Wounded Ninja

[Renkai]

Leaves fell quietly on the path to the large gates protecting the Hidden Leaf Village, lazily floating to the ground in the gentle breeze. The warm rays of the sun cut through the canopy overhead, illuminating the winding dirt path that cut through the massive surrounding forest. From a distance, anyone watching from the gates would be able to see the figure of a man trudging along down the path. His slow pace and slight limp gave away at least one thing, and that was that he was injured. He barely clung to life as he made his way, holding his hand cupped over his ribs on his ride side as blood oozed out, between his fingers and dripping to the ground. A trail of blood followed him and his skin was losing most of its pigment, a telltale sign that the man had lost a considerable amount of blood. With his remaining strength, Renkai dragged himself to the gates of the village, barely, only to stop before them, raise a bloody hand which he placed against one of the large wooden doors, and collapse onto the ground. Where his hand had touched the gate, a bloody hand print was smeared across.

Clearly he was in no condition to present himself, as he was now unconscious, and hopefully someone would find him before he bled out completely.

[Kageri]

The dust kicked up all around her as Kageri strolled down the village streets at a less-than-leisurely pace. Despite having been given the week off she found herself completely unable to relax, worse she was feeling completely restless. Her lips curved downward into a scowl at any unfortunate passerby who happened to catch her gaze. Although it wasn't uncommon for her to prowl the village square whilst in such a horrifically negative mood, today her attitude proved to be even more foul than usual -- boredom ill suit her.

Dark eyes scanned the area ahead of her, her gaze following the relatively straight path toward the village gates. How simple, she wondered, would it be to simply leave for a while? People tended to avoid her when she was in a mood, so the likelihood that anybody would be sent after her was relatively low...at least for the time being. Her feet mechanically moved toward freedom, carrying her and her wandering thoughts behind them. How long had it been since she had simply taken a day to laze about in the trees? For a moment she lost her self in her reminiscing, but her senses screamed at her to pay attention.

Focusing her eyes once more her gaze fell on a man limping in her direction -- he was so obviously not from the Leaf, but he was also clearly wounded. For the span of a heartbeat she considered simply leaving the man to his fate, but her conscience dismissed the idea almost as quickly as it came. With a growl she picked up her sluggish pace and approached the man at a near sprint.

"Damn it all." she muttered under her breath. Kageri knelt down next to the man as she shrugged off her outer jacket, quickly balling up the fabric and placing it near the source of the blood and applying pressure. Her eyes scanned the area once more, this time seeking out aid.

[Renkai]

Lying almost face down on the dirt path just outside the gates, Renkai took in a sharp breath as the woman put something on his wound and applied pressure. She was doing what was most appropriate for the situation, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Perhaps he'd pushed himself a little too hard in his battle against the tailed beast. He'd have to be careful not to let that information on though, when he regained consciousness. He was reluctant to even travel to Konoha to receive medical attention, though he was left with little choice. If they knew there was a tailed beast lurking just outside their borders, they'd certainly head straight for it with full force and capture it against its will. He had a little more respect for the powerful creatures than that, and didn't want an ill fate to befall any of them. He let out a slight groan as he slowly faded back into consciousness now, opening one of his eyes and peering at the woman who sat crouched over him. "Shit," he said weakly, closing his eyes again. There was little else he could do right now. Moving around too much could potentially cause his wound to open wider, causing him to lose even more blood. Given the fact that he'd already passed out once, he was probably close enough to dying and losing more blood certainly wouldn't help his situation.

Though he was still conscious, he knew that he had nothing to do but wait until either hep would arrive or he would bleed out, and the only thing keeping his mind alert was reminiscing over the battle he'd just had with one of the most powerful creatures in the world. He hadn't won, but he also didn't die. That had to stand for something, if not his own resilience. Needless to say, once he recovered, he'd be ready to move on to his next big thing. That'd have to wait for now though.

"Who are you," he asked, eyes still closed. "I'm sure you know that I'm not from around here, so why not just kill me?" Of course, that wasn't an invitation for her to do so, but he couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't. The world was at war. For all she knew, he could have been an assassin. Times were tough, and people needed to remain vigilant. Needless to say, he appreciated that she hadn't killed him, after all, the man valued his own life and still had big plans.

