Working out the sorrow

[Zao]

The older man drew a gloved fist and with chakra infusing in it the man’s golden orbs stared solely on a series of training logs set up in a series of three rows of three that formed a perfect square. It only took a moment for the drawn fist to swing forward and connect with the first log on the corner with enough force to completely shatter it into two main pieces. A slow exhale followed the blow as the sound died down as rapidly as it had started up. Kasai hadn’t been back to the village in a week for a mission and after returning he stopped by his training grounds near the northern shores of the large lake that the main part of the village was surround by. Only a few people knew the exact location of the grounds and that was partly why the man’s eyes widened from behind the shadow cast over them from the hood of his dark jacket.

In what would seem like a blink of the eye that the Reaper would do what he was best known for as in the blur of movement the black clothed figured spun around and by the time he had turned completely around behind him now two things had occurred. The left hand had snatched hold of his both as the right hand drew a single arrow from the single sheath upon his back now and had it strung and drawn back at full draw. There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation in the man as the black arrow was shot forth toward the tree line in the distance, a shot that a normal archer wouldn’t be able of making because of its distance. Yet it wasn’t meant as a kill shot that would be its normal shot from a range like this but instead it was a warning for whom ever it was that was approaching.

’Who could be seeking me out this far?’

”Show yourself…”

As Kasai’s arrow slammed into the bark of a wide tree the man spoke with a volume much louder than he would normally use but its tone was still soft and sounded like a whisper still from the distance of the approaching person…

[Willoria]

Ren approached from behind the man. Normally she'd be smiling, but not today. Her face was drawn not with an emotionless seriousness, but with the expression of far too much emotion in far too little time. "Do you really have to ask?" Ren replied as she stepped up behind him, about ten feet away.

She crossed her arms over her chest, hip off to the side instead of standing up straight as she looked at the man, silently wondering how much chakra he had already expelled in his training.

[Zao]

’So serious…did something happen?’

The older man lowered the left arm with the bow still clenched tightly in the left palm of the gloved hand not as the young ninja approached up to about three or four meters away from him now. But something was much different about her, not only in the woman’s face missing her normal smile but her body language projected that something was either wrong with her or that something had happened. For he too had been gone on a mission when the incident with Ryoga had happened, though for now the man didn’t know just how serious things were with the woman…

”I see…”

With wasting a moment the twirled the bow around in a circle before swinging it behind him perfectly into its holster now as he turned to face her directly in the same moment. Then without speaking another word aloud he pushed forward off his right leg into a burst of speed to quickly close the gap between the pair of ninja. A small amount of chakra circulated through his left arm and into the fuuin upon the palm of the hand causing a brief puff of smoke now revealing a kunai grasped in the once empty gloved hand now. It was grasped in a reverse grip as the tall man came in with a hard left handed straight punch toward the woman’s face.

It was true that Kasai had never been one good with words really, though from the tone of her voice and the absence of the normal happy emotions upon Ren’s face it seemed like she had come for one of only a few reasons. This was the best method through which to truly express ones self…

[Willoria]

Ren smiled. She had been about to tell him the news when the man wasted no time in attacking her. It was simple, it was so basic, and it was how two ninja of Kirigakure could truly converse. This was the exact reason she sought this man out. She knew whatever punishment she could dole out, Kasai could take the pain. At the very least... she now had the skill to heal it as well.

As he approached, Ren's right hand came up and slammed her palm into the man's fist to put a stop to his attack and attempt to take the kunai from his hand, as her left hand moved to slam into his wrist to aid in that disarming. If successful the move could prove to snap the man's wrist.

Jutsu UsedShow

Leveraged Fang
C rank taijutsu
Whenever being attacked with a weapon, Ren will sidestep and proceed to attempt to disarm the opponent. She will grab and pull at a piece of the weapon that she can actually hold onto before simultaneously slamming her other palm into the target's wrist. The result is a ripping away of the weapon with one hand and the pushing away of it with the other, making it very difficult for the target to hold onto their weapon, not to mention avoid getting their wrist broken.

*Ambidexterity
D - Ranked Taijutsu
Requires: 5 Taijutsu
After extensive practice and training the character has gained equal strength and skill between their two hands. This allows them to perform any action with either hand at exactly the same skill level and strength.

[Zao]

As the man’s left hand slammed into her palm the speed of the movement had thrown back his hood revealing the spikey lengths of crimson hair that hung down around the man’s eyes. Behind his masked face was a smile that matched the one that formed upon Ren’s face as they entered into a little spar between the two Kirigakure ninjas. It was odd but shinobi of the village were best able to find themselves in such an engagement. The woman’s strength and reflexes were enough to stop the man’s simple and straight line attack as her strength for not only a woman but as a shinobi was a strange surprise but one he welcomed. Golden eyes were already tracking the other woman’s hand moving across her body toward his armed hand as his right palm came from underneath now striking at the under portion of the woman’s arm deflecting it from striking the wrist. Such a blow with her strength might have broken his wrist with a direct hit.

