All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Private)

[Kairyuu]

Blue eyes scan the city for signs of something, anything, that could lead him to his target. Wherever he went, whatever he said, Enzeru was at his core The Hunter that brought justice to those who were wicked. His target this evening was certainly one of the more damaged individuals that he'd heard of, a young man who escaped the confined of prison and leapt to embrace the chaos of murder. Enzeru could well understand that, the fact that it was all too often easier to kill someone than do things the right way. But he could not forgive it, he could not look at it and say 'this is a troubled man who needs help and nothing more'. There was a seed of darkness in all men, some planted that seed in barren earth and never let it grow, others watered it with the blood of the innocent and the light of evil and it became a twisted tree of agony for all who came upon it.

His eyes were, for once, behaving with their unique glow. When he focused, he could make them do as he wished on that front. Instead of the typical blue-on-blue tunic, Enzeru's form was covered with a dark green, nearly black robe of Kirigakure cut. It was the robe worn by those of the ANBU of his home, and it did well to hide him as he surveyed the street below. A mask adorned his face, in the visage of the Aquila chrysaetos, a bird of prey looking upon its foes with the piercing glare that he was known for at times. Black boots completed the ensemble, and what weapons were hidden under that robe could only be guessed at.

It was night, but the street below was well enough lit that he could see those crossing. Enzeru himself stood above the world atop the roof of a building in the Palais. His eyes, keen as ever, scanned the people below. Red eyes, constantly active sharingan. Dark hair, likely uncut and untamed. Pale skin, sickly looking almost. Covered with tattoos and scars. And a stare that could rival Enzeru's own when he saw his prey. Uchiha Jin, a man wanted for crimes that could not rest. Wanted dead or alive, but to Enzeru there was only one way this would be ending once he laid eyes on this man. Young he may be, but evil he surely was.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Sousuke sat opposite of his nemesis the hulking Inuzuka Shizune, and her boyfriend Hashigaki Maku. "You look tired. You haven't been sleeping since you and that handsome relative of yours fixed that problem of that storm on the surface."<i></i> Sousuke said nothing merely just returned the stare back at her. He blinked slowly. Shizune was the sort of person to bring up topics he really did not want to talk about. Childhood enemy she was. They never really got along. Even still they weren't best friends. The silence continued for a while longer until Sousuke sipped his coffee. "This isn't even considered an outing for you either to let loose and have fun. You're still on the job."<i></i>

Maku spoke up. "He is the Steward. He's always on the job."<i></i> Yes. Hashigaki Maku. He was a lawyer, and sometimes moonlighted for his clients as a vigilante. He was someone Sousuke kept an eye on. Shizune and him had been cleaning up the streets a bit. Funny how criminals turned to vigilantes. Everyone had a flaw. He stared in Sousuke's direction, while he was staring at Sousuke, the Steward did not feel the gaze upon him. It was a formality. Blind people always had others ways to see. Maku took off his glasses and produced a small clothe he proceeded to rub them. "Your friend is right though. Even I don't have to see that you're tired. I hear it too."<i></i>

Was it really getting to that point? Endless meetings. Building. Financials. Financials. Financials. Building. Sousuke finally spoke up. "Thank-you for inviting me to dessert."<i></i> He finally spoke up. He did not explain himself to either of his companions. The truth was Sousuke was sick. He had to keep appearances up, but he had to keep pushing himself forward. In truth he had been using an illusion to change his appearance slightly. Otherwise he would be sporting blue lines and circles across his flesh. An infection of sorts. Sousuke had kept his attention on his company, but something was eating away at him. A sort of weariness now. Sousuke turned his head slightly and looked out the window, he caught it but it was seconds too late. "Duck."<i></i> He said quickly as the diner was then rocked by a firebomb. Glass shattered, Shizune and Maku took cover. Glass sprayed across Sousuke, some of it he shielded with his metallic arm. The rest of his skin did not convert to plate quickly enough. Blood trickled down Sousuke's upper body. There was pain, and it certainly did hurt, but like everything else he had to push against it.

"What the hell?"<i></i> Shizune roared. Her features turning slightly more bestial. Sousuke motioned her to keep still. He stepped over the window frame.

"Check for survivors."<i></i> He urged his friend. Shizune growled. She wanted to have a fight. Not play on the sidelines. If that wasn't enough. Sousuke was then decked by a wooden boat of sorts transverse on a rolling water jutsu. This was a hit and run, but then again this also seemed like someone wanted to make a statement.

This was not a good day. This was certainly not a good night either.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Water. Enzeru took notice of it as people began to stomp away from the trickle coming down the road. A gentle blue glow flashes in the air before he controls his curiosity at who would waste so much water in the middle of a desert. But it began to get worse, the trickle becoming a flow and deepening as it did. This was something that got his attention, something unusual enough that he put aside his hunt for the young man and looked down the street to see what was going on.

The boat came down the road without a care, a sight that Enzeru could not make up if he tried. It looked like a pirate ship of all things, and to him it appeared someone was hitting the sauce and made a stupid dare with another idiot. But as it pulled alongside the building across the street from his own, an explosion sounded. The blast was powerful enough it rocked Enzeru himself onto the flat of his feet. Screams and cries called out from the building as the water below rose higher and higher. The ship moved on, but a rowboat was detached somehow from its side.

