Haunting Pasts

[lovelovelove2]

A lone figure sits at a lake, gazing at her ancestors. Masked as that of the ANBU rank, she thinks of pasts.

Rinakai sat at the edge of the vast lake. The mirrored images of the first and second Hokage's shimmered on the surface. She frowned at the grim stone faces and sighed heavily. I think I'll find a training spot. The girl rose to her feet and moved them to stand on the water's swaying surface.

As she walked across the lake, her eyes scanned the area for any attacks. Always she was weary, being a trained ninja. Rin reached the opposite shore and set out for the forest. The girl strolled swiftly past countless trees, jumping into them every once in awhile as she looked for a training ground.

Finally she came to one, though it looked as someone had been there recently. A grim look settled in her eyes as Rin drew several kunai out of her pouch. Hands fanned the kunai out and were flicked towards the targets in the trees.

Even as Rinakai did that, her body was launched into the air and she twisted adn spun. Fans were pulled out of her sleeves and slung gracefully at the targets. A grin parted her lips as the twirling fans sliced through the bulls-eyes. Hm. Good enough.

Rin flipped downwards and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Now for my katana. I'll retrieve those kunai and my fans before I depart for the Village. Her hand moved and a scream rang out from her sword as it was pulled from its scabbard. Rin smiled and shushed her eager partner. They twirled like a whirlwind towards the target-stump. The girl moved with the sword as if it was an extention of her arm.

A loud thud came from the stump as she embedded her word in its middle. A hard pull brought the sword out and another swung it again. Breathing hard, Rinakai bent over and gulped in crisp, cold air. Finally able to breathe correctly again, the girl slide her sharp partner back into its home and retrieve her kunai and fans from the trees.

Home. Rinakai looked to the sun and found it was almost curfew. She began to run swiftly, dodging trees and undergrowth. As her feet carried her home, she replaced her ANBU mask. The girl arrived at the Village Gate and passed through, having no trouble from the guards.

*Rinakai!*
*Yes, Haki?*
*Where are you?*
*I'm coming through the Village Gate and I'll be at the Compound in a few minutes.*
*Well, good! It's time for bed, you need rest.*
*And you need beauty sleep, you old wolf!*

The Uchiha Moon-Wolf Demon, Haki-uchi, meet Rinakai at the Family Compound after their mindchat. The girl led them through the buildings towards the Head Branch's building. A door slid open as the two members slipped through and layed on the floor.

Sleep came and with it, dreams. Visions of horrors long since past, but still very present in one mind.

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

[OOC:This picks up fromthe sample post, if anyoen gets lost.]

Musei skid to a stop in front of the infamous uchiha complex. Those ANBU had given chase for the first time in…years! Really, she hadn’t done all that much, just tossed a few hundred smoke bombs at them! Normally they just glared at her and remained at their post. She had forgotten that they had switched to newer; younger ANBU in the recent weeks. How silly of her. Now she stood here out of breathe with the giant cat giving her the look of death; which gave her more of a chill then being threatened by the generally pissed off guards.

She bent over and put her hands to her knees and let out a loud exhale. She’d have to remember how fast those buggers were next time. Her eyes looked up and her body followed to an erect position. The uchiha complex. Not many people wondered in and out of there now. She supposed it was because not many people wanted to walk on tainted ground, or perhaps they were showing respect? What did it matter? The point was not many people wanted to go in there. But Musei? If she aw something of interest she’d go. It just seemed boring to her.

A soft tug on her top had her look over her shoulder. The giant orange cat was still glaring at Musei, her own chest heaving from the run, her nose flaring with every exhale of breathe.

“Sorry. I didn’t know they changed. Can’t blame me. You wanted to go too!”

The cat snorted and let out a low rumble of a growl. She knew what was going on when the cat sat and lifted her nose into the air with a prideful and scornful look of a mother.

”Oh…! Go shove it Tenmei! Better watch it before I hogtie you and stick you in the Inuzuka complex!”