[Kageri]

Irritation shot through her like fire as the man laying before her inhaled sharply. "Watch it, or you're going to make it worse." she ground out through clenched teeth. Warm liquid seeping from her jacket and staining the flesh on her fingertips told her that the man beneath her wouldn't last much longer if assistance didn't soon arrive. Sweat began to bead on the back of her neck as she gripped the fabric that held the man together; her lungs tightened and her breath began to feel shallow. In her mind's eye she could see the death clock ticking above the man's head and the flames of irritation flourished into an inferno.

The fire found relief as her eyes met the white uniform of the village's medic. The absence of color stood out against the rainbow of civilians like the blank space of a missing puzzle piece. With help on it's way the fear she wasn't even aware she had felt fell from her shoulders. 'At least,' she thought with a humorless chuckle, 'I won't have his blood on my hands anymore than I already do.' Uncertainty wormed it's way into her subconscious as she wondered why it would bother her even if the man was to pass on. Renkai's words fell on her ears suddenly and her earlier irritation fell even further away only to find itself replaced with a slew of confusion -- why was she helping him? He was, as he stated, clearly foreign and for all she knew he was here to harm her village. Would it not be better for her to simply allow him to bleed out? If she hadn't approached him when she did it was highly unlikely that he would have survived; it certainly didn't appear as though anybody else was going to even make the attempt to save him, so why did she?

Kageri lowered her gaze to meet the strange man's and for a moment her mask fell and a soft sympathy reflected in her dark orbs. In this state, at least, he was vulnerable and in desperate need of assistance. The corner of her lips started to pull into a soft smile -- really, how could she have turned him away? Her facial muscles straining to reflect her innermost thoughts prompted her brain to catch up with her emotions and not even a breath after her walls fell were they resurrected.

"You!" she shouted out, tearing her eyes away from Renkai and toward the medic without any regard for the injured man's hearing. The medic's arrival pulled her further away from her thoughts. The young man, she noted, was above average height with light hair and blue eyes. Beyond his use in her current situation as a medic she took no further note of his appearance -- her concern was, after all, with her new found charge. Kageri was grateful when the medic asked no questions, opting instead to simply place his hand on the wounded man's chest. She watched with fascination as his chakra glowed green, washing over Renkai and flooding into his various lacerations. Somewhat reluctantly she released what was left of her jacket, allowing the fabric to fall to the earth as the medic tended to his most grievous injuries first.

[Renkai]

Pain was coursing throughout his entire abdomen, despite the fact that he was being healed. It was like pouring alcohol over an open wound to sterilize it. It hurt quite a bit, and it showed on his face. His brows were furrowed, wincing as his wounds gradually began to close up. Luckily for himself, he hadn't suffered any hemorrhaging or ruptured organs. His wounds were just deep, enough so that he'd lost a good third of his blood. Much more and his organs would have started to shut down. And though the medic could close up the wounds and keep him from losing more blood, regaining what he'd lost would take a bit of time unless he could perform a miracle of some sort. That sort of thing didn't seem too farfetched, but he'd never seen it himself.

While he lie on the ground, he turned his head toward the woman who had come first to his aid. His piercing green eyes fixed upon her, waiting until he could get a good look at her. His vision was blurred slightly, though he could make out most of her facial details. She was pretty, he thought, an odd thing to have on his mind while he was so close to death. But perhaps that was normal. After all, he'd never allowed any time for romance in his life. Occasionally he'd close his eyes tightly, unable to hide the pain from his side, though he was already in much better condition than when she'd found him.

"I owe you one, Leaf-nin," he said quietly. He didn't favor the prospect of being indebted to someone else, particularly someone he'd never met, from a foreign country no less. However, he was also a man of honor, and saving a life was saving a life, whether she was the one healing him or not. Of course, the medic was doing the bulk of the work here, but had she not found him, it was likely that it would have been too late by the time someone else happened upon him. "Renkai..." He motioned to himself with his thumb, indicating that he'd given his name. He wasn't sure if she'd do the same, or even how she'd take his previous comment about owing her. What could he really do to repay her? Paint her house? Short of saving her life in turn, he couldn't think of anything comparable. Maybe it made no difference, though. Some people were just kind spirits.