Enzeru rises from crouch and leaps out, robes flying in the air behind him as he clears the gap and comes down hard onto the smaller craft, his bow already freed from under those robes and ready to knock anyone on the craft into the water. Instead he finds it empty inside, but there is someone knocked silly outside of it. His hand plunges into the rising water and lifts the other out, nearly dropping them as he realizes who he holds.

”We meet again. Sadly not under such pleasant circumstances this time.” Should Sousuke wish he would haul the other into the craft and point to the departing pirate ship. ”I think I can help us get to that thing, but I've got questions about how the hell this is happening.” Blue eyes seem to glow with...not mirth but something. This was serious, but surreal. Handseals form as he drops the bow, and soon the water redoubles around them, moving swiftly from behind to push.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Sousuke was drawn up, he was coughing hard. He coughed up water. He listened to the voice that was speaking to him. "First impressions are overrated."<i></i> Sousuke said as he was coughing still. He gripped the side of the boat. This was something else entirely different now. His eyes narrowed. The firebomb was a distraction to put him here. "It's not a matter of how this is happening. That's easy. Controlled water jutsu from a specialist. Streamline down the intersection. The more interesting question is why which is that the spectacle of this makes people stand there dumbstruck. It's people like you and me who can put aside the spectacle of it and do what is required."<i></i> He explained. Sousuke shook his arm. This was something that needed to end.

Sousuke's eyes focused on the ship. "We need to catch up before they break through the main glass gate. Damage there would not be well, and could threaten structural integrity of the Palaias as a whole. They'll probably be firing projectiles at it to try and make it easier to break, considering the structure is thick... and I've had dealings with sand pirates before. They've attacked us, and overestimated us. I suppose their stunning defeat led to our underground becoming known and... this... is a combined effort of sorts."<i></i> He paused for a moment. Enzeru had full gear on. "I caught someone outside the diner I was in before the fire-bomb went off. Didn't get enough time to mind map the facial features. Given your eyes, I suspect that you would be able to tell me who it was."<i></i> Sousuke's metallic hand shifted slightly. The hand turns sideways as he placed it in the water. A twirling motion began as Sousuke proceeded to give them a boost to catch up. "I don't figure you have a line to use to get us onto that. I could try a plasma lasso and grab onto the rudder or an upper station and we could scale that."<i></i> They were catching up.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

It was a good thing the Kazekage could keep a sense of humor about things. People who lost that usually got left a hollow shell, emaciated by stress and life. Enzeru himself was just as guilty of such when he wore this mask, but without it he was free to be himself, and that was a blessing to be counted. Of course he knew the how, but for someone to do this required a degree of chakra and water control beyond the norm. He knew Sunagakure had enemies, every great village had enemies and the proof of this one's own was in the ruins that still littered the streets. Speaking of, the going was becoming quite a risky thing as the water got choppier the higher it went.

Still he kept their craft moving forward, bolstering it slightly with his amateur power over the wind also. It was not the fastest of things, but it was catching up to the other one. ”Indeed, not to mention if it goes, all of this water would flood into the rest of the city. Not the worst thing that would have happened to your home but one we can avoid if we act quickly.” He looks back to Sousuke as he also puts in to help, soon coming in distance of the ship. But well before the red haired youth would be visible to most Enzeru's blue eyes were aglow with righteous fury. And then he was tackling the Steward to the floor of their little vessel screaming ”Down!” as he did.

A crack sounded off, a chunk of the row boat’s hull ripping away. ”That would be the man I seek. Odd that a psychopath would align with pirates, but I've seen weirder in my day.” Many mistook insanity. They would say “Oh he's insane, he doesn't need a reason to do what he does.” and be completely wrong. Those who were insane had reasons, they had motives. While most could not determine them, Enzeru knew they were there. And once you got past the prejudice of the title, it became easier to try and work it out.

Discount the crimes of passion and Jin was leaving a straight enough trail. But this was an unexpected thing. He knew the man's next showing would be in the Palais but he had no idea it would be like this. Nor did he think the other would be with someone holding that weapon. Another cracked rings out as the ball fired from it hits the water nearby.

”No lines. But I do have some tricks.” He rises from the floor as the rifleman begins to reload, his hands forming the seals by memory as he drops the bow to the floor of their boat. Across the waves, the man with the gun grins and lifts the stock to his shoulder, sighting down the weapon's length at the robed figure in the boat. A shot rings out, the ball flying at Enzeru. And with a ping, it bounces off the crystalline figure suddenly forming in front of him.

A dragon, made of pure obsidian, takes shape before their rowboat. He leaps onto it, waiting for the other before taking off for the pirate ship.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Amusingly the concept of the Grand Palaias being flooded did not initially hit Sousuke. Well. Yes. There was drainage in the sewers, but this amount of water would be backlogged. Sousuke was knocked over by Enzeru as their ship was attacked. His companion remarked about this odd pairing it was. Captain Yotta most likely. "Odd? Yes... but Captain Yotta never works alone."<i></i> His eyes narrowed. Their ride probably would not be able to take another hit. "People will find allies where they get them... and you have tricks? Let us see them."<i></i> Lo and behold, Sousuke was surprised. Enzeru had summoned a dragon made out of obsidian. Yes. This was indeed a trick. A good one at that. As Sousuke jumped to the new ride, he formed hand seals. He formed a wall of stone to block off their exit route. The boat would then veer, very strangely, on a ninety degree angle. "Hrmm..."<i></i> Sousuke would pat the dragon to suggest it to veer in line with the boat. "Not natural. Obviously. I don't have an answer to this. I will need to investigate the boat's make up."<i></i>

