Stumbling along the ally way he would pause to catch his breath, resting his forearm against the cool brick wall. With his mouth agape, he would lean forwards spitting out a mixture of blood and saliva as a wave of nausea washed over him. As his form shifted into a crouch his jacket that was tied around his waist would crumple against the ground in the process. His elbows would rest against his knees allowing his forearms and hands to dangle. He would remain in the same position for a few moments, attempting to blink against the blood that had found it’s way into his eyes. Jou would let out a frustrated groan before reaching back over his shoulder to tug at the first layer of his t-shirts, pulling one over his head and off in one swift movement, only causing the shirt below to ruffle up. Already streaked with his own blood and that of others he would wipe the blood from his eyes before scrunching the shirt up to press against his head. After a few minutes he would raise from his crouch taking a slow walk from the ally way and out into the square. He would remove the shirt from his head as he felt streaks of blood travel down to his elbow, either he had pressed too hard was squeezing the blood from his shirt in the process or he had gushed enough to soak the garment toughly. Still clutching the shirt, he would continue towards the water fountain in the middle of the square, a scowl set in his pointed features.

Trickles of scarlet liquid would cut trails over his right brow, streaking now, sluggishly over his cheek. His usually milky pale flesh discoloured and swollen in places, the contrast of blues and purples and the occasional greenish yellow against such a pasty pallor could easily be shocking. This time around the worst of the bruising, taking up the space of his temple along onto his cheekbone and up onto the section of his forehead and eye brow. Amidst the bruising, swollen and still bleeding, sat a gash around an inch and a half long, gaping open at around half an inch.  Though the bleeding had slowed he amount lost was enough to have him sway occasionally. Droplets having had stained through a few layers of his clothing and saturated the shirt he had been pressing against the wound to stem the bleeding, to no avail it would seem.

Reaching the water fountain, he would place his hands against the side before leaning over to look at his reflection. Attempting to look and access the damage caused this time around only for a droplet of blood to drip to the surface of the water distorting the image of his face. In a small fit of rage, he would through the saturated t-shirt at the ground before booting the small wall that surrounded the fountain. Pain would zigzag its way up to his knee from his foot, immediately his foot would raise as his hand shifted to meet it. His fingers would curl around his boot gripping tightly as he hopped slightly as he started to lose his balance again. Shifting to a crouch again, still clutching his foot, a string of profanities would spill from his lips followed closely by a deep breath and a sigh as he attempted to control his temper. He would after a moment shift to settle his rump on the wall before twisting his body and leaning to dip his hands into the water to rinse the blood from his face, wincing as his fingers brushed over the open wound.

---

wc: 614

Hyde had the day away from the clinic for the moment. He was going to spend the day off admiring the two weapons just waiting on payment a little more but he was as of yet unsure if the shop owner was available yet. It was earlier than he wanted to get up but he was simply interested in what he wanted to do that morning. He of course still had the clinics bag on him in case of any emergencies for his level but beyond that he was not really looking for reasons to work. Who really did want to do anything when it came to having a day off? However he wasn't one for just sitting around either. He could of course read the latest medical journal but they stopped writing interesting advancements years ago. Now it was just old people arguing over the ethics of older medical treatments still in use today and if they should be discontinued. Personally he didn't much care about the use of silk in field combat sutures. All these doctors and few of them had ever actually been in the heat of it. They could talk all they wanted. Until it was something new he could learn it was all just white noise on paper.

For now Hyde rose from his bed. His apartment was rather empty for all its space. In his closet was a set of matching suits. A single well maintained bed roll on the floor with an alarm clock and a watch next to it. Shined shoes and shoe polish by the door. A single towel with a conditioner/body wash in the shower. One bowl, one plate, one cup, one mug, one fork and one spoon sat on the counter in rows all washed out and dried. A simplistic collection of ramens varying in every flavor was stored and labeled in his cupboard. On the hook by the door was his suit coat, his house keys, his ninja tools pouch and his doctors bag. A single umbrella was in a bucket on the other side of the door. To put it simply Hyde was a man who lived with purpose and each thing around him held purpose. Though to anyone looking at him they would think him but a child. A cursed part of his lineage he supposed. How the Hinode aged slower than those around them. On the other hand once he did have the appearance of a young adult he would likely look that way for the next forty years or so. So a bonus.

