[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

Masahiko was late.  Not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately, and though he strived to conceal the worst of his bad habits from his genin, the person he was meeting had known him for far too long for Masahiko to be anxious about running a few minutes behind. Hirata Isao was in the deeply unfortunate position of having known Hiko as a snot-nosed, acne-ridden teenager, and it was a kind of vengeance to make him wait. A small price to pay for being allowed to live, with the things he knew.  Still, guilt prickled at the edge of Masahiko's conscience, and his steps quickened. He raised his arms up above the back of his head, swirling his long hair into a manageable twist that he clipped securely in place; then he tied on his forehead protector, patted down the pockets of his reinforced gear to ensure that no flaps would go flying, and he took off.  It had been a long time since he worked alongside Isao, but now it seemed the Lady had decided that they were to be coworkers again, after a fashion. And after some brief correspondence over the matter, it seemed appropriate to mark the occasion of their reunion with their age-old tradition:  a spar.  A few minutes more, and Masahiko arrived at their designated meeting space, not far beyond the fortified walls of Yukigakure. A begrudging smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as his former teammate came into view, and he raised a hand in greeting.  "Sorry to keep you waiting," Masahiko said, not sounding sorry in the slightest. A light, cold breeze stirred a few stray locks of his hair, improperly pulled back in his haste. "It's good to see you again, Hirata."  The odd formality of the sentiment betrayed its credence, his light attempt at an affectation weaker for this simple truth: he was, in fact, glad to see Isao, hale and whole.

hirata isao -- 322

LAIKA OF THQ

[hirata isao]

in truth, isao had only been waiting for ten odd minutes. having learned, through experience, that arriving late to an occasion only made someone look like a thoughtless prick, isao made a point to arrive early to nearly everything within reason. but this was hiko, the same person who'd inadvertently imparted that wisdom. with him fifteen minutes late was a half hour too early.

in the meantime, isao rested his back against one of the thick pines that dotted the area surrounding yukigakure and filled his head with the sound of an easy brook behind him, allowed to flow beneath a sheet of ice following a few warm days-- well, warm for the land of snow at least.

the shinobi heard the loud crunch of snow being crushed beneath masahiko's feet long before the younger male spoke. while it was just hardly outside of town and to meet a friend, isao couldn't help but chide the shinobi in his head 'always was heavy-footed.' at the very least it served a silent jab at his former teammate; the only one he'd offer in response to his late arrival.

"good you finally brought the window down to single digits." err... well, expect for that one, apparently.

isao chuckled and stepped away from the rough bark of the tree and toward hiko, waving back in a sort of half-greeting half-excusing whatever he'd just said type of way. as he approached, the angle of their heads changed too sharply and isao couldn't help but let out another low laugh. "if only i could say the opposite of your height." a coy smirk wormed its way across isao's usually austere lips and he reached out to place a hand on masahiko's head. when he spoke again he would cast off what remained of the formality. "it's good to see you too, and in one piece, hiko."

isao was excited to spar again with the man who had bounced between superior, subordinate and peer more often than any person rightly should. the last time they'd come to blows was more than two years ago, before team two began falling apart. the two weren't accustomed to catching up, and this was certainly not the place to do it, so isao didn't bother. instead offering three words, a question, that summed up his intent better than any long drawn out reunion would:

"rules of engagement?"

397 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

Masahiko's lips pursed as Isao's calloused hand landed on his head, tightly suppressing the childish urge to smack the offending limb away. Wisely, he also refrained from commenting on the jab at his height--which was perfectly respectable, thank you--and silently congratulated himself for this refined display of growth and maturity. He stepped back, shrugging off the other man's hand, and considered the question.  "Three hits," he said. "Solid connection, limbs don't count. Nothing fatal, obviously."  The conditions were so egregiously in Masahiko's favor, Isao would be an idiot to accept them; the former mercenary's skillset lay almost exclusively in effective offensive maneuvers, and the man was a born killing machine. Requiring that he refrain from using any of his skills that were made for that purpose, even if he was holding back, was severely handicapping the man. But none had ever accused Hiko of having an overabundance of pride, and luckily for him, Isao was, in fact, an idiot. Hiko could safely assume the other man would agree. Masahiko pressed his hands together, carefully drawing from his chakra reserves, tracking the flow of energy as it circulated through his body.  "Oh," he continued, almost an afterthought, "and nothing to the face, please."  Never one for fair play, Masahiko barely allowed enough time for the final word to leave his lips before he was quickly bouncing backward, forming three handseals in rapid succession. Three clones manifested, flanking Masahiko as he prepared for Isao's opening move.

