Chapter 4: Secrets Revealed, When Demons Collide
Reptile had Kareru sit down on one of the broken tree stumps done by Ryuujin when he went on his rampage and took out Sierra. The older shinobi took a moment looking at her trying to figure who she was, "Now, tell me, who are you and why are you here with my group?"
Folding her arms Kareru let out an irritated sigh, ".I already told you who I was, why should I answer that question again.?"
"Because, I have kept track on every graduating shinobi all over the land and your name never came up, but she disappeared from there, only one. Ichiru." Said Reptile watching her expressions, which remained the same but, she knew he was right and couldn't hide it.
"So you know my identity, what do you plan on doing about it?" She asked sitting they're wondering when the interrogation was going to end.
"Nothing, but please tell your father thanks for making my weapon." Reptile said with a smile.
"." Kareru did not respond to his thanks.
"Hm, so you're the daughter of Ranshin, he went missing after he made my knife. Have you been able to find him at all?" Reptile asked out of general curiosity.
"." Again she did not respond to his question or comment. For even if she did say anything she knew that everything that she has worked for would come to an end.
A heavy sigh came from Reptile, "Well, sense you do not want to say much I will leave it be. But if you wish to say anything just let me know." He said turning around and heading back to the others.
Kareru sat there for a moment glad to know he wasn't going to push the subject further. For she knew that her employer had someone watching her close by. Knew if she where to say a word her father's life would cease to continue. She then stood up and walked over to where everyone else was and did what she was supposed to. Ryuujin lay on the ground in excruciating pain as Cory-Chan finally got him all bandaged up but was still unconscious due to the lose of blood.
"He certainly seemed to of lost a lot of blood he will be out for awhile." Said Cory as she stood up and grabbed Reptile by the arm and walked away from Ryuu and Dayu, "Okay explain how does he have the Sharingan?" She demanded to know how Dayu had the ability of the Uchiha.
"Well, before Itachi killed the whole Uchiha clan, Dayu's parents escaped away before Itachi got them. They never trusted him knowing that he was dangerous and with his fast rate with the Sharingan it was only a matter of time. So they came to Shadow Village to escape him and their possible fate." Reptile explained to Cory as he looked over to Dayu.
"Oh I see, but how is it that he seems to have such perfect control over it?" Cory asked in curiosity.
"I have been giving him special training to get him to a high level, because I know, if we do run into Itachi we are going to need his abilities." Said Reptile adjusting Stephanie around on his shoulders.
Kareru hid herself to the side over hearing everything that the two where speaking about, despite watching the battle she did not hear the dialogue of it and got close enough to see his eyes. 'It seemed Itachi was a little sloppy with his kills of the Uchiha Clan.' She said to herself thinking for a moment until a voice spoke up.
"Kareru come out from behind the tree I know you are there." Said Reptile as he kept Stephanie from wondering off from him.
She came out from behind the tree and walked up to Cory and Reptile, "Well now you also know of the secret Uchiha, but the thing is for you two to both know is that the family abandoned the Uchiha name, they didn't want to be bothered of it, so no mentioning of the clan name to Dayu, we don't need such information getting out to anyone else." Reptile explained to the two of them.
"Okay that answers one thing, now what about Ryuujin? How does he have such power as that? I know he bares the mark and all.but his behavior on top of it.didn't seem to be him." Cory worried of their other companion and what might become of him.
A heavy sigh came from Reptile, "Well.the way I figure it, with all that surge of power, and it summoned a darker side to our kind friend there. I just hope that he gains control over it and wont change in anyway and still be the person we know."
Cory set one arm under the other and just thought of what might come, "Plus.I just hope that no one learns of his abilities, because some may want him dead others may want it for themselves." Reptile turned and walked over to Dayu and the unconscious Ryuujin.
A chill went through Cory-Chan not wanting to contemplate such a thought.but she knew that it could happen. She could never accept something like that, after she had helped watch after Ryuu and helped take care of him after what happened to his parents. With those thoughts she let out a heavy sigh and walked behind him over to the two. Kareru followed thinking what she should do knowing what she does now if she should let her employer know or not.
The Battle Begins.
Kyoushu has his Kage Tentai now fully charged and surrounding his body as he charged Amatsu unsheathing his two katana's. Amatsu smirked and suddenly in a puff of smoke four clones appeared, 'what the hell? He didn't even perform a hand seal!!' said Kyoushu to himself but shook the thought keeping his mind on the battle.
