old world blues. ( private flashback )

[Estilo]

I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

---

I didn't bother to even consider giving in to her demands. I was here for a reason, and I could not be swayed that easily. And... if I was going to fail at my endeavor regardless... at least I could say that I tried. Although, in the back of my mind, I absolutely knew that Blanche was not a lost cause. For a brief moment, I remembered the persona she had taken with me and Chaima when we had first met. Of course... that wasn't entirely who she was, or rather, had been. But I felt as though there was still some semblance there, of a Blanche standing strong against the tragedies of the world, a Blanche with hope. She was good at playing that persona, but only because she had once contained some of the very traits that it was composed of.

For now, however, I nearly couldn't stand being here. Watching her like this. It took all I had to continue trying, to continue fighting against it.

By the time she had issued her seal, two lightning clones bearing my visage had already materialized to each side of me- with one a meter to my left, and one a meter to my right. And, simultaneously, they each raised and pointed their right arms in her direction. The fingers composing their gloved right hands formed pointed "guns", as they grabbed the bottom of their forearms with their free left hands. I, however, took no such action. Instead, chakra steadily began to gather at the soles of my feet, my eyes of gleaming emerald focused on Blanche and her wind blade with a steely-gaze.

"Can you really go ahead with it?"

I calmly inquired, in regards to her supposed willingness to gut me open with her sharp wind razor. But when it came down to it... could she really carry out such a misdeed? Committing murder on the street, out of anger, was considerably different from killing in the throes of war. I think she knew that... but I had no idea whether she could really go through with such an act. I supposed that, if the world had truly changed her that much, she could. But I desperately needed to believe that such a thing was not the case.

My eyes hopelessly tried to connect with her own, trying to see past the veil of shadow that her long blonde hair casted, narrowing with intrigue. But to no avail. I wondered, what she was thinking. What she was feeling.

Then, without another second to waste, I sunk backwards into the darkness of the dimly lit boulevard behind me. Promptly, the two clones that had been at my side shifted inwards towards each other- filling the gap that I had created between them as they kept their pointed "gun" hands on Blanche. Using them as a distraction/cover, I flickered backwards, crossing the entirety of the boulevard in one swift movement. I stopped at the edge of the boulevard, caught within the "twilight" zone of shadow and light. Just behind me, the grand spectacle that was the Kami no Shima casino strip stood bright and luxurious. There I stood, gazing resolutely ahead, roughly fifteen meters away from Blanche then. My clones, however, remained.

They would keep their fingers pointed and, should Blanche attempt to attack with her razor wind, fire lightning from their fingertips in an attempt to slow her down. Whilst, I would issue yet another string of hand seals.

A storm slowly brewed overhead.

---

Techniques:

[/color], C, C, C
Type: Supplementary / Raiton Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Mid
Special: Up to one clone can be made at a time, plus one more each time retrained. Being elementally based, this clone can use any c-ranked or lower Raiton techniques the user knows. Can be relearned up to 4 times for a maximum of 5 clones created.
Description: With this technique, the Raiton user is able to call upon aid from a perfect copy of themselves. Comprised purely of lightning, this clone retains the user's movement speed and strength. While easily capable of being use for offensive means, the Raiton Bunshin also makes for an equally solid defense due to its ability to harness Raiton-based techniques.
Domain: Raiton. Karai Shin 'C'.

Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)
Rank: D.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: 0 - 10m.
Handseals: -
Chakra: Low.
Special: Despite popular belief, this is not an ability that allows an individual to teleport, or even move incomprehensibly fast. It simply combines high mobility with some disruption of visibility to conceal those movements. That in mind, if you can conceal your movement, it is common for this technique to allow very long-distance dashes before enemies may notice you.
Description: Shunshin no Jutsu is a basic ninjutsu technique used across the shinobi world by all, ranging from the most basic shinobi to the legends of lore. Considered is a high-speed movement technique - to an observer caught in the optical illusion, it appears as if the user has teleported. This allows the user to escape or attack suddenly, should they need to. However, while a high-speed movement, if used in broad daylight, one will still be quite visible and as such, easier to be defended against. In order to achieve maximum effect, the user must to combine it with a distraction.
Domain: Universal Ninjutsu.

Should Blanche Advance:

---

2 | 2 Clones Using:

Danpen Inazuma (Shooting Thunder)
Rank: C
Type: Raiton Ninjutsu
Range: 0 - 50 meters
Handseals: No
Chakra: Mid
Special: The range of the bolt is determined by user's 'Kirai Shin'.
Description: Meant more as a reactionary technique than a main avenue of offense, this jutsu allows the user to essentially shoot out small lightning bolts from a free hand to anyone within a small range. This requires no seals to conjure, and can be shot out from one’s appendage during the most heated of combat. The damage is light and the bolts shoot off in a relatively straight line, at rapid speeds.
Domain: Raiton. Karai Shin of equal rank.

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[Apple]

Having taken my own step via creating the sharp blade of wind in my hand, I now watched as he made his own mark, his seals forming two doppelgangers of himself who stood leeringly by each side, her arms stretched as if to prepare for whatever I was planning to do next. I had no such abilities; but even with the extra help of his clones.. I was sure that I could break down any defences which he had. I had.. survived. I couldn’t lose to his hand. I was more than that- more than him. Exhaling heavily, I could feel my mind slowly becoming pent up with such thoughts, becoming close to breaking point through the pressure that each and every idea placed on me, the pressure to do something reckless. It was almost like some kind of game, and even daring to stifle a laugh as I listened to him speak, an entertained look hitting my face for barely a moment or two, my head tipping upwards towards light that shrouded my back, allowing it to glisten clearly from my tear-stained face. However, such a look wasn’t long-lived, and it soon drastically changed to that of anger as my eyes locked back on to- nothing. By the time I looked back, I’d noticed he’d gone, sunk back in to the shadows where this had all begun, but the clones remained. A combination of adrenaline and rage pushed me forwards – and I couldn’t stop. Not for him.

And so, I prepared myself, chakra beginning to seep from my body as I prepared my self for the onslaught of several techniques that I had in mind. As I hungrily gazed the dark area before me for any sight of the man, I then charged onward between the clones, allowing another bout of chakra to sink to my feet – should the clones attack, my instantaneous method of regeneration would save myself, although the sting would be felt, although despite being human- it would take more than that to take me down, although the shock from the electricity penetrated my skin, causing each tiny hair to stand on end for a few moments as I bore through the minor pain. Having traversed what little distance separated us with my wind blade still held in my right hand for little to no cost, should the crimson-haired man be unlucky enough to be before me in my travel, my arm would instantly rise and grab him by his collar- or any similar clothing, the chakra I’d prepared now swimming vigorously through my hands, permitting me the boosted strength that medics alike myself boasted. Assuring that he was caught in my iron grasp, in one swift movement and with little to no effort on my own part, the man would soon find his feet removed from the ground below as I steadily raised him and raised him, the clothing undoubtedly becoming tight from my tight grasp on his clothing.

