The Lake of Commerce was a vast and sparkling body of water. During the summer months, it often was the heart of festivities and..you guessed it..commerce. However, at the present, the stalls were shut down and abandoned, all merchandise packed away for later in the year.
Ishiaki lead Rath here, he knew it would be abandoned right now. It was certainly the safest place around to have a battle the likes of which they would hold. There were no civilians about to get in the way, not here, not now.
It didn't take Rath long to catch up with the swordsman, despite the infuriatingly annoying little girl who persisted to jab him with a stick. Thus far, he ignored the girl, but if she insisted, he would destroy her. He would not have her interfering with his much wanted battle.
"Wait for me!" the clone of
Tsu was rather effective, though it moved slower than her as it darted along to follow them "I want to play too!" She was still waving that stick around as if it was a sword.
Kami had not yet caught up to Ishiaki Sensei and Rath and was not aware that Kano was following her. She was running on blind determination, intending to protect her sensei.
Kano hadn't a clue where they were headed, but he was trying his best to keep up. He wasn't about to let Kami rush head long into a fight between two jonins of legendary status like Ishiaki and this Master of Blades guy.
Rath groaned as
she appeared behind him again. "How do you put up with this, Itsy? She's worse than you ever were!" He didn't want to simply strike the girl, his blades were meant for only this one opponent. Only for the man standing before him.
As much as
Tsu wanted to wave the stick around and yell exactly what acts- she did to Ishiaki that made her so bearable, but she wanted to remain sounding like an innocent young girl for now. Take him by surprise and all. Instead, she made a stab towards Rath with her stick.
The only trouble in catching
Kami was that she was much faster than Kano.
Rath spun about and caught the stick before it had a chance to poke him once again. "Enough already! I put up with your annoying prodding all the way here, girl!" He snapped the stick in half and wrench it from her hand.
Ishiaki grinned and crossed his arms, it wasn't very wise tot ake things from Tsu...
"Hooray! You're playing!"
Tsu's clone yelled as he wrenched the stick from her hand, letting it go rather willingly. Out from her sleeve, attached to the end of the stick that she'd been holding in her hand, started to emerge a long string, with explosive tags sizzling along every few inches. "Play!" Tsu said quickly, suddenly starting to run quickly around and around Rath, using the fact that he was holding the stick to wrap him up in a string covered in explosive tags.
As the string closed in around him, Rath brought his arms up, letting the string grow taut against his armor. "I will
not play with the likes of you." He told her simply as he allowed himself to be tied up by her string.
"Tough!"
Tsu said, spiraling away and bowing low as the last of the string came loose from her sleeve and Rath was caught in quite a huge explosion from the combined tags that were all around him.
The explosion shook the earth around them, sending ripples across the lake.
Ishiaki shielded his face with his sleeve as debris flew outward from Rath's location.
The Master of Blades appeared behind the crouching little girl and jammed his bladed fist through the middle of her back. He leaned down and grinned behind his mask. "Did you really think I would allow a clone to stop me from battling this man?" He lifted his arm up, bringing the little girl with it. He turned about, letting her see Ishiaki. "No one will stop this fight."
"Eh, you're boring." was all the clone of
Tsu said before disappearing into a puff of smoke. At least he'd shown himself a bit now. He was angry. Angry people made mistakes. And he'd been busy attacking Tsu's clone.
"Still quick to anger, I see."
Ishiaki told him with a wide grin. He uncrossed his arms and drew the sword from his scabbard. He would wait until Rath was ready before attacking, he did owe him
that much.
"You're one to talk, Itsy." Rath replied and adjusted the gauntlet on his arm, lifting the girl by it had not be a very wise move, but she didn't weigh very much regardless.
Kami reached the clearing before the lake and had to grab onto a tree before inadvertently launching herself into the clearing. She stopped and gathered herself. She knew Ishiaki Sensei was going to be mad, but for now incurring his wrath was worth it. She decided to stay out of sight for now. Maybe she could find an opening later and use the water to conduct her lightning, maybe giving Ishiaki the upper hand.
"You know, if you're really wanting this, you must issue the challenge, Rath."
Ishiaki told him. The sword could only truly be won during the challenge. If Rath had truly come all this way for the sword, he had to be ready to issue the challenge.
"I know the way it works, Itsy. That sword should have been mine!
I was, and still am, the better fighter, it is my right." Rath exclaimed, the fury only having festered and grown over the years since his banishment. "I, Rath Cohan, the Master of Blades, hereby issue the challenge to
you, Ishiaki Hirameki, the Blind Swordsman, on the grounds that you are unworthy of wielding the Sebuno tsurugi."
Kano landed in the tree, almost falling from the branch that Kami was sitting in. He was panting and clutched on the bark desperately, not wanting to fall. "By the gods you're fast..."
Kami grabbed him and hauled him onto her branch. "Shhh." she hushed and crouched low in order to stay hidden. "I think this is the reason the caravan was ambushed." She whispered. "So Rath could get his hands on Ishiaki Sensei's sword."
"Really?"
Kano asked as he crouched low beside her. "And you thought it best to ignore your sensei's orders to find this out?" He asked her curiously
"I accept."
Ishiaki replied and with a blast of speed, he was
on the Master. The force of his momentum pushed the man backwards. The clash of their blades echoed through the field.
"No... because he could get killed."
Kami said. "I... I can't let that happen."
Kano nodded, "And I couldn't let you go without backup."
The two combatants moved all along the field, great blasts of chakra and energy exploding all around everything. The two of them were moving so quickly that the two observers would have a very difficult time following the course of the battle.
"Come on."
Kami said, grabbing Kano by the vest and drawing him along the treeline so they could keep up.
"I don't think this is a good idea..."
Kano complained as she drew him along. The battle was progressing, the wind whipping into a bit of a gale as the two swordsman fought. "Can you even see him?" He had to shout
"Sort of."
Kami said over the gale. She had gotten used to fighting in wind and rain.
Ishiaki shoved away from Rath violently and backed his way to the water's edge. He was breathing heavily. There was no need for talking, nothing he could say would make Rath resign, besides the challenge had been issued. There was nothing either of them could do.
Rath was glad for the brief respite that Ishiaki had granted him. He too was panting, and truth be told, it pleased him to see that his opponent was as well.
Kano pointed, "Looks like their taking a break?" He looked at her skeptically. "That's weird, isn't it? I mean, who takes a break in the middle of a fight?"
Kami heard Kano but she was suddenly taking off her weights. She handed them to Kano. "Wish me luck." She said and suddenly blinked out of sight. He could see the long grass parting around her as she darted at full speed for Rath's turned back. A blink of chakra later the lightning blade filled her hand and she struck at Rath's back crying, "LIGHTNING BLADE!"
Rath didn't even have time to respond.
Ishiaki was there in a flash and grabbed Kami by the arm. He spun her around Rath, not letting the chakra blade strike him. "Kaminari!" He said hotly, angered by her interference.
Turning about and tilting his head, Rath looked at the two of them. He set his swords against his shoulders and observed what was sure about to be a show. All the better, it would provide him with a little rest, while Ishiaki clearly had just expended some additional chakra in order to save him from that attack.
