There wasn't technically a curfew in place in the Heart Empire, which was good for the freedoms of its people, especially in such an open government, but it also meant that children from the academies were sometimes out far later than they should have been. Typically speaking, Suzuko would have been home hours ago, studying after a hard day of school to make sure she was ready for whatever exams could possibly have been thrown at her the next day, but today wasn't the average day. Her and her fellow students of the academies had all been assigned to 'missions', which typically just meant local community service, and Suzuko's was no different.
These community service days ranged wildly from doing actual guard duty as a full-fledged samurai would, to what Suzuko was doing today, which was handpicking weeds out of a tea field. The innovations of steam technology had made the bulk of farm work much easier in this day and age, and for the most part they were government provided so that even poorer farmers could afford to have them, but machines capable of delicate work like weeding weren't really publicly available just yet. This meant that a swathe of children and adults alike had swarmed the fields in the middle of the month a few days after it had rained to remove any pesky plants that were sucking precious energy from the lifeblood of the empire's economy: Tea plants.
Goro, who had been supervising the children in the field for awhile, had gotten bored and left at some point, apparently deciding that his mission didn't need his attention that day. This had almost been more infuriating than if he'd stayed and kept offering sarcastic commentary the whole time. This process took all day, and left Suzuko in her current state, covered in dirt and mud, sweat-soaked in more places than she fully understood she had, exhausted, and walking home alone. A young academy girl trudging home alone with a big backpack on her back was likely to make her an easy target, however, and there was bound to be some sort of shenanigans incoming. There were always shenanigans.
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
 | Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Misaki groaned and rolled onto her back, the roof creaking beneath her as she stared up at the sky. She had already decided she was leaving the next day and would not miss this town at all. A group from the previous town had directed her here because of their ‘large criminal presence’. Which, Misaki had quickly come to realize, seemed to mean a whole bunch of pick-pockets and petty thieves of opportunity. No one who would be able to give her any information about the people she was looking for. A few had been willing to talk to her but they all kept thinking she was trying to recruit them and begged her to let them join up because their current leader was too mean. What an actual joke.
She had gotten one possible lead earlier on someone who might have some information as it seemed that all the small-time criminals in the town reported to the same group of men, one of them the big meanie everyone wanted to get away from. It was pretty typical, especially of towns this size. If you wanna do crime you have to pay your taxes to the men who already own the streets or they’ll run you out of town. Or worse, depending on how big and bad they were. None of these small timers looked any sort of way that would give her problems but she still had to time their interactions right. Which was proving difficult as they had been in the brothel for hours and she wasn’t about to interrupt the women who worked there.
Night was falling by the time the three men exited the brothel, stumbling over each other and laughing much too loudly. They didn’t waste time making their way down the street though and Misaki eagerly followed them along the rooftops. If they were drunk, it would make her job that much easier. She tread softly as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, never letting her eyes leave the men. When they suddenly stopped, Misaki crouched down low, eyes scanning the streets, looking for what stopped them. She didn’t see anything at first but then, a ways up the road, Misaki spotted her. A young girl was traveling alone, a large bag on her back. Her shoulders drooped and her steps seemed slow and heavy. The men clearly saw her as an easy target.
Misaki stayed crouched where she was as the men started creeping forward, tapping her fingers against her shins. It wasn’t really her business and the girl should be able to defend herself if she was going to walk around like that. But if these men were somehow involved with the group she was looking for the girl was in much bigger trouble than being robbed. And since she was already planning to interact with the men, stepping in before they robbed her didn’t seem like that big of a deal. Having rationalized it to herself, Misaki wasted no time standing and running along the rooftops, her pace quiet and even, staying crouched to keep her shadow blended in. She passed the thugs quickly and caught up to the girl in almost no time.
Breathless, stalking the roof top until she was at the very edge, Misaki waited until the girl was passing an alleyway to drop down. Reaching out, she grabbed the girl’s arm and with one hard yank pulled her into the alley, tossing her against the wall, and temporarily out of sight of the men. Anger blossomed in Misaki’s chest as she realized the girl was even younger than she had initially thought. She wondered if the only thing those men had been interested in was her bag.
After giving the girl a look up and down, her eyes serious and piercing, Misaki placed her hand on the wall between the girl and the alleyway exit. Leaning down until they were eye level, her voice was much more calm and even than her eyes were.
“What are you doing on these streets this late at night, and alone? Are you trying to get into trouble? Did you even notice the three men following you?!”
Misaki chose not to hear the remnants of her mother in her words as she chastised the young girl.
She had gotten one possible lead earlier on someone who might have some information as it seemed that all the small-time criminals in the town reported to the same group of men, one of them the big meanie everyone wanted to get away from. It was pretty typical, especially of towns this size. If you wanna do crime you have to pay your taxes to the men who already own the streets or they’ll run you out of town. Or worse, depending on how big and bad they were. None of these small timers looked any sort of way that would give her problems but she still had to time their interactions right. Which was proving difficult as they had been in the brothel for hours and she wasn’t about to interrupt the women who worked there.
Night was falling by the time the three men exited the brothel, stumbling over each other and laughing much too loudly. They didn’t waste time making their way down the street though and Misaki eagerly followed them along the rooftops. If they were drunk, it would make her job that much easier. She tread softly as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, never letting her eyes leave the men. When they suddenly stopped, Misaki crouched down low, eyes scanning the streets, looking for what stopped them. She didn’t see anything at first but then, a ways up the road, Misaki spotted her. A young girl was traveling alone, a large bag on her back. Her shoulders drooped and her steps seemed slow and heavy. The men clearly saw her as an easy target.
Misaki stayed crouched where she was as the men started creeping forward, tapping her fingers against her shins. It wasn’t really her business and the girl should be able to defend herself if she was going to walk around like that. But if these men were somehow involved with the group she was looking for the girl was in much bigger trouble than being robbed. And since she was already planning to interact with the men, stepping in before they robbed her didn’t seem like that big of a deal. Having rationalized it to herself, Misaki wasted no time standing and running along the rooftops, her pace quiet and even, staying crouched to keep her shadow blended in. She passed the thugs quickly and caught up to the girl in almost no time.
Breathless, stalking the roof top until she was at the very edge, Misaki waited until the girl was passing an alleyway to drop down. Reaching out, she grabbed the girl’s arm and with one hard yank pulled her into the alley, tossing her against the wall, and temporarily out of sight of the men. Anger blossomed in Misaki’s chest as she realized the girl was even younger than she had initially thought. She wondered if the only thing those men had been interested in was her bag.
After giving the girl a look up and down, her eyes serious and piercing, Misaki placed her hand on the wall between the girl and the alleyway exit. Leaning down until they were eye level, her voice was much more calm and even than her eyes were.
“What are you doing on these streets this late at night, and alone? Are you trying to get into trouble? Did you even notice the three men following you?!”
Misaki chose not to hear the remnants of her mother in her words as she chastised the young girl.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Suzuko was not the pinnacle of observation and perception as a samurai, partially due to the fact that she was young and inexperienced, and partially because she was dead tired. Fukuro was napping away on her back as well, wholly unhelpful as she dragged him haplessly through the night, blissfully unaware of the problems approaching the pair. She audibly groaned at nothing in particular, which turned quickly into a scream as her arm was grabbed and she was yoinked into a dark alley.
