Bloody Politics [Mission, Open]

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

Mission Info:

Spoiler:

Travel Link: here

When Toshiro had left Konoha for his latest mission he had thought that the plan the higher-ups in the village had concocted to go with it a bit too risky. Now eight days later he was convinced - the plan really had been stupid. He had gotten to the spot he was supposed to meet the courier a day early only to find that the courier had gotten there even earlier and while waiting had gotten the bad side of the towns corrupt mayor and his bullyboy "constables". A mayor who not only demanded a massive bribe to let the courier go but had already gone through the man's pouch of messages. Naturally Toshiro hadn't taken that well and the ensuing "discussion" had removed any chance of solving the matter peacefully (not that the jounin made much of an effort to do so). In the end the snow-haired chuunin had been required to do what he did best - hacking people into chum and leaving the rest in need of new underwear - to get things done. The results had left him quite pleased: the courier out of his cell (without a ryo spent) to do his part of the plan, one corrupt official and his assorted underlings safely in pieces, an entire town throwing one heck of a party to celebrate, and after all that he still managed to leave an hour or so earlier. So why was Toshiro upset?

Because from that point on his entire trip had gone downhill. The chill & dry weather that had kept the paths he was taking dry had been abruptly replaced with warmer and wet, leaving him to slough through mud, mud, and even more mud. Did I mention that the mud was still well-below any temperature that would be considered remotely comfortable? That not only slowed him down a bit but made for some very uncomfortable nights as he had to dry his footgear and feet out lest what was known as "trench foot" set in. Eventually he had gotten so sick of wet feet that he had detoured to the closest village and after almost half a day lost found a cobbler who had been able to close off the toes in his boots. That problem solved and going cross-country to avoid the oceans of mud that were called "roads", the jounin had just started thinking that things were improving when the rug was pulled out from under that notion. Or in this case the bridge. Arriving with nearly a day to spare he had reached edge of the ravine that marked the border between the nations of Fire and River only to find a work crew clearing away what was left of the bridge he had planned to use. A bridge, among the casualties of a flash-flood, that had been the most direct route to the clients lands in the south of River Country. That had left Toshiro going another half-day out of his planned route to find another crossing point, and wait in line for the other half as the quartet of border guards, who normally saw maybe a dozen travelers in a month, dealing with several dozen people a day needing to use their crossing.

After what felt like forever Toshiro had finally got through the border into River Country, a process sped up slightly by a promise to deliver a note nearly begging for some more border guards at the first town he came across. A note that was already winging its way to the closest settlement courtesy of his summon since the jounin truly felt sorry for the guards. Not only did they have to pull 18 hour or longer shifts just to keep pace with all the paperwork and inspections required by the sudden influx, but they had to deal with traders and travelers whose tempers had already been frayed by the detour being required to wait still longer. After all that, the white haired Leaf-nin wasn't surprised that he was a day late. Even running through the night had only kept him from being even later, at the price of being tired, cranky, and with blood splotching his clothes courtesy of a highwayman with more greed than sense. So it was with a mix of relief and irritation that he crested one last hill and the wall, central building, and gate of the estate where the clan his client was a part of resided came into view. 'Finally, maybe the rest will go better.'

Toshiro: 185 CP

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

That hope that things might finally improve on this assignment proved a vain one as no sooner had the jounin approached the small bridge that spanned the oxbow lake that formed a natural moat around estate than the two guards at the gate on the other side noticed him. Any good opinion such might have gained the pair (since a proper guard in Toshiro's opinion should have seen him as soon as he crested that hill) was taken back as soon as the taller of the two opened his mouth. "Halt! Vagrants aren't welcome here." To emphasis their point the pair moved their spears to cross over the gate in what was obviously meant to be a gesture of denial and intimidation. In the face of that, it took a great deal of his self-control for Toshiro to not bury his face in his palm. Despite the chuunin vest and forehead protector with the Hidden Leaf emblem on the later being very openly displayed, these two country bumpkins thought he was a vagrant? Another day he might have tried counting their toes to see if they had a few extra* to determine if their apparent lack of intelligence was genetic or the result of being dropped on their heads a few hundred times when little. There was also the matter of how the pair thought they could actually stop him from getting into the estate. Oh sure they looked impressive and might have been able to take down a farmer, but that was it. Raised around weapons and skilled uses of such implements, Toshiro could spot dozens of holes that screamed out "hit me here" that was very clearly not faked.

