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