;__; [Lesson/Okibi]

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan stood peering his brunette stranded head into a stall of flowers. Their gentle arms brushed against his face but they would only be complimented by a hefty inhale, and then a wet sneeze; which would coat their lovingly warm colours. He felt the glare from the stall owner stabbing him all over, bu the boy could only but return the accident with a smile and an apologetic wave: "Heeeh, I'm sorry about that." His smile would increase, probably due to fear, as she just stared him out. Slowly Ikka would remove himself from the scene, walking through the bustling streets of the Grand Palais; a place that was known for its industry and criminality alike. And it was probably good to guess that the criminal underworld had a fair control over the industries that housed themselves inside of the concrete, monstrous cube.

Although, that subject would slowly fade from his mind and a new one would quickly whisk into place. Today was the day that Ikkadan was going to teach, yes teach, which was a hilarious thought to say the least. The boy would end up wanting to befriend the student, ignoring the teachings and go about roaming, adventuring and what not for an undisclosed amount of time. Such was the nature of Ikkadan.

Albeit, the location that the student and teacher were suppose to meet up with was not Ikka's idea, but the academy. It was a pub, or rather: 'a catering establishment that focused primarily on drinking', so it was a pub. Ikkadan took a seat at a reserved table, finding this set up a little odd and crooked. Why would the Academy want its faculty member, and student, to meet in a place that would generally be seen as inappropriate. Gah, first challenge of the day was to meet his student... From then the magic would begin.

So to speak.

 

[Okibi]

It was strange, to Okibi, to have to travel for a lesson. Up until recently, everything she learned had been taught by Sousuke, the Steward of the village but apparently it was decided that she needed to learn... different things. Things that he didnt have the time to teach her. Which was fine; she had to admit she was growing tired of seeing the man all the time anyway. Meeting some new people would be a welcome change. And getting to leave the Tower? Forget about it! Okibi was practically jumping in her seat with excitement.

Her 'seat' didnt like that too much though. "Okibi, please stop moving so much." Said her large canine companion. He was an immense doberman, sheer black in color, covered in scars and stitches. His eyes glowed their usual eerie red as he craned his long, muscular neck to look at her. She grinned and shrugged, not having to explain that she was excited. He knew it already. However, for his sake, she tried to tone herself down.

That didnt last long though.

By the time they got to the rendezvous point, Seven was wishing he had a pair of human hands so he could rub at his protesting shoulders. He'd given up trying to get her to sit still, and tried to just get to the place quicker. He was relieved when Okibi jumped off his back and bounded into the 'pub', and lowered himself with a sigh to wait for her outside.

Upon entering the establishment, Okibi looked around. There were numerous people in here... and she had no idea what her teacher looked like. She didnt question why it was that this place was chosen for their meeting, but instead questioned whether it was that person... or that person... or that person that she had to talk to. Why didnt she get a picture!?

Whatever, there was only one way to really figure out which person was the right one.

She went up to every single one of them and asked, "You Okibi's teacher?" This was repeated for every single person in the bar, including the bar tender. Finally, there was only one person left, and how it was that she completely avoided him until then was a mystery. Perhaps it was because he didnt look as old as everyone else in the place. When Okibi thought of teachers she thought of people who were a good deal older than herself. This guy didnt look that much older though...

Panting just slightly from her trip through the bar, she stopped at the brown haired guys table, and asked haltingly, "You.. Okibis... teacher?"

 

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan was a little distracted by a meal that had been laid before him. He had made an order for some battered fish and chips, a simply dish really, but no, not for this place. He edgily poked at the battered fish, cracking open the golden skin and revealing the innards of the fish: not delightful at all. The boy would be too distracted by the badly cooked, oddly smelling meal to even notice the girl maneuvering herself around the entire area; asking everyone if they were Okibi's teacher. And then she finally approached Ikkadan, whom by this point was completely swallowed up by a blissful, yet horrified state of amusement...

"It's probably still alive..." He would comment lowly with a less-than-impressed expression.

The Chuunin would shake his head as the girl stood over him, seemingly towering him as he dipped his head further down. He would snap out of his in-editable daze; setting his hues on a young girl, whom questioned him with: 'You... Okibi's... teacher?" Ikkadan would smile, raising his head, and offering his hand toward the girl. "I don't know the students name, but I'm here to teach her, or him." He would shyly move his buttocks from the seat, taking back his hand - regardless if she accepted the kind gesture or not - and now stood. "I'm sorry for asking you to meet me in a place like this, I wasn't aware that we would be meeting in a pub." Ikka would giggle slightly, rubbing the back of his head and then placing both hands into his red jacket pockets.

Ikkadan would lower his smile somewhat, "I think we should leave... I'd rather us not eat here, and having us both die of... that." He would indicate towards the crappy, battered and fried piece of fish.