Sousuke was thinking. How best to stop a vehicle with this sort of movement? It had just pulled a ninety degree angle turn. Ah. Yes. Sousuke would begin to make motions to create a summoning creature. He was projecting the point of entry to be earlier. He had to guess where the boat would go. Five, four, three, two, one... the summong circle appeared on track and on time. Ken the Hercules Beetle would kick up water as he was summoned before the boat. The giant would place his arms forward and stop the boat from moving forward. "Enzeru. Meet the mighty Ken."<i></i> The ships cannons were then turned upon his summoned, and were fired. "Alright. His carapace should be able to hold for a while. Forward."<i></i> Their ride would get closer to the ship. Once within safe jumping range, Sousuke would jump onto it. Once on board, several guns were turned on Sousuke, he would twirl attack once cutting most of them in a way that would cause their opening shots to malfunction. Not that the pirates would be aware of such, until they fired.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Captain Yotta was a name that he recognized. Enzeru frowns as he tries to figure out what a desert bandit would be doing steering a pirate ship down the streets of Sunagakure, but again he has definitely seen weirder in his time. ”I’ll keep an eye for her then. Brown hair, green eyes, dresses odd. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to show her true archery.” It wouldn’t be fair to say he memorized the entire bingo book, it would be more fair to say he did not forget often. While many would consider such a memory a blessing, to Enzeru it meant there was always something missing in his life, some element that he couldn’t even fathom.

The dragon circles around the boat as Sousuke begins his own jutsu. The wall was a good idea, but the boat simply danced around like a ballerina pirouetting. Blue eyes narrow behind the mask as he sees this, his frown deepening at the sight. Bullets begin to rise from the boat and chip away at his dragon’s form, but it was far from taking the beast down just yet. And then a massive beetle rises from the water and grips the boat tight. As cannon bounce off his shell, Sousuke leaps down and does something intriguing.

Enzeru has little time to see what as a loud crack sounds out and the bullet slams into his shoulder, flinging him from the dragon and into the water below. Without direct guidance, the dragon itself proves to be nothing more than rock, following its last orders and circling the ship. Enzeru breaks the surface, blood flowing from the hole in his shoulder as he uses his good arm to paddle to the ship and focuses chakra on his feet to climb up it. Even as he goes his hand glows a warming blue and he places it over his shoulder, staunching the flow and knitting flesh back to flesh. It wouldn’t give him complete use, but it would allow him to use his bow as he desired.

The rifle comes over the edge to aim down at him, and he grips it and swings up, pulling down as he does. The rifleman barely gets a scream before falling into the depths beneath. And the dragon, once more seeing its master, wings down and exhales upon the end of the ship Enzeru is on, opposite from the Steward. No fire springs forth, instead a rain of obsidian shards come down. And then a red haired man can be seen easily slipping between each burst before sending a jutsu at the beast and felling it with ease.

Well…he had found his target.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Enzeru's Obsidian Dragon fell several of the pirates. Yet... still more managed to come out from lower section of the decks. Each of them coming out with pistols trained on Enzeru on Sousuke. Uchiha Jin and Capatain Yotta doing no less the same. In the short time Enzeru had been with Sousuke, the Steward had noted he was a ranged figher. His response time was good, but with this many firearms trained on both of them it was best not to tempt fate. Secondly Kimi wouldn't really forgiven him if something were to happen to him. Well the latter assessment of the two was assumed, but it was something of a good one. The clicks of several weapons could be heard. "Duck. I'm going to roll backwards, and soak in this gunfire. Damage to my frame should be minimal... moderate at worst. Kimi wouldn't like it if you were full of holes. Me on the other hand? Well. I'll be fine."<i></i> He instructed. Should Enzeru lesson, Sousuke would indeed roll backwards. As he would do so he would gather the shadows around him and form a cloak. The cloak would shroud both himself and Enzeru. Due to the quick and sudden movement, their enemies would indeed open fire. Enzeru was shielded from the gunfire. Sousuke was known for having atonishing durability. As the enemies emptied their clips into the great shadowy Shroud Sousuke stood resolute. Jin and Captain Yotta could only stare at their target endured their attacks.

While it was undisputed that perhaps some bullets did puncture Sousuke's armour, some of the bullets merely fell down. How many did actually break his defence? Well that was not the matter of concern here. The pitter-patter of bullets could be heard for a moment as they fell on the floor. Beneath his shroud Sousuke merely gazed at the two criminals. They had far more to be concerned about. The Steward stood before them, wounded, but how much time did they have to reload before he or Enzeru unleashed hell back at them? The Steward flapped his cloak shrugging off more bullets, and revealing Enzeru and more importantly the archer's time to strike back.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Enzeru’s frown at the assortment of weapons aimed in their direction had more to do with figuring out how to get out of this and less to do with the fact that guns were about to be unloaded into his form. It was a testament to his upbringing that his thought process put his life well after finishing the mission, but that was simply how his father and later teachers made sure he saw things. Enzeru was a tool to be used by the right masters, nothing more. And while he wore this mask, that was exactly how his mind worked.