With that the giant cat leapt at Musei and they began to wrestle. From an outsider it might look like the cat was attacking her, but her loud giggles would be enough to deter them from prying them apart. Tenmei was gentles with Musei, even if outward appearances didn’t look so.

Tenmei stopped abruptly and began to growl. Her lips curled back in a menacing manner and her hisses sounded like poison. Musei rolled onto her knees and glared at whatever it was that Tenmei was showing her ass to.

”A dog…?”

No, it wasn’t’ a dog. It was a wolf. Musei curled her upper lip and smelled through her sensors in her upper lip. It was a wolf, but it wasn’t from the mutt clan. That was a plus at least.

”Not an Inuzuka mutt Tenmei. I think he’s lost or a summon. I’ve never smelled this before.”

Tenmei snorted, but didn’t seem to care. The wolf had frightened her, and she wasn’t very happy about it. Musei simply stood and dusted herself off and with a huff patted Tenmei’s nose. She supposed if he belonged to someone they’re show up…eventually.
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[lovelovelove2]

Rinakai sat up from her sleep. She had been awakened by Haki-uchi's growling. What? Is? It? God, you old mutt, why are you grow- Then noises came to her ears. Laughter. Who was here? The girl shot to her feet and grabbed one of her swords and a fan, tucking that away in her sleeve. As she gathered these weapons, Rinakai also replaced her ANBU mask.

She stealthily crept out of her room and building to the gate of the Complex. Her eyes caught sight of a girl and a huge cat, sitting on the ground. How dare they come here, to my home!*Haki! Come!* Rinakai's eyes took on a steely gaze as she approached the tresspassing ninja.

What are you doing here? Leave! was spoken with bitterness. The angry ANBU placed her steady hand on the hilt of her katana. She could tell the girl was curious, but at what?

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Musei crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. Go figure it was another one of those stuck up ANBU. Were they all really cursed with that stick up their bum? Musei shook out her pink hair and let out a tiny rumble. That seemed to match that of the giant cat next to her. She didn’t speak, but let her green eyes narrow at the woman. Just who did she think she was? She had every right to stand on the street outside the complex as anyone else. Tenmei’s tail bristled out behind her as the woman grabbed her katana. If she dared attack Tenmei was going to leap at her; die if she must, but she’d not touch her precious lifemate Musei.

”Down Tenmei. She wouldn’t dare attack me. Not if she valued her position she holds here. We have done nothing wrong.”

Tenmei stopped growling, but her fangs still bore towards the ANBU woman. Te pink haired Jounin blinked rather tiredly and made soft mewing sounds for a moment before shifting her gazer back to the woman.

”I don’t know who you are and I really don’t care. The point is, there is nothing that states we can not be here. Perhaps if you wish someone to leave you should ask nicer. Not everyone is an enemy you must force your power onto. That will not gain you any friendly smiles anytime soon.”

With that Musei uncrossed her arms and placed them on her hips, giving her a nice fat raspberry.

”But I’ll forgive you this time. Just because you’re being bitchy doesn’t mean you don’t have a reason to be. Just unfair you choose to take it out on me.”
[/size]

[lovelovelove2]

Position? What would you know about positions? Malice closed around those words as they were woven into the air. Eyes narrowed and teeth were shown behind the mask. Death came into her eyes as they looked at the girl. You bave no right to be in the Complex because I didn't tell you that it was fine with me. I rule over this ground and no one else comes here.

Rinakai tightened her hold on the hilt-handle of her partner. *She disgraces us, Haki-uchi! This puny little bitch dares to disgrace us! Shall I kill her?* *No, wait till I get there, Rin! Hold your position.*

Haki-uchi raced along the hallways and pathways towards the gate. Swiftly, his feet were pounded on the dirt and floorboards. He arrived at the gate, only to snarl. *A cat!*

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Musei raised a brow a purred a bit with amusement. Was this woman actually in the mind that she was that high on a pedestal? It wasn’t like it was a new though. Lots of ninja seemed to think they were more important then they really were. Musei was cocky, but she knew her place.

