The Chamber of Interwoven Existence:.

[Blackrose]

Kia felt so disconnected, as if this whole thing was just a bad dream she could wake up from. Her heart was breaking as bit her tongue to look upon Syaoran, her love. He was sacrificing himself for her and their daughter. She was sure he knew now. She couldn’t explain how he knew but she was she he knew in his heart that this little her, their Lily was born of their love.

”Sy… I remember now. I remember everything.” She told Sy not more than a few hours ago.

”I can’t let this end now. Not like this. Not when we’ve all come so far. I will not give up my daughter or my love to this demon!” Her resolve was strengthened she began to stand and she looked at the empty shell of Syaoran next to her. Even though she knew he wasn’t her love she reached out to him, holding her daughter in her other arm. She took his hand and squeezed, not expecting a squeeze in return. The gesture was merely her way of saying I love you to Sy, to reassure herself that what she was going to do was the right thing.

As soon as the Sanbi joined with Sy everything began to turn to hell once more. The evil leader showed his true despicable face as he proclaimed himself leader of Kiri and Iwa. Kia’s heart and stomach lurched at the idea of this man controlling Sy. She woulod never allow it. She would soon see her love dead than a puppet for and egotistical madman. Her anger only further bubble within her as he began making Sy move to his will. Her muscles tighten and her face scowled with rage. If her eyes alone could kill Minasoko would have died right there and then.

Her dark hair was lightening, if her allies knew anything they’d know her transformation meant she was going to fight. The black faded like water colors in the rain, out of her hair until there was nothing left but pure white as snow strands. Her eyes became piercingly bright melting from their brilliant purple hue to her trademark ice blue. Her tanned skin began to pale as if a cold death had gripped her body and was draining the life color from it. She did her best to shield her daughter from it, but she was confident that she could keep most of the oncoming cold away from her.

Then it hit. Like a blast wave of wind. The air around Kia dropped to freezing levels. Ice shards and diamond dust mist circled her feet and the cool fog spread from her body throughout the moist and humid cavern. As the fight continued between Haruyuki and Minasoko, Kia spied the green shard that Syaoran had held. The shard of courage, she needed this shard. She needed to show the courage that she wasn’t worthy of when she let Sy fight alone. She needed that young guardian’s strength. With a strong push she rushed forward, carrying Lily in her arms tightly. She had wrapped the girl in her vest so that she wouldn’t freeze in her mother’s arms. She drove herself towards the green shard before the DEATH forces had time to react. She clamped her icy fingers around it determined to hold on and force them to pry it from her icy grasp.

Turning she quickly placed her daughter down in front of her. Her hands flung to make the correct seals as fast as she could. Her chakra concentrated on its task Kia engaged her jutsu.

Ice Type; Fortress of the Eskimo King (Hyoton; Esukimo-Ouja no Jousai)

Using the ample moisture in the air and surrounding water from the moist cavern Kia creates, block by block, an igloo around her and her daughter. The ice is reinforced her chakra, and the ice blocks become extremely dense and thick. Once her barrier was completely she began to focus her mind. Genjutsu was this Jutsu’s weakness. She couldn’t let her mind be taken from within the structure. Luckily she was marginally acquainted with Genjutsu, it being her main weapon when using her sound techniques. She looked at her daughter and smiled with worry before kissing the top of her head. She held tightly to the greed shard in her hand and whispered a prayer to the guardian or the gods,

”Please. Give me the strength to stay strong and protect this shard from those who would use it, and my love for evil. Give me the strength to endure this and protect the ones I love. I will not give up!”

With that she waited, focusing. Sharpening her mind, Kia readied herself to break any Gentjusu and ready to battle anything that might pierce her barrier of ice.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Blackrose

[cntrstrk14]

The wall would break and from the rubble would come a beast of terrifyingly dark chakra, its aura flooding over all of the individuals in the room like an incoming tide that spoke chapters of the horror that it could unfold upon them. Through the dust and debris the Alchem’s eyes would pick up on the immobile form of the Jinchuuriki, or was that what it could be called at this time at all? The demon was one tail shy of three, the unbelievable power that brimmed at the edges of the young boy who was now trapped just as Lily would have been had Syaoran not acted. The young Tsuchikage stood there as the debris flew past him, smoke flowing over and the DEATH ninja moving forward to slow the beast. Slowing was all they could do, its power was far to great and Syaoran could only watch. Minasoko was on the move, he had all three shards and he was moving up to where Warrusu stood next to the pool of water. The beast was wading, not slowly, through the DEATH ninja as corpses and injured bodies were tossed left and right like rag dolls, mere distractions as the beast moved towards the group of Hachinin.

In a flash it would all happen, the whole pearl and Minasoko would be in front of Syaoran right before the beast was upon him. The Aclehm stood with his arms crossed, his face calm but his insides full of fear and hesitation. Was this the right thing to do? Would he survive this, and would he be able to stop the beast from doing whatever it wanted? In the last moments as the pearl’s power shined with its unbelievable power, the Alchem would again see the young host who was at the center of this and his mind would calm. At the very least he was saving this young boy from any further suffering at the hand of this beast. At least there was that. Turning to Haruyuki, the person closest to him, he would give a sobering look.

“I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Then there was a flash and Syaoran’s world would go black.

-----

The hazeled eye copy of Syaoran would slowly walk away from his creator just moments after his birth, taking a place next to Kia and Lily as he turned to watch. He was silent, but there was a slight narrowing of his eyes as he took in the Alchem’s back that he now faced. He was still without a shirt, the stone hard muscular cut of the Tsuchikage was exactly replicated in the copy, down to the large vertical scar across his torso and the vertical slice in his side from the snake’s fang.

Without time to think, the wall would burst down and the beast would make its appearance. The clone was a perfect replica of its creator, a stone mask of calmness and an even furthering narrowing of eyes would be his only reaction. That and the slightest start of a frown at the corner of his mouth. It was not until Kia would reach out and touch one of his hands that the clone would even turn to acknowledge her. His eyes looked slightly surprised, this was afterall his first experience of human contact on his short existence. The moment would not last though, her hand would leave his as things escalated, the leader of DEATH making his move and securing the shard for his own. The clone would feel Kia’s hand leave his as the demon was struck with the pearl, possibly the last moments that he would be allowed to see his “father” was upon him and all the copy could manage to think of were thoughts of loathing. As Kia would make her move, her bloodline activating and the wind around them picking up around them so that his light brown hair moved with the power of her bloodline, the copy would merely look at her with the same narrowed and calculated look.

“I am not that self-righteous jackass you know...”, he said, so low that Kia who stood only feet from him might not even hear his words.

This Minasoko was making some wide claims now, using his father’s body to swing an arm of demonic chakra. The Hisame was saying some words that did not matter to the copy, in fact he let out a slightly sadistic smile as the man was ripped off his own feet by his father’s power and sent flying. He was the silent observer here, his mind was that of Syaoran in terms of construction and capacity, but it did not work exactly the same. He was not exactly the same.

“Now this is interesting.”, he said softly, arms crossed as he observed.

-----

The echoes of a bone shattering yet silent scream would rattle his body. Deep and ragged breathes shook his form as his eyes fluttered open. He looked down at his calloused hands, hands that were wore from holding the hilt of a sword for years, hands that were calloused from hard work in an even harder country for years. On his left ring finger was a golden band. He tried to close his fist, but it was not his to control. Indeed, he was incapable of any movement aside the ragged breathes that he drew with each expanse of these terribly fragile lungs. So instead, he turned inward, he turned to where he did have control, and oh what a treasure chest this was for him.

He stood on a stone floor, within a city of bright solid and pure white that stretched as far as he could see. Towers lifted into the sky on all sides, breaking the clouds and proudly displaying the craftsmanship of master masons from eons lost. The street was silent, and the man took a step that he could control, yes he was in control here. As far as he could see he was in command of everything. The silent world was one of infinite capacity, so much more to work with here than before, so very much more. Concentrating he flipped the universe, folded it and was in another place, a darker place that was deep beneath the city but still at its core. Buried and locked away, but never destroyed. No, this is where things got interesting, and indeed this man wanted to know exactly what was here and how he could use it. Thick chains of metal and locks covered the entrance, only the most dangerous and powerful of things were locked away so securely. With a simply lift of his finger, because he was in control of this world after all, every lock would unlatch at once. Dozens of clicks from dozens of locks would come apart and once, tumbling to the ground in futility. With another movement of his finger the entrance would fade and from it the man would know it all.

-----

Syaoran’s body worked on its own, the teal chakra spreading from his arm and lifting his former ally from his place on the ground and sending him flying. The Alchem’s eyes were unfocused, his body moved as if by strings. His teal hand would slam into the wall with the Hisame, only to feel the unsatisfied burst of nothing, as if he had crushed air. Suddenly, his master, the reason for him to live, was in danger. With a quick movement the Alchem would retract the teal arm and strike again, this time the teal chakra would form a spear tip as it went to pierce the Hisame that now pinned his master to the ground. But just as the spear was to reach the man he would strike the pearl and suddenly as if a light was turned on his mind would sear in a recoiling pain. The spear would quiver and burst into motes of chakra that floated harmlessly past the Hisame and Minasoto like a soft breeze.

Syaoran grabbed his skull with both hands and screamed out in a horrifying mixture of agonizing human pain and chilling demonic tones of horror.

As soon as it had happened it was all over, the Alchem’s emerald eyes would narrow with a menace and turn to Minasoko. Without warning he would strike again, this time faster and with a hand that grew over time so that it was large enough to grasp the man in its palm and slam him against the wall. As if drawn by the chakra arm that stretched across the room to the man, Syaoran would fly across to where he held the man up with such alarming speed that it would be hard to keep an eye on his body. And just like that the Alchem had the leader of DEATH in his grip.

“Minasoko, I see you wanted to control me... I don’t like to be CONTROLLED.”, the voice that came from Syaoran was not his own. The teal chakra that leaked from his body and overtook his form was not his own. The one, two... three tails that slowly formed behind him were not his own either. However he kept the form of the Alchem, though his body was wrapped in the teal chakra and his skin started to burn and scorch from the intense power of it, he kept his human form as he held the man up with his power. Reaching out, through his own chakra appendage that held the man so firmly, the Sanbi Alchem would gently lift the man’s right hand and examine it.

“So this is the hand that tried to control me? This fragile little thing?”, he asked, grasping it suddenly and ripping it off from the wrist. Blood would float in the chakra as if it was a liquid, despite it not hindering the Sanbi’s movements at all. The hand lit aflame and was tossed over his shoulder.

“Oh now this is interesting...”, the Sanbi Syaoran said softly as his emerald green eyes narrowed on the man’s left leg. With a pulse of blue and gold chakra that struck out like lightning, the man’s leg would turn to solid stone with a flash of golden light.