At the word from Sousuke, the young shinobi follows along, ducking down and beginning to form a complex series of handseals as he does. He could hear the gunfire empying in their direction, and he could also hear the bullets hitting something around him. ”Can’t let you get hurt, she wouldn’t forgive me either.” These are the only words he says as the bullets finally slow and stop. And then the world was revealed to him once more, and his eyes burned with a brilliant blue hellfire for those two he saw.

Flashes of pure light escape from the confines of that cloak, the light itself damaging in its nature, brighter than looking directly at the sun. Enzeru rises as the pulses of light end, leaving the wanted neer-do-wells smoking slightly from the power of justice. And then he finishes those handseals he’d been working on.

A crash, a crack, tearing sounds rise from the hull of the ship as Enzeru steps back swiftly and brings Sousuke with an arm a step behind him. The deck underfoot ruptures as a massive orange-brown tip breaks through, then the rest of the spire of amber rises before them, a monolith to the righteousness of their cause. And the flames within it quickly setting even the wet wood of the pirate ship alight as the spire rises more, snapping the boat in twain and leaving them on the end with their targets.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

The major destablizing force had been stopped. The boat was destroyed and fire littered their imminent surroundings. The fire did not last long, but the battle ahead would. Sousuke armed himself with the Black Blade. All that remained now was their targets the Uchiha and the Slaver. Both of them startled slightly by the play the two had enacted earlier which put them now in their current position of stillness. "Well. That solved alot of destabilizing issues."<i></i> Sousuke watched as Yotta drew a cigarette out of her jacket and lit it up from a burning peice of wreckage. She was not amused. She threw away her firearm from earlier, and drew a scimitar. Jin on the other hand he did not thrw away his weapon. Merely he seemed to be channeling chakra into it. Sousuke was left to make his conclusions that the Uchiha was going to now be using elemental rounds. This new technology of ranged combat was ever evolving and on a very short level too. The teenage terror seemed to be altering himself too as his dark runic tattoos seemed to become animated. "Cursed Seal."<i></i> Sousuke warned his companion. How far did he have mastery over the seal? They would find out.

While Jin was certainly the more dangerous of the two, Yotta too seemed to be spawning similar effects of a Cursed Seal. The pirate took to melee combat, to which Sousuke answered. The captain and the Steward were trading sword strokes. Sousuke fighting more defensively and not letting any of her attacks get close. It was almost musical, the sound of metal. Sousuke's Black Blade was more than a match. Her weapon showed no signs of weaking though... it was then Sousuke noticed a maker's mark on the weapon. It was his own sigil, that of the horse with stars above its head. Slaver, and now master thief it seemed. The pirate and himself continued the dual. Sousuke beginning to gain ground going forward. Jin would aid his partner in crime by opening fire. This time his rounds were fire enchanted. Sousuke kept the foreground. One of the shots made contacted and exploded. Yes. Explosive rounds. Sousuke's defense still maintained, but it only stood to reason more than he could not lose ground. He had to give Enzeru some room to keep going forward. The shot hit Sousuke in the shoulder. Damage was present, but the armour remained in tact, a testament to Takahashi Fire-Forged Steel. While Sousuke did have a slight disadvantage again this new found armament, it did not give halt to his progress. He continued to push forward, more and more sparks were flying as scimitar met long sword.

MFT 447

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Hey now, all you sinners….best your lights on, put your lights on.

If his goal was to amuse them, he failed. But it was not, instead it was to make sure these two understood the consequences of the sins they’ve brought upon others and themselves. He watches impassively as the two drew up before them, not quite shocked but not altogether calm either. He frowns as they draw their weapons, his eyes moving between the two. This needed to end, and soon. Their crimes cried for justice, and he would help bring it upon them with a righteous fury. His eyes glow with a powerful blue light as he pulls his bow from his cloak, gripping tightly to the crystalline weapon.

Hey now, all you killers….put your lights, put your lights on.

The action began immediately, his own partner leaping into melee against the pirate captain who drew a blade that looked more well made than anything a pirate should have. A blade that well made was definitely above many a person’s pay grade, and he could only assume she stole it from a victim. His eyes were locked on Jin, however. The cursed seal changed things slightly, for the man was already known to be quite deadly without it. He could only hope that Sousuke could hold up while he waited for his own moment. Then Jin turns, firing exploding rounds at Sousuke, and from the smoke Enzeru finds his opening.

Cause there’s a monster living under my bed….whispering in my ear.

As the smoke covers his form, arrows fly out rapidly at where Jin was moments before. The Uchiha simply grins and uses his weapon as a makeshift shield to parry them out of his way, finding the ANBU through the dissipating smoke with ease. At least he’d drawn the double teaming off of his companion for the moment. Enzeru bursts through the failing smoke, firing arrows at the Uchiha who easily ducks under them or steps around them, returning a volley of bullets that the Kirigakurian must himself dodge around. For the first hectic seconds they trade fire, arrows and bullets flying through the air and more than once colliding. A testament to the training of a shinobi that those arrows which found a bullet knocked the smaller pieces of metal far off course.

There’s an angel with a hand on my head….whispering in my ear.

