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Naruto Saga » Mizu no Kuni » Mizu no Kuni Wilderness » Precious Things [ Plot | Private | No Kill ]

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Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
Accidents. Coincidences.

It felt like everything in the world was beyond any one individual's control; in which fate determined every step that's taken, every decision and course of action that is made … even deciding on who lived to take their first breath, and who died before the 'time was right'. But then again, who could decide when the time was right for death? For anything? What was it that scheduled so-called 'accidents'? Others may beg to differ, to strongly dispute the belief that the locus of control was so far out of their own reach, but for the magenta-haired kunoichi … she wasn't sure what to believe any more. Everything that made up her life - that made up her as a person - felt as though some unseen force dictated every detail, from the most trivial to those with significant impact to her world.  And one of the particular elements in her life that she felt had been entirely decided for her was the fact that she seemed to have an unimaginable affinity towards medical ninjutsu.

To her, everything about the art of Iryō-ninjutsu was contradictory - the very core of the four clauses governing all medical-nin were ideologies that she didn't believe in. "No medic ninja shall ever stop medical treatment until the lives of their party members have come to an end." In theory, it made sense. To put in one's upmost effort into ensuring that everything possible had been done to help, repeatedly trying everything until the patient was deemed no longer among the living. But in the case of a war, an ongoing battle, what was it that stated saving the life of a single soldier was more important than prioritizing the lives of others? Giving up on one soldier in order to fight and avoid more unnecessary sacrifices made sense to her. "No medic ninja shall ever stand on the front lines." The second clause was likely the one she disagreed with the most. It didn't make sense. Medical ninjutsu was one of the specializations that required excellent chakra control, control that could otherwise be channelled through offensive techniques to further increase accuracy and power. Being the headstrong individual that she was, to convince her to stand off in the back instead of fighting in the front lines was the same as telling her not to be kunoichi. It was absurd, illogical. Just because she had the skills to be a medic didn't mean she didn't possess other talents - talents which would undoubtedly be effective against opponents, helping to fight off those who were causing injuries and death in the first place. "No medic ninja shall ever die until they are the last of their platoon." The idea of being protected until the very end could be considered appealing ... if she wasn't so against the idea of being protected in the first place. Being a kunoichi was bad enough; despite the fact that there was an increase in the number of female shinobi, there were times that they were still looked down on, and the fact that her size made her look frail and helpless didn't tilt things in her favour.

"Only those medic ninja who have mastered the Strength of a Hundred Technique of the ninja art Creation Rebirth are permitted to discard the above-mentioned laws." It was perhaps the final clause that served as a source of motivation. A positive incentive for her to push through with the other expectations in order to achieve the level where she would finally be able to learn one of the most highly noted medical techniques - Creation Rebirth. Not only would it allow her to stand in the front lines, the technique itself was said to allow her to heal any and all non-permanent damages to her own body, even potentially fatal wounds. If it's that … as selfish as it is, I'll push through. And it was selfish. But she had lived most her life learning to be selfish, to spoil only herself, to allow others to give her what she wanted, but not to give anything in return. Qualities that a skilled medic shouldn't have. Even up to this point, she had only used her healing techniques whenever she felt like it, whenever it was convenient, occasionally when sympathy struck. It was all whim-based, depending on the situation and her mood at the time.

-

Kitahara Keiko weaved among the trees that generally made up the wilderness of Mizu no Kuni, quite a far distance from the village of Kirigakure. It was uncharacteristically cold, frost weighing down on the already cold-resistant plants. Thick, rolling waves of mist floated just above eye-level, making it nearly impossible to see anything beyond what was right in front of her person, something she didn't quite mind - it obscured her vision, but also made her considerably less visible to the naked eye. What she was doing out of the village in the middle of the war was known only to her, having not been assigned to a mission yet. The majority of the people she had been briefly acquainted with during the course of the battle against Seven Bells had been sent off in various squads to corner one of the two enemy lieutenants - Io, the one who supposedly specialized in medical ninjutsu, and was responsibly for many of the abominations she had witnessed in the past few days. Even the super soldier, the giant of a man that she had taken down with her sense, was rumoured to be one of his various test subjects. She would have very much liked to meet that particular individual, but seeing as she wasn't assigned to a mission, she had decided to go for a little walk of sorts, seeking to continue her solo training session that she had started the other day.

