Let the Match Begin [Swallow What, Now? Search Thread]

Age : 30 Posts : 311

The Opening Move: Knight to C-3.

ARRIVAL in FIRE COUNTRY

The run to Fire Country had been entirely underwhelming. Although the company had been interesting – Hira’s smart mouth having provided him with intelligent and witty conversation – the lack of difficulty it had taken to actually get there had made the entire excursion boring. At one point, whilst Hira was on watch, he had prayed to whichever God above would take pity on them, that they would suddenly be assaulted by a band of mercenaries while he was sleeping. At least then he could have felt an explosion of adrenaline within his veins rather than the sludge that seemed to flow through his bloodstream with the monotony of their trip. But unfortunately, no one in the vicinity appeared to be stupid enough to approach the duo, and although the panther was desperate for a source of entertainment, even he recognized that holding up a merchant’s trolley to alleviate his boredom was wrong. Thus, the journey had left an impatient scowl upon his mouth that only disappeared when they arrived at their next destination point: Roiyaru Road.

Roiyaru Road had been chosen by both of them from a strategic standpoint. Expansive in size, the pathway connected the majority of cities that lay scattered among the borders of Fire Country. Tosatsu would be open enough to admit that he was not familiar with the geography of their current location as most of his missions had never taken him in this direction, so it only seemed logical to follow the road rather than attempt to make their own path and waste time. The chūnin did not wish to spend more time than necessary in enemy territory, especially since their own kage did not approve this particular jaunt. Without their papers, if they were to be uncovered, it could appear to Konohagakure that there infiltration was an act of war. Tosatsu hoped that their Hokage wouldn’t be so stupid as to assume that Kumogakure would only send two enemy nin if they wished to attack, but he wouldn’t put it past the pacifiers – they weren’t known for their battle-readiness or strategy, after all.

Licking his lips, he internally recalled their target’s dossier. It had been noted that Eji had recently been found terrorizing a variety of smaller villages but aside from the last known location, there were not anymore noted sightings of this apparently elusive man. It was a pity, considering it would have made their mission easier, but the sealer was not one to be deterred. A good challenge always meant a higher reward, and when they eventually found him, it would be all the sweeter. Dropping downwards towards the ground, he landed silently, his body slunk forward in a predatory crouch. Currently, they were all alone, the dirt path empty aside from his graceful form and that of his partner. Heading towards a map that was tacked to a board, he examined it critically.

It had been their greatest asset that their paranoid Raikage had an infinite network of spies at his – and now their – disposal. Hira, the smart lass that she was, had snuck into her other half’s office and inconspicuously assessed his private organization to find out the last known location of Eji. Tosatsu would not go as far as to say that the fact that they utilized his private organization for their personal benefit filled him with a deep satisfaction that warmed him through the lonesome nights of travelling –since Hira was adamant that she did not require his body heat to stay warm – but it certainly made him feel good. Compounded with the fact that they now knew the last place the bandit had assaulted was Shukuba Town, the panther was feeling alarmingly good.

Locating the noted village upon the map as well as their current location, Tosatsu surmised that it was within a five hour walk if they moved quickly. Looking towards his partner in crime for the first time since they had arrived at the aforementioned location, he cocked his head slightly to the right as he finally addressed her, “Ma, Hira-chan. From here, I think it should be a quick five hour walk to the target’s last known location.”

Nodding slightly as he spoke his hypothesis out loud, the man felt the expansive scrolls attached to his waist bounce with the action. Casting his gaze downwards to observe them for a moment, his lips pursed slightly as he regarded their obvious stature. It would not do for them to be picked out of a crowd for being shinobi, especially if it was noted that they weren’t from Konohagakure. Plus, having run a civilian establishment himself, Tosatsu was all too familiar with the stigma that came with being a ninja invading a non-shinobi location. The wariness that the civilians felt with their presence would not be conducive for blending in while making their inquiries.

Pulling a hair tie from his arm, the chunin went about methodically braiding his unruly hair into some semblance of control. His fingers moved with practiced ease and as he worked them, occasionally massaging his scalp, Tosatsu idly commented, “It’d probably be best if we rid ourselves of our ninja garb. No one will want to deal with us otherwise once we arrive in Shukuba.”

Posts : 40

It was as if she was ever so slowly becoming whole again. Traversing the world’s expanse of land, sleeping beneath the wild azure and admiring a sea of stars that lulled her into a deep slumber – she coveted that which no one else even acknowledged, and yet was barred from these familiarities by the person she sought to obliterate from her memory for years. In every endeavor since her departure from Kumogakure seven years prior did Hira struggle to fill the void in her soul, once inhabited by his perpetual light and her unconditional devotion to him. Their unification as a professional relationship left much to be desired, including a lingering voracity to remind him of their days of old, and forego their stoic partnership into one of tenderness. It was difficult to believe that, for even a moment, there was joy in their lives... Perhaps their single road only stretched so far, before diverting paths led their hearts astray. It distressed her, but in moments of solitude where she found herself glancing up to the heavens, the anguish lessened a little. If only for a moment.

Despite the new circumstances of her temporary freedom, she still stared into the wild blue yonder and daydreamed – until a certain, white –haired pervert disrupted her reveries with some uncouth statement of comparing two mountains to her own mountains. She nevertheless appreciated the humor and accompaniment of such a man, but still drifted off every so often should she come across a particular monument or nostalgic region, with the chance of explaining their relevance to her traveling partner.