She opened her mouth to scream much more loudly as a defensive precaution, clearly threatened by the older woman who was clearly there to rob, or worse, bully her. Her scream was stifled and her mouth slowly closed as the woman spoke, however, and Suzuko blinked tiredly. "I'm going home from working..." The young girl said, fishing into a pocket to pull out her medallion marking her as an Akibushi, flashing it briefly before pocketing it again. She turned her head from side to side, looking for the men that were supposedly following her and seeing nobody.
"Is this some weird setup to rob me?" She asked pretty blank faced. "I don't really have ryo on hand, and my backpack is mostly..." One of Suzuko's hands reached back into her pack, and retrieved... a lump of coal. "Junk. Also, mugging a samurai is a bad idea!" The girl said with the smugness and confidence of a samurai who had never been mugged before. "So are you gonna let me go, or...?"
She opened her mouth to scream much more loudly as a defensive precaution, clearly threatened by the older woman who was clearly there to rob, or worse, bully her. Her scream was stifled and her mouth slowly closed as the woman spoke, however, and Suzuko blinked tiredly. "I'm going home from working..." The young girl said, fishing into a pocket to pull out her medallion marking her as an Akibushi, flashing it briefly before pocketing it again. She turned her head from side to side, looking for the men that were supposedly following her and seeing nobody.
"Is this some weird setup to rob me?" She asked pretty blank faced. "I don't really have ryo on hand, and my backpack is mostly..." One of Suzuko's hands reached back into her pack, and retrieved... a lump of coal. "Junk. Also, mugging a samurai is a bad idea!" The girl said with the smugness and confidence of a samurai who had never been mugged before. "So are you gonna let me go, or...?"
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Misaki’s head tilted to the side as the young girl spoke, confusion drawing her eyes together. The girl was both oddly calm and suspicious at the same time. And also, not as dense as Misaki had officially been concerned about. It seemed the girl was just bone tired after being overworked. She remembered those days and did not miss slaving away all day at whatever job she was given. What she did not remember though was being out this late and being left to walk home alone.
“It’s irresponsible, is what it is,” Misaki muttered to herself as she removed her hand from the wall so the girl could look around. She didn’t know where the men went either, they had probably been startled by the screaming. But that wasn’t that important as she could easily find them again. After she was sure that the girl had made it home safely, of course.
“Anyways, you can call me Misaki if you want. I’m not keeping you here and I’m certainly not mugging you. But there were two men following you and I’m going to walk with you until you’re home, safe.” She motioned for the girl to step back out into the street, following not too closely behind as she seemed a little wary. Which was good. “I’m sure you’re very capable and all but no sense in taking any chances since I’m already here.”
There were quite a few things that Misaki wasn’t very good at. Being modest, being understanding, liking people, just to name a few. But one of the main things she was terrible at was making idle conversation. It was like as soon as she felt any pressure to think of something to say every single thought in her head fell to the ground, dead.
“So, what mundane task did they have you doing today?” She finally settled on asking. A simple, easily answered question she hoped.
“It’s irresponsible, is what it is,” Misaki muttered to herself as she removed her hand from the wall so the girl could look around. She didn’t know where the men went either, they had probably been startled by the screaming. But that wasn’t that important as she could easily find them again. After she was sure that the girl had made it home safely, of course.
“Anyways, you can call me Misaki if you want. I’m not keeping you here and I’m certainly not mugging you. But there were two men following you and I’m going to walk with you until you’re home, safe.” She motioned for the girl to step back out into the street, following not too closely behind as she seemed a little wary. Which was good. “I’m sure you’re very capable and all but no sense in taking any chances since I’m already here.”
There were quite a few things that Misaki wasn’t very good at. Being modest, being understanding, liking people, just to name a few. But one of the main things she was terrible at was making idle conversation. It was like as soon as she felt any pressure to think of something to say every single thought in her head fell to the ground, dead.
“So, what mundane task did they have you doing today?” She finally settled on asking. A simple, easily answered question she hoped.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Suzuko quirked a brow and looked the woman in front of her up and down. She said she wasn't here to mug her, which meant she was most certainly there to bully her, but she was dressed like a peasant, and haughtily the younger girl flipped her hair with a "Hmph." Before turning away and starting to walk back on her way home. "You may walk near me if you wish, but my family will not be paying you for bodyguard services." She said, making a lot of assumptions about the idea that this woman was angling for something besides the safety of a young girl. Having said that out loud, however, she missed a step and had to think long and hard about if the Mizutane would even pay for her ransom if it came to that.
Certainly they had taken her under their guard, but she was not one of them by any means, and they'd made that very clear multiple times. Taking her in had been a favor to her mother, but nobody had been able to reach her mother since the Holy City of Towers was taken over by Iwa and its people moved into Water Country. She put negative thoughts that her mother may well be dead out of her mind because she wasn't ready for that kind of trauma when reuniting with her mother was one of the few things that kept her going, but it did mean that the Mizutane might not feel that indebted to her any more...
All this to say Suzuko did a pretty good job of keeping that classic haughty noble expression on her face now that she had a servant following her around, but she didn't look all that happy about it. It also meant that instead of being focused on being tired, she was focused on looking as proper as possible, and definitely wouldn't notice once again if the men continued to follow her and her new 'escort'. "Fukazawa-San." She finally replied simply, not offering her first name, not that her last name meant anything here anyway.
"And it was not a mundane task, it was a mission for the good of the empire." She lied, as it was most definitely mundane, even if it was for the good of the empire. "I was helping out in the new Tea fields in Socha to ensure they have a good first harvest. A very important duty for a burgeoning Akibushi." She said, quoting her mission scroll almost verbatim with a tone in her voice that betrayed that very fact, like an ill-practiced actor reading a script for the first time. "And what about..." She almost said 'a peasant' out loud, but held herself back. "You? Surely you're not on some important mission, too?"
Certainly they had taken her under their guard, but she was not one of them by any means, and they'd made that very clear multiple times. Taking her in had been a favor to her mother, but nobody had been able to reach her mother since the Holy City of Towers was taken over by Iwa and its people moved into Water Country. She put negative thoughts that her mother may well be dead out of her mind because she wasn't ready for that kind of trauma when reuniting with her mother was one of the few things that kept her going, but it did mean that the Mizutane might not feel that indebted to her any more...
All this to say Suzuko did a pretty good job of keeping that classic haughty noble expression on her face now that she had a servant following her around, but she didn't look all that happy about it. It also meant that instead of being focused on being tired, she was focused on looking as proper as possible, and definitely wouldn't notice once again if the men continued to follow her and her new 'escort'. "Fukazawa-San." She finally replied simply, not offering her first name, not that her last name meant anything here anyway.
"And it was not a mundane task, it was a mission for the good of the empire." She lied, as it was most definitely mundane, even if it was for the good of the empire. "I was helping out in the new Tea fields in Socha to ensure they have a good first harvest. A very important duty for a burgeoning Akibushi." She said, quoting her mission scroll almost verbatim with a tone in her voice that betrayed that very fact, like an ill-practiced actor reading a script for the first time. "And what about..." She almost said 'a peasant' out loud, but held herself back. "You? Surely you're not on some important mission, too?"
