Undisclosed Compound.

[Apple]

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it, Blanche. You should know me better than that, by now."

Ever since his cruel display in hi no kuni- ever since I’d succumbed to his presence, a time that I could only so faintly remember at this point in time, he’d spoken so gently, so softly in comparison with the cold-hearted man that I’d met with just over a month ago, and I often wondered.. whether or not he was truly voicing his concern for me, or whether it was merely the nature of his goals which made him so careful. Did I stand before him as merely a carcass with potential for his own selfish gain, Kikkawa, Blanche, sister of his beloved Ue, or as .. myself? With his words so cryptic, despite the time we’d spent I couldn’t be sure. And it.. wasn’t that I cared, either. My mind swam freely in a harmonious state at the moment, impervious with the same sweet, dreamlike smile visible. But.. why could I feel these doubts lingering in my mind? I wasn’t in love, no. I simply.. wanted to recognize that I wasn’t another weapon. But conflict stood as I knew all too well the excitement that even simply standing next to him summoned. Now that I’d become so used to his presence, so used to nourishing on the chakra which he offered, I couldn’t imagine a different life, although I knew better than he how easily that would change.

I just wanted to stay here, forever.

As the two of us slowly shifted from side to side, my hair followed suit, its almost unnaturally long lengths embracing his own body as it did mine, clinging to the fabric of his robe like the very parasite that it belonged to, the soft folds of my dress swinging alongside myself as our conjoined forms glided across the room. Tall, black heels resonated through the compound with each step taken, unlike his own almost soundless steps. To simply hang here for the rest if time - it was a thought that I'd previously contemplated so dreamily. Perhaps it was simply my own future that I feared or - I couldn't be sure. Not now, at least. Shapes and voices resonated through my mind, and I couldn't place a finger on even what was happening right now, my thought process subdued to some degree by the chakra which so blissfully poisoned me. In that very moment, I felt my mind soften and drown so peacefully beneath the pressure. But.. I could feel it- the meager grasp on reality that I'd been given after having been donated even that small amount of chakra by him slowly fading as I struggled to keep up with it all, the next thing I knew, the bottom of my head being held by his gentle hands. "I .. can't promise you success." a pause, as I admitted to the truth that I feared. "But I will do all that I can to ensure it." My tone had become profoundly sleepy sounding, as despite I could tell to some degree from my sore eyes that we had ceased to move, I still felt as light as a feather - as if the two of us were still moving about the compound, entwined. By this point, I was keeping my arms on him merely to stabilize my own balance, which was slowly deteriorating.

And then, I lost myself.

"But beyond that, I know that you'll do right even when I'm gone;..."





"..But until that day comes.."

"Please, promise me that..

..you won't go."

[/b][/color]

Her tone was surprisingly soft despite the fact that by her expression, she didn't seem to want to voice them. Almost a whisper in comparison to the kindly but strict one that he had used himself, in the silence that consumed the entire compound, even the faintest of noises could be heard clearly. She'd also boldly cut through his words, although with a tone so quiet it allowed he to continue his words, and she to listen to what he had to say next following her own addition. With the addiction she suffered and the vulnerability that came with it, it was understandable that she ask him. It seemed almost.. impossible to revert back. Or had it been through a deep, hidden need for company, hidden by her own pride? Through what anxiousness and terror she suffered, whilst her natural fixation with chakra drove her to impossible means to gain what she needed as a natural reaction, the buzz that came with it was enough to cleanse her mind. And now- she stood so happily, so harmoniously on the tiled flooring of her compound, suffocated with a false sense of peace inadvertently generated by Kouketsu himself. By the way that she spoke and moved, it was incredibly clear that her gluttonous attitude had made her anything but sober.

"..I don't want to disappoint you."

Contrastingly to previous things said, her tone was full of intoxicated truth - each word voiced slowly and carefully as her head buried itself in his shoulder once more.

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

[NARRATOR]

"That's all that I can ask of you, Blanche." Again, it was odd to feel like this; to feel to attached to someone other than the idea of them and how they could better facilitate his plans. It was more than just Blanche's potential and ability that he saw; it was more than just that he desired. No, it wasn't love. Such an emotion was incapable for beings of their nature -- they simply didn't have the time for it. But, it was far more than a simple "want"; it was a need. Blanche granted the phantom she danced with far more than she could ever imagine.

And though he'd take such knowledge with him to the grave, and never speak a word of it, he would let her know that he appreciated it. That he appreciated, and admired, her effort. "That's all that I want from you; to do your best, and become the goddess we both know that you are." His voice was but a whisper, barely above her own, as he savored the silence that had swept over them like a cold front on a winter night.

Even so, with all of this, would he leave? "We have one year, Blanche. That is when everything will happen." He'd taken quite a bit of time to intricately detail everything pertaining to his plot. However, even with the optimal amount of time required, a year's worth was the lowest he was able to get it to. One year... And finally, at long last, he would be able to rest. The world would be forever changed, in some form or another, and-- hopefully he would never be needed again.