It was quiet, the mist a funeral shroud over the deathly still earth, but for Keiko, it was a source of comfort, away from the chaos that was the village and its surrounding area. The absence of sound was only broken as she neared the river, still flowing free from the restraints of cold, moving now at a languid pace as it neared the mouth that would open up to the lake she had been training in. Drawn - as she often always was - to the source of water, she began walking at the edge of the river bank, knowing that it would eventually bring her to her destination. One step after another, the cool breeze nipping playfully at her exposed face, but was unheeded, the chill not a concern for the naturally cold body temperature of the Aisu clan member.

It was the unnatural break in the river's steady flow that caught her attention. The sides moving faster than the middle, creating a strange parting that could only be explained by one logical thing - if it wasn't chakra induced, then there was something large obstructing the water upriver. Could it be that the enemy had done something with the water? Or perhaps a large weapon of sorts to use against the village? Brows furrowed, all previous decision to take a moment to herself and train was abandoned as curiosity got ahold of her, retracing her steps and heading against the flow of the river, lilac eyes scanning ahead for any sign of … well, whatever it was that she was looking for. A sparkle, the reflection of light off … it was unmistakably ice. She would recognize it anywhere, the smooth, crystalline form of the very ice that she herself utilized. Two suiton whips materialized as she ran towards the large chunk of ice that was slowly making it's way down the river, reaching in front of her and wrapping themselves around the perfect rectangular shape that the ice had formed, gently pulling it out of the water and up to the bank.

This is ... ! She was frozen, rooted to the spot as she stared down at the ice, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. Facing up at her, beautifully encased in the coffin-like ice, was the Mizukage herself. Solstice Ayakashi. It was unmistakably her, with the signature Mizukage robes and the intricate mask that obscured her face from view. But what was their Mizukage doing in the river, with herself frozen in a block of ice? Hardly the most appropriate thing to be doing considering that the village  was a war. A quick glance down at the body answered her - a visible wound that pierced right through her chest, the most severe out of a couple visible wounds that she could make out. Was she … dead? Truly dead? Finally moving out of her frozen state, her hand reached to rest gently on the surface of the ice. Or maybe … I see. The ice would help to stop severe blood flow, keeping her in a frozen state that could act as a form of self-preservation. As long as the cold had yet to reach the vital organs, there was a chance that she was still alive. Almost as though taking her time, Keiko regarded the form of the Mizukage as she ran her available options through her mind. She could simply choose to leave her in this state, go back and find help. Or perhaps break her out, even heal her. Or … Or I could do nothing. And pretend I didn't see this at all. Why? She wasn't quite so sure herself. As a Kirigakure kunoichi, she shouldn't be hesitating over this. Shouldn't even consider her final option. Letting out a soft breath, she would place her other hand on the ice as well, applying pressure that she hoped would be enough to break the ice without causing damage to the precious cargo it held within. From what she could tell, the ice lacked any form of defensive properties, created solely to protect the Mizukage from natural forms in addition to keep herself in a suspended state. Upon the breaking of the ice coffin, she would kneel down beside the body, hand hovering over the mask, but deciding against removing it. There was a large chance that the mask served as some sort of breathing tool, something that allowed the Mizukage to have a source of oxygen despite being enclosed within the ice.

"Mizukage … sama?"

To think that a moment like this could occur, with their Mizukage dead … Or maybe not.

Chakra: 290/300:




Training: Advanced Recovery Method
1759/1800



Last edited by Keiko on Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:43 am; edited 1 time in total

Ayakashi

Ayakashi


S-rank
Aya had met her destiny...

...But destiny was a fickle master, where it led was often disguised and its paths crossed, its moral compass shaded from view. And as such Aya had fallen from the highest height to collide with the sea. His blast had collided with her armour, and through her crystalline form sending her from the top of the cliff toward the sea, her world had turned black with the force of the blow, but the light refracting from her ice, misdirected some of the attack, crashing into Tobirama's armour and lessening the impact while still breaking through the metal. The structural damage to her body was no more than the puncture of a single lung, and the instant cauterization of the wound due to the attack's intense heat... Aya didn't feel so good, but as she had hit the water she created a massive block of ice which floated away, her cloak hiding her chakra signature as her technique faded, making all think of her death as certain.

