[ TELEVISION BROADCAST ] February 18

[bezejmenny]

[At 10:15 am, a Special Report interrupts the regularly scheduled program. It opens with an aerial shot of a gathering crowd at an outdoor stage in Elysium.]

Correspondent [voiceover]: NGBC just received word that former senator Johan Liebert is en route to Bryant Park to deliver a public statement. Liebert was last seen on August 26, 2009, when h

Comments

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ Blood splattering along his dark attire and droplets of crimson splashing against his obscured visage, Itachi was ready to leave. The military along with the omega would be a hazardous consequence if he was to stay any longer within the public, with the full evidence that he had murder and slaughtered -- fully dismembering and decapitating -- the senator who was seemingly forgiven for his past crimes. But to be thoughtful of what had been was useless now, and his top priority was to retreat -- to vanish.

Alright the audience started to tear everyone to pieces, the atmosphere littered with the heavy scent of blood and sounds of shrill screams. They all went ignored, as did Nataku, at least that was until the Uchiha noticed white material shooting outwards and towards him. In no less than a second later, Itachi found the material constrict and coil around his arm (The military occupied with their own self-surviving slaughter and suicide.) and the bit of tension and pressure that was applied sent a sharp pain through Itachi’s appendage in which he hissed under his breath.

The blade in his other hand was tainted with blood and flecks of gore as Itachi felt the joint of his arm dislodge from his shoulder, and Itachi took a sharp inhale of oxygen. The movements were quick as Itachi dodged to avoid the other ill-intended ribbons that were aimed to cause the same actions of the senator that still laid at his feet in a mass of gore. His hand moved quickly to tear and slice through the material that continued to pull joints from joints until what seemed like the force would pull his arm from muscle and sinew, but he dismembered the ribbon, letting it flutter to the ground and not giving Nataku a second glance as he leaped upwards to a nearby roof. ]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

[Shikamaru doesn't normally disobey his sensei. However, recent circumstances have made it unacceptable to sit and wait at the kids table, and he doesn't have any more money to spend on an auction even though he owes Itachi for saving him once already. That debt will just have to be repaid in action. The task of getting Nill home safely is given to Yosuke while Shikamaru takes the next train in. They'll meet later. Whatever the problem is, Shikamaru will stall, save whoever he has to, deal with whatever problem Itachi wasn't telling him about. The fact that the TV's involved again? It makes him worry.

He arrives via rooftop, and before he sees Itachi he sees the riot below...]

Holy shit... What the hell is this..?

[He backs up and takes cover before anyone below spots him and decides he makes a good target. Everyone is a bloody, screaming mess. It makes it hard to locate Itachi... until the elder ninja leaps up onto a neighboring rooftop. Shikamaru rises to dart over to him.]

...Sensei!

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ The second the Uchiha’s feet managed to step along the surface of the roof, ready for his escape with a limp disjointed arm at his side -- the warmth of a bullet puncture his waist, leaving a sticky mess of crimson that soaked the material of the black attire underneath his robe. He hissed as the hot lead laid within his flesh, and soon enough another came ricocheting passed his cheek, grazing along the skin followed by the bullet that burrowed deeply within Itachi’s leg.

Still, the next moment of seething pain that spread throughout his nerves the Uchiha fell ungracefully against the roof despite his attempts to prevent it, rolling along the pavement several feet and out of the weapon’s aim.

He sat up, running a hand through his hair in a languid gesture before standing up, unaware of his student’s presence until the other called out. Fingers gripping at his waist to cease the blood pooling out of the bullet wound seemed pointless, but nonetheless his expression didn’t lose any firmness, even with the beads of sweat along his flesh and harder breaths and Johan's blood splattered almost every inch of his person. ]

-- Nara, I requested for you to return home. [ His voice didn’t waver, still firm and neutral with sparks of well-hidden concern. ] -- You know what state of chaos the city's in at the moment, it would be a safer choice for you.

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

[Shikamaru, of course, can't tell how much of that blood actually belongs to Itachi. There's a rising sense of urgency in his movements as he reaches his master and crouches down beside him.]

Sorry, sensei, but I had a feeling you'd need backup. And it looks like I was right. Yosuke shouldn't be too far behind me. As long as you can still move, we can meet him and get you healed.

[Of course, if Itachi can't move quick enough, then they're in trouble. And it looks like that might be the case, so Shikamaru throws a glance around...]

I can use kage mane to clear a path for you. If I stay behind and take cover here, I can hold them back long enough for you to get by. Just head towards the train station.

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ Already with a kunai equipped in hand, he let the blade warm up with the fire that emitted from his hand before digging the sharp point into the wound in his leg -- kneeling on one knee and with a fleshy pop of removal he listened closely to Shikamaru’s words at one of the bullets fell to the ground. ]

There is no need to put yourself at risk. [ Removing the one along the waist he let out a low hiss and cringed subtly. Of course it would have been another case if the blood that draped along his features did belong him. ]

We’ll take the rooftops, with my injuries I’m not at dire limitations of my abilities -- but I am still targeted so stay beside me.

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

[Shikamaru would flinch at the bullet removal, but he's thankfully distracted by keeping an eye out for any sneak attacks or snipers. He only glances back to Itachi briefly to check the severeity of his wounds.]

...Alright. We'll move together then, as soon as you're ready.

But just what the hell's happening here? Are you being targeted or is everybody? It looks like they're all killing each other down there, but what for?