He would move from the table to the entrance/exit. However, he would politely await Okibi to exit first; as that was most gentleman like.

 

[Okibi]

At the offer of a handshake, Okibi took it happily and pumped the fellows hand up and down enthusiastically. She so rarely got to practice such a greeting. Few people ever wanted to do so! It was so much more fun than bowing though, so she didnt get why nobody did it more often.

As the guy got up from his seat after the handshake, Okibi gave him a look. He didnt know his students name? "Okibi just told you Okibi's name." She said matter of factly as she followed him to the door. "So... you do know!" Then she crossed the threshold back out onto the street, where Seven was waiting quietly beneath one of the pubs windows. The people walking by on the sidewalk were giving him a wide berth, and Okibi glared at them as they went by. Why did people still do that? Did they not see how calm and docile Seven was!? They were acting as if he was going to spring up and bite their heads off or something.

Granted, he looked like a creature that might do that, but he certainly wasnt.

Okibi bounced over to the giant dog and hopped onto his back. Usually, he didnt mind carting her around, but this time he could only groan in dismay. Hopefully she'd gotten some of her excitement out when she met her teacher. The dog opened his eyes and looked in the human boys direction. He couldnt help it when one of his furry brows rose up on his head. This was Okibis teacher? He hardly looked old enough... but really, no one knew better than to not judge by appearances than Seven.

As Number Seven lumbered to his feet, Okibi patted the side of his scarred neck as she looked at her teacher. "This Number Seven. He Okibi's... friend." She had to stop and think about that last part. Up until they had come to the village, Seven had been more of a caretaker, or a father figure to her, but now that she didnt need that anymore... she wasnt quite sure what to call him. Friend would have to do for now.

Seven nodded his large head in greeting. "You may call me Seven if you find it easier. And you are?"

 

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan would nod his head as Okibi confirmed her name, and that she was in fact Ikka's student. She looked like a kind girl, a gentle and misleadingly blissful soul; much like the Yamazaki himself. He would allow the girl to exit first, then following in pursuit. However, all of his composure would fizzle away to a lumping stump of goop. His eyes laid against the rough image of Okibi's companion, much like that of Kimi's two tigers. However, his reaction would maybe suggest that he felt scared, terrified or something along those lines anyway. Although, this wasn't the case, and in fact it was completely the opposite.

Seven, as he identified himself as, would question the boy for his name, "Surprised." He would retort with a relaxed face, it appearing to formulate a wide smile and cheekily happy expression. "Oh, no. Sorry, I'm Yamazaki Ikkadan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Seven-kun." Ikka would state his name to both: companion and human.

Ikkadan wasn't shocked by Seven's appearance, in fact, he was so intrigued by his cuteness. Now, before this narrator begins, it would be easy to tell all of you readers that this boy has a weird sense of what is 'cute'. Although, it doesn't apply to most things. But Seven's rough appearance would be such a time. "Well, I guess we should get started, don't you two think?" He would nod his head, turn on one heel and then begin to walk on ahead. They would walk so far that the crowds would shrink into less and less numbers, and the franchises' would become more run-down, and the people more riddled with corruption and fear.

Ikkadan wasn't an idiot, this whole setup seemed dodgy, and something about the academy setting up this lesson to be in the Grand Palais was even more shifty. The lesson was to be continued within another complex deeper within enemy territory, so to speak. "So, how did you two meet each other, Okibi-chan and Seven-kun?" He would ask, hoping to distract the girl's mind away from the obvious looming evil that surrounded them. The peoples faces that encroached the street seemed to be scared, and if they weren't scared they were angry looking thugs.

Expressions only made worse due to the shinobi presence.

 

[Okibi]

Yes! It was time to get started. Okibi bounced with excitement, making Seven groan again. He might not have been a very old dog, but he certainly wasnt young anymore either. The pair followed Ikkadan, walking beside him as they traveled into an area that seemed very much like the place where Okibi had caused a building to catch fire. The buildings were rundown and the streets were dirty, but at least here there were people. Whether that could be called a good thing, Okibi wasnt sure. They all either seemed afraid or ready to jump them. Seven watched the latter ones with guarded eyes as Okibi glared quietly.

Ikkadan asked them how they met, and both considered this while they watched the people they passed by. Okibi left the answer to Seven, since she didnt actually remember their meeting. For as long as she could remember, she'd just always been with him. The enormous dog spoke around his dagger-like teeth. "I found her in the woods that border this country. She was just a babe at the time, and her parents were nowhere to be found. I could only assume she had been abandoned. I have been raising her ever since."

Okibi couldnt help smiling a little, and reached forward to stroke Sevens scarred neck. The dog hummed in reply.