The clones leaped ahead of their creator and came down at their opponent. But he was ready as he just headed straight for them and tore them down with out effort. He then scanned the area looking for the real Amatsu, but could not find him, "Where the." he trailed off wondering where he went off to.
Kyoushu then suddenly jumped away from his spat as Amatsu's hands came from beneath from where he just stood. 'Hm the Decapitation Technique, he seriously thought I would fall for that.' Kyoushu questioning his opponent's abilities.
As he stood there suddenly another set of hands appeared up by the first set and then more and more as they came towards Kyoushu at a fast rate. "What the?" he wondered as he stepped back and then leaped into the air and performed a sequence of hand seals ending it with his hand at his mouth, "Katon Housenka (Mythical Fire Flower)!" and fired balls of flames down upon the hands that reached out from the sand as he came back down to the ground.
Leaving the spots of the sand with a burned look from the attack, Kyoushu now more confused then ever wondering what was going on and the point to his opponent's attacks. Amatsu then appeared right in front of him with a maddening look, "Do you really think that you can defeat me?" he asked in a deep dark tone, but Kyoushu drew his blade quickly and cut Amatsu down and fell away in a black flame.
A psychotic laugh was heard behind him, "I am a rival, a equal with Uchiha Itachi! The master of the Sharingan." He said again in the dark low tone.
Kyoushu squinted his eyes slightly and slowly drew his second blade out from its sheath and prepared himself to attack as his Kage Tentai grew larger and more enflamed, "I don't care who you are equals with, I know I can beat a cocky brat like yourself!" he said in response gripping the handles of his swords tightly.
Suddenly wild and unseen things began to happen as a ring of fire was set around Kyoushu, but it was a black flame that surrounded him, slowly the claws of demons emerged from the ground trying to pull themselves out. "You see! I have found powers and abilities that you can only dream of! I see that you two have an understanding of the dark element.but you can never achieve this level! Not like I have!" Yelled Amatsu as the sky darkened around them, "I have nearly mastered the dark arts! Something I know no one else can accomplish!" He said in a sinister tone as soon the demon spawn emerged from the ground their bodies half way out.
"Despite your knowledge over mine, I still have what it takes to beat you right into the ground!" Said Amatsu as the demons growled and groaned from their imprisonments of the ground.
Kyoushu looked around him finding himself surrounded by creatures that he has never seen before. They all now on their feet out of the ground glared at the opponent of their master, but he did not let it effect him as he stood straight still holding the two katana's tightly. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes then reopening them as he breathed out and now with a smirk his aura just flared, "Like this will stop me from spilling your blood." Said Kyoushu now feeling that he can take out Amatsu with out a problem.
A grin crossed the unseen face of Amatsu, "We.shall.see." He said slowly as then all the demons came rushing right for Kyoushu.
But in the blink of an eye all the demons fell yelling in pain as their crimson blood sprayed from their bodies with gashes, cuts, and parts falling from their bodies that came crashing to the ground. "My Kage Tentai isn't just for show, as you just witnessed." Said a very confident Kyoushu.
Black waves of energy then flowed to in front of him and soon Amatsu was reformed right before Kyoushu, "Yes your technique does seem to be impressive." Amatsu admitted as he stood before him with his arms folded.
As Amatsu stood there he soon felt a sharp pain shoot through his stomach finding Kyoushu had slammed the handle of his sword in to him along with his fist, as he knelt forward a bit coughing up spit. Kyoushu sheathed his Katana's and whipped his body around and smashed his foot into the side of Amatsu's face sending him flying into the sand and digging into it as he came to a stop. "I'm not done yet!" Said Kyoushu as he now had the upper hand over Amatsu.
He ran up to Amatsu and grabbed him by the ankles lifting him into the air and slammed him into the ground repeatedly. As he still held on he spun around and launched him up into the air, "Don't worry the end will be soon." Kyoushu smirked as he concentrated some Chakra into his feet to gain the leverage he needed and fallowed behind and got a bit ahead of Amatsu.