And then Jin’s ammo runs out. Enzeru, however, still has plenty of arrows to him. As the other opens the cylinder to begin loading more ammo, Enzeru simply grabs several arrows from his quiver and begins firing them in rapid order, his hand never stopping as he pulls and releases, the same motion a prelude to the hand loading up the next arrow and following it. And with a triumphic grin, the archer watches as the man dodges one too slow, the arrow entering his throat and sending him to the ground. As Enzeru stands over the corpse, it explodes into smoke. His head snaps up even as Jin drops a camoflouge behind him and brings the pistol to his head, firing without hesitation directly into the defenseless combatant before him.

There’s a darkness deep in my soul….I still got a purpose to serve.

As Enzeru’s body pitches to the deck, it similarly explodes into a cloud. Jin, however, is much quicker to react, spinning around in time to find the true Hunter behind him, an arrow pulled so taut the crystal of the bow screams in agony. And that arrow was aimed true….at Sousuke’s back and through him Yotta. ”DUCK!” was the only warning given before he releases the missile of death. Should his comrade do so, it would with luck be aimed true at the pirate captain’s own chest. He has no time to check as Jin unleashes fire once more, forcing Enzeru to respond with a tried and true method of evasion. A log appears in a burst of dust where he was, two of the bullets sending it spinning as it falls. As jin begins to look around for his foe, he would find nothing. Enzeru, where he was, learned long ago the trick of hiding in plain sight. And the patience of the hunt.

We all shine like stars….then we fade away.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Sousuke continued to fight the captain. While he was not absent minded of his surroundings, it seemed that Jin was giving his partner in crime fighting a difficult time. Sparks continued to fly as Sousuke traded blows with the female pirate. Sword crossed. Yotta took to a kick to which Sousuke veered left to dodge. Thankfully he did so as she was wearing spikes. Yes... yes indeed. She tried a forward thrust, which again Sousuke dodges, but veering right this time. He opened up with a kick to her mid section which pushed her back quite some feet. She didn't seem happy with the distance made between the two of them. Luckily this was in time for what Enzeru had to offer him. Sousuke heard Enzeru, and reacted. The Steward ducked bringing with him his cape of shadows. A twang was heard and a curse word was uttered. The arrow shot by Enzeru penetrated Yotta's chest, and from the curse word uttered, it was more than likely a killing shot.

</COLOR>

SO LIVE FOR TODAY, AS TOMORROW NEVER COMES.​

<i></i>

Jin was none too happy with his comrade falling. He began to twist, and turn. His bones were cracking as he was seemingly transforming. Sousuke knew what was coming next, and based on his elevated combat skills from before, he did not want to deal with a transformed Uchiha Jin. Enzeru did not seem like he was doing well. Sousuke sheathed his weapon took to hand seals. He summoned a metal golem, instructed it to grab Enzeru and run... for there was good reason. Sousuke unsheathed his weapon and charged at Jin. He tackled him and shoved him into the wreckage of their ship from before. In particular where the gun powder was... Jin being used to using fire jutsu, and smoldering from his transformation ... well it didn't take a genius like Sousuke to figure out what was going to happen next. Luckily Jin was wrapped up in the moment, and the young genius of the Uchiha clan did not mind his surroundings. Sousuke himself had caught fire himself before he slammed the youth through the hull of what remained of the ship. Before the explosion went off the remains of the ship turned to crystal glass. From within fire danced about. For a split second it seemed like the structure was going to shatter, but luckily the explosion was going to be contained... and that it was. The glass structure held well, but then collapsed from the inside.

Two figures would come onto the barging onto scene. One was masculine and dressed in black, he had the upper part of his face clothed, and covered. Not enemies, but friends rather. <COLOR color="blue">"The smell. Gods this is killing me."<i></i> He muttered. "Sousuke being responsible for everything is going to be the death of him. Man needs to get a will and a power of attorney in place. At least his lack of legal counsel is better than having a sleezebag."<i></i> uttered Hashigaki Maku. The man stopped and listened for a heartbeat.

"SOUSUKE!"<i></i> cried the second individual. She was hulking, canine like in features. This was Inuzuka Shizune who called out to the wreckage. Upon receiving no response she turned round about. "Hey you there. Yeah. You! You being carried by the golem."<i></i> She called out referring to Enzeru. "What the hell happened here!?"<i></i>The wreckage stirred. Something was still alive in there... at that moment Shizune struck a battle posture. The Hashigaki on the other hand had yet to do so yet... why though? Seemingly he knew something that the Inuzuka battle-maiden had not.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

His arrow apparently rang true, for his ally summoned forth a large golem creature to join the fray. Enzeru grins as his henge falls, the kawarimi log suddenly rising into his form with two holes in his chest where the bullets had in fact hit true. As he brings his bow up to fire, he notices the odd angle that the golem was choosing to approach. As Jin began to twist into further corruption, it looked like the thing was instead running for Enzeru himself. The hunter has time to begin the word ‘what’ before it snatches him up and leaps overboard, the immense weight taking them down into the water below. Enzeru struggles to break free as water closes in around him.

And then he felt it. A blast from above, the shockwave through the water. And the level began to lower, oxygen coming with its departure and allowing him to breathe once more. Enzeru breaks loose of the bonds of iron that held him soon after, watching as the ship, now a crystal thing, sunk down to the ground. As two people rush in, Enzeru reaches for his bow and manages to get ontop of the hands of the still grasping golem. One of the people begins to talk about Sousuke taking over everything, the other questioned Enzeru about what happened here.