“This has to be the most interesting thing in here...”, he said as he turned towards the rest of the room, allowing Minasoko’s maimed body to fall from his grasp to the ground. He was missing his right hand and his left leg hit the floor with a heavy clatter that may have shattered the hip bone it was attached to from the awkward way it forced him to land. Sanbi Syaoran was not interested in him anymore though, he was now focused on the others in the room. Specifically his eyes went from the Hisame, towards Arisu and finally onto Kia and Lily as she closed herself in the fortress of ice.

“Now be good little children and hand over those shards.”, Sanbi Syaoran said, his voice full of menace and power. His eyes focused on Arisu now and with lightning speed he would be in front of her, his arrival sending all the DEATH ninja near her flying in every direction as they died by hundreds of strikes from the three whip like shrimp tails that now flowed behind the Alchem in a teal solidity of chakra.

“The shard please?”, he asked politely.

-----

The man left the deep and dark chamber, having robbed it of every bit of worth that had been hidden so deep down and away. He left with more power than he could have imagined. Or so he thought it was everything as he walked away and faded from the pure white world in the sky. As the last of his evil presence faded, the ragged breathe of a man from the shadows would appear, emerald green eyes looking out in determination as he grasped a single small scroll to his chest.

One small scroll....

ooc: If it is a little hard to follow, I kind of meant it to be. If you have any questions about anything that happened please let me know, I wanted to be vague but not THAT vague.

[Rhapsody]

As she watched the Tsuchikage-Sanbi wreak havoc over the room, his strange voice booming out to herald the destruction he brought, Arisu found her heart beating faster than she imagined it could. Bodies and blood were nothing strange to the woman, for she had seen carnage before in her life. Never, though, had such a force been born before her eyes. The monster that had been birthed from the Demon and Syaoran swept men aside like toys, with little care for who they were, or who they might have loved.

Arisu bit down into her lip hard as she watched Kia seclude herself within her barrier of ice. With Haruyuki's power and the mother's defense, she knew it left her as the logical first target. Tired and without a drop of usable chakra to defend herself with magic, Arisu did not struggle with the realization that she presented no trouble for the monster that had set his sights upon her. However, when the Sanbi landed before the woman, his tails murdering every DEATH agent in her immediate vicinity, Arisu did not find herself struck by the need to obey.

"I've seen far worse," she hissed, bracing herself to run- or strike, "You're pathetic, Sy."

She did her best to hide the fear that rippled just under her skin. It was ridiculous to think that she could face such power and come out with her life, much less in one piece. Yet, Arisu stood her ground, fist curled so tightly around the gem that her knuckles had gone white, straining with the pressure. She knew if she didn't give the gem up, she'd be killed in a heartbeat. But, if she did... there was no telling what would happen.

"I know you're in there," she rasped through the short, uneven gasps that had become her breath, "I know you know about all the stupid shit I'm trying to stop you from doing."

Everything about Arisu shook as she backed up, stumbling repeatedly over the rubble until finally falling onto her backside with a thud. The shard, though, never left the woman's hand- however much she wanted to throw it right in the monster's face. The jewel pulsated with blue light, as if urging her to give it up. She would not.

"You can fight me for this piece of crap if you want it so bad."

[Azure]

As soon as the pearl was shattered, Hisame Shougo went right into action. He determined by his own free will that it would probably be best for everyone if DEATH no longer had access to the poor little child who had a demon sealed inside of him. Higher powers knew, he had enough mental scarring already, let alone bodily damage. A golden aura spun around Shougo, as he activated the Wukong section of his body, heightening his reaction time, speed and power by a decent amount. An amount enough that when he sprung into action and shot across the room in a golden comet, he was able to instantly swoop up the child, knock a few DEATH agents out and zip back before anyone actually knew what was happening. He deemed himself protector of the child (and an active body guard for those less endowed in the titanic power about to be thrown around). Thankfully, Jabu was already passed out cold, making it so he couldn’t do something stupid.

--

“I….will not be ended so easily, Sanbi.”

Minasoko’s voice was choked at first- a sign that pain was coursing through every inch of his armored body. He still clung to life even after being maimed by the horrendous might of a fully functional jinchuuriki. Though with each passing word, his voice grew louder and more demanding. There was fury in his voice, near betrayal for the act Sanbi did to his body. Even though he had anticipated this might have happened, to feel the creature turn on him and to have his ligaments ripped from him was an entire different reality.

The commander of DEATH hunched himself up on his remaining arm, glaring at the beast in rage and agony. His stone encrusted leg was no good, it was stolen from him- but he wouldn’t let a little handicap be the end of Minasoko. He had a dual-kagemanship to rule and stopping now would go against everything he stood for. He was a street urchin and worked very hard to be who he was. HE wanted to share that hope with the world, to rule a country where a nobody could become somebody. Blood didn’t mean everything. In this passionate thought process, the faint sound of gushing water could be heard and water poured in and swam towards Minasoko.

“You are but a tool who has overdone its usefulness. You did your purprose, to bring me the strong spirits of the world, so that I may crush and rule!”

The water splashed up upon him, churned and gushed until the figure of a replacement arm could be seen. It quickly hardened into blue goo, which could actually support Minasoko and be a useful appendage. The water also attempted to heal his stoned leg, but all it could do was provide a thin film which allowed him to move with the stony leg. Not all of the damage Sanbi wrought could be fixed it seemed. With his real hand, he formed a select set of deals- upon completion a black energy pulsed down his arm until it reached his hand and grew into a mace. The mace was forged from the darkest steel and accentuating the obsidian weapon were wing-like attachments that were like little stilettos poking out from the base. With a mighty roar, Minasoko slammed the mace down like a gavel, rupturing the earth and sending a shockwave of dark energy directly at Sanbi.

--

Through the whole ordeal where Sanbi made quick and painful work of Minasoko, Hariuiki remained ridiculously nonchalant. He was still seething off the anger he released on Minasoko, which fought off the awe or surprise that Sanbi erupted into his full form inside of Syaoran. A small lament pursed his lips as he knew it all because he shattered the pearl and released the beast. Luckily, Haruyuki didn’t do the rash decision without some careful planning. For one, he had faith that Syaoran wasn’t completely a vessel to the demon’s power, it would just take the Alchem some time to adjust to the sudden and radical change. At least he hoped the Alchem still had some fight in him.

With a quick mental note, he registered that Kia had fortified her surrounding and her daughter in a cage of ice. Good, it meant one less person to worry about in the fray. But she wasn’t the target of Sanbi’s. For some reason or another, he sought the pearl for himself. Haruyuki had to guess it was so that he wouldn’t be controlled in the future, but it was painful dark comedy that a new being wanted the pearl. The thing was better off not existing. Haruyuki grunted as Arisu challenged Sanbi to fight for the shard. He knew she was trying to guide Syaoran out of that hellhole and back into control, but she was more likely to get killed this way. The Hisame believed a distracted enemy made a weak enemy. If Sanbi lost control of its emotions, perhaps Syaoran could get back in control. Maybe. But the Hisame wasn’t about to lose his shard again, especially to a demon. He knew fighting with only one hand would hurt his chances, and putting it in his pocket might get him robbed. There was only one (actually a few, but to convince himself to do the act, he narrowed it to one) solution to this problem. Bottoms up.

Down the hatch.

“Uhg, that’s going to give the shittiest indigestion.”

The shard wasn’t going anywhere for a few hours, and that’s all they’d need. Then the resurrected Minasoko rose again, this time brimming with dark power and a black mace. Haruyuki knew he was done too soon for it to be real, the commander of DEATH had better have a few tricks up his sleeve, or all of this was a pathetic sham (en extremely annoying one at that). Now he was caught between fighting to protect Arisu or fight Minasoko. Though the demon and the DEATH commander could duke it out, Syaoran was still down there, somewhere. In the moments of finality, Haruyuki reverted back to his classic philosophy. What is the biggest roach under my foot?. Minasoko. There would be no escape for him, not today- expect if it were in a body bag. Which, Haruyuki didn’t even want to see his body still attached together. Haruyuki made his choice and jumped after the commander of DEATH.

Kakuyuki caught the black mace in a parry and the echo of clanging echoes filled the room. With his open left hand, Haruyuki built an ice lance to compensate for the weight and power of the mace. As a DEATH agent would spring up, Haruyuki would stab and throw them away, sometimes using them as meat shields against the brunt of Minasoko’s power. As he’d slash at the blue goo, it appeared ever time he sliced clean, water would plug the hole and regenerate him. Could this man have found full synchronization with water?

“Why aren’t you attacking the demon!?”

Minasoko was caught in a veil of surprise. Haruyuki could sweetly feel the commander squirm on the other side of his blade handle. He wore a devilish grin, knowing Minasoko’s guard was down.

“Because you forgot that the world bends to a determined spirit. Jewels are but a deadly medication.”

Rage washed over Minasoko, his blue eyes licked the heat of fire as he swung his mighty mace down upon the Hisame Hachinin. Haruyuki quickly crossed his lance and sword in front of his chest, successfully holding back the strike.

“Who are YOU to talk about a determined spirit?! I fought for tooth and nail for this. YOU WILL NOT SEE THE NEW ORDER!”

With that Minasoko swung his mace to the side and hit Haruyuki on his ribcage. The impact sent him flying, along with knocking the wind out of him. Hitting the ground and bouncing a few times, Haruyuki could feel the cool sting of damp air on exposed, bleeding skin. The blow was rough, but he’d survive. The ground was remarkably cool and calming, he almost just wanted to lay there and let the giants duke it out. But that wouldn’t help anything. Haruyuki didn’t go on a long crusader’s march to find how a real shinobi should behave- regardless of country boundaries and discover true family just to lay down. No, for the time he spent in Otogakure, Haruyuki was able to see self-righteous patriots such as Minasoko were the reason people with power wielded it so chaotically. This man couldn’t be allowed to live- he wouldn’t. He promised Pebbles he’d use his power to protect those he cared for, right? That a master of self is better than the mastery of others- and a one man army can take down a legion. But he wasn’t alone, that only tipped the scales in their favor. Syaoran’s clone and Kia were off on their own, but they wanted to leave here alive as well. Arisu would fight with him, as would Shougo. It was time for a revolution.

He did a quick mental survey. His lance was shattered on the ground and his sword…was under the foot of an enemy, now taunting him. Haruyuki didn’t care enough to listen to the words, he only reacted. Forming a quick seal, the ice of his lance lined the DEATH shinobi’s spine- standing him as stiff as a board before collapsing on the floor. Haruyuki lurched for his sword, grabbed it and swung at the nearest DEATH shinobi around him trying to close in. He took a few blows, but they were quick scissor work. Minasoko was now preparing an assault on Sanbi, it seemed like he mostly forgot about Haruyuki.

