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Tears welled in Shouta's eyes. Devonte was screaming the exact same way he had back then, with the exact same pain though his voice had deepened substantially since they were kids. It was absolute torture to Shouta. He didn't look up at Rakutsu's question. Was there? "I....I don't know. ....I-i don't have any chakra left I can't-"

"What about you girl? Do you have any chakra left?" asked a voice from the other side of Devonte's writhing body. Shouta's head smapped up, not even caring that this woman saw him crying. He knew who it was. It would appear this was, yet another of the Kurosawa's main branch. This woman was several years older than Dev, had short brown hair that was a bit messy like Devonte's but not spikey. Her eyes were the same gold color, but unlike Gwynevere they didn't seem quite so harsh. She had bandages wrapped around her in various places, but she seemed like she'd taken minimal damage from the Tengu. Shouta was enraged to see his older sister. Hadn't they done enough? What more could they possibly do to the two ex-Kurosawa brothers? Devonte didn't look up. He couldn't even hear over his own screams.

"Bec..." Shouta growled. He lept up at her wanting to attack, but she grabbed his clenched fist and kneed him in the gut. He grunted and doubled over in pain.

"You're the only one who knows that jutsu you made up, don't make me beat you to a pulp! Do you want to help Devonte or not?" She spoke in a hushed yell, as if she didn't want anyone outside the small group to hear her. Shouta just looked at her, confused. "Now what is that girl's name?" Shouta didn't say anything. "Look! Valon is gonna be pissed if he catches on that I'm trying to help him, alright? Now what's the girl's god damned name?"

"....Rakutsu..." Shouta said, uncertainly. He wanted to help Dev, yeah, but this was coming from his older sister! One of the women who just sat back and did nothing as Devonte lay dying in their kitchen.

She smiled and patted him on the cheek. "Good..thank you for your cooperation. Now Rakutsu, I'll ask again- do you have any chakra left?" She turned her head to the girl from Snow. She spoke much less formally than Gwynevere, but Shouta knew she was completely different when the other Kurosawa's were around.

"Because you can transfer it into Shouta. Savvy?" she said, looking into Shouta's bewildered eyes. She released him and pushed him on his knees, so he was next to Devonte. She looked around behind her, making sure she wasn't being watched. No. Valon was too busy fussing over Gwyn with his back turned to them. Her other two sisters were discussing something with some of the clan's survivors. "I'll calm him down a bit." She made a few handsigns and her palm glowed a deep indigo. She placed it on his sweat covered forehead. She thought a few words to him 'Devonte...' he flinched as she spoke to his subconscious mind. It was the same jutsu Shouta had used on Keichii outside the yugaomaru that night, but he would probably remember this. 'I'm sorry...I did nothing to help you....I'm so sorry...I was only thinking of myself then....but it pained me to watch him hurt you... all those days he beat you that's why I always turned away.....' She looked up at Shouta, and motioned her head at Devonte as if to say- 'well get to it!'

Shouta nodded. He made a few handsigns and said, "Rakutsu, place your hands on mine and focus your chakra into them." His tone was more calm now. He was in his 'doctor-mode'. He rested his indigo-glowing hands gently on Devonte's head, and used a bit of his remaining chakra to get the jutsu started. But he'd need Rakutsu's help to be able to successfully perform the jutsu. It wouldn't take too much chakra, but it needed more than what he had! He looked up at her with pleading eyes. Teartracks had frozen to his cheeks, making them turn a vibrant red.

Bec continued talking to Devonte. 'I was weak...please forgive me......you killed my sister, but... what Teresa refuses to remember or tell anyone was what Claire said when she died....'

Apparently it was working. Devonte wasn't hyperventilating anymore, though he still cried out in pain. And he was able to respond. 'what...what did she say?....' he thought this would be someting horrible directed at him, but Bec's tone told him otherwise.

Shouta smiled greatfully to Rakutsu as her chakra flowed into him. He channeled it into his jutsu and began correcting Devonte's brain. Gywn had set off the pain receptors in his brain which disrupted the nerves in the exact places where the origional wound had been inflicted. Damn. It was as if she knew. The affected nerves were almost the exact same ones! "He did put her up to this...." Shouta's eyes went up to her. "He told her everything about that night, his version of course. He told her everything about what his wound looked like with intentions that she would do this one day...." Her tone was almost sorrowful. "You can't completely blame her. Valon has been responsible for her upbrining in hopes that she would completely hate Devonte....and it worked..."

As Shouta continued his jutsu he asked, "...Why do you stay?"

"I love Teresa.. and Eva. And Gwyn, but.... I don't know." she sighed, shaking her head. She didn't really have an answer. "They're family." She looked down at Devonte. She finished waht she was going to say. 'When she died... she said, 'Heh...Devonte-kun...you've gotten pretty strong haven't you.... you are going to be very strong....I know it'....' Devonte wasn't screaming anymore, and his mental state had balanced out. He groaned a few times, but it stopped after a few minutes. Rakutsu would be sapped of most of her chakra, but she'd be alright. Shouta let out a sigh of relief as he pulled his hands away. He and Bec sat Devonte back against the rock. His eyes were closed, but that was for the best.

"Thank you. Rakutsu-chan." he said, smiling.

"Uhn.." Devonte's eyes opened lazily. He looked up at Bec, who was looking back appologetically. "She really said that?"

