The Day of Thunder

[Nozomi]

It was all happening so fast. Nozomi couldn't take it anymore. She bolted forward as Dai Lu began the final action, flashing her a sad smile of gratitude. "Farewell little teacher," she whispered under her breath. Someone would have to pick up the slack now, it seemed. She'd worry about it later.

Racing up, she dropped to her knees next to where Nao was. Ai and Kenji were too far gone. There was no question, but Nao.... there was breathing shallowly. The monk's hands darted. She didn't ask for permission this time. "I couldn't help you before, but I'll be damned if I leave you to this darkness," she muttered. When they jabbed, chi began to flow, healing energies rushing.

"Grab them. Don't leave them to the darkness. We've got to go, now!" Nozomi said, curling to help the Ryoshun up. "Leave none behind!"

(OOC: 1 VP spent, Chi Protection - Ryoshun Nao is healed for 3 wounds per round, 9 total.)

[Matsu]

She collapsed on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily. Her armor cracked, the helmet rolling off somewhere. She winced, throwing the broken body off of hers, slowly rising to her feet. Looking about.

"Fuck." She swore under her breath. Moving slowly to examine Nao, she was relieved to see the young shugenja was still breathing. Especially with Nozomi healing her.

Hoisting her up, and throwing her onto her back. She wouldn't leave anyone behind. Moving, a grunt of exertion as she picked up Kenji's body.

"Naraku. Grab Ai..." She commanded, sadness rocking through her body.

They had to run.

[Hantei Genji]

Genji started running, weariness evident in his body. Still, he looked around for Otaku and the others, waving his hands. "Run all!"

Where were they running, considering the overlapping of realms...he was not sure. He felt fatigue and wounds coming to overtake him, but a small shine enveoped him again. Thoughts of his family ran strong.

[Ryoshun Nao]

Nao rose to her feet. She was still injured, but she could move. Seeing the others recover the fallen, she hurried to collect their blades. They were a part of the story, after all.

Once she had what she could carry, she followed the others as quickly as she could.

[Bayushi Norikage]

This was it.

He sheathed his sword, in disbelief of the moment.

All this trouble was coming to an end and he'd been untouched in the battle. It didn't seem right, not when the others had been put through so much. He stared up at the crumbling realm above them, wondering for just a moment what would really become of their dreams, of their world. Was it really saved?

Then he heard Shinsei whisper. He shook his head.

Worry about that later. You survived, she's waiting.

Shaking it off, Norikage sprinted to where his fellow Thunders had fallen, to help carry bodies and aid the wounded. No one was getting left behind.

[Hiruma Naraku]

Naraku fell to one knee as the champion of Jigoku was cast back to his realm. He was bloodied but unbroken.

He paced towards the corpse of Ai, caressing her face as he gazed into the lifeless eyes of Ai.

"You were the one to save me," he whispered. "Now I will be the one to save you Ai."

He placed his hand on the woman and closed his eyes, channeling on the gift Chuchu had given him. He focused on the memories Ai had given him, and how her presence had also made him be born again.

Where there was silence, now was a heartbeat.

Now it was turn to save her from this hell.

---

[Naraku uses Chuchu's Blessing on Ai: One per game, while in Yume-do, as a complex action, Naraku may bring one character who had taken lethal wounds back to Out as though they had Great Destiny or Dark Fate.]

[Wu Zhe]

As Zhe's spear was dislodged from the creature's chest he could not help but find an odd rhyme to it all. He looked up at the sky, unheeding of the imminent collapse.

A mercy kill, heh?

He observed his fellow thunders for a moment before helping the living ones take hold of the perished to carry them back home. That is, however, as far as he would go.

She would not leave this place and neither would he.

Silently he walked to take place beside Dai Lu, his wife, now and forever.

[Nanzi Ai]

Ai stirred her breathing shallow... as her flesh knits itself back together to form a whole... the viewer hopes or this will be a very... uhh interesting life to live.

[Ryoshun Nao]

Nao slowly limped over to Dal Lu and Wu Zhe.

"Are you sure?"

[Wu Zhe]

The dragon took an inspiration before letting go of some of the healing energy that remained in him.

He turned his head to look at his love then returned his attention to Nao

''I am''
---
Day of thunder, heaven or hell, healing nao | 3k2 ⇒ 14

[Wu Dai Lu]

As Zhe's spear was dislodged from the creature's chest he could not help but find an odd rhyme to it all. He looked up at the sky, unheeding of the imminent collapse.

