Spooky Goes the Night (HFE, P, IO)

Feeling her arm, Maku hesitated. His eyes scanned and pierced the smoke seeing in chakra more than defined shapes, but when he saw the dullness of it all, they returned to blue rather than red. Sheathing his Tanto, and putting the Shuriken away as Akihana approached the boys he’d keep his eyes trained on them. He was less worried now, surely these three where less dangerous than everyone else inside the room.

A sudden gust of wind was expelled by Jack, the chakra fueled breath blowing the smoke away. The kids all held out weapons, but Aki clearly wished to speak to them anyway. As she asked the question the most gruff looked at her and screeched, “Here for the door, it isn’t a bore, don’t give us any lies, or the blonde girl does!” His voice was a cackle, and honestly once Maku picked up on the rhyme he face palmed. Grabbing another drink he downed it.

“Ok, I guess we are doing this. I assure you it won’t be full of bliss. Why are you here? Whisper it in my ear........Because if you don’t, it really is known, I’m going to hit you with this Xylophone.” Maku’s trademark singsong voice was back, and despite this being arguably one of the weirdest nights he’d had in awhile he couldn’t help but have a little fun with it all. He even reached over and plucked off a xylophone from the table, convenient to say the least, lest he might not have had the inspiration for the last rhyme.

“Just kill them, they seem awfully dim.” Jack would shout out. To this the audience started to stir, and the kids went from flustered to panicked. They’d clearly been sent in a mission that they wouldn’t be able to handle which, was the most perplexing part of the whole situation.........until a faint ping in his lizard brain went off.

Eyes swirling back to red he caught sight of it. His hands moved quicker than they normally did, the seals met quickly. 4 seals met in quick succession saw the room erupting in golden light. Above gentle feathers started to rain, and around the three boys a golden bubble. The bubble would collapse, seeming to remove nothing until a loud explosion could be heard off in the distance........the old academy building.......it had been the first thought in this ghost town, the second thing that happened were that the folks in the room started to drop like flies. Dead asleep.

Jack was able to resist, but the three kids hit the floor. Maku watched Aki to see if she would be able to dodge the genjutsu, he hadn’t had time to prevent it from taking effect on the entire room. “What the hell Jack, I’m not going to cut you no slack! What’s going on? And sorry, didn’t mean to make you yawn.” Now the rhyme bug had caught him it seemed. His eyes moved over the room once more, but he couldn’t sense anyone else about. The night was starting to catch up, and looking at Jack and the door, he could assume why with little doubts.

WC for this mission - 1586
TWC - 1867

“Here for the door,
it isn’t a bore,
don’t give us any lies,
or the blonde girl dies!”

The first rhyme didn’t shock her. Neither did the children threatening her. Akihana had walked many a times into a similar situation to be surprised. She was afraid though for the children really had no idea who they were dealing with. Because… they were sent by someone else. Probably grossly mislead into thinking this would be easy and that there would be high ranking chakra users around. The children had a few smoke bombs, some weapon and questionably poetry but that was about it.

In short, they had nothing.

It was over before it started, the gentle feathers raining down on the room. One of her own preferred methods of nonviolent means, the Temple of Nirvana was quick to take effect, making the civilians present fall into a deep sleep. It wasn’t different to the kids either, except they were the ones holding sharp weapons. Weapons that would only hurt themselves if they fell to the ground too close to each other while clutching said weapons.

Employing maximum speed, the blonde executed a seamless twirl, of all things her traditional dance training coming in handy as opposed to a shinobi move. Later she would reflect on how her action was no more absurd than the rhyming contest taking place but in that moment, all the kunoichi did was propel herself on one foot, spinning like a dradle to cover as much area as she could, gathering the weapons from the genins’ arms as they slumped to the floor.

When she came to a stop, her hands full of naked steel and her dress - not having caught up to her movements - still spinning gently around her, she noticed Maku had already turned his attention to their host. Jack must have been concealing his chakra earlier as this was the first time Akihana had identified him as a shinobi. Turning her attention back to their would be attackers, Akihana noted that the children were indeed unhurt and now quite fast asleep. Whoever had put them up to the task was even more misguided than they had been. And the Akari knew all about making bad decisions.

Jack was still on stage, this time answering Maku in a way that sounded entirely too self-satisfied.

“ It’s a show, my boy. The grand theater of our kind. You used to like it at one point, be the best at it.” Looking at the Genin, he would merely scoff. “I’ll take care of these,’ he offered and before Akihana could step in his way, the kids rose like puppets in the air held up by invisible strings. All three were deposited in an unceremonious heap beside the stage. “We both know who sent them Maku, don’t we? What do you say we send reinforcements right back at ‘em?’


Total words: 483

Mission total: 1118 (Akihana's part)

Claiming: 2000 ryo, 5AP, 400 WC

Same claims for this mission

Stop spamming. Approved.