Pausing, I'd permit my own tear-stained, enraged eyes to meet with his own for only a single, sustained moment.



Then.. the whole world would blur before his very eyes.

Swinging him to my own left to gain momentum, I'd too turn, and then swing back in an equally fast manner, having picked up enough speed to then release my grasp on the man, the strength packed in my throw more than enough to send him flying through the air, and out of my sight. As the citizens and visitors of Kami no Shima watch, the playful lights of the city danced in the air, various neon mascots and names flashing and glistening through the dark night like blasphemous icons. With so much bad happening here, crime, prostitution, gambling, alcoholism, drugs- this place wasn't for saints, and despite Atlas's greatest attempts at drawing myself from this place, I had already become more than content living in its gutters, reliving the same routine each and every day. Even now my head pounded from what I'd drank last night, and to say the least, Atlas's heroic attitude wasn't making anything better. But.. It did make me think - If the afterlife was true and all that I'd heard in my darkest hours through the voice of reason.. was that a sign? What.. did they think about me? Were they embarassed? upset? angry? I was aware, to some extent, that I had destroyed everything, including myself. But I'd been too busy rolling in my own self-pity to think of anyone else. Looking over at where I'd thrown him, ..perhaps I was wrong.
However- should all have gone correctly and the Kumogakure shinobi having become aerial through my super-charged throw, he'd find himself directly thrown 15 meters up in to the air, undoubtedly hitting at least one of the gargantuan letters that hung several meters up, positioned on the rooftop of a nearby whitewashed 4-story building. If he didn't find a way to stop himself, glass would smash, and lights broken, drawing even more attention from below.

THE GOLDEN PALACE

[/i] places in town to stay overnight, or at least the one that promised you a good nights sleep safe without criminals walking the halls. I'd never stayed there myself, but I was sure that they wouldn't appreciate having their sign wrecked - but, at the same time, I didn't give a fuck. It was their problem now. Gazing up at where I'd thrown him, I'd prepare for whatever came next, chakra becoming active in my body. I shouted the following words almost desperately. I wasn't sure if it was simply me giving in and wanting him to show me that he'd survived after the attack by reacting back, or if I simply craved the fight- the blood that came with it. For the first time in a while, I felt so agonizingly conflicted.

"C-Come on! What are you waiting for?!
Fight back!"

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In'yu Shōmetsu (Yin Healing Wound Destruction) [Used if hit with lightning bolts]
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Defensive.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra: See special! X1 Mid with medic mastery.
Special: Chakra used for this technique is equal to the one being absorbed (without buffs/reductions used by the opponent!). User employs highest 'Shosen' rank in order to heal.
Description: By anticipating damage, the user is capable of filling an area with healing chakra before taking a hit; in other words, they can begin the healing process for a wound before actually receiving it. When the wound finally does occur, the advanced healing process rapidly regenerates the flesh of the wounded area, healing it before the eyes of the user and the opponent; this results in an almost instant-healing of wounds. The larger and more complex the wound is, however, the more chakra is needed to heal it.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu. Shousen no Jutsu.

Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)
Rank: D.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: 0 - 10m.
Handseals: -
Chakra: Low.
Special: Despite popular belief, this is not an ability that allows an individual to teleport, or even move incomprehensibly fast. It simply combines high mobility with some disruption of visibility to conceal those movements. That in mind, if you can conceal your movement, it is common for this technique to allow very long-distance dashes before enemies may notice you.
Description: Shunshin no Jutsu is a basic ninjutsu technique used across the shinobi world by all, ranging from the most basic shinobi to the legends of lore. Considered is a high-speed movement technique - to an observer caught in the optical illusion, it appears as if the user has teleported. This allows the user to escape or attack suddenly, should they need to. However, while a high-speed movement, if used in broad daylight, one will still be quite visible and as such, easier to be defended against. In order to achieve maximum effect, the user must to combine it with a distraction.
Domain: Universal Ninjutsu.

Katainigiri (Giant's Grip)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra/Stamina: D - Low, C - Mid, B - x2 Mid, A - High, S - x2 High. x1 Mid with medic mastery.
Special: Sending a sudden surge of chakra to one's hands, the Medic can produce a sudden bout of strength, capable of lifting objects much heavier than themselves over their head. Highest rank known establishes lifting capacity, as well as the distance the Medic may toss said objects.

D: Lifting capacity = Twice one's overall body-weight / 5 meter tossing range
C: x3 lifting capacity / 10 m tossing range
B: x6 lifting capacity / 15 m tossing range
A: x9 lifting capacity 20 m tossing range
S: x12 lifting capacity / 25 m tossing range

Description: With a steady stream of precise chakra fed to their muscles, the medic is capable of a sudden boost to their lifting and throwing ability. Masters of this technique have been rumored to be capable of lifting and throwing large trees, boulders, and even buildings.
Domain: Souin.

+ Preparing technique.


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[Estilo]

It's Only A Paper Moon

---

The clouds darkened the night sky and hid the starry universe above from view as they gathered, a light drizzle of rain slowly beginning to fall. And as the pedestrians surrounding me took notice of the blue sparks manifesting around the surface of my body, they would back away into the sidelines of the strip. They either realized this wasn't just a show for their entertainment, or were paying the "actors" their respects by giving us space. Either way, I was relieved to know that they were in the clear... for now. And my eyes would widen with surprise when I saw Blanche's curvaceous figure shoot towards me, having tackled her way through my two lightning clones.

Though I had already finished the hand seals, I was not given sufficient time to carry out the technique I had in mind, leaving nothing but an unused storm of clouds overhead. Before I knew it, she grabbed me by the collar of my uniform with chakra-powered force, and hoisted me up. My legs flailed in the air with resistance at first, my hands trying to pry her arm off of my collar, but then I stopped. Our eyes had met, and through the lighting provided by the bright casino lights, I saw the tears glistening down the length of her cheeks. The world itself seemed to stop for a moment. Light drops of intermittent rain pelting my wide-eyed countenance. "Blanche, don't-" But that was the end of it. Within a fraction of second, I was swung violently around, and thrown towards the lights of the city that never slept. Everything became an indescribable, chaotic blur. As the speed in which she had thrown me decreased, I managed to make out just enough of my surroundings to know that I was going to crash into the large neon O of the large "Golden Palace" sign. I could not stop it from happening now. But I could, thankfully, manage to control the angle in which I would hit.

SMASH!!

The big O shattered into a conglomeration of yellow sparks and glass shards, raining down upon the now panic-stricken strip below. It left nothing but a skeleton of what it once was behind, the neon light that had powered it flickering on and off chaotically, wires wildly spitting sparks of electricity all around. By now, I was already charging. Having orchestrated the angle in which I would hit the O, my back had taken the brunt of the crash. I was nearly embedded into the network of metal poles that it was comprised of, and I groaned with immense displeasure as hot sparks stung my shoulders and cheeks. Pain filled my body in waves as I dropped, knees hitting the concrete surface of the hotel rooftop hard before I fell on all fours.