In the face of such a "greeting", the jounin found himself tallying up his options. Some might have tried to reason with the guards or pushed through on the strength of their having a reason to be there and leaving the client to deal with matters. Toshiro however figured that these yokels were in sore need of having their ego's burst, and with the client indicating a low opinion of her family's guards, he doubted she would raise a fuss if he gave them a much-needed dose of perspective. One eyebrow raised as if in curiosity, Toshiro's voice was mild and low as if asking someone to explain something mundane again. "Vagrant?" Before either guard to speak a word in reply the snowy Leaf-nin seemed to vanish from their vision before there made to kiss the ground courtesy two palm strikes to the upper back. Wits rattled by the blows the two guards didn't notice that the katana's sheathed at their waists had been appropriated - until those swords were slammed into the ground fractions of an inch beyond their noses with enough force to bury the blades more than halfway into the hard-packed earth. Reality harshly reasserted itself when the sharp snap that accompanied steel breaking announced that both swords had been broken at the hilts from being deliberately subjected to the sort of abrupt twisting that swordsmen were taught to never do for just that reason. Both guards at the point looked up and saw a sight that would give them nightmares for the rest of their lives. Towering over them with the rising sun casting a harsh light on his features, Toshiro looked more like some wrathful god of war at that point than a tired and irritable jounin of one of the major villages. Even the fact that said jounin had just insulted them in the most offensive way one could insult a swordsman, by deliberately breaking their weapon, didn't register on the pair who were too busy trying to not have bladder-related accidents. What did register were the words that the jounin spoke as he bent down. "I suggest that in the future you use those eyeballs in your head for more than ogling chambermaids. I am here at the request of Lady Ayeka to the Hidden Leaf. Another day and I would have slit your bellies and let you try to put your insides back into place for your lack of manners. Since I'm feeling generous consider this your first, and only, warning." Pausing to see that both guards were giving him their full attention, he grinned like a shark as he finished. "Give me a reason, no matter how small, and I'll spread your innards from here to the doorstep."

With that the jounin stood up and walked through the open gates wearing the blank expression that some called a "game face". Inwardly he was already smirking as he could imagine the hackles that the "prim and proper by-the-book" ninja in Konoha would have when his report hit their desks. Official protocol it wasn't, and it broke quite a few rules about how Leaf-nin should present themselves to the public, but Toshiro didn't care what the higher-ups in Konoha thought about his methods. What he did care about was that he was in a situation where, if the mission request was to be believed, he was badly outnumbered with a civilian to protect against an entire estate full of potential assassins. In such situations a certain reputation for excessive violence was a useful weapon. If the guards were too terrified of him, and he had no doubt that by tonight rumors of "a white-haired ninja who can vanish in plain sight and will kill you for looking at him wrong" would be making the rounds of the barracks, at least overt attacks would be derailed before they could get started. Something that seemed to have already started since he passed quite a few of those guards who apparently recognized what his forehead protector and flak vest meant, or had seen and heard the confrontation at the gate, and decided that discretion was the better part of valor.

That left the wide path between the gate and the largest building in the estate, which Toshiro took to be the clan head and his immediate families living quarters, clear of potential obstacles. The building itself wasn't the most impressive one he had seen, three stories tall assuming he counted the windows right with the upper two floors the traditional plaster while the lower floor looked to be local stone. Ascending the dozen steps to the front door which was flanked by another pair of guards, he wasn't surprised when this pair also tried to stop him by once again crossing their spears over the door before the elderly porter could ask his business. This time he simply lashed out with an open right palm into the shaft of one guard's spear where it crossed over his chest with enough force to knock it into the guard and the guard into the wall while his left foot did the same to the other guard. What he hadn't expected was to see the old porter who was wearing what might have been a "civi" version of the Suna chuunin uniform with the empty left sleeve pinned up grin smugly and chuckling as he looked at the two guards trying to get their breath back before turning to look the jounin dead in the eyes. "I assume, at least by how you dealt with those two pretenders and the two at the gate, that you're the assistance Konoha sent. If you'll follow me I'll show you to her." Without further delay the old man turned around and opened the pair of doors with his one arm then gestured for Toshiro to enter first. Giving the pair of guards just struggling to their feet a dismissive snort, the jounin did just that and the two doors were closed again before the porter started down the hallway that seemed to take up the majority of the center of the building.

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

'So much money, so little taste' was the thought that summarized Toshiro's opinion of the buildings owners based on what he saw. Everywhere the jounin looked there was some expensive and over-blown (though he would have called it tacky) item, and the flagrant displays of wealth made one of his eyebrows twitch violently. What really rubbed the ninja wrong were the in-your-face way the wealth was displayed and especially the weapons and suits of armor. For someone who had been raised to respect the implements of battle as one would respect your own body, the sight of swords and pole arms of all types along with suits of armor all rendered useless if not hazardous to the user by the sheer amount of gaudy decoration on them was blasphemous. Something that the oppressive choice of crimson carpeting and dark wood made all the more apparent and even a person like Toshiro, whose gave interior decorators nightmares, could say that whoever chose the decor had absolutely no ability without being a hypocrite. An opinion that must have been apparent in Toshiro's expression or body language (although how the porter could tell with his back to the jounin was a mystery) as the old man's next words were spoken as if in response to the ninja's thoughts.

"I know. The master is from a family of wealthy merchants but fancied himself a soldier. His first wife, Ayeka-san's mother, was the one who had martial blood and skill. I still can't understand what she saw in him that she stayed despite his philandering but she did until sickness took her abruptly one night." For just a moment Toshiro could have sworn he saw something like anger in the way the old man held himself, then it was masked by the friendly but professional air from before. "She was also the one with sense. Sadly her replacement lacked more than looks along with a pedigree and the result is this... abomination. When Ayeka takes over the leadership one of the first thing she intends is to have most of this sold at auction, melted down, or used for firewood." It wasn't until the older man stopped to straighten out one of the pictures that lined the hallway that the jounin realized that the porter hadn't said if but when. As if the results were a foregone conclusion, something that piqued his curiosity since the mission had implied a tenuous situation at best. "Don't you mean if she takes the leadership?"