hirata isao -- 244

LAIKA OF THQ

[hirata isao]

distance was made and the rules were set. that said, however, the rules masahiko proposed were hardly fair. 'non-fatal?' a scowl wormed its way over isao's face as he considered his options which, admittedly, were almost exclusively fatal. normally it was up to the opponent to determine whether or not a blow was fatal but oh well. this would certainly favor hiko, given the young man's penchant for genjutsu, but isao wouldn't count himself out just yet.

he took a step back, drawing his sword, and nodded to his opponent. "you'd better win this one then." the words were followed by a thin smirk as hiko quickly took the first move, bringing out three clones, surrounding his flank. "can't get enough of yourself, eh?"

as long as isao could keep track of them, he didn't really have to worry about the clones. no shadows, nor any imprint in the snow around their feet; these were illusions. isao let one hand fall away from his sword hilt and quickly made a series of hand-seals in turn. if he wasn't going to be able to use his most devastating attacks then he'd have quite the reserve of chakra saved to play with.

two clones appeared, one on either side of isao, as his hand returned to the blade. these clones, however, were tangible. their shadows proof enough and the sound of snow crunching beneath their feet as each of the three sword-wielders shifted position into a different stance.

in the center, isao took a defensive position, rising the blade in his hands high with the point toward masahiko. to the left the clone drew its sword back, as if it was going to dash forward, dragging the heap of iron behind it in preparation of a lunge. the third, on isao's right, mirrored isao's earlier movements, drawing a hand from the hilt to hold a generic seal to its lips, channeling chakra in preparation of a potential follow up strike if either isao was attacked or the other clone dashed forward.

isao had no intention of playing tricks. these clones were not meant to deceive; they were backup.

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

"I am the best-looking thing around," came Masahiko's snappy reply, alongside a toss of his hair that would have been more effective had he not already bound it. But his self-satisfied mirth was as short-lived as his plans for his clones as Isao responded in kind, and two shadow clones manifested alongside the other man. Well. That was new. Two years was a long time, Hiko supposed grimly, and Isao was bound to have picked up as many new tricks as Hiko himself, but this was an impressive one. Not that Hiko would admit it, of course. He had intended to use the clones as a diversion; they were obviously fake, of course, but with a few layered genjutsu he could make them seem real enough to throw Isao off-balance. That all changed now that the fight was three against one. One preparing to attack directly, the other prepping another jutsu, and the man himself shoring his defenses like a steel wall. "I'd have thought that one was beyond you," Hiko said lightly. "I remember when you couldn't even perform a simple substitution jutsu. I'm so proud." To Isao's eyes, Hiko formed a single handseal: the Kase Genjitsu he was so terribly fond of, and one deeply familiar to Isao. In truth, however, he was covering a series of five swift handseals with Ato Rigen, his focus shifting to a nearby log that was roughly Hiko's size as he prepared a substitution jutsu in anticipation of the left clone's incoming attack. He'd come into this spar with a concrete plan, and was less than pleased about having to adjust on the fly; but then, he supposed, Isao had a habit of throwing him for a loop.

hirata isao -- 286

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu used:
NAME: Ato Rigen [Pride Cometh Before The Fall]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Genjutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
TRIGGER: Visual
DESCRIPTION:
There is nothing better than outsmarting one's opponent. This Genjutsu seeks to play on that. A visual Genjutsu that is activated by seeing the user interlocking their fingers, from there the technique begins. It will appear as though the target is performing a Ninjutsu technique that is most familiar to the user. If a target is someone who does not utilize any handseals, this will not affect them.

NAME: Kawarimi no Jutsu [Body Replacement Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 5
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals (one post prior to the technique's use) and locating a nearby object within a 10 meter radius (typically a log or something of similar size to their body.), the user switches places with the said object just before an attack lands, creating an optical illusion. During the small interval where they have left their opponent surprised, they may take the time to attack or flee.

