[Plotboard] The Will to Carry On

[TyDie]

Sakaki awoke in her bed with a start, not realizing that she had been unconscious for an entire day. While she was knocked out, Rika had been taken to the hospital for immediate treatment to properly mend her dismembered arm, while Sakaki was taken off and inspected by her handlers to ensure that the genma's seal was in tact. After determining that it was and that she had no major wounds, she was brought to bed by Souta again, where she would rest until just now, about 3PM.

Jumping out of bed and getting dressed in her old garb, a simple black shirt with a black skirt, she didnt even take time to brush her hair or eat before she was out yhe door. Surely the girl isn't so important as to sacrifice your appearance, child. She isn't going anywhere. I don't care about that right now, I have to make sure she's okay! a small sigh of annoyance was Shishire's response. It didn't take more than 15 minutes for Sakaki to reach the hospital at her pacing, which was basically a sprint for her.

Once there, a short explanation was all that was needed to get a nurse to escort her to Rika's room, and once there Sakaki took a deep breath and opened the door. "...Rika? Are you in here?"

[Kabu]

Rika sighed as she stared out the window of her hospital room, having been left alone with nothing but her thoughts for a couple hours since her mom had left and she didn't particularly feel up to doing much else. It had only been a full day since she had been brought in but she had already found that living with one arm was going to be an incredibly difficult thing to get used to, even moreso when it came to her duties as a shinobi. The offer of a prosthetic had come up, through her own mother, but she had adamantly refused. There was absolutely no way she was going to defile her body in such a manner, even if it meant that certain things had to change.

Lost in her thoughts as she was, it took a few seconds to register the door opening and someone's voice resounding in the room, the girl turning to find the source, her best attempt at a smile crossing her face at the sight. Finally she had someone besides herself for company, and it was a friend at that. And just as much as that, the sight of the girl so disheveled did cheer her up a bit. That she wanted to see her so badly really made her happy. "Hey Sakaki. Turns out things were worse than I thought." she said, waving her now bandaged stump of an arm at the girl.

"Gonna have to get used to living with one arm but it surely won't be so bad. I should be in top shape again in no time."

[TyDie]

Sakaki tried her hardest to hide her shock as she saw Rika with her bandaged stump of an arm, but while she stopped her gasp, she couldn't help her face contorting with worry. "Hey Rika... yeah, i uh... i still remember how it all happened. You were pretty messed up and delirious, what with the blood loss and all." She walked over to the girl, a little closer to her severed arm, and eyed the doctor's work to make sure it was all up to snuff... not that she could do any better of course.

"Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want food or water, or maybe I could numb you up again?" Sakaki's sorrow was clear, as was her guilt; she felt it was her fault that Rika was where she was right now. Missing an arm... how would she stay a shinobi like that?

[Kabu]

"Nah, I'm good. It doesn't hurt right now and I'm not feeling particularly hungry at the moment." Rika refused Sakaki's offers with a wave of her good hand and a shake of her head. "Just sit with me awhile. I'm very bored and could use the company. I don't have any books to read and I had mom take my sketchbook home with her when she left." she said, patting the side of her bed, motioning for the girl to join her.

"You know, you shouldn't feel so bad about what happened. What happened was the fault of my own carelessness and you should know I'm very grateful to you for saving my life." she spoke up after a moment's silence, reaching over and gripping Sakaki's hand, giving it a tight squeeze. It wasn't much but it was all she knew of how to provide comfort and to convey her meanings in her current state. She had come to accept what she felt was her fate and grown to ignore her own feelings in the past day but she could still sense the feelings of others clear as day, and she so desperately wanted to get that look off of her friend's face.

[TyDie]

Sakaki gave her friend a nod as she declined all offers, except for the young jinch to simply keep her company. She smiled as she took a seat in a nearby chair, scooting it closer to Rika's right side of the bed, the one with her good arm. "i'd be happy to sit with you a while, Rika. And I could even grab you a book or two if you like! I don't know how long you'll be here, but I can't leave you bored with nothing to do." Sakaki grinned at her friend, but again her eyes fell on that wound...