"I hope that we will be able to... Enjoy the time between here and then," he continued slowly. The motion of their waltz continued, slower than a cloud racing across the sky; it was barely noticeable at this point. "... That our bond will only continue to grow."

[Apple]

The entire scene was beautiful, or at least it was to her, her mind currently clouded, each small worry now long since having left her mind. The lights of the compound and of the equipment which surrounded the both of them now rendered dull but so comforting. The way that he whispered in to her ear as if she was the only one that he currently cared for. She merely felt..safe in his arms, undoubtedly from the generous donation of chakra that still continued to revel in her body, whisking her from this physical plane and somewhere else – somewhere far away. Perhaps it was some way of preserving the moment that they had been trapped in – the girl who had been forced to adulthood now able to rest vulnerably in the arms of another for the first time in years, even if for a few precious minutes. Embracing it fully in her trance-like state, she breathed so gently on his neck from the sheer close proximity, completely besieged by it all. It was unknown whether or not it was simply just that- comfort, that she was seeking, or if it was the alluring chakra signal which radiated from his own form. Whilst already having been given well over her own share, it weakened the need, but at the same time, it hadn’t managed to destroy it all. However with the self-control she’d managed to reclaim, it allowed her to stay so close without subconsciously tapping in to his own reserves with the leech-like qualities that she and her family were known for.

"We have one year, Blanche. That is when everything will happen."

”..Ah..”

Her reply was understandably short, although it neither portrayed sadness – and obviously not any sign of happiness either. Being a man who had made his namesake through war, and with several other plans to bring to fruitition she’d never doubted that it would, in the end, be his downfall. Although – it simply didn’t seem like enough time. The last several years had gone by.. so quick, now that she looked back in hindsight. Time had never been one to stay on her side and with the future rapidly approaching, who’s to say that even she would emerge from each of his trials alive? Shinobi life had never meant to be easy – and so in this very compound, several floors underground, everything stopped. With no windows to judge the time of day, she could have stayed here for hours- days without noticing. And perhaps it was better that way. However despite these ideals, she had a role to fulfill- one that, even now in her playful, relaxed attitude, she took as serious as any other. Even the most serene of times had to end – and although they both entwined their hands and moved so gracefully with each other, each of their careful steps signaled change, and his own case, the end of this fragile era. It was all coming so soon.

But it seemed even the mightiest of gods found the time to dance.

"..It sounds as if you've grown fond of my company, Kouketsu."



"What a shame for it all to end."

Whilst not sarcastic by any means, she smiled so gently, understanding.

"Should death be so kind as to repeat this very moment for an eternity.."

[/b][/color]

Slowly, she moved her head from his shoulder, aligning it back to gaze at the phantom's intricate eyes.

"..Then it would be quite forgiving."

[/b][/color][/center]

He had been her worst enemy - her nightmare, who now made sure not to step on her delicate toes whilst they almost motionlessly made their mark. Perhaps it was merely the intense strain on her thoughts that had provoked such a kind, warm-hearted statement, or something else in its entirety. Through her brother and through such common ideals she had been drawn in like a moth to a flame; and although entirely burnt in its blaze from drawing all too close, she seemed.. strangely content through the jarring headache that stung her head, her heart nearly pouring outside of her very chest in some enigmatic race. But then- a climax as she broke free from his grasp so softly, hands slowly removing themselves from his own, perhaps noticing exactly how caught up she'd become. Raising her now free hand to brush back her long, blonde hair from an all-too flawless countenance, she'd then run the fingers of her right hand through the sea of gold. Exhaling, her eyes seemed to bear so much.. compassion, a gaze unique to only few, although even she wondered why at this point in time. It was common knowledge that the solace she'd found wasn't permanent. Hidden deep beneath the earth and away from the prying eyes of the public, this temporary peace didn't last. It wouldn't be long until the anger, the hate and the paranoia surfaced once more from the myriad of personalities that shrouded her currently.

And soon, their unique situation would become much too real to handle.

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[NARRATOR]

Slowly but surely, their dance fell apart, piece by piece, until nothing of it remained. Standing still, as if they were frozen in time, the phantom took his time appreciatively glancing over Blanche's features. From her unnaturally blond hair, radiant like hot, liquid gold, to her hour-glass shape and every curve which he'd come to know quite intimately, he watched. For several moments, he said nothing. He was content simply standing there, relaxing with her body pressed along is so delicately; unfortunately, there were things he had to do.

"I'm sure that we'll have another dance before that time comes, Blanche." He chuckled, breaking his hand away from her own so that both of his gloved hands could cup either side of her face. Pulling her in close, the forehead of his mask pressed against hers; he waited, calmly, closing his eyes. "And should it not, I'll make sure that we have one on the other side-- perhaps, as you said, for eternity."