“Let’s see if you can regenerate without any water!”

Haruyuki brought out his scroll pad and ink and began tracing lines and shapes, in a specific pattern that would activate a jutsu. In the manner of two seconds he was finished and his pad was glowing, about to release a sketch that sought sweet sweet air.

≈|:: Sumiton: Kuroi Haretsu ::|≈

(Ink Release: Black Supernova)

A black sun tore from the page and rose in the room, focusing on Minasoko. Its black core radiated with red flaming chakra that would instantly dry the area in its immediate radius. Then Haruyuki slashed with his quill and the great celestial star was torn open. The inky artwork bubbled and exploded in the room, showering the chamber with hot, inky residue. In the land of water, building up a sun would be a costly mistake to all water users, but Haruyuki knew it was the only way to prevent Minasoko from fixing himself. The only water a real Hisame needed was his blood.

[cntrstrk14]

Sanbi Syaoran would raise an eyebrow, the teal chakra still glowing around him and flicking off like a live flame that continually engulfed his entire body. The chakra bubbled, and the Tsuchikage’s skin burned away in slow motion as the chakra pulled off his body, slowly healing and then burning away again. A smirk grew on his face as the girl attempted to provoke him forward, her challenge of a fight changing the smirk into an all out grin that showed just a few too many teeth for it to be anything but creepy.

“Ah, I think I like you. Some fire in you, or a large amount of stupidity, to directly challenge me little girl. I tend to agree with you as well, this man, whoever he use to be, is rather pathetic. Unfortunately, I really would like that shard.”, Sanbi Syaoran said, one of his three tails raising into the air slowly as if to strike like a cobra.

“Now, I’ll ask once mor-”, the ground shook and broke apart underneath the Sanbi as he looked back for a moment to see Minasoko and the Hisame in battle. Apparently the commander of DEATH had tried to attack Sanbi Syaoran in a final act of defiance.

“Oh forget this, I tried to play nice.”, Sanbi Syaoran said as he turned back Arisu. Raising his right arm a blast of water and teal chakra would fire out towards the girl like a spear. With a flash a shirtless man would just simply appear in front of Sanbi Syaoran, crouched down he would grab the wrist of the Sanbi and raise them upwards so that the water beam missed the young girl by a fraction of an inch and cut across one of the seven pillars and into the ceiling, breaking away rock as it traveled.

“Hey, hey pops, didn’t I always tell you not to embarrass me in public?”, the clone of Syaoran said as he gripped the Sanbi Syaoran’s wrist and flipped him over, tossing him with a burst of chakra in a direction away fro Arisu. The clone’s left hand was burned black from grabbing the teal chakra, he flexed his fingers a few times and seemed satisfied with the workings of the limb despite its look.

“Oye, I don’t know who you are but I wouldn’t get so flashy unless you can at least run. I’m not even sure that man in there is worth saving, might be better to just kill them bo-”, the clone Syaoran had to roll backwards towards Arisu as the Sanbi fired another beam towards them, breaking apart the ground and tearing into a second pillar that came crashing to the ground. Two of the Kiri family pillars had fallen now.

Sanbi Syaoran stood about fifty yards away, gold and blue chakra flickering around his body outside of the shell of teal that bubbled off of his flesh. The chakra that Syaoran had felt upon arriving from Kiri was bubbling off of him now, the frightening and overwhelming chakra that had made every muscle in his body want to run from the moment that he felt its slide across his consciousness.

Syaoran’s clone pulled a scrap of paper out of his back pocket and handed it to Arisu. Without removing his eyes from the Sanbi that stood in front of him he whispered softly so that only she could hear.

“Take this to the broad in the ice fortress, it looks like I won’t be able to get it to her myself.”

If Arisu would open the paper, all she would see on it would be two words; “Distress Beacon”.

Syaoran’s clone walked away and towards the Sanbi, leaving Arisu behind with only those words. He definately did not seem to act like Syaoran in the slightest.

“What are you? You definitely aren’t a regular clo-”

“Call me that word even once and I will smear your turquoise turtle ass all over these walls like a fucking ice cream sandwich. I am not a clone, I am my own fucking person. Name’s Chao, it means ‘surpassing’ in my native tongue, so be sure to remember it. Chose it myself. Care to dance?”

“We created you, you are simply a-”, Sanbi Syaoran started to say. Chao took specific note of the use of words here.

“And you were squeezed out of a vagina twenty five some odd years ago. When the day is done I would say that my creation was a lot cleaner and efficient that yours, so let’s drop the formalities and get on with it you ancient pile of mermaid dung.”

“You insolent shit...”, Sanbi Syaoran said, blue and gold chakra arc across the room like lightning, forming into fire halfway to its target that threatened to sear the entire room with its strength. Alchemy for sure, and damn strong form to boot. It appeared that Sanbi Syaoran had no idea what Chao was or how he was created.

“That’s more like it.”, Chao said, blue and gold chakra rupturing around him as his eyes turned gold and the tattoo that was clearly visible on his upper left arm glow a burning crimson color. The fire erupted into soap bubbles, washing over the field without any damage to anyone and was immediately pierced by a strike of white lightning that came from Chao himself, two raised fingers pointing towards the Sanbi.

Sanbi Syaoran was able to easily parry the attack, sending it arcing towards the ceiling and blowing yet another hole into the underground cavern. Too much fighting like this and these two would tear the walls down on everyone in the room. Sanbi Syaoran was very... vexed by this Chao man now. Until this point, he had assumed that this man who looked just like his host was a certain Steel Clone technique. He could remember through the hosts memories creating it, he knew the jutsu well and could do it himself now. However, everything he knew about Steel Clones indicated that there was no way they could share bloodline abilities with their creator. This Chao man had most definately just activated an Alchem bloodline himself.

Without to much more thought on the subject, Sanbi Syaoran’s eyes and tattoo would glow in similar manners, the teal bubbling chakra being wrapped in a golden blue fire as well as his eyes glowed golden.

“No matter, even if you are as strong as this Syaoran was, his abilities are doubled with my power.”, Sanbi Syaoran said as he unleashed a torrent of teal water from his extended hand, gold and blue chakra swirling around it and crashing against the ground. The gravel where it touched seized to exist, a destructive use of Alchemy to break the molecules down to their basic element. The combination of Syaoran’s most dangerous technique and the Sanbi’s signature blast.

-----

Syaoran walked the streets of the white city, heading towards the largest tower in the entire metropolis, a tower that was twice as tall as any other in sight. Words from outside echoed in the subconscious that existed at this level of his mind, words from the young woman outside.

"You're pathetic, Sy."

Syaoran winced. He would not disagree with the girl. He was hoping beyond hope that he could use his intellect to win here. This was a fight he could not win just by being strong, no matter how much power he had to throw at the Sanbi he could just overpower the demon. No, he had to outsmart it. However, words still stung even when he was trapped under a metaphorical thumb in his own mind.

"I know you're in there, I know you know about all the stupid shit I'm trying to stop you from doing."

‘Well at least someone understands then.’, Syaoran thought to himself. But was it really thinking when he was thinking inside his own mind? Was that another level down, because just speaking in this place was thinking, was it not? But he digressed, more important things to ponder, but the idea of different layers of thinking the delved further down may be an interesting counter to Genjutsu in the future. Another idea stored away into the recesses of his mind.

Against his chest he held a scroll tightly, written upon it was the words “Shinzui Bunshin no Jutsu”. The clone outside was his only trump card, that and the words he had given to the clone to deliver to Kia. Stealing away this single piece of information had been crucial. Syaoran could have held the Sanbi away from all of his knowledge, at least for a time. However, he needed to catch the demon by surprise, if he had held back too much information the demon may have been suspicious. No, even when Syaoran had preformed the Essence Clone skill he had forced his mind to focus on the Steel Clone jutsu and believe he was preforming that technique. Even before the demon had struck him he had put the plan in motion.

Now he had to wait for the right moment.

“Kia, please get the message.”

[Rhapsody]

Arisu immediately regretted her challenge to the Demon as he began to speak, clearly seeing her as nothing more than a source of amusement. Looking into those eyes, she saw nothing but the promise of the thousands of pieces of scrap she'd soon become. Still, though, she held onto the shard as if her life depended on it, unwilling to give in to cowardice. Arisu had always been a woman of great gall; no demon would change that.

'I tried to play nice.'

The words that Sanbi Syaoran spoke might have been that last ones she would have heard if not for the Tsuchikage's flippant clone. Arisu swore loudly as the rush of chakra blazed passed her, rolling to avoid its menacing power. Chao's nonchalance in regards to the man that had created him struck the young woman as odd, though she dared not say anything. For once, in the face of power, Airsu decided to keep her mouth shut.

Instead, she stood, and then ducked again when the clone rolled back toward her, taking her breath in such short gasps that she felt light headed. The instructions given to Arisu were barely heard, though she still managed to snatch the piece of paper before Chao took off again.

Instinctively, the Kunoichi opened the scrap, finding no meaning in the words written down. Distress beacon? Did the lady in the ice fortress have some sort of flare? Arisu gazed over at the strange construction that Kia had built. It frightened her, but the message had to be delivered one way or another.

"Right then."

Arisu's first order of business was the shard she still held in her hand. The woman tore the bandanna from around her neck and laid it open on the ground, quickly enveloping the shard within the fabric. The precious cargo was then secured tightly to one of her belt loops before Arisu took off toward Kia. She only hoped that the mother had seen her exchange words with Chao.

Assuming that Kia allowed her close enough, Arisu would arrive at the igloo panting, and swearing loudly on account of the cold. Having no faith in her voice reaching through the ice, the blond woman simply unfolded the scrap she held and slammed it against one of the blocks that formed the fortress. Hopefully, the message would be visible.

[Azure]

Ooc; I wanted to tie up some NPC loose ends and get a chance to flesh some stuff out for those curious.

Hisame Shougo

Hisame Shougo hadn’t dropped down for more than five seconds before he sensed an enemy upon him. The golden swirls pumping up his muscles had already faded and it would have been a waste of chakra to reactive that part of his blood too soon. He’d need to bide his time briefly, but that shouldn’t be too hard. For a few years, he shared the same mouth with Haruyuki, a lip that always knew how to pierce the moment and stall.

Shougo eyed his opponent. He arrived alone and subtracted his porcelain mask. He wore his auburn hair in a pony tail, which attracted more color than his dull gray eyes. It was the look of literal death upon him. Though the most color attributed was his teal kimono affixed with a royal blue belt.

“I believe you have something of mine, Shougo.”