I felt... I felt like I could feel them. My clones, having shifted through the shadows whilst Blanche was busy with me, had reached the kunoichi from two different angles. With her back turned, it would be simple for at least one of them to catch her off guard, placing a single hand on her shoulder and issuing the Limb Stunning Technique. It was fueled with enough electricity to keep her in place for a short period of time, as lightning flowed throughout her body violently. And I? I remained on the rooftop. Disappointed... being filled with pure and unadulterated anger as sparks danced on the surface of my now bruised body. I stumbled up on both feet.

Growling.

---

Techniques:

[/b]

Sutangan no Jutsu (Limb Stunning Technique)
Rank: C
Type: Offensive / Raiton Ninjutsu
Range: Touch
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Mid
Special: If used on a person’s head, they will be knocked out for a single post. Limbs are numbed for a whole turn. Stunning effect cannot be stacked. Due to the amount of shock suffered by the user's limb during the transference of energy, this can only be used once per thread, plus one more each time retrained.
Description: The electric influence that exists over the human body and its muscles allows one to control the later through unconventional methods, including through the means of chakra. After charging a small electric shock in the user’s hands, one can approach their victim and place the charged hand onto a limb or muscle on their body, unleashing the pent up shock and rendering the aforementioned target useless for the rest of the turn. Although simple, it’s highly effective when the user is faster than the victim, and can outmaneuver them as they strike. Also highly effective for keeping captives in place!
Domain: Raiton. Karai Shin 'C'.

Atlas Burabiya Using:

¹___

Jisshitsu Shinen (Essence of Thought)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S[/color]
Type: Passive / Raiton Ninjutsu / Kumogakure Secret Technique
Range: --
Chakra: --
Handseals: No
Special: Rather than replacing sealing, this simply replaces the need for physical handseals for Raiton related techniques. Instead of handseals, there is a small 'charging time', a pause equal to the amount of seals needed to make in order to prepare the technique. Finally, highest rank determines the rank of Raiton jutsu that can be used without seals.
Description: The final stage in mastery. With this, the user can activate the jutsu without the requirement of hand-seals. Making an already formidable technique seem unbelievable. Though the jutsu will no longer require hand-seals, one must still take the time to must the chakra needed. Each rank of this technique will still require the time used for the formation of seals, just without the actual movement it's self.
Domain: Raiton. Karai Shin. Kumogakure.

Masteries:

Static Focus: Sealing times for Raiton jutsu are reduced by one tier.
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[Apple]

SMASH!!

It was almost orchestrated- the sound of the glass which broke almost instantly as his body impacted on the large sign. Even after the initial smash, droplets continued to fall to the ground like rain, albeit more loud, the shards breaking and splitting in to small, unrecognizable pieces. It was almost.. beautiful from where I could currently see it, although his body seemed jarred, ground in to the large letter alike some kind of twisted, sinister beacon. Alike the audience which had began to crowd together near the two buildings for any glimpse of the brawl, I was personally captivated by the light display above, the letter flickering and struggling to work given the damage, rendering The Golden Palace more glden than anything else. It was almost as if the entire world had stilled on that very moment, Atlas pained and very much clinging to the letter by surely none of his own strength. Time slowed and as I watched him drop, perhaps.. perhaps it was only then that I realized what I’d done. Looking around me, I’d come to see peope – adults, elders, children looking to and fro myself and the now disappeared Atlas, almost as if they were attempting to make sense of the situation that they’d just viewed. Breathing shakily, I froze. Was he dead? ..No! He couldn’t have been! I couldn’t have.. I couldn’t have killed him! Not now – why?! As I feared the worst, each moment still painfully slow as eyes began to avert to myself from those watching, I began to panic, my arms dropping, the wind sword I’d created dissipating in to the soft midnight air. My eyes, hot streams of tears flowing freely from them meanwhile simply stared up at the four-story building.

I was horrified.

The dangerously sharp shards of glass and the bent, torn metal which curved unnaturally out of the giant letter soon became very real.

Too real.

”..ATLAS!!?”

With her back turned, it would be simple for at least one of them to catch her off guard, placing a single hand on her shoulder and issuing the Limb Stunning Technique.

By the time that I’d noticed, it was too late. I felt a static-like touch appear on my soft shoulder, before my entire body seized up, eyes growing wide with obvious pain. A sharp, stinging current cut through my body relentlessly, permitting me little to no movement at all. It was quite simple to explain what, or, who did this to me, but I still tried; my head moving only a tiny, unnoticeable amount from each bout of strength that I tried to place in. I couldn’t move- no. I was stuck in place, like some kind of statue, the electricity coursing through my body, my lengthly blonde hair responding by becoming charged with electricity, on end from the static charging through my veins. I could feel it burning my limbs with its numbing pain, and I felt powerless in contrast. Of course, it did give a clear indication as to if he was alive or not, but at the same time- given the position I'd been placed in, I wasn't too sure if I preferred him alive at this very moment. I had even began to think about what he'd said - but it was too late now. My eyes fixated on where I'd been looking at during the time I'd been attacked, I could only barely see a clump of red hair emerging from the protective barrier of the building, blue eyes fill to the brim in fear.

..But, wasn't this for the best?



I had no family.

No home.

No purpose.

I waited for the end.

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[Estilo]

Some Kind of Blue

---

The dark clouds overhead unleashed near deafening roars of thunder, their progress bolstered (and beneficial) to the technique that crackled to life on the surface of my skin. Though frigid raindrops began to fall steadily from the abysmal heavens above, I felt... heat. Sparks from the shattered neon letter behind me continued to shower down upon my shoulders, each one providing a sharp sting, but no- that wasn't it. This heat was coming from within. I was angry, frustrated, done with all the bullshit. And- for the moment- when I thought of Blanche, I didn't see that part of myself I had seen before. No. I saw all of that stubborn, senseless corruption. A symbol of the wickedness that caused this war. I saw the reason for my failures.

I swayed precariously as I approached the edge of the rooftop, clutching at a heavily bruised injury that blanketed my ribs. The city of lights was sprawled before me in all its glory. Tendrils of blue electricity constantly surging throughout my body like evanescent vines from a spiritual realm. My eyes, though hidden beneath a shadow that my wild red mane had cast, were brimming with raw fury. The chakra I had been powering earlier played a part in powering this... this impulsive rage. Deep down inside, I begged myself to stop. But the bouts of thunder that continued overhead managed to drown that voice out for the time being. My eyes caught sight of the blonde far below for a moment, glaring as teeth ground. More boisterous thunder, followed promptly by two distinct plumes of lightning that gathered in the sky, between the casino across the street and the luxurious hotel.