Kyoushu performed familiar hand seals but this time some will alternated as he floated above Amatsu and put his hand to his mouth again and got ready as he took in a deep breath. 'Katon Karyuu Endan (Fire Dragon Flame Blast)' Kyoushu said to himself and exhaled sending a dragon flame right at Amatsu that smashed in to him and sent him colliding back in to the ground.
The fighter landed down as the hell spawns body smoked, "Time to finish you off!" Said Kyoushu as he drew his Katana's once more and rushed right for Amatsu's smoking body.
He then leaped into the air and came down with his blades coming down into Amatsu's back where Kyoushu knew where the vital points would be. Taking some deep breaths he then sheathed his swords and saw as a pool of blood formed around Amatsu's body, he knew he had succeeded in killing him and turned and started on his way. Dark waves where then emitted from Amatsu's body as Kyoushu started to leave, the swirled around in the air and an evil laughed echoed in the air and through his mind. Amatsu then rose from where he lay with the dark streams still swirling around his body, his charred figure floated above the puddle of blood. His long hair now out from its restraints and part of it covered the right side of his face with one eye wide as can be and an excited grin on his face.
Blood trailed down the face of Amatsu from when he was smashed into the ground it dripped down off his chin falling into the pool below him as he stood there grinning like a mad man. "Your technique certainly is something else." He said in a low tone as he brought his hand to his face and wiped away the blood and a little bit of it dripped from his fingertips.
He then put his hands together forming different hand seals, Serpent, Boar, Horse, Devil (If you're a hard rocker you know this one but this one uses both hands) was the final one a new hand seal that Kyoushu had never seen. "Here is one of my techniques.I hope you enjoy!" he said as from the puddle of blood below him soon formed a pentagon with a circle surrounding it.
Amatsu was then surrounded in a light from the symbol in the ground and his shirt ripped off from him falling to pieces along with the belt straps that fell to the ground and wings began to sprout from his back. Letting out a painful yell as the transformation continued on, his neck began to stretch out, as did his face creating a longer jaw and sharp dragon teeth formed out from his mouth. His hair merged into his body as he now had a dragonhead with horn at the end for his nose. Kyoushu could not believe what he was seeing, as Amatsu slowly transformed into a dragon creature, "Wha.w.what the hell.is he?" He questioned as he stood back trying to figure it all out.
The dragons wings where now fully extended from his body and spread out, his lower body began to take form as his pants melded into his body like his hair and now the talons of his feet broke out from the restraints of his shoes and flexed themselves in the air. Letting out another painful yell, his arms now began to take form as his fingers now had scales covering them and his nails grew out sharp. Then something began to grow out from his arms as he brought them into his body. Like armor the covered his arms and hands extending out past his elbow into a sharp point, and then his tail slammed to the ground as it came out from his body.
Amatsu brought his arms to his side and glared at Kyoushu with his dragon eyes and slowly set himself onto the ground as the light disappeared away. Even in his dragon form a smirk came over his face as he looked at Kyoushu who stood there taking a step back with a drop of sweat going down the side of his face, "I have seen many things in my time.but.nothing like that.." He stuttered out, as he stood there wide-eyed at the new Amatsu.
Amatsu then flapped his wings and he was now backing into the air, "Shit!" Said Kyoushu as he put his hands together doing the seals, Ram, Dog, Rat and his Kage Tentai was back around his body and he reached for a kunai and prepared himself.
He came at Kyoushu with great speed and grabbed him by the head; Kyoushu did his best to defend himself as he attempted to stab Amatsu with his kunai but the dragon scales where to tough to pierce. He found himself then slammed into the ground with great force, as it caused him to cough up blood that spilled onto his chin. Then Amatsu wrapped his tail around his opponent's neck as he landed back on to the ground and smirked, "So.how does it feel?" he asked in a deep growl.
"H.how does what feel?" Asked Kyoushu as the creatures tail held him up with one eye partially closed.
"To be beaten by someone who is younger then you!" he said as he tightened the grip on his neck.
Amatsu then slammed his body around into the sandy ground dragging him around. Keeping him in the grip of his tail, he brought him back to his face; "You are obviously no fun anymore, but your luck! I won't kill you.no not today, another time." He said in a low tone as he tossed him to the side digging into the sand a bit as it fell over him and with a flap of his wings he flew off into the now night sky.
'When that day comes.I will kill you Amatsu!' Kyoushu vowed to himself that when the came face to face again Amatsu will die by his hands and his hands alone.
