What's in the Box? [Hunter] [Ken, Mizu]

Mission Name: What's in the box!?!
Rank: B-rank
Type: Stealthy Delivery
Character Requirements: Missing-Nin
Mission Location: Country Borders
Word Count Requirements: 3000
Challenges: Stealth
Repeatable? Yes
NPC?  If requested, explained below
Reward: 3600 (6000 for hunter) Ryo & 7 AP

Task: You have been given a package, a cooler to be exact. Your job is to deliver the package to its destination. One more thing. Your destination will be full of thieves trying to steal the package for themselves. Do your best to sneak through and around the thieves and deliver the package safely and in one piece. If the Hunter Challenge is accepted the thieves in question are a pair of B-rank Missing-Nin hired to take the package from you. Either evade of eliminate the pair, but do keep in mind that they are not interested in your death, simply in taking the package from you.

For the Hunter Challenge to be accepted the mission must have the tag [Hunter]


Mizu stood, feet shoulder width apart and arms crossed, staring down at the cooler on the ground, it had straps to either sling it across your chest or wear in a back pack fashion depending on preference. It was nondescript in its appearance, tan and as bland as the sand she was surrounded with - the straps made of darker tanned leather, years of use evidently worn into the leather- leaning down slightly to grip the strap testingly -  it was  soft and supple under her finger tips. At least one thing was certain - it wouldn't be digging into her shoulders like new leather would. Wrinkling her nose slightly as a scent reached her suddenly - eyes sharpening in disgust - whatever was in the cooler definitely reeked. Straightening herself she rubbed her palms on her pants to recollect herself, her thoughts going straight to the early stages of decomposition as the likely culprit to the smell. 



The task was simple in theory - deliver the package to its destination - but the execution was going to be its own challenge, she had been warned that the destination would be monitored by opposing clients. Scoffing softly to herself at her use of her old life's vocabulary. Simply put there were others who wanted what was in the cooler at her feet - now if she was doing this alone she was sure to feel more anxiety. Lack of planning was not in her make up, she was used to scoping places out and knowing for sure she had several exit strategies - but that was when she was a dealing with civilians with the occasional 'mobster baddie' in her path. This was a whole other level. Taking a few restless steps around the cooler she finally plopped herself firmly against the wall closest to it, ankles crossed and her hands now resting behind her head. Her wild black hair ruffling slightly in the dry wind that seemed to be ever present in this part of the desert - waiting for him/



She wasn't going alone of course. He was keeping his promise in a way - as their last meeting had solidified in stone - he was hers, and where one went the other followed. He had been an unforeseen and instrumental part of her life now and without it having to be explicitly spelled out for her - they both knew really - that no harm was ever going to come to either of them while the other lived. A force beyond either of their comprehension had brought them together - a deadly combination. Those who fight without reason have nothing to lose... but when someone has only one thing to lose... they fight with everything they have.

[445]

Remaining leaned against the wall, her hands behind her head - the raven locks flying in every direction - making her appearance more wild by the day. Her head turned slightly in his direction, feeling his presence as he approached - and the dark pool of his energy he held close to him was flowing a little easier - interesting development. She made no attempt to move from her position against the wall, her ankles still crossed in a very nonchalant way. Most people would have a negative reaction to the approach of the Demon but Mizu simply felt balanced and oddly at ease. Raising his hand to greet her she would release a smile - unable to maintain a straight face - and the fire in her eyes reignited. It was an odd addition to her personality she had noticed, she was a fiery person but for whatever reason when she was around Kenshin she was ablaze with ambition.

"So nice of you to join me today. Ready for our picnic?", her tone rose in jest as she ended her sentence, the cooler that lay between the two her obvious inspiration for the joke. She felt light - or was it free? This was the first time she would be stepping outside the gates with Kenshin in tow - he could finally see what she was capable of, what she had learned. Pushing gently off the wall she would move over to him, her feet light like a dancers - soundless in her approach - until she was in front of him. Tugging on his coat front for a moment as if she was straightening him up to go somewhere fancy. Nodding to herself in approval she would turn to bend down, hefting the large cooler onto her shoulders , taking a moment to adjust it to fit her lithe frame. "I believe we will be late if we don't head out, no?", it was posed as a question but it held its own reserved note of authority at the edge. In no way was she bossing him around but if they were standing side by side the power had to begin to balance out.

