing left. The two men were no longer a part of this physical earth. There were no signs of dimensional tearing, nor was there emission residue from teleportation. All that remained were a pair of ancient relics on a war ravaged tower roof. Tsukasa and Noel had made their ways, forcing through their battered bodies to make it to the middle of the rooftop. Each picking up a tooth, Tsukasa held the onyx while Noel held the pearl. "He sacrificed himself, that technique separated both their spirits from their bodies. It was a double sealing technique, it was the only way he thought he could stop Taizen and ensure should he ever be released that there will be opposition to match him. Bodies in the onyx, spirits in the pearl.” Tsukasa explained, half awe-struck by what happened, everything still seemed to be unreal in his eyes, but the tyrant had been brought to justice. "We shall guard the bodies and the next Hokage will have the task of guarding the spirits. Separating the teeth with prevent evil's chance of return. Once the capital falls, peace will be with us.” Tsukasa neared the edge of the tower, gazing down at the battle beaten streets. Many shinobi still partook in the brawl, even thought the Ninja Crime Investigation Agency lost their captain. They hadn't realized it and this day had too much bloodshed to see either side lose another precious life. There was a cry from below of victory though, it seemed as though a Hyuuga had been watching their theatrical reality. Tsukasa strung together seals and pointed the crest of the crescent moon staff over the crowd, releasing an all too familiar technique that was to lull both friend and foe to a deep lucid sleep.

.:Konsuijoutai Nemuri:.

(Catatonic Dream)

The population on top of the prestige tower would not fall victim to this sleep this time. All the bodies down below fell to the ground and entered their own state of unified, directed sleep. Tsukasa limped back over to the group, mostly drained of his chakra now after using one of his most powerful Genjutsu. It had been quite a long time and the dark clouds covering the skies ran away. " You've all done exceptionally well. You've fought for your country and will lead this land in to the future. You truly carry on the Konohagakure flame in your hearts. I know Soujiro is proud of you and we are too.” Tsukasa tipped his head to the sky and gazed on the cerulean expanse rolling across the heavens. "It's time for some long over do relaxation, wouldn't you say? It looks like a wonderful day.” The sun had not been this beautiful in almost four years.

.:|Experience and Rewards|:.

• Endō Tsubasa; 400 Exp. (Battle One; Normal Guards) + 600 Exp. (Battle Two; Disgust and Acceptance) + 736 Exp. (Dedication Bonus; 9812 words) + 100 Exp. (Ghost Bonus) = 1836 Total Exp.

• Hyuuga Takashi; 400 Exp. (Battle One; Normal Guards) + 600 Exp. (Battle Two; Disgust and Acceptance) + 516 Exp. (Dedication Bonus; 6882 words) = 1516 Total Exp.

• Furukawa Zereon; 400 Exp. (Battle One; Normal Guards) + 600 Exp. (Battle Two; Disgust and Acceptance) + 682 Exp. (Dedication Bonus; 9096 words) + 100 Exp. (Ghost Bonus) = 1782 Total Exp.

• Sukaikon Rakirian; 400 Exp. (Battle One; Normal Guards) + 600 Exp. (Battle Two; Disgust and Acceptance) + 587 Exp. (Dedication Bonus; 7712 words) + 100 Exp. (Ghost Bonus) = 1636 Total Exp.

• Nara Kaidomarui; 400 Exp. (Battle One; Normal Guards) + 600 Exp. (Battle Two; Disgust and Acceptance) + 702 Exp. (Dedication Bonus; 9356 words) = 1702 Total Exp.

Ooc; Congratulations, you've made it to the end, for those faithful players, great job! Start a new topic on the hokage's Tower or some place for your reactions, because we're done here! Please also follow the following link and follow the instructions, it's much appreciated! x