But she breathed through her mask, her superior equipment had saved her life, although her memorial service was short lived due to the war. A couple of kind words spoken by one of the twins as the other lay in hospital in a critical condition... But within the Mind of the Mizukage, she still lived, her breathing laboured, her body so attune to the coldness of ice, she did not freeze to death, and could not be harmed by the cool temperatures on a structural level, every aspect of her fall traded into her favour, keeping her alive and mimicking the facets of an end. Surviving the fall however, was something which had completely come down to chance. The freezing of the water around her stopped her from being smashed against rocks, but not hitting them on her descent was sheer luck...

Within the mind of the Kage she did not dream, she stood within the blackness of her mind, there was no shadow, only pitch, as she could not even see her hands in front of her, but she began to hear a familiar voice. Whispering to her, calling to her, willing her back to the waking world, but it falling on slightly defended ears. Aya could not move, nor walk, nor even twitch a finger in her current state, thinking the world she was in was a purgatory, until... Something penetrated the abyss, creating light, and so, creating shadow, everything became illuminated as Aya's senses one by one began to return to her, the first was the sensation of touch. She could feel her body once again, gain its weight and movement, realising now that her eyes were closed, and that this blackness was all this time, the blackness of consciousness, thought run awry, thinking even to herself that she had died from his blast, but to be tricked.

When that thought passed through her mind, her fighting spirit returned, if she was alive, she could still fight, this wasn't over. It cannot have been long, she would still be able to join in this crusade, climb the cliff, and sever Seven Bell's head from his shoulders while his back was turned! All of this force, all of this effort translated into the faintest of motions in her fingers, twitching, attempting to clench together, but her body to weak to do so. Her face beneath her mask furrowing slightly as if she were experiencing a nightmare of some terror or mental duress. From here, it was like clawing for the light, pulling ones-self up higher and higher, aiming for the sky. Dragging ones self from the pits of the underworld to live again. But it was all in the hands of her saviour now.

She bore a pulse, and that was all the Medic would need to confirm her living state, although it was faint and faltering, Aya had some time, but she was still no less near deaths door. Her punctured lung, now in the warm air could pose more problems, infection could kill her in an hour or two, throwing her into shock and carrying the infection to her heart. While the cold of the ice had more than lowered her immune system to be able to handle that kind of infection. Her life, very much rested in the hands of the ninja who was there to rescue her. Her body limp, and more than half dead, but her mind more than live, her eyes beginning REM as more and more she attempted to return with sheer willpower alone.

This was the plight of the Mizukage, even near death she fought tooth and nail for her country...

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
It was unclear even to herself whether she was hoping to see a sign of life, or too impassive to truly care whether the Mizukage of Kirigakure was still alive. The moment she had broken the ice served as the first step of sorts, a sign that some factor had been present to motivate her to commit the act. But now it was a question of whether she should go any further. The fact that she had broken the ice meant that she was now involved, that she now played a role in the situation. If Ayakashi really had been alive up to this point, the breaking of the ice meant that Keiko had just removed the very means of preservation that the kage relied on to sustain herself. To not act now would be indirectly playing a part in the death of the Mizukage.

There was no obvious response when she called out to the still form of her village's leader, and for a moment, Keiko was ready to simply confirm that the body before her was exactly that - a body and nothing more, the corpse of the one who everyone had believed would bring them out of the darkness that Seven Bells had enveloped them in. But slender fingers would touch the cold skin of Ayakashi's neck, seeking the jugular vein that would reveal everything. The largest vein that would still be pumping a steady flow of blood if the woman was still alive, if Keiko had any hope of even attempting to heal her. As cold fingers came into contact with the even colder skin, there was a moment where nothing came in response. Nothing. But it could just be the drop in temperature that slowed down the blood flow. Counting off softly in her head, she left her finger there, applying slight pressure to gently indent the skin, seeking another answer. There. She could feel it, but it was faint. Dangerously so.

She's alive.

Even as she made her conclusion, the blood that had been slowed, even frozen, began to thaw and run, welling up and beginning to stain the clothing around the terrifying wound that pierced through her chest. She gave herself a moment to intake a breath, then let it out, knowing that panicking or letting herself become overwhelmed wouldn't help anyone. Seeing as the Mizukage was still alive … despite the fact that Keiko herself felt not personal obligation to save her, the village needed it. And Keiko, for all her talk and actions, still had people she needed to keep safe. Without one of the greatest warriors of the village here to defeat the evil that was Seven Bells, keeping her loved ones safe was something that could never truly be secured. Right. So her main priority was the obvious injury that appeared to have gone right through the Mizukage's chest. It likely pierced a lung, from the angle that it entered. A closer inspection confirmed her suspicions, but what had caused such an injury was unclear to her. There was no form of shrapnel, so it likely wasn't a projectile weapon. A blade, enhanced with chakra, perhaps. But the wound was circular in shape, nothing like any standard weapon that she had come across. The area around it appeared inflamed, burned even, yet not destructively so, as normal katon attacks were. This was more concentrated.