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
What a terribly unpleasant child, Misaki thought to herself as she glared at the small form in front of her. This was the thanks she got for saving the girl from being mugged and possibly assaulted? And after doing it out of the goodness of her very cold and usually out of commission heart. Unfortunately, while her heart may be old and rusty her conscience was still pretty active when it came to innocent lives around her and so she bit down the equally snobby responses that brewed in her head. She offered nothing but a small grunt when the girl gave her name, letting her know she heard it.
“You don’t have a lot of friends, do you?” She asked in response to the girl’s response and follow-up question. Sure, the kid did a good job of managing her words and she probably thought that she was friendly-appearing enough. But Misaki has been working for the rich, the greedy, and the nobles for several years and the look on her face was the same as all of theirs when they looked at her. Like she was a bane upon their existence and no matter how small they were, always trying to look down their nose at her. Misaki had no idea if this girl was anybody to anyone, or rich, but she sure as hell was giving off that same aura. And it pissed her off.
“I am on a very important mission,” Misaki confirmed. She lengthened her stride to easily catch up to Fukazawa-San, leaning forward as she did so that the girl would be able to see her out of the corner of her eye. “Self-assigned though. Part of my own little pet project, you see.” Misaki grinned, letting her voice drop a bit, bringing the girl into her dark secret. Letting her hand drop heavily on the girl’s head, Misaki stopped walking and ideally the girl would stop too at the pressure on her head. She half expected the girl to slap her hand away. Once they were out of the alley way the men had re-appeared almost immediately, seemingly undeterred by the fact that Misaki had joined their target. Silly men probably only saw two targets instead of one now.
“But first, I’m going to get you home safe,” Misaki whispered, pointing the girl’s head at a window that would show their reflection and just barely in the back, the reflection of the two men. ”And then I’m going to find out what business two grown men think they had with a kid,” she said to herself, eyes darkening at the very image of them. Unable to hold back the thoughts that Fukazawa-San could have been a victim tonight just like her sister. Had her sister been too tired to notice someone following her? Had they snuck around like she did and preyed upon Shizuka in the shadows? Likely, she would never know.
Shaking herself out of her stupor, Misaki pushed the girl forward gently and fell back several steps again to give her space. She didn’t seem to like her very much, go figure.
“So, tell me I’m wrong then. You the most popular kid in your class or what?”
“You don’t have a lot of friends, do you?” She asked in response to the girl’s response and follow-up question. Sure, the kid did a good job of managing her words and she probably thought that she was friendly-appearing enough. But Misaki has been working for the rich, the greedy, and the nobles for several years and the look on her face was the same as all of theirs when they looked at her. Like she was a bane upon their existence and no matter how small they were, always trying to look down their nose at her. Misaki had no idea if this girl was anybody to anyone, or rich, but she sure as hell was giving off that same aura. And it pissed her off.
“I am on a very important mission,” Misaki confirmed. She lengthened her stride to easily catch up to Fukazawa-San, leaning forward as she did so that the girl would be able to see her out of the corner of her eye. “Self-assigned though. Part of my own little pet project, you see.” Misaki grinned, letting her voice drop a bit, bringing the girl into her dark secret. Letting her hand drop heavily on the girl’s head, Misaki stopped walking and ideally the girl would stop too at the pressure on her head. She half expected the girl to slap her hand away. Once they were out of the alley way the men had re-appeared almost immediately, seemingly undeterred by the fact that Misaki had joined their target. Silly men probably only saw two targets instead of one now.
“But first, I’m going to get you home safe,” Misaki whispered, pointing the girl’s head at a window that would show their reflection and just barely in the back, the reflection of the two men. ”And then I’m going to find out what business two grown men think they had with a kid,” she said to herself, eyes darkening at the very image of them. Unable to hold back the thoughts that Fukazawa-San could have been a victim tonight just like her sister. Had her sister been too tired to notice someone following her? Had they snuck around like she did and preyed upon Shizuka in the shadows? Likely, she would never know.
Shaking herself out of her stupor, Misaki pushed the girl forward gently and fell back several steps again to give her space. She didn’t seem to like her very much, go figure.
“So, tell me I’m wrong then. You the most popular kid in your class or what?”
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
The young noblewoman had the dignity to not immediately throw a fit at Misaki's initial question, but only barely. Thinking on it, she really didn't have loads of friends, nor was she intensely disliked as far as she could tell, but it was harder for her to get along with other people, especially when her only interactions with them were in groups where her empathetic chakra was working in overdrive and made it almost painful to be in crowds. Still, she DID have friends, or at least one friend, her mushroom-capped follower whose cheery disposition made the raging hormones of teenage children much easier to be around most of the time, and wasn't that all she really needed? One or two close friends meant more than having a lot of friends!
She hadn't graced the question with an answer immediately, giving the woman room to catch up and talk about her 'important mission' which had Suzuko rolling her eyes. A woman like her probably had nothing more important going on than loading ships at the dock or other such menial tasks that she would have to do day in and day out for the rest of her life. As the hand was placed on her head, she almost did slap the hand away, it was rude to touch people without permission no matter their social class! It also caused a little thread of chakra to connect between the two girls, unfortunate for the both of them. Maybe she'd learn to control that bit of her empathetic chakra, some day, and be able to exclude rude people like Misaki.
With her head turned towards the window now, and the string giving her a bit more insight into the woman who had decided to bully her relentlessly so late at night, things were starting to make a bit more sense. The woman was genuinely concerned for the safety of the younger girl, at least that seemed to be true, but she was a samurai, on the verge of being promoted to Fuyubushi whether she wanted it or not! It wasn't like she needed the protection of some peasant like this one behind her. Suzuko nodded in affirmation that she saw what the woman was directing her attention to, and continued to pretend nothing special was going on, adjusting her backpack straps a bit to wake Fukuro-Kun.
"I'll have you know I'm quite popular!" She said rather loudly, and with a certified huff. "I was routinely top of my class, and people are almost always asking for my help!" Which was at least partially true, she was among the top in many areas, but rarely actually was the best at any one thing, and people asking for her help was more due to being a bit of a teacher's pet and getting volunteered to help underperforming students. "I bet you barely even graduated from the academy." Suzuko snarked ruthlessly. "Is that why you showed up today, need me to help you pass your remedial spelling exam?"
She hadn't graced the question with an answer immediately, giving the woman room to catch up and talk about her 'important mission' which had Suzuko rolling her eyes. A woman like her probably had nothing more important going on than loading ships at the dock or other such menial tasks that she would have to do day in and day out for the rest of her life. As the hand was placed on her head, she almost did slap the hand away, it was rude to touch people without permission no matter their social class! It also caused a little thread of chakra to connect between the two girls, unfortunate for the both of them. Maybe she'd learn to control that bit of her empathetic chakra, some day, and be able to exclude rude people like Misaki.