Hira promptly recognized the expanse of land ahead and the unmistakable Roiyaru Road. Although not wildly populated at all times of the day, it granted them ease of access and surveillance to their surroundings, where, in her peripheral vision, no Konohagakure shinobi traversed nearby. Without a chakra signature to read, they proceeded forward to a map set up below, which Hira started to trace along the roads with her finger and reminiscing which roads she’d taken previously in the years. “Shukuba Town...” she spoke softly as her finger matched the location on the map, and continuing a moment later, “...will actually take four hours to reach. There’s an unmarked road over here that I recall using to reach that town many times. Maybe even three and a half if we’re quick enough and don’t run into anyone.”

Tosatsu’s analysis was correct – briefly discarding their equipment would aid in their travels to the small town. Even if Hira had to makeshift a hiding spot for her leg pouch, possibly the single most noticeable ninja-esque asset on her person. Untying it from her thigh, her first instinct was to zipper-up her jumpsuit and place the pouch between her bosom, as it was the only true logical spot given her lack of a backpack or cloak. Proceeding with the action, she assumed they fit between well enough for the time-being – not that anyone had much of a reason to stare anymore. With their ninja garb carefully displaced, Hira took the lead along Roiyaru Road in order to pinpoint the trailing path into Shukuba Town.

The sun blazed down from the near center of the sky, signaling the early afternoon and the duration of their stroll being almost four hours in length. The engulfed streets and resounding voices of merchants and citizens alike caused an immediate recollection on Hira’s part. Meandering along these streets from restaurants to bars, from the bar to the casino and then returning to hotel room at the break of day... just how many times had she cheated these bars and casino’s out of their hard-earned money? Perhaps her enclosed bust was a cleverer idea than she originally thought.

Glancing towards Tosatsu, she spoke rather loudly for him to hear over the flood of people. “I’ve been here before, so I know the town’s layout fairly well, although it’s been a couple years now. I think we should head to the hospital first and ask about any recent attacks by our mystery man. Maybe someone could give us some insight as to what he looks like, or where he came from. Hopefully we’ll get a lead from there, or else we’ll be searching for a needle in a haystack in this town. I’ll lead the way, but stick close to me or you’re going to get lost... but not that close,” she smirked playfully before her ascent into the crowd.

Snaking through the crowd of people, with each inch of space between the citizens shoulders, there was an open gateway to their destination. Hira was persistent, yet clearly aware of her surroundings as she frequently turned corners, checking the signs to navigate how far away they were from their destination. Peering back at her partner and speaking loudly enough for him to hear, she brought about a caution before entering the hospital, “If worse comes to worst, I hope your wallet is full. Money speaks for miles in this town, and there’s nothing they won’t do to make a quick buck. You’d be surprised how far a small bribe can go.”

Without a reply to signal he heard her warning, she entered an open space in the crowd, but without Tosatsu creeping up in tow.

Age : 30 Posts : 311

Fishing for Compliments.

Hira was steadily becoming a puzzle whose pieces seemingly did not match up. Each time he acquired two fragments of the grand picture and placed them in alignment, they never fit together nicely. And even after he finally found the edges and began constructing, it almost felt like he was looking at an entirely different landscape than the one the box displayed. Feeling oddly cheated, Tosatsu found himself eying his partner, silently wondering what motives had brought her with him on this journey that held no obvious benefits for her. It hadn’t taken much convincing to gain her accompaniment, something that he had noticed whilst in the moment but had not bothered giving much thought, but now, as he listened to her confide the location of an unmapped trail, the chūnin was beginning to question what she was getting out of their deal.

As they had travelled, he had observed his companion’s relaxing shoulders and bow mouth rise into a content smile. Occasionally, he’d even notice her slipping off into her mind castle without a backwards glance to inquire if he’d like to go with her – which he thought was rather rude. All those moments of near absentmindedness reminded him of the times when he’d slip into himself while in the process of creating a new tea or seal. Everything beyond what was before him would melt into an undistinguishable blob of unimportance until someone forcefully removed him from his world or he finished the task. Hira had not been as far gone as he, but coupling those nostalgic silences with her surprising knowledge of Fire Country’s geography, Tosatsu could only assume that his companion had been here before.

The idea of traveling to Fire Country was not an odd one. Missions were not often given out in this direction unless they were antagonistic towards the pacifist nation, but at her rank, it was only expected that some sabotage would have occurred. What interested him was her confidence in the civilian area of the region. This information did not speak of something gained from being on a mission, but from traversing the terrain independently and thus avoiding the tight, timeline that missions required. Tilting his head as he continued to study her frame as they headed towards Shukuba, Tosatsu contemplated her potential years of traveling. He remembered noting that she seemed to have appeared back in Kumogakure out of thin air; perhaps during that time she had been exploring. For her to so easily gain a position of power upon her return, it was obvious that she must have originated from Kumogakure as well, but that begged the question: Why did she leave?

Knowing that he did not have enough information to answer the question, currently, the panther filed it away for later perusal. It wouldn’t do for him to overtax his imagination with hypothetical situations when he did not have evidence to stipulate from. As they neared Shukuba Town, Tosatsu busied himself with storing his cumbersome gear in a nearby tree, out of sight. Unlike Hira would could conveniently stuff her pack in between her mounds of glory, the chūnin did not think he could fit two large scrolls in his anal cavity. Marking the tree with a kunai to remember his gear’s location, the shinobi then tucked it into the back holster that was hidden by his jacket. With his hair pulled back and scarf covering the insignia of their village, Tosatsu imagined he looked like an odd rock star attempting to start a new fad in ridiculously hot weather.