“Anyone can see you’re an ANBU. A blind man could tell, and I promise you I am far from being blind…or a man.”

She realized she was walking a thin line, but what did she care? This woman could be pissy all she wanted to be, she still had no say over who or what walked these grounds.

"Oh sweetness! No one has has “ruled” over this ground since the clan died out. Granted there are rumors of survivors; you certainly don’t look like one of them to me.”

Tenmei’s nose began to twitch and she watched as her companion’s hair began to bristle upwards. Each strand of hair began to tremble with rage as the cats eyes seems to turn into fire.

”Oh my. Tenmei doesn’t like mutts. This could get messy. Suppose “I better stop her..but..hmm..time for my cat nap I think.”

Musei stretched and yawned, a soft purr vibrating from deep within her. She lazily closed one eye, then, as if she’d been suddenly bitten stood completely tall and looked off past the ANBU.

"Tenmei…listen…something is here. Look missy, I’d love to continue, but I have a job to do.”

She spoke the words in a rather haughty manner, and ran past her without much of a glance back. Hopefully is was just some stupid genin getting into trouble, but you could never tell. She knew Tenmei had followed, despite the giant feline’s hunger to tear the dog apart. Tenmei would never leave Musei alone for anything.


[OOC information: Going to start something with this—I’ll fill you in next we speak!]
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[lovelovelove2]

Rinakai stood stock still, with her eyes following the foolish girl. Anger bit into the ANBU's nerves and her hands shook. Haki-uchi stood beside the woman and put his head under of her hands. He licked it and whined. *We should follow them. I feel something in the wind*
She doesn't deserve to be followed, but I will do it for the sake of the Village. For the sake of Their graveyards. Rinakai turned and bowed to her adoptive family's graves. She sets her mask better on her face and runs through the Compound Gates.

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Musei slid to a halt, her feet flying forward as her upper half feel to the ground, her claws digging into the earth to fully stop herself. Slowly she slinked up like a tiger stalking its prey; her nose wrinkling in the disgust of what it smelt. Iron...blood…everywhere. Her right hand lifted and placed itself down in front of her, immediately sliding and nearly dropping her face first into the first puddle of the red goo.

“What…what is this? Inside the city this should be impossible! How did this…”

She stood and her eyes glared at her hand as if they’d burn a hole right through it.
It was most definitely blood; Warm, fresh blood. Her fingers curled into her palm and smeared the substance more. Unless it was an internal spat there was no reason for so much blood to be here. She’d not heard of any disputes between anyone, or any clans. Tenmei linked up behind her, the giants cat’s eyes flaring up as Musei’s had. Her lips curled back as she sniffed the air with her special sensor there. It didn’t smell good, and it wasn’t right.

“Alright ANBU woman. Tell me what you think of this…Because personally I’m prepared to put aside your better then thou screwed up attitude to find out what the hell is happening here.”

She knew that the woman’s mutt would be able to detect something being wrong too, and she would not have been far behind Musei. Internal fights happened often in Konohagakure, but those could be set aside when it was for the better, Musei figured this was one of those times.

“Wonder if we should go find backup…”
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[Leiko-hime]

OoC: Made at the suggestion of Ki-chan, and what not. I wasn't really sure of the time, for this.. So I went for like night and sunset at the beginning, but the kills were made at like.. early morning. Probably like 4-5am or so. >_> If anythings out of whack just lemme know and I *may* change it. Laziness dictates this may not happen. Lmfao.

