[≈ ≈] Bakufu - The Waterfall.

[Lanfaer]

♠≈*∞*≈♠ Strike Fast, Strike Hard ♠≈*∞*≈♠

(lol Listening to the Akatsuki Theme while writing this. Perfect!)

From before Tsukiko would step a shadow, oddly shaped and yet immediately familiar to the young Kunoichi. It was Akisame, fulled clothed but with four arms not instead of the two he'd always been thought to had. All four arms were visible, though covered with the black cloth he always wore. Eyes, the color of the ocean and filled with a deeper sadness than perhaps even she could understand, stared into hers. The boy was crouched down, all four arms resting on the ground and holding him up. It was a stance he always used when walking comfortably, but given the circumstances from not too long ago it would probably take on a darker meaning than was intended. Akisame stared into her eyes, and realized something important: Things were never going to be the same between them. Of course, this wasn't really Akisame, but one of his water clones that he'd created to speak with her. Here, at least, he would not show her the tears that streamed down his face under the water, for the Clone did not show such things unless allowed or willed to do so. "Are you planning to just stay silent, Tsukiko? Stay silent after all that has happened?"

Under the water, however, Akisame felt the stirrings of water above. Someone new had entered the area, someone...familiar. Who was it? The clone and Tsukiko were now far enough that this new person would not interrupt them, but it still was curious. And so, Akisame turned and swam up towards the surface, his feet slowly propelling him to the surface. As he broached the barrier between sea and air, Akisame caught the scent of someone he vaguely remembered from a few months ago. Who was it, now? His head fully exposed, Akisame turned to look at an odd sight, a new girl he couldn't remember meeting. Oh, she smelled familiar, but who was she? What was her name? Whomever she was, she was hot, that's all he knew.

♠≈*∞*≈♠ Never Give Up, Never Surrender ♠≈*∞*≈♠

 

[chrissy b e a n]

═════════════════════════════════════xxxxxx▶тѕυкιкσχѕαиα∂α◁ xxxxx ═══════════════════════════ xxxxxxxxgεnιn




Tsukiko could not even get enough distance between them before he was upon her. She had hoped to mask her presence with that of whomever it was that had appeared moments after she had left. Instead, she was face to face with Askisame, well not quite. Staring at him, unflinchingly, she was no fool to telling the difference between clone and Akisame in person. If he thought her to be convinced of this clone he was underestimating her as his team mate. The effect the clone was supposed to portray was having it's effect. Still, she did not remove her gaze from his, no matter how much those eyes pierced her own. His question was one she had expected but was not ready for the timing of it all. Clenching her small fists tightly, she forbid herself from crying. "What is there to say Akisame?" Even though she was portraying herself as that hard a**, her voice quivered under the pressure she was feeling. Throat tightening she felt like tears were inevitable but she fought them as ferociously as ever. Once she was under control she let out a little sigh. He was just as sad and hurt as she was about everything, she could only imagine. Through the pages of history it had talked about the demons hosts and the lifestyles they led, though none of it ever really giving context to the extent of their misery. Akisame was probably seeing this as a rejection of his entirety while Tsukiko only feared the creature in him. Feared for Akisames life. Everyone who Tsukiko loved were walking away from her and the few that remained were even more precious to her. She hated the creature inside Akisame that threatened to take him from her. "I don't hate you...I could never....that thing inside of you is dangerous... She was hesitant now. How could she convey her meaning without making him feel even worse. The demon was a part of him, he was comfortable with it by now. She cringed.  

[Arsinian]

Rank: Mizukage
Village: Kirigakure

Zerus walked on the river that flowed to the edge of the cliff and dropped hundreds of yards below. Around him was lush vegetation that seemed to be thrashed around by the wind. When Zerus had left his office, the weather was beautiful but the closer he got to the waterfall, the weather grew more and more fierce. The booms of thunder grew louder and louder as he walked towards it's source.

As Zerus made his way down the river, he performed some hand seals but didn't say what jutsu he was performing. Soon after the seals, the water behind him started to rise and follow him. He knew exactly what was going on but didn't want to accept it. This was the day he had forseen many years before...the day he dies. He could see his killer up ahead. His golden armor, shining from the lightning that ran through the sky.

"Edegaru!"

Zerus yelled as he threw his trench coat off, revealing a black t-shirt that clung to his muscular body. Soon after, he placed a mask on his face and it seemed to snap in place around his head. It made noises as he inhaled and exhaled. It was Zerus' air mask, which allowed him to breathe while in water. It was a great tool for the Mizukage since his specialty is water. He stopped walking about 40 feet behind Edegaru. His breathing was heavy and his eyes were filled with anger and disappointment. He awaited Edegaru's response to his yell, a large pool of water floating behind him.

 

[Mordred Killian]

The water beneath Edegaru's feet began to drain slowly, as if being kept from their natural flow somewhere upstream. It was then that he heard someone call his name. Edegaru turned slowly to face he who had come to meet him. "Zerus.." Edegaru whispered as he gazed upon the Mizukage with sad eyes and a frown.

A few minutes passed as the two looked at each other across the water. The thunder was growing closer and closer along with the flashes of lightning that lit the dark region. "It took me six years to finally realize what had happened. Why it had happened and who was responsible." There was a flash of lightning that lit Edegaru's face, for a moment, there was the grinning face of the Reibi in place of Edegaru's saddened one.

 

[Arsinian]

Rank: Mizukage
Village: Kirigakure

Zerus didn't move so much as a muscle in response to Edegaru's words. He knew exactly what Edegaru was talking about. His fists that were down at his sides started to clench up around two daggers that he had pulled out while Edegaru was speaking.