ϟ T H A T ' S - E N O U G H! ϟ

I yelled, my eyes brimming with violence, my hand painfully clutching the injury at my side. But even I was muffled by the distinct sound of snapping and crackling that intensified within that fraction of the second. The very electricity that flowed within all those forty-foot tall neon mascots shattered them in an instant, pieces of glass falling from the sky, as the tendrils of static from each one gathered within the plumes of lightning in the sky. To the few that dared to remain below- including Blanche- the terrifying visage of two lightning-composed leviathans would form into existence before their eyes. Given substance by the very element that flowed through Kami no Shima's veins, they turned their massive heads towards the blue-eyed blonde, and roared- shooting towards her from two different angles.

She couldn't move. Of that much, I was certain. And the leviathans would hit her within a moment's time, drowning Kami no Shima in waves of residual electricty and shock. But as thoughts raced within my mind, as that voice returned to clarity, I... I was suddenly appalled. This wasn't what I stood for! This wasn't me! With only a fraction of seconds left, I willed my leviathans to change course. They were at the brink of colliding, with the blonde-haired genin at their epicenter, but abruptly veered upwards- splitting into two opposite directions. Blanche would only receive a minor sting as those colossal beings passed by her on both sides, my clones dissipating at that instant, and a gust of wind blowing her hair backwards ferociously.

---

Techniques:

[/color], S
Type: Supplementary / Raiton Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: High x2
Special: Summons a huge lightning serpent to destroy an area. Serpent size is determined by the user's highest 'Karain Shin' rank, halved, and can be proportioned to the user's wish. Serpent lasts until destroyed, and can withstand up to one 'S' ranked strike; each time retrained, an additional serpent may be called forth for a maximum of three. Each retrain stacks one High consumption. When destroyed, serpent explodes in a brilliant blinding flash and many small yet strong thunder bolts that shooting randomly, affecting ALL except the user with a range equivalent to the serpent's total size.
Description: This technique brings both onto the battlefield an awesomely large serpent like entity comprised of pure lightning. This colossal creature moves fast and can climb onto all forms of surfaces. The trick is that it is comprised of Raiton energy, so it doesn’t actually slither – it hovers ever so softly over anything it chooses to cross, temporarily changing the surface’s charge in order for it to be compatible with the beast. However, as large as it is, it’s rather dumb, and follows only the most basic of the user’s mental commands. Summon only at appropriate times!
Domain: Raiton. Karai Shin 'S'.

Masteries:

Static Focus: Sealing times for Raiton jutsu are reduced by one tier.
Positive Encouragement: All Raiton jutsu travel two times as fast.
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[Estilo]

I Met You On A Sunday

---

The two colossal serpents I had diverted crashed into two separate neon recipients, their lightning-composed nature serving to fuel the lights and wires that remained in each sign. The silhouette of a thirty-foot roaring lion burst to life with ripe yellow light, and a sign advertising the title COYOTE'S DEN glowed with an exuberant green hue- before both of them exploded, unable to contain the sheer power of my leviathan creations. I watched with glazed-over eyes as their two hues of light flashed, drowning the world in a lime-green tone, before the all too familiar sound of glass and flames struck my ears. The shards that fell from the sky showered the streets below them, but by then, most of the people had sought refuge. Only Blanche seemed to be standing at the center of the strip now, safe from the falling debris. Surely, astonished by the rather violent turn of events.

My tired eyes, now precariously on the verge of closing completely, gazed up at the cloud-laden night sky. Drops of rain had started falling in quick succession only moment ago. Their presence marked by the intermittent sparks of torn wires situated around the strip and their neon giants. I grew lightheaded, eased somewhat by the frigid and wet touch of raindrops that pelted my face, rolling down the length of my cheeks. I was ashamed of what I had done, disappointed in myself, in the world- in giving in to the rage, for just that brief moment. But for now, all that I could think of was my family. Their faces, their laughter, their soothing voices. Home.

And I fell.

Overcome by the exhaustion, my body collapsed over the side of the roof headfirst, entering a tunnel of wind that signaled my unorthodox descent towards the asphalt-composed strip. I was going to die. This was my end, I was certain. And even then, in my enervated haze, I found myself thinking about them. The world itself seemed to slow down, the grace of a god the rest of the world had lost faith in, permitting me to look upon them one last time with my mind's eye. Would she be alright? Would he grow up, healthy and strong, and look back fondly on his memories with his father? A single tear exited through the corner of my closed eye, shivering within the current of air that flowed all around me, and ultimately being cast upwards- into the dark sky. The world had finished with the long tale of Atlas Burabiya.

The last voice I heard, indistinct and afar, was that of Chaima. Then:

Nothing.

"BLANCHE! I CAN'T GET THERE IN TIME! PLEASE!

DON'T LET HIM DIE!"

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Theme: "It's Hard To Say Goodbye" Performed by Michael Ortega.
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[Apple]

As dark clouds began to cloud the already darkened sky above, blotching out what little light the stars above provided, I tried to do my best to relax – I couldn’t die with a horrified look on my face, right? It was.. all meant to be so peaceful, although all that I could think of right now was how scared I was. I didn’t want to die, no- I couldn’t die. I couldn’t join them yet – I didn’t want to feel it – I didn’t want to know what was waiting for me on the other side. If they would be so ashamed in me for what I’d been doing in Kami no Shima, I couldn’t bear know that the moment that I’d leave this word, I’d again, be alone, forever wandering the narrow halls of reality like some kind of tormented spectre. As I merely began to think of it all, my panic state merely worsened, my breaths becoming more and more frequent and loud as I tried to rip myself free from the paralyzed state that Atlas’s clone had left me I, desperately trying to move my body so that I could just run – run far away from this place. But no – I still stood, unable to move even an inch, with my eyes unable to be closed and instead, painfully focused on the scene that emerged before me, his red hair becoming more and more visible until I could see his entire head – his form hung close to the barrier, looking straight down at me with such angry, resentful eyes that I hadn’t seen him display for this entire meeting. I wanted to just shut it all off - this was a dream, right?

But, no. The feeling of electricity rushing through my body was more than enough to drag me back to reality, and the reality I found myself in was one that I more than anything else wished to escape from. With a grand, tormented shout I’d be forced to listen as I froze in place, unable to voice anything at all, alone with but my thoughts to comfort myself with, and even then they weren’t of much use as the gargantuan, lightning-fuelled twin dragons began to formulate in thin air during a terrifying symphony of thunder and lightning. With tightly constricted pupils I watched, helplessly, as I watched my demise slowly unfold before me in the shape of the two formations. I couldn’t even close my eyes to divert my attention away from the terrifying display before me. Then- without no notice at all, they began to charge.

And soft, silken tears began to roll down my face.

I could hear it - the sound of buzzing erupting from both formations as they drew closer - was this the end? Was this what I'd have heard last? No comforting words, no Momochi, no nothing?

As my body reacted to the immense supply of electricity that had fed both creations, an intense sting of pain coating my entire body, I kept my gaze locked, unable to look away. Time slowed and I was sure that I'd felt my fingers move unconsciously - but it was too late now.

With only a fraction of seconds left, I willed my leviathans to change course. They were at the brink of colliding, with the blonde-haired genin at their epicenter, but abruptly veered upwards- splitting into two opposite directions.