It sounded as if a thousand birds were chirping around them as Ishiaki subdued
Kami and held her arm safely away. The blade still crackled from her palm, live and vital, waiting to be used. She'd never seen Ishiaki move so fast. At her own speed they must have connected extremely hard, but she'd not felt the impact. "Sensei!" She winced, feeling his hand tight on her wrist. "Why? I could have had him!"
"I told you to stay with the caravan."
Ishiaki told her darkly. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair. He turned and looked up at the tree she had sprang from. "Might as well join us, Mr. Kurosaki. You can't hide from me."
Kano blanched as he was called out. He gathered her weights to his chest and jumped from the tree. Wincing a little from the impact, he bowed his head, "Sorry sir...I thought it best she not come alone..."
Ishiaki sighed and released Kami's arm. He turned and looked at Rath apologetically
. "I cry your pardon, Rath. Would you mind if I took a moment to explain to them?"
The Master of Blades gestured a rolling motion with his hand. "Take all the time you need." He was grinning inside his helmet. The longer it took to explain, the better. He could get a drink from the lake and regain some much needed strength and chakra. He sheathed his twin swords and walked away from their group. Normally, it would be unwise to turn one's back on an enemy, but under the Rules of Engagement for the challenge, he was perfectly safe. Ishiaki was forced to save him from all harm, just as he was to save him. All harm, that is, except for that caused by their opponent.
Kami lowered her arm as Ishiaki released her. She dispersed the lightning blade, regaining the chakra since she hadn't used it. Her wrist hurt. It was the one she'd broken when she'd punched Akane in the Hunter's village. She tried to ignore it, but they had collided rather swiftly. She looked angry, but her pride wounded. "I almost had him." She said again. "This could have been over, we could be regrouping with the others."
"There shouldn't even be a we, Kaminari." Ishiaki told her, she wasn't the only one angry. He was sorry if he had injured her wrist, he had to move quickly in order to stop her from striking Rath. "You were to remain with the caravan. I knew that it would come to this. As soon as the Shimagunikage told me that Rath was among the Masters, I knew he would issue the challenge."
Kami looked worried. "Akane diverted the caravan onto a hunting trail. They'll be fine and..." She closed her eyes, knowing he had none, but feeling his gaze any way. "And you're too honorable. You'll fight him and follow all the rules. He'll do something. He'll break the rules and where will we be? Guarding a bunch of greedy merchants and we won't be able to help you." There were tears in her eyes, but she wasn't crying. They hung to her lashes, reluctant to fall.
Ishiaki shook his head slowly. "I appreciate your concern, Kami. But you do not know him as I do." He sighed and held up his sword for her to see. "Everything that he has become, has been to prove himself worthy of this." He looked at her, his expression softly slightly. "He has issued the challenge. I must protect him, as he must protect me, from all outside forces. I apologize if I hurt you, Kami, but you must not interfere again."
Kami's lips were tight. "This is stupid!" She shouted, sounding very childlike. She didn't care about her wrist, it would heal. Akane could heal it. What she cared about was her Sensei.
Kano had no room to talk, he had disobeyed just as much as Kami had. He was sure to get in just as much trouble from his own sensei when they finally rejoined them.
"No. This is how it has always been." Ishiaki attempted to explain. "The Sebuno tsurugi must be won by challenge. As I won it, and the swordsman before me, and the one before him. Rath was to be given the opportunity and I...I was an arrogant child." He said with a loud sigh. He looked down at Kami and frowned. "I stole his chance."
A little of her indignation faded at that, but this wasn't the place for lengthy explanations. "I..." She closed her eyes tightly and one of her tears finally fell. "I'll obey your instructions Sensei..." She said, bowing, the other tear dropping from her eyelashes.
Ishiaki's face softened and he placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "Do not cry..." He wanted to say more, but the longer this took, the more difficult it would become to win. "Mr. Kurosaki? Please, take her to a safe distance. The two of you may watch, but do not interfere."
Her face rose and she looked hopeful. She wiped her face of the trail left behind by the tear that had gone down her cheek. "Does he have to kill you?" she asked suddenly.
"He will surely try, but the challenge does not require death." Ishiaki explained to her.
"Don't let him." Kami told him. "I... I'll not interferer to that point. If he beats you he beats you... that's fair enough, but I won't let him kill you."
Ishiaki smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way, Kami. Now please, go with Kano and keep a safe distance." He nodded and headed over to Rath.
Kami watched him go and turned back to Kano. "Come on."
"You want your weights back?" Kano asked her curiously as they started to move away from what would certainly become a battlefield soon enough.
"No." Kami said, but she took them from him and tossed them over her shoulder, carrying them easy enough. "I won't wear them, if I need to move fast again I don;t want to be burdened down. But I will carry them."
"I had no problem carrying them for you, Kami." Kano told her simply. He'd carry them always, if she were to ask him...
"You ready now, Itsy?" Rath asked with a wide smirk as he lifted his helmet from its resting area. "Or did you want to get a drink first?"
"Quite ready, if you are." Ishiaki told him with a nod. He unsheathed the Sebuno tsurugi and looked at Rath patiently.
"Your students have spirit Itsy." Rath said, looking amused. His amusement was hidden as he lowered his helmet onto his head. "I dare say that little girl has a crush on you... remind you of any one?"
"Leave her out of this, Rath." Ishiaki cautioned, things had not ended well with her, and his opponent knew that just as well.
"She trusted you too." Rath said with a smirk. "Perhaps you should call the blue one over and we can explain to her how misguided her trust in you really is?"
"She trusts in me because I am her teacher. Much has changed, Rath." Ishiaki told him and then gestured for him to start. "One thing never will though. You will not claim this sword."
Rath smirked. "It is already mine Itsy." He claimed boldly.
Ishiaki seethed at the way he kept using his childhood nickname. He was anything but little Itsy any more. He charged the man, bringing his sword up for a high arch across Rath's chest.
Rath blocked him easily and deflected the blow around and to the side while he came in for a slash beneath Ishiaki's left arm. He caught only fabric but the cut had come close. "What's a matter Itsy?" He asked chidingly. "Is the truth getting to you? Shall I tell your students how you stole the Sebuno Tsurugi?"
"I have hidden nothing from them. If they want to know, all they must do is ask." Ishiaki told him as their swords clashed again. He pushed the man back, trying to keep their fight away from their bystanders, not wanting to accidentally harm them.
"You've hidden nothing but look at their surprise when I call you a thief." Rath said, his toes dragging the ground as he relented to Ishiaki's push. He knew Ishiaki had no eyes with which to see, but his chakra sight was far keener than any ninja's physical sight.
Kami looked angry and perhaps a little hurt. She didn't like thinking of Ishiaki as a thief, but she didn't know what happened. She thought that if the truth didn't come out during the fight, she would ask herself. She didn't want to loose faith in her Sensei, but if his honor and renown was built on lies and deceit, what kind of a man was he any way?
"They're doing a lot more talking than fighting...aren't they?" Kano asked her curiously as he watched. He was expecting some sort of huge and flashy battle, but it was more like the two swordsman were trading blows with their words rather than their blades.
"You act as though you are my better, Rath. At least I have not become a mass murderer." Ishiaki reminded him coldly and slashed across the man's front.