She nodded. "Yes. She was never angry. She was proud of you." Bec smirked, making herself look like a female version of Devonte. She lightly smacked him on his head. "I guess you're not such a failure after all." she teased. "And if you don't believe me, you can always look at my memories."

"Oi! You know I don't know that one!" he said with a look of chldish frustration. But he was happy, no, relieved that Bec didn't hate him too. He'd always thought she hated him most of all, next to Valon. This war had brought all sorts of surprises!

"Heeheehee" she giggled darkly. She really was a female version of Dev! "Yeah, I know... so Keizo-san finally kicked it, hm?"

"Yeah, went out with a few drinks in 'im tho." Along with correcting his nervous system, Shouta had sobered him up a bit.

"You got any more?"

he said pulling out a bottle from Keizo's pack, holding it out to her. She then noticed Shouta's 'ooooh s**t' look that passed over her head.

She took on the same face, but wore a nervous smile with it. "...One of them is looking, aren't they?" He nodded. "Teresa?" He shook his head. "Eva?" He shook his head. "It's Valon, isn't it?" He nodded. His eyes were closed, but his face still looked somewhat calm. "He coming over?" He shook his head. "He's just glaring at me, ain't he?"

"Mmhm."

She let out a deep sigh. "I'm gonna need this." She took the bottle, uncorked it and took a deep gulp. "I'll...see you later some time...kay?" she said to Devonte. He smiled. Even if it was just two of them, it was good enough.

"Yeah. Later" He waved as she left...back to the clan of spite and pride, where she'd become a completely different person from what'd they all seen.

Shouta looked over at Rakutsu. "You alright?" He wanted to make sure he hadn't drained too much chakra from her.

Ruka gritted her teeth together and snapped her fingers, barking out orders to the men who had helped her husband earlier.
They had heard, and rushed over to the fallen, bleeding Mizukage and began healing her with a healing jutsu to relieve the bleeding from her stomach.
"How is she?" Ruka asked, wiping the blood off from Suijin's face.
"One thing's for sure," said the medic nin as he laid Suijin back down on the snow, "She's one hell of a woman to take that hit and not notice it. Shouldn't have taken that alcohol though; she would've healed alot faster if she didn't already have rice wine swimming around in her belly."
"Heh," Ruka smiled, picking Suijin up from the ground as she carried her over to the group, "She seems fine now. Just a bit quiet."
"She might not want to drink anymore sake," called the medic nin to Ruka, "Or eat anything. Not for at least an hour."

Shouta sighed. "Yes. Our sis-"

"Your sister." Devonte said spitefully. He was happy that he and Bec were on peaceful terms now but that didn't change the fact that he wasn't technically part of the family anymore. With a pained expression, Shouta nodded.

"Right.. Bec is one of my sisters, so is Gwynevere, Teresa and Eva." he explained, recalling the other names the Bec mentioned during their conversation. He ran a hand through his hair, momentarily exposing his blind eye.

"Don't forget Claire." Devonte chimed, with a bit of a...disgruntled expression. Shouta ignored this one and continued.

"And Valon.....you met him on the boat, is..our older brother. The head of my clan, Lord Kurosawa." His eyes darkened again. Shouta looked back at where Suijin had gone, she wasn't there. Looking around her finally spotted her on a cot surrounded by Suna and Kiri nin. "Devonte...why don't you tell this rivveting tale, I have to go check on Lady Mizukage." Devonte grunted, but said nothing. Shouta stood and left them looking disgruntled. 'Suijiiin....what the hell have you done to yourself now?' he growled in his head.

Dev looked over at Rakutsu. "As I'm sure my little bro was about to continue- needless to say Valon's got a pole lodged so far up his a** it would take surgery and a miracle to get that thing out!" He took a gulp of sake. Oh yeah! Shouta definitely would have said something like that! (<-blatant sarcasm!)

"Pft." Suijin chuckled as she let her head drop back in her cot. Then she heard a soft 'ahem' from Bec. She looked up at her inquisitively.

"Umm... L-Lady Mizukage..my um.. little bro- a-hem" she stuttered nervously as she thumbed over her shoulder. Some of the other Kiri nin glanced over their shoulders but immediately turned back, snickering. Suijin just got more confused. She peered around one man's leg and saw Shouta storming over. Her eyes went wide.

"Shhhhhit!" she hissed, taking her Mizukage hat and covering it over her face. "I'm asleep!" The still chuckling Kiri nin were trying their hardest to stifle their laughter as their village's best doctor made his way next to the Mizukage. He didn't look happy. She was making snoring sounds....but they weren't very believeable.

"Suijin...what. did you do. this time." he seethed.

"zzz....zzz...i'm asleep-zzz...zzz" she said between fake snores.

Shouta rolled his eyes. "Then how are you talking?"

"I'm not talking." Shouta yanked off her hat and held it out of her reach. She grabbed for it as he did, then saw his eyes. He. Looked. PISSED. The Mizukage immediately snapped her eyes shut. She was soooooo getting chewed out for this!

"Why is there blood on you lips?" he growled.

The Mizukage opened her eyes hesitantly. "Um....well you see... there is a very good reason for this....I..." Her eyes were avoiding his. She was looking everywhere for an excuse. Then she came up with one! "I'm a vampire-" Most of the Kiri nin who had been holding back so well burst out laughing!