Shael spoke with a grin plastered on his face, yet no crease broke his perfect face. Instinctively, Shougo’s body language orbited towards Jabu. He wouldn’t let the poor boy be subject to their sick experiments again. He had enough trauma in his life already. “The day you touch this boy again is the day the moon grows an ocean.” Shougo, though a distinct twin of Haruyuki took a different taste in clothing style. His battle tunic was a mix of crimson and white, over his dark gray elastic training suit. Two sheaths were equipped on his hips, where he kept the presents of the Suizuma clan, his twin katars.

“Oh I’m not here for the boy. I’m here for you, Shougo. DEATH knows well about your condition. Once I add your genetic code to mine, I can be the tool to kill Sanbi.”

Shougo’s heart dropped. He couldn’t believe it, but knew that in part it had to be possible. Someone existed that could devour genetic material and add their victim’s to their own. Of course he hardly understood it, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t afraid. Not many people knew he had died and been given a new body…it was so long ago and yet he could remember lying there in his bed at night as his body collapsed around him. The Blanc, as the Hisame lore called it, robbing the host of all augmentations of their blood. In Hisame Harugo, his abilities were cut off from him, to Shougo, his body withered and died. The DEATH agents that could be laughed at for their uncoordinated attacks had left, all that was left were the elites. Then realization hit Shougo, “You were the one who sent those men to capture me!” It was his own mistake. He took a midnight stroll along the beach to clear his head and he was kidnapped. He assumed he was on the verge of processing to the DEATH camp near and when he did escape, he remembered seeing the remnants of the DEATH shinobi in the caves below the city. A chill danced down his spine. He was so close to being their victim that day.

“Now you’re catching on. We were close and then your brother showed up out of the blue. It was okay though, since we predicted that could happen and now he led us here. But you can’t escape fate- Chigiri no Sato will rise once again!"

A fleshy tendril shot out of Shael and picked up a dead corpse and flung it at Shougo. The Hisame hybrid dodged the incoming body, but Shael was already in motion. A distraction. Behind him Shael appeared and clocked Shougo right in the back of the head. The Hisame was tossed forward a few feet but quickly found his balance. Turning around, Shael would be able to see Shougo’s surreal eyes and they rose and crashed with several spectrums of blue. Before shale could move a burst of water slammed into his side and then below him and sent him into a violent volley of Mizushin rage. “This is going to feel so GOOD!” Shael cackled as he swam around the next volley and slammed his hand in the ground. Under Shougo a bony spike erupted and just barely nicked his cheek. The bone retracted and Shougo cupped his hands and focused a pulse of his chakra through his hands. “Take this!” He thurst his hands forward and a torrent of water burst from them. Suddenly he felt such a strong resistance to his current, but it most certainly was not a body. Shael stood just a few feet away with a stream of water that mirrored Shougo’s. Shougo watched in horror as Shael’s gray heres were splashed in a maelstrom of blue. The cut must have provided him with enough material to mimic the Umikoi.

The Hisame forced a piece of his latent blood into the stream of water, freezing it. But Shael was a step ahead and another tenril came around and tore open Shougo’s leg. Quickly Shougo flipped away, before he could lose too much blood, but the gash was well wet. “I need a full pint before my body stops rejecting the new material. But, this should do until I have your corpse.” They were too evenly matched now. Shougo needed to get the hand of surprise and activate his bloodline that resembled the celestial gates. In an instant, his eyes reverted back to their normal blues and a golden air whisped around him. His muscles budged and the Wukong inside of him came alive. The wound on his leg instantly scabbed, so there’d be no open material for Shael to steal.

“Controlling people through fear will never work, just look at what happened to the NCIA!” Shougo rallied as he took a leap forward, assuming a more martial art type of attack. He went in with a strong left hook and Shael brought up a water barrier that Shougo slammed right through. He followed up with kick to the ribs. Shael tried to open a wound with another tendril, but Shougo caught and ripped the appendage off. Shougo went for an uppercut, but Shael slipped through the water and ended up a few feet away. “The NCIA became too big and fell apart from the inside. But for the Kumo shinobi, it was perfect. We’re not going for world conquest, but we can erect the military the NCIA failed to have. Our people need direction, in a year everyone will remember how terrible life is now. C’mon Shougo, don’t tell me you don’t feel threatened. When the Hisame left, you didn’t have a belonging and now you’re a hybrid. One of a kind.” Shael’s words hurt, mostly because they were true. He didn’t really have a place, he was a symbol, a monster…but he belonged by Haruyuki’s side. He knew his brother would make a place for him if there was none. Once the lesser brother, now the greater. That’s what Shougo loved about his brother- he didn’t worry about pleasing everyone or having a large sphere of influence. But for the ones he did care about, he’d move mountains for. He wasn’t afraid to step on toes for them. “I…I”

Caught in the words, Shougo never noticed Shael smashing Shougo’s nose. He needn’t break skin this time, the blood flowed freely for Shael’s absorption. Shougo collapsed to the ground and Shael was on top of him. “We aren’t so different Shougo, I was a street urchin too when Minasoko found me. He was only a few years older than me, but he shared to small scraps he found with him. Then one day all that street living caught up with me and my organs were shutting down- you know the feeling. Well he was very good at experiments and gave me a cocktail that made me alive like this. If I go for too long without replenishing I’ll die- but this war has prolonged me a few months already.” Shougo’s golden aura had faded, but the yellow flames licked Shael’s figure. Shougo was discouraged; it was like his body was against him now. He’d lose against the brute strength of the Wukong, but he still had the brains. His mind wandered back to other moments of helplessness. When he was reborn, he couldn’t walk, nor talk and he was naked. Such shame…but he remembered the look in Haruyuki’s eyes. The distain, the hope, the power. His brother was always there for him, worrying about his health and strength and it was only recently he was allowing Shougo to be on his own. He couldn’t let him down, no not his own brother who finally gave him the faith he needed.

No.

The blood around Shougo’s nose evaporated and he moved like the wind. Slipping out of Shael’s hold, Shougo was back on his feet with the Suizuma blood alive within him. This was the blood (other than the Hisame) that he had trained most in and was most adept at. Nahji had taught him well- it would be an uphill battle, but if Shael pushed too hard, he might topple down the hill and into the sea below. Hopefully.

“The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Us of all people should know the sanctity of life. But you consume instead of provide- and as my brother would say ‘you’re just a dead man walking, let me help you to your grave.’”

Like lightning, Shougo grabbed his twin katars from their holsters and equipped them. With their tube system, he could channel stream through them, simultaneously cutting and burning his opponent. Shougo closed in towards Shael, trusting his with up with his right blade and forward with his left. Shael’s flesh coiled and produced a large lance combined of both organic and metallic origins. He parried Shougo’s initial attacks since his reflexes largely improved after the augmentation of the Wukong blood. Shougo ducked and swiped around Shael’s hip but the monster’s strong hand took hold of Shougo’s face, rendering him immobile. “Such a pity. We were the new breed, but one of us has to die today.” Shougo pushed a puff of hot steam out of his hands that sizzled Shael’s torso. Shael’s grip weakened slightly, which allowed Shougo to bring around his katars in an orbital motion. Right and left blades slashed at his arm. The blades embedded into Shael, but hadn’t gone all the way through, but with a third slam of his right blade, Shougo cleaned off Shael’s hand. Needless to say, without a hand, Shael couldn’t hold onto Shougo any longer. With a roar, Shael thrust with his lance. Normally needing two hands for the weapons, Shael’s strength was powerful enough to wield the deadly weapon with only one.

It missed, as Shougo melted into an ice mirror and reappeared behind the captain of DEATH. Shougo began a borage of attacks of slashing and melding back into ice mirrors before Shael could catch him. Shougo landed twenty-seven slashes across Shael before Shael’s lance pierced Shougo’s thigh. In a wail of pain, Shougo was on the ground and Shael began approaching. “Farewell Shougo, I’ll use you well.” It was only seconds away from feeding time. The Hisame used what chakra he had left to force jet himself towards to oncoming Shael, all the while forming seals. Out of all the holes Shougo tore open, ice formed and anchored into the ground Shael was frozen into the ground, but with his genetic material replacing itself every so often- this wouldn’t kill him, only stall him. “Now it ends, Shael.” Shougo formed the last bit of seals, nearly exhausting himself. The only way to stop this madness was to rip it apart at the seams. The ice inside of Shael began to bubble, separate and all the water molecules inside of Shael began expanding. Before Shougo’s eyes, Shael, all the oxygen and hydrogen in his body evaporated and all that was left was a burning pile of flesh. All the blood, all the genetic material, gone.

Never had he actually pushed his body so far. Shougo gazed upon Haruyuki, waging war with Minasoko with valor. Suddenly Shougo’s eyes felt so very heavy. With discipline in both physical and chakra arts, Shougo’s reverses weren’t endless on either pools. It was the price he paid for balance, but hopefully no one would eat his body if he collapsed here. “Fight well Haruyuki…and win.” And then Hisame Shougo passed out.

[Azure]

Ooc; because of my wacky scheduled, I wanted to put this up and I don't think it's too premature. Everyone gets as much time as they need after this post to wrap up, just be reasonable. AKA, there can be time warps, so for isntance, Tony can get two posts to reach the end if need be. Please find your word count for this topic and the mission before starting

this post. Thanks everyone!

Minasoko could feel the implacid heat radiating off the black sun. It was a laughingly sick prank pulled by the Hisame, but this would not render the commander of DEATH unable to fight back. He hissed as the dark rays soaked up the water droplets accumulating on his makeshift body adjustments. The slipperiness of his leg fixture was reduced and he could feel the resumed weight of it. Though black, it was still an intensely shining light, enough for Minasoko to need to shield his eyes. Still blind, he formed a set of seals and a wringing wet sea dragon burst from his palm and grew tenfold, fighting relentlessly against the black sun. Its jaws were wide open, thirsting to devour the sun, but the star burst with red hot flames- mixing the ink and fire chakras together.

Just then, the sea serpent was sliced open by the jumping Haruyuki, defding his sun. He wasn’t about to let the momentary trump card slip out of his fingers yet. His sword was cleanly disembodying the chakra monster and separating its watery skin. On his decent, with a few seals he rearranged the chakra makeup of the monster to ice shards he so kindly redirected at Minasoko. With a hailstorm of ice coming, Minasoko readied his mace and swung a shockwave that collided with the incoming bolts. However, he couldn’t stop them all, so many ended up kicking his armor, but there wasn’t a fatal blow in the bunch. Haruyuki’s icy blue eyes looked upon Minasoko with utter distaste, mainly because nothing the commander had done had helped anything. He just made everything worse, with faulty plans and way too many scapegoats.

“You’re pathetic, y’know that? I’m surprise you got this far. You just want attention. Well, the world actually isn’t a better place with you.”