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ The kunai vanished once again in his sleeve and he glanced around, red hues observing the chaotic crowd below before the neighboring rooftops. And he muttered with indifference and apathetic. ]

The senator returned and I took an opportunity. [ A pause and he glanced back at Shikamaru. ] -- As for the riots, that I am uncertain about. Regardless of Johan’s sudden appearance, but no doubt it's a high possibility.

[ And with that simple explanation he nodded slightly to Shikamaru, a signal that they would leave before Itachi dashing forward with less-than-precise and perfected movements. ]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

[There's a chill that washes over Shikamaru at the mention of the Senator, along with all his memories of Battle Royale. His eyes give the crowd one last sweep, and that's when he sees what Itachi means by "opportunity": a gory mess upon the stage where the Senator must have stood before he was cut into pieces that could probably never be reassembled, not even by the Omega.

He'll save his thanks for later.]

...They're out of their minds. It should make our escape easier, at least.

[He gets up when Itachi does, following at a short distance. Just enough of a distance to cover Itachi effectively without chance of separation.]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ Itachi made no noise in acknowledgment with Shikamaru’s statement, they didn’t need too, not when he shifted his gaze along the crowd and the military had spotted them. In a instant they had yelled orders to shoot in their direction, and within half a second, Itachi coiled his fingers around the sleeve of Shikamaru’s shirt and manipulated both of their bodies to dodge.

Still, the attempted assassination on both of them had ceased within half a minute -- but that didn’t mean they weren’t following them. Even then the Uchiha removed the robe from his frame and draped it over Shikamaru’s shoulders, speaking firmly. ]

Even if they suspect you of being the criminal it would be better if they did not know your identity in the open, and I will ensure your safety.

[ When they had finally reached the ground Itachi pulled the robe from Shikamaru’s shoulders and removed any of the blood from his safe along the material before dumping the cloth in a alleyway dumpster and setting it on fire. It was then that Itachi guided Shikamaru to a small tucked-away hotel, mildly-free of riots and they were ignored by the military. ]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

[Shikamaru doesn't object when the robe's thrown over him. Whether it's to hide his identity or make him a decoy, it doesn't matter to him. He dons it and pulls the collar high, making a pretty convincing Itachi double.

When they land and the robe is again removed, Shikamaru pulls his hair out of its usual ponytail and lets it fall forward over his face. He tries not to look over his shoulder too often-- a suspicious behavior likely to give them away-- but as far as he can tell they're not being closely chased anymore anyway.

Only once they've reached the hotel does Shikamaru make another sound.]

U-Uh. This is a...

Re: BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ Unlike Shikamaru, Itachi didn’t show any unease at the tacky gaudy lights and pink wallpaper with large hearts that decorated the hotel. A hotel was a hotel after all, and Itachi could sense his vision going blurry around the edges with the blood that leaked from his waist forming droplets on the ground. ]

-- If you’re uncomfortable then I won't force you to stay.

[ But almost typically, the Uchiha didn’t wait for Shikamaru’s response, and already he was walking over to the desk. The cashier behind the screen unable to see their faces and Itachi muttered blankly of a room for the night, and that he’d pay in the morning (Which was a lie.)

On receiving the key (And what almost looked like a thumbs up gesture behind the screen) Itachi glanced at the number and with the wound in his leg reducing to a dull throb; he shifted his weight before climbing upstairs. ]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[lazyish]

N-No, it's a good idea.

[Because, really, who would look for them here? He'd hear it from Yosuke soon but for now they just needed a room where Itachi could rest and wait for their healer.

As they ascend to their room, Shikamaru offers his arm to Itachi for support. Even if his wounds aren't as bad as they looked at first glance, Shikamaru can tell his sensei's having difficulty walking.]

I'll call Yosuke in a minute. He shouldn't be too far now. Do you need me to go out and get anything? Even after he heals you, you'll probably need some bandages.

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[pogromanate]

[ To say that this was the first time Itachi had been in a hotel of this nature would have been a lie ( -- being reluctant but nonetheless.); and to be somewhat completely unfazed by the experience was expected.

Fingers spread out against the wall to keep his balance and he shook in his head in refusal of Shikamaru’s gesture, that was until they reached the floor in which he slightly grasped onto his student’s shoulder; letting out what seemed to be self-cynical noise at his own state as he opened up the door to a vibrant pink and baby blue room; decorated with complimentary equipment and disgustingly distasteful interior. ]

It would be unsafe for you to go outside for now -- the sheets should be sufficient.

[ He tilted his head towards the large circular shaped bed and released Shikamaru’s shoulder, making his way to the bathroom to clean the wounds. ]

BRYANT PARK | Elysium

[soulparadox]

You will not get --

[Nataku had jumped from his place in the crowd -- the growing riot -- onto the stage so that he could continue to catch the assailant. It seemed as though he was only able to injure him slightly; he had to be killed. It was unacceptable that he continued to live. Just as he once more readied to attack, he caught sight of the senator's broken body. The ribbons dropped instantly as he found that he could not concentrate enough to continue with his attack.]

Papa.

[The Ministry would come to revive him, wouldn't they? Just seeing Johan as he was, seeing him up close, was enough to snap Nataku back to himself. If only partially. He did not know what else he was supposed to do now and as he went to look for the attacker -- not realizing how much time had past -- he found that the person had gotten away. He supposed what was left was to wait by the senator's body until he was taken to be revived. A glance to the ensuing chaos around him; ribbon rose to lash out at those that should come out too close to the stage and other such attacks hin his direction.

It was really all that he could do, for now.]