Opening his eyes, he retreated several steps. "Presuming I'm back in time, I will come see you tonight." Slowly, he sank into the floor. "Be good while I'm gone."

And like that, he vanished.

[Apple]

As the Uchiha gently brought her own face to gently touch his own with such care, her own warm skin collided with the mask, sending a cold chill through her entire body in response to the frigid porcelain. But despite this, it was a welcome movement even though it provoked no response from the woman herself, bar from her breaths which had become considerably more careful, as if one small mistake would end up destroying the entire thing. She stood almost hypnotized, overwhelmed by each little action – each moment of silence which ensued. It seemed almost unnatural for the blonde to be so.. so still.


"I'm sure that we'll have another dance before that time comes, Blanche."

"And should it not, I'll make sure that we have one on the other side-- perhaps, as you said, for eternity."

"If the latter; expect to wait a while."

She grinned.

His words were meaningful, and she drifted alongside them as if pulled by some imaginary string. Of course - she still found it unsure as to whether or not he truly was acting this way out of the pure respect and care that he had voiced to her, or if it was simply for reasons unspoken. Parting, her warm breaths leaving the now sightly heated plate of porcelain upon his face as she took in his promise of a second dance, and his words of a potential meeting later. Nodding her head in response, she would soundlessly allow him to make his leave. With his departure, the veil of his chakra did too leave; whilst permitting her to keep the amount stored in her body for now, the safe, comforting veil that had once clouded her disappeared as he sunk in to the ground, again rendering the compound lifeless bar from her own form. Flinching a little, her right eye twitching only for the shortest of moments, she'd pause, watching back at where he'd made his leave. It was vague; but she displayed perhaps the most unnoticeable of smiles for only a moment, before disappearing elsewhere in to the compound.

EXIT!

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[vegapunk]

55 EXP @ Apple

[NARRATOR]

A faint tremor, barely felt even by the objects and tables closest to its origins, rippled through the breadth of the dimly lit establishment. No matter how many times he found himself here, he could never understand how Blanche favored such gloomy, somber surroundings; especially when she looked so magnificent in the light.

Standing idle for several moments as he watched her, busy with some device or another, he finally stepped forward from the sheath of darkness encasing him. Of course, she'd already know he was their -- an indescribable "link," of sorts, had been forged between the two of them. An imprint, if you will. Whenever either were within a reasonable amount of distance, it was as if their very souls reached for each other. It was quite handy, in some situations, but terribly unfortunate when he wished to "surprise" her.

But, there were always other ways around that.

"Good evening." His voice was smooth as a gentle river and sweeter than autumnal honey. And while it wasn't entirely odd, considering he was addressing her, it was more joyous than his typical demeanor. "I see you're still busy at work - right where I left you."

He hadn't told her where he was going those hours ago. All he'd informed her was that he would, undoubtedly, return, and that she was to keep their guest-- one Beppin Etsuko --company until he did. The other woman, a dark-haired vixen, was comfortable sitting in a chair not too far from Blanche. Though she could do little to erase the worry that plagued her expression, she did managed to remain somewhat interested in whatever device it was that Blanche currently fiddled with.

Shifting his attention back to Blanche, he extended both arms out toward her, awaiting a proper greeting. This too was somewhat... odd, but not overly questionable. The more time passed, the more of that mysterious armor Blanche somehow managed to pry away from him; the more they bonded, the more he began to look to her for support and comfort. She was, quite literally, his better half -- despite her flaws and malicious desires, she was the only fragment of light that had managed to remain within him.

Once she was in his arms, safe and secure, he teasingly whispered: "Did you miss me?" His gaze slid over Blanche's shoulder, locking with Beppin's. She was fidgeting with her thumbs, nervously biting her lip.

But, she waited in silence.

[Apple]

With hands carefully scaling what only could be described as a vial, some strange liquid inside it that seemed to seethe and shift with each small movement of my hand, a powerful pulling sensation came over me, and in response I could only allow my hands to drop so carefully to place the item back on one of the metallic counters to look to my right - only to see an all-too familiar form make his way from the shadows. The very moment that he emerged I could already feel the same sense of compulsion starting to scream from within me - my consciousness gasping for breath beneath the suffocating aura of chakra that emanated around him. I'd reaped all that I could from him what felt like only minutes ago, my hands quaking only slightly to try and deal with the pressure of chakra. As he came in to view, I moved away from the workstation I'd been at, and begin to glide across the tiled floors of the compound, losing all knowledge of the other woman even being in the room. With my heels still hitting against the floor, a dress flowed in the soft wind that was generated by my movement. And empire-waist gown, with a black and white upper section similar to that of what I previously wore, latex-like in fabric, clung to my arms and to my chest, preventing any skin from showing as it always did, the Kusagakure shinobi band faithfully tied around my neck. However descending down from my assets came a waterfall of soft, silken fabric, pouring down close to the floor, the trademark black heels I wore only barely noticeable beneath the layers and layers of white. With such light material gliding alongside me and with incredibly animated hair which bore the same weightless qualities, I moved across the room to him until I could feel the same unnatural pull desperately seeking for me to close in and feed once more, but I rejected it to the best of my ability. He'd managed to secure me so much euphoric bliss through his chakra only hours ago, after all.