"Okibi got sick and Seven brought her here for help. Is why we live here now." Okibi further explained. Her moment of pleasant mood dwindled however when their surroundings just seemed to further deteriorate. The girl glanced at her teacher. "Ikki, where we going?" She asked.

 

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan did listen to the short, but heartfelt story, about how the two became one. Okay, it wasn't exactly explained to be so heart-enchantingly sad, but why would it need to be? Seven and Okibi were now friends, family even, and there would be nothing that could come in-between that kind of love. "Well, I'm glad you two found each other, Seven-kun, Okibi-chan." He would turn his head, grafting his brown hues onto the two with a warm smile. Although his attention would soon turn to the approaching building on their left; The Lucky Star Inn. This inn was suppose to be the place where the lesson would begin, but by the look of its exterior the place had been shut down or cooked by a blackening fire; or both.

"Here..." He would stand in front of the ruined building, hands on his hips and a narrowed expression. No, this couldn't be right, could it? Ikkadan would step forward with a cautious gaze. His gloved red hand would press against the shackled wooden door, causing it to fall over and snap with a crooked, sharp sound of dead wood. "Well, let's go in... Seven-kun, you're probably best coming in too." He would added, obviously become more cautious and noticeable.

Something really wasn't right.

Ikkadan would enter the premises, along with Seven and Okibi, but they would soon feel the air thick with deceit. The boy's senses would feel encumbered by a burden of smells, and some of these smells were like acid to the sense. He would press on further, into the lobby, but not leaving a gap in-between him and his companions. However, very suddenly the floor would collapse; dropping the three from a height into the darkness. It wouldn't be a great drop, but a drop of height none-the-less, and something that would cause all three to possibly land on their sides. And it did just that for Ikkadan, at least.

"Are you two okay...?" He would say groggily, rubbing his face in the darkness as the sand beneath them gave no comforting embrace. The bottom of that drop was cold, it felt drafty, but all the more odder it had a large spacious feel that was cradled with black sand. The black sand wouldn't be visible right now, due to the blackness, but it's always nice to add that little extra detail.

 

[Okibi]

Okibi returned Ikkadan's smile readily, already liking the mild mannered boy. When his gaze strafed to the left of them, the duo looked as well, and stopped with raised eyebrows outside of the abandoned building. "Lucky Star Inn..." Okibi mumbled, reading the sign that was barely legible anymore. A wry grin came to her face and she crossed her arms as she looked at it. "No look so lucky." Number Seven snorted just a little, finding the girls joke to be both inappropriate and funny.

They watched as Ikka went up to the front door of the inn and pushed at it, making it fall over with barely a touch. Number Seven was looking very wary of the building now. When the boy insisted they go in, and Seven along with them, the dog stayed back for a moment. Okibi peered over his shoulder and into his glowing glass eyes. "What wrong?" She asked. Seven made a face and slowly started to follow Ikkadan. "I just dont think someone as heavy as me should be in such a... fragile looking building." The girl rose an eyebrow at him, but since they were moving, left it at that.

As soon as they stepped into the abandoned establishment, they knew something was wrong. Something heavy was settling on their shoulders, though neither one of them could place it. Strong smells assaulted their sensitive noses, nearly knocking them both over. Okibi squeaked and covered her nose with both hands, trying to fight back the tears that wanted to come out as a reflex. Seven didnt have such a luxury, bearing paws instead of hands. All he could do was try to sneeze the scents out of his nose, but as they continued, he realized it was hardly working. The smells were just too prevalent.

"Just what kind of lesson is this Ikkadan?" Seven asked, sounding a little stuffed. He had noticed a while ago, but even Okibi's 'teacher' didnt seem to understand what was going on. Were they really safe here?

His answer came when the floor suddenly fell out from under them. They were all silent, until the ground rushed up to meet them. Seven 'oomph'ed as he landed on his side, and Okibi yelp as she landed hard on one of metal bones. She rolled over, cradling a shin that would probably end up bruised the next day. The dog leaned towards her and licked her face in apology.

"That was precisely why I didnt think me coming in here was a good idea." He said as he looked back up the way they fell. His glowing red eyes worked like two flashlights in the pitch blackness. Was it his weight that made the floor give out though, was the question.

Sucking up her pain, Okibi looked around, trying to find Ikkadan in the darkness. Her nose was messed up because of all the acidic smells, so she gave up and just looked at Seven. She could at least find him because of his eyes. "What going on Ikki?" She asked angrily, feeling the ground beneath her for the first time. Her voice became perplexed as she scooped up a handful. "Sand?"