Whatever Toshiro had been expecting, it wasn't for the old man to chuckle as he turned from his task back to the jounin. "Oh no sir. When. I have every confidence that Ayeka will be selected. Unless her older brother chooses to step up she is the only viable choice. Her younger brother takes too much after his mother - Ayeka's step-mother - to be remotely suitable. If it wasn't for the elders having dredged up some old laws about succession that haven't been used in over a century Hikaru-san wouldn't have a chance." Halfway through the mans speech he had gestured for the Leaf-nin to follow him and the pair resumed walking down this seemingly endless hall while the old man continued to chat with the jounin. The subject manner of that chat however was anything but idle conversation, and in the next ten minutes Toshiro learned more about the situation than he had gotten in the briefing at Konoha.

Succession in this clan was normally a matter of a designated heir who was given that position by the previous head taking over when the previous head died or stepped down. However because the current head had not done such before his disease rendered him delirious had voided that system. Its replacement was a convoluted mix of clan law, tradition, and raw politics that left the final choice up to the lord of River Country but with a twist - the clan elders picked the suitable candidates. Suitable in this case being determined by age, ability, and - thanks to the archaic law that one of the elders had dug up - gender. Because of those, and all the usual failings of old men given power, the elders had been divided into four groups. The greatest number, and the ones considered the most power-hungry supported Mori Hikaru, the near-voluptuary youngest son who was little more than his advisors mouthpiece. The second-largest backed Mori Ayeka who was widely considered the most competent, and Konoha’s client, while smallest was collection of hide-bound misogynists who backed Mori Idate - the eldest son who had left the clan to become a monk and sworn to never return - because they couldn’t stomach a younger so or a woman in charge. The fourth group was comprised of the so-called neutrals who had either yet to support a particular candidate (possibly waiting to see who could benefit them the most) or suggested sending all the potential candidates names and letting the daimyo chose. So divided, no one side had been able to muster enough votes to formally select the names to send on and until that happened matters would stay as they were.

At least that was how they would have if each candidate’s backers had stuck with the usual methods. The “neutrals” had simply bided their time, waiting for the current clan head to die as clan law stated that if the position of clan head went unfilled for two weeks then the matter had to be presented to the daimyo for resolution. Ayeka and her backers had asked for assistance from an outside ninja village to preempt the more aggressive moves while engaging in a time-honored combination of politics and smear campaigns to win over some supporters and reduce the number backing the others. Idate’s backers, who were responsible for hiring the guards Toshiro had humiliated earlier, had gone for the more “traditional” route - dredging up ever so-called reason why the “honorable” choice was their candidate on one hand and bolstering the number of guards loyal to them to intimidate the “commoners“ from aiding other candidates on the other. The most worrisome group, at least according to the old porter who seemed to know far more than someone of his position would, was a collection of “bodyguards” that Hikaru’s supporters had hired. According to the old man they were more like a collection of bandits but included several minor missing-nin and their employers were just desperate or ruthless enough to use them to eliminate the other viable candidate.

All together Toshiro was ready to throw his lot in with Ayeka; while the eldest son sounded like a good person, he clearly wanted nothing to do with his family (and for good reasons if the current situation was an example) and would hate being forced to take up the reigns. The youngest son... even without meeting him Toshiro could freely admit to a certain urge to see if having his insides stretched out for several meters improved the fellow any. All together the situation was worse than he had figured but better than he had feared. Further musing was put on hold as the mismatched pair reached a nondescript door that the porter opened and gestured for Toshiro to enter first. No sooner had the jounin done; stepping into sunlight that was blindingly bright after the dark hallway, than the old man spoke with the sort of voice that all butlers and porters seem to develop, announcing to his mistress that someone she was expecting had arrived. “Mistress Ayeka, the assistance Konoha sent in response to your request.” On the heels of that simple fact came something that made the jounin spin around only to find the old man had already shut the door. “Hinamori-san truly lives up to his title of Konoha’s Devil Shark - four of the elders lackeys now realize that they aren’t the biggest fish in the pond.” ‘I didn’t tell him my name... old porter my arse! More like old ninja.’

Turning back to face the person who would be giving him his orders for the immediate future, Toshiro took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the change in light then sized up the room. It was, for lack of better words, a large greenhouse but instead of plants (though they were quite prominent in places) most of it was occupied by an indoor pool. What caught the jounin’s eye was what, or rather, who occupied the area between him and that pool. Kneeling besides a beach chair (incidentally giving the jounin a full view of her well-endowed profile) was a maid in a two-piece bathing suit that would have caused mass casualties via explosive exsanguinations among the male population of any gathering. ”Welcome to my family home, Hinamori-san.” The maid however wasn‘t the source of the voice - that coming from the owner of the arm that set down some drink on the tray the maid held. She wouldn’t have inspired the near-terror that the jounin barely kept from show in his face as recognition of that voice came flooding in. That voice belong to only one person, the purple-haired lady (though Toshiro knew her as “The Witch”) that was had turned around and was giving him a very feline and self-satisfied grin. So much for hoping that after five years she had forgotten about him. ”I told you we were fated see each other again, my beloved.”

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

'What did I do to deserve this' summed up the thought that kept repeating itself in Toshiro's head. He could have dealt with a bratty client, a whiny one, or even one that was utterly inept. Even all three and more bad traits in one he could deal with. It was just his luck that while this client was none of those, she did have the problem of having been one of the girls who had fancied themselves his suitor and had been unusually persistent. Persistent and attractive enough that before Toshiro had met Kimiko the woman currently giving him a look that could only be described as "cat with a cornered canary" had been the only one to get a date from him. That one moment of weakness on Toshiro's part had kept this "purple-haired witch" chasing him for almost three years until he had told her in forceful terms that he never wanted to see her again then left her crying the doorway of the relations she had been staying with in Konoha. At the time he hadn't paid any attention to her wailed words but now they were coming back to haunt him.