Concentrating chakra into her hands, she hesitated, eyeing the wound once more. She had never operated on a wound of such a scale before. Even the times she had spent experimenting in the general hospital had been on patients with relatively minor injuries, where a simple technique at a chuunin level had been enough. This would be something new, something she lacked experience in. Whether it would succeed depending entirely on this so-called 'talent' that she apparently possessed, and perhaps a mix of luck and fate. First, the blood that was rapidly pooling through the puncture wound and filling up the lung had to be removed. The faint, irregular breaths that she could hear as she leaned her ear against the mask alerted her that already, breathing was becoming a laboured chore as the air supply - which she suspected had been provided by the mask during her time within the ice - fought for room in the remaining lung, the injured one leaving only limited room between the excess blood and the hole that allowed for the air within to escape. Placing her hands directly above the wound, a clear fluid-like form of chakra entering through the opening, travelling right to the lung, where it would proceed to collect the blood within. If she did it correctly, the blood would be enveloped in the clear fluid, clearing out the damaged lung as it made it's way back out. It was a technique used to remove toxins and other harmful substances from the body, but in this case, the Mizukage's blood itself was harmful, a danger to the lung that was already struggling to function properly.

Punctured lung … punctured lung … Shit, what did he say about punctured lungs? She should have paid more attention in that crash course the doctor she had been shadowing the other day on different injuries. But how could she have expected to end up in a situation like this? It was unthinkable. She had always expected to only be around minor wounds, and in events where major woulds were dealt, there would be other medical-nin on site to deal with it, and she herself would continue fighting. Always situations where there was another choice, where she didn't have to utilize her own skills and knowledge. Even if she did have the skills, her lack of knowledge in areas she hadn't bothered to learn would prove to be a problem. Like now. Collapsed lung … ! That was what she needed to avoid. If too much air escaped and the lung could no longer contract and relax normally, it would lead to a collapsed lung, in which the chances of repair would significantly decrease.

Once she managed to draw out as much blood as she could, she would immediately begin to apply direct medical treatment to the Mizukage, keeping her hands hovered over her chest, as close to the wound as possible. The technique itself, if performed correctly, would serve to treat all other injuries of the body as well, but the closer it was to the one that could prove fatal, the better. Come on … don't fail me now. Talented or not, failure at this point, failing to save the person before her, would be a blow to her pride. Perhaps even shaking her confidence. The initial burst of chakra seemed effective as the blood flow began to slow, but within moments it picked up again, a sight that made Keiko's own heartbeat quicken. "No. Stop. Stop bleeding, damn it …" She couldn't help the desperate words that slipped out. It was the sense of failure that she couldn't bear. The moment she had decided she would take it upon herself to heal this person, she was no longer able to accept failure. Continuing to channel a steady flow of chakra through her hands and into the Mizukage's body, it would begin to slowly heal the finer details, closing up the minute tears in the lung, repairing the delicate organ to allow for easier breathing.


Chakra: 250/300:




Training: Advanced Recovery Method
1800/1800

Training: Delicate Illness Extraction Technique
900/900

Training: Chakra Scalpel
305/1800

Ayakashi

Ayakashi


S-rank
Aya could feel her body coming to, she felt wet, and the darkness was beginning to choke her from the inside, which was not a good thing, within her mind she could feel the shadow around her coiling around her throat and pressing against her, stopping her from breathing, though the light above her began to shine brighter and brighter, pronouncing the shadow around her more and more. A warm sensation could be felt over her body, there was something, something coming, something calling louder and louder for her to come to, to rest, and be well, but, Aya could not trust it yet, she was battling within herself to stay alive, her strength was focused purely on her will to breathe and live, everything else to her right now, was an enemy, attempting to drag her into the afterlife...