’Something new…’

It shifted the blow forward as it impacted the finger ring of the kunai knocking it out of the man’s hand and off to her right side which it had been pointed, kicking back the man shifted his right palm after the strike so that it faced her as he moved back to create space. A small amount of chakra flowed into that gloved palm now as five shuriken were launched at high speed toward the woman’s abdomen and chest regions from the fuuin that was tattooed beneath the glove that hid it from the view of the normal eye. He had made a few modifications to his body since their last encounter and had been longing to test them out on a worthy opponent and there were few of the woman’s caliber in the village who he respected enough to call strong…

Jutsu UsedShow

Advanced Ballistic Summons
B-Rank Fuuinjutsu
Prerequisite: Ballistic Summons
Unlike the average summoning jutsu for most weapons, this summoning technique is itself an attack. When the user’s chakra is channeled through a seal that they are touching, the user is able to launch one or more of the stored weapons in the direction the seal is aimed at a speed of 8. The weapons travel up to 25 meters before falling to the ground.

[Willoria]

Ren was grinning from ear to ear, almost like a cat playing with it's food. The man forcing space between the two of them didn't just create an advantage for him, it created one for her. She moved her hands quickly as she could to swat the projectiles away, but as she did so she found they moved quicker than she did, forcing her more than a little out of her comfort zone. The first two she managed to deflect but she wasn't quick enough with the other three, forcing her to turn her body to keep from being seriously injured as she continued to try and deflect them.

Gashes were left across her side, chest and one of her shoulders but it didn't keep her from moving in any way. She wasn't the type to take such things so seriously that she would stop attacking. She drew one of her ronin from behind her back rather than her usual katana on her hips and pushed off the ground, flipping forward to close the gap between the two as she aimed a spiraling slash at Kasai's upper torso.

Jutsu UsedShow

Sly paw
A rank Taijutsu
Requirement: Rapid Paw
When dealing with projectile weapons, Ren may use this jutsu either as a counter or simply as a defense when there are too many projectiles to use Rapid Paw. By rapidly swatting at the incoming projectiles just lightly enough to make an affect, Ren can move very quickly and hit multiple weapons. Each time she hits these weapons, she may adjust the amount of force she uses so as to alter their trajectory in a very specific way that she so desires, allowing her slight manipulation over their new angle so that they may perhaps actually help her now instead of hurt her.

Slight dodge
D rank Taijutsu
Whenever in a situation where she can't avoid being struck, Ren will manipulate her body slightly. This slight movement allows her to cause the incoming attack to miss any of her vital organs, causing as minor damage as possible. Use of this jutsu requires her taijutsu stat to exceed that of her opponent.

*Eishin • Drawn Claw
C-Rank Kenjutsu
Prerequisite: 6 Taijutsu, 6 Strength
Drawing their blade, the user pushes off the ground, pivoting into a flip in the air horizontally. With the user's own weight combined with the weight of the sword, the user's torque and spinning velocity increases. This creates a spiraling slash aimed at a single foe or object with heavy power, capable of breaking stone with proper strength.

[Zao]

’So resilient..’

The Reaper couldn’t help but smile at the reaction time and reflexes of the woman, seeing her with fairly minor wounds after the shuriken were either deflected or dodged just enough to avoid anything to major. But honestly he didn’t expect any less from the swords-woman as she prepared to attack now and he moved his hands into seals. It was time to show the woman something else that she hadn’t seen him use to much and that was his clan abilities besides his forms. She was the type of opponent which he felt that he didn’t need to hold back against and knew that she was the kind of ninja who wouldn’t be holding back either. But he couldn’t ask for more really…the man’s gloved hands started to form a series of hand seals now.

She took the moment to close the gap as her powerful legs pushed her off the ground in a flip, something that he hadn’t seen her do but it was something that played into what he had been planning to do. Finishing the hand seals chakra was already pulsating through his arms as lumps of mass began to form on the arms as both hands dipped to the outer thigh on each side. Snatching a kunai from each into the palm of both hands, he pushed forward off the ground to meet Ren in midair using both to try and block her strike. As he would attempt to do so the masses on both arms would form into rods that would attempt to lash out and bind the woman’s limbs to her…though he questioned its ability to hold such a powerful foe as the swords-woman he fought right now.

’These should test your strength!’

Jutsu UsedShow

~Flesh Prison
A-Rank Ninjutsu
With the correct hand seals performed, the clan member will use their ability to produce lumps of mass on their arms. Once the mass is formed, the flesh will begin to form into rods then lash out at a speed equal to the users control up to a maximum of ten and wrap around the target in an attempt to bind limbs to the individual's body. Once attached to the person's arms or legs, they will grow into a pure flesh casing around the target removing the need for the Toukai member to maintain contact. These shackles are easy to break if the person has a strength of 9 or higher however they will last a total of 6 posts if not broken.

