Stowaway [Travel]

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

[Travelling to Hi no Kuni - The Fire Country].

Although currently unable to watch as she sailed away from Tsuki no Kuni, Uriko was most certainly glad to see the back of it. She had warmed to neither the town or the people, both having been too heavily invested in the tourist trade to establish a true community. Each tradesman and every business was out to make as much capital as they possibly could, shamelessly prostrating their meagre offerings to every traveller who looked well-financed. In fact, it reminded the kunoichi of the criminal underworld, and so the distaste that had settled so unpleasantly on her mouth as she thought about the island came as somewhat of a surprise. It wasn't the dog-eat-dog nature at all that bothered her - survival of the fittest was a fine concept in Uriko's mind - no, it was that everything was so... false. Shops peddled overpriced merchandise under claims that could not be true, salesmen spun lies as they slimed their way into a potential benefactor's purse and even the tour guides glossed up their trade for a few extra coins. Nukenin were cutthroat, yes, but at the very least they tended to be honest about it. Reputation was everything to a criminal for hire: those who killed but hid it were fools; those who lied about their prowess were found out and 'reprimanded'; but those who did kill and did speak of it were sought after. Though as Uriko had learned many years ago, once your reputation was beyond questioning, it was wise to let someone else be the talk of the town. The attention it attracted was not always beneficial.

Fortunately for the disillusioned woman, her brief stay on the island had been rather productive. Three like-minded individuals recruited to the cause. A promising start to the kunoichi's campaign, with many more stops to make before she finally embarked on the journey to Yuki no Kuni. The young Inuzuka girl, who had been so quiet throughout, had accepted the invitation without hesitation. The boys, of the Noroi and the Yamanaka, had been a little trickier (for different reasons) but had both agreed to attend the summit. The latter, Fugaku, the woman had just left behind. The guards at Getsugakure's main dock had been investigating the disturbances the pair had caused, so she had had to leave somewhat promptly. This more than anything, had led to her current predicament. Stuck below deck on the Kinmaru, Uriko had snuck on board and was now suffering because of a poor, forced decision. The planks surrounding the woman creaked and the vessel lurched forward with the tide. "Ugh." Uriko muttered with disdain, the noise muffled by the cloth that had been pulled across her body. To keep from alerting the crew to her presence, but also to fend off the cold that came from the sea spray and fierce winds. The ship's hold was filled with produce crates, stacked high but firmly. The woman could tell that these were fresh items, as one or two had soured during transportation and the smell managed to fight past the mustiness and the clammy damp to take the forefront of Uriko's current olfactory experience. Thick oak planks that had been bound tightly together seemed formidible enough to keep out the tidal assault, but they didn't make for an altogether comfortable ride. All told, the kunoichi was not happy.

Travelling to the mainland however, she knew that this voyage had to be discrete - no demanding passage at blade-point, no stealing a small vessel for her own, and certainly no murders. Even if she was frustrated. Thud. Something stiffer than water collided with the hull of the ship outside. Glancing around cautiously, it was some time before Uriko accepted that there was no threat of a leak. A small part of her was quietly disappointed.