Translated into the real world, the blood which was leaking into the lung even after extraction, was making it hard to breath, though the would was almost perfectly cauterized, the leak was still dripping enough which could cause the Mizukage to dry-drown. Though as the healing energy began to encircle her, her chances for survival triples within the first second, the breaches in the wall of her lungs closed as did the surface wounds up to 4" deep from both sides of her body, more than enough to close up the ruptured skin on either side, stemming a lot of the blood flow which was entering the lung in the first place, even with the Mizukage beginning to cough as she drew closer and closer to consciousness. Though, her mind was still in the fight...

There was little time in Aya's mind to be able to take advantage of people thinking she was dead, what had seemed like only moments of sleep was in fact almost 10 hours after the battle between her and Seven Bells had ended, long enough for no opportunity to be taken at all. Aya could hardly feel her legs still, and though she had been pried from the ice she had not been moved from it, the chilling cold not effecting her mind or her body functions in the slightest, but it did make her cold as ice to the touch. Her pale alabaster skin hardly visible to see, but even her scars were beginning to fade due to the healing which was washing over her, it was clear that the Mizugake often wore her scars with pride, rather than seeking full medical ninja attention which would have cleared them almost entirely within a single visit.

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
It was working. Slowly but surely, the visible signs of damage that littered the Mizukage's body were repairing with the aid of the medical chakra being channelled throughout her body, much to Keiko's satisfaction. No matter what reserves she had about medical ninjutsu, seeing positive results always served to provide an immense sense of achievement. It appeared her patient had yet to fully regain conscious, but she could only wait. Only time could tell whether this little operation was truly a success. If there was any severe brain trauma, then she wasn't sure how much her healing technique would be able to help with that.

She was starting to feel warm - uncomfortably so, the amount of effort she was putting into channelling the correct amount of chakra taking a toll on her own body. Temperature wise, it was likely only slightly above normal, but for the Aisu, it was past her comfort zone. Not that she was going to let it stop her. Her stubbornness - that iron will that nearly always made things go her way - wouldn't allow her to simply give up. "Come on, Mizukage-sama. The village still needs you, everyone's still fighting." She muttered under her breath, chakra still swirling out of her body, coursing through her palms. It was as though she was hoping her words would truly reach the Mizukage, words that would hopefully aid in reviving her both physically and mentally. She let her mind drift, concentrating solely on healing the person before her, knowing that the more tired she was, the more a simple break in concentration would cut off the chakra flow.

It was a cough that made her start, gaze moving to the Mizukage's face, still shielded by the mask. Coughing, that was both a good and a bad sign. The fact that she was coughing meant her body was helping to fight off any remaining fluids left in the lung, but it also increased the chances of tearing open the rapidly healing injury. Catching the right corner of her bottom lip between her teeth, she chewed at it lightly as she continued the healing process, gaze moving between the injury and the woman's face, willing the other to regain consciousness. She wasn't going to last much longer with this technique, she knew that much. The immense amount of chakra control required was exhausting, and even if she attempted to maintain the technique for any longer, it wouldn't yield much positive results. And then there was the question of how she would transport the Mizukage back to the village if she remained unconscious - while avoiding any potential enemies still lurking about. That was going to be trouble, she had no access to any form of communication with those within the village. Ha … Looks like I ended up getting much too involved. But at this point, she wasn't going to turn away anyone. She had made it her business, and leaving work unfinished was something she wouldn't allow herself to do.

Please wake up … please let her wake up. Just being fully conscious would mean awaking all the voluntary bodily responses required for further improvement. And then there was the question of whether the Mizukage would be in a functioning mental state. There was no telling what damages she had suffered, and suffering a near fatal injury couldn't be good for the mind. But then again, this was their Mizukage she was dealing with. I suppose in this case, I'm allowed to keep my expectations higher.


Chakra: 250/300:



Training: Chakra Scalpel
902/1800

Ayakashi

Ayakashi


S-rank
The light finally drew closer and closer, before the luminous power grew brighter and brighter. The strands of shadow which clutched at her throat gave way, before disintegrating under the intensity of the healing technique. Everything became luminous for a moment, and Aya closed her eyes within her mind, part of her felt like she had slipped away into the world of death, euphoria, the afterlife, but it wasn't until a tightness came to her chest in this form that she looked down and clutched at her chest in a rather unprecedented on-set of pain. Looking down in disbelief, her senses folded from her dream and having closed her eyes in one world, they opened to another. The Mizukage's wound had finally closed completely, and she clutched where her lung would be as she attempted to purge the fluid from her flooded lung, coughing and hacking as she controlled herself for a moment, breathing in slowly and fighting the reaction to cough, she filled her lungs, stretching them, readying a single cough.