[Willoria]

"HA!" Ren couldn't help the outright laugh as Kasai attempted to bind her with a ninjutsu. She'd been forced to drop the ninjato she'd been using to attack him but aside from that the only thing he forced the woman to do by binding her was she brought her legs in close to brace against his chest as they were still in the air and pushed against him with all her strength, breaking the grip his ninjutsu had on her.

The moment her feet hit the ground she grabbed her ninjato and rushed Kasai once more. Regardless of whether he was on the ground or in the air still by time she performed the move did not matter. Using the ninjato she pushed off the ground with an upwards 'uppercut' of her blade, aiming for Kasai as she moved.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Eishin • Ripper Draw
B-Rank Kenjutsu
Prerequisite: 8 Taijutsu, 8 Strength
Rushing forward at a foe and tipping their upper body down low the user of this technique draws their katana in a firm motion and then as they get close, literally 'uppercut' upwards while kicking off the ground at full force. This creates a vertical trail with their katana blade that is unparalleled in cutting power for the relative simplicity of the technique; Strong users can often cut concrete walls down the middle with this technique, or just as easily cut open unwary foes.

[Zao]

”Shit…”

The man spoke out loud, even if it was in a whisper as the woman once more was able to demonstrate her beastly strength by easily reading the technique’s aim before snapping its binding while in the process pushing the man flying backwards away from her. Kasai hit the ground and slide backwards before spinning up to his feet after recovering from being knocked back, managing to retain both of his kunai yet he hadn’t been expecting her counter attack so quickly or forcefully as she managed this time. Placing both of the kunai bladed horizontally in front of him as the blade came up he was surprised as the power of the strike mixed with the woman’s natural power cut through the kunai before the man was forced back once more.

That small amount of backwards movement and the kunai was all that saved the older man from a bad wound as his feet touched the ground once more after pushing back yet that wasn’t the only thing touching the ground. Drops of blood began to fall onto the scorched earth below the man’s feet as the blade had left a cut that ran along the left side of his chest before skipping up onto the corner of his face. Blood could be seen seeping from the wounding area already on the chest and from the cut on the left side of his face, the cut on the face leaving the half face mask that concealed the man’s face barely clinging onto his face now. It would seem that she really needed to get her frustrations out…though most probably wouldn’t be responding how Kasai was about to..

”Keke…”

His left gloved hand reached up to touch the wound was he stood up fully now, it wasn’t life threatening but was going to need some medical attention after they finished…in fact it didn’t even anger the man and instead excited him which was visible in his golden eyes that remained fixated upon Ren at this time. Letting out the light cackle she would be able to visibly see the man’s arms increasing in size through the sleeves of his jacket now before with a single motion the left hand clasped hold of the dark hooded jacket and removed it in the motion tossing it aside for the moment. Now the man stood with his long sleeved grey undershirt on as the wound could be seen a little better as the blood soaked slowly into the shirt. Forming a quick series of hand seals the man then extended his

”Let’s try that again…”

From under the left sleeve a katana length blade extended from under the fabric before the weapons fell into the palm of the hand now after the Reaper dropped the cut through kunai to the ground on each side of him. The older man hadn’t stopped smiling as fighting like this was what made him feel more alive than anything these days...the right sleeve suddenly ripped as the mass forming under it expanded into the form of a large zanbato style of sword with a single cutting edge. The heavy weapons edge slammed into the ground as it had five feet worth of blade at about eight inches across with a foot and a half handle to it. Yet, with his increased strength the man easily lifted it onto his shoulder now. He was ready to continue…

Jutsu UsedShow

~Henten: Partial Offense Transformation [Form 1]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
Focusing chakra through their bodies for 1/4 a post, the clan member will begin a transformation in either one of their extremities, their head, or part of their body. Once activated the member will be able to use the abilities of that area, be it the clan’s jutsu or the clan members personal transformation traits. This transformation lasts equal to the average of the users Ninjutsu and Control stats.
Taijutsu: +1
Control: -1
Strength: +1
Speed: -1

Enhanced Cartilage Weapon
B-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: Cartilage Katana
With the correct hand seals performed, the clan member will use their ability to produce large lumps of mass on their arms, in which the user changes the structure of the arrow in order to allow for the arrow to become sensitive to chakra. Allowing the ninja to use one of their chakra affinities and flow it into the created. This technique capable of forming larger hard cartilage that can be melded into a variety of weapons from small to large two handed weapons that have a strength of 7.

[Willoria]

Ren's smile widened into a wicked grin as she saw the blood, her ninjato clicking back into the sheath at her back next to it's twin. Simply to free up her own movement Ren drew her two katana, Tenpi Doku and Yoru Doku, and thrust them into the dirt beside her. She clearly had no desire to 'cheat' this fight by using the special effects of these two swords and instead was looking forward to a straight forward fight. "Blood is my currency... and my freedom..." she said in a dark tone under her breath as she turned her neck enough for a loud pop to sound from it.

And then she was ready to get back to business, as it were.