[hirata isao]

this was far from the first time isao had seen hiko form that hand seal and he knew exactly what was coming next. if it was the same tricks as usual then masahiko would have changed some small detail in the environment to give him the leg up or to confuse isao long enough to follow up with something more dangerous. isao stood back and examined the battlefield while nodding for the other two to attack.

that attack hiko had prepped for would come, two-fold, as both clones charged. the clone on the right made a quick seal before placing its hand on the length of its blade, steadying it as the clone dashed at the opponents illusions. the other did the same, dropping its stance to make a similar seal. this one, however, didnt bother steadying the blade and instead rushed in with the blade outstretched, ready to attack from another angle.

isao himself watched and waited, maintaining his defensive stance in case a response attack was coming. his eyes scanned the battlefield, hiko's clones and searched for any minute change in the environment. something to explain away that genjutsu hiko'd used. if he didn't figure it out quick this battle would only tip further in hiko's favor.

as they met the illusions, one clone chopped high, the other swung low, their blades missing one another by mere centimeters. they didn't miss their mark though and with a cloud of snow following each blades impact into the earth the illusion would be all but revealed.

this, of course, at the cost of isao's security, the two clones leaving him behind to fend for himself. until they didn't. as though they had never left, both clones were back at isao's side. there was no impression in the snow to indicate they'd moved at all and the illusions, assuming hiko didn't believe the genjutsu isao countered with, or well at least isao thought he was 'countering' with it, would be wholly intact. in truth, isao and his clones hadn't moved and spent the time during the diversion scanning the field and watching one anothers backs, looking for any tricks masahiko was trying to pull.

363 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

Masahiko had to adjust on the fly, but it seemed to be going according to plan; as expected, Isao recognized the lone handseal for that particular genjutsu and immediately sent his shadow clones on the offensive, while the man himself was distracted by searching for whatever Masahiko had altered. It was something Hiko had done to him in spars countless times before, and Isao was wise to his tricks. But not wise enough, it seemed. Isao should have known better: complacency kills. Or loses a spar, anyway. The two clones bore down on him, and he waited for their swords to swing before activating his substitution jutsu, swiftly switching places with the nearby log and pushing hard off the ground, lunging in to close the distance between himself and the original Isao, coming in behind him-- only to realize that he wasn't as solitary as he seemed. This was unfortunate. Isao using a genjutsu was practically unheard of, and in the midst of Hiko kicking himself for not paying attention, there was a small ounce of pride that welled up in the back of his mind. Nearly drowned out by his sudden certain sense of impending doom, but there nonetheless. Still, he had already closed the gap, so he might as well still try to take advantage of the opportunity before beating a quick retreat. If he could just put the physical Isao out of commission, then handling the clones would be relatively short work. As the genjutsu revealed itself, Hiko released the seal on one of his spin-nai and drew it--a small, token nod towards defending himself against three of Isao's massive swords--and reached out with his other hand to quickly strike the back of Isao's head, hoping against hope for the attack to connect and his Ensuto Jikangire No Jutsu to go through.

hirata isao -- 305

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu used:
NAME: Ensuto Jikangire No Jutsu [Stall Out Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Medical]
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Chakra Control SA, Medical Training SA
DESCRIPTION:
By placing an index finger to the patient's temples and sending a wave of chakra into their brain, the user can render the patient's body completely limp like a strong tranquilizer, allowing them to feel no pain and allowing the user to heal the patient without struggle. The limpness lasts for 6-8 rounds, depending on the size of the patient. This can also be used offensively if the user was to touch the head of an enemy.

[hirata isao]

it didn't take more than a second for isao to realize the real hiko had vanished, leaving a pristine log in his place. the assault itself would have been perfectly executed had isao genuinely sent off his clones and, as the three isao's scanned in each direction, doing a 180 and quickly locating the now within arm's reach masahiko, isao couldn't help but feel that same sense of pride. when, after all, had hiko become such a quick-thinking killer? it took his all not to shed a tear.

but that would have to wait. on instinct the two clones bore down on the charging masahiko, their position too advantageous for the one man to penetrate. the real isao took a step back as one clone wrapped its arms underneath hiko's armpits and up around his neck in a headlock while the other dived for his legs, trying to take him to the ground in one swift motion.

isao nodded to the glorified thugs of himself and restated the rules, more to hiko than to them. "solid connection, limbs don't count. no face." the last bit came out coated in as little sass as isao could manage (so it was dripping with it). the clones followed directions, one elbowing masahiko hard in the lower back, dodging the spine for obvious reasons, and the other adjusting its grip only to drive a knee into the man's side.