..Wh-!

CRASH!!

KZZZZT!!

I had felt them come so close- I’d felt my skin burn beneath the wrath of the fiery, electrical duo, but they were gone. Turning my head only enough to see the silhouette of the lion, destroyed in a shower of glass, I’d then divert my attention back to Atlas, as I slowly but surely felt my limbs beginning to readjust, becoming more mobile, although I still felt wired to the ground, my arms now somewhat moveable. Looking up, through my tear-stained eyes and the steady fall of rain that had began to fall on us all in some kind of sympathetic shower, I watched, preparing to see him jump down and leave, to dismiss me and return back home and pretend that he’d never even set foot here. However, nothing could have prepared me for what came next. As I gazed upwards, I’d come to noticed the shinobi coming closer and closer to the edge, dangerously close. I tried to move- my legs capable of moving only a few steps at a time due to the sheer amount of tension that had amounted in them from the stunning attack I’d been dealt only minutes prior. I looked around at the audience. Why weren’t they helping?!

"..A-AT-!"

By the time I'd managed to traverse merely a few meters, it had become too late. Almost in slow motion I watched as his body toppled over the edge of the barrier. Had it not been the thick red hair, he'd have been unrecognizable in his moment of flight, wind taking everything that he had and molding it in to one humanoid-shaped figure bearing the general colours of his appearance. I felt.. sick. I had done this. Chaima's desperate screams echoed behind me but I couldn't turn my head- I couldn't look away, and despite the fact that I pushed myself so hard to move, to try and reach him in time, to allow his precious life to land in my arms, all of my efforts were in vain as I simply froze, paralyzed by the situation itself, and by the residual effect of the technique I'd been dealt.

And he continued to fall..

Down, down..

One floor..

..Two floors..

..Three floors..

.......

[/font][/justify][/blockquote]

[Estilo]

Narrator

---

The Jounin's body fell from the edge of that rooftop at such a speed (and height) that a direct impact with the street below would have killed him instantly. But, perchance of fate, a tight tarp (situated over a balcony jutting out from the hotel's side) would abruptly break his fall. After flying past a few floors, his body had angled in such a way that he hit the obstacle on his side. His unconscious form bounced off the tarp violently, and landed on the street below with a rough crack. The impact with the asphalt had split his head open on its right side, and the entire ordeal had left him with more than a couple of fractured ribs. But, miraculously, he wasn't dead. Not yet.

With broken ribs and a fractured skull, his currently inert form lay on its back, surrounded by small, sand-like pieces of glass. Chaima, the short-haired brunette, rushed towards her red-maned companion- tears flowing out of her eyes without pause. Her tone was one of denial, of fright, of complete refutation. "N-No, no, no, no, no!" She repeated, as if reciting a mantra that would bring him back. She dropped to an immediate crouch beside his body, sobbing, as her hands attempted and quickly backed away from assessing the injuries. "I... *sob*, I-I don't think I can... I don't think I can heal this, At." She spoke, eyeing the gash on his head with horror.

Her body shivered, her hands shook, and she rocked back and forth on her knees- ignoring the sting of glass that she felt. The Chunin, for all that she had done, was never prepared for something like this. There was only one other medic in their team, one that she held confidence in, but she had no idea where to begin finding him. And with such a visually nasty injury, she wasn't even sure her Jounin companion had enough time left. Feeling as though she had failed him, failed herself, failed her team and her beloved country, she sobbed and sunk her face into her useless hands.

[Apple]

Crack.

It was such a simple sound, but it spoke louder than anything else possibly could have. I’d watched his chaotic journey down the side of the building with thick tears emanating from my eyes in response, his ragdoll-like body shooting through the air like the carcass that it was, with no thought for the person that it belonged to. Life was cruel, and there had been no reason for him to die. There was no reason that I should have won at all. I had taunted him out here, I was the one who had thrown him on the rooftop which he had now surely found his demise from, and I was the one who had tried to selfishly to break his spirit with my own broken ideals. And he? He had tried. He’d tried and tried to allow me to see things from his way, to pick myself up and leave this hellish place to start a new life elsewhere. He’d lost his patience- fired two indescribably powerful dragons to rid me of this life.. but he’d stopped. And now, in response to his final show of genuine kindness, I had inadvertently caused him to fall to his death. He couldn’t die. I failed to accept it. ”…” I watched carefully as Chaima rushed over, purpose flooding my mind.

My hands began to wildly form seals.

Burabiya, Atlas, the crimson-haired Jounin of Kumogakure wasn't going to die today.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Passing through the glass-encrusted area, my body freed from the paralyzing effects of his technique bar from a pins-and-needles like feeling that remained, I determinately moved towards Atlas, my digits still madly entangling themselves with almost obscure-looking signs. As I neared, I instantly bent down as Chaima had, my bare knees becoming scraped by the elaborate amount of glass on the floor. With chakra rife, bubbling away in each of my fingers, I then swiftly placed them down on his chest, a quick, precise wave of chakra relaying through his entire body, picking up on each little bit of damage that was done, before relaying the information back to my mind. Heavy bruising, glass shards present within body, four broken ribs predominantly on the right side- six fractured, intense head trauma on right side and several other more minor wounds present across body. Alive, but unconscious due to damage. I repeated the information back and forth in my mind, turning my attention towards Chaima who seemed to be taking the entire brunt of the situation, the once powerful figure she'd shown now rocking back and forth in some desperate attempt to comfort herself from the bloody reality before her very eyes. Raising my right hand, I'd then pat her a single time on her shoulder in order to get her attention. "C-Chaima-! Listen to me- I need you to get someone - a-anyone who can help!" I spoke loudly, my own eyes appearing to be as desperate as her own but in this situation, I couldn't let fear dominate my actions.

As I waited for her to leave and find some assistance, my hand instantly began to glow with chakra as I gently placed them both atop Atlas's head in an attempt to seal the wound and stop the blood from flowing. Needless to say; I was talented, but even this was a challenge. Situated in the dark alleyway, glass encrusting the bottom half of my body, I cared not for myself at this point, that could be easily remedied, despite the sharp pain that began to shoot through my legs as glass embedded itself. Of course- I'd already broken a rule by risking my own health for that of another but.. wasn't that the entire point? A fierce glow emanating from both of my hands and lightning up the dim alleyway with its vast power, I continued to heal, my fingers beginning to adopt a slightly blood-coated layer from being so close to the man. Such liquid mixed in with his hair, making the wound barely recognizable, had it not been for the dark red which seeped through and coated the floor. Leaning my golden head down slightly so that my ear softy hung over his mouth, I listened in for breaths to assure that he was alive. ...One..... ..... ..... .... Two.... Releasing my head after listening in carefully for a total of ten seconds, I'd flick the waterfall of blonde hair away from his body. I kept my hands in place, pushing forwards to heal him and alleviate his injuries. I couldn't fail.