Now the jounin understood why there hadn't been a picture of the client among the mission debrief. When the name Mori Ayeka had come up he hadn't thought anything of it - Ayeka wasn't exactly a rare name. Her picture or the name Kesso Ayeka however would have had him refusing the mission outright. Now it was too late to back out, and Toshiro was sure that this witch knew that he was stuck. In her home and as a combination of bodyguard and hired muscle so he would have to be close to her day and night to head off any plots aimed at her. A situation he was sure she wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of just like she no doubt had obviously planned this whole first meeting to happen when she was wearing a swim suit that, while technically proper, left little to the imagination. 'It's official - I'm some kami's personal punching bag.'

Still he was here on an official assignment and his only option was to see it through. So resolved Toshiro squared his shoulders, took a breath to steady his nerves, and put on his best "cold fish professional with no emotions" look. Maybe, just maybe, he could convince her to reconsider whatever plans she had if he was sufficiently abrupt. "Mori-san what happened between us in the past is just that, the past. This is business only and kindly keep it that way." For just a moment it looked like he had succeeded as reddish-brown eyes flashed with anger and hurt as she pulled away, then Ayeka must have recovered because the hurt was soon replaced with something else. Determination. 'Oh shit' summed up Toshiro's thoughts and the expression on the maid's face as the magnitude of just how massive a mistake the jounin had made set in. Her voice might have been sweetly informal but narrowed eyes and the way she abruptly sat up and put on a rather short robe (making sure he got a show the whole time) said she had taken his attempt at getting her to back off as a personal challenge. A challenge she took as, if not more, seriously than her succeeding to being the head of her clan if what she said while putting on said show was to be believed. "Why so formal darling? It could take weeks or even months until this succession is resolved and I specifically asked for your villages help for the full duration. You are going to be here for that time and you might as well enjoy your time here." Said as she sashayed closer Ayeka stopped just shy of Toshiro and stopped just shy of him to whisper "because I have every intention of making you mine Hinamori Toshiro" into his ear before heading out the rooms door.

Shuddering at the mental images the damnable thing known as "male sex drive" brought up at the blatant come-on, as soon as Ayeka was out the door Toshiro let his shoulders slump and drew a shaky breath. Simultaneous to those was a round of self-recriminations for having so badly misjudged just how determined Ayeka was. 'Good going moron. Instead of making her uninterested now she's in full "I always get what I want and I want YOU" mode. Oh, and got her to make it obvious that she is willing to drag this whole mess out just to keep you around longer.' Caught up in that and similar thoughts, he was only vaguely aware that the maid (thankfully now in a robe that was a bit more modest than Ayeka's) had stayed behind and was at his side trying to convey apology and sympathy with a simple "I am really sorry jounin-san." For what she was sorry for the Konoha jounin could only guess as a loud "Hinata! Stop bothering my future husband and get his room ready." sent the woman scrambling out the door. This time Toshiro gave in to the urge and buried his face in his palm. What had seemed like such a nice simple A-rank at first had rapidly gone downhill and he would now officially rate it as "Worst Mission Ever". Taking his face out of his palm and looking up through the glass ceiling, the subject of some deities eternal amusement made a universally offensive gesture at where he imagined the source of his torment was laughing and mouthed "whoever up there is laughing at this... enjoy it. Because as soon as this is done I am going to find your temple then kill your monks, defile your shrine, and piss on your image."

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

Three days had passed since that unexpected and unwanted meeting with his former suitor and for the first time in his life Toshiro was seriously considering just running for it. All because one especially stubborn woman wasn’t taking the hint that he had no interest in her as more than a client.

If he had any doubts about how far Ayeka was willing to go to sink her claws into him, the past days had proven that she was willing to go very far. Having him stand guard each morning while she went for a swim in the pool wasn’t bad (kami bless the ancient ninja who have figured out how to walk on water), but he was very sure that no self-respecting female would wear a bathing suit that... brief in public. Or private for that matter. Toshiro made an honest attempt to not look at Ayeka but he would swear by any deity you cared to name she was deliberately intruding into his field of view. Meal time... well, the jounin would never be able to look at certain foods the same way again thanks to Ayeka’s antics. He was sure that if it wasn’t for the incident when the maid Hinata had opened the door to the merciful small and plain room he had been given to see if he was sleeping well and lost a few hairs to the kunai he habitually kept under his pillow he would have needed to be on guard all hours instead of having a few clones

Those very blatant attempts at seduction had made the actual meetings between the elders which Ayeka, and thus Toshiro, attended a relief for the jounin. Because Ayeka had to dress and act properly during those meetings they were the only time she wasn’t up to something aimed at him. Sadly for the jounin, today was a “rest” day for the entire clan and Ayeka had insisted that her bodyguard accompany her while she went horseback riding. It wasn’t the horses that were the problem. Frankly Toshiro found horses better company than some people - they were less prone to being irrational, had “horse sense”, and were generally useful creatures with a few quirks. No, his problem was that Ayeka had insisted on it being just the two of them for this ride and the glimpse of what she had packed along with the “small lunch” had sent his “ulterior motives” sense screaming red alert. Then there were the concerns he had as a ninja about the whole “all-day ride” bit. If he had been planning her assassination this would represent a golden opportunity. Trying to convince Ayeka of that fact however been futile and even embarrassing - the way she had said “tie me to the bed” when he had asked what would stop her had seen to that. Just to make his humiliation complete she had said that right in front of several servants whose expressions had said that the entire exchange would become local gossip (with many exaggerations) by nightfall.