Beathing out sharply with a cough she hit herself hard in the diaphragm to compress her lung hard from the bottom, and with a single forceful technique, she hacked up a small mouthful of blood, removing her mouth and leaning to a side to spit it out. Gasping for air afterwards and lying down on her back. Throwing her mask to the side, revealing her long, sapphire blue hair, flowing backward like crystal fire. With each breath she breathed in and out relief, life, and thanks to the world for herself living. As her eyesight began to once again focus in on the world. Looking around and realizing slowly but surely she was far from the battlefield that she was in before. And that it had probably been some time, by the positioning of the sun above the canopy.

There was no shame in loosing, but, as she drew her hands over herself, it seemed that the chakra wound which had crippled her in the fight was also no longer a function of her body, the damage to her chakra system had been healed as well as the healing to her body. She should have seen better medical treatment for it before the battle, though, the jounin ranked healers could not be spared from far more near lethal patients than herself. But for now, she was alive, and very much so. Looking to and fro, and finally looking down to see the ninja which had managed to breathe new life into her. Smiling softly, Solstice with all of her strength managed to sit up.

"I knew promoting you was a good idea... Thank you for proving me right on that one... " She sighed, and held out a hand to ask to be helped up, she needed to see if she could stand, though, without the normal sum of air running through her veins, which was only now beginning to come right, a lot of her muscles were oxygen starved, and weak from the event, the healing technique repaired any damage caused by it, but they were still not quite in working operation. Full recovery would take hours of rest, though hopefully not days... Should she be helped up, Aya would stand, and stretch to the sky, looking down at the refracted wound which had been dealt through Tobirama's armour, though the armour had no hole in it, the heat had transferred through her as if it was not even there. Which was interesting to her to say the least... Looking to Keiko, her mind moved to the village, to Tenmei, and judging by the look on her face, keiko probably seemed more shocked that she was alive than that she had been found dead. Which made her think of Tenmei...

Solstice hoped her dear friend and sister was okay, there was no telling what kind of pain she had gone through should some-one have told her the Mizukage had fallen in combat. But one thing was for sure, Solstice had a lot to make up to her for...

"So, Keiko, What's happened in the time i have been gone for? I need you to tell me where we are, and what is happening right now. "

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
The timing was impeccable. It was becoming apparent that she wasn't going to be able to hold out the technique for any longer, and a quick scan of the Mizukage's body - whatever that wasn't covered up - suggested that the technique had generally done as much as was possible, with all things considered. Fresh blood was nowhere in sight, and a close inspection of the lung punctured didn't reveal anything; the skin had closed up, almost as if nothing had ever happened in the first place. And just as Keiko had come to the conclusion that cancelling the technique was the only thing left for her to do, a hand lifted up to the other woman's chest, clutching at it as she coughed in a manner that could only be described as painful, the hacking sounds gurgling with a mix of fluid as the Mizukage began her self-attempt to clear out whatever remained in her lung. Startled, Keiko moved from her kneeling position to a squad, balancing on the balls of her feet as Ayakashi shifted to one side, finally removing the last of the fluids by spitting it out. It was a relief to see her do so, to say the least. But as the woman returned to her original position - laying flat on her back - Keiko leaned forward, concerned at whether the sudden movement had caused any further injuries. But it appeared to simply be a case of fatigue, the still-conscious woman finally removing the mask and letting her hair tumble out in waves around her.

So … it was a success. That overwhelmingly tense situation that had lasted only a handful of moments was over - a success. Of course, that wasn't to say that everything was okay now - it only meant that they had bypassed the fatal wounds that would have ended in the death of one of the most key players in the crisis they faced. She found herself meeting the kage's eyes, her own lilac gaze still a still picture of awe to see the person who had been laying so motionlessly several moments ago looking back at her. This was the Mizukage, alive with life in her eyes. Not the stranger encased in an ice coffin. As the Mizukage moved into a sitting position, Keiko wanted to protest the movements, but restrained herself, knowing that this wasn't the time nor the place to tell the other to simply lie down and rest. She moved to stand upright, her legs beginning to go numb from squatting.