------

The hustle and bustle of roadside life swirled and eddied around her, a living breathing miniature economy. A few Wary glances occasionally slide across her, but finding her to be nothing but an unassuming traveler slid away just as fast. This person, after all, wasn’t at all worth noticing. Just a brown haired woman, dressed in a slightly scanty way. This was one of the many little tea shops that were set up for travelers to rest at, and get a bite that wasn’t hunted and cooked over a paltry fire. The scent of herbs, and steam wafted through the air to mix with the lowing, and other generic chatter of the patrons, set off by the occasional voice made loud from drink. The more subtle sounds included the hiss of cooking devices, and cheap wooden chopsticks. Another gaze slide across her shoulders, and this time seemed to stick: Staring at the way the shoulder of her kosode had slide down to rest in the crook of her right arm, revealing the maroon bandages that bound her abdomen. If she noticed the dirty old man’s stare (and she most definitely did, mind you) she didn’t react. No, Leiko simply sat there staring contemplatively at the joint between wall and roof of the small stand. Her right arm rested lightly against her thighs while her left hand cupped her chin, her heels hooked onto the wooden bar of stool she’d perched herself on, the wooden geta dangling their straps across her toes. Somewhere, a bird piped a gentle tune to the last rays of a dying day.

Slowly, as though rising from a deep trance the woman’s left hand left her chin to reach out and grasp the rim of the mug of cooling tea at the rim, lifting it she took a final draught, before setting it down. The eyes that had been glued to the revealed curve of her shoulder tracked her movement as Leiko slid her heels down, geta making a soft sound as they hit the dirt once again and she stood. She slid her right hand into her maroon obi, putting out a few coins which she dropped indifferently onto the wooden stand’s counter, before reaching down to pluck up the satchel that had been resting alongside her feet the entire time. The watching man issued an obscenity as gravity dragged her kosode back into it’s proper place. She ignored this as well, simply slinging her bag over one shoulder as she straightened.

A plan had formed, an idea had blossomed.

The man who had been watching her called out to her, something degrading; she didn’t catch it the exact words, her mind was focused elsewhere, but she caught the gist of it. Leiko tilted her head upward at a slight angle, and a bit toward the side almost like an inquisitive bird.

People stared, looking between man and woman.

Leiko turned her head: The look she leveled on him was anything, but inquisitive. It was more like the eagle’s stare, than the songbird’s. Fierce, predatory, but without the warmth of the wild animal: A devoid, cold gaze that caused the blood of the normal man to freeze in the veins. The older man jerked back as though he’d just had a rabid dog bite at his hand, his back thudding into the table he’d been sitting at.

Leiko never said a word, just gave him that frigid, arrogant look before turning, and striding off down the road, as the sun dropped and set the sky aflame with the color of blood.

Yes, she had a plan… and she would start here: Konoha was just ahead, the guards lazy as they hurried the last of the days travelers through welcoming gates, not paying close enough attention as they hurried to get their duty done. As soon as she was out of sight of the small roadside shop Leiko picked up her pace, eventually vaulting into the trees with the nimble ease of a shinobi.

She’d planned to stop in Konoha anyway, so she had a way to get in prepared…

But now she had a plan for the place beyond ‘supplies’ and ‘information.’

Well, it was sort of in the information area. Heh.

------

Almost all the light had very nearly gone from the sky when she arrived at the Konoha gates, only the soft pinks, and the hungry burning purple of twilight colored the western sky, very little of which showed through the massive trees of fire country. The ninja at the gate gave her only a cursory glance, a slightly more scrutinizing eye to the papers she presented to get her in: Daughter of a merchant here to scout possible shop premises. Second’s later the young Nukenin was inside Konoha. Without giving it any real thought Leiko slid into the shadows at the first chance, disappearing into the dark side of the Konoha streets.

The brunette lurked about, watching from rooftops and alleyways, and dark corners… and plain sight: She observed the local shinobi with cold, calculating eyes for several hours. Then, she spotted a juicy target: Anbu, apparently standing guard.

There she sat, on the edge of a nearby roof, they stood about clustered like sheep to the slaughter.

Leiko took her time, carefully extracting her gauntlet from where it was folded into her satchel, and pulling it up the length of her left arm, tightening the cinches with slow precision before she let the oversized sleeve of her kosode fall back and partially conceal the black lacquered metal, her eyes flicking occasionally to watch the young Anbu: They shifted occasionally, apparently restless. Reaching back she felt the hilt of her kodachi, making sure it was in the perfect position. Leaning back she tucked her satchel (mostly empty now but for a few packets of senbon, changes of clothing, and such necessities into a niche on the roof for later retrieval.