With her head turned towards the window now, and the string giving her a bit more insight into the woman who had decided to bully her relentlessly so late at night, things were starting to make a bit more sense. The woman was genuinely concerned for the safety of the younger girl, at least that seemed to be true, but she was a samurai, on the verge of being promoted to Fuyubushi whether she wanted it or not! It wasn't like she needed the protection of some peasant like this one behind her. Suzuko nodded in affirmation that she saw what the woman was directing her attention to, and continued to pretend nothing special was going on, adjusting her backpack straps a bit to wake Fukuro-Kun.
"I'll have you know I'm quite popular!" She said rather loudly, and with a certified huff. "I was routinely top of my class, and people are almost always asking for my help!" Which was at least partially true, she was among the top in many areas, but rarely actually was the best at any one thing, and people asking for her help was more due to being a bit of a teacher's pet and getting volunteered to help underperforming students. "I bet you barely even graduated from the academy." Suzuko snarked ruthlessly. "Is that why you showed up today, need me to help you pass your remedial spelling exam?"
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
“Yep!” Misaki quipped. “That’s exactly why I came over here. I saw this tiny little girl dredging through the streets alone at night, being followed by two disgusting men, and thought to myself ‘surely she can help improve my spelling’.” There was not a single ounce of sarcasm in Misaki’s voice which she hoped made it all the more infuriating. It was hard to be too annoyed by the girl when she had basically ambushed her and demanded she accept her company. Misaki wasn’t so old that she had forgotten what the feeling of independence was like when it was new. She was sure that Fukazawa-San thought that she could handle herself and the situation just fine on her own. And for all Misaki knew, maybe she could. But that wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.
It wasn’t a consequence she was willing to live with, if things went south.
“Now, what was the word I was trying to spell when I popped up here,” Misaki wondered aloud, tapping her index finger against her lip. Her steps were long and relaxed but she made sure to stay a step behind the girl at all times. Mostly in case she decided to throw a lump of coal at her. “I think it was vu-vu- ah, vulnerable. That one for sure threw me for a loop. Then there was, ah, unprepared. Oh! And exposed. Those silly x’s always get my brain spinning.”
If the girl bothered to look back she would find Misaki grinning, pure joy shining in her eyes. If Fukazawa wanted to be snarky to her, she could play that game and be snarky right back. She wondered how much further to go until the girl was home as they had already made it through a fair portion of the town. Misaki began playing out a map of the town in her head, trying to figure out where on earth they were going. There were only a few more residential areas in the direction they were heading in which meant they were either headed towards the outskirts of town or Fukazawa had gotten lost which seemed unlikely.
Listening carefully, Misaki realized something else. There was only one set of footprints behind them. Well, that meant one of two things most likely. Either one of the men had gotten tired of following them around and had given up or one of the men was trying to circle in front of them to cut them off and force them into an altercation. It was probably better for the two girls to take care of the men now since they hadn’t left when Misaki showed up like she had hoped they would. Because as it stood, they were leading them right to where Fukazawa lived and that would only give them a chance to get her whenever they wanted. Whenever Misaki wasn’t around.
It wasn’t a consequence she was willing to live with, if things went south.
“Now, what was the word I was trying to spell when I popped up here,” Misaki wondered aloud, tapping her index finger against her lip. Her steps were long and relaxed but she made sure to stay a step behind the girl at all times. Mostly in case she decided to throw a lump of coal at her. “I think it was vu-vu- ah, vulnerable. That one for sure threw me for a loop. Then there was, ah, unprepared. Oh! And exposed. Those silly x’s always get my brain spinning.”
If the girl bothered to look back she would find Misaki grinning, pure joy shining in her eyes. If Fukazawa wanted to be snarky to her, she could play that game and be snarky right back. She wondered how much further to go until the girl was home as they had already made it through a fair portion of the town. Misaki began playing out a map of the town in her head, trying to figure out where on earth they were going. There were only a few more residential areas in the direction they were heading in which meant they were either headed towards the outskirts of town or Fukazawa had gotten lost which seemed unlikely.
Listening carefully, Misaki realized something else. There was only one set of footprints behind them. Well, that meant one of two things most likely. Either one of the men had gotten tired of following them around and had given up or one of the men was trying to circle in front of them to cut them off and force them into an altercation. It was probably better for the two girls to take care of the men now since they hadn’t left when Misaki showed up like she had hoped they would. Because as it stood, they were leading them right to where Fukazawa lived and that would only give them a chance to get her whenever they wanted. Whenever Misaki wasn’t around.
Last edited by Amy on Mon Oct 23, 2023 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Fukuro-kun didn't really like being woken up, and if he had it his way, he'd probably sleep for nearly twenty-four hours. For being the spirit of a young man in that backpack, he sure acted a lot more like a cat, sleepy, standoffish, and constantly hungry despite not having a need to eat as a yokai. If Misaki was paying attention, she likely would have noticed the backpack shift a little bit, and might even hear a little grumble of dissatisfaction coming from it, but she had other things to focus on, too.
"Oh, why of course I'd be so happy to help someone as under-educated as yourself!" She said in the most honey-sweet voice she could manage, stopping in her tracks finally, reaching back behind her into her backpack to pull out... Some kind of writing tablet, easily twice the size of the backpack and a pale gray color, as well as a piece of coal roughly shaped like a pencil. "Words longer than four letters are hard, I know, but we'll get you there!" She said, tilting her head to the side and smiling broadly as she turned to face Misaki, holding the sign up and drawing on it from behind, doing a fairly good job for drawing backwards without looking.
Turning around allowed her to look behind them and see the man following behind them from a distance, who tried to look nonchalant as if he hadn't been stalking a young girl at the end of the day. "V, U, L, N, E, R, A, B, L, E." She spelled out nice and slow, enunciating each letter as she wrote them out, and giving them a nice, heavy underline. "Maybe it'll be easier to break it up into two separate words?" She drew a line between the R and the A. "Vulner - Able. I bet even you could spell able! Now spell it out with me... V... U..." Before stopping, and hucking the lump of coal in her hand at the man that had been following them from behind. "You, at the back of the class! Pay attention!"
"Oh, why of course I'd be so happy to help someone as under-educated as yourself!" She said in the most honey-sweet voice she could manage, stopping in her tracks finally, reaching back behind her into her backpack to pull out... Some kind of writing tablet, easily twice the size of the backpack and a pale gray color, as well as a piece of coal roughly shaped like a pencil. "Words longer than four letters are hard, I know, but we'll get you there!" She said, tilting her head to the side and smiling broadly as she turned to face Misaki, holding the sign up and drawing on it from behind, doing a fairly good job for drawing backwards without looking.
Turning around allowed her to look behind them and see the man following behind them from a distance, who tried to look nonchalant as if he hadn't been stalking a young girl at the end of the day. "V, U, L, N, E, R, A, B, L, E." She spelled out nice and slow, enunciating each letter as she wrote them out, and giving them a nice, heavy underline. "Maybe it'll be easier to break it up into two separate words?" She drew a line between the R and the A. "Vulner - Able. I bet even you could spell able! Now spell it out with me... V... U..." Before stopping, and hucking the lump of coal in her hand at the man that had been following them from behind. "You, at the back of the class! Pay attention!"