Haruyuki spat, in truth he let his tongue fly for mental warfare. He didn’t need to be that cruel, but an unstable Minasoko would be easier to defeat than a confident one. He was used to dealing with lunatics off the fly and from the reading he was getting from the general of DEATH, he was on to something. Minasoko’s eyes peel and his body shook a little. The rage rising off his skin was palpable. This deep into his career, a shinobi should control his emotions and be able to use them as a weapon as well. The life of a ninja was a constant existence of deceit. It was surprising how the Mist propagated itself outside of lustful slips and rape.

“You…YOU’RE JUST LIKE HER. Mother tossed me out into the street and beat me nearly to death. If a child of three can survive that, then I will live and I WILL set things straight. You’ve tasted your last breath, Hisame.

Bingo. Minaosko is on the rampage, all Haruyuki had to do now was—

Bam, on the ground. Bleeding.

That wasn’t part of the plan. Minasoko had a sudden burst of speed and caught Haruyuki off guard, slamming him to the ground and bashing him a few times. The Hisame could feel the wet blood drip from his face like sweat. All it would take would be a few movements of chakra to clot the wound before he lost too much blood- but that wouldn’t have been possible if Minasoko kept attacking him. Why did he stop? What’s going-

“I’m going to make you hurt, Haruyuki. Your brother killed my Shael and now I will kill your brother and be back for you.”

Shougo? Haruyuki’s eyes dashed to where his brother lay unconscious. His chest was rising and falling as he lay near a fresh pile of ash. Haruyuki was too caught up into the moment to realize then that Shougo was fighting. He felt it, sure- but suppressed it to focus on Minasoko. Thankfully his brother had won, but now the insane general was planning to murder Shougo.

No, body. Get up!

His club in hand he was getting closer.

GET UP. NO, SHOUGO.

The mace was coming down.

Haruyuki didn’t even care about anyone else in the room. In that moment, he didn’t even care about anyone else in the world. Even his fiancée. Shougo was the one person that was always with Haruyuki, in spirit or in body. This is why Haruyuki needed power, to stop the forces of nature from taking his brother again. After watching Shougo die an agonizing end to disease as children, Haruyuki couldn’t bear watching his brother die again. Not to Minasoko, not to disease, not to time itself. He was enveloped in a cloud of rage at himself for not being able to get up, along with pity and sadness. But there was no room for mourning, no there had to be a way, Haruyuki would not resign just yet.

There was something near the front of his nose, even while his body was acting slow his mind was still pretty quick. It was glowing a low shade of red and orange, this little piece of rock. The Hisame realized it was the shard of power he swallowed minutes before, now beaten out of his stomach by Minasoko without Haruyuki even realizing it. It must have been a pretty bad bang up job for that to happen. He reached for it, his fingers trembling. It was the only gateway to saving his brother now.

Pebbles, just this once…lend me the power so Shougo doesn’t die. I won’t…I won’t let him take what you built..the power to…shape the future.

As Haruyuki’s fingers touched the shard, he could feel the sudden engulfing aura of the flames of power and power course through his body. It only took him a split second to discharge the energies and create an arcing wall of ice that slapped around Minasoko’s mace and tugged it clean free, shoving the man across the room in the process. The Hisame hoisted himself up slowly as the aching bruises told him to just sit down. But he wouldn’t listen; he’d but his body into submission and throw himself in to fire to finish this endeavor.

“I told you, that’s not a line you want to cross. Now I have a few promises to keep.”

Muddling through his wounds, Haruyuki reached for a few of his senbon needles crafted of ice and shot them at the rising Minasoko. The wordlessgeneral willed a wall of water to shelter him from the attack. With blurring speed, Haruyuki was upon the shattered water barrier, ready to strike. But Minasoko through up a second, which Haruyuki just punched through. A third barrier was thrown up, this one made of stone, yet the Hisame tossed his ink through the cracks and demanded separation- and part they did. The Hisame had something in his hand- a sphere of churning, angry water. He thrust it into Minasoko and the water seeped through his skin, into the body of the general. There was cold authority in Haruyuki’s eyes, death’s chill rang down his voice.

≈|:: Hari-Yuki: Okuta-bu Saizensen Sanryoukyou ::|≈

(Crystal Snow Type: Octavian Glaive Prism)

Haruyuki laid a hand on Minasoko’s chest and the man froze up. Not out of fear, nor of anger or fatigue. Minasoko was freezing from the inside out. Haruyuki drew away his hand and a glaive made from ice followed his beck. The weapon tore through Minasoko’s skin as he cried out in pain but unable to alter his fate. Haruyuki closed his eyes and brought a single seal from his left hand up to his face.

“From the land you were born,

[Ex terra vos erant prognatus]*

To the ocean you will go.”

[ut oceanus vos mos eo]

The Hisame spun around, under Minasoko’s arm and palced his hand on the general of DEATH’s back.

“To travel the empty road alone, [Proficiscor cassus via unus]

With only your sins on your shoulders. [Per tantum vestri sins in vestri umerus humerus.]

And your love on your legs.”[Quod vestri diligo in vestri crures]

He twirled again and again and again. Each time Haruyuki put his hand on Minaosko, he called the freezing waters on the inside of Minasoko out. Haruyuki was exciting the long lost Glacium Death Rite.

“Soon you will be judged by the five bright ones, [Nunc vos ero sentio per quinque perspicuus unos]

And my name will be the last on your book of life. [Quod meus nomen ero permaneo in vestri libri vitarem]

And I will carry this until I become water again. [Quod Portabo is insquequo Fio unda rurus]

Now we must part ways. Many streams to one ocean.” [iam nos must secui mores. Plures profusum ut unus oceanus]

Haruyuki wasn’t one to carry conventional faith, but over the years the more he delved deeper into his family history, the more right it felt to observe certain things. He had killed many people over the years and the morel life you deprive, the closer to your own mortality you feel. There must be some sort of significance, some sort of unity between lives and the earth. And he would carry this dead ghost on his conscious as a child of the Glacium.

“Rest in frozen waters.” [Resquiescat in Glacialis Aqaus]

The last glaive ripped through Minasoko’s heart, severing the hold his spirit had on his now vacant body. When Haruyuki’s hands fell to his side, the glaives filled with black liquid, cracked and broke, exploding a force so powerful, it shredded Minasoko’s body beyond resurrection. Haruyuki had mixed his two formidable elements, ice and ink- pain and poison to finish the monster of Minasoko. There would be no one playing black magic to bring that devil back in his body.

Haruyuki saw himself in Minasoko- a man who would fight and kill for his own ideals. It made him consider what path he was going down, what it would lead to. He didn't want to become the malignant stain killing for lost ideals and repressed lovelessness. But he certainly wasn't going to be the self-sacrificing righteous man. There were enough of those. Haruyuki was a man who got things done, despite the cost. Isn't that what Minasoko did? He had chosen the wrong side, if Minasoko truly held the fate of this people in his hands, he would have forgotten the empty Mizukage throne and brought about his own political identity. But he didn't forge his own path, he followed the steps of men who all ended up dying anyway. The DEATH soldiers that watched their general become a wasted pile of nothingness surrendered their arms, others turned against the demonic beast that still inhabited the room. DEATH wouldn't dare touch him, he was the tyrant that just usurped the rusted crown.

But it had not ended. The Sanbi was still on the loose.

At Haruyuki’s feet he had felt something. Looking down, he saw a case- it must have fallen out of Minasoko’s ravaged corpse. He picked it up, opened the protective case and saw seven slots for vials filled with red liquid. The case was of the seven bloods of the royal Kirigakure families, it was also wringing wet. Most of the vials survived, one was completely missing and another was cracked, useless. He must have been using it for experiments…but why was it complete? He was missing one of the bloods, but what would that accomplish?

Haruyuki’s eyes drifted to the glowing message they received upon entry. Gestalt. The seven pillars. The seven bloods. He had a quick realization- Minasoko wasn’t a complete idiot, but it didn’t absolve him of that title. Haruyuki eyed the missing links: Umikoi and Hisame. He had an idea, but he had to move fast. Sanbi wasn’t taking a break from the destruction scene, even when playing with the new toy Syaoran birthed. He wouldn’t make a good mother, with the whole killing his creation thing.

Haruyuki moved like rushing water and knelt next to his sleeping brother.

“Sleep well my brother, I think you just saved us all.”

From the blood accumulated on Shougo’s nose, Haruyuki collected a couple of drops. He hoped it was enough. Though his body was coming down with fatigue, he attempted to move undetected up the central pillar. Though carrying his extra tools made him a bit slower than normal. When he reached the top he laid all seven of the bloods out before the pool of sap. After the Shodai’s pearl was lifted out, the sap had replenished itself. It wouldn’t have to do that if it didn’t serve another purpose.

“Hey, Sanbi! It always bothered me that the “Great Shodai” would make of jewel that obviously meant the one person who controlled you could do what they pleased. But that was when the seven families were united. If I were him, I’d make a failsafe so that one person couldn’t destroy everything. The whole is not the sum of its parts. It’s not just talking about the jewel, it’s talking about Kirigakure herself and united, not even you can stand in the way of human progress.”

Haruyuki kicked the seven vials into the pool of sap, each spilling the lifeblood into the unknown chemical compound.

“Maybe next time you come out there will be a giant turtle demon protection agency, but for now you’re in time out.”

Haruyuki drew Kakuyuki and dipped the sword into the bloody spa. He had realized each of the swords had something magical about them, they were keys for several sanctuaries in Kirigakure, why wouldn’t they work for something even greater? Haruyuki figured this was how Shodai delt with the demon the first time around and even then he had to get in close range. Luckily, Kakuyuki could detach via chain technology. Haruyuki spun his spwrd around and shot the tip out, snaking its way straight to Sanbi and piercing its skin. Syaoran couldn’t escape this wound, but it was necessary to end this.

Haruyuki tugged and like a fishing line, the spirit of Sanbi began to be pulled out of Syaoran. The tails on Syaoran began to retreat as more and more of the chakras were being torn from his body. There were explosions of light and air pressure between Sanbi-Sayoran's teal, blue and gold chakra and Haruyuki's light and dark blue chakras fighting out the battle, augmented by a prism of light- the other royal houses. Haruyuki was shaking, it was taking a toll on him as well. He hoped the others would help in some way shape or form. Surely Syaoran would have some residue of the demon;s malicious chakra when it was over and some lasting damage but in the manner of minutes the Sanbi would be sucked from him. Haruyuki dropped his sword back into the basin, where the sap-chakra-Sanbi spirit was drained through the dragon and into the six other pillars. He figured the only way to release the Sanbi was something to do with those pillars and probably the pearl- but he really didn’t want to deal with that. And then as the clicking and turning of invisible gears within the pillars ceased, they were left in a room of silence.