He let his partner lead once they entered the village, his eyes wondering around the various buildings and vendors, unconsciously examining the place to figure out potential weaknesses to exploit. As he perused, he listened half-heartedly to Hira as she suggested their next plan of action, stepping closer to her to hear her soft voice over the cacophony of noise from the marketplace. Smiling wickedly when she joked about the distance – or lack thereof – between them, he leaned in just so to whisper something decidedly dirty in her ear but the little minx pulled away with a cheeky grin of her own.

Sighing dramatically at their little game, it took him a moment to respond to her inquiry about his wallet. He hadn’t brought a lot of cash with him as he figured that the two of them would be keeping a low profile by camping out in the woods like a bunch of Neanderthals, so he doubted that he’d have enough coin for the rather expensive act of bribing. Eying the many stands, however, he didn’t really worry. Tosatsu may not have been the wealthiest man, but he was one of the most conniving. Gaining the permits to his building hadn’t occurred through honest business and he doubted that the sudden influx of money they were about to experience would be any different.

"I am not prepared, but do not fret - I have gifted hands."

Slithering up to a nearby jewelry stand, he silently waited for the merchant to be distracted by an interested customer before sliding the apparently 'gifted appendage' over a pretty necklace and swiping it. Pocketing it easily, he slipped back into the throng of citizens and continued on his merry way. Next, after making some inquiries, he spotted a pawn shop a couple blocks away from his thieving and made his way into the building to pawn the necklace. After a round of negotiation where Tosatsu was adamant the man was gay since he was aggressively trying to screw him, the two settled on a number that the chūnin was content with. Shaking the fellow’s hand and then apologizing for how sweaty his was since he had been so nervous during the exchange, Tosatsu made his exit, flicking a ruby-studded ring into the air once he was out of sight.

Going to a different jeweler, the ring was then appraised and sold where he once again pocketed the money with a merry whistle. Noting a lovely flask at one of the vendor’s counters, he waved over the owner to inquire about a simple silver chain that was also being displayed.

“Excuse me, sir,” he started, a pleasant tone knocking his vile nature aside, “My fiancé needs a new chain for her engagement ring. She doesn’t want her parents to know yet, you see. Would this one be a good fit?”

As he drew closer to the merchant and dropped his voice, causing the man to bend forward in turn, Tosatsu slipped the flask he had been eying earlier into the waistband of his pants as he eagerly discussed the purchase of such a simple chain. After bargaining it down and paying with his newly acquired thick wad of money, the sealer nodded his thanks before heading over to an alcohol stand and trading the flask in for the man’s nicest bottle of Grade-A sake. With all his errands done, Tosatsu finally turned his attention back to Hira; realizing quite quickly that he had lost her whilst on his little adventure.

Rolling his eyes at such an inconvenience, he remembered her mentioning of the hospital. It hurt his ego that she had not been around to witness his manly display of thievery, but he soothed the pain efficiently with the warming thought that she'd now have to wonder how he had acquired such a bounty in such little time. Grinning cheekily as he asked citizens about the location of the hospital, it did not take him long to maneuver himself towards the building where he began craning his head to spot his partner.

Eventually spotting her leaning against a decidedly seedy looking bar, the shinobi made quick work of closing the distance between them until he was merely a foot away from her person. Retrieving the necklace whose purchase was used as a distraction to nab the silver canister, he dropped the chain easily into the top of her shirt, aiming for the metal to slide between her breasts, with a sly wink, “That’s for you, my fiancé. But don’t let the Master know – I think he’ll try to break up the union.”

Cackling openly, he fished out the bribe money and handed it over to Hira, the sake tucked nicely under an arm, “I doubt we need to worry about cash now, Hira-chan. It is a pity I won’t be able to see you shake your goods, but some sacrifices have to be made.”

Sighing dramatically, he looked up towards the clear sky with a self-defeated posture before he abruptly pulled himself together and asked calmly, “So. The hospital, right?”

Special Characteristic in Use:

Posts : 40

He was gone.

Of course he was gone. She wasn’t exactly proficient in keeping men on short leashes, but neither was she the sort to not rebel against certain orders either. Whatever he was doing, she expected it influenced the chances of enticing their future patrons. While slightly miffed on not receiving such an invitation, Hira patiently waited for his return, by coincidentally leaning against her single favored bar in the whole town.

She was well acquainted with the owner, who many a time covered her tabs and secured alibi’s after a night on the town and a fight or two in the midst of a drunken stupor. He was owed more than she was worth, which was scant at best, and at times, provided free labor in the bar to bring in a little extra cash flow. While the blonde frequently returned his money on occasions (so much that it became habitual to send a messenger with a satchel of gold every week), Hira ultimately repaid her debt to the old man. For reasons unbeknownst to her, who willingly extorted free money and alcohol in times of need – or not – she was incapable of pilfering from a man who showed kindness without reason to. Many would regard it as foolishness on his part to trust the notorious woman, and they were right. Most of the time.

Glancing toward the inside and focusing on the main hub, Hira observed his still unwavering dedication as he hobbled from table to table, and finally to the bar where he served his guests. Pondering for a moment to his current situation and if he had another rambunctious and unruly person sleeping behind the bar, she side-smiled at the thought of his consistent compassion to those who needed it most. Not that Hira would ever admit to such a situation happening in the first place.