She couldn't help but let out the sigh from before as Rika tried to make her feel better, a clear sign that Rika did in fact notice Sakaki's guilt. "But how can I not, Rika? I saved your life, but what are you going to do about something so important as an entire arm being lost? And it's my fault you lost it..m I should've tried to save it, but I was so drained... were it not for the power i received from Shishire-" A cackle sounded through her mind at the mention of the genma's name. Ha, let something slip now, did we? Now what will you do? ...See if she presses it? Try to move past it?

She went with the latter, squeezing her friend's hand in return. "I just... I feel like I should've done more. Like i can do more. And I just want to do all I can to help you, Rika..." She looked into her friend's eyes expectantly, not knowing what she expected to be honest but just that she wanted to really know it was okay, or what needed to be done to make it okay.

[Kabu]

"There's nothing either of us could have done about it once the incident had occurred. There's no way we could have recovered it without one of us possibly getting hurt even worse. It's enough just knowing that you want to help so badly. All I need from you is for us to continue being friends, to visit with me every now and again. I'll bounce back from this, I guarantee it." she said, though Sakaki would find that while her eyes conveyed that she did mean what she said, at the same time there was something very wrong, the spark, the enthusiasm that they normally carried was nowhere to be found, leaving a dull void with only the slightest hint of life, almost as if she had lost all hope and her will to keep moving on.

For a moment she fell silent, wondering if she should address Sakaki's weird slip up, the door opening before she could come to a decision and a white haired woman entering the room. "Rika-chan, I came to ask about that matter we discussed the other day." the woman began to speak, only to pause as she noticed Sakaki. "Oh, I didn't realize we had a visitor. Hello, I'm Naegi Hanako, Rika's caretaker while she's here." she said, introducing herself with a gentle smile and a light clap of her hands.

"Hanako, the answer is still no." Rika turned very briefly towards her caretaker and said only this before turning back towards Sakaki. "You won't believe this. They actually want me to get a prosthetic, a replacement arm. They actually want me to defile my body, or well.. what's left of it."

[TyDie]

That look in Rika's eyes said everything Sakaki needed to know, much to her pain. Rika may not have bore Sakaki any ill will, but it was clear Rika was just as depressed and unsure of the future as Sakaki was. If she had to guess, she imagined she probably looked that way shortly after being sealed with Shishire... it was a painful look to bear witness to.

Before she could say anything else, Hanako entered the room and greeted Sakaki. "Hello yo you as well, I am Izanami Sakaki. I was with Rika when... the incident occured.: Hanako turned her attention back to Rika and asked about something they discussed earlier, which Rika adamantly refused. It turned out they had discussed prosthesis; a fake arm. "But Rika, why not? It could give you back full body function again!" The young Jinchuuriki had heard much of Yuumagure, but had never been exposed to the discussion of Body Modification, or the attached stigma.

[Kabu]

"Modifying your body in any manner is frowned upon by the village and as a puppeteer I especially can't bring myself to go against those values as in doing so I would become associated with the worst of criminal scum. They do however say it's okay in extenuating circumstances but I'm fine, I can make do with just one arm, even if I have to make sacrifices." Rika explained, not fully expecting either of the room's other current inhabitants to really understand why she was doing this. It was her burden, one that she had to bear if she was to keep to her values.

It was the same thing she had said earlier when the prospect had initially came up but Hanako didn't entirely believe it, she felt even that Rika herself didn't fully believe it, and even if she did that she was using it as a crutch. At this rate there was no telling what would happen if she just let the young girl keep going like this.

Making up her mind the young doctor walked around the bed and up next to Sakaki. "Sakaki dear, I would like to talk to you about Rika." she whispered, gently grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her over to a corner of the room, beginning her talk still in a whisper. "She says all that but surely you saw that look in her eyes. She's barely eating or sleeping and I can't tell you how many times I just caught her blankly staring out the window for minutes at a time. She wasn't like that when she first came though, and from the way she talked.. I think that you right now may be the right person able to break through to her. Actually I know that you're the right person, eh missus Jinchuuriki? I'm sure you've had your share of difficulties after all." she finished off her speech with a cheeky, knowing grin. She wasn't a full time sealer or handler, mostly as she had decided the hospital was more right for her, but she did have knowledge and some degree of skill with tenkujutsu and helped out often enough with their work that she was made privy to the identities of the current Jinches, just in case.