 

[Honma Kotone]

It was far too late to enter conversation, or even to refer back to Seven or Okibi as a far more pressing matter was upon them. "I get it now..." He would say with his sandy hand running through his brunette hair, where a defeated smile would arise to show face against the utter darkness of the pit. Suddenly lights would begin to revive themselves into existence; revealing the entirety of the pit for all to see. It was indeed a 'pit', and all around the circle formation concrete walls were built to encase the combatants. At the centre of the pit formation there would be a rough, no crude, formation of sandstone ruins. "So, you trap students and teachers inside of a pit for what reason...?" He would comment outwardly at the man, or woman responsible.

However, the silence would only be met with a laughter from the thuggish crowd. This was a game to them, a battle to the death, a moment of enjoyment. Their linchpin wasn't going to reveal his, or her face, because they would be the king of this underworld.

Suddenly, an announcer would open up the battle royal by introducing the names of his fabled 'pets'. These creatures sounded feral, smelled of sewage and were poorly mistreated to the point where they only felt anger towards all of those around them. Seven and Okibi would feel the mistreatment more than Ikkadan, even the smell of their fur would hint to cloyingly burning the creatures etc. The giant wolves, whom adorned bald patches across their bodies, would make an appearance; running out as a pack of 10.

"Don't get bitten, they might be carrying some diseases." Ikka would prepare himself, standing beside Okibi and Seven respectively

 

[Okibi]

As lights turned on and made the pit theyd fallen into visible, Okibi jumped to her feet and took in their surroundings. Indeed they were in some sort of pit, surrounded by high walls; they were standing on black sand. Okibi looked up into the lights, searching for any life. Someone had to turn those on right? However, she could see nothing beyond the glare. When Ikkadan spoke up, and called out someone she couldnt see, Okibi was surprised by the sound of laughter. Was someone getting amusement out of this? She couldnt help growling as a spark of anger lit up in her belly.

"This is...a spectator sport." Number Seven said observantly, taking in the 'ring' they were put in. Okibi looked at him, cutting off the growl. "What you mean 'sport'?" She asked. However, it was too late for answers as a disembodied voice was suddenly announcing something. The smell of sewage and burnt fur clawed at the pairs noses, making them gag. Things were only made worse when the bearers of such a scent were let into the ring.

Seven froze where he stood, looking at the pack of ten with wide red eyes. In them, he saw a past that he wanted to leave behind. Although he might not have been used for the amusement of others, he knew what it was like to have ones body mutilated. He had the scars and stitches to prove it. The larger of his scars began to tingle and his heavy limbs began to tremble as his mind was swept away into a distant memory full of chemicals, scalpels and experimentation.

A light touch to his scarred shoulder brought him back to the present. Okibi was calling him back with nothing more than a brush of her fingers, as she too watched the wolves approach. She could sense their anger, and their hate for everything around them. The smell was almost more than she could bear, and she felt tears of a different sort coming to her eyes. How could anyone treat such noble creatures so horribly? As the girl held onto Seven's sanity, she scanned the pack for one that stood out as a leader. Among their kind, there was always an alpha, and she hoped that it might be the same in their situation. Yes, she could see their anger and hatred, could smell the disease and pain on them but did that really mean they were beyond communicating? Were they beyond helping?

She prepared herself for a fight in case they were.

"Who among you is alpha!?" Okibi barked at the approaching pack. "We are not your enemies!"


(Italics is beast speech! :])

 

[Honma Kotone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtUs4EIQIE​

It didn't take a genius to realize that Okibi and Seven were somewhat stunted by the appearance of these feral-looking creatures. The girl he had met previously, Nekozuka Kimi, was part of a clan that was very honed together with wild cats. However, maybe the same could be said for Okibi and Seven? Perhaps they were apart of the same blood, but yet affiliated to different creatures? "It's okay, Okibi-chan, Seven-kun." He would turn to the two, whom did not want to attack unless it was their last option. But Ikkadan was going to take that chance away from them; he wasn't going to let Seven and Okibi fight their family. "I've never had a family, a proper one that is... So I'd like to make up for that by my friends. Are we friends, Seven-kun, Okibi-chan?" Ikka's eyes would become slotted as he smiled once more, before shifting his head back facing the approaching wolves.

Ikkadan would push forward his two gloved hands and focus on the earth beneath them all. Sand, it was a mineral of earth, so that must mean underneath it there may be something a little more solid. "Case of Life: Release." He would say softly, just moments before the pack would lunge. And just sparingly, vines of soft green tethers would wrap around the members of the pack. However, they were easy to restrain: the alpha male that hide himself among the canon fodder would simply escape the technique's range and sink his overwhelmingly large teeth against Ikka's shoulder. "Gah!" Ikka would exclaim in agony, as the blood spurted from his shoulder and the alpha male deepened his glare towards Seven and Okibi.

