You are not connected. Please login or register

View previous topic View next topic Go down Message [Page 1 of 1]

1Drowning on Land [Open | NK] Empty Drowning on Land [Open | NK] Sun Apr 02, 2017 5:57 pm

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
Sometimes breathing can be the most painful. Despite the abundance of fresh air, there was a desperation in her lungs that felt as though her last satisfactory breath had long since passed. And so that’s how Keiko found herself standing at the edge of one of Kirigakure’s many seaside cliffs, poised in such a way that was unmistakable. The oversized jersey that she had been wearing over top was discarded off to the size, along with a pair of simple flats. Her magenta-coloured hair was done up in a messy bun – unbeknownst to any bystander, she had used her senbon to hold her locks up, having been too lazy to find some bobby pins.

Now, simply dressed in a black one-piece swimsuit, she stood barefoot looking down at the waters below. Swimming had always been a passion of hers, bringing back memories of playing in the water with her childhood friend whom she had long since lost contact with. Locals in the area knew that the tempting waters hide treacherous undercurrents, but that was hardly a deterrent for those accostomed to diving off the cliffs even at young ages. Raising her head to look off into the distance, Keiko took a deep breath, raising her slender arms elegantly above her head, and jumped.

It had been two months she had come home, her adoptive parents delighted by the fact that their daughter was staying with them again. The missions had been slow, no mention as to the reason she was summoned back, but Keiko had a feeling that the underlying message was that she was to standby and not return to Sunagakure just yet. As each day passed, the atmosphere became more stifling, as though she had never left Kaze no Kuni. She spent some time idling away at home, sometimes visiting the hospital to offer her services … It felt as though something was missing. And that something was no stranger. The letters arrived on occasion, but she knew that frequent contact would raise a red flag. Papers with words detailing nothing more than brief updates – what could she even write? Often she spent hours staring at a blank scroll, wondering how to get past “How are you?” While they had promised to contact each other, the overlooming fact that they were so physically distanced couldn’t be ignored.

As she hit the water in a smooth dive that left only the smallest of splashes, a sigh escaped her in a stream of little bubbles, her eyes opening to take in the clarity of the water around her. Remaining on her front, she pulled her arms around to her side, legs kicked off in wide circle to propel herself forward in a streamlined position. Pull and kick. Pull and kick. Around her, piece of floating aquatic plants tickled against her bare skin as she moved. After what felt like an eternity, Keiko began feeling a firm tug against her legs. And there it was, the underwater enemy guilty of the deaths of many innocent souls out for a swim. Knowing that she’d have to get air, a powerful kick brought her back to the surface. Taking a breath with a little smile, she let the current pull her forwards and under.




546 | 546

2Drowning on Land [Open | NK] Empty Re: Drowning on Land [Open | NK] Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:26 pm

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
Several wisps of hair escaped from the intricate bun, flowing beside her face as she allowed the current to carry her along. While many would have panicked by now as they realize their helplessness against the strong rip current, Keiko was far from worried. Being an experienced swimmer as well as a Kirigakure native, this was another idea of fun and relaxation. By allowing her body to become loose and streamlined, she had to exert little force, instead focusing on taking in her surroundings. Should she need to go up for air, she held strong confidence that she would be able to pull herself back up to the surface to satisfy her needs. To others, she was placing herself in harm’s way, risking her life. To Keiko, this was simply another way for her to relax her body and have time for herself to process the various thoughts running through her mind.

She needed a goal. Something to work towards, to place all her efforts into. Keiko lived most of her life to this day by going through the motions, completing whatever was thrown in front of her. Graduating from the Academy. Working through most of her time as Chuunin in a squad. Completing mission after mission. Surviving through a war. Moving up the ranks until she reached her current position. But she had no goals of her own, nothing that she desperately aimed for. I could consider Anbu … Or maybe join the medical corps? But that sounded like much more work that she was willing to commit to. Perhaps she should just lie low, do whatever was given to her. And then, of course, there was the question of just how long she would stay in Kirigakure. Perhaps the next time she was allowed out, she wouldn’t return. But what would she do about her parents?

Letting out a groan that forced a stream of bubble out of her mouth, Keiko kicked upwards, fighting against the current to bring herself back up to the surface, where she took a long breath in and out. Mildly treading water to stay afloat, Keiko gave little notice to her surroundings, knowing that she had probably been carried quite far away from land. Around her, small boats drifted here and there, no one noticing or paying any attention to the magenta-haired kunoichi just floating out in the middle of nowhere. Touching the surface of the water, ice began to crystallize on the surface, and Keiko pulled herself up onto a circular sheet of ice, balancing herself in the middle. Blue, blue, blue. Blue as far as the eye could see. The blueness of the water, the sky, with just a slight mixture of the white mist that always hung over the land and water. How beautiful.




466 | 1012

View previous topic View next topic Back to top Message [Page 1 of 1]

Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum

Naruto and Naruto Shippuuden belong to © Masashi Kishimoto.