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A shrill whistle echoed on the wind, waking Erkamina from her exhausted state. She looked around, trying to trace the sound but finding the echoes stopping just as soon as she had heard them. "What the?" She muttered as she tried to stand, her feet sinking into snow. The desert often got cold at night without the aid of clouds to keep in the day's heat but this freezing slush was new to her. She was convinced the stuff would melt under the slightest heat but it surrounded her ankles easily. "Okay, note to self- wear warmer clothes." She said simply as she rummaged through her pack again to find a large sweater. She placed it over her uniform and tucked her chin in, only to hear a voice. It was Hakubo. She looked toward the center of the battle field just in time to see something huge apppear out of nowhere. "A summon. No wonder he can project his voice so well, he's got massive chakra. I wonder why he summoned that though... It's kind of..." She stopped and looked at the beast, its master waiting to command it and it waiting for an order. The Tengu seemed to almost turn automatically to the spot. It was amazing, such a creature didn't exist in the world that she knew. Of course she knew very little of the world, only enough to know that this was indeed a real creature from... Somewhere. She walked away from the summon and the battle field to find someplace safer to rest. But no place was safe enough as long as a single Tengu remained standing.
Massive Fight Theme / Difficult Fight Theme / Dynamic Theme

What would you do if I sang outta tune....

Shouta chuckled at Rakutsu's reaction to his story. "I think being with the Mist nin has scarred your mind for life." he laughed, remembering his and Dev's little 'adult conversation' the other night at the Yugaomaru in front of the two Snow sibilings. He smiled up at Keichii when the young Yukikage arrived. "Good to see you're alright." he said simply. The Mizukage was still spitting out the taste of Keizo.

"Mmmm... not bad. That wasn't bad at all" he said with that creepy grin of his. He was responded by a vector-punch in the face. He just laughed wildly as he was half knocked over.

"That was ******** disgusting!!" she scoffed. He just laughed.

"Naw, you li~ked it."

"***** opened his mouth to talk, but all that came out was coughing...and blood. The four of them looked worried for their sensei, but there wasn't much or anything that they could do now. They just sat in the snow near him. Shouta stayed where he was next to Rakutsu; Devonte leaning against the same rock but on a different side of it; Nyirei was on the rock next to Keizo's and Suijin sat on top of Keizo's rock, behind him. Just when one would expect the mood to get mellow and everyone would get sad and tearful, Keizo pulled out his bag and opened it. It looked like a bag to carry weapons and such, but what he pulled out weren't weapons....they were sake bottles. Devonte chuckled and shook his head. Shouta rolled his eyes and sighed. "Typical..."

Suijin had an exhasperated face. "You brought sake.... but you didn't bring one damn weapon with ya besides that guitar... to a WAR???" Keizo just laughed and handed her one of the sake bottles. She just noticed that Keichii was there too. She grinned up at him. "Want a drink?" she said holding it out to him.

.....would you stand up and walk out on me?

"Well that'll warm ya up!" she chuckled, taking another bottle from Keizo. She had wondered what she'd see when she finally found him.... but she didn't know he'd be this banged up. He had one leg and two large stab wounds that seemed to run right through him. It was probably thanks to Shouta that he'd even managed to stay alive this long. She took a big gulp then sighed, "Uuuhhhh....I have never been so happy to see the end of a battle- I gotta say. How'd things look from your front, Keichii? The East has been demolished, I saw to that." she said with a wide grin.

They were all drinking at this point....'cept Rakutsu. "Well sure! Wah not? We all just survived one huge a** battle! For me and this guy, this was our first as Kages!" she said, patting Keichii as if she was trying to pat his head. Though all she managed was to slap his arm a bit. "It calls for celebration! How 'bout you girly? Want a drink?" asked the Mizukage, smiling...a little foolishly. She had taken two bottles out of Keizo's bag and had chugged over half of the first already.

Dev sat in silence a moment. "...A'right! I gotta ask! Right now! How do you do it??" he asked forcefully, like he needed this information desperately!

"Do what?" Keizo responded- no idea what Dev was getting at.

"Get so many god damn women!!! You're some sixty-whatever years old and you still- somehow - get women to ******** you at your age!"