Rath frowned, enveloped the Sebuno Tsurugi with a block and redirected the attack, spearing the tip of his sword into Ishiaki's shoulder. He smiled at the reddening of blood from his sword point. "I am your better Itsy." He growled. "You've just yet to see it... Oh, right, you can't. You're just an eyeless freak aren't you?" He twisted the blade, smiling as the tip ground through muscle and flesh. The twist would keep the wound from closing.
"SENSEI!" Kami shouted from her position in the trees beside Kano. Her hand clamped tightly down on his shoulder.
Kano couldn't help but wince when he saw Ishiaki take the hit. His hand went to hers as it clamped down on his shoulder.
Ishiaki's voice broke as the sword dug into his flesh. He preferred to keep a strong face on, but it was rather difficult to, especially when Rath twisted the blade like that. He groaned and pulled his shoulder back, away from the blade, crying out as the honed edge tore his skin even further.
Rath let Ishiaki retreat, knowing that a wound to that particular muscle grouping would diminish his ability to wield the Sebuno Tsurugi. "You've gotten old Itsy." Rath chided. "You've gotten slow. I never would have gotten in such a genin level hit like that in your youth."
Ishiaki grimaced as he reached his hand up and applied pressure to the wound. His hand glowed with the faintest light of chakra as he preformed a medical ninjutsu on himself. The wound closed immediately, and he could feel the muscles reknitting, but it would take time to be able to move it effectively again. "You're older than I, Rath. It's just a matter of time before I land a blow, despite your armor." He cautioned the man and took the sword in his left hand. He couldn't trust his right to do as he ordered for the moment.
Rath frowned as he watched Ishiaki heal himself. "It looks as if you have learned a few tricks since our parting." He told him. "You may land a hit, you may land a dozen, but Sebuno Tsurugi will be mine and I will cover her in your blood."
Ishiaki rolled his shoulder, wincing only slightly. "You've yet to defeat me in a challenge, Rath. What makes you think this time will be any different?" He surged forward, again shoving the man back towards the lake. Getting him to the water wouldn't mean an easy victory, they were both from the Crashing Waves, they were both water ninja. But if he could get him onto the water, his focus would have to dwindle slightly, maybe give him an opening.
Rath, perhaps sensing Ishiaki's strategy was reluctant to allow himself to be pinned in near the water. Ishiaki pushed and he rolled, placing Ishiaki in the position he endeavored to put Rath in. As Rath rolled, his sword slashed with the same momentum towards Ishiaki's back. His cut endeavored to slice through Ishiaki's back plate and through the mesh-mail beneath.
Sending a burst of chakra to his back, Ishiaki repelled the blade and surged forward, running out across the surface of the lake.
"Clever..." Rath hissed to himself. He could stay here, or he could meet Ishiaki on his own turf. Rath knew water jutsu, but it was not his strong point. He preformed a quick hand sign and announced, "Cleaving Blade!" And slashed down toward the ground as if Ishiaki were directly in front of him. This caused a surge of sudden chakra slicing down across the beach in front of him and the surface of the water. Where the jutsu hit the water, it went away. Simply gone from beneath Ishiaki, leaving nothing for him to stand on.
When the water vanished beneath him, Ishiaki sent a burst of chakra through the soles of his feet and stood on thin air. "You'll have to do better than that."
Kano's jaw dropped when he saw Ishiaki stand out nothing. "Is he..." He couldn't even find words to express.
"I really want to learn how to do that." Kami whispered at Kano.
Rath growled and slashed upward, sending the water that had vanished from the lake suddenly shot up, intending to slam Ishiaki from beneath.
Ishiaki brought the Sebuno downward and slashed through the wave he had sent upwards. "You want the Sebuno so bad, Rath?" He asked with a smirk as inspiration finally struck him. "I'm going to give it to you." He sheathed the sword and brought his thumb to his mouth. "All seven of them." He tore the skin and drew blood, running it down the length of the scabbard, activating each of the summoning circles along it.
"You're a fool." Rath hissed as one by one seven swords appeared around Ishiaki and began to orbit him. "You'll waste all your chakra trying to use it that way. All I have to do is wait you out. You'll grow weak and I'll have it when I take off your head."
"You're the fool if you think I'd give you the chance to wait." Ishiaki explained and reached out, grasping two of the hilts, despite the untrustworthiness of his right arm. "Kaji Tsurugi, Kaze Tsurugi. Blaze Firestorm Tempest!" He declared, slashing through the air with the two swords. A burst of wind chakra funneled out from the Kaze tsurugi. When he brought the Kaji tsurugi forward, the wind ignited in a fierce blaze of fire. The fiery funnel cloud roared downwards at the Master of Blades.
Rath's eyes narrowed, but he wasted little time in admiring Ishiaki's attack. He ran forward, towards the water's edge, onto it's surface and into the direction of the oncoming jutsu. Just as they would have collided, he dove beneath the surface of the water and swam, avoiding the jutsu all together.
Ishiaki grinned and exchanged the Kaze tsurugi. He brought the blade forward and aimed it at the water. "Roar Raikou Tsurugi!" He called forth great streaks of lightning from the sword of Raiza, samurai of said element. (otc:saying lightning twice in the same sentence sounded weird lol) The bolts surged downward, as was their nature, seeking the highest point directly beneath them. The lightning did not have far to travel before striking the surface of the water, sending the electricity crackling throughout the lake.
When the attack finally dissipated an eternity passed before anything happened against the surface of the water. A simple cord of wood floated to the surface. Behind Ishiaki, Rath's sword slashed down across his back with enough force to rid him of his pesky armor.
Ishiaki groaned and was pushed downward by the force of the attack. He felt his armor splinter and the breath was knocked from his chest. He gasped and spun around, the orbiting swords shimmering in the air. He set the Kaji tsurugi and Raikou tsurugi back into their places and grabbed two others. The one in his left shone with the brightness of the sun, while the one in his right seeped with the very darkness of the night. "Illuminate, Taiyou Tsurugi! Eclipse, Yami Tsurugi!" The light from the Taiyou surrounded Ishiaki, it's healing power mending the splinter in his armor, as well as the tightness of his shoulder. The darkness from the Yami reached out, chilling the air about them until they could see their breath.
As the light enveloped Ishiaki, Rath made a common mistake by forgetting that Ishiaki wouldn't be blinded. As the light overtook them, Rath tried to remove Ishiaki's head from his shoulders, knowing he would be vulnerable while he couldn't see.
Ishiaki blocked the blow with the Taiyou, brushing Rath's blade aside and thrusting the Yami tsurugi upwards into the man's chest.
The blow struck, but through Rath's armor, it slid, deflecting a blow that could have killed him. Yami tsuguri slid between the plates and found flesh, what had been a pierce turned into a slice, but a very painful one and he retreated, feeling blood fill his armor. It hadn't killed him, but it would hinder him.
"You should have blocked that, Rath. Now who's getting slow?" Ishiaki taunted him. The Yami tsurugi was the most troublesome blade in the arsenal, it hungered for the kill and would eventually take control of its wielder in order to achieve it. The darkness about the blade rippled and writhed. "It's tasted you, Rath. There will be no escaping it now."