And then something stirred in the wreckage. Enzeru kicks free fully now, landing upon the water-soaked road and rushing to the ship. ”Pirate attack! Now c’mon! That golem is still moving so Sousuke is alive in this mess somewhere!” He had no idea who these people were, but he knew if they were here to help they had best get to it. Enzeru, meanwhile, was using chakra to bolster his strength to begin heaving part of the glass ship away from the main body. If he uncovered Jin he would probably end up with more bullets in him, but as it was he doubted Jin would have survived that.

As he finally uncovers enough to get to the Steward, Enzeru steps back. His breath comes in deep pants as blood soaks his robes where the bullets hit and the wound went unattended. Enzeru lifts a hand to his headset as he motions for the other two to see to Sousuke. ”Don’t move him yet. I’ll get a medic here.” He presses the button on his set and speaks, his voice coming in between the gasps of air he has to take in. ”Kimi, this is Enzeru. I am injured as is the family friend we met after I helped you out on our first meeting. We’re in the Grand Palais. Please come prepared to administer aid.” After looking around a brief moment he gives details of his surroundings before slumping down and digging in his robes for something.

Finally he pulls free a mask, frowning as he realizes one of the bullets went through it. Well shit.

 

[Hoshirei]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

A call for help rang out from her headset, ”Kimi, this is Enzeru. I am injured, as is the family friend we met after I helped you out on our first meeting. We’re in the Grand Palais. Please come prepared to administer aid.” She immediately stopped what she was doing (filing paperwork) and gave it to the nearest MiT. She radioed back, "Mednin Nekozuka responding. I am on my way. Hold tight, and if anyone is bleeding, staunch it as best you can."

Kimi quickly gathered her kit, and gathered her tigers from their waiting area. She chattered at them in cat to let them know what was going on. They were immediately focused and ready to go. One slightly mad dash later, and they arrived on the scene of what she could only describe as a war path. A giant beetle, possibly a summon, holding up a ship, water everywhere -- you don't see that every day in Suna -- and there was also fire, great.

She noticed three people standing and one on the ground, two of those looked to be in near perfect condition, and the third standing was more than likely Enzeru. She saw a shock of purple hair poking out of the rubble on the ground. The Medic immediately rushed over and looked over the four of them. She noted three bullet wounds in non-fatal areas, and looked over the other two. They really were perfectly fine, besides being a bit waterlogged from their apparent journey over. Sousuke smelled a bit like the beetle, so she figured it was his summon, she would leave it be, for now. Once she finally got a good look at Sousuke, she couldn't help but growl.

"Sousuke, you baka! I swear when you wake up you are going to hear it from me! You need to stop getting burnt!" she growled as she made her way over to their Steward's unconscious form. "One of these days I won't be available to heal you and where will you be then, eh? You're so lucky I have Kashiro, or your butt would be burnt for much longer than it's going to be!"

To the outside person, this might seem a little odd, a young woman yelling at Sousuke, who wasn't Yume at least, but anyone who knew the relationship between the two, knew that she counted Sousuke as almost an elder brother, though she had never said that out loud.

She knelt beside him and breathed in and out deeply. Her irises slowly marbled the purple gaining veins of blue. The chakra around her hands matched in almost a greyish tone, denoting it as medical jutsu. Kimi efficiently scanned the man, and while she thought, asked Enzeru a couple questions.

"What has been done for him and for yourself? I saw the three gunshot wounds, how long have they been bleeding? Are the bullets still in the wound, or did they go through and through? Oh, and you'd better sit down beside me. I know you know how to use mystical hand, and I might need you to heal some of the more minor injuries, if you are up to it." She really wanted to keep him awake, and talking to Enzeru would help her to gauge just how much blood he had lost and how much adrenaline was still in his system.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Shizune was staring off at Sousuke's summon who was merely staring back at her. The Inuzuka woman scratched her head. So. Sousuke had friends like these? That was ... swell... "Pirate attack huh? That's... something unique."<i></i> She said as she turned back to Enzeru and now a medic who was shouting at Sousuke. This seemed quite natural, really, even with the beetle here. She shot Maku a glance who seemed to be silent and just drinking in the occurrences. The masked Hashigaki was harder to read. His expressions were more neutral, something more along the lines of Sousuke. The two simply stared on as Kimi worked her medical magic.

The Steward continued to lay there unconscious. In a few moments he came to. His lenses lit up green, and he blinked a few times. His ears were ringing from the explosion, so most of what Kimi said came out warped and garbled. Judging from the expression on her face, she was most likely angry. This was usually the typical thing to have happened to him after a major fight in which he got hurt. More to the point ... well ... the exhaustion of it all was weighing in. He didn't make any sudden movements. He merely laid there and began to create a list in his head of what he had to do next. Report. Clean up. Report. Go back to planning surface building. Report. Report. Request for resources from Akamichi Nobu. Accept resources. Begin next project. Keep a tab on news for potential violent uprisings. Report. Inspect the new building. File the new building. Rinse and repeat. There was no time for rest in this timeline. Sousuke had to keep going, and even this was a setback, albeit it was an important one: maintain some aspect of social ability, but then proceed to go fight criminal agents in the streets. It was all part of a plan: to make Sungakure a better place. This task was most demanding. He had been burning the candle on both ends, and of course there was one thing he kept secret about was his illness. Luckily his faceplate had remained intact. "I need a better tailor. Flame retardant gear would have most likely been useful. Oh wait. I am my own tailor, unless I'm wearing casual clothing, in which mine is mostly handmedowns from Kuro and is shrunk to my size."<i></i> Some attempt at light Kuro to ice the burn always helps.