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
When Fukazawa stopped and pulled a tablet out of her backpack Misaki wondered two things: How did it fit and what was the girl doing? Maybe she had a plan, Misaki thought to herself as she cocked her head back at the young girl. It was difficult not being able to discuss what to do so maybe she was going to write some sort of plan on the board. It would make the most sense afterall to get them on the same page. But, the longer Misaki watched the more it seemed like Fukazawa was just…going to spell out the word. A look of kind concern started to appear on Misaki’s face as she pulled her brows together. Was it possible that Fukazawa didn’t realize that Misaki was joking? It wasn’t possible that the girl had so little interaction with others her age that she didn’t recognize sarcasm…was it?
“Hey, ki-” Misaki started to interrupt only to catch the breeze of the charcoal flying by her head. “Hey!” She shouted, stepping once towards Fukazawa before turning to face the same direction she was facing. She turned just in time to see the man jump out of the way of the projectile, giving it a wary look before realizing it was harmless. He looked back up at the girls and shoved his hands in his pockets as he began sauntering slowly towards them. And if Misaki could trust her ears, there was another set of footsteps making their way towards them from the back.
“Good job, kid. What’s the plan now?” Without giving her a chance to respond, Misaki grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, stepping around behind her to face the unknown footsteps. “Take my advice and go find a new target,” Misaki shouted into the darkness that was now in front of her.
“We been following this kid all night and you think we’re gonna give up just because a slightly larger kid showed up?”
Misaki stood up straighter, her mouth pulling to one side. “I’m perfectly normal size thank you. And I’d rather be a little short than be a stalker. So bye.”
“And I’d rather not have to beat up two girls tonight,” the man said nonchalantly as he stepped from the shadows. He was no more impressive looking than his partner who had stopped about fifteen feet away from Fukazawa. Just two middle-aged losers who thought they could pick on some young women. How very unoriginal, Misaki thought to herself.
“Well,” she said tilting her head back towards her companion, her eyes darting down towards the backpack that she swore had made a noise. “You wanna fight or you wanna run? Not really sure how cultivating tea helps in a fight but ya never know I guess.”
“Hey, ki-” Misaki started to interrupt only to catch the breeze of the charcoal flying by her head. “Hey!” She shouted, stepping once towards Fukazawa before turning to face the same direction she was facing. She turned just in time to see the man jump out of the way of the projectile, giving it a wary look before realizing it was harmless. He looked back up at the girls and shoved his hands in his pockets as he began sauntering slowly towards them. And if Misaki could trust her ears, there was another set of footsteps making their way towards them from the back.
“Good job, kid. What’s the plan now?” Without giving her a chance to respond, Misaki grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, stepping around behind her to face the unknown footsteps. “Take my advice and go find a new target,” Misaki shouted into the darkness that was now in front of her.
“We been following this kid all night and you think we’re gonna give up just because a slightly larger kid showed up?”
Misaki stood up straighter, her mouth pulling to one side. “I’m perfectly normal size thank you. And I’d rather be a little short than be a stalker. So bye.”
“And I’d rather not have to beat up two girls tonight,” the man said nonchalantly as he stepped from the shadows. He was no more impressive looking than his partner who had stopped about fifteen feet away from Fukazawa. Just two middle-aged losers who thought they could pick on some young women. How very unoriginal, Misaki thought to herself.
“Well,” she said tilting her head back towards her companion, her eyes darting down towards the backpack that she swore had made a noise. “You wanna fight or you wanna run? Not really sure how cultivating tea helps in a fight but ya never know I guess.”
Last edited by Amy on Sat Nov 04, 2023 10:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
With the coal leaving her hand, she threw down her little board she was writing on as well, her hand naturally going to her pack to draw more at a moment's notice. Her center of gravity lowered just the slightest bit, one arm extended to brace her entire body while the rest grabbed a fistful of senbon needles in one of the many pouches, not yet drawing them, and she was poised to pounce in a stance that would have made Rio proud. "You went through the academy, you should know well that's not all we do there." She said in her usual sass.
Truthfully, most things that Suzuko knew combat wise were from outside of the academy, her current stance adopted from Araki, Rio whom she'd been told had saved her as a baby. Her eyes darted back and forth, and she adjusted her positioning with Misaki to put their backs together. If she was paying enough attention, she likely would have noticed Fukuro-kun fully opening his mouth, those dozens of pointy teeth and long tongue smacking about, ready to eat... hopefully not her. "Much as it might be easier to take off, it's likely my duty to help rid the streets of scum like this... You wouldn't know anything about duty though, would you?" She snarked relentlessly to this woman she barely knew, like some kind of petulant child. Which she was.
Misaki had, of course, already earned some points in Suzuko's good graces. As much as she was being moody and rude, that was in large part to it being well past her usual bedtime, and her exhaustion from working all day on top of it. "I take it you still remember some of your fighting lessons." She stated, as the men approached, waiting until the one on her side was close enough for a good, clean shot, before quickdrawing and loosing a fistful of senbon at her target. "Two-man tactics: Focus on your target, call for help to swap sides." She recited from one of her books, in the classic know-it-all way she often did.
Her target moved to the side, dodging all but one of the senbon that stuck into his shoulder. He let out a surprised grunt, before ripping the needle out before it could cause further harm.
"Wow, they really teach kids all that these days?" The first man approaching asked. "They sure don't make jobs like mine easier." He finished, spitting on the ground with a bit of a snarl.
Truthfully, most things that Suzuko knew combat wise were from outside of the academy, her current stance adopted from Araki, Rio whom she'd been told had saved her as a baby. Her eyes darted back and forth, and she adjusted her positioning with Misaki to put their backs together. If she was paying enough attention, she likely would have noticed Fukuro-kun fully opening his mouth, those dozens of pointy teeth and long tongue smacking about, ready to eat... hopefully not her. "Much as it might be easier to take off, it's likely my duty to help rid the streets of scum like this... You wouldn't know anything about duty though, would you?" She snarked relentlessly to this woman she barely knew, like some kind of petulant child. Which she was.
Misaki had, of course, already earned some points in Suzuko's good graces. As much as she was being moody and rude, that was in large part to it being well past her usual bedtime, and her exhaustion from working all day on top of it. "I take it you still remember some of your fighting lessons." She stated, as the men approached, waiting until the one on her side was close enough for a good, clean shot, before quickdrawing and loosing a fistful of senbon at her target. "Two-man tactics: Focus on your target, call for help to swap sides." She recited from one of her books, in the classic know-it-all way she often did.
Her target moved to the side, dodging all but one of the senbon that stuck into his shoulder. He let out a surprised grunt, before ripping the needle out before it could cause further harm.
"Wow, they really teach kids all that these days?" The first man approaching asked. "They sure don't make jobs like mine easier." He finished, spitting on the ground with a bit of a snarl.
JutsuShow
Situational Awareness
C-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has keen senses and perception and has trained to use them to have advanced spatial sense. This allows them to envision complex happenings around them with ease: this means it is hard to surprise attack the practitioner as they are always aware of their position and their surroundings. Likewise, they have a greatly sharpened ability to judge the speed of things, and the spatial aspect of them.