Both hands reached back as she closed the gap between them at a run, drawing both of her ninjato at once and spinning against Kasai as her blades danced between them, every move aimed to cause pain but not to cause mortal damage, and the finishing flourish was the corner of the ninjato in Ren's left hand aimed to get just under the edge of Kasai's mask and knock it off his face more as a way of showing off...

Jutsu UsedShow

*Eishin • Twin Draw
C-Rank Kenjutsu
Prerequisite: Two katana or similar Japanese blades, Eishin • Single Draw Block, 6 Taijutsu, 6 Strength.
With training and practice the user of this technique is able to advance on the initial technique of this style, drawing two swords at once with the technique. By drawing two blades, the user's defensive and offensive range increases. The two blades can also focus on one target to repel an attack of greater strength. The technique's true potential, however, lies in the user's ability to opperate both offensively and defensively.

*Yoshin • Paper Slash
D-Rank Kenjutsu
Prerequisite: 3 Taijutsu
In this technique, the user switches from the typical critical blows to a more specialized 'swirl' pattern of slashing, which while much less effective in terms of damage, is useful in distraction. Wounds inflicted are patterned to flare up with pain when those muscle areas tighten, causing moves the opponent's make to recoil slightly on their bodies, the wounded areas acting as a detrimental pain in their actions.

*Ambidexterity
D - Ranked Taijutsu
Requires: 5 Taijutsu
After extensive practice and training the character has gained equal strength and skill between their two hands. This allows them to perform any action with either hand at exactly the same skill level and strength.

*Seamless Skill
D-Ranked Taijutsu
Prerequisite: 3 wit
A skill utilized by those on the path to mastery of their weapon, users of Seamless Skill are actively able to transition between offensive and defensive usage of the aforementioned weapon. By transitioning so seamlessly, the user is able to save a marginal amount of energy while attacking.

[Zao]

”So you want it that way…”

The Reaper smiled, he hadn’t forgotten about what had happened last he had been cut by those blades and yet she was putting them down for the moment meaning she wanted a true fight between them. Things might turn out a little bit different this time as the short intermission was over and the fight was ready to resume and his opponent wasn’t wasting any more time as it seemed she was enjoying the chaos of the conflict just as much as Kiri’s Black Reaper was himself. Her attack this time was more of a flurry of small attacks with both of the ninjatos that were drawn in unison with one another, but he would not be such an easy target this time.

Both of the weapons blades sparked with raiton chakra as the man flowed lightning through the length of each cartilage blade, using the shorter katana mixed with the wide blade of the zanbato to create a rather sturdy defense as the lightning strengthened the blades. Though despite this defense a handful of the strikes still managed to pierce the cartilage defense the man was using to block the strikes, the attacks caused a little pain but none of the attacks were to threating of wounds. As the shinobi received small cuts on both biceps, a few on the chest and another on the opposite side of his face as the previous one. The latter strike connected as the man spun around to the left as he brought the wide zanbato blade up resting the blade back on his shoulder after he pushed back away from Ren after the flurry of attacks collided with his blades and body.

”Blood is how I made my name…”

As he spun around to the point that his face was away from Ren the mask tore loose completely now causing it to fly off, as it did the horse cleaving sword’s wide blade moved instinctively to cover the face as he turned back around to face the swords-woman. Again he spoke in a whisper like volume, though it sounded much younger than his previous voice as his true voice could clearly be heard emanating from behind the blade that hid his lower face leaving only golden eyes to look over the sharp edge of the katana. Sparks of raiton chakra still crackled around the length of both blades as it was time for Kasai to go on the offensive not rather than remain on the receiving end of Ren’s assaults.

’My turn…’

Without a moment’s hesitation the man pushed back forward bringing the zanbato around in an over handed slash that would come directly down on the woman’s left shoulder if she didn’t block as the man kept his chin tilted down letting the crimson locks of hair hide his face. Though this was a two staged attack as the first attack was meant for Ren to block leaving her at least partially open for the stab that now came from the katana in the left hand aimed for the left half of her chest. Raiton chakra still pulsed through the weapons as when he went to stab the swords-woman she would finally be able to see his face for the first time. Something only a few people got to see…

Jutsu UsedShow

Raiton Infusion
B-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: Any Enhanced Cartilage Weapon, Enhanced Cartilage Arrow, Chakra Sensitive Weapons
By focusing Lightning type chakra to the user’s charkra sensitive cartiliage weapon, arrow, or blades the user of this technique is able to coat the weapon in lightning. Then the user can amplify the lightning current, forcing it to the tip of the weapon causing it to gain an extreme boost in its penetration capabilities. This boost makes it powerful enough that it can only be stopped by strong defenses. Last three posts.

[Willoria]

Ren was enjoying this far too much. A spar for her was more than a fight, she wouldn't even call it a dance. A true spar was a game, each party doing what they could to best one another but above all, it was fun. She was grinning from ear to ear, hardly able to contain her excitement, but not once losing track of what she was doing.

She damn near laughed as the mask flew from his face, and yet every move he made including a way to hide his face. Did he really fear her seeing it so much?