Still young Hyde would rise from his bed. Child though he appeared he was a fully functional adult. His time off from work was limited especially as a medical professional. So rising to do his daily things was still needed. He would dress in black slacks with a tucked in white shirt and black socks. Fingers running through his long dark hair to keep any mess away. He would slip on his vest next, dark in color. Finally he would move to the door. Satisfied with his appearance he would calmly collect his things. Including the doctors bag for a just in case. Slipping out his apartment door with hardly a sound since waking up. Locking it behind him and making his way downtown. He hadn't been out of the apartment long when his short strides came across a young man. He stood out for the sole purpose that he had obviously been beaten at some point. However he was bleeding into the local fountain. How unsightly. Still Hyde would frown before taking a breath and forcing himself forward. Stopping nearby with both hands holding the doctors bag out before him. In all appearance he was a silver eyed kid around the age of ten. However his words made the appearance seem unusual.

"I noticed you were bleeding. Would you like to keep digging at it like a neanderthal or would you like to let a professional take a look?"

673

‘Neanderthal…’ his irritation at his current situation would shift with surprising ease to the voice the openly insulted him. He would straighten up to his full height, the scowl returning to his pointed features as he turned to face the owner of the voice, his own voice echoing his irritation, “ who the fuck d’ya think ya calling a neand- “though half way through his sentence he would com up short as his pale yellow gaze dropped a few inches lower than his expectations stopping on for a lack of a better term, a doe eyed child holding up a medical bag. For a split-second confusion would cross his features melting away the scowl only for it to be placed up again, had he been able to, his brow would have arched yet the attempt at such an action only caused more grief as the pain caused his eye to twitch. ‘its just a bloody kid.’  His gaze would flicker from the kid’s facial features to the medical bag held up, the two just didn’t seem to fit together.

His world would seem to spin causing one hand to shoot straight up to cup over the wound before setting his rump back down on the wall of the fountain. ‘I can’t go back to a hospital and sissy can’t stitch me up again… if it would just stop bleeding…’ the internal struggle would play out on his visible features until the tell tail signs of giving up set in. a sigh would slip from between his lips, ‘he can’t be as bad as sissy with a needle and thread.’ A single yellow orb would flicker up to rest on the kid again as he lent forwards resting the elbow of his free arm against his knee. Struggling with his pride as it attempted to raise its ugly head, but he held very, very few options in his hands.

His right brow would arch as he sat up a little straighter, the other remaining fixed in his one-eyed gaze, “I wasn’t digging at it, I was applying pressure…” he would indicate with his free hand to the soaked shirt that lay sprawled on the ground, “that’s what your supposed to do aint’ it?”

Pain rippled from the wound to the back of his head as a tension head ache began to for over the bridge of his nose and behind his eyes, the entire left side of his face aching and swollen. He would lower his hand allowing the extent of the damage to be observed from the evidence of recent stitches burst open right down to the blood shot orb contrasting against the yellow of his iris. He would inhale deeply as he shook the blood from his hand, becoming fidgety and uncomfortable, “so doc’, whatcha think?” though the boy before him hadn’t stated he were this ‘professional’ he would simply assume that this kid meant himself as there were few people about at this time and he couldn’t see the, in his eyes, youngster assisting him off to some hospital. Yet the feeling of stupidity began to seep into his thoughts as he cast his gaze about the area, still somewhat empty.

---

WC:544.
TWC:1158.