isao stepped back once more, beginning to grow the distance. he rose a single hand, keeping his eyes on hiko's body on the ground, and formed a quick seal, releasing both clones. "that's two." only seconds ago isao's tone was fun, if chiding, but he was dead serious when he stated the score.

if masahiko genuinely wanted to win he'd need to stop playing to isao's strengths. close-combat? while isao appreciated the attempt, that wasn't an area he expected hiko to beat him out on. you didn't see isao working in the medical ward after all.

with the distance regained isao raised his sword again, preparing for another assault.

344 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

Yeah, this was about what Masahiko had expected. If nothing else, it was a sign of deeply-entrenched trust that Masahiko would even make a blunder like this; anyone else as clearly physically capable and deadly within melee range as Isao, and Masahiko would never have revealed himself in the first place, let alone get within arm's reach. That he took a chance and went for the head strike, took that kind of risk at all, was tantamount to putting his life in Isao's hands, and having faith that all would be well. Yes, the rules had been stated as non-fatal, but Hiko would be hard-pressed to find anyone else he could truly take that for granted with. He wasn't completely cognizant of the sentiment. But as Isao's shadow clones grappled him in place, all he felt was disappointment. That old, instinctive, primal fear was nowhere to be found. Something snippy and vaguely salacious about Isao having him well in hand was rising to Masahiko's lips, but before the words could fall he was taking two nasty hits back to back, and had the wind knocked out of him. He dropped to the ground as Isao vanished his clones, and Hiko's mouth thinned into a harsh, pale line. He didn't grace Isao's announcement of the score with a response. Instead, still kneeling on the ground, he formed a few handsigns and, with his gaze still lowered, focused raiton chakra at the crown of his head, directly in Isao's line of sight. It was a blinding flash of raiton, and hardly another breath passed before Hiko was bracing himself on the ground with his hands, kicking cleanly out with one sparking, raiton-coated leg to drive his foot into Isao's groin.

hirata isao -- 288

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu used:
NAME: Raiton: Senkō Mosu [Lightning Release: Flash Flare]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Raiton
DESCRIPTION:
The user will perform the needed Handsigns and focus Raiton chakra to a single point above the forehead to cause an instant flash of light to be produced that can blind anyone directly staring at the point of origin for about ten Seconds. This is a great tactical move for those attempting an escape.

NAME: Hibana Entori [Sparking Entry]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: Raiton
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:
A familiar technique that copies the Dynamic Entry in every shape and form. The user will distract their opponent in whatever way possible to get them to look the other way before striking them with a vicious kick. The difference is that they will coat lightning-based chakra around their leg to give their kick a more powerful boon in the form of a shock to the enemies bodies that'll send shivers around them.

[hirata isao]

the sudden flash of light was familiar to isao but it caught him all the same. with his vision stolen from him, he drew his sword back, angling it downward to block the beam just in time for isao to catch the slender leg of his opponent slipping through his defenses. again, the feeling of bittersweet pride rose in isao's gut as he admired the speed with which masahiko both regained composure and closed the distance.

just because he could see the perceive the strike didn't mean he could avoid it however.

in a last ditch effort to avoid such a debilitating attack, isao shifted his hips, taking the brunt of the impact to his side as he moved into the kick. pain surged through him as lightning chakra coursed through his body after the initial impact. 'cheeky bastard' isao's eyes narrowed with the thought. two lightning release abilities back to back? it was like the younger man wanted to send a message.

he took a moment to steady the sword in his hands, in fear of it falling forward and striking hiko, before dashing back in retreat, his leg lagging a bit as he moved with the aftershock of electricity still confusing his muscles. that aside, it was also a pretty good kick. a combination of ninjutsu and taijutsu, from someone not particularly skilled in either, showed some immense promise for hiko. though, in all fairness, his potential had never been in doubt. isao might have had a few comments about his aim, however.

that was a hit, anyway, and now things were getting interesting. it was certainly a dangerous spot for masahiko, being one solid strike away from a loss but that didn't make isao feel any better. for now he was dealing with a shaky lead and a now caged animal, starving for validation of its own vanity.

he readied himself again as he leapt back further still, maintaining a more solid distance this time before stabbing his sword down through the top layer of snow and into the earth. with a quick fluid motion, his eyes lingering on masahiko's position, he drew the kunai he kept in his shoulder pocket, slid his index through the hole at the base and wrapped his hand around the hilt in a tight reverse grip.