A mercy kill, heh?

He observed his fellow thunders for a moment before helping the living ones take hold of the perished to carry them back home. That is, however, as far as he would go.

She would not leave this place and neither would he.

Silently he walked to take place beside Dai Lu, his wife, now and forever.

Dai Lu looked at him, worried. This was his last chance, but she couldn't stop reading to try and convince him. She just looked worried and nodded significantly to the door as she continued reading.

... And thus did those who fell become ten instead of eight.
While unknown then, evil would not be quelled so easily.
Evil reached out from Jigoku through its own creatures
For all things dream...

Though when he confirmed it to Nao, she took his hand, handing the other end of the scroll to him to hold as she read.

[Wu Dai Lu]

Nao slowly limped over to Dal Lu and Wu Zhe.

"Are you sure?"

She also gave a smile to Nao as she spoke, releasing his hand only to signal her thanks. Nao had saved her and allowed her to be here, doing this.

[Wu Zhe]

Zhe took a deep breath once more and the last of whispers of healing energy was spent.

He moved closer to Dai Lu and put a hand on her shoulder with a soft smile

''I will not leave you here alone.''

---
Day of thunder, heaven or hell, healing Ai | 3k2 ⇒ 5

[Nanzi Ai]

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck....... ahem... thank you," she whispered.

"Who... where? Win?" she said trying to form coherent thoughts from the void.

[Ryoshun Nao]

"If I could take your places, I would." She nodded to the couple in understanding. "Thank you, for everything."

She was still bleeding a bit. That made it easer to call on the power of water to heal her cousin further.

"Time to wake up, AI-chan. Time to leave the nightmare."

- - -
D7 LA-LE, Heaven or Hell, Healing Ai, PtIP, Water ML 1, Chuchu's FR -5 TN, Hurt +10 TN, Spellcraft Mastery, Last VP for +1k1 | 7k4 ⇒ 30 (TN: 15)
15 wounds healed.

[Wu Dai Lu]

Zhe took a deep breath once more and the last of whispers of healing energy was spent.

He moved closer to Dai Lu and put a hand on her shoulder with a soft smile

''I will not leave you here alone.''

---
Day of thunder, heaven or hell, healing Ai | 3k2 ⇒ 5

She leaned her face over so her cheek was touching his as she read. Even as her tears welled up, her voice stayed steady, reading out even more confidently than before.

As she did, the blood flowing around the moon slowed and stopped, and its eye closed. The shrine around them began to shrink.

[Nanzi Ai]

"If I could take your places, I would." She nodded to the couple in understanding. "Thank you, for everything."

She was still bleeding a bit. That made it easer to call on the power of water to heal her cousin further.

"Time to wake up, AI-chan. Time to leave the nightmare."

- - -
D7 LA-LE, Heaven or Hell, Healing Ai, PtIP, Water ML 1, Chuchu's FR -5 TN, Hurt +10 TN, Spellcraft Mastery, Last VP for +1k1 | 7k4 ⇒ 30 (TN: 15)
15 wounds healed.

Ai was a bit dazed and stood unsteadily and replied, "Nao-chan, I cannot accept such a gift... it's too precious I must refuse."

She did start feel better from the magic flowing through her in her confused state.

[Bayushi Norikage]

Norikage watched the two of them for a moment as he helped get the others out. He felt an appreciation for their moment, but also a sudden rush of revulsion.

He would hate it if someone wasted their life to die with him. Though he isn't everyone, maybe one day he'd understand. He went to the exit, stopping to shout to the others.

"Let's go, they're going to seem pretty lame if no one makes it back to tell everyone about it."

[Nozomi]

Nozomi took one last look at the two of them and nodded. "I will remember your story," she said as she motioned for the others. Hopefully now that Nao and Ai were somewhat healed, they could get them out of here. The fact that it was a legitimate miracle that Ai was alive at all, it dawned on her but in a very 'I have seen too many miracles for one lifetime.' She would gawk at it again in time. For now, it really was time to go. She ushered and moved to bring up the rear with those fleeing.

/exit

[Hiruma Naraku]

snip

Naraku smiled at her and sighed; the gift had been taxing and he knows his soul would not be able to grant another the same gift.

"I am glad it worked," he whispered. "I did not wish to face a future without you Ai."

snip

He turned to the Dragon and nod, understanding his sacrifice. He approached him and embraced him.

"You were a true hero Zhe," he said patting him in the shoulder. "I will never forget about you," he turned to the rest. "About any of you."