Hyde would watch with impatience marking his features. It was mildly irritating. He would watch as the young man looked right over his head expecting such words to come from someone looking for a beating. Indicating that whatever had caused the damage to begin with was likely from a short temper. Still the man would cut himself off mid sentence as he noted he was staring at air. Picking up quickly that Hyde was well below eye level. It would cause a slight eye twitch from Hyde for a moment but he would let it pass. It was honestly a common reaction. Still the man would be caught off guard by Hyde's demeanor. Something he often used in combat to his advantage but as a licensed doctor it was more of a drawback. Still he would wait for the man to catch up to the situation. Still it only seemed to be a passing phase as he nearly swooned from some blood loss in front of him. Cupping the wound once more before sitting down. He explained that he was applying pressure to the wound and Hyde could only sight as he spoke. Stepping forward to place the bag up on the side of the fountain.

"Applying pressure is only used to temporarily stabilize bleeding wounds. At least until further medical procedure can be done to it. Your idea to clean it wasn't bad either but using a public fountain is asking for infection."

The man would settle and sit before allowing Hyde to provide medical attention. At least to the extent of being able to examine the wound. With a slightly rough grip that defied the idea of him being a child, easily the strength of an adult, Hyde would grab Jou's chin and slightly shift his face back and forth slowly. Examining the wound before using his other hand to open the bag as he was asked for his assessment. Hyde would glance up to those yellow eyes for a moment before back to the wound. "I think you lost a fight with something tougher than your forehead. I don't mind stitching this up but you will need to let it heal for about a week on light activity. Any aggravation to it will simply open up your stitches. Now get your balls ready, your going to need it cause this bit will sting." With that Hyde would take his hand away from the mans chin. Collecting a bottle of proxide from the bag. Opening the white cap on the black bottle and filling the cap before shifting it and dousing the wound in it. The wound would sizzle a moment and foam as any infection would be fought off. With that he would take a clean cotton swab, douse it in proxide as well and clean the wound tenderly. Finally he would set that all down. Dousing his hands in proxide before collecting a small bit of glue from the bag. He would smudge it on his finger and carefully rub it into the wound. Aware it was a painful process. However the glue would stem the bleeding. With that he would wash the glue off his hand in the fountain before examining the wound again. Looking it over as the bleeding was stemmed for the moment. The swelling was intense but it would do for the time being. He would step back and look through his bag as if preparing for the next step.

"I have provided a temporary patch, alternatively I can apply stitches to allow it a better chance to heal and apply a bandage over it. Of course that is if you intend to let it heal."

1291

He would shift over a touch allowing more space for the bag to be placed down, yet his attention would reside with the young doctor. His hand would raise again, simply to rest the side of his index finger against his eye lid, his other digits curling to his palm, showing more evidence of his crass fights along his knuckles. He would press his finger lightly against the swelling to keep the eye open and divert the small stream of blood that threatened to hinder his sight.  “I’ll have to keep both in mind for next time then.” A mere mutter rather than an actual voice thought. As Hyde took hold of his chin his hand, through natural reaction would flicker from his eye pausing for just a moment millimetres from grasping Hyde’s wrist, only to drop the limb into his lap.  As though used to a rough touch and having his wounds examined he would allow Hyde to tilt his head from one angle to another, his yellow gaze only shifting from the child like features to watch his actions and back again.  “A decent pay day is worth a bit of blood. But if they see your already hurt, thats what they'll aim for. Hope for a quick win.” The brow of his unbruised side would arch at the language used by the other, not just a little shocked to say the least.  

His lips would part to speak only for him to bite down on his bottom lip feeling the liquid seep into the wound causing his brow to crease and a grunt to raise in his throat. “Fuck,” his voice would push through a choked breath and gritted teeth. His eye would roll slightly as they opened now fixing his gaze on the others eye’s, this time he would be ready, determined to reman still as the wound were cleaned.  His teeth would remain gritted throughout the process, a cold sweat coating his visible alabaster skin. His lips parting slightly to inhale shallow breaths.  