Performing the single draw block with a weapon at her back was certainly interesting, but necessary to block the zanbato that threatened to cleave her in two. She brought the second around in a similar move, but it was then that she saw the man's face. He was far younger in appearance than Ren had thought possible, but that wasn't what really caught her attention. Despite the yellow eyes, for a brief moment Ren thought she was staring into Ryoga's face. That moment was all it took.

"Nngh..." She barely felt it at first as the blade penetrated her chest, barely missing her own heart as both ninjato slipped from her hands to the ground and her feet staggered, one hand grasping Kasai's shoulder as her mind registered what was happening, and blood she could feel the blood run down her body, soaking her clothes. As she tried to breath, it ended only in a cough as blood dripped from the corners of her mouth.

Ren had screwed up, the momentary distraction of Kasai's appearance resulting in a major wound.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Eishin • Single Draw Block
D-Rank Kenjutsu
Prerequisite: 4 Taijutsu, 4 Strength
A basic Eishin technique that utilizes reactionary senses and is often taught to the point that it comes as second nature when intercepting attacks; by leaning back and yanking their hand up the user of this technique is able to use reflexes and speed to bring the edge of their blade up in front of an oncoming solid attack. This technique is often the preferred drawing motion of many Eishin practitioners allowing them to transition from defense to offense very quickly.

[Zao]

’Why…?’

More so than the feeling of the sword running through the woman’s chest, nearly hitting her heart was the sound with what the man was so fond of…yet this would be the only instant where he was not. As she grasped hold of his shoulder the older man dropped the zanbato off to the side now as it began to fall apart and the hand grasped hold of her shoulder helping her stand. The man’s golden eyes widened the moment the katana had plunged into the woman knowing that with her abilities that blocking such an attack should have been almost kids play and yet there was the slightest moment of hesitation when she had seen his face without any obstructions. Such things were the reason people died in combat and had never expected the hardened swords-woman to ever do such…the first thing that came out of his mouth was nothing apologetic or did it even seem to bare concern at first.

”Stupid woman…why would you do that?”

Not even attempting to remove the weapon as he spoke with his younger sounding (real) voice now was the only thing he did out of concern knowing that it would only cause the wound to bleed more than it was now as blood from the wound dripped down the length of the blade and soaked into the gloved left hand that held it securely in place.

[Willoria]

Ren gasped as she tried to speak. She'd been through a great deal of pain in her life, and for the first time she had to admit... this was more than she could immediately bury. "You... you look... like him..." She managed to choke out, her grin on his shoulder tightening as she fought against the waves of pain, knowing what she was about to do was going to seem very stupid at first.

She moved one hand over his that held the blade in place, finally releasing his shoulder to use the other to force the blade out of her flesh even as her knees finally gave out. The blood sprayed as she expected it to, and the pain renewed, but she knew that wasn't something she could focus on.

Her hands fumbled as she tried to form the seals, knowing full well that if she didn't get this done right and soon she was likely to die right there.

[Zao]

”What are you talking about, Ren?

The words that the woman managed to choke out through the blood that was pooling in the lung he had stabbed through only served to confuse the man…who did he look like? Kasai honestly rarely saw himself in a mirror without the mask on his face so to a point the man wasn’t exactly sure what he even looked like anymore aside from the fact that he knew his looks made him look more than twenty years younger than he actually was. But as she made her next move the man was at a loss of words as the woman summoned the strength to force the blade from her flesh, something Kasai was definitely not expecting her to do.

”Don’t do that you idiot!”

As the weapon was forced from the wound blood squirted from the hole in her chest created by the blade and splattered across the left half of the Reaper’s face. Dropping down low the man slide to her side keeping the woman from completely falling now, dropping the sword his left hand pressed to the wound on her chest as the right hand pressed onto the exit wound on her back. In a fruitless attempt to help control the bleeding as it soaked through the cloth gloves and seeped slowly between the fingers of each hand. The Reaper’s golden eyes closed for a moment not seeing the woman fumbling to form seals in her condition…she wasn’t the first Kiri-nin that he had held as they were dying. In his lifetime as a shinobi he had seen the deaths of man and been there where they died for their village.

’What have I done…?’

But this was a little different…yet he had completely forgotten that she had been the one who had healed him after the spar with Ryoga….who he still wasn’t aware had been killed on his latest mission.

[Willoria]

"Ryoga..." Ren said in answer to his question as she started chuckling at herself and her fumbling fingers. When she finally managed to get her focus, and her seals, right her hands glowed with the chakra of the Iijutsu and she placed her own hands over her wound, pushing one of Kasai's out of the way as she did so.