Rath snarled. "It may taste mine again, but I will drown it in yours!" He attacked with fury, which made any fighter clumsy. He protected his wounded side by moving left, keeping his right elbow tucked.
Ishiaki shook his head slowly as he moved aside, smacking the back end of his hilt against Rath's right arm. "You don't understand, Rath, the Yami tsurugi's power is the poison of darkness." He twisted and brought the Taiyou around, smacking his blade with its length. "You have already lost."
The force if Ishiaki's blow felt like thunder against Rath's blade. Ether the day was growing darker or the blade's poison was working in him already. "I will not let you defeat me." Rath growled, continuing moving to the left to save his wounded right side.
"The longer it takes you to realize I already have, the less chance you have of surviving." Ishiaki warned him. He didn't want to see the man die, least of all, as a result of his own hand. Enemy or not, Rath Coghan used to be a friend... The pulsating darkness about the Yami inched up along Ishiaki's arm like tendrils, he was approaching the limit for using the blade. The Taiyou would protect him, but for how much longer? "Surrender Rath. Until you know what these swords are capable of, you'll never be able to defeat me."
Rath didn't intend to drop to his knee, but he did and the surface of the water beneath him grew unsteady with his dwindling chakra control. He began to sink and behind the slits in his helmet Ishiaki saw a flash of fear. His sword dropped as he placed his hand on the water to keep from falling over, his fist still clinched tight around it's haft. "Itsy..." All the rage and fury were suddenly gone from his voice and he sounded almost like the boy Ishiaki had known as a child.
In a flash, Ishiaki replaced the Yami and the Taiyou with the Mizu tsurugi and the Kaze tsurugi. Slashing downwards with both swords, he combined their powers, "Blow Ymir's Gale!" The air grew bitterly cold and the surface of the water froze solid, ice forming all around Rath. He lowered the blades as he drifted down to stand before his opponent. "Do you yield, Rath Coghan?"
"I... I..." His voice was small and panicked. His other knee dropped to the ice. He was breathing hard, sounding as if the dark poison inside him were working fast against him. "Itsy..." He was shaking, seemingly unable to say much more than the name of his old friend. He was dying, that much appeared certain.
Ishiaki released the Mizu and Kaze and lowered himself to a knee as his hands sought the Taiyou. "I must have your word, Rath. If I save you before you say you yield, how can I trust you will not attack me again?" His voice was soft and caring. He did not want to be responsible for the man's death...not at all.
"I... I ye..." He looked as if he were trying, trying with everything in him to yield to Ishiaki. He clutched at his chest, one hand suddenly gripping Ishiaki's shoulder as he tried not to die. "I ye..." It happened like the flutter of a birds wing. A duck flapping water from it's wings in a simple sudden snap of movement. A kunai, a simple and uninteresting tool among the blades wielded here today suddenly sank into Ishiaki's chest by Rath's hand. With gritted teeth and trembling with what rage hadn't been stolen from him by the poison, he twisted the blade and felt the wire mesh of Ishiaki's fishnet armor twang and pop beneath his tight fist. "I will never yield to a freak like you Itsy..."
Ishiaki's back twitched and he coughed as a spasm tore its way through his chest. The Seven Sword jutsu flickered and one by one the blades vanished. He fell to his knees before Rath and gasped, his chest felt as though it were on fire. The Yami vanished and then the Taiyou fell from his trembling hand, returning to the natural state of the sealed tsurugi.
"SENSEI!" Kami's voice was frantic as she saw Ishiaki fall. She tried to pull her hand from his to get to Ishiaki and found she couldn't release him.
"I've defeated you..." Rath whispered as Ishiaki bowed forward. "Even with the darkness closing in on my heart..." He cringed and his left hand fell on the Tsurugi's haft. "She has abandoned you..." He said, fingers closing around the handle as he twisted the blade in Ishiaki's chest an entire half turn counter clockwise, pushing Ishiaki onto his back and crowding over him as he fell. "And has claimed her new master..." He lifted the Tsurugi, triumphant despite his pain.
Kano's hand tightened on hers. He would not allow her to run down there. Ishiaki-sensei had strictly forbidden they interfere. It was painful to watch, but they could not go against his orders.
Blood oozed out around the kunai and Ishiaki groaned pitifully as he watched Rath take the sword that he should have claimed all those years ago... He couldn't help but smile, his friend was getting what he'd wanted after all this time, how could he possibly be mad?
In Kami's eyes Rath had cheated and Ishiaki had agreed to their interference in that instance. Had she not given Kano the hand that was attached to her newly cracked wrist, he never could have kept her there. "Let go!" She pleaded, "He needs us!"
Rath's laughter rippled on the water and ice around he and Ishiaki, he transferred the Tsurugi to his bloody right hand and held it, mesmerized that he'd finally gotten what was rightfully his. His heart beat began to rise and he attributed it to the adrenalin of obtaining his goal. Even when his heart fluttered, he paid no attention.
"Ha..happy now, Rath?" Ishiaki asked him weakly, looking up at the man he used to call friend. It was true, he had stolen the sword, stolen Rath's chance at claiming the legendary blade. But he hadn't done it with malcontent, he was simply a cocky child, arrogant in his power and abilities.
Kano watched the scene unfold and then looked over at her. "I.." His face softened slightly. "I don't think he'd want us to intrude..."
"Happy is not... a fitting enough word for... for what it is I feel right now It...Itsy..." Rath said, his breathing labored as he admiring what looked like such a simple sword. "She holds so many wonders... so much destruction..." It had claimed it's owner long ago in the eyes of a young boy. Ishiaki's theft was less so than he believed. "She's mine... finally mine. As I promised, she will bathe in your blood." He lifted the Tsurugi and let the weight of her blade carry her down, rotating his wrist till the back of his hand rested against her hilt. He placed the tip of her blade over Ishiaki's heart, just a few inches left from where his kunai had missed Ishiaki's heart.
"He cheated!" Kami cried, tears streaming down both cheeks, smearing her paint. "He cheated Ishiaki Sensei said we could! HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DIE!" She felt her already strained wrist twist and truly break as she pulled herself from Kano's tight grip. She fell to the ground with a pained cry and began to run, holding her arm against her middle as she tried to reach Ishiaki before Rath delivered his killing blow. "SENSEI!"
Ishiaki lacked the strength necessary to defend himself from such a blow.
Kano dropped from the branch and in a flash of movement, was standing between the Master of Blades and the blind swordsman. His kunai was in his hand as the sword came down for the killing blow. He grit his teeth and groaned as he pushed the sword away. "You've won! Leave him be!" He demanded boldly.
"Annoying little urchins..." Rath sneered down at Ishiaki. "You've surround yourself with weaklings in order to give yourself the illusion of strength... Maybe without you they can become something more than mirrors to your reflection..." he lifted the sword with both hands and prepared to take his blow. "Maybe I'll take them for my own... Teach them how not to die like their master." His body tensed, preparing for the killing strike, the sword came down... and his body froze. He had taken his prize. He had the Sword of Sevens, but he had taken it dishonorably and like a jilted lover she betrayed him in return. The poison which she should have healed him of, gripped his body in an instant. It saturated his veins and stilled him from her master. Rath's body, though alive still, would not let him deliver Ishiaki's blood to the Tsurugi. She did not want it.