Multi-Draw
C-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has trained such a deftness to their draws that they are now capable of drawing multiple projectiles and more impressively, launching them in a tight spread, capable of putting multiple projectiles into a small bullseye at the same instance.
Quick Draw
D-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has learned to a point of it being second nature how to flawlessly and quickly draw their weapons from their person, limited only by the boundaries of their full physical speed. Though seemingly irrelevant, this is often the difference in who shoots first. Secondary to this learned skill is also the ability to quickly re-holster or store weapons and draw different weapons.
Shoot From The Hip
D-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
Requires: Quick Draw
The practitioner has learned to transition straight from a draw into an attack- using the draw itself as part of the attack and momentum. They can do this at full power, with a slight edge even, and with full accuracy.
C-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has keen senses and perception and has trained to use them to have advanced spatial sense. This allows them to envision complex happenings around them with ease: this means it is hard to surprise attack the practitioner as they are always aware of their position and their surroundings. Likewise, they have a greatly sharpened ability to judge the speed of things, and the spatial aspect of them.
Multi-Draw
C-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has trained such a deftness to their draws that they are now capable of drawing multiple projectiles and more impressively, launching them in a tight spread, capable of putting multiple projectiles into a small bullseye at the same instance.
Quick Draw
D-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
The practitioner has learned to a point of it being second nature how to flawlessly and quickly draw their weapons from their person, limited only by the boundaries of their full physical speed. Though seemingly irrelevant, this is often the difference in who shoots first. Secondary to this learned skill is also the ability to quickly re-holster or store weapons and draw different weapons.
Shoot From The Hip
D-Ranked Discipline Taijutsu
Requires: Quick Draw
The practitioner has learned to transition straight from a draw into an attack- using the draw itself as part of the attack and momentum. They can do this at full power, with a slight edge even, and with full accuracy.
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
“Well hey, whaddya know.” Misaki responded, a smirk pulling up the side of her mouth. Her eyes never leaving the man in front of her. “You finally got something right. I don’t feel much of a sense of duty at all. Which should make you seriously wonder why I’m helping you out.” What she said wasn’t entirely true. She didn’t feel a sense of duty to a place or a government or an idea as a whole. But Misaki felt more duty towards her sister than she knew what to do with most of the time. Especially when it showed itself in situations like this. “I said I didn’t feel duty, not that I didn’t have a fighting spirit. Fighting is what I do best. Running my mouth is only a close second.”
Turning her full attention back to the scum in front of her, Misaki raised her hands slightly at her sides, impatience obvious on her face. “Well? Are you gonna make me stand here all night? This is a real snore fest after such a huge buildup.” The man spared a glance over Misaki’s shoulder, his eyes widening in shock. Misaki followed his gaze, her eyes catching sight of the senbon lodged in his partner’s shoulder. She only looked for a second though, swinging back around towards the man that was now charging her with a knife pulled. A quick kick dislodged the knife from his hand but it managed to skitter back in the same direction he moved, leaving him in possession of it.
“Please tell me you didn’t really think I was going to fall for that? Hey, Fukazawa, I don’t think this guy graduated. Maybe he missed his spelling classes and he’s hoping to get you to help him for his remedials.”
“Do you ever shut up!?” The man in front of her growled, the knife once more in his hand. “Why don’t you just go back wherever you came from and leave the girly to us. Once we take her pack we’ll let her go.”
“Her pack?” Misaki turned to glance at Fukazawa’s pack to see what was so special about it and to her surprise, she could not hold back a sharp yelp. “Oh, yeah, I guess that is pretty terrify-terrific, I mean. Very cool, kid, not at all concerning.” Misaki patted Fukazawa on the head before turning back to the man. She shook her head slightly, stepping forward half a step…just to be safe. “Well, c’mon then,” Misaki sighed, gesturing for the man to come at her again. “If you’re not going to leave you might as well give me a workout.”
It seemed she had angered the man enough to force him to engage, her feet planting solidly into the ground as he rushed her.
“You OK over there? Sure your pack can’t just eat them for us?”
Turning her full attention back to the scum in front of her, Misaki raised her hands slightly at her sides, impatience obvious on her face. “Well? Are you gonna make me stand here all night? This is a real snore fest after such a huge buildup.” The man spared a glance over Misaki’s shoulder, his eyes widening in shock. Misaki followed his gaze, her eyes catching sight of the senbon lodged in his partner’s shoulder. She only looked for a second though, swinging back around towards the man that was now charging her with a knife pulled. A quick kick dislodged the knife from his hand but it managed to skitter back in the same direction he moved, leaving him in possession of it.
“Please tell me you didn’t really think I was going to fall for that? Hey, Fukazawa, I don’t think this guy graduated. Maybe he missed his spelling classes and he’s hoping to get you to help him for his remedials.”
“Do you ever shut up!?” The man in front of her growled, the knife once more in his hand. “Why don’t you just go back wherever you came from and leave the girly to us. Once we take her pack we’ll let her go.”
“Her pack?” Misaki turned to glance at Fukazawa’s pack to see what was so special about it and to her surprise, she could not hold back a sharp yelp. “Oh, yeah, I guess that is pretty terrify-terrific, I mean. Very cool, kid, not at all concerning.” Misaki patted Fukazawa on the head before turning back to the man. She shook her head slightly, stepping forward half a step…just to be safe. “Well, c’mon then,” Misaki sighed, gesturing for the man to come at her again. “If you’re not going to leave you might as well give me a workout.”
It seemed she had angered the man enough to force him to engage, her feet planting solidly into the ground as he rushed her.
“You OK over there? Sure your pack can’t just eat them for us?”
Last edited by Amy on Wed Nov 29, 2023 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
"Huh, I bet your mouth moves faster than your body does." Suzuko replied, a grin coming over her face, maybe starting to appreciate that this woman was on her level in some ways. She felt more natural like this than she ever had in the dozens of other ways the spotlight had been thrust upon her, and now facing off a pair of hooligans and back to back with a 'fellow soldier', her heartbeat was steadier than ever, and she wasn't even soaking her clothes with anxious sweat. "Tutoring costs money you know, I don't think either of them could afford it, if they're trying to steal the backpack off a little girl..."
But of course Fukurou-kun was wide awake now, and wriggled about on her back with the attention he was getting. "His name is Fukurou-Kun, and he is adorable." She protested, hearing the tone in her voice that implied otherwise, actually managing to pout a bit. The one on her side of the duo clearly was starting to have enough of the chatter, and rushed after Suzuko. While she would have preferred to keep him at a maximum distance and back away, she was surrounded and her back against a brick wall in the form of her 'partner.' "Spear." She commanded, and Fukurou obliged, spitting her spear into her hands while she worked up the momentum to begin a series of swings.
The spear style of her home country was one of lots of movements and circling to maintain a highgrounded position over your opponent as often as possible, keeping them on their backfoot. This was also something that was rather difficult to accomplish, but all the same the basic techniques of the style would work nearly as well while her back was protected by Misaki. "He doesn't eat people! ...Just small animals sometimes" She grumbled as she poked and prodded with her spear, making a big sweep for his legs which was mostly jumped over, but set him off balance just enough.