Not now- not Atlas.

[/b][/u][/color]

Horisageru no Karada (To Delve Into The Body)
Rank: A
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: 15
Chakra: High. Mid with medical mastery.
Special: The user creates a chakra 'sonar' which delves into a patient's body and confers the complete state of the body to the user after a turn. Can only be used once per thread, plus one more each time retrained.
Description: A highly precise Medical ninjutsu, the user channels chakra into their hands and then places them both on the patient's solar plexus. The chakra pulses through the body in several waves, taking all important information about the condition of the body and relaying it to the user. In this way a Medical ninja is capable of instantly understanding what is wrong with the body, although not necessarily what is needed to fix the problem.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu.

Shousen no Jutsu (Mystical Hand Technique)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra: D - Low, C - Mid, B - x2 Mid, A - High, S - x2 High. x1 high with medic mastery.
Special: Heals and counters damage equal to highest rank known. If healing is stronger than the damage taken, remaining 'Shousen' chakra will course through the target's body until more damage is suffered, essentially helping the medic prevent future injury. Cannot be used on a target with perfect health. Aside from s-rank healing, which occurs instantly, all others require one full post to heal.
Description: Shousen Jutsu is one of the most fundamental yet vital Medical Ninjutsu techniques utilized by medical ninja. This technique allows the ninja to heal wounds by focusing their own chakra to their hands, creating a special chakra designed to speed up the body's natural healing process exponentially. The chakra is represented by a faint glow around each of the user's hands, a perfect circle formed around the appendage, with the glow itself letting off a faint, blue hue. The higher the Medic's skill, the stronger the healing process will be. As such, master medics can use their techniques to perform surgeries that otherwise would not be possible.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu.
[/ul][/size][/font][/justify][/blockquote]

[Estilo]

Narrator

---

The bawling Chunin nodded wildly as Blanche urged her to move, to go, and find someone who could help. But... but she didn't know where to go. And the realization struck her again like a bolt of lightning. Desperation brimmed from her tear-stricken eyes as, slowly, they turned back to the sight of her fallen comrade. She couldn't do anything here. And she couldn't bear to see him like this any longer. So she unsteadily picked herself up, and ran. Towards the old casino where her team had first taken her when they'd met, towards any hope of finding their medic-in-command and bringing him back here to help. She ran, crying still, and shivering uncontrollably.

With the Chunin gone, the fate of Atlas Burabiya's life was currently in Blanche's hands. People started to emerge from their hiding places now, noticing that the fighting had come to a halt. And as they arrived, surrounding Blanche at a distance of ten meters all around, they watched in horror as the Jounin's head continued to bleed. As the blonde-haired medic quickly began to close the gash that was causing, rain continued to fall from the sky. Not heavily so, but in intermittent bouts. A cold mountain breeze, sweeping through the destroyed portion of the "city of lights".

A raven cawed overhead.

[Apple]

As the friendly glow of my healing technique lit up somewhat of the area that we were in purely by the sheer strength of the light itself, the scene it had been birthed in to couldn’t have been more different. Blood splattered on the floor next to him but I had keep my mind off it, and concentrate the dire wound on his head. I couldn’t let him die – not by my hand. ”..Atlas, wake up!” I commanded, although I knew that the impact would have knocked him out for quite a while, let alone the injuries which further worsened his condition. Holding my hands above his head I could only take in to detail how thick the long veil of red hair that he bore was, although it also came to me that he, unlike myself, had so much to lose should he die right here and now. It wasn’t only a wife that would lose him – but a son. He had a family, and was I so cruel as to tear away someone from something so precious? No. And so I weeped for him and his family as I healed, urging my hands to work better, faster. Perhaps I’d lost them- perhaps I’d lost him, but I was determined not to leave Atlas as a mere corpse on the ground for the leech-like paparazzi of Kami no Shima to so ignorantly photograph. With a single shaky exhale, I gazed over the area of which I was healing, the thin layer of blood still left by now dried, gluing to his head like some kind of second skin. However, where the grand wound on his head came from the impact of his body and the cold, hard ground, the majority of the deeper damage was done – it wouldn’t take long now for the rest to follow suit and heal up. However, despite the fact that my own body was working twice, if not thrice as hard to fix the broken body before me, there was still the very real chance of death, although I tried so hard to negate it. Even I couldn’t save everybody.

But I could try.

”..Come on!!
You have so much to live for.. you can’t die like this..”

Having sealed up the great wound on his head with my strong healing abilities, it left little more than a faint mark where it had once been due to the sheer size of the wound itself, although I didn't doubt that the entirety of his hair would mark the minor, barely noticeable blemish. With that completed and taken care of, I then turned my attention back to the rest of his body- the open wounds which littered his frame. Whilst being minor in comparison to the large head wound that he'd suffered, they nonetheless added to the risk of bloodloss, which in itself could be a killer if not tended to correctly. With such less complicated wounds to take care of, it only required a mere pause of a moment or two from my hands to seal up the wounds themselves, sterilizing them automatically with my graceful touch and restoring the skin to its previous condition. As I moved to heal each and every little cut on his body, my own form, and the gargantuan amount of blonde hair behind me proved to be a shield against the crowds which had gathered to see what was going on, in some attempt to save the man's dignity; The least I could do. I hunched over, the long golden strands of my hair landing on his form like a beautiful cascade, the soft light of my technique reverberating from such silken tresses, lighting up my eyes too which stared intently at the work that I was doing. I didn't tolerate failure - not today, not after the last time.

[/b][/u][/color]

Shousen no Jutsu (Mystical Hand Technique)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra: D - Low, C - Mid, B - x2 Mid, A - High, S - x2 High. x1 high with medic mastery.
Special: Heals and counters damage equal to highest rank known. If healing is stronger than the damage taken, remaining 'Shousen' chakra will course through the target's body until more damage is suffered, essentially helping the medic prevent future injury. Cannot be used on a target with perfect health. Aside from s-rank healing, which occurs instantly, all others require one full post to heal.
Description: Shousen Jutsu is one of the most fundamental yet vital Medical Ninjutsu techniques utilized by medical ninja. This technique allows the ninja to heal wounds by focusing their own chakra to their hands, creating a special chakra designed to speed up the body's natural healing process exponentially. The chakra is represented by a faint glow around each of the user's hands, a perfect circle formed around the appendage, with the glow itself letting off a faint, blue hue. The higher the Medic's skill, the stronger the healing process will be. As such, master medics can use their techniques to perform surgeries that otherwise would not be possible.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu.
[/ul][/size][/font][/justify][/blockquote]

[Apple]

"...."