The ordeal was over.

Finally, they could rest.

The footsteps of the past are merely guide-stones. Follow them peerlessly and one shall find their grave. Depart from them and the mysteries of the universe are still an open book.

* denotes what Haruyuki actually said, as it's Glacium.

[Rhapsody]

It was only when the silence was drawn over the cave, lingering like a heavy fog, that Arisu realized that she had hidden herself, crouching behind a nearby pile of rubble. She had clung to the surface of a rock like a small baby, seeking refuge from the frightening array of power that had been laid out before her. Faintly, the title of 'Hachinin' came floating back to the woman and she couldn't help but wonder what it had been that catapulted the eight into legend, if this conquest had mearly been an escapade in some dark corner of Kiri.

Suddenly aware of the deep aching in her bones, Arisu winced as she made her way out of her hiding spot, coming to rest against one of the pillars that still remained intact after the Sanbi's rampage. the woman groaned audibly, sliding down against the rough stone until once more coming to rest on her backside, staring at the ceiling in total disbelief. She thought to herself, while her fingers trembled, that she might like to give up her mercenary life and go back to the flower shop. Who could really say that they actually wanted this kind of madness in their life?

A soft snort came from Arisu, then, and she looked down to the bundle that held the shard she had claimed for herself. The woman made quick work of unwrapping the package, and rolled it around in her palm. It was strange to her, how a thing of such simple beauty could tell so many tales of heartache and bloodshed. How many people had died in their conquest to acquire the gem? How many lives had it claimed over the years that it had existed?

After an extended period of simply sitting, trying to collect the pieces of her mind, Arisu would stand and hobble toward the palce she had left her sword. Having nothing to say to anybody in the room, for she figured they all had eachother and would not have a need for her, Arisu simply tossed her shard in Heruyuki's direction and made her exit, weaving her way back through the tunnels that had brought her to the island. A boat left over by DEATH would serve as her way back to the island.

--

2001 words in this thread and 5605 in the other one, which brings me to 7606.

Edited June 22, 2011 by Rhapsody

[Blackrose]

(Occ: Sorry about the long delay went through a hard time at home short story i almost lost my job but the situation got sorted out so I'm posting. Rhaps I'm responding to the post that involved Kia and will just react as if she left after delivering the message so our posts don't really clash. Me and Sy still have posts between us and I'll try to wrap that up quickly.)

Though the air was frigid and cold Kia did not mind. She couldn’t even tell how cold it really was since her bloodline obscured hot and cold for her. She was worried about her daughter though. The little girl did not carry the Hyouki bloodline. Instead she carried her father’s Alchem bloodline. The cold air could be fatal to her little girl though it was necessary to protect her at the moment. She made sure her daughter was tended to. Everyone seemed to be ignoring her and her little igloo which was a huge relief. Kia took off her Jounin vest and wrapped her daughter in it. It was too big for the small girl but Kia hoped it would help keep her warm. It was odd how she cursed herself for never wearing extra layers of clothing for just such an occasion. Instead she tried her best to pull the frigid air from her daughter to at least make the cold bearable. She looked down at her glowing shard and contemplated what she should do.

Perhaps I could try and call Sy? This thing should be connected to him now. Hmm… but what if the Sanbi heard it? It might make him turn his attention to me and Lily. But what choice to I have. I need to help Sy, I need to talk to him and find out what I should do! She through with a frustrated sigh. Pulling herself up she took the shard in her hand. She’d have to focus, and try her best to reach Sy. If she couldn’t she’d have to find another way… something that could help the two of them. Just as soon as she began to concentrate and bang at her igloo made her jump and lose concentration.

That wasn’t an attack… She surmised looking at the slightly transparent ice blocks. She could make out the figure of a woman. She was holding something she couldn’t read. In an instant she recognized the girl. She was on her side. Kia contemplated. If she took the barrier down she wouldn’t be able to put it back up. Not within the chaos. But if she didn’t she might be letting a comrade die, a guilt that she knew would haunt her for a very long time. Clenching her fists she pocketed the shard and scooped up her unconscious daughter. With a releasing though the ice crumbled letting Kia and Arisu meet face to face.

Quickly she found a note in her hand belonging to Sy. ”Distress Signal?” She asked but the other girl was no longer there. With no time to think as the battle raged on Kia pulled into the shadows and tried to stay hidden with Lily. She looked at the note and knew what Sy wanted but she was so unsure why. Deciding that Sy defiantly knew what was best she took her bracelet off. Sy had given this back to her when he found her again and she had been so happy to finally have her connection to him back.

She looked at Sy battling his clone and bit back the tears that threatened to pour over, ”No matter what I’ll always love you.” She whispered just in case it wasn’t enough. As Minasoko fell in defeat she began her technique. She let the chakra flow the the bracelet and let the tool amplify it. She poured everything she could into it, making the call as loud and bright as she possibly could. She imagined breaking through to Sy. She imagined pulling everything from within him out so that he could defeat the beast. If he knew I was in trouble he’d save me. She though as she continued to put all her concentration into the jutsu.

------------------------------

3103 This thread so far still have some rp with Sy

2631 Last thread.

5734 Total so far.

Edited June 23, 2011 by Blackrose

[Warr]

Warrusu had not laid a hand upon perhaps his most hated nemesis. He had not spoken out against the possibly immensely foolish move committed by his fellow Hachinin. He was the champion of calm, and of the virtue so valued by fishermen patience. It was not because he felt defeated, or thought the actions of his allies were the proper way however.

It was because he had fought Minasoko before. He knew all to well that the general was full of more shit than the Kyuubi was chakra, and beyond that- this was all going to be a trap. Minasoko was never genuine, he fancied himself a spider or even a fisher. All his words, all his actios- they were just a distraction, so that the DEATH agents which were with Minasoko, could move in and strike the defenders of Kirigakure in a way that would let him win the battle and control the Sanbi.

As he felt the faint chakra signatures of figures whom he had fought during the war with DEATH, his suspicions were confirmed, and the silent Umikoi Hachinin made his move without a word to his assembled friends. Together, Haruyuki, Syaoran, and the others could take Minasoko down; but only if Warrusu broke the lines which the pomegranate from the bottom of the river had set.

He mist flickered from the scene, intending to cut down the enemies which were coming Kirigakure's way without a veil of his intention. Let Syaoran and the assassin from the clan of assassins deal with Minasoko, the other members of DEATH would meet the fisher in the deeps, the grim reaper.

As the Umikoi found himself upon the top of the statue of the Rokudaime Mizukage, he detected his first target, an amber haired kunoichi who was strumming at a harp like instrument with one hand, forming hand seals with another. The technique she was performing was lost to him, as the DEATH mask she wore was supposed to make her identity lost to her enemies. No, with a harp like that and amber hair- he knew this girl. The Siren of the Seabreeze, a person who's techniques involved seduction and sound ninjutsu- to crash ships and sink hearts. As she rested upon the bosom of the godaime Mizukage, preparing her spell, the Umikoi prepared a technique of his own that was renown and feared. With a quick set of handseals, he summoned forth a stream of water chakra, funneling in a serpent like wave as it tightened up behind him, before he finally cut the chakra flow and the spear of water chakra rocketed towards the amber haired kunoichi. A distinctive hiss could be heard as the water cut through the already moisture laden air, and the grey garbed kunoichi flung herself from the cleft of the Godaime's bosom just in time to dodge the liquid spear.

Even so, the glacial sea like eyes of the Umikoi fisher-prince, could not help but tilting with slight glee, as the Umikoi's face bore a wide smirk. While he may have missed her, the Siren's most valued ninja tool, her harp- had dropped from her grasp as she jumped, and the mahogany wood frame of the musical instrument shattered like so many droplets of water upon the ground below.

“You'll pay for that, Hachinin!” she yapped angrily, performing quick handseals and preparing to use the sound ninjutsu she was so well known for. As her amber hair flowed in the wind like a fire against the sky at full night, her hands continued to form a litany of hand seals as her body began pushing and molding the lightning and wind chakra within her into sound chakra. She was upon the thirteenth, and final hand seal when Warrusu's own musical parry came. A boot to the head.

As the Kunoichi was thrown backwards by the force of the massive boot, she squawked, only to be met with an elbow to her nose, and a low arching sweep kick, sending her flying off the statue. As she fell, the Umikoi pulled forth Ensui, throwing himself downwards, and forming a massive liquid hammer swinging it at the DEATH operative without hesitance.

While it would not have killed her- it combined with the fall, would have sent her into unconsciousness, and that was enough. Her chakra would still be emanating even as she slept, and that would be enough to keep the other DEATH operatives from going on alert. A fisher never jerked so hard that it alerted the other fish in the pond that he was out there hunting. Without another breath wasted, the brooding and passionate Kirigakuran Sennin sent himself into another rushing after the next, faint, but familiar DEATH operative's chakra signature. He muttered to himself "Heh." The Kingfisher was hunting.

Edited July 20, 2011 by Warr

[cntrstrk14]

ooc: Still back in time, before Azure’s final posts.

The ground would break, disintegrate and sunder as the devastating attack came directly at Chao. The Sanbi Syaoran’s attack literally severed all bonds between molecules, breaking everything it its path down to singular atomic particles and evaporating them into the surrounding air. With a flick of seals, the young doppleganger would flash his hand downward as a golden and blue light flashed around and erupted into a blade around his own hand, extending a foot off the ground.

“Yeah, we’ll see who’s stronger pops.”, Chao said under his breath as he charged forward with a fierce battle cry.

“Kyuukyoku Mangkukulaman!!!”

(Alchem Type: Final God of Fire)

Chao’s blade of Alchemic energy would strike the whiplash of energy from the Sanbi. For the first time in decades, the energies of two Alchem would collide and ripple the very fabric of physics down to its molecular core. Bright flashes of energy erupted from the epicenter of the conflict, wiping over the room in white waves that burst like small bombs erupting.

The eruptions would spark one after another, over and over until they became so rapid that it sounded like a large fan was up against the ears of everyone in the room. With a final blast, the energy would send a final huge shockwave that moved all of the dust, dirt and loose particles in the air five meters back before pulling them five meters forward from the suction created in its wake. From this, Chao was thrown backwards, his body flailing through the air as he would strike one of the seven pillars, the stone buckling under his weight and cracking; though not falling. As he tumbled to the ground he violently cough up a clear liquid, wiping it from his mouth and looking up he would grin.

“You hit just like dad too.”