Reptile had Kareru sit down on one of the broken tree stumps done by Ryuujin when he went on his rampage and took out Sierra. The older shinobi took a moment looking at her trying to figure who she was, "Now, tell me, who are you and why are you here with my group?"
Folding her arms Kareru let out an irritated sigh, ".I already told you who I was, why should I answer that question again.?"
"Because, I have kept track on every graduating shinobi all over the land and your name never came up, but she disappeared from there, only one. Ichiru." Said Reptile watching her expressions, which remained the same but, she knew he was right and couldn't hide it.
"So you know my identity, what do you plan on doing about it?" She asked sitting they're wondering when the interrogation was going to end.
"Nothing, but please tell your father thanks for making my weapon." Reptile said with a smile.
"." Kareru did not respond to his thanks.
"Hm, so you're the daughter of Ranshin, he went missing after he made my knife. Have you been able to find him at all?" Reptile asked out of general curiosity.
"." Again she did not respond to his question or comment. For even if she did say anything she knew that everything that she has worked for would come to an end.
A heavy sigh came from Reptile, "Well, sense you do not want to say much I will leave it be. But if you wish to say anything just let me know." He said turning around and heading back to the others.
Kareru sat there for a moment glad to know he wasn't going to push the subject further. For she knew that her employer had someone watching her close by. Knew if she where to say a word her father's life would cease to continue. She then stood up and walked over to where everyone else was and did what she was supposed to. Ryuujin lay on the ground in excruciating pain as Cory-Chan finally got him all bandaged up but was still unconscious due to the lose of blood.
"He certainly seemed to of lost a lot of blood he will be out for awhile." Said Cory as she stood up and grabbed Reptile by the arm and walked away from Ryuu and Dayu, "Okay explain how does he have the Sharingan?" She demanded to know how Dayu had the ability of the Uchiha.
"Well, before Itachi killed the whole Uchiha clan, Dayu's parents escaped away before Itachi got them. They never trusted him knowing that he was dangerous and with his fast rate with the Sharingan it was only a matter of time. So they came to Shadow Village to escape him and their possible fate." Reptile explained to Cory as he looked over to Dayu.
"Oh I see, but how is it that he seems to have such perfect control over it?" Cory asked in curiosity.
"I have been giving him special training to get him to a high level, because I know, if we do run into Itachi we are going to need his abilities." Said Reptile adjusting Stephanie around on his shoulders.
Kareru hid herself to the side over hearing everything that the two where speaking about, despite watching the battle she did not hear the dialogue of it and got close enough to see his eyes. 'It seemed Itachi was a little sloppy with his kills of the Uchiha Clan.' She said to herself thinking for a moment until a voice spoke up.
"Kareru come out from behind the tree I know you are there." Said Reptile as he kept Stephanie from wondering off from him.
She came out from behind the tree and walked up to Cory and Reptile, "Well now you also know of the secret Uchiha, but the thing is for you two to both know is that the family abandoned the Uchiha name, they didn't want to be bothered of it, so no mentioning of the clan name to Dayu, we don't need such information getting out to anyone else." Reptile explained to the two of them.
"Okay that answers one thing, now what about Ryuujin? How does he have such power as that? I know he bares the mark and all.but his behavior on top of it.didn't seem to be him." Cory worried of their other companion and what might become of him.
A heavy sigh came from Reptile, "Well.the way I figure it, with all that surge of power, and it summoned a darker side to our kind friend there. I just hope that he gains control over it and wont change in anyway and still be the person we know."
Cory set one arm under the other and just thought of what might come, "Plus.I just hope that no one learns of his abilities, because some may want him dead others may want it for themselves." Reptile turned and walked over to Dayu and the unconscious Ryuujin.
A chill went through Cory-Chan not wanting to contemplate such a thought.but she knew that it could happen. She could never accept something like that, after she had helped watch after Ryuu and helped take care of him after what happened to his parents. With those thoughts she let out a heavy sigh and walked behind him over to the two. Kareru followed thinking what she should do knowing what she does now if she should let her employer know or not.
The Battle Begins.
Kyoushu has his Kage Tentai now fully charged and surrounding his body as he charged Amatsu unsheathing his two katana's. Amatsu smirked and suddenly in a puff of smoke four clones appeared, 'what the hell? He didn't even perform a hand seal!!' said Kyoushu to himself but shook the thought keeping his mind on the battle.