Tosatsu’s voice rung through the hustle and bustle of Shukuba’s meandering citizens, stealing her away from a fond reverie. Upon his release of a silver chain into her bosom, Hira immediately retrieved it and inspected its quality. Without glancing up, she replied sarcastically, “And a rather unholy union, isn’t it?” Sighing slightly, she held the necklace out to him upon realizing its authentication and returned it. “Unfortunately, I’m not much of a worldy possession type of woman. I’m sure one of your floozy’s would appreciate this more than me.”

Upon the glorious vision of cold hard cash appearing in Tosatsu’s hand, Hira seized the wad and grasped it in her hand. “Trust me, I’ve done worse to get money. But as you said, sacrifices.” Exhaling contently, she speedily counted the cash in her hand before returning her attention to him. “I’m glad something good came out of your disappearance. At least you weren’t intending to win me over with shameless thievery alone.” Rolling the cash tight into a cylinder, she stuffed it between her breasts and smiled contently. “Well, now that that’s taken care of, let’s head on over. It’s only a few blocks further down from here.”

Continuing through the congested crowd, within ten minutes they stood before the glass doors of the hospital. Hira took the first steps towards the entrance and opened it, and entering the facility with quick glimpses around the main lobby, the nurse’s station came into view. It was empty for the time-being, but this opened an opportunity for free access to the hospital. Sauntering to the desk, Hira peeked over expecting to see a particular list of names. She only needed one for now, as that was enough evidence to prove her and Tosatsu as relatives to that person, rather than being denied access after asking for their perpetrators victim’s. Memorizing a random name, Hira heard shuffling footsteps and replaced her hardened expression for a façade of distress.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m here to see Hisao Kazuki.” The female eyeballed the blonde from her seated position, a display of boredom blatant on her face. “Yes, and you two are?” Chuckling for a brief moment and continuing in a light-hearted tone, “Of course, I apologize. My name is Sora, Hisao’s sister. And this is Raiden, our cousin. We’re from out of town, and ever since we heard about his condition... well, we hurried as soon we could. Could you tell us his room number, please?” she asked calmly, awaiting an answer, as the nurse eyed them both for several seconds.

“You... I recognize you. And you’re not one of Hisao’s sister's..” the nurse spoke quietly, pointing her pen to Hira. “You’re that woman, aren’t you?” Staring at the nurse incredulously, Hira pressed her index finger to herself, as if questioning her moronic question. “That woman? There’s plenty of women in this town... Chances are that I’m not who you apparently think I am. And yes I am his sister, so can you just give us the room number now?”

Within seconds, the nurse went wide-eyed as memories returned and just as instantaneously, her expression became enraged. “You’re that tart that walked off with my boyfriend in Domo’s Bar three years ago!” Hira lightly gasped at the insult, but was rather pissed that their cover had been blown. She vaguely remembered the night due to her alcohol intake, but sparse sparks of memory flickered in her mind. This woman could hardly keep her skirt down. How could she possibly call her a tart? “Excuse you, Miss Hooker High Heels, but he was all over me. Don’t blame me for your faults and your inability to keep one man on a leash. And for your information, I only took his wallet halfway down the block and ditched him on the sidewalk. I have no interest in someone so... accessible.”

A glare of aggravation transformed into one of realization as the nurse grabbed her temple and sighed tiredly. Hira exhaled fervently as her fingers tapped along the counter, annoyance apparent as she waited for the woman to speak. “Look, we only came for information on a victim that might be here. I know this town isn’t known for its’ flagrant murders and attacks, except the bar fights that happen and maybe wounded from the road showing up from bandit attacks... but we’re looking for a man who’s weapons are known to be unusual and who’s known for attacking without even touching the victim... Do you have someone in your custody whose wounds match that description?”

The nurse didn’t speak and merely stared down at her twiddling fingers; deep in thought about God knows what. She was testing Hira’s patience, but would she'd use this carelessness against her. Sasagani connected to her head and instantly recreating the environment in her mind, Hira slipped her thumb and index finger into her cleavage and the retrieved the wad of cash. Counting out five bills and tossing them on the woman’s desk, Hira’s serious tone continued as she spoke. “Now you have a reason to tell us.” In an instant, the woman glimpsed up and grabbed the money, counting it before the twosome before pocketing it. Breaking Sasagani before the nurse returned her attention to the two intruders, she spoke aloud for Tosatsu to hear as well. “Third floor, room 309. Name is Satoru... and thanks for the cash. I would’ve told you anyway, seeing as I dumped him three nights later anyway,” she shrugged, clearly pleased at her victory and continuing with her desk work.

“And we would’ve entered regardless. I’m surprised you two aren’t together, seeing as you’re both so easy to cheat out of a little cash,” Hira spoke mockingly, smirking as she gently pushed herself off the counter and walked towards the elevators. As they lingered around for the elevator to reach their floor, Hira spoke out to answer any questions he might’ve had. “Yes, I used the technique on her that I used on you. Did you honestly think I was going to simply give away your hard earned money to a woman like that? Yeah. Right.” As the steel doors opened to allow entrance, Hira walked ahead of Tosatsu, but turned around a second later and stared gravely into his eyes. “If you ever tell anyone what you heard today, you’ll be in trouble. That never happened, got it?”

Age : 30 Posts : 311

Puzzled.

It would have been the polite thing to imitate a cough rather than cackling outright, but Tosatsu had never understood the finer aspects of social interactions, nor did he respect them. The amount of energy people wasted saving face in a society that constantly humiliated them utterly baffled the man and he refused to encourage such falsities by playing along. Thus, as Hira initially floundered like a gaping fish when her promiscuity was called to the front lines by a nurse with far too much makeup plastered upon her face to be remotely attractive, the chūnin couldn’t help the loud guffaws that made up the background noise to their catfight.