Now all she needed was a way to get them away from their post… Hmm..

As though sent from the Heaven’s themselves a kunoichi with a massive orange cat chose that moment to play Bane-of-existence to the poor Anbu. Leiko watched as the kunoichi tossed several smoke bombs at them before tearing off with the Anbu in hot pursuit: Distantly in her chilled and numbed mind Leiko knew she’d have applauded such an act once (If only privately), would have thought it a great idea. Now, though, it was a miracle and all she needed. If the unknown Kunoichi had to be put down as well, so be it. Leiko tailed them from the roof tops, and saw the unknown duck down a road toward some sort of complex, the Anbu balked when they reached the intersection, however. They didn’t seem keen on going down there. After several moments they turned, and Leiko could hear them muttering from behind their masks.

She waited a few blocks down, cloaked in the shadows and her loose black clothing.

She waited, patient for her chance… and as soon as they passed the mental line she’d drawn for their approach she was in motion. Leaping forward, her vision blurred and died leaving her blind, the mental picture she’d taken flashing before her mind as a quick calculation entered possible next movements into her thought process: The sickly thud of her fist connecting with a human was the only confirmation she got.

The world melted back into view, revealing that she’d slammed her gauntlet wearing fist into the side of the lead Anbu’s head just as she had intended; his mask was cracking, and the spikes on her fist had driven right into his temple, killing him instantly.

Three seconds of shock were all she had, and she took every advantage of it, jerking her arm away she left the dead man to fall to the ground, an arc of blood following the movement of her arm as she whipped around, apparently melting from view as her Sumiyaka blood heated with chakra. The Anbu reacted by closing ranks.

Crouching in the shadows Leiko reached back with her right hand and pulled her kodachi from it’s sheath, her eyes taking in the scene with quick flickering glances. A further seconds pause, watching the Anbu tense and whisper hurriedly before she stepped forward two paces at a normal running speed, letting the momentum build before she jumped into her Sumiyaka speed.

Again she went blind, her arms throwing themselves into the motion of her attack, the blade sung in the air and the sickening sound of cutting flesh bloomed once more: A dull thud resounded between the walls as a fountain of still pumping blood exploded like grisly fireworks from the stump of a severed neck. The head rolled desolately in the dirt.

As the world came back to her in milliseconds, and Leiko prepared to move and kill one more of the four Anbu a searing pain ripped down her back, the thin black fabric of her kosode parting in a neat line from the bottom edge of her shoulder blade to mid back, the bandaging around her abdomen was no buffer either, cut through by the kunai that split her clothing and scratched a linear gash diagonally across her spine: It, however, was not deep. She was more disturbed by the loose shifting of her bindings than the pain of her wound.

Leiko swung around, not even bothering to use her enhanced speed as she whipped her right arm out to brain the masked ninja with the side of her gauntlet, the man ducked back but she stilled managed to glance the side of his head making the Anbu reel.

Dazed, he stumbled back, clutching at his head with the hand free of a bloodied kunai.

The sound of feet on the earth brought her attention to the other remaining shinobi, and Leiko turned to see the man going through a set of seals: working up some sort of Jutsu. She didn’t give him a glance, just blurred out of sight once more, landing crouched low behind him she brought her kodachi out fast, slashing hard and deep across the back of his calves, effectively cutting the major artery there.

The numbed Sumiyaka left him to bleed out, writhing in agony on the ground. She, instead, turned her attention to the dazed man staggering nearby. Giving her kodachi a quick slashing shake she sent blood spattering off it to color the wall in the unique pattern of a bladed weapon, the kodachi went back into it’s sheath with a quick motion before her newly freed hand shot out to grab the Anbu by the neck, and jerk him toward her.

"I need some information, worm, and I think you can tell me."