"Kill. Her. Brother." The alpha male, with his blackened scabby fur and yellow eyes, would urge Seven to attack Okibi as he did with Ikkadan. After all, these creatures had a deep hate towards all humans for their mistreatment. They had only known the cruelty of humanity, and not its salvation. "If. You. Do. Not. I. Will. Kill. Him." His bite would deepen and cause Ikka to bite down against the pain, trying not to cause too much enjoyment for the thuggish spectators above. Ikka wouldn't attempt to move, but instead maintain the healing barrier technique against the remainder of the pack. The effects of the healing technique would be clear to see as they would all subdue themselves to the feeling of bliss.

"I-I really liked animals, although... I think that this might change my opinion a bit-" He would joke, much to the annoyance of the brutish, yet somewhat timid alpha male. He was only acting to protect himself after all.

 

[Okibi]

Ikkadan's words of reassurance drew Okibi's attention. She looked to the boy, keeping her hand on Seven's shoulder, and smiled slightly. "We friends Ikki. Seven think so too." She patted the dogs side, pulling his attention from the wolves. Seven shook his head and looked at Ikkadan. Somehow, he had heard the short conversation, and nodded his head, affirming what Okibi said. This boy was kind, that much he could see.

In the next instant, the wolves were nearly upon them. When it looked like her words had gotten through to none of them, Okibi 'tch'ed and sank into a feral battle stance. However, not one of the creatures touched them, as suddenly vines sprang from the sand and encased them all in their curling grasp. One wolf got away, and Okibi decided this one had to be the alpha. He displayed more cunning and ability in just being able to escape Ikkadans defense compared to the other wolves.

There was no time to react before the alpha had his teeth sunk into Ikkadan's shoulder. Okibi let out a small cry. They'd just solidified their friendship, and already she was unable to protect her friend! The girl growled in the wolf's direction, listening as he tried to get Seven to attack her.

Seeing the pack of wolves lost to bliss, Seven was able to snap himself out of his half living nightmare, and turn to look at the alpha that had Ikkadan in his grasp. His glowing eyes narrowed on the sad creature, and glanced quickly at the human boy. He hoped what he was about to do didnt backfire on him.

"I would sooner kill you than either of these humans, brother." He put emphasis on the last word, almost mockingly. "They are neither cruel nor evil, unlike the ones who made you what you are." He turned his head briefly up into the lights, eyeing the unseen audience. Surely they were becoming bored with the shallow display of action so far. He looked back at the wolf. "They are your enemy, not these two. But if you must fight..." Seven rose up to his full height, and bore his immense saber teeth. "Let the boy go, and come at me." His voice rang with an authority that came only from his many years of life. Had he a pack of his own, Seven would surely have been an alpha.

Okibi glared sideways at her companion. "What you doing?" She hissed in human tongue. Seven said nothing, but glanced at her momentarily. In that look was all she needed to see. He wanted her to stay out of it.

Yeah, as if.

 

[Honma Kotone]

Before the canines could even attempt to attack each other, the crowds above would boo and hiss dramatically. They were not best-pleased with the lack of action from their combatants, and surprisingly; they paid good money to see young people being torn asunder. All for their perverted sense of 'entertainment'. And at that moment, the alpha wolf would clench down against Ikka's shoulder as a reaction to the internal pain that circuited throughout his body. Indeed, he was being toyed with to attack, to lunge and mane Seven, Okibi and Ikkadan. "He's being forced...!" He would comment, as he could too feel the sudden vibrations of electricity running into Ikkadan's wound like the alpha male was some kind of current.

Ikkadan's face would scrunch up harshly at the shocking pain.

However, very suddenly the alpha male would unclip his fangs from the boy's shoulder and immediately lunged at Seven. He would hope to entangle himself in a all-out biting, nipping and scratching fest. Ikkadan would instantly, upon release, re-cast his technique onto himself and allow the roots to snare around his body. It would then begin to heal him with such a subtle, blissful aura. "Okibi-chan!" He would call out, urging her to move away from the engaged Seven, "You'll get hurt!"

The Chuunin would break free from the roots, not yet fully healed, and run towards his friend; Okibi. He would sling his hand against her arm, holding onto her, encase if she tried to interfere with the feral fight. And oh-so-discreetly, a crowd of unwittingly simple thugs would begin to enter the arena through secret holes under the sand. Their appearance could only but tell a tale about the quality of life they had. "Are you ready?" He would say, eyes staring harshly at the approaching danger, the men that showed only a grin at the thought of killing these children. And really, they wouldn't care.

Ikka would launch the first assault, attempting to push back the crowd of growing thugs, by launching a series of paper shuriken that unfolded from his pointed hand. However, the men would seek comfort inside the sandstone ruins, and some would make a daring run for Ikkadan and Okibi. It was up to Okibi to deal with the close-ranged combatants however.