It was no surprise to the sealer that his companion would be capable of stealing a slab of meat from this particular hyena, but it did make him wonder if she appreciated the form of a man that a woman like that could attract. He would never go as far as to set Hira upon a pedestal simply because she was more intelligent than most people that invaded his life, especially considering he saw humanity as next to useless, but he did hold her at a higher standard than most. She was beautiful, something the two of them had mutually accepted, which meant that she had the ability to catch virtually any straight man within her dangerous web of sexuality. This asset, or assets if he wished to be sly, were impressive but it made him wonder what one needed to catch her attention. He thought he’d be rather disappointed if it turned out to be a large head rather than two.

He’d have to remember to ask her later.

As the squawking subsided, Tosatsu finally troubled himself with blanketing his laughter when he felt a subtle shift in chakra. He was no sensor nin, but the initiation of a jutsu that he had once been put under by the very same female who was weaving it now set his teeth on edge. Glancing at his companion, he watched as the nurse appeared to count non-existent bills, silently wondering why she would use her techniques on a mere civilian rather than paying her with the money he had gone about acquiring for this specific reason. Cocking his head to the side, he remained silent – it would be rather counter-productive if he broke the logic of the jutsu by questioning it in front of the victim – and simply waited for Hira to play her strategy out.

Once the location of their witness was released, Tosa could barely contain the itching sensation to move. Quick on the blonde’s heels, the shinobi followed her to the elevator, his eyes crinkling with amusement at her hostile tone. Someone was a little flustered. Stepping into the contraption that reminded him of one too many horrible B-Rated horror films, the man stated offhandedly as they began their ascent to the third floor, “Mah, Hira-chan. Would you think me so tactless as to bring up the past? It simple wouldn’t do to speak of such an embarrassing encounter with mixed company. I do have to ask though: what was it like with your hands down his pants?”

Whistling a jaunty tune as he stepped out of the elevator, the mischievous smile still present on his lips, he didn’t bother investigating the look upon her face. It was far too easy to ruin a good joke by giving in to the temptation to witness the fallout, so he busied himself with finding the room the nurse had indicated – besides, it was far more enjoyable to imagine her gobsmacked expression. Giggling gleefully under his breath like a mental patient, Tosatsu finally spotted the coveted door and pulled the hanging chart from its home in order to analyze the prognostic. Brow furrowing as he contemplated the description of injuries, the man found himself at a loss as he read the medical jargon and the hypothesis that the examiner had left for the cause of injury. It seemed that from their perspective, many of the injuries were unfounded as the stated weapon had been a pair of brass knuckles that should have broken bone or bludgeoned, rather than slicing away with scalpel like qualities.

The doctor had also noted the possibility of head trauma as the patient was adamant that no contact came to them and yet they had been brought in with multiple cuts that clearly spoke differently. Unsure with how to proceed, the patient, or Itakai, Yoshiro, was being held under close observation. Clicking his tongue, Tosatsu’s mind reeled with the new, albeit, incomplete information. It still did not make sense that the man could be injured thusly with something that appeared to be brass knuckles. Considering that he had a set of his own, and specialized in close-combat weaponry, the sealer knew something smelt fishy. Originally, he had thought that perhaps the combat style described in the Bingo Book had been faulty and that this bandit was a master of close combat, futon-based ninjutsu, but this medical examination stated something else entirely. Tosatsu himself was no eijutsu shinobi genius, but he understood the mechanics of a chakra scalpel, or weapons that channeled such energy.

Perhaps…

Pursing his lips, the man handed the report over wordlessly to his companion before stating anything. He’d rather hear the woman’s perspective first, before biasing hers with his own. Waiting impatiently, he peered into the patient’s room, hoping to see an awakened face so that they could question him. Opening the door just so, he was about to slip his head in when the the sound of an approach had him carefully withdrawing a kunai from his back pouch and retreating. Looking over, he watched the indignant approach of a man that he could only assume worked at the hospital. As he neared, Tosatsu peered at his ID card and a warm light filled his eyes as he recognized the name to be the one matching their witness’s tending physician.

“And what do you think you’re doing? That’s privileged information.”

Planting a look of distraught upon his features, Tosatsu reached out towards the civilian doctor in a desperate fashion, “Oh, Doctor! You’re finally here. I am Yoshi-kun’s cousin and this is his sister. Is he going to be alright?”

The man looked shrewdly at them for a moment, not trusting the bottle of sake or their perusal through his files in the slightest. If they had been true family, he was sure that the nurse at the desk would have notified him immediately considering that Itakai-san’s condition was not the best. Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, Tosatsu immediately knew that such an act was not going to work with the clinical doctor. Immediately dropping the façade, he moved in carefully, closing the distance between the two in a hopefully nonthreatening manner, all the while speaking in a carefree tone, “Doc, we don’t want trouble. But the man that did this? Yeah, we’re huntin’ him and we’d like to know your medical opinion about the encounter.”

Seizing up at the mention of hunting someone as strange as the man that had done the injuries to Itakai-san, the doctor immediately found his heart thumping uncomfortably in his throat. Backing away slightly, it was becoming alarmingly obvious that the people he was dealing with weren’t civilians. They could probably do as much damage as that other guy had done to his patient, or worse. Forcing himself to calm down, the doctor could not entirely rid himself of the frightened panic that was flooding forth from his eyes that the hunter immediately capitalized on. The man was far too scared to be useful, Tosatsu thought, and knowing how silly civilians could be with their screaming and pleas, the nin figured it would probably be best to put the man out of his misery. He probably wouldn’t be able to give them much more aside from his report, anyway. Moving in swiftly, he grasped the fleeing doctor’s jacket, tugging him close before slamming the blunt end of his kunai down over his right temple. The man fell boneless into arms where Tosatsu then abandoned him in a nearby utility closet.