Finally getting over his dazed state the Anbu glared at her through the narrow eye slits of his mask, "I’ve nothing to say to you! You will pay for this you realize? Konoha won’t let you get away with it!"

"I am paying, that’s what your blood is for. My penance for my failures." She retorted coldly, eyes narrowing as a frigid temper further chilled her insides. "Tell me, what are the most prestigious clans of Konoha, and who are the heirs?"

"I’ll never tell you anything!"

"Then we find ourselves at an impasse. I need the information, which means I need you alive, yet you obviously wish for death."

"…"

"I suppose we can play for a short while, I see no reason not to." Quickly switching her grasp to hold him with her left hand she reached up her right to pull out one of the small wicked senbon like knives concealed in the chopsticks that held her hair up. "Shall we see if I can pick out all the nerves in your face?" Her lips curled wickedly, and that along with the blood staining her could only be described as disturbing.

It was perhaps lucky and unlucky that the man was something of a coward, he immediately began burbling and blubbering. Obviously he needed to go back to training, unfortunately for him there would be no chance to. His throat seemed to split open of it’s own accord once he fell to single minded pleading.

"I see…"

The question was, which of the major Konoha clans would be the first target? Would the next target even be in Konoha? She’d just have to be patient, she supposed.

She stepped a few paces into the shadows away from the carnage, and glancing back for a moment gave a shrug and leapt onto the buildings to make her way back to where she’d left her satchel, not at all minding the blood that stained her.

Not but a few short minutes later, before the blood had even begun to cool the scene would be stumbled over…

[lovelovelove2]

The lone ANBU looked at her fallen comrades, searching for a familiar mask. Blood seaped onto her sandeled foot as the frigid woman stalked towards the nearest body. Her shaking hand reached down and clutched a mask of white and blue markings. "Jorike." In anger, pale-white fingers clutched the boy's mask. "He was just a young boy, barely an ANBU member. I had him as a follower for his first few days. Young, but skilled."

Rinakai's eyes glittered with hatred for the unknown murderer. Her body swiftly turned to face the kunoichi at her side. "Go for help. Fast." The ANBU tied Jorike's mask to her arm in a scarce sign of acknowledgment. towards the fallen boy. She stepped into the middle of the street and called for Haki-Uchi. *Find them.* was all that needed to be said.

The Moon wolf put his nose to the wind and inhaled a strong scent of blood. It was still fresh on the air, and wouldn't be hard to follow. His powerful legs took him in the path of the murderer. He knew his companion would follow him.

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Musei could all too much agree with the stuck-up ANBU now. Her pupils dialated and her pink hair had frizzed out so much that her ears, never visable, were now showing. These...were the same new recruits that she had just had the pleasure of out running. She began to wonder, question if she was the cause of this, wonder if maybe she had let them on a case long..if...NO! If not them, then the Hokage; or her annoying little replacement. Musei still did not understand Tsunade's reasoning in naming that Naruto squirt as her equal; but she did not question it. Sometimes things were not as they seemed. Like here.

"Go for help...and miss out on the action?! NO WAY."

Musei tried to run after the ANBU, but Tenmei held fast onto her shorts. The orange cat whimpered, a sound Musei did not hear often. Tenmei was afraid for Musei; and she would not allow the kunoichi to go any further. Muse was furious, but at the same time now knew that she had to get more help or they may be another death in Konoha. Much as she already disliked the woman, she knew that she did not get her status easily.

Musei and Tenmei had made their rounds to every station where the ANBU were normally standing their guard. None were around, so in a frantic panic she raced towards the Hokage's place, and there, she found a bit of luck.

"Killings..that way..konoha blood..spilled..help..please.."

Tenmei was holding Musei up. She wouldn't have normally of beentired, but the panic had made her muscle work less eficently so she was now aching and out of breath. The ANBU did not move for a moment; they looked like stone golems that had no soul. but finally one of them steeped forward to grab her. when she reached up to push him off, the blood still present on her palm smear across his shoulder. That was the end of their questioning. While a small force remained where they stood the others took off; two more raced inside; what musei figured was to make sure all ninja of capable rank would be sent to find out what happened. Musei was ready to turn and leave when she was hoisted up and shoved into the door.