"He's... gone..." Ren managed to say quietly as she began healing herself, still struggling some to breathe but she could feel the wound slowly beginning to heal. At the very least, she wasn't going to die, though somewhere in the back of her mind she almost wondered if that was the real reason she had sought Kasai out. Perhaps she really did have a death wish, especially after what had happened with Tadataka.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Mystical Palm
A-Ranked Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: 20 Iijutsu
One of the almighty and most highly coveted abilities of medical-nin, the Mystical Palm technique allows its users to heal wounds quickly and efficiently. After focusing chakra into his/her hands, the user will place them over the wound in question and begin to channel chakra through it. As the chakra interacts with the cells and tissues in the area, the wound will begin to regenerate and heal over until there's no remnant of it ever being there. Of course, this is not done in the blink of an eye. To heal small-to-moderate wounds, it takes very little time, while large wounds take one (1) post of concentration to mend, and mortal wounds take a total of two (2) posts to fully mend. This technique lasts for four (4) posts, but due to its chakra-extensive nature, users are not advised to treat multiple large wounds in a single use.

[Zao]

’Gone…’

”I see…”

The older man diverted his golden eyes down onto the wound after she had pushed his hand away and saw the bleeding slowing while feeling the same from the wound on her back. She was using a strong Iijutsu technique to heal herself now, he didn’t know that her medical skills had gotten so strong but it had been a while since the two had last sparred or spoken. His voice was a faint whisper, even lower than he normally spoke as he gave her a two word reply then for a moment the man closed his eyes and thought back briefly about his first true meeting of the Overseer and their battle. Had she came all this way to tell him in person or did she come here for another reason. She knew that the man didn’t hold back…did she come to die? No…that couldn’t be it. Shaking the thought he opened his eyes and remained quiet for the moment letting the woman focus on healing her wound for now…

[Willoria]

For a moment, Ren closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. It was still painful, the innermost parts of the wound would be the last to heal after all. She continued to channel the chakra within her own body and was quiet for several moments before she opened her eyes once more and looked up at Kasai. "That's why I needed a good fight..." she said quietly, still not quite trusting her own voice.

"I've been making arrangements and doing notifications all day... the funeral is tomorrow..." She could feel tears begin to sting her eyes again but she ignored them, trying to take a deep breath to steady herself. The last thing she needed right now when trying to heal herself was to cry again.

Her breathing turned ragged again a moment as she coughed, closing her eyes that she could focus. "You must find me pathetic." she said quietly as she tried to calm her breathing again.

[Zao]

’Seems I’ve missed much while I was away…’

The older man listened to all that she had to say, seeing that her wound was mostly healed before he exhaled and gathered his thoughts. Needless to say the man was a little upset but at the same time couldn’t blame the swords-woman for her actions as in fact it sounded like something he might have done if the man had been in her set of circumstances. Glancing over her shoulder the man lifted his bloody gloved hand so that he could see the blood stained cloth for a moment before reaching back lightly and proceeding to smack the younger woman in the back of the head.

”The only thing pathetic here is your fighting…”

Kasai the Black Reaper jested, a bit unusual for the man to do but it sort of just came out as he after he had lightly smacked Ren in the back of the head for her antics. He truly had thought that he had killed the poor girl but the brief smile that crossed the man’s lips faded soon after, it would seem that he needed to prepare for a funeral tomorrow. Putting all the jesting aside he responded a bit more serious now…offering her a hand with anything she might need help with in preparation for things to come tomorrow.

”Is there anything I could help you with?”

[Willoria]

Ren visibly flinched and frowned up at the Toukai when he smacked her on the back of the head and childishly stuck her tongue out at him. "Says the man who damn near killed the new Overseer." she retorted playfully as the Iijutsu ended and Ren carefully sat up with a groan. Her teeth were still stained red, as were her clothes. "You know, you would make a damn good Swordsman yourself." she told him, forming the seals once more, only this time moving one of her hand's to Kasai's chest and one of the wounds that she'd left on him during their fight.

She didn't answer his question immediately, instead thinking over what he'd asked and what she might need help with. But the fact was, she had most of the help she needed right now. Part of her wanted to ask him for advice on how to handle things with Tadataka, but somehow she knew that was something she'd have to figure out for herself. "Just don't let your daughter ever go through this pain." she finally replied, glancing at the man a moment before dropping her eyes.

She really wasn't sure what she needed help with, she was just going through this one step at a time.

[Zao]

Kasai shook his head gently as the woman stuck her tongue out like a young child, something that he would have possibly expected from his daughter but not from Ren as it caught him a little off guard and the woman saw a true smile slip across his lips. Even in sad times a little happiness could be found in the strangest of places where one would have never of thought it. The man retorted to her comment about him making a good swordsman…

”I think you might just be getting rusty.”

Exhaling slowly the man also dropped his eyes at the mention of not letting his daughter go through this type of pain, it was something he had thought about several times since meeting her only to let her go back to her home village of Kumo. But he would see her again, if he was anything the man was hard to kill as throughout his career the Reaper had escaped death more times than he could count…though the scars on his body were enough to tell that he didn’t escape unscaved. Feeling the warmth of the Iijutsu working through the deep vertical cut on his chest the man lifted his eyes once more and at the same time lifted his hand and placed it on top of the smaller shinobi’s head just like he would have done if she had been his daughter.

”Don’t count me out just because I’m old….and perhaps I’ll start working on my kenjutsu a bit more for the next time we spar.”