Coughing lightly as he replaced his kunai, the shinobi looked over to his partner only to note that she had already slipped into the room during his confrontation with the doctor. Miffed once again by her lack of attention, the man stiffly entered the room, noting with hot sarcasm, "We need to work on your cover stories. No one believes that we could ever be anything but lovers."

Posts : 40

He was never going to let her live this down.

A glared glimpse over her shoulder and a scoff resonated in the miniscule elevator space, although hints of a restrained chuckle were evident, as she concealed the humor found in his statement. The situation in itself was laughable, if not only for Hira’s initial reaction to being called out and reacting thusly in an unhinged manner. Rarely did Hira linger on irrelevant frustrations, especially when she was the focal point, but traveling with rather entertaining company solved the trivial issue much quicker. For this reason, Hira preferred companionship with Tosatsu, particularly because he made her laugh at the most inappropriate of times. What fun would it be otherwise?

Exiting the ride unscathed by his quips and mischievous smirk, Hira retained a smug look of her own, ridding herself of a previously irked façade. Turning to Tosatsu and shrugging dramatically, she replied jokingly, “Unfulfilling, if you must know. But, now I must inquire what it’s like to have your hands down every other person’s pants in Kumogakure?”

Following the hall of ascending room numbers, the twosome arrived at room 309. Tosatsu immediately gripped the patient’s chart and examined it before handing it off to his partner, who just as swiftly read through the medical jargon. It was hardly a sob story of imminent death due to a terminal disease or physical abuse from a supposed lover. This man was, quite literally, sliced and diced and on the edge of death. His doctor planned a surgery for later in the day to reconstruct several of his punctured organs and according to their prognosis, hoped to discover any further injuries and an explanation to his mysterious lacerations.

Hira rubbed her temple while sorting through the possibilities, and although she speculated medical ninjutsu, it was clear that this was not the case. He was proficient in weaponry, thus controlled his knuckles in such a fashion to serrate his victims. Sighing annoyedly and placing the board back on the door hook, Hira knew staring at a sheet of paper with botched handwriting would never reveal the answer; the patient was their gateway to the perpetrator. Witnessing Tosatsu talk to his physician, Hira quietly entered the room alone, meandering towards the young man and pulling up a chair beside his bed. Sitting and leaning towards the young man, he struggled to meet her gaze and turn his head, causing Hira to inch closer to his bedside to ease his exertion.

Exhaling dejectedly, even Hira channeled the man’s pain as his body wearily moved to face the curious woman in his room. She didn’t know what to say. Motioning to speak, Hira was lost in thought and translation, while guilt streamed through her body at the mere appearance of Yoshiro. As he sat on the fence of life and death, Hira achingly reminisced of the battle against her uncle, of staring death in the face and narrowly escaping to return to Kumogakure. However unfortunate her survival was, Hira prayed this man’s burdens would come to an end. Perhaps he would be as lucky as she.

“Itakai, Yoshiro.. My name is Hira. I’ve been traveling with my partner,” Hira specifically turned to eye Tosatsu after his comment about being lovers before continuing, “... Tosatsu. We’re both ninja and have come a long way to search for the man who attacked you. Is there anything you can tell us about him? What he looks like? The weapon he used to harm you?”

Silence occupied the room while Yoshiro turned to his left, eyeing a cup of water and straining to reach it. His arm trembled through the struggle and Hira witnessed his pained wincing as he pulled at his stitches. Pushing herself up from the chair, Hira seized the glass first and leaned over the young man’s bed to assist in his endeavor. Despite his attempts to retrieve the glass from her grip, she shook her head and spoke softly but firmly, “No, let me do it. Relax.” Pressing the edge to his lips and tipping the glass slowly, Yoshiro quenched his thirst until Hira set the empty cup beside him again.

“Thank you, Hira-san... I’ve been trying to reach that stupid glass for an hour,” he chuckled lightly, although coughing moments later from the strain in his abdomen. “It’s my pleasure, but, please, don’t feel the need to overdo it. As I said before, we’re here for information, so if you wouldn’t mind telling us what you know, we’ll be on our way.” Hira returned to her seated position, but still leaned in close to prevent any further stress on his part.

The young man nodded affirmatively, yet focused heavily above him, as if recollecting his thoughts of the previous night. His tired, hoarse voice was just loud enough to hear. “I’d gone to Domo’s Bar to drink and gamble a little with my friends. I live with my father and mother, who’s been sick for the past year now.. I usually scrounge up some extra money by playing with the locals, but last night, a young man about my age showed up. He was... a scruffy looking fellow. Blue hair, pretty tall... just barely hitting six feet and around a hundred and seventy pounds. He was in good shape, you could tell. He joined our game, and when he’d lost a couple rounds well.. the alcohol must’ve gotten to him. He aimed for my best buddy and I jumped in front to defend him, and we got into a fight. You can guess how that turned out, huh?” Yoshiro stopped from a sudden urge to cough, which caused him to grab his abdominals in discomfort. Hira moved uncomfortably about her chair, restraining herself from summoning a nurse to deliver him more pain medication.

