Good Chemistry[p ayame, salzem]

Salzem didn't say a single thing as Jace's crow lowered near his body and Ayame began healing him, even as her constant "Here's what's wrong" got on his nerves. He didn't NEED to say anything because Jace as already saying it, albeit less forceful and blunt that he would've appreciated. The lycan didn't look at either of them for fear of it being nothing less than a glare, staring over Ayame's shoulder as he worked on his front, at the bodies of the lycans he had recently choked out. Until now, he hadn't seen anything even remotely resembling lycanthropes other than himself... What did this mean? On one hand, he had just beaten the ever-loving piss out of the people who could give him an explanation as to what his infection meant... On the other, he had just beaten the piss out of people who sorely needed it. Essentially, this was one of those times where one should think It's probably nothing and go on about their business but Salzem just... couldn't let that go... He needed to find out all he can now because now... he wasn't the exception. Looks like he was going to have to read those ancient nursery rhymes and stories again.... A depressing thought indeed.

Once Ayame and Jace had their conversation, Salzem watched on as their leader went around to each of the fallen bandits, checking to see if they were in stable condition, staring lifting their lids to peer into their eyes. He could only assume that he was casting some kind of genjutsu on them because... why else would you stare at someone half-dead on the ground with a sharingan?

"If you want, I could just... kick them in the head or something. It might save you chakra." But Jace wasn't in the mood for humor of any kind and ignored the wolf, Salzem merely shrugging his shoulders and letting Aya finish up her work. Once that too was complete, Salzem would help Jace load the men onto his impressively huge bird, turning it into their effective pack-mule, at least until the end of this mission. And an end couldn't come too soon. From their, Jace's big-bird would fly above them all, granting the three some well-needed shade as they made their way back to the village OUT OF FORMATION, the lycanthrope contemplating what had just happened. He stared into Jace's back, trying to get a read on the guy beneath what was quite obvious... It didn't take his lycan senses to know that Jace was less than pleased with the outcome of this mission and with Ayame in general, but he couldn't blame him really... Salzem wasn't the most professional ninja out there and one could possibly make an (Awful) argument that he was sloppy, but he knew how to handle his work. Even if this was their first formal meeting, the lycan respected Jace to a reasonable degree, appreciating his no-nonsense attitude and detecting a lot of potential in him.

Despite all that, though, Ayame had more. While her discipline and ability to work constantly under fire was in question here, that was exactly WHY she possessed more real potential than Jace at this moment. She was already powerful enough to take out like.... what... 6 thugs with one move and then go on to poison 2 more? Ignoring the fact that he was among them, her power was to be respected without doubt. The issue with this was that the girl couldn't see where she went wrong and that made learning a WHOLE lot more difficult. She was blaming the team, himself, Jace... EVERYONE but who was actually at fault. This was certainly enough to anger both of her teachers and friends, one alleged and one official, and the last thing anyone ever wanted on a life-or-death mission is angry friends. They must be cold, efficient, united. One must play on the strengths and then learn to do it better than before.

"Ayame." Salzem said as they crossed the entrance into Suna's gates, Jace going off with his bird-friend to do the paper-work. "Feel like grabbing some dinner? I want to talk with you about some things." If she decided to join him (despite their previous spat), they would go to the nearest above-average restaurant, Salzem not feeling like quick-food today. If not, then he'd go by himself, not disturbed in the least.

(EXIT)
(WC: 3514)
Claiming mah 4000 ryo via mission AND 35 AP via wordcount

(Gonna interrupt your guys' exit cause you forgot about something y'all said we'd do when we first started the thread.)

Ayame didn't like what she was hearing. She knew she messed up, but this whole spiel wasn't just her fault, but she held her tongue refusing to speak to either of the boys, simply going around and healing the unconscious bandits as Jace used Genjutsu on them and Sal moved them to on top of the crow's back.

A bright book fell from one of the bandits as he was placed onto the crows back. This book was leather bound with strange symbols carved into it. This book was anything but discreet and it looked like a rainbow.

Ayame made sure that the others were in stable condition before walking over to where she saw the book fall and picking it up to examine it. Ayame checked it for signs of a trap or anything, but she could find none whatsoever. It looked like a seemingly normal rainbow journal.

She would show it to Jace figuring he would be able to see if there was any evidence of tampering or Jutsu bound to the book, however, the pages inside would look completely blank, even with Sharingan and would have a faint smell of algae. "Should we open it?" she asked calmly but curiously.

It seemed as though there was some sort of Fuinjutsu Lock on it. Should Jace give her the go ahead, she would work on it a little, attempting to remember her Fuinjutsu classes from the Academy. After a few moments of fiddling with it and allowing her teammates to do so as well, she got it down and got the book unlocked.

Provided he would allow her to open it, they would find all the pages to appear black. "Something isn't right... why go through all the trouble to make this book and lock it if there's nothing in it?" Ayame thought a moment. "It makes literally no sense."


