Spirited away (missions, IO)

Mission 1

Details :

Mission 2

Mission details 2:

Mission 3

Mission 3 Details :

A small trail of smoke snakes up from the kiseru.  The stringy kizami gently burning within the brass tip.  The funky polished wooden handel moved up to a pale skinned hand, and red lips across a pale face.  Moving up blue eyes curtained by blonde curls looked with curiosity and intrigue at an older gentleman, who was the polarizing force to the calm smoking man.  

The rest of Asahi was dressed in a mostly plain kimono.  Loosely fit, and even more loosely worn his chest and partly down his abdomen where visible.  The ink stained cloth wraps covering his bare chest.  The kimono was a dirty white with use, the bottoms fringed in red designs. Seated on a cushion a table separated the cousins Yagami from the man in front of them.  A Ceramic saki decanter surrounded by three small cups finished the scene.  

“You’re sure?  You really think it’s spirits?”  Asahi would say leaning forward,  pipe between his lips and now his right elbow on the table.  Uncharacteristically the saki cup was mostly untouched, showing how serious he was taking the job.  It had been Yasahiro’s idea to branch out from odd jobs, and in his reluctant agreement Asahi had negotiated to pick the first job.  Located outside the small town they had been staying in was a small cottage.  Not unlike the abandoned one they had been living in.  The difference being, folks had been claiming to see things, hear noises, and have items stolen from them near the home.  Several claiming to have seen ghosts, impa, spirits, and even one claiming an Oni was behind it.  The later was ridiculous but the others........”We are on the case!”  Asahi yelled at the man’s nod bringing his hand down in the table.

Picking up the glass he’d drink the sake in on gulp and turn merrily to his cousins craggy face.  His enthusiasm beaming out, a bit at odds at the prospect of ghost hunting.  

TWC - 326

This was not what the older of the two Yagami cousins had in mind when he had pitched the idea of looking for alternative work. He had envisioned perhaps acting as bodyguards or maybe escorting a particularly valuable load of cargo across country borders. He certainly never imagined he'd be taking a contract to check up on rumors of the supernatural. Indeed, the only silver lining was the client was good for the ryo; he could swallow his pride if it meant going to bed with a full stomach.

Asahi took the lead in this particular instance. He found the job, made the connection, and did most of the talking. The black-clad Yasahiro, on the other hand, remained silent as the client, and his bubbly cousin went back and forth on the details. Spirits held little interest for the exile. There were far too many things to be worrying about in the material world that he didn't want to bother with those on the immaterial plane. Luckily, Asahi always had a certain affinity for the unseen and oft-overlooked corners of the world. For once, it was nice to see that such an interest was paying off in a more immediate way than building good juju for the world beyond.

"Thank you for this opportunity," Yasahiro added to his cousin's assertions, downed the sake, and gave their new employer a slight bow. "We'll report back to you shortly."

Even if it was a strange request on the part of their client—to look into a potential haunting—Yasahiro would see it through with all the seriousness of any other mission as his more formal, stilted tone surely hinted at. Plus, everyone knew hauntings were not something that really ever happened, right? Such happenings, in the exile's experience, were typically explainable by something horribly mundane.

"Lead the way, oh Spiritual One."

Truthfully, the samurai had only been half-listening and trusted his cousin more when it came to directions in this instance.
---
WC: 332

Walking out of the town, the whisps of tobacco smoke still snaked out into the sky. Twilight was starting to fall in full effect as the blue sky gave way to yellows and oranges. A cool breeze flowed over the path as Asahi pulled together his kimono to ward away the chill the breeze promised to deliver. “So we should be on the right path.......it seems like it’s just outside, but right before the marshland.” Asahi would say as they walked. Letting go of the pipe he held it tightly with his teeth and lips. His right arm reaching into the over sized sleeve, and revealing a ceramic container. “Care for one more splash of liquid courage? Before the spooky ghosts overpower us....whooowhoooo” he’d finish this with much wiggling of fingers and head bobbing.