So here he was in the stables making the final adjustments to the saddle on the dun-colored Morgan horse he had picked out after his client had said that he would be riding with her. He had already made a thorough check of Ayeka’s saddle and other tack for sabotage and found nothing, a delay that had been the only bright spot because it had annoyed “The Witch”. Even more when he had pointedly refused the black-coated walking horse Ayeka had insisted he ride. Sure the beast was impressive, but he had not liked the way it gave him a measuring stare. The last time an equine had done that he had spent several weeks with a broken leg courtesy of getting “cow kicked”. While a far cry from the impressive looks of the walker, this particular horse had been helpful and shown a great a deal more sense. Aspects that if he was going to have to ride, Toshiro wanted in his horse instead of some high-strung bundle of nerves that would buck and bolt at the first hint of trouble.

Strap that held the light saddle, which was basically a pad with stirrups, in place cinched tight Toshiro gave the horse a heavy pat on the withers to warn it before putting a foot in the stirrup and swinging up and onto the creatures back. An action that caused the mare to look back with one eye as if to say “was that really necessary” before she ambled over to stand behind Ayeka’s mount. Ignoring the dark glare the human female threw at him (or maybe it was directed at the horse quiver strapped to his saddle), Toshiro gestured for his client to take the lead. Following behind Ayeka the jounin kept an eye open for anything sufficiently suspicious while ignoring all attempts "The Witch" made to catch his eye. Attempts that might have stopped if she could have read Toshiro's thoughts. Thoughts along the lines of 'I wonder if it counts as treason to be considering offing the client yourself.'

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

It was a good thing for the continued health of one Mori Ayeka that, while thoughts of offing the client weren't technically treason, doing so was. Otherwise her attempts to flirt with her temporary bodyguard could have met with more than a cold silence until she finally gave up in frustration at the jounin's all-business attitude. Which was just fine by Toshiro because his self-control had been sorely frayed as the day wore on. There was only so long someone could focus on searching for non-existent threats with the most dangerous thing (besides his self) that Toshiro had seen since leaving the Mori estate being a fox out hunting rabbits. A sentiment he was pretty sure the horse he was riding shared entirely. The dun stallion had not been pleased when the Ayeka's black mare playfully bumped into him for the fifth time and had made that displeasure known by "accidentally" returning the favor when they had been underneath an overhang that hosted a small waterfall. The ensuing stumble had seen the pair of troublesome females utterly soaked in ice-cold snowmelt and glaring bloody murder at their companions. It had taken considerable self-control on Toshiro's part to not break out laughing at the nearly identical expressions of offended dignity on horse and rider. The dun hadn't been so restrained and had snorted as if to say "can't take it then don't dish it out" before ambling on. After that the ride had improved considerably with both females keeping a respectful distance and giving dark looks instead of "come hither" gestures at the males. The price of that change had been one of Toshiro's trail bars that the dun had flinched from the jounin's hand when he had been distracted by two squirrels chasing each other through a bush. As fees for a respite went it wasn't too bad so the horse had gotten away with just a glare and a mutter that any more would need payment in favors.

What he couldn't shake was the annoying sensation of being watched that had dogged him since reaching the open marsh. With hardly a tree to be seen and the grass not exceptionally tall it should have been almost impossible, at least without the aid of jutsu, to conceal anything lager than a rabbit. Especially with the extra few feet of height being on a horse's back gave him, yet there was no doubt in Toshiro's mind that something or someone was watching the pair. He might have been concerned enough to have called a halt to the day activities if he hadn't already seen his likely opposition. After witnessing the "reformed" missing-nin and bandits who comprised Mori Hikaru's so-called bodyguards during what they considered training, the first thought the jounin had had was along the lines of 'failures'. The idea of that bunch willingly taking the extra effort to set up an ambush in terrain so open just to lull him into a false sense of security when there was a whole forest closer was ludicrous. Something like that would require being too far from the nearest bottle of sake or chambermaid for that lot. He briefly considered, and promptly discarded, the possibility that someone had hired serious ninja to try something. Based on the accounts of the various elders they were either too obsessed with their own warped view of honor or simply cheap to spend that kind of money. In the end he put the feeling of being watched down to a wary poacher or large predator such as a bobcat hiding among the taller grass further out or maybe a ninja from whatever minor village or clan claimed this area if any existed.