Tsk........the sound would escape Maku’s lips as he looked around at the fallen criminals, and the movement of the kids.  He couldn’t say he cared to much about them, but still seemed like a waste to just kill them.  “Well don’t scrap them that quick, you can still learn something from them.”  Maku would say casually walking towards them.  To someone who didn’t know him they might be shocked by the indifference he exuded.  However, perhaps that was just another part of the lie.

Picking up one of the kids he’d funnel chakra through him to break the genjutsu, before gripping him underneath the chin.  The time reversal genjutsu would work almost instantly, the kids chakra network so scrambled from the attack.  Soon words would come spilling out of the kids mouth of where the “Chimney” was that housed their boss.  It was true that they indeed did want to steal the door that Jack had created, but more than that Maku was on their mind as well.  His establishments, and even he himself what’s the target to come next after they had captured the door.  Letting out a light sigh, it seemed the job didn’t want to let him go just yet.

“The world is a grand stage Jack.........your only mistake is thinking it’s anyone’s but mine.......and that I’m still not the best.”  Turning from the skeletally dressed man, he’d lead Akihana out of the Christmas Town establishment.  Thanks to the kid, they knew roughly where they were heading.  

Walking through the darkened streets, a feeling of deja vue gripped him.  This was the street he’d captured that monkey on, and the old genin crap missions of racking leaves.  He’d talk as they walked, explaining what buildings had been, what the place had looked like when he was here.  In truth he couldn’t recall if he had ever told Aki if he had been a genin from Takigakure, if he’d told her this is where it all started.  Since he couldn’t remember, in his own classic fashion, he’d just assume she knew what he was talking about and talk without any backstory.  

“Saiga was the leader here.  I’d always heard he was a powerful Shinobi........but he was gone for so long.  I just felt like I couldn’t stay.  Felt like I needed to go.......do something.  Wonder what would have happened if I’d have stayed here.........”. His voice would trail off as the thoughts ran through his mind.  He was silent for sometime after that, only answering if Aki asked him a direct question.  

As they finally neared the area, his pace would slow.  “Alright.......the elves are just a bunch of chunin level Shinobi, the Yeti is the guy we have to watch for.  Big guy who likes to wear fur, it’s so cliche.”  Maku would say with a wink.  “Well, partner Akihanna......how should we proceed on our mission?”  He’d say pointing to a large building with a smoking chimney.  They were currently still a couple blocks away and hidden in shadows.  As Maku waited he looked at the building, and a sudden bit of remembrance hit him.  Just perfect.............

WC Mission - 520
TWC - 2387

More distracted by the genjutsu Maku was performing on the children, Akihana didn’t pay much attention to what Jack was up to. It didn’t take much to guess he and Maku were communicating of things only they were aware of so instead the blonde simply made sure that their genin would be attackers were not too badly hurt. The information that came to them was a combination of terrified code words and half thought out plans but she did manage to recognize some key words. The chimney, Santa Clause and Elves, it seemed like something out of a Christmas production but with much higher stakes. Now that criminals were involved, she owed it to everyone else and herself to see it through.

No child should have to serve on a gang such as this one, ever.

Maku seemed to agree, at least given by their hasty exit. Whether he’d worked something out with Jack or not, the kunoichi couldn’t say but she had a feeling they had not seen the last of the skeleton tonight. The blonde only realized she had left her cloak behind when they exited the bar, the cold wind rushing to lay claim to her bare arms.

And so they walked, in silence at first and then speaking only to convey important information. Maku – looking so much like the man she had met almost five years ago – telling her of the group they were meant to be looking for. Apparently Missing Ninja saught to make their clusters interesting too, even if with festive themed ranks and code words. The Akari nodded, not asking many questions because in her experience, it was better to accept information from Maku than try to prod and eventually, their haphazard mission details turned into something more.

Maku had always been something of a mystery to even those who knew him best, she had found. And it wasn’t for the reasons everyone assumed. His less than legitimate past may require some kind of deceptiveness but information others considered “crucial” was something the restaurant owner gave away almost freely. He had readily invited her for a picnic in front of the kyubi where others would hide such a beast with their life. He had shown people his jutsu, his weapons, his philosophies on war and shinobi as the engine of it all. No, the information that he hid was usually mundane, or that bordered on revealing his humanity more than his prowess in battle.

He had once told her he came from a land where the water met the earth, and now she understood it to mean Takigakure. The possibilities he pondered and sounded out left her wondering fi she should interrupt. But Maku speaking so honestly of his past… was a rare opportunity that she would regret interrupting later if she did.

Besides, there wasn’t much value to saying she was glad he had left. The path he had taken back then had lead him to her.

So she simply listened quietly, her golden hair swaying entry withteh wind and unhurried strides.