As his arms opened up, I too would respond in the only way that I knew how. Already having been in close quarters, I moved forwards, allowing myself to become entrapped within his arms as I slowly drowned beneath the aura of chakra surrounding his form, easing my mind and pacifying my thoughts. Whilst not siphoning at the moment by any means, simply being so close was enough to satisfy the small, compelling bites which had overcome me. Though wordless, I breathed, my head gently hitting the top of his shoulder as I embraced both he and the addictive qualities that he provoked.

"Did you miss me?"

"..Every .. moment, I- ..."

I whispered to him, the same desire still rife in my voice as my eyes closed with my head comfortably resting on his shoulder. However, taming myself, having noticed my grasp having become perhaps too tight on the man, I released my grip, and pulled my head back to gaze directly towards the mismatched eyes which lay behind the porcelain mask. With the entire room dissapearing, leaving only he and I, I exhaled heavily once more before furrowing my brow, and pushing myself to snap out of the haze that I kept descending back in to when close to him. He'd.. come back. But for what reason? Was he hurt? He didn't appear to be at least, but it didn't stop me from being concerned. Keeping my gaze locked on the Uchiha, I turned my mind back to the woman elsewhere in the room at the moment - an Etsuko, but clearly a Hyuuga by her appearance. Of course, from the words I'd exchanged with none other than Soratsu in the past, I'd be wrong if I didn't guess that she was the wife of whom he had previously spoken about. But why? I hadn't questioned her, nor Kouketsu about their sudden arrival in the compound.

And that's when I remembered, his voice sounding in my ears.

"..I came here to warn you of what might happen to my village. It's just a gut feeling, but I'm sure the day will come where we will have to pay for our role in the last war.."

With the soft fabric of my dress pressing against his form, I continued to stand in close proximity, although I'd adopted a much more concerned stare than I had previously as I dragged my mind back from its confines and back to reality, the bright, unnatural lights of the compound shining down on the three of us and illuminating everything in my gaze. "..What's wrong?" I'd ask, confronting his unexplained answers. "Why - why is she here - what's happened, Kouketsu?" Whilst I had an inkling, I didn't expect it to be so soon. I'd merely spoken to Soratsu a few weeks ago where he'd given me the warning but I had thought that it was only some doubt in his mind, nothing that would truly come to bloom and instead simply a figment of his imagination having been blown out of proportion. Had something happened to Sunagakure? Despite the close relationship I now bore with the Uchiha before me, which had withstood various trials in its time, Soratsu was the closest thing I had to a friend, when not counting the shadow before me. I needed to know. Despite the blissful mindframe I'd been in, Kouketsu of all people was aware of how easy that could change, and with so many doubts planted now from the current situation in regards to what he had been doing and where he'd retrieved Beppin from, I began to worry.

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[Ichi]

My nerves were a wreck.

Honestly, half of me wished that Kouketsu would have just left me in Sunagakure to fight alongside Soratasu. Waiting here with Blanche-- though she was nothing short of wonderful company --was absolute torture for me. I couldn't stand worrying about him; worrying about whether or not he would return to me, as Kouketsu promised he would. While I didn't doubt the mysterious Uchiha's power, I did doubt how valuable he proclaimed my husband was to him.

Where was he for Soratsu after the war they'd started? Where was he, and all of his power, when the only man I'd ever loved was nothing more than a vegetable gazing out of a window?

I'd been the one to take care of him every morning and night - me. And when he needed me most-- no, when our village needed me most, I was forced into hiding.

I watched Blanche and Kouketsu embrace each other much like I wished to embrace my husband, fidgeting with my hands and biting my lip anxiously. Sora wasn't with him-- but, he didn't seem bothered. Doubt crept into my mind, but only for a moment, before I dashed the thoughts to nothingness; I had to believe he would be alright. But, sometimes your emotions get the best out of you.

"Where is he?" I blurted before I even realized my mouth was moving. "Where is Soratsu?!"

[NARRATOR]

So many questions.

Releasing Blanche from his tender embrace, a hand rose to delicately cradle the curve of her face in the cradle of his palm. The mask leaned in closer, pressing the cool porcelain to the smoothness of her forehead for several moments; then it slid off to the side so that his voice would ease into her ear alone. "I hope you didn't believe all the nasty things Nagato said about me, my love." A smirk broke beneath the mask. "I'm sure someone as evil as he described wouldn't assist a man like him in his darkest hour."