Their destination wasn't very far away, more of a drop point for a third party to finish the delivery to the unknown buyer. Standard operation for Mizu actually, back in her younger years when she was fending for herself she would routinely take jobs like this- her small frame made perfect for stealth. Maybe a few hours walk at a decent pace - could they make it there in less time if they ran, certainly, but it wasn't necessary; and time together wasn't unwanted. During their trek through the desert, though annoying, was unheeded - she had to keep her footing light and fast so as not to sink into the sand with every footfall. The added weight of the cooler on her back bringing her little help. Where was the drop point again? Her footsteps continued surely in the same direction they were headed but she had lost her sense of direction. Glancing over to Kenshin, for what seemed like the 20th time since they departed from the gates, she would clear her throat to gather his attention again - as if he wasn't paying attention to her already. "Not to sound foolish but, you wouldn't happen to know.. how to reach the location would you?", her question had begun with false dignity before simpering down into a sweet request - eyes wide in innocence. 

He wasn't likely to believe the innocence but the act might bring out a laugh at least.

[WC 594]
[TWC 1039]

“We’d best be headed out, can’t have word getting out that The Ragdoll can’t even ensure his ‘packages’ arrive on time now can we.”


Her mouth still hung open for a split second too long - her eyebrow cocked up mirroring his reaction to her straightening his jacket. Oh he has jokes now does he? His wink was telling in his true joking manner that he cut her off. Pressing her lips into a small line, momentarily staving off a smile that wanted to present itself, before sliding her thumbs under the straps of the cooler to shift them to a more comfortable position. It was clear to Mizu that she wasn’t the only one experiencing a lightness in the atmosphere between them - reflecting back on their first meeting felt like ages ago - had it really only been a few months? That day she had persuaded him with ideas of creating a widespread black market, the two of them roaming together, and here they were side by side delivering on her words. 


Scoffing aloud she could not resist an eye roll at him, her own innocent facade falling away as soon as his had appeared, - he was teasing her. Placing a hand defiantly on her hip she turn to face him completely - he knew exactly where they were to go and his toying with her was only to give himself some entertainment. A strong breeze flowed through their now suddenly still figures - her blood red kimono like shirt ends flowing violently as her hair blew to the side leaving some tendrils to fly higher. It was all very dramatic if she wasn’t struggling to contain her amusement at Kenshin’s expression - it was so comically innocent that on his face it looked even funnier. It couldn’t be too far off at this point - she mused silently to herself - she could continue to play it off as if she knew where she was going for certain, she did know the direction and hadn’t she found the remains of Sunagakure with similarly vague direction? Giving a small defeated sigh she would wave her free hand dismissively in the air - “If we die of thirst and rot out here in the desert lost I want it to be know it was your fault.”, she winked at him in turn, heading back in the direction she had been walking, the tendrils of her shirt ties flitting behind her in the continued breeze.

Raising her violet eyes to the sky she gauged the oncoming weather warily - she was not fond of the frequent sandstorms that wracked the village on a steady enough basis. Though a sand storm was how her and Kai had come to meet - so there was some credit to be given if any. Her footfalls began to slow, her usually quick pace decreased to a steady walk - there were clouds building but they weren’t like normal clouds she was used to seeing. Squinting up into the sky she wondered - does it rain in the desert? It was no Hoshigakure storm by any means, but the clouds seemed to be dark and spaced out - like a flash rain was building in the distance. Hm. It was a rarity for sure but it wasn’t unheard of for the desert to get sporadic light showering - and it had been so long since she had felt the air be anything but soul suckingly dry. She was about to mention the observation to Kenshin when she spotted a more worn path leading off to the left - luckily they were at the top of the hill as they reached the bend - a small green dot in the sea of sand was visible. Moaning internally she would halt in her tracks, rolling her shoulders as a small ache began to set in from the straps digging in-  in an attempt to play off her soreness she would shoot a look of ‘I told you so’ back at Kenshin, “I was only testing you, I knew the whole time.”

[WC 666]
[TWC 1705]

Ilya Stats:

Lieb Stats:

Of all the places she had gone to complete a job, this had to top the list of her least favorite. She was a Senju. Grass, flowers, trees, and all the sounds of the forest was something she couldn't help but crave. Unfortunately, the deserts of Wind Country didn't allow any of that to exist, which was exactly where she and her partner, Lieb, were right now. Their client wanted them to steal a package from two escorting shinobi delivering it to some other low life scum for whatever reason. It was good money for easy work, even if it did take place in this wretched place. At least, that's what Ilya thought about it. If she had known just who the two were that she was about to steal from, well, she'd probably be in a bar somewhere far far away from here drinking bourbon instead of potentially throwing her life away on what could very well turn out to be a suicide mission. Alas, the young Senju woman had no idea she had accepted a contract to steal from the Demon, so here she was, bored and irritated, in the only saving grace in this entire desert: a, subjectively, small thicket of trees that was meant to be the drop point. It was like a drop in the bucket of endless sand, but at least it was something. It had also given her what could turn out to be her only advantage: trees.