Ishiaki coughed, a mouthful of blood spitting forth onto Kano's back. He groaned and, despite the extremities of his pain, he pushed himself up. His voice breaking as his hand closed around the kunai and pulled it free.
Kano couldn't stop his skin from turning a slight shade of white as the blade came down. When it stopped before his eyes, he thought he'd faint. He tightened his grip on his kunai and glanced over at Kami, "If you can, see to your sensei, Kami. I shall deal with the Master."
Kami crouched next to Ishiaki. "Stop." She said, pushing him down. He shouldn't even have removed the Kunai. She shoved a pill of some sort into Ishiaki's mouth. "Chew." She ordered, still crying. She pulled a wad of bandages from her tools and pressed it into the gushing chest wound.
"No..." Rath groaned. "No... I will have your blood!" But the sword had already killed him, he just refused to see it. "I..." The sword fell from Rath's grip though his hands had tightened around the haft. It's point stuck in the ice, but tipped towards Kami and landed against Ishiaki's right hand. "NO!" Rath shouted. "NO YOU ARE MI--... Mi..." In front of Kano's eyes, the trembling man began to evaporate into inky black smoke.
Ishiaki chewed on the pill and watched in horror as Rath began to disappear. He swallowed and his hand reached for the comfort of his blade. His fingers closed around the hilt and he pulled his sword to him once more.
Rath, Ishiaki's once boyhood friend and team mate vanished in a trail of inky smoke. The wispy trail that remained traveled to the summoning kanji written down the length of Ishiaki's saya. It bled into the ink and wood and in seconds was no more than what it appeared.
"The pill I gave him will stop the bleeding." Kami told Kano. "But if we don't get him to Akane he could still bleed to death. I don't think he has enough chakra left to heal himself. I can carry him." She turned back to Ishiaki and began to scold him. "You shouldn't have removed the Kunai." She told him. "You're a medical ninja, you should know better. It was the only thing keeping you from bleeding to death. Now look at you!" Tears were still streaming down her face but she shouted at him as if he were a child no older than they were.
"Taiyou..." Ishiaki said simply, weakly closing his hand around the hilt. There was no way they could make it to Akane before he bled to death. No way at all...His only chance lay in that sword.
"I don't think he can hear me..." Kami told Kano. "Help me get him up. My wrist is broken..."
Kano turned and regarded the man carefully. "Kami, I don't think we should move him yet. It might make it worse." He told her, kneeling down at her side. He knew very little in this field, but he'd take a few hits before. He knew sometimes it was best to stay put.
"T..Taiyou." Ishiaki repeated softly, his arm trembling as he tried to lift the sword.
"I'm not waiting here till he dies, Kano!" Kami shouted. "Help me!"
Kano looked at Ishiaki sharply, then held a hand up to Kami. "Stop shouting, he'd trying to say something, Kami."
At Kano's urging Kami finally shut up. With Ishiaki's head resting on her knees she waited, wondering what was more important than taking him to Akane.
Ishiaki groaned, both out of lacking the strength to lift the sword himself, and at having to repeat himself again. His voice was barely even a whisper now, his own time growing shorter and shorter. "Ta..Taiyou."
Kano wouldn't help her, Ishiaki was too weak to help himself and babbling. Kami covered her mouth as she watched her Sensei die. She didn't want the last thing he heard to be her frantic shouts at Kano for help. Oh god... she'd yelled at him. She'd yelled at Ishiaki as if he were a child. "I'm sorry..." She whispered behind her hands as tears spilled over her fingers.
"Sebuno." Ishiaki said weakly. He couldn't say much as all as his blood began to thin out. He wouldn't last much longer at all. Why couldn't she understand that he wanted his sword?
"Sebuno?" Kano asked curiously, looking over at Kami. "First he said Taiyou, and now Sebuno. What is he talking about?"
"Light..." Kami said softly. "Sword of light... The Taiyou has the ability to heal!" Kami looked beside her and grabbed Ishiaki Sensei's Saya. She was still learning to read, but she was certain she knew the symbol for light. She sliced her thump open on her ear ring and smeared blood across the symbol. "Summoning jutsu, Sebuno Taiyou!"
The saya hummed with answer to the summoning call.
Kano watched curiously, then leaned over to her. "It doesn't look any different to me."
"Work you stupid sword!" Kami shouted at it. She took it from Ishiaki's hand and placed the sword on his chest, then shoved Ishiaki's hand back to the hilt. Doing so left her hands drenched in his blood. Maybe it was his blood the sword needed. She smoothed her bloody hand over the blade and when nothing happened, over the symbol that stood for light. "Summoning jutsu." She said with less conviction this time, still trying to pour her chakra into the thing since Ishiaki's was gone. "Sebuno Taiyou!"
The saya hummed with power and suddenly burst with light, answering the call of Ishiaki's blood. From the hilt of his sword burst forth an intense light, the blade of the sword shimmering as it changed from the host-blade to that of Zanji, the samurai of Light. A gasp tore through Ishiaki as his body became bathed in the healing warmth of the Taiyou Tsurugi.
Blinded, Kami fell back, knocking Kano back with her as the light flooded in over them.
Kano shielded his eyes as the light pulsed from the sword. "That's incredible..." He said quietly. He looked at her cautiously, "You alright?"
Kami's pupils were hardly pinpricks in a field of blue iris. "I can't see..." she said. "But I don't think it's permanent... I think I was just too close."
"Like staring at the sun." Kano told her with a nod. The Taiyou was certainly impressive, especially if it managed to bring Ishiaki back from the brink
"No there are usually spots when you look at the sun." Kami said. "Is Ishiaki ok?" She asked, forgetting to cal him Sensei. Her hand reached out, feeling for him, hoping to find their sensei breathing. "Did it work?"
"Something's working." Kano replied, looking down at the swordsman. The intensity of the glow had diminished slightly, but the man was breathing steadier now.
"What's happening?" Kami asked. Her hand found Ishiaki and she began feeling, trying to find the bandage wadding she'd used to pack the wound.
"Careful." Kano said softly, reaching out and taking her hand away before she brushed it against the sword. "Just leave the bandage alone. He's breathing fine again, I think if we just give him some time I'm sure he'll be good as new."
"So we did it?" Kami asked. "He's going to be ok?"
"Looks that way." Kano said with a nod. He didn't know why he nodded, she couldn't see it right now.
She relaxed against Kano with a grateful sigh. "Good." Kami said.
"I wonder what happened to Rath..." Kano asked, he'd make sure to ask Ishiaki when the guy was feeling better. He'd never seen someone just fade away like that...
"I think the sword took him." Kami told him.
"I don't understand why it didn't work though...Rath did win the fight." Kano pointed out, true he'd took a cheap shot, but still, he'd won.
"He cheated." Kami said. "He used the poison as a trick, acting like he was more hurt than he really was. I don't think the sword liked that... Ishiaki Sensei talks about it like it's almost alive... I think when Rath cheated, it picked it's master and betrayed the winner."