"Tenmei; come and be gentle. We must speak to get help."

Musei's voice was weak and her movements were much to drained to fight anymore. Tenmei obeyed, walking with her head down and her eyes focused on her master's feet. Though Musei wanted to speak her part, before she had reached too far she found herself swirling in darkness. the last words she lipped almost silently.

"How could this have happened in Konoha..."

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[Leiko-hime]

The Sumiyaka’s geta clattered softly as she touched down on the roof where shed left her belongs, a few remaining droplets of wet blood fell from the spikes on her gauntlet, though for the most part the blood that decorated her weapons, face, and cloths has dried from being exposed to the open air, as well as her rate of movement, or had dripped off to paint the roof tops she’d passed over as she’d gone by. She waited for a moment, crouched there, before straightening up to her full height. Her kosode was stiff with dried blood, and the only reason the bindings around her abdomen were still more or less in place was because of the dried and wet blood: The slash on her back was still seeping sluggishly. However, not a wince or a twitch of pain made itself onto her face, which retained a blank facade, her eyes hooded lazily. Leiko moved toward her satchel and rifled through it, and pulled out a pale green kosode.

Somewhere in the back of her mind Leiko knew that her actions could have nasty consequences, but she didn’t care. She would get on the bad sides of every shinobi nation if that was what it took. They always said that the worst opponent was the one who had nothing to loose, and Leiko certainly didn’t have much of anything left: Her only real binding to the mortal coil was her people, waiting for her back in the desert, and even then she knew that the Sumiyaka could take care of themselves. She removed the gauntlet from her left arm quickly, and peeled it and her kosode off; as the blood stained and torn black kosode fell to the ground, and the Sumiyaka adjusted and tightened the maroon bindings around her torso down (both to put pressure on her wound, and to keep them in place until she could replace them), her mind turned to the friend’s she had left behind.

Yaki would be falling into a useless state by now, she figured. The girl was so easily taken with depression, and her self-esteem was more or less nil, she felt a twinge of guilt in her numb heart for the pain she was causing the first friend she ever had, but at the same time Leiko wondered if this wasn’t going to be good for the Usagiku; it may just push the girl to get a backbone. Hiiro was still there anyway, he’d keep an eye out for Yaki, if nothing else.

Ah well, that was in the past now and Leiko had her self-proclaimed mission to work on, she needed her mind in the present: There was no time’s for what if’s and regrets. She could think about her own failures later.

Using the remaining tatters of the ruined kosode and a small amount of water from her supplies she quickly, but efficiently, cleaned the blood from her skin and the metal of her gauntlet, it then went into her satchel. She then she shrugged on the clean kosode, drawing it tightly around her before tying her obi back on and shoving her Kodachi into it’s usual place, and then moved over to the side of the building where she dropped the ruined black material into the dark alleyway below.

Another movement followed by a light clatter, and the Sumiyaka stood in the street, satchel dangling from her fingers, without glancing back she strode toward the more occupied areas of Konoha that would, even at this hour, be bustling with activity. She knew that Konoha had Inuzuka and other such powerful Ninja animals with great olfactory senses, but no matter how great an animal was, the mingling smells of masses of humanity could confuse a trail.

It wasn’t full proof, but then, Leiko didn’t really care: let them come, she would not allow herself to be stopped.

[lovelovelove2]

As their muscled legs carried them over the rooftops, Haki-Uchi and his ANBU companion searched for the murderer. Their ever-watching eyes scanned the surrounding rooftops of the Village buildings. The Wolf Demon was still following the blood scent that clung to the air. Every now and then, he would veer to follow the exact trail of the outsider.