[Kageri]

She watched the medic with a scrutinizing gaze -- although the man had dedicated his life to aiding those in need, she didn't trust him in the slightest. Kageri's protective essence extended to the wounded warrior she had found at the gates; his utter helplessness pulled at her heartstrings. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the man's gaze as she stared down at his rapidly closing wound. The decision to protect the man had been made as soon as she had shed her own clothing to stem the flow of blood, though she very much doubted that it was the correct course of action.

"Kageri." she murmured far more softly than she had intended, guilt and having shouted over his ear only moments before bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

The flow of green chakra suddenly ceased as the medic glanced up at her, just barely opening his mouth to speak when Kageri's hand reached out across and her fingertips wrapped around his collar. "Is that all you can do?" she demanded harshly, releasing the man only when he frantically nodded his head. Kageri's lips curved down into a scowl as the medic scrambled to stand upright once more.

"J-just relax for a few hours and y-you should be okay."

Kageri scoffed as the medic addressed only Renkai, although his obvious unease with her unsettled her softer side she tried her best to ignore. "You could start with telling me what happened to you." she cut across, not allowing Renkai time to address the poor medic who could only watch as she began her pseudo-interrogation.

[Renkai]

Suddenly Renkai found himself in yet another predicament. How could he answer her question without disclosing the truth? The woman seemed kind enough, despite the way she handled the medic whom had come to his aid, but could he trust her as a confidant? And here he was, under the microscope, with little time to respond. If he took too long, it'd seem suspect, and if he didn't think of a good cover she wouldn't believe him. "Simply put," he said, trying to think fast, "there was an altercation which ended in me sustaining injury." He couldn't have been more vague, and he'd be incredibly surprised if she didn't try to get more out of him.

By now, his strength had started to return to him slowly, though not enough yet that he could get to his feet. He sat up, though, and rubbed the back of his head. How he had managed to come out of his fight without breaking a single bone was nothing short of a miracle. Having had his side pierced, but not even one broken rib meant that he was a very lucky man. As he sat up, he planted the palms of his hands onto the ground and began to collect energy to expedite his own recovery. The natural energy which accumulated in his body did wonders for healing, though nothing to the extent of pure regeneration. Rather, it bolstered the body's own natural healing which meant that he'd at least recover the blood he'd lost a bit more quickly. Color was already starting to return to his cheeks, though he still felt quite weak. Once again, his eyes made their way over her soft features before finally locking onto her own. Even in his weakened state, the ferocity never left his eyes, a certain spark that never seemed to go out. It showed that he was a fighter, with a fire in his heart; never afraid to reach for something greater, even if it led him through hell to get there. At the same time, his face showed kindness. He was very lighthearted, after all, and always seemed to get along with people whenever the rare occasion arose in which he'd actually talk to someone.

[Kageri]

The flames of irritation licked at her heels once more at the man's evasive answer.

“Obviously.” she drawled. The one worded sentence fell from her lips slowly, the vowels dripping with disdain. She watched with detached interest as he sat up, her features schooled into a practiced indifference.

'Perhaps', she thought as her eyes traveled over towards the nearly-forgotten medic, 'if I could get him alone...' Kageri stood slowly and silently, pushing her arms over her head in a stretch as. A soft sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes and she appeared to the world the picture of tranquility.

“Scram.” she spoke softly without even opening her eyes, the venom in her voice standing out in striking contrast to her peaceful image. The medic paused for only a moment and with a sideways glance at Renkai he retreated to the busy streets of Konoha.

A deceptive silence fell over the pair of shinobi.

Her eyes opened once more and for a beat she stared out in the direction the medic had left, no doubt to inform others of Renkai's arrival. If she wanted to protect the man she was running out of time. She had done too much already to have second thoughts. Without warning she knelt down beside him once more and reached out for his arm.

“We met years ago in Kiri, so when you were injured nearby it only made sense for you to seek me out.” she instructed without so much as glancing in his direction, “We have to move.”