Awaiting his coughing fit to end, Hira sighed quietly to herself at the mention of Domo’s– how did the old man’s bar always attract the unstable ones? Returning her attention to Yoshiro, her soft voice inquired further. “And what about the weapon? What did it look like? It supposedly never touched you, yet you’re completely mangled. What happened during that fight, Yoshiro?” Staring at them incredulously, it was evident he was too frightened to explain himself, as not even his physician or nurses believed his story. Hira merely nodded towards him in confidence, and upon dropping his gaze, continued on.

“They didn’t touch me. I’m no ninja, but I know how to avoid a punch. With all my attempts to dodge him, he still always hits me... those damn knuckles. They had a jagged edge on the side to cut people up, but it never touched me, I know that for a fact... It’s as if was able to extend the blade, but not. Do you know what I mean?” Hira promptly turned towards Tosatsu, as they’d both begun to fit the uneven puzzle pieces together. This Eji manipulated his chakra through the blades to extend his reach, similarly to how Hira augmented her own genjutsu with Sasagani, although with completely adverse effects. She understood that chakra conductive weapons were capable of such an enhancement, but she’d leave further explanations to Tosatsu, who’d been the weapons expert in their little troupe.

Standing up and grasping the roll of money between her breasts, she tossed the cash onto his bed before turning to leave with Tosatsu. Astonished at her random act of kindness, he spoke out in retaliation, but was promptly cut off by the blonde. “You need money for your mother right? Not to mention your surgery and hospital bills.. So, keep it. We won’t need it anymore. Think of it as thanks for the information, if nothing else.” Shifting her attention to Yoshiro once more, the blonde woman smiled slightly before retiring from his room and returning to the elevator. Walking closely alongside Tosatsu, she conveyed her eagerness to leave the hospital, her tone solemn, but rushed. “Domo’s Bar is only a few blocks away. I know the owner, so he’ll be more than willing to give us whatever information we need... and don’t be upset about the money. If we need any more, we can sell your hooker necklace around the corner. He needed it more than we do.”

Age : 30 Posts : 311

Would you Like to Play a Game?

The uncomfortable sensation of unease rioted within the confines of his organ, creating waves of stomach acid that sloshed around unhelpfully. Feeling a particularly hard flip, the chūnin inwardly lurched, ordering his lungs into slow, controlled inhales and exhales to steady the uneasiness that settled deep within his belly. Licking his lips as carbon dioxide made his nostrils flare slightly, the sealer could not help the smile that spread his mouth daringly wide as Itakai continued to speak to his attractive partner. It probably looked rather perturbing that he was practically giddy with happiness whilst the poor guy was speaking about being sliced and diced like a good slab of meat should, but Tosatsu couldn’t be bothered with propriety – his insatiability had been activated.

Inwardly salivating as the man described the run-in with Eji, the panther’s mind went into overdrive as he attempted to assess the multiple possibilities all at once. Like his initial hypothesis suggested, Itakai was not delusional when he told his doctor that he was struck by enhanced knuckles instead of a sharp object. Even if it had been some sort of knife, Tosatsu would bet his genin team – which really wouldn’t be that much of a loss, now that he thought about it - that it would have had to have been a scalpel which was hardly something someone would mistake in the midst of a close encounter. Considering that he had not seen it either, it ruled out the possibility of a chakra scalpel as they, more oft than not, required enough chakra focused into them to make them visible. Thus, his only option left was to extrapolate the information from both the victim and the Bingo Book which led him to the conclusion that what they were dealing with was a weapon that had the potential to channel chakra. And not only was it chakra conductive, but that Eji must have decent chakra control as well to thinly cover the weapon whilst maintaining the shape.

Tosatsu was practically frothing at the mouth over such a challenge.

Eying the weary patient as Hira proceeded to give him all of their bribing money, he couldn’t help but assess him clinically like he would a tactical fighter. Most of his body was hidden beneath a layer of sheets, but the muscled physique of a man attuned to hard labour was evident in the fullness of his shoulders and the sleek planes of his collarbone. Tosatsu would never go as far as to call him attractive as weak individuals were undesirable, but he figured that on equal ground where he was not a shinobi, that this man would have put up a decent fight. Knowing this, made the chūnin all the more weary of this Eji-person who flattened Itakai into the dirt. It was exciting to know that this young kid not only had a desirable weapon, but some potential skill as well.

A victory was far more enjoyable when beating a worthy opponent, after all.

Nodding his head in a silent good-bye, Tosatsu left the room behind the rather defensive Hira as she spouted off her reasoning for having such a weak heart. It did not bother him that she had handed over his funds so easily, but it reminded him that although they were similar, she was a far weaker person than he. Emotions were useless and a hindrance to logic, and the fact that she had given Itakai their money displayed her inability to remain objective to their mission – traits that were highly undesirable in a ninja. Keeping his ill-thoughts to himself, however, the panther merely cocked a brow instead, speaking lightly as they entered the elevator to return to the main floor, “Your kindness does nothing but harden my resolve to be an emotionless bastard all the more, Hira-chan.”

Still in possession of the sake, the two exited the horrible, claustrophobic device with Tosatsu smiling at Hira’s deadpanned face before shoving her forward unceremoniously to take the lead, “I don’t know where we’re goin’, sunshine.”

Whistling as he followed, the man continued to eye their surroundings with a clinical stare as they walked towards their next destination. Domo, it seemed, was a man that seemed to have his fingers in many proverbial pies. After their initial introduction by Hira, the chūnin bowed respectively to the elder as the man spoke kindly to his female counterpart. It was obvious that the allusion the blonde had hinted at was a more meaningful relationship than he expected. The friendliness between the two of them spoke of long conversations of secrecy and companionship that he had yet to experience with anyone. Tosatsu was not touched enough to feel jealousy, but this closeness intrigued him – what had Hira been doing in Fire Country?