"But I s'pose he wouldn't mind helping..." She said, saddling her spear in the crook of one elbow to unhook Fukurou from one arm, allowing him to face her target, just long enough for him to open his maw, and a bit of smoke to eek out... Before an oversized fireball forced its way from his mouth, spewing forth at [10] strength and speed, which while not normally all that impressive, the shock factor of a backpack spitting a fireball at you was worth quite a bit, as was the close proximity. The man was engulfed in flame with only enough time to let out a scream.
But of course Fukurou-kun was wide awake now, and wriggled about on her back with the attention he was getting. "His name is Fukurou-Kun, and he is adorable." She protested, hearing the tone in her voice that implied otherwise, actually managing to pout a bit. The one on her side of the duo clearly was starting to have enough of the chatter, and rushed after Suzuko. While she would have preferred to keep him at a maximum distance and back away, she was surrounded and her back against a brick wall in the form of her 'partner.' "Spear." She commanded, and Fukurou obliged, spitting her spear into her hands while she worked up the momentum to begin a series of swings.
The spear style of her home country was one of lots of movements and circling to maintain a highgrounded position over your opponent as often as possible, keeping them on their backfoot. This was also something that was rather difficult to accomplish, but all the same the basic techniques of the style would work nearly as well while her back was protected by Misaki. "He doesn't eat people! ...Just small animals sometimes" She grumbled as she poked and prodded with her spear, making a big sweep for his legs which was mostly jumped over, but set him off balance just enough.
"But I s'pose he wouldn't mind helping..." She said, saddling her spear in the crook of one elbow to unhook Fukurou from one arm, allowing him to face her target, just long enough for him to open his maw, and a bit of smoke to eek out... Before an oversized fireball forced its way from his mouth, spewing forth at [10] strength and speed, which while not normally all that impressive, the shock factor of a backpack spitting a fireball at you was worth quite a bit, as was the close proximity. The man was engulfed in flame with only enough time to let out a scream.
jutsuShow
* Kushou・Twisting the Wind
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: * Kushou・Low Wind Rising
This is the core technique of the Kushou Style. The user will begin in the Low Wind Rising stance and then approaches their opponent. They will begin with a wide arcing blow to begin this combination of blows. Following this they will spin their polearm and their body as they follow their opponent across the battlefield, chasing them down as they block and evade. This technique takes the user’s entire post, and can strike a number of times equal to half their speed. Those who block more than one blow will suffer a -3 to Strength for 3 posts as the weapon’s momentum and force jars their body.
*Katon • Fireball
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user draws in a deep breath before exhaling out a 1 foot diameter fireball at the opponent. It travels up to 10 meters away at [Control] speed and strength.
C-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: * Kushou・Low Wind Rising
This is the core technique of the Kushou Style. The user will begin in the Low Wind Rising stance and then approaches their opponent. They will begin with a wide arcing blow to begin this combination of blows. Following this they will spin their polearm and their body as they follow their opponent across the battlefield, chasing them down as they block and evade. This technique takes the user’s entire post, and can strike a number of times equal to half their speed. Those who block more than one blow will suffer a -3 to Strength for 3 posts as the weapon’s momentum and force jars their body.
*Katon • Fireball
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user draws in a deep breath before exhaling out a 1 foot diameter fireball at the opponent. It travels up to 10 meters away at [Control] speed and strength.
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
“Ok you know what, you’re right. He is adorable and I want one.” Misaki had turned just in time to see Fukurou shoot a fireball towards the enemy they were fighting. She had managed to catch the man’s arm again that held the knife and was simply holding him in front of her as he tried to wrench his arm out of her grip. “Does he have like…a brother? A cousin? A sister? Can I borrow him?” She was only half joking. She would never try to take him and she also figured he was probably a one of a kind. But she also was a lot more interested than she had been a minute before. A lot less scared too. Maybe after they dealt with the two creeps she would be able to find out how he felt about pats on his head since his owner? Friend? Partner, didn’t seem so fond of them. The man in front of her didn’t seem to want to wait any longer though, grunting loudly as he used all of his strength to try to pull out of her grip.
She released her hand as he pulled, allowing him to stumble back a few feet before tumbling to his ass on the ground. Misaki walked towards him, comfortable leaving Fukazawa and Fukurou dealing with the other man. She pulled her arms behind her neck one by one, stretching them down. “Yanno, I really don’t like creeps who stalk little girls.” The man seemed frantic now, maybe sensing a change in the way Misaki held herself now that she was slightly further away from Fukazawa. His hand closed around his pathetically short blade but Misaki didn’t let him get it far off the ground before she kicked it out of his hand. Using his shock she grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him to his feet, spinning him around so his back was to her before pulling him back to the ground in an armbar. She grabbed his fingers and began pulling them back, listening while his grunts of anger turned into panicked pants when he realized he couldn’t get out of her hold.
“Now, while I have your full attention and your friend is over there getting a nice crispy tan, I think we should talk. Ya gonna bother sweet little girls anymore?”
“Fuck you,” he grunted between clenched teeth.
“Oh dear,” Misaki crooned before breaking his index finger. Eliciting a pleasing scream from the man. “Let’s try again.” Misaki glanced over, making sure the other two were doing OK still. “Repeat after me. ‘I won’t creep after little girls anymore’.”
“Fine, we’ll leave her alone just let me go!” He shouted, anger still lacing his voice over the pain.
“No, no,” Misaki chided, breaking his middle finger next. “Giving up is old news. I told you to repeat after me. Now. Or I’ll break the rest of them.” The man panted, his grip on her arm losing strength. He knew when he was beat.
“I won’t creep after little girls anymore,” he finally ground out, his body relaxing in anticipation of being released.
“Good job. Just to make sure you keep your word though.” In a smooth, quick movement, Misaki snapped the rest of the fingers on his hand, his scream raising into the night air. She did release him after that, turning her back to him as she went to check in on Fukazawa and Fukurou. “You guys doing ok over here?”
She released her hand as he pulled, allowing him to stumble back a few feet before tumbling to his ass on the ground. Misaki walked towards him, comfortable leaving Fukazawa and Fukurou dealing with the other man. She pulled her arms behind her neck one by one, stretching them down. “Yanno, I really don’t like creeps who stalk little girls.” The man seemed frantic now, maybe sensing a change in the way Misaki held herself now that she was slightly further away from Fukazawa. His hand closed around his pathetically short blade but Misaki didn’t let him get it far off the ground before she kicked it out of his hand. Using his shock she grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him to his feet, spinning him around so his back was to her before pulling him back to the ground in an armbar. She grabbed his fingers and began pulling them back, listening while his grunts of anger turned into panicked pants when he realized he couldn’t get out of her hold.
“Now, while I have your full attention and your friend is over there getting a nice crispy tan, I think we should talk. Ya gonna bother sweet little girls anymore?”
“Fuck you,” he grunted between clenched teeth.
“Oh dear,” Misaki crooned before breaking his index finger. Eliciting a pleasing scream from the man. “Let’s try again.” Misaki glanced over, making sure the other two were doing OK still. “Repeat after me. ‘I won’t creep after little girls anymore’.”