"You of all people should know what it means to make sacrifice...."

Zerus' eyebrows started to frown, as if he were angered. He started to recall the memories of what happened that day. It was Zerus who had pushed Edegaru's lover over the waterfall. He was the one Edegaru had been looking for. But, Edegaru didn't know it since Zerus was in disguise as he did it.

"I knew this day would come.....let's just get it over with."

He said as he waited for Edegaru's attack.

 

[chrissy b e a n]

::. HOLY CRAP!!! :0 .::  

[Mordred Killian]

"Yes, sir."

-Current Song-
Naruto Shippuden OST-Beni Soubi

Edegaru looked up to Zerus. A grim look had fallen upon his face as he carefully slid his saber out of its scabbard. The clouds behind him thundered and flashed as the water below his feet churned. Edegaru held his blade out by his side, within his right hand before bringing it up near his face. The tip of the sword pointed towards Zerus. Edegaru now held the saber with both hands beside the right side of his head. The water touching Edegaru's feet then began to swirl as if there were whirlpools. Suddenly, Edegaru shot forward with great speed. He ran atop the water's surface directly to Zerus. Once nearby, he slashed downwards diagonally from right to left at his torso before slashing horizontally from left to right, placing his weight behind his last strike.
 

[Arsinian]

Rank: Mizukage
Village: Kirigakure

(sorry for the short post)

Zerus quickly raised his left fist and his dagger intercepted the sword. At the same time, Zerus' right fist was already head full force towards Edegaru's nose.

 

[Mordred Killian]

-Current Song-
Naruto Shippuden OST-Beni Soubi

The moment his blade was intercepted and ceased by Zeru's dagger, Edegaru felt the need to change position but before he could, Zerus had jabbed to his head. This had caught Edegaru off guard. As he tried to move backwards, the fist met with his forehead, lessening the force but still causing his head to jolt backwards. Edegaru regained balance as he staggered back. It had been embarrassing that he had been hit with a close attack, it was Edegaru's specialty after all. He shook his head and dashed forward again. This time, Edegaru waved his right hand to the right, flipping his blade from the standard position to a backward one. He then leaped into the air and spun in a counterclockwise direction. His body was tilted a bit diagonally so his spinning motion was tilted as well. His blade was extended for a constant attack from above that would last only as long as he spun.

 

[Arsinian]

Rank: Mizukage
Village: Kirigakure

Zerus watched carefully as Edegaru attacked again. He was surprised to see Edegaru recover from his attack so quickly but he was a Hyuuga after all. As Edegaru jumped, Zerus' initial reaction was to jump back until Edegaru started to spin. At that moment, Zerus jumped back but also reached into his kunai pouch on his right thigh. He pulled out an explosive kunai and quickly threw it to where he was standing. He figured Edegaru couldn't control himself in a mid-air spin so when he would come close to the ground, the tag would explode for maximum damage.

After the kunai was thrown, Zerus landed on a platform of water. Almost instantly after that, a wall of water rose up in front of him to protect him from the explosion. The total jump and protection maneuver took Zerus a total of 2 seconds. And since he was a fair 10 feet away from the blast site, his water shield would protect him.

 

[Mordred Killian]

-Current Song-
Naruto Shippuden OST-Beni Soubi

Once Edegaru saw his blade miss his target, he knew that Zerus had countered. Zerus had launched himself back and thrown an explosive tag in his place. As Edegaru slowed in mid air in order to land to his feet, he watched as the tagged kunai entered the water. Edegaru landed with both his feet on the water, squarely. He was looking down at the water under his feet before he looked up at Zerus with confused expression. First of all, why had the Mizukage resorted to such an amateur defense? A shinobi unwilling to tactfully defend and counter, often chose the easier method that was an explosive projectile. Had the Mizukage panicked in that short second? Second, the tags on the kunai burn in order for the explosive effect to take place. That was another indication that the Kage could have panicked. Or perhaps not. Zerus had distanced himself. Perhaps, the kunai had only been to ensure this separation because he saw Edegaru's superiority in close quarters. Yes, this had to be the cause for such an action. Edegaru examined Zerus behind his water wall. This ensured that his next action went unseen. Edegaru extended his right arm to his right as his blade began to glow white. He then stabbed the sword down into the water but only partially. Chidori Koken (One Thousand Birds Sword). The powerful electric current from the Chidori would surely find it's way to Zerus. A sure four seconds as the water ahead of Edegaru crackled and snapped. ((Explosive kunai? Come on! Look at all those jutsu on your list!))

 

[Arsinian]

Rank: Mizukage
Village: Kirigakure

(I was trying to use just weapons but if you want jutsu then ok)

As the electricity screeched through the water, Zerus disappeared in a wave of water, but he knew Edegaru couldn't see him which was perfect. When the electricity hit the water wall, Zerus was already 10 feet behind Edegaru, performing hand seals.

"Suiton: Suiryūben."

He said quietly. Just then, an orb rose from the water just behind Edegaru. Then Zerus made a quick hand movement and a large hole, about 7 feet in diameter, opened up under Edegaru. It was about 20 feet to the bottom of the river and since the water the Edegaru was standing on was no gone, there was no way he could jump out of the way of the hole. And to make matters even worse for him, the orb that Zerus had summoned shot out extremely sharp tentacles made of water. The tentacles shot at Edegaru from behind, hoping to catch him and bind him. If this was done, the exploding kunai from before would be shot up from the hole, using the water that was surrounding the hole. Hopefully, Edegaru would either fall into the hole or be caught by the tentacles and struck by the kunai. If he were to fall into the hole, however, the water around him would close in and the hole would close up. Then Zerus would compress the water around Edegaru to constrict his movements and drown him.