All 5 of them. Keep in mind, they lacked in training in combat.

 

[Okibi]

'Being forced? Controlled?' Seven thought, his eyes glancing up towards the spectators stand once more. They flicked back to the wolf that still had a hold on Ikkadan, narrowing to red slits as he considered. 'But how...?' He searched using only his eyes, but didnt have enough time as suddenly the alpha wolf was letting go of the boy, and lunging at Seven. He snarled, ready to dance.

When he and the wolf collided, Seven allowed himself to be bowled over backwards, using the momentum and his back legs to vault his opponent over his body and hopefully into a nearby wall. Seven would then hurry back onto his feet, and charge after the wolf, trying to pin him to a wall with his heavy front paws. He growled and snapped at the wolf, trying to get him to see reason. "How are they controlling you!? Tell me so I can help!"

Back on the other side of the ring, Okibi was about to throw herself into the battle of canines, when Ikkadan's voice stopped her short - but just barely. When he rushed over and put an arm around her to stop her, she looked up, just a little angry. How could he expect her to just sit by while oldest companion and friend was risking his neck? She was about to protest when movement to the side of them drew her attention. Another pack was joining them, their appearance not much better from the wolves. Human men, all of them reeking of vile plans. Just the smell of them was putting Okibi on an edge.

Ikkadan didnt even need to ask. If she wasnt going to be able to help Seven, then perhaps she could at least handle some of these guys. Ikkadan attacked first, throwing what looked like paper at some of them. Okibi didnt have any weapons to speak of, save for her fists, fangs and claws. That meant she got to deal with the five fools charging at them. She snarled ferally, and charged into the fray.

When she was just about to reach the closest thug, Okibi threw her legs out in front of her in a slide, attempting to take the guys legs out from under him. She would ride the momentum back onto her feet where she would meet the next one, dodging whatever attack he threw at her. She grabbed onto one of his arms, sinking her claws into his flesh and drawing blood. With a mighty haul that bespoke a strength very contrary to her size, Okibi threw the thug at another of the oncoming ones. Two more! Turning to face them, she jumped high into the air to avoid them, using their heads as spring boards for her hands. With a tight spin, Okibi lashed out with her leg, and tried to get them both in the back of the head with the same kick.

 

[Honma Kotone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRGzt1UO130​

Ikkadan, while in an unnatural and unfunny situation, still managed to wear a comically wide-eyed expression and mutter this word: "Frightening..." He would almost immediately shake off the expression and return to a deeper frame of concentration. This wasn't really the time to be phasing out of it, and there wasn't only him that was being relied on too - the three had to look out for one another all the same. However, as Seven tussled with the alpha male, whom was fighting back oh-so fiercely, Okibi and Ikkadan would be faced with another challenge.

From the dusty protection of the sandstone ruins, the thugs began to launch explosive tagged kunai. However, they launched their attack in an organized fashion; which seemed quite unusual given that they all seemed too simply to even summon an ounce of chakra. The kunai, about maybe thirty of them, were lobbed into the air and soared towards Okibi and Ikkadan respectively. "Lesson one, Okibi: don't underestimate your opponent, no matter their appearance." He would refer to the previous moment where the affectingly weak fools were completely dismissed at Okibi, although this would be countered by their precision in launching the air assault of explosive kunai.

"Lesson two: if they make your friend bleed... Make them bleed twice fold." Ikkadan would say as he entered a fairly unique stance, which involved him pointing both arms outwardly as they crissed-crossed at the forearm. "Are you ready to make them bleed?!" Ikka would smirk before releasing his bloodline technique, where the roots below would miraculously sprout upwards and create a dome of earth. However, the shell of the dome would be encrusted with beautiful flowers. Once the kunai had injected their heads against the surface of the wood, the tags would ignite and explode with a furious kinetic blast.

Nothing would be visible other than the grey smog surrounding the blast zone. However, without even giving the smog a chance to clear, and whenever Okibi was ready, Ikkadan would use his paper techniques to birth a pair of wings onto the young girl's back. This would carry her over to the ruins, where more-than-likely, the thugs would be caught off guard by the angelic-like girl.

 

[Okibi]

The whizzing of metal through the air drew Okibi's eyes upward. She growled when she saw the volley of kunai coming there way. How was she supposed to avoid so many with so little time? Ikkadan's voice chimed from behind her, and she glanced back in time to see him cross his arms in front of him. Not a second later, a magnificent dome made of vines and flowers sprung from the sand to protect them. Okibi watched with awe, and listened as the lobbed kunai exploded against the domes shell harmlessly.

She looked back at Ikkadan with a grin, quite impressed. "No understimate. Make them bleed more. Okibi got it." She turned back around and waited for the dome to be lowered so she could charge back out. "We make them bleed Ikki!" She declared.