Keizo chuckled. He knew this question would come up one day or another. "Since I am about ta die in this wretched wasteland -no offense-" he said, looking at Keichii and Rakutsu. "I might as well tell ya. I was 'opin' you'd figure it out on yer own- but yer THIRTY and ya never got laid ONCE! How you can do that as my student I'll never know! ....Shut. The ********. Up!"

Devonte raised an eyebrow. "Not very classy for one's dying message."

The two faced each other for a minute as Keizo told his student this ever-so-vital life lesson- dateing advice! He was gesturing with his hands for emphasis. "No- I mean it! Just stand next ta your girl and say. Nothing! .......Then you just c**k your head to the side, look her in the eyes and say- 'So how 'bout it?'"

"....so how bout it?..." Devonte repeated. "That's your secret?"

"Yup." the old man nodded.

"And it works?"

"You do that- 'n 90% of your dates will end the next morning. I swear on my grave!" there was utter confidence in the old man's eyes. The other three just stared with raised eyebrows. That was how he was so.....successful? The two shook hands on it, as if seling the deal.

"A'right... I'll give it a go."

"Don't forget- just be cool." The old man chuckled.

"Cool...yeah I think I can do that." Devonte said with a smirk.

"No you can't. But I'm hoping for a miracle." the two men chuckled. How the Mist nin were able to speak to Keizo so nonchalantly when, phisycally he looked so defeated was beyond even them in the back of their minds. His lips were stained with blood that he kept spewing up, blood stained his clothes and the snow around him and he looked dead tired- even worse than Shouta had! But there was still life in the old man, and it seemed like he was going to milk out every last drop; stay alive for as long as he possibly could.

But the Mist nin grew quiet again. Shouta had a bottle of sake in his hand... he was giving the drink...one more shot. It wasn't so bad. Nyirei was drinking and looked....a bit different, words couldn't really describe it. Disgruntled? No...happy? Who knew! Devonte had a bottle of sake in one hand and a cigarette in his other. He breathed out a stream of smoke that mixed with the steam of his breath in the freezing cold air. As hard as they were trying, a sullen mood seemed to be creeping over the Mist nin....and Keizo would be damned if he let people cry on his death bed. Picking up his guitar, he started playing a song that...was a favorite of the group's. Devonte, who had started looking depressed, smiled. But Keizo's arms fell. He couldn't play anymore. Too weak...too old...too close to death. His breathing was struggled, and the cold winds caused him to tremble furiously. Devonte took the steel guitar from his arms and picked up where the old man left off. Playing for him. Still, Keizo found some strength to at least sing. The off notes caused by his chattering teeth complimented Devonte's slurred, drunken singing voice. They all grinned and laughed as they joined in, making wild gestures at each other


What would'ja do if I sang outta tune?

Would'ja stand up 'n walk out on me?
Wou'ja stand up an walk ou' on me?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me yo ears 'n I'll sing ya a song 'n I'll try not ta sing outta key!
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not ta sing outta key!

WOAH I get by with a li'le help from my friends!

Get's high with a little help from 'is friends!

Oh I'm gonn' try with a li'le 'elp from ma friends! -Devonte sang, pointing at Suijin with his cig, winking.

What do i do when my love is away?

Does i'worry ya ta be alone?
Does it worry yata be alone?
Does it worry you to be alone?
Does it worry you ta be alone? -Shouta sang, slapping a hand on Rakutsu's shoulder; urging her to join in.

'owh do I feel by the end a tha day?

Suijin grinned and plopped her elbow on his head- Are ya sad bacuz yer on yer own!

NO! I get by with a li'le help from m' firends!
-BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
-BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
-BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
-BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS



Though their battle had ended, they were still fighting. Fighting off the sorrow that loomed over them, threatening to overcome them the moment they dropped their guard. Their singing seemed to completely spite they chaos that surrounded them and fend off that sorrow. It disregarded any sullen feelings and unhappy notions. Despite whatever hell continued on those other two fronts; despite the cloud of death that loomed over everyone; despite all those who wept for their dying friends they remained happy as their closest friend was about to pass.