*This monster needs to be killed. They cannot be allowed to threaten the lives of the Villagers.* Rinakai's mouth tightened into a thin line from the pressure of keeping her screams in. This murderer would pay for taking the spirits of her fellow shinobi. Her white-pale hand found the hilt of her long sword and tightened around it, making her fingers impossibly white.

Haki-Uchi felt Rinakai frustration and pent-up anger. He was worried that the woman would make some mistake when facing the outsider. The Wolf Demon had to find someway to keep his mistress out of harm's Way.

"Hurry Haki! We need to kill them."

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Musei’s eyes fluttered and for the first few moments she saw nothing. Panic filled her as she started to wonder wy she couldn’t see, ad she gone blind? She sat up and in the same instant seemed to fall back down again. Her head was swirling and a sudden pain shot through it. Reaching out, he felt the soft pelt of her friend, her companion. She felt her tension relax a bit, but se still was breathing heavy due to lack of sight. A few moments later a few strands of light flooded in, and before she knew it, color. Blinking a few times helped, and before long her eyes came back into view. She was in a pristine room, nearly all white. Next to her was the familiar orange cat peeking over the bed at her. It was then that it hit her that she had passed out.
Tenmei…? Did they find them, did they kill them?
The cats ears flickering is all it took to let Musei know that whomever it was was still at large. It made her furious, pissed, hurt. She sat up and began to crawl out of the bed, not really giving much of a shit that she was left in nothing but her bindings. She began to dress, and before she could pull her first thing on all the way, a medical ninja came flying into the door and shoved her to the bed.
OH NO DEAR! You are not well. Got a nasty bump. All those mangled bodies much have giving your mind quite the shake up! No leaving just yet!”
Musei muttered but didn’t fight the woman. After she was sure she was alone she leaned down next to Tenmei; hand on the scruff of the giant cat’s neck.

Alright…I’ll change. You grab my clothes and meet me outside, got it?”

The cat nodded, and without another thought grabbed Mueio’s clothing and trotted out the door. Knowing the annoying medi-nin was going to check in on her once her cat trotted out, Musei laid down and waited. Sure enough the woman cracked the door and checked in. When she was satisfied she left again, but left the door open. It wasn’t as if Musei cared; she’d be able to get out through the window. She stood and unfolded her wrappings quickly. She knew she had to be quick, there wouldn’t be much time otherwise. Folding them into a semi-small bundles she walked over to the window unlocked it and cracked it just enough to fit her arm out. With that, she quickly formed hand seals; disappearing in a puff of pink smoke.

A pink cat squeezed her way out of the window and landed silent on the ground outside. In her mouth was a bundle of bandages. Briskly and with a sort of prance in her step she headed off, mewing and cooing as she went. It wasn’t long before her giant orange counter part showed up walking along beside her. Se was out of the hospital, now she just needed to find someplace to change.
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[lovelovelove2]

A lone crow was soaring through the air till he found the woman he had been ordered too. He let out a shreak so terrible, and then flew down to the woman.

Rinakai looked up sharply at the sound of a crow. She knew that sound and recognized the crow. Itachi, was hissed into the awaiting air. Even though the crow was here, the woman couldn't stop in her chase so she held out her hand for the crow to fly beside her. It flew lower and spoke with it's screeching voice.

*What says the black carrion?*
*The man says he is coming.*
*Why? Why would he come here?*
*For you.*

Her stone heart pounded in her chest. Suddenly the ANBU was afraid. Was Itachi coming to kill her, but then again why would he do that. Her thoughts were all jumbled together and it was hard for Rinakai to focus on the task at hand. She flung her hand, as of yet telling the midnight crow to stay or leave, whichever it was told to do.

It stayed with the woman, then one his master wanted. His wings beat faster to keep up with the quick human.

"We must put this behind us now. Haki-Uchi, find the murderer. Let him know we are behind him, that we wil slaughter his spirit!" She touched Jorike's mask as a sign of guilt.

A howl rose in the demon's powerful throat. In it was the battle cry of long-dead warriors and wolves that rose against enemies to slaughter them.