Semi-lost in thought, but not so much that he wasn't on guard, Toshiro snapped back to the now when his mission objective (he found thinking about Ayeka like that helped keep his composure) shouted his name. At some point while he was lost in thought she had stopped her mount and must have slipped out the scroll he had seen her pack into one of the saddlebags. If his biggest regret about Mori Ayeka had been the one date he had had with her almost a decade ago, a close second now was showing her the very basic's of sealing something. If he hadn't done that then maybe the horrifying reality in front of him would have remained just a nightmare. Blanket? Check. Basket? Check. Ayeka on said blanket sporting an I-know-you-won't-say-no smile? Check three times and add another check for sheer misery. "Come on Toshiro-kun, I know you're sore from the ride. Let me help work those kinks out." Add one very blatant come-on to the mix as well. As if the words weren't enough the way Ayeka stretched while saying them left no doubt about how she intended to "work those kinks out". Apparently whatever good that cold water had done had worn off and the oh-so-pleasant reprieve with it. Sighing at the sheer unfairness of this whole mess and his being the one in it, Toshiro swung out of the saddle to land on the slightly spongy ground. With a parting pat on the horse's shoulder, which had begun to graze on the grass and moss with gusto, Toshiro ran through a mental list of how to get out of this situation. In the end the only way he knew to completely (he hoped) stop these unwanted advances was sure to make this mission, heck his life, even more difficult. Faced with that or going crazy he took the sensible option. "Ayeka-san, I am going to say this one last time. Not. Interested." Being utterly blunt it was, though what he said next probably could have been said better. "It's not that you aren't attractive, I just am not interested in you in that way. Besides I already found someone and we've been dating..." No sooner had the word dating come out of his mouth than Toshiro found himself looking in a different direction as a burning feeling rapidly crowded out all other sensations from his right cheek. 'Hmm sudden change in the visible landscape, side of my face is starting to hurt, something that sounds like crying coming from the side that is hurting. Yep, got slapped by an angry/ upset female again.' Later in life he would call it the only time being slapped that hard had actually been a good thing.

Because he was looking in their direction instead of at Ayeka Toshiro saw the flickering of light off sharpened steel coming at him. Training and instinct taking over one leg swept the woman's feet from under her while the jounin fell on top of her to shield his charge in case of a follow-up attack. Ignoring Ayeka's squawk of startled outrage at being manhandled in favor of noting that he had felt the wind from the passing objects as he noted their likely type and place of origin. No sooner had he felt the pair of fuuma shurikne pass overhead then Toshiro abruptly rolled off his client and was soon standing upright facing the nearest tree with both swords at the ready. In the lowest branch of that same tree was a solitary and vaguely man-shaped shadow which chose that moment to speak. "Well well, we meet again Hinamori-san. A shame you had to make the lady cry like that but it won't matter since I intend to send both of you to the afterlife."

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

It didn't take Toshiro more than a few seconds to recognize his adversary. Oh no, he recognized this particular Kiri-nin as soon as he had spoken one word. Toshiro would never forget that voice, or the girlish face that it came from, as long as he was alive. Both were seared into his memory as, right below his rogue sister and the band of nuke-nin who had targeted his girlfriend, Yuki Isao held the highest spot on Toshiro's "most hated people" list. Not all that surprising considering that this particular Yuki half-breed was the sole reason most of the failed missions in Toshiro's career. Of course Isao would say the same about Toshiro and the resulting mutual animosity had long ago passed the point of no return. Proof of just how far was Toshiro's response which consisted of seeming to vanish from where he was standing to reappear behind the Kiri-nin with both swords already moving to slice his target into three sections. Isao in turn blocked the double-strike with the flat on one of his own katana while using a reverse grip on the other to aim a stab at his "fellow jounin's" abdomen. A stab Toshiro avoided by twisting to the side so that is barely missed while slamming a front kick into Isao's back. That kick would have hit the kidney and given the Mist-nin several very unpleasant days at the least if he hadn't pushed off the branch to reduce the blow while sweeping one blade around slash at the white-haired jounin.

That exchange set the tone of the fight as the two jounin flickered about the clearing like a pair of demented dragonflies while taking every possible chance to cut the other into as many pieces as possible. Trying because the pair were almost perfectly matched in skill and . Double cross-cut would be stopped by a basic vertical parry while the other sword stabbed out only to be dodged. A single-blade thrust would be deflected and the countering slash redirected in turn. Nor did the two jounin limit themselves to purely blade work as both struck out with feet, knees, and elbows if they saw an opening. Ninjutsu and other weapons (save for the two fuuma shuriken embedded into a tree) had yet to make an appearance, and until that pair slowed down they wouldn't. For the simple reason that whoever let go of his weapons long enough to start forming seals or draw another weapon would find the other's swords embedded in their gut. There was another weapon that didn't need the hands free to use however and Toshiro had been honing it just incase. It was a weapon based in large part on rumors from kin in Kirigakure and several small notes in the Bingo Book pertaining to a particular Kiri-nin. The Konoha-nin's opening came when the pair jumped back after briefly locking their blades in an attempt to overpower the other only to stalemate.