"I knew promoting you was a good idea... Thank you for proving me right on that one... " Not really the words she wanted to hear. Was she not proving herself worthy even upon being promoted? It was a daunting thought, one that made her more irritated than worried. But pushing the thoughts away, keeping her face passively neutral, she nodded her head once in acknowledgement of the words. "Welcome back, Mizukage-sama." Taking the hand that was being held up to her, Keiko leaned backwards, placing weight on her heels to help pull the other to her feet. Keiko was considerably shorter than the woman before her, and upon letting go, she took a step back, placing a minuscular distance between them, feeling rather unused to standing so near the Mizukage. Even in the brief moments where she met with the Mizukage for mission debriefs or the recent promotion, the other had generally been behind a desk, or at least a couple meters away. For a moment, she was uncertain about what she should do. Escort her back to the village? She certainly hoped the Mizukage didn't simply decide to head straight towards the enemy again - Keiko may have been able to save her from death now, but she was uncertain whether she would be able to do it again in a day.

"So, Keiko, What's happened in the time i have been gone for? I need you to tell me where we are, and what is happening right now." She started at the words, not having realized that she had lost herself in her thoughts. Brows furrowing, she replayed the question in her head. What had happened … To be really honest, Keiko herself had heard few details on the Mizukage's death - or disappearance. It had been a surprise to find her floating down the river, even more of a surprise to find her only in a half-dead state.  But she did recall when word started floating around about the Mizukage's fight with Seven Bells, and it had been approximately a day since then. "Uhm … Well, you've probably been gone for nearly a day, not quite a full twenty four hours yet. We're still in Mizu no Kuni, but away from the village, downriver. As for the situation, I think it's best if you heard it from the Twins. It shouldn't take long to return to the village but …" Here, she paused, gaze flickering to Ayakashi's face. "Are you sure you're able to walk the distance? Your wounds may be healed, but the damage you sustained was severe, you need to conserve your energy." Even if they managed to walk back, she hoped the Mizukage had no plans to leap right into the fight. Several days worth of rest was recommended, but she knew that much was not possible. But even if a few hours of rest could be achieved …

"Would you mind … if I gave you a lift? I mean, you'd still have to walk, but more distance will be covered, and you'll have time to recover." She asked the question carefully while taking a step to the side, her foot never actually hitting the ground as a sheet of ice formed in the area where she had been about to step. Her other foot followed, and she was standing on a sheet of ice, awaiting the Mizukage's response. It would likely be slower than the speed the Mizukage could move at, and Keiko was ready for a refusal, but it didn't hurt to offer, especially given that she wasn't ready to see someone she had spent so much effort on to simply collapse again in the next moments. Should the Mizukage refuse, she would wait there for the next set of instructions, but should she accept, Keiko would expand the ice to allow for the second passenger, requiring the other to move in sync with her to keep up with the small platform of ice.

Chakra:




Training: Chakra Scalpel
1800/1800

Training Med. Ninjutsu A>S
204/4000



Last edited by Keiko on Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:19 am; edited 1 time in total

Ayakashi

Ayakashi


S-rank
Aya looked up at her, and thought to herself about the repercussions about going back to the village, people would see her, hear her, word would spread through the roots of the enemy spies which were no doubt still within their ranks, and to Aya, that simply sounded like a waste of a strategic opportunity. The country was strong enough to wait for her return, they needed to take their own vengeance and she would not be the one to get in the way of that, though, there was a way to take this which could lead to the victory of the country. She had to use the enemy's knowledge of her death to their advantage, she needed to find a way that she could inspire the world...

But for now, that inspiration came from her demise... with her lying in the shadows...

Aya's eyes moved to her mask, remembering the words from which she claimed to live, that monsters can be slain, but, it seemed to come to her now that everything can be slain, but, sometimes the person holding the sword is more important than the vanquisher of evil, or even the evil itself. It came down to the will of the people around them, they needed  to hold the swords for once, rather than the leader. Solstice needed to make the people stronger, and incite them into power rather than herself taking to the head of every conflict and performing for them at every turn.

"No..."

The Mizukage spoke lightly, but with the weight of her country on her weak shoulders, standing, but still deep in thought. She had declined the offer, but there was more which needed to be done, and a greater task than healing the Mizukage which she was to entrust in her friend.