Once the other stepped away to clean his hands in the fountain Jou would lean the opposite way, placing his right hand to the underside of his eyes wiping away the mixture of sweat and tears that had leaked from him, from the initial sizzle. “Fuck that shit stings.” His tone however had become quite light in comparison to previously.  

His gaze would flicker to the cobbles of the ground away from the other, “I always intend to let things heal... I...” His gaze would flicker to his jacket pocket or a moment as though working something out, math by the way his lips moved silently before looking back to the young doctor. “A week, right? Just a week.” He would give a short sigh as his brows knitted together once again only for it to smoothen almost instantly as the sensation of tightness reminded him further of the swelling. “I can do a week.”  though it almost sounded, by the tone of his voice, that he were telling himself that more than Hyde.

---

WC:516.
TWC:1674.

Hyde would listen a moment before adjusting his stance on the subject. So this kid was just scraping by like him. The difference was he wasn't supplementing his income with another skill set. Of course Hyde had from birth had access to medical text books and had been encouraged to learn from them. Perhaps his life was just easier for him without having to rely entirely on his fighting skills as a Shinobi. He had been putting it off for some time now and avoiding the use of the shinobi arts. He hadn't realized it though. Perhaps it was his low chakra pool or perhaps he just didn't have the confidence. Thinking on it, he had the funds to go out and buy the weapons he wanted. Rent could be re-earned with just two simple C rank missions. He was simply putting off. Because he was pursuing his medical career? They wouldn't begin to take him seriously for years yet. Not until he appeared to be older at least. Sadly that meant years of waiting. He would be almost forty before they considered him an adult in appearance. It was too long of a wait. He needed to progress now. Fight like this kid did.

He would finish with the glue and cleaning his hands before collecting the stitch work. Threading the sewing thread through the needle and pulling it tight before dousing it in the substance as well. With that done Hyde would return to the task at hand. Using one hand to pull the gash closed by pinching it all the while using the other to slowly and carefully thread the needle in and out. The swelling was making it difficult but he wasn't pulling it tight yet. Instead he would finish the stitch work and listen as the guy spoke about lasting a week without bringing harm to it. Doubt ringing painfully clear in his tone. Hyde would give a slight snort a moment as he focused on his work. He supposed he could cut that time down considerably. It was a deep gash but even as a genin he had some skill. For a Hinode such a wound was a few minutes of waiting but for others it was longer. Still he would dip idly into his chakra pool as a green glow would flow into the hand pinching the wound closed. Rapidly the swelling would reduce and as it did he would pull the stitches tight. The wound closing mostly into just a partially healed scab. With that he would tie off the stitch work and snap the string.

"I have done what I can for the time being. If your finding your missions challenging perhaps its time to consider some back up. I myself will be applying for a C rank mission tomorrow at one p.m. If you wish to join me feel free. But keep in mind to mind the wound. I don't want to fix it again."

With that Hyde would grab a large square bandage and some surgical tape. Applying the bandage over the wound before Taping it on in four ways along the border. Making sure the patch would hold. The tape was designed to begin falling off in two days when it would be time to change the bandage. With that done Hyde would pull up a flashlight and begin to lift it up. Turning it on and running the light back and forth in front of the kids eyes as he spoke. "Follow the light with your eyes. Good, now stare straight ahead and don't follow...good. Seem's like your fit enough. Whats your name?"

1908

As he watched the young doctors body language shift, struggling to keep his brows from knitting together against he would opt to look at the cobles of the ground again, gods did he feel weak... Vulnerable and pathetic.  His chest would raise and fall as he struggled with his own self-loathing. It would seem he couldn’t even take care of himself, such was left to a youngster that owed him nothing. Yet as Hyde stepped before him once again he would still up straighter once again, his hands would move to rest against his knees gripping lightly at first only to tighten as the needle pierced his flesh. Biting back against a whimper, his eyes watering again to the point he feared he would make even more of a fool of himself, a foolish fear yet his pride dictated this. His eyes would close in an attempt to keep some of his pride intact, his grip creasing his trousers further, crumpling the soft fabric against the palms of his callous hands.  