"So the gender-confused half-breed shows up. Did your kage make a pass at you and he's sending you on suicide missions until you accept? No, give me a minute... ah. It was this or a seduce-and-destroy in some brothel." 'Hook' thought Toshiro as his opponent's eyebrow began to twitch at the white haired jounin's words. He had learned that Isao was very sensitive about being only a half-blood and was even more sensitive about his effeminate looks, especially when people mistook him for a girl. A situation not helped by several incidents involving being considered more feminine than several kunochi and having been hit on by other males a number of times. Isao was still in control though, his glare saying that he was going to make Toshiro suffer for that comment as the pair continued to size up each other up. Time to hit below the belt. "No? Did you get a marriage proposal from some noble? I feel for you then - must suck having to turn down so many younger sons who comes around with a bunch of roses." 'Line' Toshiro didn't need any advanced training in reading people to know that this really frayed his opponents self-control. The twitching eyebrow that had been slowly picking up the pace was now jumping like a grasshopper on a sugar rush and he could see the muscles in Isao's jaw working overtime. Even a legendary sucker wouldn't bet that the sound of something grinding wasn't teeth. That piece about this particular Yuki being a confirmed homophobic really had been worth the price Toshiro had paid. Now to seal his victory. "So, set a wedding date yet and who is the lucky groom? Must be a great guy to want to marry a bastard." 'Sinker.' The wordless shout that Yuki Isao voiced as he blurred before trying to hack his tormentor in half was all Toshiro needed to know that he was no longer facing a ninja but a raging beast. Ducking under the strike Toshiro was grinning as the last vestiges of his opponent's self-control evaporated. He still couldn't believe the price for learning Isao was sensitive about being a literal bastard was so cheap. Two bottles of sake for a low-grade Kiri nuke-nin he had stumbled across in a bar not fit for a destitute roach in Tea Country. That was the price for the single best weapon anyone could ask for - the ability to eliminate every skill your enemy has by sending them into a blind rage. Oh sure Isao was hitting much harder and faster than before if the damage he was doing to the occasional bush was any indication but there was absolutely no conscious planning in those strikes and the Kiri-nin was telegraphing every move like a rank beginner. Something that allowed Toshiro to easily dodge each strike and even sheath his swords, actions which only heightened Isao's fury.

After several minutes of watching his opponent reduced to this pathetic state, Toshiro found the opening he needed to end things once and for all. Ducking under a double-slash that was so sloppy he almost felt ashamed, the white haired jounin used a scissors kick to sendt one leg upwards into Isao's jaw to start the "Shadow of the Dancing Leaf". Guard not remotely present the Kiri-nin wasn't even able to jump up at the last moment to lessen the impact. Not that such action would have prevented the tip of his tongue from getting bit off as his jaw was abruptly and willingly slammed shut mid-shout. Completing the move Toshiro launched himself into the space behind his opponent and began the second part that would end their "feud" once and for all. Hand on the hilt of one sword, it seemed fitting that the last thing the soon-to-be-dead Yuki would hear was the name of the technique that would kill him. [color]"Hidden Leaf Front Beheading"[/color] Almost too fast for the eye to follow the katana slide from its scabbard and with a two-handed grip was swung so that it started at the shoulder and the fine-tempered steel carried the cut through the ribs and spine until it exited the abdomen in a shower of blood. At that point gravity reasserted its dominance over both jounin and yanked them back to the ground.

Almost entirely unhurt except for a few tiny cuts, Toshiro landed on his feet with ease and began to sheath his sword. The remains of Yuki Isao hit the ground not far away but much harder. Far too hard for a corpse, a difference which had the surviving jounin spinning around with his blade back in his hand. Just in time to see that the "corpse" was in fact Ayeka's basket which had been split down the middle. It didn't take much to realize what had happened. Somehow Isao had regained enough of his wits to replace himself with the basket, though a glance at the blood-stained ground and his sword said it hadn't been a clean get away. Unless Isao found a medic-nin willing to patch him up soon Toshiro was sure that the other ninja wouldn't be back for several weeks if at all. Immediate threat gone and confident that now Ayeka would let him deal with the elders, Toshiro walked to where his client had frozen at her near-brush with death. Reaching down with one hand to pull her he was expecting some sort of reaction but not the one he got. No sooner had the jounin's fingers touched Ayeka's shoulder than the frozen heiress let out the mother off all screeches and swatted his hand away. The insane reaction didn't stop there as Ayeka scrambled backwards until she was standing again, albeit on shaky legs and hyperventilating. The whole time she was yelling at Toshiro to stay away before making a break for her horse and spurring the wild-eye animal back in the direction of the estate. Leaving behind one jounin in a state of utter and total confusion with his jaw hanging open. A jounin who needed several minutes to recover his wits before he could shoot the remaining horse a questioning look. A look to which the horse, abruptly stopping it's grazing to look up, seemed to say "damned if I know why you humans act so stupid" before going back cropping grass. With no help from the only sane being he had met since starting on this "relaxing ride", Toshiro could only sigh at the sheet unfairness of the universe while muttering "somehow I have a feeling this is one of those things that with understanding comes the desire to wish you had remained ignorant." Turning back to the remains of the basket the jounin began to clean up what he could of the mess. Not because he was a neat-freak but to put off whatever additional misery he was sure would be waiting back at the Mori estate.

Toshiro: 185 CP - 19 = 166 CP

Spoiler:

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

Somewhere in the universe there is a tablet one is a law, written by divine beings, that says "when Hinamori Toshiro expects something bad to happen, it shall happen in a manner that induces the urge to never wake up." That cosmic law was the bane of the jounin's existence and the past three days had been no exception. After cleaning up the mess that had been left behind and leading the horse back to the estate, he had tried to check on his client who had locked herself into her room. Key word being "tried" because before he could do so he had been intercepted by an immovable obstacle. To be precise, six female servants armed with brooms, rolling pins, and other everyday household implements of mayhem (but thankfully no kitchen knives in sight). In another unwritten law, the one stating that no male will ever evade the wrath of a mob of angry females, the jounin had found himself abruptly hemmed in on all sides with the ceiling too low to jump and unwilling to use lethal force or live steel against his enemies. The result was a number of new sore spots and a healthy respect for just how dangerous servants could be when armed with the tools of their trade. In the end he had managed to subdue "that bloodthirsty mob" at great personal cost, leaving them trussed up with wire and cursing him with language no "demure servant" should know, and opened the door to check on his client.

