Keiko and Yamamoto: A Clearing in Riyoku Woods

[Higa Yamamoto]

Setting: Yamamoto was taking a short break during his mission in a Clearing in the Riyoku area when...

Dropping down into the clearing from the shadows of the surrounding forest, Keiko releases a pained gasp as she clutches a hold of her bloodied shoulder.

The sun rises in the east.

Along the with rising sun, Yamamoto is shocked that he sees Keiko coming from the woods. He sees the crimson liquid flowing down her arms and quickly reacts. Pulling out two kunais, he runs up to her.

Keiko drags her bandana away from her face and down to her neck as she straightens up. Sucking in a slow breath of air, Keiko squints her eyes at Yamamoto's approaching form, "Yama-kun?"

Quickly checking the woods to see if any pursuers were still on her tail, Yamamoto moves next to Keiko giving her support. "Shit. You're hurt! Badly too. Were there any pursuers?"

Keiko turns her head and peers into the darkness of the forest, after several long moments of silence, she shakes her head and turns back to Yamamoto, "No, there's no followers... What're you doing out this far back?"

Yamamoto replies, "You can ask me questions later. We need to move away from the edge of this forest. This may be one of the places they'll look first." The two of them move to a safer location and Yamamoto begins to look for bandages within his supplies.

Keiko grunts softly as she settles down below the base of a nearby tree, "I'm fine..." Lifting up a hand from her wounded shoulder, she grimaces.

Taking out two rolls of bandages, Yamamoto looks at Keiko's wound. Yamamoto says, "Take of those armor plates, and let me check the wound. What happened?"

Keiko shakes her head slightly, "I'll just use Chiyute or something.. It shouldn't be too hard."

Angry at himself, Yamamoto says, "If only I had spent more time training in ninjutsu, I would be able to help!" Trying to analyze the situation, he asks, "Did something go wrong?"

After a few tries, Keiko creates a ball of chakra into the palm of her hand and presses it to her wounded shoulder. Moments go by before the manages to close the majority of the wound, "When I was on my way to Hitokorou, I was ambushed by the Riyoku's assassination squad."

Yamamoto replies, "Riyoku is more dangerous each passing day." He pauses. "But there must have been something else. Keiko-onee-chan is a fine kunoichi. An assassination squad should have been no problem."

Wearily allowing a smile to curve her pink lips, Keiko leans back against the trunk of a tree, "I may be a decent kunoichi, but even I have my limits. I used too much of my energy and I had to get out of there fast."

Suddenly, Yamamoto motions for immediate silence.

Keiko lifts a delicate eyebrow in question as she goes silent.

The low sound of quiet footsteps permeates through the ground.

Glancing about, Yamamoto signals that there is a group of Rikyoku scouts close by. He motions for permission to silence the group.

With an understanding nod, Keiko draws her bandana back over her face and rises to her feet, then motioning for Yamamoto to do the same, she draws her kunai out from her hip pouch.

Yamamoto readys his pouch full of kunais. He takes two, placing one in each hand. Leading Keiko into the woods, they stop and hide behind two trees. Yamamoto signals that he will be making the first attack from the treetops and that he'll be waiting for backup.

Hesitantly agreeing with Yamamoto's plan, Keiko disappears into the shadows of a large tree nearby.

Noticing that one of the scouts had moved beyond the safety of the group, Yamamoto moves in swiftly, dealing a quiet, lethal blow. However, he failed to notice a second scout witnessing the scene...

Swearing softly to herself as she surveys the entire scene, Keiko quickly goes through a number of handseals and shouts just before sending a large fireball spiraling towards the second scout, "Hosenka!"

Realizing the gravity of his mistake and knowing their position had been broadcast, Yamamoto initiates a series of attacks against the remaining scouts. Barraging the scouts at his location with deadly accurate kunais, he looks up to survey the area.

Throwing a kunai at a riyoku scout nearby, Keiko takes off towards the east, leading a trio away from Yamamoto and the other attackers.

Having dealt with the remaining two scouts in his area, Yamamoto jumps into the trees and chases after Keiko towards the eastern section of the forest.

After withdrawing her bloodied fist from the chest of a corpse, Keiko glances up to see Yamamoto and grins from beneath her bandana.

With the adrenaline dying down, Yamamoto, letting out a soft sigh, says, "What a rookie mistake, eh? Things could've gone so much worse if they had sounded an alarm."

Brows furrowing slightly as she glances around, Keiko merely lifts her shoulders in response, "You're only eleven Yama-kun. Of course you're gonna make all kinds of mistakes."

Yamamoto replies, "You're right, this isn't the time for self-remorse. How's your shoulder now?"

Keiko gives her shoulder a few rolls before nodding, "It's fine.. Still stiff though."

Yamamoto relaxes, knowing that Keiko was doing a better. He asks, "Do you need any help finishing out your task?"

Keiko shakes her head after a brief pause, "No, I think I can handle the rest for now. It won't take me long to find what I'm looking for if I don't repeat your mistake." With that said, Keiko reaches down and picks up a discarded kunai before waving and disappearing with the descending sun.