“Fine, we’ll leave her alone just let me go!” He shouted, anger still lacing his voice over the pain.
“No, no,” Misaki chided, breaking his middle finger next. “Giving up is old news. I told you to repeat after me. Now. Or I’ll break the rest of them.” The man panted, his grip on her arm losing strength. He knew when he was beat.
“I won’t creep after little girls anymore,” he finally ground out, his body relaxing in anticipation of being released.
“Good job. Just to make sure you keep your word though.” In a smooth, quick movement, Misaki snapped the rest of the fingers on his hand, his scream raising into the night air. She did release him after that, turning her back to him as she went to check in on Fukazawa and Fukurou. “You guys doing ok over here?”
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Suzuko's opponent was fairly well taken care of thanks to the sudden gout of flame engulfing his body, and he would have to roll around on the ground to put himself out, leaving his flesh charred, his hair barely intact and smoldering, and his clothes nearly falling off of his body thanks to the damage inflicted. He looked the level of insane anger that one might expect from being lit on fire, but only managed to hang onto that expression for a few moments before the sound of his partner's fingers snapping caused the anger to turn into fear. They'd realized they'd been outmatched. If they'd managed to corner Suzuko by herself, maybe they'd have stood a much better chance, but with Misaki watching her back? There'd been no chance.
Not that Suzuko would mention that.
The girl held her spear out to her backpack pal, letting him slurp it back down with a smoke-laden belch before reslinging him around so that he was held against her chest instead of her back, patting him on the head appreciatively. He seemed to like being patted on the head much more than Suzuko did. He made several noises that sounded like they could have maybe been a voice but they were quite small and interrupted with lots of growls and other odd mouth noises. "He says his sister is around somewhere..." To which Suzuko narrowed her eyes and looked down at him. "You never told me you had a sister, you little twerp."
He made some more growly mouth noises and Suzuko rolled her eyes, looking back up to Misaki. "Yeah, we're fine, we should probably let one of the local outposts know..." And then her eyes turned back up to the sky, the moon sitting high and she sighed, all that work exhaustion immediately seeping back into her bones. "Ugh, tomorrow..." She started to slouch-walk her way back down the path towards Misaki, and more importantly, towards where her dorm room would be, looking like she might just fall asleep on her feet. If Misaki listened closely, she might have been able to hear her speak, though. "I'm sorry I thought you were gonna rob me... And you can call me Suzuko..." She grumbled, and Fukurou-kun would roll something around in his mouth a bit, before sticking his tongue out around and out of Suzuko's vision, offering the civilian that had offered her help a pouchful of coins.
Not that Suzuko would mention that.
The girl held her spear out to her backpack pal, letting him slurp it back down with a smoke-laden belch before reslinging him around so that he was held against her chest instead of her back, patting him on the head appreciatively. He seemed to like being patted on the head much more than Suzuko did. He made several noises that sounded like they could have maybe been a voice but they were quite small and interrupted with lots of growls and other odd mouth noises. "He says his sister is around somewhere..." To which Suzuko narrowed her eyes and looked down at him. "You never told me you had a sister, you little twerp."
He made some more growly mouth noises and Suzuko rolled her eyes, looking back up to Misaki. "Yeah, we're fine, we should probably let one of the local outposts know..." And then her eyes turned back up to the sky, the moon sitting high and she sighed, all that work exhaustion immediately seeping back into her bones. "Ugh, tomorrow..." She started to slouch-walk her way back down the path towards Misaki, and more importantly, towards where her dorm room would be, looking like she might just fall asleep on her feet. If Misaki listened closely, she might have been able to hear her speak, though. "I'm sorry I thought you were gonna rob me... And you can call me Suzuko..." She grumbled, and Fukurou-kun would roll something around in his mouth a bit, before sticking his tongue out around and out of Suzuko's vision, offering the civilian that had offered her help a pouchful of coins.
"It's so sad!" the reader said to the writer with a frown. "The character in my book just died!" The author turned to her and burst out into tears, "I know!" he said, "So did mine!"
Ninja Info CardsShow
| Suzuko Just another girl |
Late Nights, Loaded Plates
Misaki looked Fukazawa up and down slowly, finding herself glad she had run into the girl. Maybe under better circumstances would have been better but it was unlikely that a better circumstance would have actually led to an interaction. Misaki had given her quite the hard time regarding her earlier mission but she had held her own just fine and Misaki had no doubt that she would be a real powerhouse some day. At the girl’s exhausted words, Misaki chuckled, shaking her head.
“I’ll make the report, don’t worry about it.” Misaki wasn’t even sure if the girl heard her, her feet already carrying her towards home. Her mumbled words brought an even bigger grin to Misaki’s face though. Seemed she had managed to worm her way past Suzuko’s defenses after all. She tossed the pouch of coins up and down a few times before calling out loudly to the girl’s back.
"See ya around, Suzuko! Alls forgiven!”
With much more ease in her step than before, Misaki walked back towards the center of town. She had seen a nice inn earlier and the promise of a hot bath and hot meal with her sudden influx of coin was too much to resist. In the morning she would go report the two criminals so that they could hopefully be apprehended. Scum like that would only be momentarily disheartened by their defeat. It wouldn’t be long until they picked up on their bad habits again.
As she sunk into the steaming water, Misaki had already decided to give as much credit to Suzuko as possible. The girl clearly took her responsibilities quite seriously and no doubt was trying to fast track her way to a promotion. It might not mean much but it certainly couldn’t hurt. Plus, the girl had stood up well to Misaki’s teasing and crude sense of humor. In the end, she wasn’t sure that the two of them were as different as they appeared on the surface.
Either way, Misaki found herself hoping that they ran into each other again in the future.
“I’ll make the report, don’t worry about it.” Misaki wasn’t even sure if the girl heard her, her feet already carrying her towards home. Her mumbled words brought an even bigger grin to Misaki’s face though. Seemed she had managed to worm her way past Suzuko’s defenses after all. She tossed the pouch of coins up and down a few times before calling out loudly to the girl’s back.
"See ya around, Suzuko! Alls forgiven!”
With much more ease in her step than before, Misaki walked back towards the center of town. She had seen a nice inn earlier and the promise of a hot bath and hot meal with her sudden influx of coin was too much to resist. In the morning she would go report the two criminals so that they could hopefully be apprehended. Scum like that would only be momentarily disheartened by their defeat. It wouldn’t be long until they picked up on their bad habits again.
As she sunk into the steaming water, Misaki had already decided to give as much credit to Suzuko as possible. The girl clearly took her responsibilities quite seriously and no doubt was trying to fast track her way to a promotion. It might not mean much but it certainly couldn’t hurt. Plus, the girl had stood up well to Misaki’s teasing and crude sense of humor. In the end, she wasn’t sure that the two of them were as different as they appeared on the surface.
Either way, Misaki found herself hoping that they ran into each other again in the future.
My CharactersShow
B-Rank MN • Katō, Tsubaki #A32638
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80
Sp. Jounin • Kirigakure no Sato • Araki Kiyo #DDA0DD
Akibushi • Heart Empire • Kimura, Misaki #FF80BF
Genin • Iwagakure no Sato • Kazuma #00BF80