"let's finish this, hiko."

389 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

A shame that Isao soaked the hit elsewhere--incapacitating him like that would have been a sure victory for Masahiko--but at least he was gaining ground. The time Isao took to beat a hasty, shaky-legged retreat was time Hiko sorely needed to get back on his feet and properly catch his breath. This was all fun and games, but Isao's clones hit hard. He never wanted to find out how much it hurt when Isao wasn't feeling friendly. Still, he didn't have time to waste: every moment Hiko took to collect himself was a moment Isao had to prepare, and Hiko was doomed if he couldn't get Isao off-balance. The other man had just driven his sword into the ground, and by the time he issued his challenge, Hiko was already on the move. His clones--still up, watching carefully from the sidelines--fanned out behind him, Hiko's footprints the only ones appearing in the snow as he dashed forward for a head-on assault against Isao. It might have seemed reckless. In head-to-head, Isao would win every time; he was stronger, more experienced, had a height advantage. Physically, he was Masahiko's superior in every way. But Masahiko was a master of the fundamentals, and he never forgot his roots. As the distance between the two men grew shorter, Hiko's illusory clones close in around him, overlapping each other and the form of Hiko himself, a visual distortion of slender limbs and vivid hair. And when Hiko was only two arm's lengths away, he made a single handsign: a simple genjutsu technique, popular among children, but one that would turn the amalgamation of Hiko and his clones into a blurry nightmare to Isao's eyes.

hirata isao -- 280

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu used:
NAME: Fukushi no Jutsu [Double Vision Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: To Use: Very Low | To Maintain: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Genjutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 1
TRIGGER: Visual
DESCRIPTION:
A fairly simple technique used widely by starting shinobi. This technique tricks the mind into doubling its vision. While this is a very low rank technique and one that even children can use, its usefulness in combat should not be underestimated. Using this technique the user could suddenly cause a weapon or taijutsu user to have their combat effectiveness drastically reduced. The technique is activated upon seeing a single handseal.

[hirata isao]

while isao may've been an idiot (and dense, dim-witted and just generally slow on the uptake) he wasn't an idiot. this turn of phrase struggles when you're referring to someone who isn't very bright but you get the idea. he knew masahiko decently well, maybe as well as he knew anyone, the two of them having been close teammates for years, and he'd learned two things that weren't tracking here.

first, that masahiko was smart and learned from his mistakes. getting in close hadn't worked once, why would he expect it to work now? second was that masahiko always had some trick up his sleeve. so it didn't take a genius, thank god, to figure out that the younger of the two of them had a trick up his sleeve. what it was, isao didn't know but he'd have to be careful all the same. as masahiko closed in his hands flashed together to form a painfully familiar seal. a smirk broke through isao's cool stare as the clones merged and created a fuzzy image.

as it turns out, tricks up your sleeve didn't have to be anything novel.

isao immediately threw his caution away as he recognized the illusion. while he would have trouble landing anything demanding precision; a jab or a well placed kick, he could attack the whole mass of blur at once. he met masahiko's charge with his own, leaping forward with his arms wide in a bear hug, attempting to take masahiko and his clone companions to the ground where, through sheer size alone, isao would have the substantial advantage.

266 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

From childhood, Masahiko had always struggled with sparring. He was hardly a physical specimen; average speed, a slight build, a relatively delicate constitution. In real-world scenarios he was ideal in the wings, observing unseen and providing support as needed. If a fight against a solitary enemy shinobi seemed imminent, Masahiko simply... didn't engage. He'd yet to be placed on a mission where risking his life alone would be necessary. There would be a circumstance in which he would be forced to defend himself, he was sure, but in such a situation he had enough emergency tools to be able to distract, surprise, and neutralize. But in a spar against someone who'd known him for years, who'd been a victim of every one of his tricks? To put it simply: Masahiko hoped beyond hope that fate never put him on Isao's bad side. He'd never survive the encounter. Speaking of physical specimens: Isao correctly interpreted Masahiko's maneuver and was hurling himself bodily forward. Victory was in his path unless Hiko could pull this off, and his odds were... not great. Regardless, Isao taking the bait was far more ideal than his remaining in a defensive position, and the risk of getting crushed wasn't so unappealing that Hiko wasn't willing to try. Isao closed in, and as soo as Hiko was within his arm's reach, he stepped into Isao's space instead of trying to dodge out of the way. As quickly as he could manage even as he felt that heavy, muscular weight bear down on him, he reached his hand out with a single index finger extended, and sent a sudden, overwhelming wave of chakra surging through the tip of his finger to connect with Isao's temple. If at first you don't succeed, et cetera.