Just after say that, Okibi started as a strange sensation tickled across her back. She looked over her shoulder to see a large pair of white things attaching themselves to her back. Believing these things to be the work of the enemy, Okibi yelped and tried to claw them off. However, they flapped in and out of her reach too quickly. As she was being flown over the ruins at the cent of the ring, a memory was triggered of Ikkadan throwing paper stars at the thugs just a few moments ago, before she'd taken out her five. Was this his doing?

She looked down as the ruins came further into her view. She could see the thugs hiding behind them, watching her with perplexed expressions. She grinned back at them, and tried to drop out of the sky. However, the wings hold on her was keeping her steadfastly in the sky. Making a face, Okibi looked over her shoulder and the paper appendages, and then craned her neck to look back at Ikkadan. She gave him a look that clearly said "Now what!?".

(Sorry its short! I wasnt sure how far to take it. :\)

 

[Honma Kotone]

Comically, Ikkadan reacted to Okibi's "now what" expression by pointing frantically at the thugs. "Punch them!" He would shout, commenting on their weakness; which was seemingly close-combat. And that much was true, because really, they had seemed to keep their distance after Okibi entered the spat with the five thugs, and easily dished them painfully. So it would be only fair to say that these thugs were only experienced enough to fight their scummy-brethren in the art of a crooked, horrid form the the drunken, lazy fist.

And much to Okibi's surprise, those paper wings (upon landing within the ruins), would immediately tear off and form into one large Fuuma shuriken. This could be used for both close-combat, mid and even ranged combat.

Go wild, chiiiild~!

[Honestly, go wild! You've got complete creative control over the 15+ thugs! And sorry its so short... I has the sniffles ]

 

[Okibi]

Punch them? Really? Thats all her teacher had to say? She was being thrown into their enemies midst and all he had to give her was 'Punch them!'?

That would work.

As the paper wings gradually brought her down into the ruins, Okibi scanned while she still had time. She could see at least half of the thugs, watching her with surprise frozen on their features. The other half remained hidden, but with the way they smelled, they wouldnt remain that way for long. Feeling like the predator, and they the prey, Okibi prepared herself as she was brought in for a landing.

Luck would be with her as right where she was to be dropped off, a thug would appear, leaping out at her foolishly with a ridiculous wail. She easily twisted midair, knocking his kunai away with her foot and then planting it in the middle of his face. One down.... how many more to go? Okibi wasnt quite sure, but it didnt really matter. With the ruins as cover, her sensitive nose, and their inept ability, she was more than confidant she could dispatch them all in no time.

When her feet made a touch down, she was a little surprised when the paper wings morphed into what looked like a weapon. It was a ring with four sharp blades attached to it. She poked at one of the blades and was also surprised to find it actually drew a bead of blood from the tip of her finger. With a grin, she popped the digit into her mouth and licked away the blood. This would come in handy.

The sound of hushed conversation caught her ear as Okibi inched around a broken wall. Just on the other side, she could hear what sounded like two thugs talking about her and her position. Where was she? Did they dare go looking? Okibi grinned. Not that any of that mattered, as she was the one doing the looking. Placing one of the blades of the fuuma between her teeth, Okibi scaled the wall quietly and perched atop it, looking down at the two whispering men like a gargoyle poised for pouncing. By the time the thugs noticed her presence, it was too late.

Their screams could be heard all over the ruins, no doubt giving away her location. Dusting her hands off as she stood on the 'corpses' (they were just knocked out) of the two beat up thugs, Okibi looked around and sniffed. Three more were nearly upon her coming from the left. With a grin Okibi dashed forward, plucking the fuuma out of the sand as she went, and ducked into a mostly in-tact building. The three new thugs came barreling around a corner and stopped short at the sight of their fallen brethren. One of them commanded that they spread out and search for her, and the other two heeded. Okibi waited by the opening of the building she hid in, and just as one of them was passing by, dragged him inside. She cut off any scream he might have uttered, smacking him in the back of the head with the blunt side of the fuuma, knocking him clean out. She kept the scuffling to a minimum as she started to strip the dirty young man.

When the thug stepped back out of the building, he was much smaller and thinner.

Okibi looked around, pleased that neither of the thugs were within earshot for them to have heard the hubbub. She adjusted the cap on her head, which hid her mass of amethyst hair. With the mans baggy clothes tied and rolled up to fit her better, she looked like any other boy street urchin. Hopefully they would be too stupid to notice the difference.

Right on que the other two came out of the ruins, slightly surprised to see her/him. The one that commanded the other two before looked at her critically, before saying in a boisterous voice. "Kid! Whered Odei go?"