The sight that had greeted Toshiro on doing so would undoubtedly be burned into his memory for years. No longer muffled by the heavy door, the first indication that he should have just waited was the noise. A noise he recognized from the times his sister Momiji had brought her latest paramour home to stay the night. Next had the smell, the unmistakable scent that had permeated every low-class brothel where he had met with someone who had information for sale. After that the sight of a near-naked Ayeka being "comforted" by her maid had simply confirmed what his other senses had been screaming. At that point the jounin had made a hasty retreat with as much stealth as possible and without a backwards glance found the quickest route to the estates roof while his face was a shade of red to shame a rose. He had spent the rest of the day and night on that roof - technically to keep watch in case of another attempt but mostly in a vain attempt to shove what he had seen into some dark mental room before nailing the door shut. Needless to say the next day had the entire household walking on eggshells with things between Ayeka and her hired bodyguard strained. A state that had only gotten worse when the next time the two were in private had aired the reason for Ayeka's outburst. Apparently Ayeka had, despite her family history and outward nonchalance, a very strong aversion to bloodshed. So much so that she had expected Toshiro to stop short of actually hurting, much less making a serious attempt to kill, an attacker. Something that the jounin had needed to sit down on hearing. Stop short of lethal force against would-be assassins? Allow them to be arrested when the local justice system was heavily indebted to, if not wholly controlled by, the very people who likely hired the assassin in the first place? The whole situation reminded him of something a Snow-nin he had met once had said about a subject long forgotten - "this does not compute".

Then things had really hit the proverbial fan, resulting in a day that had made Toshiro wonder if he was caught in some twisted genjutsu. He had started the day wondering how he was going to keep Ayeka alive long enough to see her become the head of the Mori clan, and by midnight that had become wondering just how he would explain events to the Hokage. The truth, usually the best course, in this was just too weird to be believed. It had started when the eldest son had appeared at the gates that morning in his monks clothes with the River Lord at his side and a few platoons of that worthies guards (who a glance showed were definitely NOT failures) behind him to assert his claim based on some obscure law that the eldest son would inherit first. Backed by the highest authority in the land (and several score of guards) the claim had put an end to the entire succession. It had also made Toshiro, seeing another failed mission on his record, curse not following his instincts and simply killing the elders opposed to his client when he had arrived. To that point things had been (relatively) normal, but as soon as Idate was confirmed as clan head the insanity started. The new clan lord's first act was to appoint his sister as his heir - unusual if not without merit. Idate's next act had been ordering the clan elders who had supported himself and his half-brother arrested for attempted assassination and embezzlement and executed. Only to grant each of them an "indefinite stay of execution" followed by a house arrest whose terms amounted to exile. After several minor acts, including officially granting merchants from Fire Country access to a previously-closed market and tasking Toshiro with delivering the announcement and several "tokens of respect" to the Hokage, the new clan lord had utterly pulled the floor out from Toshiro's plans with his last decree. That being his abdication effective at midnight, leaving Ayeka to become the clan head, and resuming his life as a monk. After that it really should come as a surprise that Toshiro had tried several times to dispel a genjutsu then wished he had packed something stronger than aspirin to deal with headaches. Which was what the thought of having to put all that into a mission report and explaining to the Hokage that the eyesores... err "tokens of respect" alongside the jounin would have to be displayed, lest the leader of a neighboring nation be insulted, was giving him.

At least he didn't have to walk to Konoha with a throbbing headache nor get soaked feet doing so again. Bumpy as it made the trip over the less-maintained sections of road and crowded with the previously mentioned "tokens of respect" and a few other items, the two-wheeled cart beat walking. Especially when he could just enjoy the ride for today since his fellow traveler had offered to take the reigns for today. Apparently the old chuunin-turned-porter, who went by the name Sato, had decided that whatever reason he had served the Mori clan was fulfilled and promptly retired. Claiming he had had enough of deserts and swamps along with the politics of the nobility to last three lifetimes the old man had asked to accompany Toshiro to Konoha where he was planning to set up a business for himself. The cart had, surprisingly, been Ayeka's idea and a good one since Toshiro couldn't fit everything into his one empty scroll. Of course a cart required something to pull it and in this case the extra "gift" was the dun-colored Morgan that the Konoha-nin would have said had more sense in his hoof than most of the Mori family.

All that was why Toshiro stretched out in the back of a cart with his hands behind his head enjoying the chance to not have to do anything but enjoy the now for the time being. The now in this case being a rather disjointed and meandering conversation with Sato. "Of all the ways this assignment could have ended I never expected it to be this way. I'm just glad it is over." "I still can't believe that all these years Ayeka kept her preference for females a secret." "You can't believe? I'm the one she chased for years. I'm still not completely convinced the whole thing was a charade just to fit in but that might just be pride hurting. I hope." Ignoring his companion's barely-muffled laugh and comment about the antics of youth, Toshiro shoved a rolled-up carpet (a gaudy crimson) out of the way so he could stretch out more as he prepared to doze off. Thinking back on the cause of the whole situation, the jounin summed up his feelings about the whole mission in two words. "Bloody politics."

[Mission done]