"I'm counting on you." was the last thing she said before returning Sakaki to her chair and leaving the room, promising to check back in later on.

[TyDie]

Sakaki quirked her eyebrow in confusion at the supposed argument regarding a prosthetic... and then it dawned on her. In the academy, they had been taught about the epic battle between the 8th Kazekage and his mortal enemy; the great heretic, Habimori Manza. "Oh... I suppose I see why you might think that Sakaki, but surely there are others with prosthetics that could talk to you, tell you it's okay?" Sakaki was trying to plead with her, make some headway, when Hanako brought her aside for a moment.

She wasn't sure why she was so confident in Sakaki's ability to get through to Rika, but after a few moments it became apparent, as Hanako addressed her as a jinchuuriki. Her eyes went wide with shock, but Shishire hummed in thought for a moment. Hmm... yes, I thought I recognized her soul... Sakaki whispered back to her before she left, a look of fire in her eyes. "I'll do it Hanako-san. I have an idea..."

Once she left the room, Sakaki turned back to her friend and smiled as she approached her chair again. "I understand Rika. Now that I remember Manza, I see why you would want to avoid being anything like that. But he did what he did for power, not necessity. And moreso, we owe it to our village to do all we can to be the best we can be, regardless of our personal feelings. I can promise you that I've... already compromised myself. You saw it already, but you didn't understand. Or maybe you think it was the blood loss, but you also saw my black platforms... No, you'd have to be oblivious to not understand that i'm not normal Rika."

Ah ah ah, be careful child... do you think she will understand, given her current mindset against altering one's body? She may see you as a monster... Sakaki shook her head, pushing the fear from her mind...

It was a risk she was willing to take.

[Kabu]

Rika simply tilted her head as she looked over towards where Hanako and Sakaki had been having their conversation, several question marks practically floating above her head as the woman left and Sakaki returned to her, seeming to be brimming with some sort of confidence. Frankly the sight was enough to momentarily bring some amount of life back into her expression, even if it was just an expression of absolute puzzlement.

Before she could speak up to ask about what was going on, Sakaki began speaking, Rika sitting up a bit straighter as she listened to what she had to say, raising a brow at the mention of Sakaki having compromised herself as well as she having already seen something but not understanding... Her eyes going wide as she remembered everything, the black platforms and even the black aura she had spotted around Sakaki, which she had at the time dismissed as just her imagination.

She took a moment to gather her thoughts before replying, a small smile on her face. "I thought something weird was going on from the moment I saw the platforms but it felt inappropriate to ask. I figured you would tell once you thought the time was right. I'm guessing from what I saw later though... that it's something much bigger than I would have even thought." she said, taking a close look at Sakaki and for the first time noticing the changes that whatever had happened had inflicted upon her, though rather than fear or disgust she simply showed confusion, mixed in with a bit of fascination from the way her eyes seemed to momentarily light up, almost as if in an attempt to come back to life. She wasn't sure what kind of thing could alter someone's appearance and chakra like that but she did know one thing...

It had to be something big, very big.

[TyDie]

Sakaki leaned back in her chair, pushing it on to two legs as she tilted her head back to gaze at the ceiling in thought. The conversation had been started, and backing out now would just leave them both feeling awkward, not to mention Rika would find trusting her rather difficult and she might never be convinced to get a new arm. "Yeah... Truth be told I don't know how the village expects me to keep it a secret. I mean you're right, there's so many signs, and by the Light if I get really angry or upset in public one day... Anyways, Let's start from the top; Have you ever heard of the Genma?"

There it was; she wasn't sure if Rika knew what they were, but at least it was a starting point. Sakaki stood from her chair, moving towards the windows to the girl's room and drawing them shut. Those outside didn't need to see what she was about to do. She also went over to the hospital door and did the same to the glass window in the door, ensuring total privacy. "Well, it doesn't really matter if you know what they are or not. The important thing is that they're creatures of great power, and they can be sealed inside of humans. Anyone who has one inside of them can tap into the genma's power, and use it themselves. These people are called 'Jinchuuriki'... That's what I am."