Okibi cleared her throat and did her best to lower her voice. She supposed it would also be best if she tried to speak a little more properly than usual. "He went that way." She pointed with her thumb to the right. "Said he saw the girl run that way."

The two men nodded and started in the way she indicated. Okibi fell in step behind them, smiling to herself. When they were rounding a corner of one of the ruins, she leaped into the air (as they were both much taller than she) and grabbed onto the sides of their faces, digging her claws into their cheeks. With a mighty heave, she slammed their heads together, and watched with pleasure as their wilted to the ground unconscious.

That made six.


(I didnt want this post to be too long, so I'm gonna stop for a break there lol.)

 

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan wouldn't be aware of how well Okibi was coping, in fact, he was more distracted by Seven and his own terrible battle. It would appear that both canine's were suffering from wounds, that in some way, was hindering their combat capabilities during the fight. Ikka didn't know whether it was best to interrupt the two dogs biting, clawing and mauling away or whether, for Seven's sake, to protect Okibi. He would shake his head and turn blindly away from the doberman, pushing on for the ruins that held his student inside. This Chuunin wasn't great with Taijutsu, but close-combat was easy for him in some cases; well, depending on the opponent.

Shortly after arriving at the ruins, he would notice the full scale of its mass and structure, and perhaps he went into a state of admiration for the craftsman. Bah, no, you're distracted Ikka. A momentarily relapse one might say. Ikkadan would shake his head and leap onto one sandstone block, from a collapsed pillar, and proceed to leap from one segment of the ruin to another; until he reached the most eagle eyed point. His eyes would set sights, after a short period of frantically searching, on Okibi and with a smile he would relax. And due to the height he stood at, Ikka wouldn't be able to count the numerous opponents that his student had taken care of - but that didn't take anything away from the how spectacularly she performed. He would then leap from the vantage point, hitting his feet against the dusty, almost grainy, surface of the ruins as he slide down a tilted pillar until reaching Okibi with a simple landing-flip.

"Wow," he would comment as his eyes loosely trailed onto the two unconscious bodies and then back to the oddly attired girl, "What happened to you, Okibi-chan?"

However, questions and conversations would have to wait until the remainder of these brutes were done and dusted, so to speak. As the remaining 9 made their way towards the ruins, the two would notice the ground shaking and the grains of black sand jumping from their mass. Whatever was coming was fairly large, and perhaps not just a bunch of main after all. And that's when it showed face: a baby sandworm, which was visibly weakened due to starvation and mistreatment. It wore a collar, which looked fairly mundane, bar the integrated electrical wires that would remotely trigger from outside the pit to give the creature a nasty little shock; much like the alpha male.

"We won't kill this... It's only a baby." Ikka would say as the sandworm thrashed itself way through a series of sandstone walls, exiting a smog of yellow smoke and revealing its entirety to the two ants. Even as a baby this thing was terrifyingly strong.

 

[Okibi]

"Wow, what happened to you, Okibi-chan?"

Okibi turned away from the two thugs shed just disposed of, and grinned at Ikkadan. "Okibi just do what teacher say." Then she remembered just how she looked at the moment, after glancing down at her attire. "Oh, Okibi was trying be sneaky!"

The time for chitchat was over as Okibi scent more men coming their way. The grin wiped from her face as she jumped onto a ruined wall to get a better vantage point. She could see most of them, but some were being tossed around as it seemed like something large was tunneling it way under the sand. The ground began to shake and sand shifted as a large form broke through the surface, rearing its large form with a roar. Okibi's eyes widened, because this creature was familiar to her.

"Sandworm!" The girl declared, jumping from her perch to stand beside Ikkadan, looking a little too excited for someone who was being faced with yet another challenge to overcome. The girl pulled on her teacher's sleeve excitedly. "Ikki! Is a real sandworm!"

It was then that the sudden realization hit her. The baby worm was wearing a collar, much like the wolf that was fighting Seven had. This mighty creature was another one of their pawns then, just a piece in their twisted game. The knowledge lit a fire of rage in Okibi's stomach, and she could feel her muscles starting to bunch with rage. Ever since she'd seen that puppet show Sousuke'd put on for her, and the life size metal worm Judori tried to scare her with, itd been something of a dream of hers to encounter a live wild one. Too see such a magnificent beast enslaved, mistreated and suffering was more than she could stand.

Pulling the folded up paper fuuma from the dirty thug clothes she wore, Okibi charged at the baby sandworm, which was currently occupied with gobbling up some of the thugs. She jumped onto a nearby ruin, and considered her next move.

"Ikki! You can hold it down!?" She yelled back at her teacher. Maybe if they could just immobilize the beast for a few seconds, she could try to cut that blasted collar off. Where they would go from there was anybody's guess.