“Well, partner Akihanna......how should we proceed on our mission?”

“Well,’ the medic reasoned, taking a step ahead of him determined not to stay behind this time around. If they were doing this as partners, then they were doing this as partners. “Always knock.” Moving ahead and not looking back to see if he was following her, the kunoichi made her way brazenly to the door of the “Chimney”. Two of the “’elves” Maku had mentioned stood on eitherside, looking almost comically like bouncers at a night club.

“Good evening, I’m here for the show,” she announced politely but firmly, making the elves’ surprised looks turn into a full leer when they saw her. Once again, the blonde was uncomfortably reminded that her cloak now served as a blanket for Sally and Winnie halfway across town.

“You one o’ them dancers?” an elf asked skeptically. Akihana shook her head.

“No, I’m here for the magic show,” she corrected, trying to be as truthful as possible. After all, what they planned to accomplish would be magical if pulled off correctly. “And that’s my lovely assistant, the Lavender Peacock,” she would indicate to Maku who would have hopefully caught up to her by now. “May we go in please?”

Another suspicious look up and down both the visitors and the elves begrudgingly opened the door.


(732)

Repressing a chuckle he watches as the gold headed, gold clad, gold eyed.......what was with this girl and gold, stroll right up to the door. There had always been something to be said for being so overt you were covert. It wasn’t far off a strategy he himself likely would have used. Watching she emitted an air of confidence he hadn’t seen from her since her return. However, it seemed to be working. There was no sounds of alarm, no running and scurrying as surely who would just walk straight up without a legitimacy plan? Well this duo would.

At her admission of a magic show, and the prospect of a peacock partner, Maku would fiddle with the cuff links that had been specially imbued. Stepping out of the shadows, Maku’s costume would be in full effect, perhaps capturing the light even more than Ali’s gold. His outfit featured a jumpsuit, with a neckline all the way down to the naval. A light lavender covered in sequins, as well as a cape that was every color in the rainbow. It was topped off with a top hat in the shape of the top half of a peacock head.

“Masters the great Peacock has arrived.....let me show you the majesty of magic.” Maku had put on an air of even greater confidence, and perhaps arrogance. As though he was to big for his britches, which is canon for all real magicians. The elves rolling their eyes, it all seemed to check out. Opening the door the flamboyant duo waltzed right in.

Inside, it was something out of a snow globe. Someone, had caused it to snow inside, Candy, gingerbread houses, and a whole host of other festive fun things where sprinkled around. At the head of it all, on a throne adorned with a wreath sat the big man himself. Dressed in red, he was big, fat, bearded, and drunk on egg not. Next to him stood the “Yeti”.

“Hohoho it’s time for a magic show!” The jolly fat man would say, clearly so inebriated that it all made sense. Taking a bowl he’d grab Aki by the hands and proceed to actually waltz with her to the makeshift stage that different bands had been set up on.

“My jolly fat man....what is it you would like to see?” Maku would say spreading his arms to spread his cape. This was pretty fun, he hoped it wouldn’t turn to violence.

Mission word count - 1661
TWC - 2796

Maku’s showmanship and queries were met by loud howls and applause. Apparently almost everyone save the Yeti was deep into their drinks with Santa so unsteady on his feet, it was only Akihana’s own grace that saved the two from tilting headfirst to the floor. Depositing the kunoichi roughly on the stage after the quick dance, the man in the stained red coat took his throne once more, reaching for yet another cup of eggnog.

“Do something cool!”

“Saw the Yeti in half!”

“Make Milly’s clothes disappear!”

Suggestions rang through the room as a spotlight hit the blonde, making her a practical beacon in this winter themed madhouse. She barely had the time to brush stray sugar granules off her arms deposited courtesy of Santa before Maku began to oblige, using a combination of substitution jutsu and his space time abilities to pull off party tricks. At least their magician act was believable, she thought gratefully as she smiled across the room. The show had well and truly begun.

“And now, ladies and gentleman, the peacock and I shall perform our greatest trick.” She called out, trying to make her soft voice resonate across the room like she had seen Maku to multiple times. It wasn’t quite as good as his but at least everyone could hear her. Or so she hoped.  “We will be making… multiple Santas!”

Another round of applause rang throughout, leading the two ninja to their trick. It was simple really. Maku’s distracting demeanor allowed for the creation of simple clones that looked exactly like the big man who had put the whole thing together. So impressed was the drunken man in fact that he lumbered to his feet, trying to determine the genuineness of his replicas.

“Lemme see if those’re real,” he bellowed as he stepped on stage, poking and prodding the clones. At one point, he even reached to pull at the coat of one of his copies, observing the white chest hairs underneath. “Thas a good trick.” He finally declared grudgingly before emitting another course laugh. “Well done girly, you’re on my nice list now!”