Again, I urged such words as I kept my game up. I could feel chakra leaving my body rapidly as I healed in some desperate attempt to bring the man back from the gates of death, and despite the fatigue that I knew would soon hit me if I continued like this, it was all worth it. I could easily collapse from chakra loss but in the end; I'd be saving someone, and that was exactly what I was aiming to do. As my hands scoured softly over his body to heal any irregularities, my blue eyes also wildly scanned over to see if there was anything that I had missed - I highly doubted it as I'd followed the reading perfectly and also looked out carefully myself to make sure that it hadn't missed anything. Again, I doubted that a medical technique of such caliber would miss out on such crucial details, but it was just in case. I couldn't afford to mess this up with a life on the line. "...." With each of the wounds sealed and cleaned, I then paused for a single moment as I turned my attention towards his ribs, recalling the information I'd been given.

The majority, if not the entirety of his open wounds had been sealed and fixed up, but there was just so much blood. On the floor, on his head, and it was all his. Positioning myself so that I sat close to his chest, but giving enough room so that he could breathe freely, I then directed the flow of my healing chakra towards his ribs. I then began to fix the breaks and fractures with both hands, the technique taking a little bit more effort due to the fact that the damage was beneath the skin itself, but given the fact that I was quite adapt at the technique itself, it took little to no time to do it correctly. In the hands of a novice, fixing such devastating wounds would have taken hours- but I was able to heal the most dire, at the cost of my own chakra. I could feel myself starting to become slightly lightheaded from deploying so much in a short amount of time, but - It just pushed me to become stronger. Beautifully re-crafting his bone structure, I kept my watch on him, leaning down then to check his breathing as I had previously.

..One.... two.... three...

With the ten second check done and his breathing on the way to returning back to normal, I again kept my hands carefully positioned near his ribcage in order to heal up the damage done. As minutes passed, I could only but feel more confident in both myself and him, even if he still lay unconscious on the floor. I focused - unwilling to give up on him now. Everything was almost set - I could only feel such.. negativity now after having put him through it all. I'd physically been through things but falling from a four-story building was, thankfully, not on the list of things that I'd done. Whilst I was unable to relate to him, I did my best at negating whatever injuries he's sustained, his bones becoming more and more stable with every little bit of chakra that I sent flooding in to his chest. Sniffling a little bit, the tears I'd past cried having blocked my nose, I refused to cry for much longer. Everything was going to be fine- I.. I knew it. Removing my hands from his chest, the damage now softened, only a dull pain resonating where it had previously been, I'd now go through just to heal up the rest of the damage that he'd suffered; bruises, minor cuts, glass impurities; it was all easily corrected by my hand, and with my body still shielding his own from the prying eyes of the public, I kept healing, waiting for him to wake from the temporary slumber that such pain had placed him in.

I wouldn't leave his side.

[/b][/u][/color]

Shousen no Jutsu (Mystical Hand Technique)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra: D - Low, C - Mid, B - x2 Mid, A - High, S - x2 High. x1 high with medic mastery.
Special: Heals and counters damage equal to highest rank known. If healing is stronger than the damage taken, remaining 'Shousen' chakra will course through the target's body until more damage is suffered, essentially helping the medic prevent future injury. Cannot be used on a target with perfect health. Aside from s-rank healing, which occurs instantly, all others require one full post to heal.
Description: Shousen Jutsu is one of the most fundamental yet vital Medical Ninjutsu techniques utilized by medical ninja. This technique allows the ninja to heal wounds by focusing their own chakra to their hands, creating a special chakra designed to speed up the body's natural healing process exponentially. The chakra is represented by a faint glow around each of the user's hands, a perfect circle formed around the appendage, with the glow itself letting off a faint, blue hue. The higher the Medic's skill, the stronger the healing process will be. As such, master medics can use their techniques to perform surgeries that otherwise would not be possible.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu.
[/ul][/size][/font][/justify][/blockquote]

[Estilo]

Easy Living

---

I could feel myself fade. Slowly slipping into a darkness so placable and eternal that I soon lost myself, and all of my thoughts, within its incorporeal presence. I felt nothing, I imagined nothing. I simply floated. This was limbo. A timeless plane so ancient and empty that nothing else could ever compare to it. Then it happened. A soundless flash of absolute white light that blinded the spectrum of my perceived vision, and pulled me out of that void existence in an instant. There seemed to be a voice calling out to me. But I couldn't hear it, muffled by a sense of peace that ignored the majority of my senses. I was passing into the other realm, and nothing else mattered.

The white that had flooded my reality slowly began to wisp out of existence, and the corner of a room painted sky-blue crept into form. A wistful melody played, my sense of hearing returning at a snail's pace, as my hands held on to the wooden sides of a bassinet. Images appeared to me sporadically: a crib mobile spinning ever so slowly, adorned with toy suns, and stars, and moons. A name engraved expertly into the wooden surface of the bassinet's headboard. The endearing woman standing at the other side of the crib, gazing down at the sleeping infant with genuine admiration. She sang to him with a voice like honey, reciting the words to a lullaby so sweet and divine, I swore I was in the kingdom of heaven itself. This was my afterlife.

Living for you,
It's easy living, it's easy to live,
When you're in love, and I'm so in love,
There's nothing in life but you.

I'll never regret, the years I'm giving,
They're easy to give, when you're in love,
I'm happy to do, whatever I do,
For you.

Then I felt it, the edges of my vision blurring with sudden intensity. The wisps of that eternal white were returning, flooding the tranquil scene like a storm of silent steam. My lover's voice faded away, becoming distant and echoey as I parted from that supernal realm, like a voice carried through the distance of a long tunnel. I no longer basked in the soft glow of light that had filled my little boy's room. I no longer felt the touch of the gentle spring breeze against my face. No, I had returned to the nothingness of that foremost plane. And the last I heard from that melodic, ephemeral, voice that had eased my boy to sleep came in the form of a single word: ____.

Darkness implacable. It reigned supreme once more. I didn't much care to wonder what was happening. Because I didn't have any control over it. And I felt so light, and airy. I was like a leaf that had been cast gently into the stream of a mountain forest, letting the current take me where it pleased. But that, too, changed when an amalgamation of noises gradually rose in volume from all around. A pulsing pain signaled my entrance into the corporeal form I had briefly appeared to lose. And with a rattle of breath, that seemed to have been too short of strength to become a groan, my eyes formed narrow slits. The light from a nearby street lamp flooded my vision, before fading out gradually, and revealing the countenance of the one who had saved me. Having returned with an abundance of calm, I smiled with relief.

". . . Blanche?" I muttered in a near-whisper. "You're... okay."

---

Theme: "Easy Living" Performed by Billie Holiday.
Author's Note: Sumimasen! Got caught up for a moment IRL.