Naturally, he knew that he had nothing to fear. Their relationship, while unconventional and awkward at times, was absolute. He was as much a slave to her allure and exquisiteness as she was to his; addicts to a drug that only the other possessed.

Moving past the golden haired goddess, the masked phantom made his way to an empty nearby table. "It would appear as though our dear friend Nagato bit off a little more than he could chew. The forces of Iwagakure invaded Sunagakure tonight, for the part Nagato played in the Second War when we assaulted Bakudon Gai during the Chuunin Exams and the village of Iwagakure thereafter." Looking up into the dim light of the ceiling, he tilted his head. "Sunagakure is now fully occupied by the nation of Tsuchi no Kuni."

Walking around the table so that he faced the two women, his eyes scanned the area. "Thankfully, I managed to find Nagato before any Iwagakure scouting parties could. I'm not sure he would have been able to do anything in the condition he is. He should be awake now."

The whirl of force erupting from his right eye consumed the area before him, ejecting a figure from the center of the void. Nagato's body touched the cool steel of the table softly, resting flat on his back beneath a husk of light radiating from above. Fully emerged from the pocket dimension of the phantom's eye technique, the vortex that seemed to tug and pull at reality itself, distorting the surroundings, ceased. "Blanche, my dear, I'm sure a woman of your talents can assist our guest." He was sure to stress the word now that Nagato was present; he wanted the boy to know his previous words, when they were alone, was more of a promise than a threat.

Taking his stand at the wall, crossing both of his arms, he casually waited. There would be time for talking after the Kazekage wasn't a smoldering, bruised bag of injuries.

[Apple]

From the heat that radiated from my skin, I felt somewhat of a chill as his covered forehead then pressed against mine to speak such soft words in to my ear. And it reminded me - of all that had been said those few weeks ago within the village between myself and Soratsu. Even at that point in time I didn't doubt the idea that Kouketsu had surely been watching, listening to each and every word that we spoke, and as he now responded back to me in such a way that suggested so, I could only assume that I'd been correct from the start. But.. could I believe him? I didn't want to - but everything he'd said had been so.. believable. I could remember the bitter rage I'd felt towards him after learning about my brother, how much I wanted to skewer his guts and tear him limb from limb. But so enveloped in .. in this, hungering for chakra that only he could provide, I pushed myself to forget everything that Soratsu had said, for the sake of my own wellbeing. In a sense, I knew that this wasn't a lifestyle worth living. The more and more chakra I siphoned, the more I craved it, and although I was fully aware of this growing addiction, I couldn't bring myself away from it - away from him. And so in response, I said nothing, and instead simply kept my form close to his, the soft, almost shaky breaths of mine causing the most unnoticeable amount of condensation on his porcelain mask. Releasing as he pulled away, the familiar haze of chakra leaving alongside him, I watched hungrily as he moved a short distance away, elsewhere in the compound.

All during this closeless, I'd forgotten that Beppin had even been in the room, even with her questions, and as he moved away, the surroundings became so much more defined to my eyes, including the figure of the Hyuuga, her body language showing nothing less than feelings of anxiousness. Brushing back the liquid-like blonde hair that poured from my crown, I stood silent, both of my arms crossed below my chest as Kouketsu began to speak once more, detailing the events which had occured which had lead up to the conclusion of Beppin currently being in the compound, and his all-too- suspicious behavior. Needless to say, I'd already guessed what he now explained to us both, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next, after the irregular, almost abyss-like confines of his right eye poured out from itself, combusting in a strange, rotation-like way before dumping what seemed to be a corpse on the cold, metallic table. With a tone mixed between anger and surprise, I spoke; "Iwagakure? You mean Coco? She -" But before I could finish my words or even begin to distinguish what condition the body before me was in, a strong, pungent odor attacked my senses, my right hand instantly pushed up against my mouth and nose.

"- ..M-Mmph..!"

A muffled, undecipherable sound.

Hanging in the air, the thick scent of charred skin obviously disagreed with my senses. From the smell alone I could only guess that he'd been burned or - something more. He'd either been left for a while in such situations or he'd been the victim of a large explosion. Either or, the scent alone turned me ill, forcing me to swallow down what sickening taste it had brought on in my mouth. Turning from Kouketsu, Beppin and the burnt body that I could only guess was Sora, I collected myself before moving back to my original position. It was so.. strong. I was unsure whether or not the two around me could also smell it but it was sickening. Paying a gaze at him, my right hand was still protectively placed over my mouth as the sour taste still remained, provoking an intense feeling of nausea. Slowly, pacing myself, I approached to examine him with my hand still fixed on my face. The entire lower part of his body was swamped with burns, his clothing remaining but having not provided enough protection for what fate had overcome him. With the smell of the burnt, smouldering fabric combined with his burnt flesh which now resembled overcooked meat more than anything else, I felt my stomach churn once more, although I did well to close my eyes, and collect myself. Lowering my hands, I began to form seals.