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

He relaxes as she responds to the call, his eyes moving to the others who arrived after everything. It was a bit late to put the mask back on to hide his face from them, and from how well they seemed to know Sousuke he had little doubt that they were trustworthy enough not to go ratting out to the world about seeing a stranger in Kirigakure robes running about blowing things up. Granted the blowing up part was more Sousuke than him in the end there. Still, help was coming which was the important part.

”Yes, pirates. And a young man named Jin who was quite deadly with his insanity.” His blue eyes looks back at the woman, his eyes giving a piercing stare that many compared to a hawk looking at a meal. In this case it wasn’t something he had much control over since he was currently losing his grip on several things thanks to the wounds in his chest and shoulders. The one was healed over just enough to give use, but the others were not, and only one had gone through. Which he knew meant that he had a bullet lodged somewhere in his chest and his left shoulder still.

Kimi’s arrival was a blessing; it gave Enzeru a chance to find a wall to lean on a bit away from it all. The water level was finally going from minimal to zero, so he was almost considering taking a seat but then his gracious host proceeded to chew the unconscious Steward out to such a degree that it made him pay some more attention to what was going on there instead. As she began to work her chakra magic, to him at least, upon the other she would speak to Enzeru himself.

”Him? Nothing. I have no knowledge or skill when it comes to burns. I doubt my minimal ability can do anything there.” He pushes off the wall and walks over, giving no indication that he was currently seeing two of her because of the loss of blood. He sits down near enough and begins speaking once more. ”Me, well mystical hand was used on the one in my left shoulder. The bullet is still in there and yes I know you’ll have to take it out. There is also one in my chest, I don’t think it hit my lung…or at least it doesn’t feel like the last time something did that. The one in my right shoulder went through.” He looks down at Sousuke, finally awake and speaking, and gives a mirthless chuckle.

His eyes catch her own as he shakes his head at her last bit. He was in no shape to go doing any healing at the moment. While he hadn’t taken quite the injuries of Sousuke, the ones he did suffer had been bleeding for a time and he overworked his chakra reserves with that massive amber spike and the unleashing of his innate spirit earlier. He might have enough for a very minor healing jutsu, but even that would threaten him with the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.

And he had no intention of that happening to him here.

 

[Hoshirei]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Kimi looked over Enzeru as he spoke and didn't like the way his eyes seemed to be glazing over a bit. She was completely fine with him not aiding in healing, after all, she just wanted him to remain speaking. She quickly glanced over to the other two and jerked her head to ask them to come closer. Once they came close enough to hear, she queried, "Could one of you help this one stay upright and help to staunch the bullet wounds? It wouldn't do him good to loose any more blood. Oh, by the way, this is Enzeru, he is currently staying at my family's compound." She finished by tossing a pair of gloves and a roll of gauze to whomever took over Enzeru's care.

Sousuke woke up and spoke, complaining about his tailor and the Nekozuka heir couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just don't use any of that asbestos crap, it'll give you cancer. Oh, and you should know that my father has a surprise for you. Said he'd give it to you the next time he saw you." Her father had grown tired of seeing Sousuke wearing hand-me-downs and had ordered some clothing that should aid the man. "Of course, you'll need to take it easy for a couple of days, there's only so much chakra healing can do."

As she had been speaking, Kimi finished the chakra healing and was spreading burn cream on Sousuke's chest and arms. "Do you have any idea just how lucky you are that none of these burns were higher than second degree? I'm not sure if you realize it now, but you'll feel it after all that adrenaline goes out of your system. You'll be sore for quite a while. And try not to pop any of the blisters like last time! Takes longer to heal that way!" she groused and moved to flick his mask softly. "Now, all that's left is for me to wrap your chest and arms, and you'll be good to go for a day in bed, two of paperwork, and three more before I want you in your lab or fighting any battles unless you can't help it. Got it, mister?"

With one purple eyebrow raised, and her lips slightly pursed, she would look a bit like her mom did when she healed someone from their family, not that Kimi knew that for herself. She glanced over at Enzeru again, not at all happy with how ashen he was looking. "And you, Mister Enzeru, will be on bed rest for at least a day if not more. Do you remember what blood type you are?" Oh how she hoped he would remain conscious until she could get a transfusion or two into him. If he didn't she might just have to do an operation here, and that wasn't something she wanted to do unless there was no other choice.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Shizune exchanged a glance with Matsu. Shizune was somewhat self-aware. She wouldn't like some girl putting their paws on her squeeze, and so it would be the Hashigaki to attend to Enzeru. For the best too. She might accidently crush the man by accident. The blind man caught the gauze and approached Enzeru. He stood there for a moment drinking in what his eyes could not see before him. He heard the heartbeat, the air from the puncture wound, and the inner workings of the human body. The masked man began applying the gauze bandages to the archer. There were one minute incraments. Matsu knew the human body, but it was from ... well ... dealing with the seedy underbelly from it all. Funny thing the number of pressure points when hit properly ceased the flow of blood to the brain. "Enzeru? Pleasure."<i></i> Matsu introduced himself as he finished up staunching up the wound. "That bullet wound is your shoulder.. I think it's lodged close to the upper part of your shoulder. I can hear it well and clear. Would be a messy job to rip it out now... and even I'm not sure how to get that taken care of."<i></i>