hirata isao -- 294

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu used:
NAME: Ensuto Jikangire No Jutsu [Stall Out Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Medical]
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Chakra Control SA, Medical Training SA
DESCRIPTION:
By placing an index finger to the patient's temples and sending a wave of chakra into their brain, the user can render the patient's body completely limp like a strong tranquilizer, allowing them to feel no pain and allowing the user to heal the patient without struggle. The limpness lasts for 6-8 rounds, depending on the size of the patient. This can also be used offensively if the user was to touch the head of an enemy.

[hirata isao]

isao had never been more proud of his younger peer. masahiko had a long history of tactical retreats and tricks to avoid conflict altogether. isao was his complete opposite in that way, preferring to face every obstacle head on, as he was doing now. the hiko of their shared time on the same squad would have ducked out of the way or already given up. this was a different shinobi entirely as he closed the distance between them.

in all honesty, this was the last thing isao anticipated. though, even still, the man never struggled to think on his feet. as he watched the blurry image form seals of whoever knew what isao resolved to continue his assault. he couldn't recognize the forms his opponent made with his hands, given the illusion in place, and a retreat right now seemed impossible, if unwise.

as the distance shrunk to feet, isao saw the hand reaching out to his face. and also his own closed fist reaching out to find hiko's gut. he felt the cool touch of masahiko's bare fingertips connect with his temple and steady waves of electricity began to pulse through the man's body. isao gritted his teeth as he pushed his last effort into connecting with hiko's torso.

"th- three."

he stammered out the score before crashing into the hiko, his limp body falling and bringing them both down into a heap in the snow. despite the inability to move his muscles, a thin smile forced its way across isao's lips. for, although he looked a foolish sight and would be out of commission for a few moments, at least masahiko was pinned beneath the selfsame fate.

279 words | nue masahiko

[nue masahiko]

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER

In retrospect, Hiko probably should have seen this coming. He felt the crushing weight of disappointment first, but it was soon shooed away by the crushing weight of ninety kilos of pure muscle, which thoroughly knocked the wind out of him and sent him hurtling at terminal velocity to the ground. There was a thick layer of snow blanketing the ground, and it was melting beneath the weight and warmth of two adult men, soaking into Masahiko's Nue-issued gomu hada. Despite the icy cold snowmelt now thoroughly pressing against his skin, Hiko felt altogether too hot, and he squirmed uncomfortably beneath the behemoth of a shinobi currently attempting to murder him via asphyxiation and embarrassment. This was giving him flashbacks to his years as a genin, much to his dismay--repeated incidents of close-quarters contact, missions spent huddled up together in the same hiding spot, tussles and spats that nearly always ended with Hiko red-faced, spitting mad, and fleeing to adjust his clothing. It was nightmarish to remember, and he didn't care for this... repeat incident. He was a grown man, for gods' sake. In a moment of pure pettiness, Hiko wrestled one arm free with a grunt of effort and pinched a tiny bit of Isao's exposed skin at the neck, hard. He wouldn't be able to feel it--the stall-out technique was too effective as a tranquilizer--but it would probably bruise, and incite a bout of gossip about the older man amongst the village aunties. It was the only vengeance he could acquire. "You haven't changed, Isao," he grumbled, his arm flopping out onto the ground. "You're still a bastard." Hiko could have vyed for freedom in a number of ways, but he had no desire to further draw on his chakra enough to merge with Isao and escape that way, and even less desire to expend the physical effort required to squirm out from underneath the limp man's weight. And, well. It wasn't all bad. Despite the heat and the weight and the humiliation, Masahiko simply laid there, a victim of fate, waiting for the chakra to work its way through Isao's abused brain so he could be freed from this prison of flesh and snow.

hirata isao -- 367

LAIKA OF THQ