The sky overhead was thick with rain clouds, something very unusual for the desert lands of Wind Country, though not as much here on the borders than near the center. It would also explain why there were actual grassy areas and trees here when so much of the desert was nothing but sand heated by the intense rays of the sun from above. Well, as much as Lieb appreciated a hot meal and warm bed, he would have never passed up an opportunity to spend some quality time with the lovely Ilya Senju. Her long raven hair and emerald green eyes contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. Standing at five feet and two inches tall, compared to his own six feet in height, she was a little firecracker of energy, always getting so heated at anyone who dared to insult her height and taking on ridiculous jobs from overly flamboyant clients just to prove to the world that she wasn't just some cute little girl, but a dangerous woman equal to any male hired hand out there.

Lieb was always the one right by her side on those stupid jobs though, just like he was now. Both Ilya and himself had taken up position in the tallest tree above the drop point as part of the ambush. What probably wasn't known by whoever the unlucky souls were coming to make the drop, was that this tree hadn't even existed a day ago. No, this one was a product of the lovely Ilya's jutsu, and the reason they were both forced to take position so high up. The Senju woman had first created a semi thick mist to cover the area around the drop point thick enough to hide the pollen she was about to create, and then formed a large tree from beneath them that emitted a strange pollen from its bark and the numerous flowers that grew from it. The pollen, if inhaled, had a curious effect on its victims nervous system, actually knocking them out fairly quickly if they didn't manage to escape the area of the pollen. Unfortunately, the jutsu couldn't differentiate between friend or foe, and covered an area of 100 meters away from the tree and 50 meters high, forcing Lieb and Ilya both to remain perched 55 meters up the tree where there was no pollen to affect them. Lieb's job was to keep his Byakugan active and watch for anyone approaching that looked like they were carrying the package they had been tasked to, 'acquire'.

-1 AP for Byakugan
999AP remaining for Lieb

-10AP for Hidden Mist
-50AP for Advent of a world of flowering trees pollen has a power of 110. 110 health required to avoid falling asleep, 55 health required at a distance of 51 meters from the tree or further.

Her chest would have slammed into Kenshin’s extended arm if she was not hyper aware of him - her feet instantly halted at his silent command, her eyes narrowed as his was in the distance. It took a ridiculously long second to understand why exactly they had halted - usually aware of her surroundings like a lone deer wandering a forest - she was surprised the very size of the tree they were approaching. Unnaturally large, especially for the desert, and what she assumed was a thicket of green surrounding an oasis, was one singular tree. “Or are they simply making it seem so obvious…”, naturally skeptical, the serious tone in her voice made it clear she was no longer at ease - the light heartedness that was once very evident in the air vanishing as if it never existed. 

She turned to look at his expression, the nonchalant approach to ‘greeting’ them throwing her off slightly. This was the first time she had ever partnered with anyone in this manner, and it was definitely the first time she had ever seen him in action - were the rumors going to do it any justice? The question was forming on her face before freezing in place - her eyes landing on the now transforming face of Kenshin. The eyes she knew were gone - replaced with the dullest of yellow, not bright like an owl but more so like the sickly - his skin got lighter than she could have thought possible too. Her eyes darted down to take note of the black veins sprouting up from his exposed skin. That was nothing - child's play - when it came to the wall of chakra that slammed into her. It was black in nature - causing Mizu’s breath to catch for just a moment. A weight felt like it had been placed over her chest leaving her paralyzed to only watch in astonishment as he flew through hand signs causing several things to happen at once. A wooden statue rose from the ground - nearly instantly being flocked with two identical copies of Kenshin himself. A sudden release of pressure and her lungs were filling with the growing damp air that pressed down over the group. Mizu could feel a slight tremble fighting its way through her body - instinctively grasping the straps of the cooler over her shoulders to steady her hands; returning her face to an analytical mask. “We will be talking about that later.”, she made no effort to explain what ‘that’ she was referring to, he knew. She watched the trees in interest now, her mind grasping at anything to focus on other than how she had felt during that transformation Kenshin had undergone.

She wasn’t afraid of him - as many would assume - she was envious and greedy in her own way, but now she had more to worry about. Someone, or someones were in that thicket ahead, and being a betting woman she would bet anything they wanted the thing she had strapped to her body. Bring it.

[WC 500]
[TWC 2205]

An evil presence slammed into the pair like an ominous hammer before quickly disappearing. They each looked at one another with silent communication in their eyes. This was definitely one of those contracts that was way over their heads. Still, they remained where they were in the hopes that somehow their original plan could still succeed.

-1AP Byakugan for Lieb
998AP remaining

-5AP for Ilya
1,035AP remaining