-----

Within the recesses of his own mind, Syaoran moved upwards through the tower he had approached. Time did not move the same here, he was vaguely aware of what was going outside, but it was wrapped in haze, echoes off the city that could only come through just barely. At times he would jump ahead, floors higher than he had been, and sometimes it felt like he ran through jelly. Finally though, he would be at the top, and the entire city of white stretched out infinitely in every direction from here. Above him, a sun shone with bright rays and fell upon his skin with an embracing warmth.

Time was slow again, but it was coming. He could feel more so than see the sky brightening, the white growing as it threatened to blank out the entire city.

“Kia...”

-----

As Sanbi Syaoran reeled an arm into the air, ready to strike another torrent of chakra at Chao, Kia would get the signal and focus chakra into the small trinket she had received as a present from Syaoran.

”AHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh”, Sanbi Syaoran screamed out, a mixture of demonic and all too human screams as he clutched at his head, teal chakra bursting like a balloon into the surrounding air. His mind had gone blank, white as a desert sun for that brief moment. The distress beacon was a technique created to allow Syaoran to know a person’s location no matter how far away they were. To say that someone emitting a beacon twenty feet away was bright was like saying the inside of a forge was luke warm. The eruption of senses for the demon was more than he could have expected. Even to Syaoran it would be blinding and he would know to expect it. It only lasted for a moment, but that was all that was needed.

Or all that Chao needed.

As the Sanbi possessed Alchem reeled from the mind blinding attack, Chao was already moving across the field. He had been waiting for this moment, he knew the beacon was coming and even though he was technically a copy of the Alchem, the beacon was only a reflection of what it would be to the real creator. Launching himself from a slab of broken concrete on the ground, Chao made a series of complicated seals as he flew towards Sanbi Syaoran. He was perfectly silent, and to the rest of the room it would appear almost as if he just appeared directly in front of the demon with his arm already cocked back. Palm thrusting forward, he would land an extremely powerful shot into the gut of the Sanbi Syaoran, pointer and middle fingers breaking the man’s skin with a flash of green.

“Tenrai Ketsueki Fuuin”

(Divine Blood Seal)

As Chao released, the Sanbi would stagger back in the Alchem’s body, his eyes were fade from gold back to their original emerald tint. His teal chakra was no longer laced with gold, and he struggled to stand even still holding his head.

”H-How!?!”, the beast growled at Chao. He flicked a arm at him as if to use alchemy to dissolve the man in front of him as he had countless times before in their battle, but nothing happened. His bestial growl deepened.

“You are just a clone! YOU CANNOT USE A TECHNIQUE LIKE THAT! HOW DID YO-?!”

-----

This was it, the moment Syaoran had waited for. The demon was teetering on the edge of his subconscious. Drawing all of the chakra he could he would send a blast through the city, breaking foundations and sending buildings crashing to the ground. Using the surprise and lack of chakra control that the beast had he would not give him even a second to recover himself. Syaoran was a beacon within the city as he launched a full out assault with the last of his strength.

“GET. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD!!!!!!”

-----

As the demon shouted at Chao, his eyes would suddenly unfocus as if struck in the head. All chakra would fall away from his body and he would stand in place rigid. After a moment his eyes would refocus and he would look right at Chao. The look was different, softer and much more tired.

“NOW!”

“...gladly.”, Chao said silently as he knelt down, making a focused seal and gathering chakra into his palm. Drawing back a fist he would swing forward and striking Syaoran in the chest again, just above the last seal and probably much harder than he had to.

“Goguoufuuin”

(Five Part Seal)

Syaoran’s chest would immediately form a seal, his chakra folding up and compressing, leaving just enough to keep his body alive but none left for any type of fighting. The Alchem’s body would fall to the floor, landing on his back as the second seal solidified and kept his chakra from being used at all. For the first time since he was twelve Syaoran knew what it felt like to be completely powerless. He was so tired, so... tired....

Chao breathed heavily as he looked over at his “father’s” body sprawled on the broken floor of the chamber. His hazel and blue eyes would flip over to the rest of the room, taking in the ending battles that were wrapping up all around them. Kia was still locked away in her fortress of ice, probably the best move she could have done to protect the child. Chao didn’t have much care for her, she was another part of “his” life. Had Chao always existed? Had he always felt this resent towards his creator, his father? He felt like he had, his existance did not start within the last hour, or maybe it had, how was he to tell what existence really was.

“YOU!!”

A massive teal hand of chakra grabbed Chao and lifted him aloft. Sanbi Syaoran barely stood, one eye closed and gasping for breath. His chakra flickered and sputtered like a dying engine, gasping as it teetered on the edge of death. The demon was running on on anger, and his claws crushed the life slowly out of Chao as he tried to scream but had no air left in his lungs. His vision began to turn black, spots scouring his vision as he felt the crushing end, and then the ground came up to meet him as he slammed against the stone.

As he regained his vision he would see a sword piercing Syaoran, though his spotted vision flickering between darkness and bright light would only catch it for a moment before the sword was tugged away and the Alchem’s body would collapse, like a sack of potatoes, to the ground. Watching, Chao could almost swear he was dead from the way he felt, but he couldn’t think about it much longer as he took fell to the ground, nearing unconsciousness himself.

ooc: 3687 (Previous Topic) + 7827 (This Topic) = 11,514 Words Total

[Azure]

Haruyuki’s hand snatched the shard sailing through the air. His ice blue eyes watched sadly as Arisu walked away without so much as a recognition, but given her near break down, he was sure she just wanted to get the hell out of the place. No objections there. Now holding a second piece of the pearl, a dangerous chill shackled down his spine as he could feel the both of the shards reacting to one another.

His attention rolled over to Syaoran, sprawled out on the floor from the recent skirmish, along with his resiliently tough and horribly brash clone. Haruyuki’s attention wasn’t completely on the battle with Sanbi as he fought Minasoko, but from what he could tell, the clone had run toe to toe with demon possessing the Tsuchikage and pulled some moves a clone should not have. That would probably stir some uneasiness on the political front. The clone was probably as powerful or close to the master. Since it too was passed out and not a disfigured wisp of smoke by now, it could take a punch. What was the most uneasy was that its docile and compassionate nature it should have received from its ‘father’ was completely absent. An Alchem who did as he pleased wouldn’t turn over well, especially this Alchem.

But in this given moment, Haruyuki couldn’t give a crap more. It was over. If there were any remaining DEATH agents in the room, the Hisame would whisper a command.

“I’m feeling generous right now. Leave and you’ll spare your life from meeting its grave right now. Come back tomorrow with your uniforms burned and help set this country straight, or just remain a shadow for the rest of your life. It’s the only kindness you deserve for nearly killing a kid.”

And with that, clones began popping up, made of ice, snow and water. One grabbed Jabu, the unfortunate victim of the demon’s attack. With some rest and therapy, maybe he could hope for a reasonably normal life. Maybe. Shougo, Syaoran and Chao would all be picked up by the end. Then he would call to Warrusu, before beginning the convoy back to the surface.

“You can get the other shard from Kia. I think it would be better if I went and hid these two and you took that one, so if anyone tries to remake this nightmare, they’ll fail. We can decide once we get back to the mainland. And…thanks for having faith in me.”

He should have probably walked over to Kia and conviced her he wasn’t going to hurt Syaoran…either one of them, but he was too drained to care. She had her daughter and he’d be fine- the ends were already guaranteed. And with that, they marched upward.

--

Saline sweat minced hey eyes, but even through the grueling battle, Hisame Fubiki wouldn’t let a soul enter the Shodai’s statue and risk a surprise attack. Her jagged iceicle stabbed into a DEATH shinobi and ignited his bones with a surging shock. He collapsed to the ground, but how much longer would these forces come? Thankfully her wish was granted, as a handful of DEATH shinobi suddenly retreated and cause the remaining dying soldiers to draw back. Suddenly she felt a hand around her waist and her primal instincts kicked in. But before she could lay a finger on the hand, she felt a kiss dangle on her neck and a rather musty smell of running through underground caves. “Haruyuki-kun.” She breathed, knowing her fiancé’s style.

“It’s done my dear. We have a home now and I’ll protect you and it, I promise.”

She turned, now seeing the miniature army of the Hisame co-head. The one holding Jabu put him down next to the Hisame couple and Haruyuki gave him orders to deliver a message and sent him away. The others, however, would require more rest and treatment on the main island. Briefly Haruyuki wondered if this island would sink again and kind of wanted to high tail it out of there post haste. But he was rocked out of his thoughts when Fubiki squeezed him closer. “I…I have a surprise for you. Congrats.” Haruyuki looked at her with a puzzled face as he slid his hand down to her abdomen. “I’m pregnant.” And suddenly the Hisame Hachnin felt so old in his twenty years. He felt like a young youth taking down Minasoko, but now in the face of heralding a new generation. Suddenly a wave of emotion passed over his face, with his vision beginning to blur. He kissed her.

“Well, if I’m going to be a daddy, I’ll have to get some students to refine my parenting style.”

He said it in a sarcastic tone that made the pair laugh, but he was entirely serious. He never thought of himself as parent material, but did anyone out there truly think they were? He felt hot hate for himself for letting her live on her own for a few weeks, but just as a good husband, he cleared the forest so they could build their house. Holding each other close, they made their way back to the mainland. The two shards fell into a quiet harmony, as if they too sang for peace on the island of blood.

Pebbles, now I have another reason to need power. I’m glad you were the one I fought, see ya one day, bud.

--

Haruyuki’s ice clone sped through the waters crossing between the Shodai’s island and Kirigakure’s main island. With traces of his master’s speed, he was able to catch up to Arisu reasonably quickly. Jumping aboard the boat, the clone would come up to Arisu, flashing a foxy smile at the blond haired girl.

“Leaving so soon Ari? I have a proposition for you, if you’d like it. This country needs an elite defense force to replace DEATH who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. You’ve made my first invitation.”

[9007 this topic]

[7562 last]

[16569 all together]

.:|Experience and Rewards|:.

• Arisu; 1902 Exp.

• Kia; 1434 Exp.

• Syaoran; 2879 Exp.

• Warrusu; TBA Exp.

++ Multiple totals by 1.3x for bonuses, since this was awesome, thanks for playing! And $300, spoils of war! (You have to apply the bonus, I gave the base).

-- Tony and Warr, I'll amend your Exp once you give me final totals, thanks! Warr, feel free t continue your battle sequence, I just have to move this on for everyone else. Someone app me please?

[cntrstrk14]

.:|Experience and Rewards|:.

• Haruyuki; 4142 Exp. * 1.3 For Good Role Play + $300

[Warr]

Aoume Kenichi sharpened his blade with the insane glimmer in his eyes of a man who had properly earned the title 'butcher'. His dull tomato colored eyes followed over every dent and dink in his iron broadsword with the reverence some men would give over the form of a well-figured woman. It was no exaggeration, as it probably received more devotion from the tomato eyed, copper haired man than any woman had or ever would. It was the tool with which he had secured his status as a shinobi in the time of the NCIA war, the tool with which he had murdered a school of Kiri branch NCIA students who were unattended, it was the tool which he had assassinated several prominent water country lords.