"I'm not trying to defend the guy, not by any means..." Kano said and slowly stood up. "I think your sensei owes us an explanation of what we've witnessed."
Kami put her hand out into the empty space where Kano had been. "Don't go..." She said, sounding a little worried she wouldn't be able to find him.
"I'm not going anywhere." Kano assured her, reaching down and taking her hand in his. "Come on, there's no reason for us to squat over him."
She took his hand and stood. "I don't like this." Kami said. "I can't see anything."
"Let me be your eyes." Kano said softly and couldn't help but blush at his own statement.
"Well if that's what you're trying to do now you're not doing it very well..." Kami was sure she'd just stubbed her toe on Ishiaki's leg. "Maybe if you just sat me somewhere safe... we should get off this ice before it melts any way..."
Kano looked at her with a bit of a pout. He'd not even started moving them yet, how was it his fault she'd stubbed her toe? "I could carry you, if you'd prefer." He offered boldly.
"I can walk." She said. "I still have- wait..." Kami hadn't thought about the amount of chakra it used to summon the sword for Ishiaki. "Maybe you should carry me." She said. "I used a lightning blade earlier and it depleted a lot of my chakra. I had few more in me but not enough to even make a clone now... Take Ishiaki to shore and come back for me."
Kano looked at her worriedly, he didn't like the idea of leaving her out here on the water. He shook his head, and thought for some sort of excuse. He really didn't want to have to fish her out of the lake if the ice melted... "I..I don't think we should move him...not yet at least."
"We're going to be stuck out here and the ice is melting." She told him. "I don't have enough chakra left to walk on water. Unless you can figure out how to sail us there, you have to carry both of us."
"I have no trouble carrying you both." Kano told her. He held her hand softly and looked at her. "But I shall carry you first."
"Take Ishiaki." Kami argued. "I can still tread water without my weights if something happens."
"He should be fine as long as he doesn't move." Kano told her, his weight was evenly distributed after all. The ice was less likely to break apart with his spread about like that.
Kami sat, crossing her legs. She refused to go first.
Kano groaned and ran his hand through his hair. "Really now though. I'd hate to move him and have the wound reopen...or for him to let go of that sword and it fall in the lake..."
Kami remained stalwartly seated.
"Oh come on!" Kano practically shouted. "I take you first, it gives his wound more time to heal..." He was really spit balling here. Truth be told, he just didn't want to pick the guy up at all...
Kami refused by closing her sightless eyes.
Kano sighed with defeat and stooped down before the swordsman. "I don't know if you can hear me, sir. But try to keep a grip on that sword." He slid his hands underneath Ishiaki and lifted him carefully. Upon standing, he looked over at Kami worriedly. "Please...don't fall in."
"I won't." Kami told him. "I'll be right here when you get back."
"You better be..." Kano said softly. With her being so concerned about Ishiaki being the one to fall in, he hated leaving her out here. He'd really hate having to go into the lake to get her...
"I'll be fine." Kami said. "But if you don't get going there won't be any ice left."
Giving her one more worried looked, Kano focused his chakra into the soles of his feet and took off across the water. He moved quickly, not wanting to be on it any longer than he had to... By the gods, he hated water...
Kami sat there, trying to listen to his footsteps splash lightly in the water.
It only took a about a minute for Kano to cross the surface of the lake. He set Ishiaki down gently and made certain that the sword was still planted on his chest, his hand on the hilt. He turned around, and swallowing hard, set back out along the water.
Kami smiled as she could hear him coming. She stood gingerly, hearing the diminishing ice crack beneath her. As she reached full height and held her hand out in his direction, the ice gave way and she vanished into the water below.
"No!" Kano shouted and raced across the water to where she went under. Damnit...he hated the water.... Could she swim? He didn't even know.. For once in his life, he did not even hesitate before releasing the chakra in his feet and plunging beneath the surface.
For a moment he couldn't see her, but movement below him revealed Kami swimming. Her eyes were closed tight and she was making progress, but blind and disoriented, she was swimming lengthwise away from the shore instead of up to the surface.
He wanted to shout to her, to somehow catch her attention. Kano knew, however, if he were to even attempt to shout, he would be the one to drown for sure. He swam after her, hoping to catch her before he ran out of breath.
Kami was a strong swimmer, but feeling no gain in her current direction she stopped swimming and let her full lungs try and tell her what direction the surface was.
Kano kicked desperately, trying to reach her. He hated this...this was precisely why he wanted to take her first. He certainly wasn't going to let her live it down either.
Kami felt herself beginning to float upward and started to swim that direction.
Kano quickly angled his direction, bringing himself upwards slowly while he closed the distance between them.
She felt his hand on her wrist and Kami nearly jerked away. Her other hand felt the grass cuff he wore on both wrists and she swam into him, accepting his help.
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arm about her waist. Kano didn't care if they were still under water or not, he had her now. He no longer feared for her safety. He kicked hard and waved the water around them with his free hand as they surfaced. He breathed in deeply when they breached the water's surface. His lungs were burning from strain and he looked down at her while he panted.
Kami took in a deep breath, coughed a few times and dropped against him. "I couldn't... tell what was up..." She told him. "Thank you..."
Kano sputtered and coughed a few times. He smirked and found himself chuckling a little bit. He never would have believed it, but he found himself saying quietly to her, "I'll always jump in to save you." His cheeks were tinted red as he said such a corny line.
"If I knew where your nose was I'd kiss you." Kami said smiling.
"It's right where it's always been." Kano replied with a smirk. "Come on, let's get to dry land and I'll build us a fire to dry off with." He told her and started swimming towards the shore. It was awkward going, seeing as he kept his arm wrapped around her, but he didn't want to risk losing her in the water again.
She helped him by kicking and swimming along with her free arm. Kami let him direct their course though.
It wasn't long before the two of them made it to where they could walk. Kano wouldn't let her do that though. He stooped when he felt ground beneath him, and swept her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
"I can walk." Kami told him. "You don't have to carry me."
"Yes.." Kano said quietly, "Yes, I do." He held her tightly against his chest. He couldn't believe he'd almost lost her, couldn't believe that he cared so much. They barely even knew one another...
He'd not almost lost her. Kami hadn't even panicked when she realized she was swimming the wrong direction. She'd have been fine, but that he cared enough to refuse to put her down was something special. "You can't start a fire with me in your arms..."
He smirked and looked at her. "Want to bet?" Kano asked her with a chuckle.
"Put me down so I can check on Ishiaki." Kami smiled.
"Must I put you down?" Kano asked her sadly. He knew the answer already, but he sure didn't want to. It felt incredibly nice to hold her.
"Yes Kano." Kami said. "If this weren't a mission I would not mind."
Kano smiled again and reluctantly lowered her to the ground. "I'll go get some wood for fuel." He softly squeezed her hand, "Be careful, please."
Kami nodded. She reached out for Ishiaki and found his breathing and heart beat steady. She felt warmth and chakra radiating from the sword and thought there would be no harm in helping the process along. Thankful for the water resistant compartments of her gear she searched through her medicines. Unable to actually see what she was doing, she was forced to taste to know what she was using. After three tries she found the one she was looking for. He couldn't chew a pellet, but she was pretty sure a body knew to swallow even if it was unconscious. Holding a small mortal in the crook of her right arm (her right wrist was still broken) she used the ring end of a kunai to mash up the pill. She dissolved the rest by adding water from her canteen to the little bowl and moved until Ishiaki's head rested on her knee. With her fingers she sought out his mouth and carefully tipped the medicine to his lips.