Naturally, his insatiable need for information pleaded for him to remain silent and hopefully learn more about his mysterious colleague, but the urgency to track down the ever-moving Eji was a harder sensation to ignore. Coughing lightly, the man nudged Hira away from Domo so he could occupy his space and spoke directly to the busy shop owner, “Ah, Domo-sama. Hira-san was recently telling me that you have the best mind around here when it comes to faces. You see, we’re trying to track down the bastard that stained your floorboards red a few days ago. He had blue hair, was a gangly fellow standin’ around six feet…?”

The bar owner furrowed his brow for a moment in deep thought before his old mind made the necessary connections and he snapped his fingers, “Yes, I remember that night. We thought the poor Itakai-san wasn’t going to make it after that blue-haired man finished with him. What an interesting weapon that one had. It was like he wasn’t even touching him, yet blood was splattering left and right around the place.”

Momentarily lost in the memory, Tosatsu coughed discretely once again.

Domo looked at him oddly before continuing, “You should get that throat checked out, son. I hear honey does wonders for something like that. But, back to my story. After Yoshiro-san was taken to the hospital, the man stuck around long enough to chat up a naïve lady and invite her back to his room at the ‘Barking Dog Inn’ before he left. Haven’t seen him since then, but I hear some of the ninnies talkin’ about a foreigner living out of the hotel, right now.”

Nodding, Tosatsu threw him an eighty-watt smile before bestowing the chatty owner with the premium sake, “We appreciate all your help, Domo-sama. Please take this as a token of our thanks.”

Finished with the necessary praise, the shinobi turned his attention back to Hira with an expectant look upon his face. Since their arrival in Fire Country, the woman seemed to know the layout of their target’s current location alarmingly well and this was yet another opportunity for her to showcase this ability. Not one to disappoint, the Raikage’s bodyguard easily pointed them in the right direction and they once again set off at a brisk pace. It was unlikely that the man was still at the inn; Tosa was not stupid enough to believe that Lady Luck would gift him so, but he kept his eyes open as they traversed the distance. He was abnormally quiet as he scanned their surroundings, watching with a smoldering excitement as the ‘Barking Dog’s’ sign loomed closer. It didn’t really make sense that one’s sight was enhanced by the lack of audio distraction, but the man adhered to the silence diligently as they neared the building, only to release a quick ‘whoop’ when he noted blue hair and a body matching the vague description given by Itakai emerge from the hotel.

“Kami, whose panties do I need to drop for this small mercy?”

Looking quickly at Hira with a sly smile that snuck upon his lips before he could help it, the man chuckled darkly before speaking, “Can you stalk him alone and confirm his ID? I need to go back for my scrolls if we want this to be a fair fight, and I figured that you had experience with following men like a cute, little puppy.”

The jab was obviously directed at her subservient position to the Raikage, but he figured he didn’t need to spell it out for her. Instead, he retrieved his earpiece and mic, told her the appropriate channel, then slipped into the crowd, leaving Hira alone with their potential target.

Tosa was ready for the kill.

-Exit Search Thread. Target Acquired.-

Posts : 40

Cold-hearted bastard, huh? Hira chuckled sarcastically at such a comment, rolling her eyes at the serious tone in his voice. Walking into the elevator with him and eyeing him seriously, she replied, “It was hardly a kindness. Sounds like you have a lot more of the world to see than when you're around me. You’d see real kindness... and real evil.” Stepping out of the elevator – or rather, being forced out, Hira shot an irked glare before continuing on and leading him to the Domo’s bar.

To say she felt nostalgic being in the bar again would be inappropriate. Rather, uneasiness settled in her stomach, her eyes darting between the tables as visions of poker and drinking took the places of the current occupants. Cheating, lying, and at points straight out stealing from the unfortunate men and women who dared take a chance against the woman who could change their cards in a second... It was humorous to her, and even being chased out of these places she still never regretted a moment. She earned her money fair and square... even if it was under malicious circumstances. Tough luck for them. Upon seeing Domo, Hira heralded him and hugged the old man. Taking several moments to reminisce about the past and how he managed to keep his back bar space empty from any other doomed souls, Tosatsu jumped in and questioned about their adversary. Just as Hira expect, Domo had all the answers they sought, and more.

The Barking Dog in was just around the corner – less than a brief walk down strip and the flashing lights in the middle of noon blocked out their vision even more than the blazing sunlight. Upon their arrival, as if by luck, Eji meandered out of the hotel and into their peripheral view – blue hair, tall, muscular, young. “Hopefully neither of ours...” Walking forward, she reared her head to Tosatsu and nodded, smirking back at his jest. “Well, while I don’t see myself as the real professional here, I suppose I could take your place this one time..”

Opening her pouch from her make-shift pocket inside her jumpsuit, she took out the ear-piece radio and turned to the correct channel. Once Tosa retrieved his scrolls, she’d give him her exact position and connect with him through telepathy once they got closer. It was essential to reserve her chakra before facing this man, and coordinating with her partner through their minds would make him all the more confused.

Snaking through the crowd was simple, as long as she kept her distance and an eye on his hair. Sasagani would have to come into use later when they were closer – she couldn’t risk missing him in this congested street and losing him to the sea of people. For now, she’d bide her time and wait for Tosatsu’s appearance when they reunited.
[Exit Topic]