"....."

The entire process had been somewhat lengthly but the nature of the technique required precision, and as I moved closer to the table, the odor only becoming more and more potent, I grimaced and then carefully, albeit shakily, placed my hands carefully on the warm patch where his solar plexus was, transferring a strong bout of chakra in to his body, to pick up on the injuries he'd sustained so that I could provide the correct care. My own chest rising and falling quite heavily as I tried to deal with the smell, I was soon relayed back the information I needed, moving my hands away as almost instantly after as a strong light enveloped each of my gloved fingertips. With Shousen called upon, I held my hands softly above his bloodied torso as I began to work towards fixing him. His form somewhat still, he was alive - but barely. He'd been lucky that Kouketsu had found him while he had, as the results I'd detected from his condition were quite grave. Exhaling, I then turned my eyes towards Beppin for only a moment or so, as if trying to read her expression to seeing Sora in such a grievous way, before flickering back to Kouketsu.

"..His.." A pause, as I swallowed the spit that had collected in the back of my mouth.

"..His body has been badly burnt from the middle of his torso downwards, and he suffers from heavy bruising amongst other problems. From ..the way that the damage is spread, I assume.. that it was some kind of explosive - although, something ..much more potent than a mere exploding tag.." I continued, my words spoken slowly to prevent my tongue from becoming knotted. Of course, it was nothing that I couldn't handle, but even I had to admit that the damage was quite substantial. Where average medics would take hours to take care of such damage, I assumed that, even with the hindrance of the scent distracting me even now, it wouldn't take too long. The procedure was simple; but bearing with the scent of burnt, blistered flesh wasn't - even the sight of it turned my stomach. But how had this happened? I trusted him enough not to get himself in to too much trouble but it seemed as if he'd been thrown right in the middle of it from the injuries he'd sustained, having been dealt what could have perhaps been a fatal hit. Focusing my attention now on the glow that came from my hands and, attemptedly, nothing else more, I fell silent - but not for too long.


"I can, without a doubt, fix this." A pause.

"..But it'll take a little while for him to recover fully."

At this point, my hair tumbled so elegantly down my back, my head tilted to the side slightly, just enough to see the Beppin's faded form as I spoke, in order to reassure her that everything was under control, my teeth pressing against the flesh of my mouth to prevent myself from vomiting all over Soratsu's sorry body.

It was, fortunately for him, a useful technique.

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

Horisageru no Karada (To Delve Into The Body)
Rank: A, 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 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]

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[Ichi]

I was envious. Not because of who the woman before me was with, but the fact that her lover (I presumed he was such) was there for her. My longing for Soratsu had become a bottomless pit in my stomach, and I found myself biting my lip so fiercely I actually drew blood. The anxiety raging through me did little to dampen my senses, and the metallic taste coursing through my mouth snapped me back to reality by the time they'd finished whispering.

Kouketsu began speaking on things I already knew (for Blanche's understanding, I'm sure), which only caused me to stand in anticipation as he rounded the corner of the table.

Then, in what felt like a blink of an eye, Soratsu was there. "Sora!" I yelped upon witnessing his condition, immediately rushing toward the table as Blanche began naming the various injuries his body had sustained. But, before I reached the table's side, I stopped.

Pushing my emotions aside, I knew that Blanche wouldn't be able to work properly with me looming over her shoulder. No, I had to give her space; she needed room to work and Sora needed room to heal. Besides, I'd seen him in far worse condition than this. He would be fine; he had to be.

"Who did this?" I asked, directing my attention to Kouketsu. My voice still shaky, but icy. "Which of the Tsuchikage's shinobi did this to my husband, Kouketsu?"

[NARRATOR]

The ghost's mask turned in Beppin's direction the moment she moved, though he did nothing to stop her. He was impressed, to say the least, at her self control. Most women would have been a sloppy mess of tears and hysteria had they seen their lover in such a horrendous condition. Yet, she remained calm -- as calm as one could be in such a situation, at least. Beyond a wife and lover, she was a shinobi; it was interesting to see how one's reserve never truly changed from their training.

However, not even the mask could hide the surprise in his eyes when she inquired about who had done this to her husband. He had half the mind not to tell her, but then again, what harm could it do?

"Bass," he replied coolly. "I believe I heard her call the shinobi who injured Nagato Bass. He's a rather interesting character. He uses infuses clay bombs with his bakuton chakra."

Refocusing on Blanche, the ghost made his way closer to the table once again. Standing at her side, he slowly removed the glove on his right hand. "Again, I'm just thankful that I was able to find him. He's rather difficult to find, with that Hiraishin of his." Delicately wrapping his fingers around Blanche's wrist, his chakra rushed through his fingers and into her body. Invisible waves of chakra gushed from his body and into her own, flooding the intricate pathways of her chakra system like never before. The sheer wealth and vastness was enough to kill her, had it not been immediately guided into the facilitation of her medical ninjutsu (a subconscious feat on her behalf). Still, the euphoric bliss she often experienced would have paled in comparison to this heavenly plateau she'd been elevated to the moment their flesh connected.