[Willoria]

Ren couldn't help a laugh at the mention of his age as she finally dropped her hand from his wound, having been much easier to heal his than her own. "Yeah, because you look like an old man." she said sarcastically as she tried to stand. Healing her own wound had taken far more out of her than she expected, plus the added work of healing Kasai's, as such her attempt to stand resulted in her dropping to a knee with a bit of a chuckle of her own. "Okay... I guess standing isn't going to happen quite yet." she said with a shake of her head.

She could still feel the pain within, knowing she hadn't healed her own wound quite completely, but enough to maintain her life. She knew she'd need to rest, perhaps even get to the hospital before the day was over. For now she instead settled for sitting once more, resting her head against her knee as she tried to catch her breath. "You know, if you're able to catch me without a proper kenjutsu, I hate to see what you can do with one. But if you want, I know two different styles at the moment, I could always teach you one."

[Zao]

”Well, I am almost double your age.”

Kasai smiled as she jested about his age, the man was already in his forties even if he only looked eighteen or nineteen but that was something that he was able to use to his advantage on missions that required him to infiltrate places as people were much more trusting of a young looking man than an older battle worn man that he was on the inside. The Reaper would give a nod to her next words, using such high level Iijutsu was difficult enough and with a wound as severe as the one he had given the swords-woman plus healing his own he was a little surprised that she hadn’t collapsed afterwards. Though this only helped to hint at how truly strong the young woman was and why she would be the one taking over the Seven in the wake of her late husband. He shook his head lightly as she tried to stand and took a seat as well for the moment.

“Take it easy now.”

Resting for the moment he reached back into the lower back pouch of his now as each of his arms seemed to lose the bulked form they had acquired from entering the partial transformation form. From within the man withdrew another half face mask and slipped it over his head and within a couple seconds the man had once more hidden his face behind a mask. Exhaling slowly he turned his attention back to the exhausted and potentially still wounded woman judging by her expression and body language who also chose to sit for the time being as well. From behind the mask the man smiled at her mention of the thought of learning more structured kenjutsu from one of the two styles that she was proficient in. A tempting offer as he replied back, while demonstrating a little concern for her well-being still.

”Perhaps I’ll take you up on that sometime after things settle down a bit. But it looks like we might need to take you to get checked over.”

[Willoria]

Ren shook her head as he mentioned taking her to get looked at. "I'll be fine." she said simply. "I just need some rest to let my body heal what's left of it." She turned her head and watched him put on his other mask and chuckled quietly.

"I'm not sure if I should ask you if you're into BDSM or if you just can't stand the sight of yourself." she asked teasingly. "You're not that bad to look at so I don't know what you're worried about." Ren was still leaning her forehead against her knee even as she spoke, taking a few deep breaths between sentences to try and settle her stomach. She felt like right now what she could really use was some tea, but she wasn't the type to really ask Kasai to take her anywhere to get some, especially since the nearest place was probably his right now and she wasn't even sure someone like him would have any.

"I know it's not my business, but I guess I'm curious. Do you have a way to keep in touch with your daughter?" She couldn't imagine not being able to have contact with one's own child. Would Kasai even be able to find out if something happened to the girl? Or would he always be left in limbo, waiting for someone who would never show?

[Zao]

’Always the tough swords-woman…’

Kasai mused to himself in thought as Ren currently refused to accept any help from the older man, closing his eyes briefly the man exhaled slowly and shook his head once to either side. Though his golden eyes opened and moved from the ground up onto the younger woman now at her mention of his mask after he had placed it one. To the man this mask….he considered it his true identity sometimes and it really just kept things simple for him most of the time when dealing with village business or out on missions. It was to the point where only a handful of people including Ren and his daughter even knew what he looked like any more…sometimes even he forgot.

”That’s part of the reason…the other is that it just keeps things simple for me and what I do for the village.”

The Reaper played along for a moment with her BDSM comment but finished off with what he considered to be the truest response that he could tell her. Though the mood shifted as the woman before him brought up the question about communication with his daughter, possibly because of her thoughts going back to the two children of her own that would now grow up without their father. It was something he had seen a number of times during his time with Kiri…it was a risk that each one of them took being a ninja even if they tried to keep it in the back of their mind most of the time.

’My daughter, I hope you are doing well.’

Tilting his head back now the man’s golden eyes looked through messy locks of crimson hair and into the sky above…so far he hadn’t found a way to safely communicate with her without risking her life by someone else finding out. He spoke wish an awkward sound of sadness that touched his voice while he didn’t bother to disguise his voice anymore with the swords-woman.

”Sadly not, but I haven’t given up looking yet.”

[Willoria]

Ren nodded as she had a hunch that Kasai didn't have a way of communicating with the girl which was really a sad thought. Ren could only imagine how hard it must be on him, and on the girl too. "Well if there's ever any way that I can help with that, please let me know." she told him.