[Renkai]

Renkai nodded at the woman, taking a hold of her arm and pulling himself to his feet. It took him a couple of seconds, as the limited supply of blood he had rushed away from his head briefly and caused him to become light headed. He wasn't yet sure why the woman had decided to help him, though it was entirely possible that she wasn't, but he had little choice but to go along with whatever she had in mind. His other options were no better; captured by Konoha's ANBU or slink off into the forest still weak from his previous fight. "Thanks," he said quietly, waiting for her to lead the way. His eyes glanced down briefly at his torn cloak, stained with blood and dirt. He was going to have to get a new one now, which irritated him slightly, though that was probably the least of his concerns right now.

He couldn't help but wonder where they were heading, and his thoughts wandered. His plans for things back home were at the forefront. He worried for his sisters whom he'd practically left to fend for themselves, against the other clans who envied the fact that the Byakuren clan held a firm grasp on the resources in the surrounding area. What if there was an attack? Taking care of his family is what pushed him to get stronger, and ultimately seek out the tailed beasts. Perhaps he'd been too naive, but it seemed worth it to him. After all, he was still alive now.

[Kageri]

Kageri fell silent as she led the wounded man through the streets of Konoha and the empty prattle of the common villagers felt out of place as the pair walked. It was strange, she thought, how many of them would continue about their day-to-day life without even a thought that something strange or out of the ordinary might have happened today. The woman glanced sideways at the ambiguous man – he hadn't answered her questions, not really, and all that she truly knew about him was that he was injured.

Her eyes scanned the buildings that littered the streets of the village, expertly searching out one that she knew for a fact to be abandoned. It was a small, broken down building carefully tucked between two larger shops, the door hidden away by an overgrown bush. There was no way she could bring this man back to her home, not without knowing more about him first, so this would have to do for now.

Without much regard for the pain he might have been in she tugged him by the shoulder and pulled him toward the hidden door, haphazardly pushing aside the shrubby so that they could fit past. In a moment of apparent politeness she held the door open for Renkai, the open door revealing a dusty living room with abandoned furniture draped in white sheets.

“Make yourself at home.” she drawled, her eyes carefully studying his expression for anything that he may give away.

[Hono Uzumaki]

A two-man group of Leaf Military Police knocked on the door of the woman, having been observing the happenings.

[Kageri]

A slew of curse words slipped out from underneath her breath -- she thought she had been careful, though in her rush to get the man to safety she supposed she might have slipped. She glanced over at the man out of the corner of her mind and for a fraction of a second guilt coursed through her like a white hot fire. What might happen to the man if she were to turn him over?

Emotion had gotten her into this predicament, and so like an iron clamp she closed the flood gates before they were allowed to break. Her eyes now moved easily over his figure as though her were nothing more than a piece of furniture adorning the walls as she pushed the door open once more, greeting the two shinobi who awaited on the other side with cool indifference.

"And how might I help you fine gentleman today?" she ground out sarcastically.

[Hono Uzumaki]

"Ma'am, we are aware of a man within the village." The larger of the two Uchiha males said with a very serious tone. His was was hard and unfeeling, but that was just a part of his training. The were all business as off now.

"We are unsure as to how he appeared so suddenly, but we need to take him for questioning. Have you seen the man?" They said, knowing full well that she held him as her guest or patient. The were simply giving her a chance to come clean. The young woman would have noticed by now that the Uchiha who wasn't doing the talking had his Sharingan activated. If she knew anything about the Uchiha, she would know they have seen his chakra signature.

"He was told to be fairly injured as well."

[Kageri]

It was how it was supposed to be.

She should have turned the man in as soon as he approached the gates herself, and she lamented her moment of weakness. Emotions were a fickle thing that only served to get in the way and misguide those they're supposed to serve. Still, she couldn't help but feel a sort of sense of responsibility for the man.

"He's a guest of the Nara clan." she lied easily, her dark eyes moving from one Uchiha to the other. Even if he hadn't been before, he was now. It wasn't as though there were any others to deny her claim. "Do take care to not offend, hm?"

And with that veiled threat she pushed herself between the two police and left the unknown shinobi in their capable hands.

[exit]

[Hono Uzumaki]

They nodded and closed the door after they entered, "What are you doing within the Leaf." said the talker as the other began to channel chakra. Preparing a Mystic Palm to help heal the mans wounds.