The clones leaped ahead of their creator and came down at their opponent. But he was ready as he just headed straight for them and tore them down with out effort. He then scanned the area looking for the real Amatsu, but could not find him, "Where the." he trailed off wondering where he went off to.
Kyoushu then suddenly jumped away from his spat as Amatsu's hands came from beneath from where he just stood. 'Hm the Decapitation Technique, he seriously thought I would fall for that.' Kyoushu questioning his opponent's abilities.
As he stood there suddenly another set of hands appeared up by the first set and then more and more as they came towards Kyoushu at a fast rate. "What the?" he wondered as he stepped back and then leaped into the air and performed a sequence of hand seals ending it with his hand at his mouth, "Katon Housenka (Mythical Fire Flower)!" and fired balls of flames down upon the hands that reached out from the sand as he came back down to the ground.
Leaving the spots of the sand with a burned look from the attack, Kyoushu now more confused then ever wondering what was going on and the point to his opponent's attacks. Amatsu then appeared right in front of him with a maddening look, "Do you really think that you can defeat me?" he asked in a deep dark tone, but Kyoushu drew his blade quickly and cut Amatsu down and fell away in a black flame.
A psychotic laugh was heard behind him, "I am a rival, a equal with Uchiha Itachi! The master of the Sharingan." He said again in the dark low tone.
Kyoushu squinted his eyes slightly and slowly drew his second blade out from its sheath and prepared himself to attack as his Kage Tentai grew larger and more enflamed, "I don't care who you are equals with, I know I can beat a cocky brat like yourself!" he said in response gripping the handles of his swords tightly.
Suddenly wild and unseen things began to happen as a ring of fire was set around Kyoushu, but it was a black flame that surrounded him, slowly the claws of demons emerged from the ground trying to pull themselves out. "You see! I have found powers and abilities that you can only dream of! I see that you two have an understanding of the dark element.but you can never achieve this level! Not like I have!" Yelled Amatsu as the sky darkened around them, "I have nearly mastered the dark arts! Something I know no one else can accomplish!" He said in a sinister tone as soon the demon spawn emerged from the ground their bodies half way out.
"Despite your knowledge over mine, I still have what it takes to beat you right into the ground!" Said Amatsu as the demons growled and groaned from their imprisonments of the ground.
Kyoushu looked around him finding himself surrounded by creatures that he has never seen before. They all now on their feet out of the ground glared at the opponent of their master, but he did not let it effect him as he stood straight still holding the two katana's tightly. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes then reopening them as he breathed out and now with a smirk his aura just flared, "Like this will stop me from spilling your blood." Said Kyoushu now feeling that he can take out Amatsu with out a problem.
A grin crossed the unseen face of Amatsu, "We.shall.see." He said slowly as then all the demons came rushing right for Kyoushu.
But in the blink of an eye all the demons fell yelling in pain as their crimson blood sprayed from their bodies with gashes, cuts, and parts falling from their bodies that came crashing to the ground. "My Kage Tentai isn't just for show, as you just witnessed." Said a very confident Kyoushu.
Black waves of energy then flowed to in front of him and soon Amatsu was reformed right before Kyoushu, "Yes your technique does seem to be impressive." Amatsu admitted as he stood before him with his arms folded.
As Amatsu stood there he soon felt a sharp pain shoot through his stomach finding Kyoushu had slammed the handle of his sword in to him along with his fist, as he knelt forward a bit coughing up spit. Kyoushu sheathed his Katana's and whipped his body around and smashed his foot into the side of Amatsu's face sending him flying into the sand and digging into it as he came to a stop. "I'm not done yet!" Said Kyoushu as he now had the upper hand over Amatsu.
He ran up to Amatsu and grabbed him by the ankles lifting him into the air and slammed him into the ground repeatedly. As he still held on he spun around and launched him up into the air, "Don't worry the end will be soon." Kyoushu smirked as he concentrated some Chakra into his feet to gain the leverage he needed and fallowed behind and got a bit ahead of Amatsu.
Kyoushu performed familiar hand seals but this time some will alternated as he floated above Amatsu and put his hand to his mouth again and got ready as he took in a deep breath. 'Katon Karyuu Endan (Fire Dragon Flame Blast)' Kyoushu said to himself and exhaled sending a dragon flame right at Amatsu that smashed in to him and sent him colliding back in to the ground.