It would have went on forever if not for the oddly dressed DEATH operative being interrupted by a catcall from somewhere, “Tiger, why don't you and that sword go get a room already?” and making Aoume launch upwards from his perch upon the dead log he had waited for the signal, his keenly sharpen and yellowed teeth making him look all the world as if he was his namesake, the tigerskin vest and its fur collar only magnifying the resemblance. He growled angrily, and then launched forward to slap the offender. It only brought an angry and irritated hiss from his partner, Younashi Rika.

The glowing red mark upon her cheek made the girl seem all the more frail. With her lithe and unmuscled body, her pear green colored hair and eyes to match, it seemed strange that the girl was in DEATH, even with the fact that she looked all the part of the grim reaper himself [if he wore leotards], as she glared at her comrade, fingers toying with the snake skin belt which held a monastery library's worth of scrolls around her hips. Her dainty form then seemed to become positively venomous as her own teeth were bared, sharpened only upon her canines, and making her resemblance to the totem her mask bore all the more clear. She was the SERPENT of Minasoko's personal retinue, and the smaller a snake comes... the more poisonous it is likely to be.

“The Dragon roars, the King fish is in the net.” she giggled as she said those words, the true code. The Dragon was of course their commanding officer, Sekiryuu Minasoko. The commanding officer of the DEATH corps, and their chosen Mizukage. One could only guess who the fish was, but if the Hoshigaki were sharks, it should be easy to tell. “King of Fishes, hahahahahahahaha. Can't even take down a songbird without an army of other fish and tiny animals backing him.”

So it was a race for time, a trap. Like spiders, the forces of Chirigakure wove their webs. Like spiders, they expected to paralyze their prey with poison, be it literal or hard choices. Like spiders, they really should have worried about rushes of water that were a couple hundred times their size. Like the tidal wave that was rushing towards them, with a swordfish surfing upon it like it was a titan amongst ocean-dwellers.

But these two weren't spiders, merely flunkies. They were the thread, and while it washed down a rock studded incline, they both ended up on their feet when the water stopped rolling them. Kenichi's fangs were bared, and his sword diagonally guarding his front and flank, prepared to swing and strike or putt and parry. He was drenched and looked all the part of a sour-puss tiger that ended up in the ocean instead of a river.

His lithe partner had her hands out upon scrolls, ready to pull them and send techniques at a moment's notice. The serpent-ess hissed territorially, and glared up the incline. That strange and sudden swordfish was no where to be found. There was clear and unhesitating sound from the top of the hill, and a shadow soon appeared. A massive shadow with the distinctly gravity defying hair of the 'King Fish'. Umikoi Warrusu, seventh to bare his name. The so-called sole sennin of Kirigakure, and its only loyal Hachinin. Rika tossed scroll after soaked scroll back and forth ink having been washed away by that salt water and making her frantically have to look for a scroll to attack the ghostfisher of Kirigakure.

“I'll make sure to send your mom a nice tuna or something to tell her sorry for killing her prize little prince, Warru~”

A drip-drop of blood later and a blast of storm chakra rocketed forward at the shadow just as the clear and calm face of Umikoi Warrusu popped over the horizon. It hit him dead-on, and she hissed victory as the figure clinched his neck, where the blast had hit him, and hunched over in pain. Hand held as if to stem blood, it seemed strange when the figure exploded into a million drip-drop-driplets of water seconds later, and the swordfish presented itself. Ensui at Rika's throat and held in his right hand, the Umikoi prince had tried and succeeded in quickly snaking her into a hold which would cut her jugular if she moved an inch.

“My mother prefers strawberries actually.” was the cold as winter response of the sennin, even against the pitter patter of his laughter, onwards like a cool and chilling winter's rain. “I've fought thousands, you dumb noob. You think I don't know strategy or how to scout? Who's the one with the legendary sword against their throat again?”

And so the snake slithered. Like a contortionist of such skill that they could rightfully claim to write the sinful love positioning books, Rika slipped from Warrusu's grasp, to opposing him, to holding his own hand and blade against his throat. “Seems like you darling.”

With a roll of his suddenly maelstrom of azure tinted eyes, the legendary blade sheathed itself, and the girl found no such point to her argument. Warrusu's answer came with a knee to her small breasts, the level of which would knock out the breath of a normal grown man.

And he probably would've brutalized her more, if it wasn't for her barbarian in soaking tigerskin rushing forward with that dented, dinged hunk of iron he called a sword. “It seems like it's about time for the tiger to go fishing! Unless you want to get a room with him, miss hiss?” he roared, his voice coming out more like a mouse's squeak than one would expect from a man who purposefully tried to make himself seem like a big predator.

“Your mom certainly skimped on the witty retorts school for you, didn't she Jimji?” was the answer of the Umikoi as he sideswiped the wide arched sword swipe. The word mom seemed to be a burning brand for Kenichi, as in no time the butcher was swinging a tornado of swipes at the Umikoi Sennin. He roared truly, “Don't you talk about my mother!”

Even as he hopped backwards and onto his tip toes, dodging the incoming swipes, he chuckled and sent forth another volley. “Apparently skimped on the sword fighting school too, yeeaap.” And so the tornado became a hurricane, and cleverly boogieing out of the way would not suffice, Warrusu's left forearmed was nicked, and Ensui came up in parry after parry after parry after parry, keeping the hurricane on its toes.

“And honestly it's all your friend Rika there's fault, Jimji. She is the one that brought up mothers.”

So the battle raged on, with the hurricane making rain as droplets of water hit the air from Ensui' parries. On the sidelines, Rika dug through her belt, looking for just the right prepared scroll to deal with this troublesome Hachinin [and weren't they indeed all troublesome...? except Kouta]. Slash was met with sidestep or swing, and stab was met with scurry or skip.

Onwards for a few minutes, up until the point Warrusu grew tired of the foray. Tossing aside his sword, he quickly formed handseals as the sword spiraled away. When as it's blade hit the ground, the seals released the stored chakra within it, sending it's blade from sword to lance, like a torpedo cutting the sea as it rushed towards the hull of its target. Kenichi couldn't hope to parry the tricky maneuver, and was sent flying backwards without his beloved sword as his arm seemed to have well, stayed with the sword as the rest was sliced with the surgically precise cut of Warrusu's water type; power spear.

“My bad, we were playing touch not tackle, right?”

The now handicapped DEATH operative glared at Warrusu, shock and blood loss keeping words from his mouth as he held his hand against the mangled and bloody stump which was once his arm. But when did he ever have to have words when his personal femme fatale was at hand? Even as Kenichi stared demurely forward, Rika bore the rage enough for them both as she summoned snake after snake after snake from her body, the serpent summoning contract apparently tattooed upon herself so she'd never forget it.

They streamed forward at Warrusu like a waterfall, and as they did the girl roared at him with a voice to rival the dragons of prehistory. “I WILL DO UNSPEAKABLE THINGS TO YOU. YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE DEAD, FISHERPRINCE. UNSPEAKABLE THINGS. PAIN, LOTS OF PAIN.”

Even against her threats, the Umikoi prince calmly replied. "I can kill you with my mind." And as if to demonstrate this, he formed a few handseals, Mizushin swirling in his eyes as he did, and then he sent forth a blast of electricity, steam, water, and worse at the snakes, a celestial spear. It forecasted pain, lots of pain, for her snakes.

[Warr]

So he killed them. As a narrator I have to tell you this because Warrusu threatened to walk out if I continued this manga-esque diatribe of how the fight takes so long and these enemies have these awesome unique powers. He was a hachinin, and he would have none of that. As the snakes charged forward and attacked him, he sliced with Ensui without a moment's thought or hesitation. It was pure instinct and it was like a tornado upon the ocean, water being flung every which way as he slashed ducked dodged and stabbed. As one of them got past his flurry of blows, it lunged at him and when it was about to bite him, he lunged forward with his free hand, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“I AM. TIRED. OF. ALL. THESE. MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES. ON THIS. MOTHERFUCKING ISLAND.” and then grabbed it by its tail, swinging it around like a bolo or lasso, and hurling it into the horizon.

And as the snakes lay in pieces, the snake summoning woman did something throughly unlike what anyone would expect a member of DESUMASUKU, or even a Kiri-nin to do. She broke rank and run at the top speed she could muster, apparently finally getting it through to the pear green haired kunoichi that she was fighting a Hachinin one of the people who had defeated the strongest man of the century, the Hachidaime Raikage, Inabakari Raikou.

With a quick handseal and guidance from his kekkei genkei, the Umikoi sent Rika to the ground. It was a signifigant technique to use, the first technique he learned professionally used to end this. Suiton, Liquid Whip. He chuckled to himself as he used it to lasso her, and then slammed Ensui into the ground, forming handseals and charging forward at the de-armed [literally] swordsman, slamming a fiery heat palm blast at the man's stub, and sealing it then and there. Then he headbutted him with enough force which sent him stumbling to the ground.

"If either of you try to move and stop the defeat of Minasoko, I will make absolute sure that you are killed before I battle him. Hahahahahaha." he chuckled almost maniacally. "And after this is all over you'd better turn yourselves in to the council, or I'll be sure my friend Haruyuki comes after you. He's much meaner, being a Hisame."

And so it was done with their defeat, the three whom were meant to move in to form a three part seal upon the Umikoi and send him into disarray before they used their talents to attack his already distracted allies. It was over, and he walked to meet the others, even if he had missed the battle he felt in the deepest of his heart that it was won.

He wouldn't bother to congratulate himself or the others, because there was too much work to still do as he saw the defeated members of DESAMUSUKU as the others had dealt with them. With work, Kirigakure would be a great village once more. It would be loving and a place to raise a family and live in peace. Just like the Shodai had wished for his countrymen. Just like it should be.

With a smile, Umikoi Warrusu, the seventh to bare his name, took the crystal from Kia and left without a word to the others. He would have a long journey to hide it where he planned, and he would need to leave now if he expected to survey the village and then go hide the crystal and have it done by the end of the tommorrow. That was assuming of course the damage to the village was not horrible, too.

"Everyone, thank you for your help. Haruyuki, please meet me at the estates or the village council office later. I'd like to talk to you about something."

It was the end.

[Total Word count in this thread and The Island of the Ten: 8161]

[ooc; Major gains 1228 EXP for this GM arc.]

Edited August 28, 2011 by Warr

[Azure]

.:|Experience and Rewards|:.

• Warrusu; 2040 Exp. * 1.3 For Good Role Play (and some lulz) + $300