What would have taken hours to repair was hastily regenerating, vanishing as if the wounds never existed. It would still take several moments to finish the brunt of the work, yet, when it was over Blanche wouldn't feel a thing. Peeling his fingers away from her wrist, he remained close by, letting that same hand fall slightly below her navel. "He'll be fine," he assured both of the women. "We should leave them be, Blanche. At least for a few moments -- I'm sure they have some things to talk about. Lets go into the other room."

[Apple]

The same soft glow emanating from each of my long fingers, I continued to heal the man of the vicious injuries which plagued the majority of his lower body. Such beautiful, comforting light reflected on not only my hair, but also on waterfall of silk that the lower half of my dress was composed of, highlighting the craftsmanship that had been put in to it. Being the Kusakage, I was thrown wares to sample and to keep for the sake of advertizing - most of them I ignored, but seeing as I needed something more comfortable to wear, I found no reason as to why I shouldn't take advantage of the people's generosity. "....." Focusing solely on my work, I could, however hear both Beppin and Kouketsu speaking behind me, and for the sake of knowing what happened, I tuned in to them. ..Bass? I kept a mental note. For too long had I been putting off my meeting with Coco in regards to both of our villages but given the circumstances now, I wasn't sure how long I could last without condemning her for what she had done not only to an allied village of Kusagakure, but also, to my friend. The damage was clear before me, and although it hadn't been her doing which had scarred his skin in such a way, her grave decision to attack Sunagakure had nonetheless been the cause of it all. Of course, as a village leader and with other things to be concerned about, it, sadly, wasn't my place to victimize her. The relationship between the both of us hadn't been close, but at the same time, I hadn't expected her to take drastic measures for something that had long since gone. Refocusing on my hands, I shifted my position only slightly, in order to heal another section of his body. With the damage carefully being annulled, all that was left in its place was fresh, unbroken skin, a far cry from the burnt, crisp coating that his tender flesh had been left with after the attack.

Despite the fact that I was somewhat hunched over his body in an attempt to heal each and every section, I could see the dark shadow beginning to fall upon Soratsu's face as someone approached. Given Beppin's hesitation to rush up to him, it could have only been the Uchiha, and while paying keen attention to my work, my head tilted to the side that he approached on, watching as he removed a single glove as I repaired Soratsu's left leg, the broken scraps of fabric on his knees obviously having not given adequate protection against the explosion. With my head having momentarily turned back to Sora, I then shifted it over to Kouketsu again, and h-

".....!"

My eyes could only widen as his hand wrapped around my wrist, as it wasn't the original feeling of contact that stirred me, but instead the vast, greatly-amounting pressure that was placed on my body, pushing down on my insides and causing the intricate corners of my eyes to water only slightly beneath its power. Even as I used such an expansive amount of chakra for the technique I was using, the very nature of it amping up the specifics tenfold, all I could feel was pain, although had I not become so accustom, so dependent on it, then I'd have surely blacked out. I understood Kouketsu's reasons for generously giving what felt like double, or even triple what I had last been given, seeing as the healing process would have, without his aid, taken a while, but as each and every drop of chakra pooled in to my body from his soft touch, I felt myself needing more, despite the inhuman amount that he was channeling at the moment. Perhaps that was just how it all worked, but as I now worked, I could see the injuries disappearing before my eyes as I spread my hands across his skin. It was much unlike anything else I'd seen before in all of my years in the medical profession, and as he forcefully pushed more and more chakra to feed the technique itself, my vision blurred in and out and I painfully swallowed the remaining sour taste in my mouth. But even with this all, I felt so .. at ease with what was happening, my mind becoming more and more subdued as time went on. This, in its entirety, caused me to falter slightly from my work as my mind rushed to try and gather logical information past the euphoric haze which had descended upon me in recent minutes, but with all of the strength that I could muster in this disorientated time, I fought on, my hands alleviating the pain and damage from his right leg, the majority of the damage having been lifted by now. But of course - where I was concerned, my legs slowly became like Jelly, but I couldn't stop now. For only a moment I'd turn my eyes back towards Soratsu's face, healed from any reverberations that the explosion may have caused, before returning to my work. It wasn't long until I was finished - but it was too late. As I finished the procedure, making one more scan of his body to make sure that all of the injuries had been healed, I felt purely weightless, causing my balance to be misjudged. Because of such, I slowly teetered to the side, but managing to notice, I slammed my hands down on the metallic table, in order to hold myself upright. Before I knew it, Kouketsu's hand was then removed from my wrist, and I felt so ..tranquilized.