Sakaki took in a deep breath while she stood in the center of the room, and a moment later black chakra began to gather and coalesce around her form. The room was lit by lamps above, but Sakaki's mere presence seemed to sap the light from the room, darkening it a touch as the cloak of Shishire formed around her. The horns jut out from the side of her jaws and stuck out to the sides, and her legs gained the appearance of shattered glass. Her eyes dimmed in color, appearing a sort of muddy dark brown, while the chakra turned almost solid around her, giving her an almost demonic appearance. "It's no walk in the park... I have to put up with this evil creature whispering in my mind all day, all the time. But I could be one of Suna's most powerful defenses one day, few get to bear this honor... this burden. It's not for my benefit, it's for the village's. That's what I was talking about; I gave myself to the village to be all that I could. This creature is bathed in darkness, Rika, and Yuumagure teaches us that it is unholy... But still I use it for all of us. After all, without it's power, you would be dead right now."

It was a blunt fact, but it was true; without Shishire's chakra, Rika never would have made it. For the 'village's' benefit eh? Whatever you need to tell yourself, Child... Shihihihihi... Sakaki hated it when the genma spoke to her like that... But she had to admit, tapping into Shishire's power like this without being in a traumatic event like the past few times felt good. Really good.

[Kabu]

Of course Rika knew what Genma were but she had dismissed their existence, as well as the story of the birth of chakra, as nothing but a fairy tail. If the beasts themselves were real then what did that mean for the story itself? Did all of that actually happen? There were so many questions to be asked from just that one revelation alone. It was a bit concerning that they could be sealed inside of humans but that in itself brought some degree of fascination as well. What kind of powers did these beasts grant? Once again, she had so many questions and she didn't know where to start.

Wait a second, that's not important right now. Sakaki seems to still be continuing.

She rose a brow as Sakaki stood in the middle of the room and began to do something, a look of shock and awe crossing her face as she lay witness to Sakaki being surrounded by that black aura for the second time, only this time she wasn't struggling to stay awake so she could see it much more vividly. It was incredible, and frankly terrifying, but mostly incredible. "So, that's where the extra chakra came from. That had seemed strange as well. Seems in my delirious state I had been far too dismissive of such incredible feats." she murmured under her breath. She could see that some would dismiss this kind of power as blatantly evil and unholy but she couldn't do that herself, not after it had saved her life.

All the same she wasn't sure why she was being told all this. This situation was different, Sakaki had had this power granted to her by the village. It was likely that Sakaki hadn't even had a choice. But.. did she really have a choice herself? While it was true that she could learn to live with just one arm, she knew very well that she couldn't keep going as she had been. And did she really want that?

"That's not fair... What I want to do, what I should do. I thought I knew but maybe I was just being stupid. Stupid and quite possibly scared."

[TyDie]

Sakaki gave a nod to the young genin in the bed as she mentioned the extra chakra Sakaki had gained access to, the chakra she had used to save Rika's life. "Mhmm. I tried to avoid using it's power, but in that moment I lost myself and Shishire took over. In the end, i'm glad he did... Like I said, you wouldn't be here without it." Don't forget that, child. Your friend is alive because of me... I could have taken my power back in that moment, but I chose to let you save her. I'm not always trying to twist you... Sakaki sighed, not knowing whether or not to trust the genma in that moment or not. But the fact remained that Sakaki saved Rika because of Shishire... That was enough for now.

A moment later and Sakaki closed her eyes, allowing the aura of Shishire to fade from her body as she returned to her normal appearance. The light came back full force, the aura of the genma dissipated, and a moment later it was just little ol' Sakaki again. She moved to fix the windows while she spoke, letting the warmth of the sun shine through once again. "I'm not trying to give you a hard time Rika. I just wanted you to know that our people have their morals and values. While maintaining bodily purity is something to strive for, finding a fix for your problem is more valuable than anything. It may sound harsh, but your morality means little if you have to sacrifice everything else to keep it."

Sakaki walked closer to her friend again, on her right side, this time reaching her hand towards Rika's while placing another hand on her shoulder and smiling at her. "...Please consider it, Rika. If you truly don't like it, remove it... But at least try it before you throw away your career, your dream."