WC: 339
TWC: 2151

0500/0500 Fuinjutsu Breaking: E-Rank
1000/1000 Fuinjutsu Breaking: D-Rank
0500/0500 Fuinjutsu Lock

Book of Clan Nezumichi Item Page

(I'll lock it back up next post when I exit Hopefully.)

Ayame had found a strange book that was both rainbow colored and leather-bound as Salzem was loading the captured enemies onto Shiora's back. She had picked it up and asked Jace to look it over for any signs of tampering with jutsu using his sharingan. He agreed and did so quickly. "It doesn't look like it's been tampered with at all." he said calmly. "You can go ahead and open it up. It probably isn't dangerous. Just be cautious anyway." he added in response to her questions. 

After a few minutes she finally managed to open the book. The pages were all blank and whatever sliver of interest Jace might have had in the strange book at first was now gone. "Well I don't know why they would keep a book with blank pages, but you can go ahead and take it with you if you want. Let's head back now though. You can mess with it on the way, ok?" 

Having finished with that small matter Jace would continue with all other actions from the previous post, taking care of paperwork and turning in the enemy ninja before heading off on his own.
[exit]

claiming 10 stats, 3,000 words for training Shiora, and 4,000ryo from the mission rewards

Just as they were about to head back into the village, Jace and Salzem were stopped when Ayame came across a strange multi-colored-cover book, thin almost like a journal. Usually, it was an unspoken rule to NOT go picking through the gear of the people you just beat the life out of and simply let their possessions go undisturbed. Salzem looked at the girl strangely as she asked whether or not she should open it, a question akin to asking whether or not they should go through someone's underwear drawer. Unless you enjoyed that sort of thing, one doesn't simply go barging through someone's secrets with such.... joviality! It's not right, it's not moral, and it was dishonored herself. Still, even without saying it, Ayame seemed quite intent on opening it's pages, whether or not they agreed or were around to see it. Chances are if Salzem protested, she'd either come back for it later or just read it behind his back. In his mind, there was no point in saying "no" so she might as well rack up some vengeful karma while they were all around to witness it.

"Sure. Do what you want." Salzem said, crossing his arms and shrugging his shoulders. "You already took it from his body. Might was well see what's inside." After Jace gave it the once-over with his sharingan, he concluded that there were no chakra-infused traps within it's pages, at least confirming that her retribution wasn't coming from that angle. Watching from a reasonable distance, the lycanthrope waited for any visual indicators that might give him an idea of what was written... but the girl's face was contorted with confusion, spreading to him as well.

"What?" He asked as she looked up at them both. She explained that it was empty, that the pages were blank, and Salzem let out a light sigh of relief. Maybe Ayame will only get a mild universal smiting after all... "It's probably just an empty journal intended to record robberies like this. Probably found it on some caravan they raided before us." Salzem offered, providing an explanation that neither Aya nor Jace seemed able to provide.

Heading back, Salzem would complete all the previous actions: walk back, analyze mission, ask Ayame to dinner, go with or without her.

(EXIT FOR REALZIEZ)
WC: 3896
Claiming now: 4000 Ryo via mission.

Ayame noticed Sal seemed on edge as if she was doing something wrong. It's not like she had stolen it... it had simply fallen from the body. As the boys finished up what they were doing she muttered, "I guess I'll lock this thing up and see if anyone else can crack it when we get back to Suna." Ayame said focusing her chakra attempting to lock it. Her index finger glowed blue with chakra and as she tapped the top of the book, locking it shut. Yes, it was a weak lock, but it would buy some time if somebody attempted to open it. It was locked for a reason even though it was blank... there must be some code to crack it.

She had so many questions, as well. What did the seven symbols mean? Why did they line up with the colors? What about the weird object in the top right corner?

The book almost called to her as if it wanted her to explore it and crack it. This worried her a little, as this was how most things took a turn for the worse, however, Ayame always wanted to learn and know more. The more she knew, the better choices she could make and the more informed opinions she would have.

Before she knew it they were back at the gates and Sal asked her to go to dinner which she accepted not showing too much emotion as she was lost in thought, running her fingers over the embossed symbols on the front, curious as to their meaning.

(Exit)

WC: 265
TWC: 2416

Claiming:

0500/0500 Fuinjutsu Breaking: E-Rank
1000/1000 Fuinjutsu Breaking: D-Rank
0500/0500 Fuinjutsu Lock: E-Rank
0416/0500 Puppet Art: Ventriloquism
Book of Clan Nezumichi x1 (2075 words would have been needed)
Mission Rewards (4000 Ryo and the Mission Completion AP)

6 stat points

Jace you are approved

You are approved... With a smile

Aya... It's jutsu or book, not both. Not sure if you are trying to claim it...

Editing to only claim

Book of Clan Nezumichi x1 (2075 words would have been needed)
Mission Rewards (4000 Ryo and the Mission Completion AP)

6 stat points

ight, approved, you too sal