"I can't go back with you, that being said, I can't go back, not yet, the people need to learn that they are strong without me, they have the swordsman now, and with them at their side, the people will be able to overcome this foe. When they can see they are able to stand on their own two feet, I will come back. But, until then, you are to tell NO-ONE that I am alive... Not a soul. But, i shall reveal myself in time... "

She spoke heavily, with a low and weighted voice. This decision was not easy for her, in fact it was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do in her life. Her mind moved to Tenmei, to the pain she would be causing her sister, tears welling up in her eyes as she felt like she was betraying her trust. She couldn't let anyone know, she new that Tenmei could be trusted with the secret, but the walls could not be... Solstice only hoped that she would understand the decisions she had to make for the good of her nation. Sighing, she looked back to Keiko, there was the sting of regret burning into her heart, as this was the hardest decision she had ever had to make as Kage, and she would understand if Tenmei hated her for it, creating a scar that would never heal.

"That's an order from your Kage."

She finalised. Before pulling her cloak around her, and once again placing on her mask. Aya's colossal strength was beginning to return to her quickly, she would be back into the fight soon, but without the pain coursing through her body, she felt like she had been remade, reborn. Aya's mind hardened a little more, and she remembered that her duty to the City was not to be the Mizukage she wanted to be, but the one the city needed her to be... So she put away childish notions, and moved forward to planning her attack.

[exit thread]

[total thread count 2582]

Reaction time S-3 -> SS

2582/2500



Last edited by Ayakashi on Sun Feb 14, 2016 3:06 pm; edited 3 times in total

Keiko

Keiko


D-rank
Of course it was a no. Would it really kill people just to rest when they're injured? Was it not common sense that pushing yourself while in a physically weak state would help no one?

"I can't go back with you, that being said, I can't go back, not yet, the people need to learn that they are strong without me, they have the swordsman now, and with them at their side, the people will be able to overcome this foe. When they can see they are able to stand on their own two feet, I will come back. But, until then, you are to tell NO-ONE that I am alive... Not a soul. But, i shall reveal myself in time… "

The logic didn't quite add up, if Keiko was allowed to be honest. The war they were in was certainly not the time to put the village under this courage test, not a time for everyone to learn to 'stand on their own two feet'. That could wait for future drills, for other situations that wasn't quite as dangerous as the one they were in. So what, while everyone was struggling to realize their own power, they would let countless of ordinary civilians die? But she wasn't going to voice her opinions aloud. Not yet, not now. The Mizukage's tone was weighed down with the burden she carried, and part of Keiko knew that there had to be more to it than what she could see - what she was allowed to see. Perhaps a plan of sorts that would make itself apparent at a later time. For now, if their own kage believed in the village to hold it's own, then she herself - as a kunoichi of Kirigakure - would have no other choice but to believe in it too. The fact that she was to keep everything a secret slightly unnerved her. Would it not be wise to let the higher ups know that their kage was still alive? What about the Twins? Surely the two members closest to the Mizukage should be allowed to know of their leader's situation, if they didn't already know.

Just have to have faith, I suppose. But faith was hard to come by. Even if the shinobi of Kirigakure had faith, it was hard to convince the civilians. The innocent people who had believed the village to be impenetrable, to be safe. But if they truly did have a chance at winning this war, this may change. It really was a challenge that the village had to overcome. With the lack of constant shinobi wars, everyone moved separately - in squads, but never as a whole village. In a twisted sense, it brought the village together - even allies from other villages had shown up to provide assistance.
"That's an order from your Kage." Well, that just about sealed it. Keiko dipped her head in response, beginning to move herself back towards the village, each step an easy glide. Glancing over her shoulder, at the proud woman that stood in place of the lifeless body she had originally found, she offered only a few words. "Stay well, Mizukage-sama. You're still needed." She could only hope that the medical treatment she had provided would be enough. It had healed most of the wounds - and most importantly, the one which would have otherwise been fatal - but it didn't prepare the kage for further injuries. Even so … For once, she had a moment to be proud of the healing powers that she wielded, a moment to be just slightly appreciative that she possessed a talent for medical ninjutsu.

For once … she could admit that maybe fate wasn't all that random, and maybe she herself played a part in making up who she was. Ha … cheesy words. Time for her to head home, back towards the village. Training would have to wait. Long magenta hair blew slightly in the breeze as she moved, no longer taking the time to turn back and see whether the Mizukage would still remain standing in the same location.

-Exit Thread-



Training Med. Ninjutsu A>S
895/4000

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