Even when pushing down on the table I could feel myself edging to the side. Turning my position slightly to face the man beside me, my right hand, the technique now disabled, sought to clutch in his arm for aid as I leaned in. The masked man would soon find my body beginning to lean so casually against his, until it was clear that my entire weight was pushed upon him to support me as I could only stand with the smallest of strange grins on my face, eyes long since closed. I felt his hand drop and and so calmly I followed it with my own, pressing my hand tightly against his atop the soft folds of my dress for the briefest of moments before my balance, again, was compromised by the overpowering feeling of intoxication that I felt. As I withdrew my hand, to now press both against his form for balance I permitted for him to keep contact as I listened to him speak, my head now positioned close to his own as I faced him with eyes still blissfully closed.

"We should leave them be, Blanche. At least for a few moments -- I'm sure they have some things to talk about. Lets go into the other room."



"..Of.. course.."

I whispered, almost as if short of breath. Despite this, I made no movement to leave, so wrapped up in the moment that I fell like a lifeless, golden-haired ragdoll in to his arms.

[/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 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]

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[NARRATOR]

The next room...

Ushering Blanche into the large, spacious room parallel to the room Soratsu and Beppin occupied, the phantom closed the door behind them with a soft click. This room was considerably lighter than the other, filled with rows of lights upon the ceiling and several lamps in favorable corners to optimal lighting. Glancing over his shoulder at the wooden slabs separating him from the aforementioned pair, Kouketsu waited for a moment, before finally stepping deeper into this new chamber.

"I've been doing some thinking," he began while removing the glove from his other hand. "I feel that, after all that we've been through together, that you've done more than enough to prove that I can trust you Blanche. So, I've decide to share with you my plans -- my vision, everything that I was attempting to accomplish with this war."

Next, his naked hands rose to his mask and removed the porcelain barrier, exposing his face.

"I met your brother during the First Great Shinobi War, in that very cave I took you to when you and I first met. We were both beaten and broken, starving and barely alive. I actually owe him my life, for had he not attacked me, I wouldn't have been able to unlock the final stage of my Sharingan." Kouketsu chuckled at the memory. "That same rush of chakra gave Uekyuuchi enough to siphon and sustain himself, and thusly, a mutual relationship was born."

Kouketsu's head tilted upward, his gaze drifting off far past the tiled ceiling. "Trapped there for several weeks by a truly terrible storm, Ue and I fought along side together, scraping by whatever food we could find and fending off any who might try to take our little haven away from us. And in that time, we shared our beliefs -- our goals and ambitions. In the end, we found that we both wanted nothing more than peace; peace for this world and all the generations of people that would come after it."

"So, we made a pact. He would help me become the devil, himself, to unite the world. I would acquire power in the name of uniting the all the villages of the world against me, to demonstrate that there was nothing that they could not overcome together." Slowly, he raised a hand to scratch the back of his head. "But, it didn't quite work out like that. After acquiring Kirigakure and beginning the war, I saw nothing that I had hoped for. The villages turned their backs on each other, and left one another to face the fury of my legion alone. So, rather than find my end at the hand of a unified blade, I conquered this world."

He paused for a moment to allow his works to soak in Blanche's mind, stepping closer before beginning. "I vanished after that. I had to-- learn, to try and understand where I'd gone wrong. I'd given them all the hate they needed; I'd pushed the entire world into a corner of desperation. And yet, these foolish creatures still refused to assist one another and left their brethren for dead. In my training during my time away, I unlocked a new power -- my new eyes," the Rinnegan fully manifested in both of his eyes now as he explained, "And a new truth."

Now within arms reach, he idly collected a handful of her blond hairs in his palm, twirling and twisting them around his fingers. "I realized that peace can never be achieved with such foul, disgusting creatures as shinobi in control of everything. I had intended on eliminating them all together, but-- it seems that they're still rather keen on killing each other. I've realized that I'm not needed to fuel the fire of hatred that burns in these unfortunate creatures' souls, and that, in time, they will destroy themselves. There is a storm coming, Blanche, one greater than any have ever seen... and I now know where I belong--"

"--here, protecting what is truly important." A weak, hesitant smile broke across his face. "I have done all that I can; accomplished all that my creator has wished for me to accomplish, except for one thing: a peaceful ending. I now know that I have an opportunity for that, just as Soratsu and Beppin have theirs. If he can find someone to love him, for all of his flaws and imperfections, I see no reason why I can't find someone to appreciate me in the same manner; I see no reason to ignore the chance."

"I brought Nagato here to be healed, and to say farewell. He and I will, more than likely, never see each other again." He smirked, shaking his head at the thought; after all they'd been through, and even the current animosity, the boy was like a younger brother. "I refuse to interfere with his and Beppin's happiness any longer."

Suddenly embracing Blanche in a tender hug, Kouketsu sighed. "I'm tired of being the devil, Blanche. I just want to be a man. . ." He fell silent, breathing in deep before speaking his next words. ". . . A man with a family."