[Kabu]

Rika simply sighed, falling back onto her bed as she thought over everything that had just been said. What was a girl to do at a time like this? "Maybe, maybe you're right." she muttered, lifting up the little stump and staring heavily at it as if it would tell her all the answers, the girl sitting up once more as tears threatened to spill, though she just as quickly blinked them away, wanting to at the very least avoid crying. "This really isn't a fair argument, it was completely one sided from the start. You and I both know that I can't say no after all of that. You win, I'll get the prosthetic and I'll try to give it a fair chance. I feel so stupid for wanting to just give up and throw away my dream." she said, finally managing her first real, albeit small smile since she had been admitted.

It was at that moment that the door flew open, a curvaceous woman with long red hair and bright red eyes bursting into the room, basically looking like Rika but older, running over and tightly hugging Rika, the girl wincing in pain even as she returned the hug. "I knew you would change your mind eventually! I knew that neither of my daughters would ever give up like that."

Rika had to catch her breath as the woman released her, looking over towards Sakiko once able. "Sakiko, this is my mother, Hizashi Akira. She's... rambunctious. she said with a light chuckle, turning back towards her mother at that point. "Mom, what has you so excited? You seemed so upset earlier when you left."

"Oh, let's not worry about that. The important thing is that you're willing to accept the prosthetic and to that end I have a present for you." she said, unfurling the scroll she had brought with her and with a set of hand seals, releasing what... appeared to be a prosthetic arm but somehow different. "I had to hurry but the prototype is finally done."

"Prototype, for a prosthetic?" she said, looking over towards Sakiko wondering if the girl was just as confused as she was.

Her mom however just pouted, placing both hands on her hips. "This isn't just any prosthetic, what do you take me for? No no, this my dears is a handmade puppet arm with all that entails." she said, seeming to be very proud of herself.

[TyDie]

Sakaki squeezed the girl's hand just a little tighter as she finally relented. She smiled at her friend, but shook her head in disapproval of Rika's self assessment. "No, don't say that Rika. You aren't stupid... Just a little stubborn, that's all." She gave a small wink and stuck her tongue out, laughing not at her comrade, but hopefully with her. Before she could even take the conversation any farther though, another interruption entered the room in the form of Rika's mother, Akira. Sakaki promptly straightened herself out and gave a bow of respect to the older shinobi. "Good afternoon, Akira-san. I'm Izanami Sakaki. I was with Rika when the accident took place... I hope you aren't mad at me."

She tried to hide her fear of a parent's wrath, but she wasn't very good at it. However it seemed Rika's mom was, as she said, just as rambunctious as her daughter. She flew right into it, whipping out a scroll that bore a large fuuinjutsu on it and releasing the seal to unveil an arm, obviously prosthetic, that she had apparently created all herself... And in such short time too. "Wow you're fast, we only just got back to the village yesterday. I see where Rika gets her ingenuity from." She shot a warm smile at the mother, before admiring the craftsmanship of the puppet arm. It's sleek curves, it's seamless design. Sakaki imagined with a long sleeve no one would be able to tell the difference unless they were looking really hard. And being a puppet arm, Sakaki could only imagine what other sorts of benefits an arm like this could grant a puppeteer like Rika.

"This seems like the answer to your problems Rika. It looks fantastic! And so fascinating too... Puppetry truly is a wondrous art."

[Kabu]

"Mom, she's beautiful. Thank you so much." Rika said with a smile, running her hand over the puppet arm. Even by just looking, she was able to see that it was designed to perfectly fit her and no one else. "I can't wait to find out what sorts of gadgets and weapons are built in. I'm also gonna have to get mom to work me through taking it apart and put it back together so I can upgrade it myself. And unlike that jerk Manza I'm going to use my newfound power" she spoke under her breath, giggling giddly as she imagined the possibilities, her energy seeming to be slowly coming back as she turned towards her mother. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get Hanako and let's get this over with!"

At that her mom simply giggled. Preparations have to be made first. We can't just attach it and call it done, but don't you worry. We'll be working as fast as we can. And even then it's going to take a little while to get used to it."

"Alright, I can be patient I guess. I just want so much to get out of here and get back to work." Rika responded, obviously displeased but willing to relent.

"That's more like it. That's the daughter I remember."