Ren may not have known Kasai very well, but so far he had proven himself a damn good shinobi, and his concern for her when they were sparring showed that there was a chance he could be a good friend as well. She couldn't imagine that the Reaper made such ties to people very often, given his line of work and how many people he had probably lost over the years.

"So I'm guessing you must live near here, considering you're always out here." she said without directly asking the question.

[Zao]

”I appreciate your concern, Ren.”

Exhaling again the man let himself fall back onto the battle worn looking ground that was almost absent of all grass in the training area the pair current found themselves resting in after their crazy moments earlier. It was strange, the older man rarely spoke to anyone at any length or about himself yet it was almost easy to do with this woman. Perhaps it was because she already knew about him and was able to keep secrets that made him like her…it was kind of nice actually. Shifting his head over so that his golden eyes fell back upon the swords-woman now as she asked if he lived there he paused a moment before answering. Did he live there, to an extent yes despite the other two home that he owned closer to the village center. He enjoyed the peace and quiet….

”I spend most of my time here...there are not too many things that bring me down to the main part of the village anymore.”

[Willoria]

Ren simply nodded. She had to admit, there was a certain serenity out here. "Maybe if I ever hit Bannin I should set up a place out here for myself, when the kids are old enough to take care of themselves." She couldn't help but think it'd be a great place to be alone. A thought that made her realize something, regardless of how she felt about Tadataka, was she really ready to step into something so serious when her husband had only just recently died?

"Kasai... do you think it's foolish for those like us to tie ourselves to another so fully?" she wasn't referring to Tadataka necessarily, but referring even to Ryoga. Had it been foolish of her to ever tie herself to the man, to love him? Had it made the both of them weak?

Was his love for her ultimately the cause of his own death?

[Zao]

”Foolish?”

The man questioned back, perhaps the woman was too tied up in grief or perhaps it was some form of grief over the recent loss of her husband and the swirl of confusion and stress that followed such a loss. Exhaling slowly the man first turned his eyes away for a moment not answering right away as he thought about the question from his own point of view. Was it foolish? Honestly the older man did not really think it was foolish after all. But their was only a couple people who the man had ever felt that way towards only to have them taken away much in the same manner as she had lost Ryoga, though he was never so fully given to them as she had been. A part of the man wished he had been able to connect with someone like they had…but he guessed that he was to old and had killed to many people at this point in his life to find something like that.

”I believe if one is able to find that someone who is willing to tie themselves fully to us and us to them…then it isn’t foolish at all.”

To a point the man even envied the couple and their kids…the life they had before the man’s death. Wondering what kind of man he would have become if he had been like that in his early twenties when his daughter’s mother and him were getting close. The man slowly set up as he began to speak, turning himself so that he could fully face her now as he finished after a short pause.

[Willoria]

"I don't know, right now I can't say this pain is worth it, Kasai." Ren replied as she tried again to stand. This time she found the world didn't spin and she didn't fall. She was able to breath a sigh of relief as she decided to concede a point and turned to Kasai again.

"So... think you'd be willing to walk me to the hospital? I can't guarantee I won't pass out again." she asked him with a chuckle.

[Zao]

”I feel like in time you will change your mind, Ren.”

From behind the mask Kiri’s Reaper gave a light smile as he spoke back to the woman now, before shifting his body for a moment before standing as well. The man stood a bit easier than his companion did but still felt a little sore from the short burst of fighting that had occurred a little earlier between them. Looking over as she spoke the man almost chuckled, perhaps she wasn’t so hard headed after all as he gave a gentle nod of his masked head now and looked down at his bloody clothing before shaking his head a little. Glancing back over with his trademark golden Toukai eyes he replied.

”I’ll pack you the rest of the way if you do.”

[Willoria]

Ren chuckled at the thought, but at the same time that was exactly why she was asking him to go with her. After all, it wouldn't be fitting for the new Overseer to die by falling after a spar and bleeding out.

She retrieved her two weapons from where she'd stuck them in the dirt and walked over to Kasai with a smile. She stood up on the tips of her toes with the intent of kissing him on the cheek as a thank you but with the difference in height between them it landed somewhere on a high part of his neck or the edge of his jawline. "You're a good friend, Kasai." she said with a smile as she started walking towards the hospital, though her legs were clearly a bit unstable.

[Zao]

As the younger woman moved a bit wobbly to retrieve her weapons from earlier the man formed a few hand seals before summoning some chakra to do the same with the ones he had used earlier as well recalling them into the storage fuuin tattoos from which they had been dispensed from during their spar. Kasai was a seasoned fighter one who trusted in his eyes and instincts and didn’t believe Ren would make it too far with the current condition of her body, but she was always stronger than he thought she was too. Though as she approached with a smile moving right beside him and rising ontot he tips of her toes the man gave her a questioning look until he felt the peck just below his jawline on his unclothed neck. For a moment the man wasn’t sure what to say, even feeling a brief sensation of warmth in his covered right cheek just above where the smaller woman had kissed him on the neck. With a unseen smile the man nodded and returned the words to his sparring partner before taking stride with her as they began to walk.

”As are you, Ren.”