The fighter landed down as the hell spawns body smoked, "Time to finish you off!" Said Kyoushu as he drew his Katana's once more and rushed right for Amatsu's smoking body.
He then leaped into the air and came down with his blades coming down into Amatsu's back where Kyoushu knew where the vital points would be. Taking some deep breaths he then sheathed his swords and saw as a pool of blood formed around Amatsu's body, he knew he had succeeded in killing him and turned and started on his way. Dark waves where then emitted from Amatsu's body as Kyoushu started to leave, the swirled around in the air and an evil laughed echoed in the air and through his mind. Amatsu then rose from where he lay with the dark streams still swirling around his body, his charred figure floated above the puddle of blood. His long hair now out from its restraints and part of it covered the right side of his face with one eye wide as can be and an excited grin on his face.
Blood trailed down the face of Amatsu from when he was smashed into the ground it dripped down off his chin falling into the pool below him as he stood there grinning like a mad man. "Your technique certainly is something else." He said in a low tone as he brought his hand to his face and wiped away the blood and a little bit of it dripped from his fingertips.
He then put his hands together forming different hand seals, Serpent, Boar, Horse, Devil (If you're a hard rocker you know this one but this one uses both hands) was the final one a new hand seal that Kyoushu had never seen. "Here is one of my techniques.I hope you enjoy!" he said as from the puddle of blood below him soon formed a pentagon with a circle surrounding it.
Amatsu was then surrounded in a light from the symbol in the ground and his shirt ripped off from him falling to pieces along with the belt straps that fell to the ground and wings began to sprout from his back. Letting out a painful yell as the transformation continued on, his neck began to stretch out, as did his face creating a longer jaw and sharp dragon teeth formed out from his mouth. His hair merged into his body as he now had a dragonhead with horn at the end for his nose. Kyoushu could not believe what he was seeing, as Amatsu slowly transformed into a dragon creature, "Wha.w.what the hell.is he?" He questioned as he stood back trying to figure it all out.
The dragons wings where now fully extended from his body and spread out, his lower body began to take form as his pants melded into his body like his hair and now the talons of his feet broke out from the restraints of his shoes and flexed themselves in the air. Letting out another painful yell, his arms now began to take form as his fingers now had scales covering them and his nails grew out sharp. Then something began to grow out from his arms as he brought them into his body. Like armor the covered his arms and hands extending out past his elbow into a sharp point, and then his tail slammed to the ground as it came out from his body.
Amatsu brought his arms to his side and glared at Kyoushu with his dragon eyes and slowly set himself onto the ground as the light disappeared away. Even in his dragon form a smirk came over his face as he looked at Kyoushu who stood there taking a step back with a drop of sweat going down the side of his face, "I have seen many things in my time.but.nothing like that.." He stuttered out, as he stood there wide-eyed at the new Amatsu.
Amatsu then flapped his wings and he was now backing into the air, "Shit!" Said Kyoushu as he put his hands together doing the seals, Ram, Dog, Rat and his Kage Tentai was back around his body and he reached for a kunai and prepared himself.
He came at Kyoushu with great speed and grabbed him by the head; Kyoushu did his best to defend himself as he attempted to stab Amatsu with his kunai but the dragon scales where to tough to pierce. He found himself then slammed into the ground with great force, as it caused him to cough up blood that spilled onto his chin. Then Amatsu wrapped his tail around his opponent's neck as he landed back on to the ground and smirked, "So.how does it feel?" he asked in a deep growl.
"H.how does what feel?" Asked Kyoushu as the creatures tail held him up with one eye partially closed.
"To be beaten by someone who is younger then you!" he said as he tightened the grip on his neck.
Amatsu then slammed his body around into the sandy ground dragging him around. Keeping him in the grip of his tail, he brought him back to his face; "You are obviously no fun anymore, but your luck! I won't kill you.no not today, another time." He said in a low tone as he tossed him to the side digging into the sand a bit as it fell over him and with a flap of his wings he flew off into the now night sky.
'When that day comes.I will kill you Amatsu!' Kyoushu vowed to himself that when the came face to face again Amatsu will die by his hands and his hands alone.