[Apple]

I kept working diligently on his body, my chakra-emanating hands attempting to fix whatever imperfection that they managed to be held against. Bruises soon dissolved in to little more than minor bumps, cuts in to perfectly formed skin, and the most dangerous of wounds rendered to merely little more than faded scars. My confidence in this job was high, even though I felt myself losing chakra. But I was so close – I still had a little more to go before I’d be in trouble, myself, and that wasn’t something that I wished to happen seeing as I’d done so much up to now. Seeing as the rest of Kami no Shima were gawping at the sight of me trying to help the wounded man, I doubted that they’d be of little use if I was to collapse from chakra exhaustion. Narrowing my eyes again as I drove my chakra in to his very skin in any attempt to alleviate the injuries which I had helped him to attain. I continued to work – as if healing would bring him back completely. Needless to say, I was very content that he was breathing, so even if my work didn’t bring him back to consciousness, I was sure that within the next hour or so he could come back. I didn’t want to have to resort to the last case scenario technique that I, and several other medics had hidden up our sleeves for such emergencies. By now, the drama having lessened, many of the people who had lurked behind us had fled in search of more entertainment on the grubby streets – I couldn’t complain. It gave me more room to think, think about all that he had said. As the cloud which had surrounded my mind in the past now began to clear over, I’d begin to notice things I hadn’t before. Behind the brilliant lights of the city I could hear so much – I could smell.. I wasn’t too sure what. The grimy floor had since colour my knees a muddy-water brown, and the trash lingered about, hazardly being blown towards my angelic figure like some kind of plague. Was this.. was this really the best place to be?

For the next five minutes, I continued to heal the man’s broken body – or.. It had been broken. Due to the effects of my work, he’d be merely.. sore, if that. Continuously checking his breaths to make sure that he was still alive, it wasn’t soon until I felt drained, my own breaths becoming more and more laboured. Having come to a line that I couldn’t afford to cross, the soft, comforting glow from my hands soon disappeared in to the night, rendering the alley dark once more, the only people left by now being myself, Atlas, and merely one or two bystanders who wished to view this tale to its end. However – as I waited for him to regain consciousness and for Chaima to return with help (Not that it was all that required now) he couldn’t have awoken too soon, as I pressed my hands against my knees in defeat of the toll my precise healing had taken on my body, soft breaths exhaled, and eyes widening as I watched the green-eyed man become animated so slowly. I’d notice his eyes crinkling and the skin on his face tightening in response – the smallest of movements to notice that he was coming back. From this sign, I watched intently on his process from my position right by his splayed body, a strong feeling of relief felt when he finally began to speak. It was basic – but it was something.

". . . Blanche? .... ... You're... okay."

"..I'm waiting for Chaima to come back with some help so that we can move you." I paused for only a moment. He was surely dazed, so I chose to speak my words slowly - not enough to make himself feel like an idiot, but slow enough so that he'd be able to understand. "..I've cleared all of your injuries, although you might feel some resounding pain. It's entirely normal, you'll feel better in no-time." despite the fact that I felt tired after the whole ordeal, I wasn't the one who had fallen off the side of the building, and I made sure to remind me of that. My duty was stationed as a medic, but even after heaving healed him back to health and consciousness, it was still my job to make sure that he was alright. Pushing my blonde hair from my face so that I could be permitted a better look at him, my hand moved towards his face, brushing his own crimson hair in a similar way that I had done mine; simply to permit him better vision. This movement was soft, the supple skin of my hands gliding atop the surface of his face, before moving back to being balled on my knees in some attempt to keep me upright.

With all of the typical medic words over, I began to speak again, in a much quieter tone.



"..You were right, Atlas, about everything"

"And This.." I motioned to him, and the building he'd fallen from. "..This is all my fault."

"I'm sorry. "

Perhaps my apology wouldn't be taken - perhaps he'd chose to leave now despite his aching condition. I wasn't sure, but I'd voiced my thoughts to him, and that was all that I wished for.

[/b][/u][/color]

Shousen no Jutsu (Mystical Hand Technique)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S.
Type: Supplementary.
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra: D - Low, C - Mid, B - x2 Mid, A - High, S - x2 High. x1 high with medic mastery.
Special: Heals and counters damage equal to highest rank known. If healing is stronger than the damage taken, remaining 'Shousen' chakra will course through the target's body until more damage is suffered, essentially helping the medic prevent future injury. Cannot be used on a target with perfect health. Aside from s-rank healing, which occurs instantly, all others require one full post to heal.
Description: Shousen Jutsu is one of the most fundamental yet vital Medical Ninjutsu techniques utilized by medical ninja. This technique allows the ninja to heal wounds by focusing their own chakra to their hands, creating a special chakra designed to speed up the body's natural healing process exponentially. The chakra is represented by a faint glow around each of the user's hands, a perfect circle formed around the appendage, with the glow itself letting off a faint, blue hue. The higher the Medic's skill, the stronger the healing process will be. As such, master medics can use their techniques to perform surgeries that otherwise would not be possible.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu.
[/ul][/size][/font][/justify][/blockquote]

[Estilo]

This Bitter Earth

---

I fell in and out of a daze, the edges of my vision blurring with varied intensity, as I gradually began to make sense of what had happened. I had fallen. I remembered now. And, based on the pain that ran through the entirety of my body, I figured that the mishap in question had not ended well for me at all. I could feel the sharp pricks of shattered glass on my back, the tip of my fingers lightly running across the cold asphalt of the street underneath me. I had fallen, and I was fairly certain that I had died. But... Blanche had saved me. And, as I listened to her explanation with all the attention my weary mind could muster, all I wanted to do was thank her.

But I remained silent, listening and watching her every move.

For, when she brushed away the strands of crimson hair that had limited my vision in one eye, I noticed the faint trail of dried tears that had once streamed down her cheeks. Blanche- the same Blanche that had thrown me into a neon sign in her anger- had shed tears. And suddenly, for a reason unbeknownst to me, I felt ashamed. Awful. It wasn't exactly something I could be proud of. Urging people to face that which they did not want to confront hardly ever ended pretty. And after my stunt with the leviathans, I only sunk deeper into that feeling of regret. As my eyes glazed over towards the dark clouds above me, I wondered. Was it all in vain? All the suffering?

"...You were right, Atlas, about everything."

My countenance, having once adopted a slightly forlorn mien, turned back to her as she motioned towards what I presumed to be the building looming overhead. I... I didn't know what to say, at first. The mildly astonished look in my emerald eyes laid proof to that. She was apologizing. And, to be honest, I had not been expecting such a change in opinion. When I had been up there on that rooftop, with those dragons, my faith in her had been at the brink of running completely dry. I had resolved to give up on her then, and let her live her life the way she was living it. I had resolved to give up on myself, and my efforts, and feel miserable for the rest of my life because of it. But thanks to her... I regained my hope in humanity. And my life.

My gloved hand, the fabric now ripped and torn all around, found her own. And lightly, it gripped the surface of her hand in what was, quite simply, a reassuring gesture. My half-opened eyes brimmed with somber concern. And when our gazes met, I'd utter in response. "No... don't be sorry." I paused, ignoring the pulses of pain that flowed throughout my form. "You're a good person, Blanche. You just... forget it, sometimes." My fingers entwined lightly with her own, and as I continued to look into her baby blues, all the thanks I could ever give shone from the gleam in my eyes- accompanied by a minuscule, but powerfully proud, smile.

However, when I noticed the fatigue that showed, my smile dropped.

"Are you really... okay?"