Seven Santas now stood on stage and right on her subtle cue to Maku, the music started. Keeping up her newfound cheer, Akihana guided all seven Santas into a dance, making sure to mix them around.

While an eighth Santa waited in the wings – ready to replace the original.


(401)
2062

The show they were putting on had worked so far. The dancing, the delight of the crowd, and let’s be honest the drinks helped as well. The casual tricks had concluded, and the Santa substitute had worked perfectly. As Akihana moves each of them through the circle, an 8th was waved on stage as Maku seemingly vanished with the real Santa they’d been charged with kidnapping. A simple genjutsu has led him to stay quite and follow along as he led him out into the crisp night air.

Ducking behind an alleyway he deposited the Santa, and created another shadow clone that would re-enter the fray. Once inside it would take the stage, pushing all of them into a line, each acting more drunk than the last. The crowd doing their part barely noticing anything except the main show on stage.

A curt wave to Aki would convey that it was time for her to go. “Ladies and gentleman......which is the real Chris Kringle!” It would should, before going up and down the rows. One by one the crowd would shout, only to have the clone vanish in a puff of smoke. Finally only one remained, and it made its way to the throne and sat. “I’d like to thank all of you for a wonderful time, but this is Halloween after all!” The clone would shout to a mixed chorus of boos and applause at the holiday shift. “So you got your treat......you saw me! Now how about a trick!” Pointing at the Santa it would vanish, one last puff of smoke.

It took a moment but wits started to come about them as they began to move in on the last clone. The yeti making his way onto stage with a growl. As the clone was grabbed he would wink, “Jack says hi.” And with that the great exploding clone would do what it did best, explode. The tower would begin to collapse on itself, amazing it had even still been standing all this time Maku would think in reflection. It had been the purpose of the technique though, that guard post still weighed heavily on his mind, and even though it was just a building, it felt good to knock it down.

The explosion could be heard from where Aki, Maku, and their prisoner were running through the streets, already a couple blocks away. “Well, the finale went with a bang.” Maku would say winking at Aki. Now all there was to do was to make it back to Christmas Town.

Though, what Jack was going to do with Santa was its own conundrum. A thought of the past flickered through his mind. An opportunity to take out two ghosts and see to it that they didn’t bother him again. His eyes glances sidelong at Santa and then to Akihana. Doubtful she’d be ok with it, and was it really the sort of life he wanted to get involved with again. Either way.......he’d have to make that decisions soon, as they approached their destination.

Word count mission 2569
TWC - 3303

The plan had worked out much better than she could have hoped for. Maku had picked up on all her cues and the Santa switch happened so fast, she doubted even she would have noticed if she hadn’t been a part of the plan. A plan that neither of the two partners had discussed in advance yet somehow managed to pull off without a hitch. Akihana supposed there was something to be said for knowing each other as long as they had but again, that was a thought for later.

“Thank you everyone, you’ve been amazing. And goodnight,” she finished the show to more applause before retreating backstage. Finding the right door, the kunoichi escaped to the street where Maku waited with their captive. It was still a mystery as to what Jack really wanted with Santa but one she hoped would be resolved soon. As they began to sprint away, she felt the massive rumble starting underneath the Chimney, her face turning even paler in the moonlight.

The clone had been of an exploding variety… That was not the plan…

Or perhaps it had been so all along and she had merely been foolish, thinking they could get in and out undetected with no harm done. She had almost succeeded. What harm would it have caused if the final Santa was just a regular clone? If he had just pretended to sleep from his drink after the magic show? It could have kept his accomplices occupied for a few hours and by the time anyone realized he was not actually the man he was pretending to be, Maku and Akihana would be too far to try and catch.

But now, no one would come for them, because the whole motley crew at the building was dead thanks to a jutsu she had never imagined concocted within her trick. The stab of betrayal was enough to make her eyes glimmer but Akihana pushed the hurt aside. Now was not the time.

They made good time, returning to Christmas Town with the still unconscious, white bearded criminal in tow. The place was still as quiet as it had been when they had left but that was no surprise. A potent genjutsu induced slumber could last hoursUpon entering however, it became clear that the place was too quiet. In fact, the only people actually moving were… the three genin they thought they had made indisposed earlier.

Yes we did, we did tell Jack,
That Blondie, she’d be right back.
They did our work for us, what’s more,
Wanna see what’s behind this door?”

And before either one of them could react, Akihana found herself face to face with her own red cape, draped over something large. Taikng advantage of her distraction, one of the Genin pushed the sleeping Santa right into the red wool material, only for the cloak to slide away and reveal… Jack’s door.

And no more Santa.

The Genin had officially kidnapped the Santa that Maku and Aihana had just abducted.


(502)

Claiming: 3000 ryo, 7Ap, 800 WC