Only when the green glow illuminated against the lids of his eyes did they open, setting on odd shade against his yellow hues. His features reflecting his initial shock right to the point that his grip would loosen.  As the other reached into the bag again he would take the opportunity to twist his upper body to peer at his reflection again, his hand raising to gingerly stroke along the lid of his eye closest to the wound, already far better than it had been or would have been even days from now. Yet snapped from the admiration of the others work by his words he would turn to face the other.  

Was he actually offering on letting him tag along on a mission? After witnessing the state he had got himself into? How-ever for the time being he would keep it to himself that it wasn’t a mission that had beat the day lights out of him again, and he could do with keeping his funds up regardless. Shinobi missions and kitchen works would do for the next week. It could only be classed as a bonus that it was a medic inviting him along.  “Thanks... “  

His eye would close as the other applied the patch before following Hyde’s instruction. Continuing to speak as the other finished up his work, “Looks like I’ll be seeing you again tomorrow at thirteen hundred hours.”  with that he would stand, the simple action taking a bit more effort than he would have liked to admit. Maybe the wound had been worse than he had thought? Turns out luck had been on his side for the young doctor to happen upon him and offer help, something he wouldn’t soon forget. A debt he intended to repay... somehow. An oddity would find its way along his features in the form of a smile, drawing the right corner of his lips up, a rarity yet one that suited him changing his features from something harsh to that of which, butter wouldn’t melt. Drawing to his full height before outstretching his hand, “The names Miho, Jou.”  

---

WC: 529.
TWC: 2203.

Hyde would finish up before turning to put away his gear. The wound wasn't perfect but it would do well enough. Idly he would crack his knuckles and roll his neck as if feeling stiff after preforming such a simple task. Still he would glance at the blood stained shirt and then at the man. The fountain was barely affected at first glance but Hyde didn't see himself touching it for some time. Something about the purity of the water seemed tainted now. Still now that the young man was patched up the surrounding crowd seemed to have moved on. A simple glance around him told him that much though some were still looking at them. The other was looking at his reflection and for now Hyde would leave him be. Let him examine the work and poke at it. Not enough to do any real damage to it but enough to know it was less tender. With that he would grab some sanitizer and set about going over his hands with it thoroughly. Only once that was done would he close his bag and pick it up with his left hand. Turning to the other boy and glancing to him as he stood his full height and agreed.

The other boy used military time amusingly enough but Hyde understood. They were going on a mission together. Likely with him having a medic on his team that meant combat. He certainly would need his weapons for that. Of course this young man did not yet know what potential the youngling before him held. The fact that he was a hinode and could take on such challenges with far less worry over dying. Destined to one day become immortal by normal standards. Perhaps it would reveal itself in time. Aside from that, allies never really hurt so long as they acted as allies. His attention would be drawn to an outstretched hand and an introduction. “The names Miho, Jou.” Well that was simple enough. Still Hyde would glance at it. He had just sanitized his hands but there was these blood stained hands looking to touch them again. He would sigh as if defeated by the prospect and reach out his hand to grasp this Jou's. Feeling a little defeated by the need to resanitize. Still he would speak up in a monotone voice. The same as he had done for a long long time in the clinic.

"Dr. Hinode Hyde. See you tomorrow. Don't be late."

With that he would release the kids hand and turn. Walking along his path to go back to what he had intended to do today. Waiting till he had rounded a corner to begin to gather the bottle to sanitize his hands again. Rubbing them vigorously as he walked. Jeeze this place was a pain. But now he needed to go outside the walls and collect the weapons he had spotted. It was a matter of time now. He would gain strength and be a better doctor for it.

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