Ishiaki groaned when she moved him, but swallowed easily enough as the bitter liquid poured down his throat. His hand shifted slowly and he carefully moved the Taiyou aside, its glow still covering his body. His face contorted in a blanch and he coughed softly when the bitter liquid was finally finished. "Wa..water." He pleaded.
It didn't take Kano long to gather wood for the fire. But in the time it took him to collect and return, he'd developed a rather prominent chill. He dumped the wood unceremoniously into a pile and knelt before it. He carefully selected the largest piece and built them up into a teepee shape, filling the gaps with the thinner kindling. He made careful handsigns and brought his fingers to his lips. "Fire style - Dragonbreath." He said softly, he exhaled and the breath ignited at his fingers. The chakra-infuse fire licked the tinder and with a definite Fwoosh, roared to life.
Kami gave Ishiaki as much water as she could, using the bowl, making sure he drank every bit of what was left from them medicine. It was slow going since she had to feel the bowl and water level in order to fill it.
Ishiaki laid his head back when he was done and sighed softly. "Rath?" He asked softly, his voice very rough and his throat scratchy.
Satisfied that the fire began to take, Kano stood up and brushed the dirt from his damp shorts. He turned and walked over to the two of them. He heard Ishiaki's question. "Gone, sir. Your sword like...absorbed him."
"He... it looked as if he transformed into smoke and it absorbed that." Kami said. She took nutrition pellets from her pouch, knowing these because they were the fruity ones she kept for Akane. She presented one to Ishiaki's lips, feeling to make sure she'd found them.
Ishiaki took the pill and smiled. "Thank you, Kami." He told her after chewing the pill. "Mr. Kurosaki, could you help me up, please?"
Kano nodded and moved over to the man. He helped him up and looked at him curiously. "I think..you owe us an answer, sensei." He said quietly. It was clear that the Taiyou blade was healing him, but just what had they witnessed?
"We can get answers later." Kami said. "Stop badgering him. He nearly died... Here..." She felt for Ishiaki's hand and put three more food pellets in his hand. "Eat." She said. "You too." She told Kano, offering him four of his own, but more than off center from his location. She were offering them to him as if he were near Ishiaki's feet rather than beside their sensei. "You both need to regain your chakra and food will help." She was blind and running on empty but still trying to mother them both without any thought to rebuilding her own chakra.
Ishiaki tilted his head in confusion. "Kami...are you alright?" She was trying to hand food pellets to his feet...
"I'm over here, Kami." Kano replied from Ishiaki's side. He was really worried now. Her sight should have returned by now...why was she still blind?
"I can't see." Kami told Ishiaki as she reached for Kano, feeling towards where she'd heard his voice. "I used my chakra to activate the light sword. I've been blind sense... It's not permanent is it?" Then realizing Ishiaki was blind added, "Not that I have anything against being blind... I just..." She sounded a little worried. "Is it permanent?"
"You activated the Taiyou?" Ishiaki asked her in disbelief. He pulled himself upright and looked at her worriedly. "Tell me what happened."
"Kano, take these." Kami shook her hand a little. When he finally took the food pellets she sat back to answer Ishiaki's question. "I tried using my blood but the summoning didn't work. Kano suggested we use yours and," Her fingers splayed to illustrate the flash. "Just, light, everywhere. That was the last thing I saw. I don't have any chakra left though. I had enough for a couple more lightning blades, but now it's gone."
Kano crunched down on the food pills and looked over at his fire. "Come on, let's move over to the fire and then he can explain." He stood up and helped the swordsman to his feet.
"Yes..a warm fire sounds quite nice right about now, thank you." Ishiaki agreed and offered his hand to Kami. "The blindness will fade, I can only assume. No one else has ever summoned one of my blades before..."
Kami took his hand when she felt his fingers and let him guide her to the fire. "Do you know how long?" She asked. "I can still use taijutsu, but not if I can't see my enemy. We're still on a mission and I'm useless."
Ishiaki shook his head slowly. "That I cannot say, Kaminari... Using the Sebuno comes with a price." He sat down slowly beside the fire and sighed softly. "It is not your sword, the price should not last very long."
"So I'll be ok?" Kami asked, just wanting to hear him say it.
Ishiaki did not want to lie to her. He wasn't at all sure if her sight would recover or not... "Given the circumstances, I believe you should be..." He looked at her worriedly, he didn't want to get her hopes up.
Kano saw how the man looked at her. He was concerned, maybe even a little frightened? "Kami, come on, sit down and relax. We both have to dry off and get rid of this chill before we can even think about going anywhere."
There was something in Ishiaki's voice that made Kami frown. "Alright..." She told Kano and sat down carefully, not wanting to get too close to the fire.
Kano smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Here, let me guide you closer. You won't get dry way back here." He said with a little chuckle as he scooted her closer to the flames. He sat down beside her and placed his hand on her thigh.
Ishiaki watched the two of them curiously. He set the Taiyou across his lap and sighed, folding his hands together above the blade. "You wanted answers, yes? To what questions might I ask?"
"Rath won." Kami said. "But the sword chose you... Was it because he cheated?"
"Rath broke the conditions of the challenge." Ishiaki explained, reaching up and rubbing his wound gently. "The rules state one weapon."
"One weapon, but sir, you used seven." Kano pointed out, tilting his head curiously.
"But it was all the same sword." Kami said. "It's like using a kasuri gama. The kama and the flail are two different weapons, but together they make one."
"Exactly." Ishiaki said, nodding towards Kami. "The Sebuno Tsurugi is the Blade of Sevens, but it is still just the one sword. The challenge is designed to test whether one is worthy to wield it."
"Rath said that you had stolen the Sebuno from him?" Kano asked, looking at Kami briefly. This was her teacher, she should really be the one to ask him questions, even if she doesn't want to hear the answers.
Kami's blank eyes turned toward Kano's voice. "You don't have to tell us." She said. "It doesn't matter... it doesn't change anything."
"No, it doesn't change anything. But Rath was right...I should not hide it from you." Ishiaki explained. He picked up the Taiyou from his lap, and slid it back inside of its sheath. The glow of the light sword vanished from him, receding back into the symbol on the scabbard. "Rath had been selected to take the challenge, not I."
"If you weren't already worthy you wouldn't have been able to take it right?" Kami asked.
Ishiaki shook his head and sighed. "I stole his chance to take the challenge when it was offered to him. I was young, foolish, and arrogant. I thought that I deserved it better than him."
"Did you?" Kami asked.
To that, all Ishiaki could do was shrug. "I'm the wielder of the Sebuno now. So far as it's concerned I am worthy of it." He sighed and looked down at the magnificent blade sitting across his lap.