Sousuke listened to Kimi. "I will undertake to visit your household sooner rather than later."<i></i> He then had to listen to the scolding and instructions coming from Kimi. After she finished her instructions and doctor's orders, Sousuke fell silent for a moment. "No time to do that. The Steward of the realm has no limits, and can't afford to know about them either. Not when we've finally reclaimed the surface, and we need to make a transition to the surface."<i></i> It was Kimi, along with several others, who advised him that living underground was far too dangerous given the Cabal's attack. "I've got to review the building schedule in forty minutes. Then I need to request for building materials to be moved to the surface twelve minutes after. Then I have to oversee the building materials being transported and that we're not attacked by any raids or beasts from above. "<i></i> The Steward would go on at length about his schedule, which would go accordingly to twenty-four hours from now. Not in between did he really reference a time to sleep. He referred time to eat, and spend time educating his son in between but literally it seemed that his day was full of appointments.

"Even the get to get together at the diner out, that was an appointment?"<i></i> Shizune asked. The hulking Inuzuka raised an eyebrow at this. She never really noticed until now that virtually every single waking moment was planned for the man she used to bully as a child. "Why didn't you bring Yume?!"<i></i> She too was now scolding the Steward.

"She's on the evening shift."<i></i> He answered. "I take it Koichi approves of Enzeru? Otherwise... well..."<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

Trust a doctor to know when he was playing tough guy for no real reason beyond pride. Well, that was unfair to his subconscious. It had several reasons hammered into it since he was a child why others came first, but he was breaking those chains and freeing his will from the shackles of slavery to a village that no longer stood. As she asks one of the others to help him Enzeru just smiles and watches as the man steps close, noting the woman kept a distance. Interesting, he could only assume it would end up being something bad if that changed.

As the man bandages him with gauze and mentioned hearing a bullet in his shoulder. Mental note filed for the rare genetic trait and likely blindness in this one then. ”Messy, but it has to come out. I trust Kimi to be able to handle that. She’s as good as any medic I’ve met in my life. He left it unsaid that he’d met many. The life of an ANBU in service of Kirigakure was not the safest one in the world, and this was far from the worst injuries he had sustained in a single mission. Granted, he had more to lose now than he ever had before.

Kimi was chewing out Sousuke some more, and the Steward seemed to be explaining to her that he couldn’t do what she said. Enzeru shakes his head as the man speaks, reaching a hand out to the other and tapping him on the forehead. ”Trust me when I say this, but it does no one any good to go on as if you have no limits. I might be stepping over some boundaries here, but everyone should take at least an hour a week to just….I don’t know how normal people handle stress. Scream into a pillow? Punch a wall? Either way, trust me, it helps.”

He struggles to his feet for a moment, only to shrug the robes off his form and use his feet to form a nice little blanket on the ground, immediately lowering himself onto it and using his slightly more useful arm to rummage around in the pockets of it. While he was no medic, he did keep some small items on hand. Herbs, powders, medicines of some sort. Bandages, needle, thread…aha. He pulls out a scalpel and a pair of forceps and sets them beside him, closing his eyes for a moment. ”Kimi. I think it might be best to do the removal here.” He doesn’t say why, that he was worried he would soon succumb to the darkness even now gnawing away at the edges of his vision.

 

[Hoshirei]

Re: All You Sinners, Best Put Your Lights On (Mission, Priva

At Sousuke's retort, Kimi couldn't help but sigh. She was glad that Enzeru agreed with her, and decided to whisper one last thing as she finished Sousuke's healing. "I know you don't need limitations right now. I appreciate how hard you are working, but what use will you be to us if you kill yourself or are killed because you are exhausted. I only ask that you take care of yourself, so that you can take care of us. And yes, my father approves."

With that her eyes caught Enzeru setting up a makeshift operating table from his robes and became worried about her beau. She quickly grabbed her bag and moved to kneel beside Enzeru. A growl to the tiger twins had them keeping an eye on Sousuke, and available to help him sit or stand up, preferably just sit.

The Nekozuka heir made sure to gently, though still rapidly, remove any fabric from Enzeru's chest. She noted two holes, just like he said, they were almost at each shoulder, though the one in his right side made her wince a bit. He was extremely lucky the bullet hadn't hit a lung. One water jutsu and her hands and the tools were clean, a pair of gloves later, and she was prepared to perform surgery. She pulled out an IV and saline solution.

"Do you want something to bite on? Speak now, or forever hold your peace. Oh, and not sure if you are okay with needles, but you're going to need one to stay hydrated until we can get you a transfusion. It's a flex-needle, so you'll be able to move your arm." At this point, she would be okay either way, but needed him to just stay awake. As he answered, she would clean the bend of his elbow and quickly slide the needle into his vein. Kimi then looked toward Sousuke's friend. "Hold the solution for me?"