Kami dropped her unseeing eyes and wasn't sure what to think. She spoke without thinking, but it wasn't without wisdom. "I think the sword picked who it wanted." She said. "Just because someone chose Rath to take the challenge doesn't mean he should have had it. The sword obviously has a mind of it's own. Maybe it saw the darkness in Rath when he was a boy. Maybe it saw something in you that it liked more than him... Maybe that thing let it get to you. Maybe it made you make the decision to take the challenge in place of Rath?" She shrugged. "Whatever it was, the sword is safer in your hands than it every would have been in his. Maybe it knew that and that's why things happened the way they happened."
"That very well may be, Kaminari." Ishiaki told her with a nod. "I have never denied, nor regretted taking the challenge in his place. What I did was sneaky and underhanded, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even now." His hand moved along the scabbard and his fingers found the symbol of Yami. He knew that Rath dwelt there now, consumed by the darkness of his heart. "I just wish he would have yielded..." He said sadly.
Kami reached for him until she felt his knee. "Rath chose his path and was destroyed. Don't blame yourself for being the tool of his destruction."
Ishiaki's hand settled atop her own. "I do not blame myself. I had given him every chance to stop this. All these years, I had given him every opportunity. But to have all the power of the Sebuno, and still be unable to save the life of a friend..." He sighed and looked at them both. "You have witnessed the power of the Taiyou, one touch from it would have saved him from the Yami's power... But I could do nothing until he admitted defeat. The challenge states I must protect him from outside harm during the duel, but at the same time, I could not heal him from a wound I inflicted."
Kami took her hand away and said, "You say you don't blame yourself but it sounds like you do. Mourn your friend, but the man you knew died a long time ago."
Ishiaki shook his head and smirked, "Who's the teacher here?" He asked her with a laugh.
Kami smiled, glad to hear the laughter in his voice. "I learned from the best." She had a serious case of Sensei envy and it showed in her sightless eyes.
Kano felt a little uncomfortable, and couldn't help but think of his own sensei, and wonder if his friends were alright without him...
"I have answered your questions, now answer one of mine, if you would." Ishiaki said, looking at the two of them curiously. "Why are you both soaking wet?"
"You summoned the ice to keep Rath from sinking." Kami told him. "While Kano was bringing you ashore, it broke from beneath me. I couldn't tell which way was up and Kano jumped in to save me."
Ishiaki tilted his head to the side and looked at Kano. "You jumped in, Mr. Kurosaki?" He was genuinely surprised by that. He was well aware of the boy's reluctance towards water.
Kano blushed as he said gently, "And I'd do it again..." He gently squeezed Kami's thigh and looked over at her. He meant that. If she were to fall in the water again, he'd jump in, in a heartbeat.
"I'd have probably been ok once I figured out which way was up." Kami said. "But Kano was the difference between me needing cpr or not."
"I see. Well done, Kano." Ishiaki told him proudly. He yawned and looked at them both. "Now, if there are no further questions... I need a little rest."
"Shouldn't we be getting back to the others?" Kami asked.
"You're both still too wet to travel, and I'm too weak at the moment to move on my own." Ishiaki explained with a sigh as he laid back. "I'd only be a burden right now. Besides, I told them I'd catch up when I was finished." He waved a hand at the two, "Just wake me when you're both dry, then we'll head out."
Reluctantly Kami nodded. Maybe she needed to rest too. She might wake up and her eyes would be better.
Kano ran his hand up her back and smiled. "Why don't you take a little nap too? I'll keep watch."
Kami nodded. She would recoup chakra faster and she hoped her vision would return. She reached for him, her hand traveling down his arm until she found his leg. She laid down, using his thigh as her pillow. "Is this ok?"
"Always." Kano replied with a smile and softly pressed his hand to her cheek.
Kami smiled and scooted about till she was comfortable. An hour, no more than that, then maybe both she and Ishiaki would be alright.
Tsu was dashing down the trail, gasping hard as she retraced her steps. They were around here somewhere, she just had to keep an eye out.
She wouldn't have to look very hard. Kano kept the fire burning hot, bright, and high. His clothes were dry, so he figured Kami's were as well. He still had a slight chill, so he kept the fire hot. It was almost an hour since they'd fallen asleep. Ishiaki had said to wake him when they were both dry...He was reluctant to do so, because of how it felt to have her sleeping against him like this.
Far away in the distance El's voice rang through the trees sounding as if the very life was being ripped out of him.
Tsu looked around in panic, then seemed to vanish from the air. She landed in front of Kano and the others without even seeming to realize they were there until she looked up at Kano. "Akane's hurt." she said, her voice hoarse "We need Ishiaki to heal her, now." She looked around, and moved to pick Ishiaki up bodily, thinking of just carrying him to Akane.
Kami woke at the sound of El's cry and to her dismay realized she was still blind. "Tsu Sensei?" She asked. "What happened?"
"Akane." Tsu panted out "Hurt bad. Need healers. Now." She clutched her side, she was bleeding pretty bad herself. Not as much any more, but there were still dried blood patches around her mouth, nose and eyes.
"We're a little short on those." Ishiaki said as he sat up slowly. He looked grimly at his sword. "My chakra is dangerously low..."
Kano rested his hand softly on Kami's mid-section. "Then you can have mine, I'm sure El feels the same, sir. If he has any to give." He looked down at Kami softly, "Come on, we're getting out of here."
Kami was getting to her feet, using Kano as a guide. "I don't know how much I've got back, but you can have it." She told Ishiaki. She wanted to take off now, but blind she'd only end up adding a broken leg to her already broken wrist.
"I'll carry you, it'll be quicker.." Kano whispered to her, not wanting either of the senseis to hear him really. There was no need for anyone else to know she was blind just yet.
"You heal her. Or she dies. Move! Now!" Tsu snapped, panting hard and turning around, and moving back towards Akane and El. She didn't have time to be nice unfortunately.
"You don't have to snap." Ishiaki said as he got to his feet. He leaned heavily on his sword and looked back at Kano and Kami. "Get that as fast as possible, Mr. Kurosaki. I believe I will be in need of your chakra." With that said, he took to the trees, moving much slower than he had before his fight.
"Maybe you all should go ahead." Kami said. "I'll only slow you down."
Kano shook his head and looked at her, placing a hand on her arm. "The last time I left you behind, you fell in the lake. I'm not doing that again."
"Then lets go." She said, "Because he's going to need our chakra. I don't have much yet, but I don;t want to risk Akane by not being there in time."
"How would you like me to carry you?" Kano asked her curiously. There were a number of ways to do so, after all.
"On your back." She said. "I don't want to slow you down if I can help it."
"I'd rather have you in my arms." Kano replied, looking down at her swollen wrist. "How would you hold on with that wrist of yours?"
"I carry around two hundred pounds of weights all the time." She told him with a smile. "I can hold on with one arm."
He turned around and knelt before her. "Just..whatever you do, don't let go."
She felt for him, finding the contour of his shoulders and slipped her left arm around his shoulder and grabbed the right side of his vest. He felt her knees move to his sides and the flat length of her body against his back. Her breasts pressed against him and she held her broken arm between his back and her belly. "Ready."
He reached back and took hold of her legs while he stood up. He did not want her to fall, no matter what. To him, it seemed less likely for that to happen if she rode in his arms, but he wouldn't press matters. "Hold tight." He reminded her, then set off after their senseis.
Naruto: INC
Stumble!