He’d trade the pipe for the sake and back again before handing it off to his cousin. Asahi’s normally bubbly personality was in full affect presently. Though he doubted spirits where actually the cause, it was nonetheless exciting. There was always that chance.....always the hope there would be something more. On his chest bounced a chain with several talismans and amulets, along with several ofuda in an inside pocket. One could never be too safe.

He’d prattle on about several different kinds of spirits and possibilities. Leaving out the more horrific creatures, knowing that the lack of violence didn’t point to them anyway. From the man he’d gathered it was just scares and thefts.

It wouldn’t take long to come upon the house. It’s shabby appearance not quite the dilapidated nature of their own home, was still the worse for wear. The twilight sky still just barely visible, the cacophony of noises from the night time creatures beginning to stir. Asahi would clap twice before bowing. Saying a prayer he’d stand back up straight. Left hand on the kiseru and right hand holding the slip of paper to ward of spirits he’d begging marching towards the home.

“Watch my back cousin!” He’d shout back a wide grin on his face, right before a white object tackled him from a brush on the side of the walkway up. Knocked to the ground the spirit would grab his pipe and snap the necklace from his neck, and begin floating away towards the home.......with the distinct sound of footsteps to Asahi’s chagrin. The sake bottle broken, and alcohol smell filling the air and his clothes.

TWC - 733

"Have some respect," Yasahiro waved off the sake and furrowed his brow. "That guy back there may have a few screws loose if he thinks that there are evil spirits running amock on this plane of existence, but he's still our patron for this job."

There was a time and place for theatrics and drink, but while working a paying job was not it. That said, it certainly didn't feel like much of a job with both cousins going into it armed only with their wits. The whole dilemma presented as a bit of a catch-22 wherein to take on a high-paying job they needed to arm themselves, but to arm themselves properly for such a job they needed the high pay it would provide. The hope was that by investigating paranormal activity and other smaller, more manageable jobs that they would be able to work their way up to something bigger and better. The only speed bump to such a tactic was the risk of dying of boredom during such uneventful quests.

In time, the pair arrived at the less-than-impressive establishment described by their patron—it certainly wasn't much to look at. The windows were boarded up, the roof sported an unnatural skylight, and the porch looked a bit less than stable. Truthfully, however, it wasn't the worst looking structure Yasahiro had seen in recent memory—his current abode came to mind, for example.

"Sure thing—" the words had barely left when he saw his cousin knocked to the ground by a figure that appeared surprisingly human for a ghost. In a flash, the older cousin was by Asahi's side and past it as he gave chase to the small miscreant. Fortunately, the rotting porch did most of the work for him, because the white-clad figure—clearly a kid—tripped and fell on a particularly unstable step that nearly buckled under even their small weight.

Wordlessly, Yasahiro put the struggling kid under his arm and grabbed both the pipe and the necklace before returning to his cousin's side.

"Congratulations you were bested by a runt."

WC: 679

Standing and attempting to part with the dirt and sake a rather grumpy expression was being worn by Asahi. It wasn’t the spilled sake, JT wasn’t even the stains on a white kimono that promised to never leave, it was the fact that Yasahiro had single handedly ran ahead, dehooded the culprit, and proved there was no ghosts over the span of 10 seconds. Honestly, the odds had never been with him, but it’s have been fun if it lasted just a bit longer.

“I don’t know, he looks pretty big for a kid if you ask me. Probably counts for something.” Making his way fully to his feet, he’d let the top part of his kimono fall back. Pale skin stained red by the twilight. Using the top part he’d mop the worst of it off his flesh and bandages while asking the questions.

“Sooooo I guess you aren’t a ghost?” He swore he saw Yasahiro sigh, but still if he didn’t ask how was he to properly know. There was no reason to not take this whole thing seriously.

“Ummmm no....”. The boy said a little confused. This clearly was not the first question that he had been expecting. For his part, he was probably around 9 or 10......or maybe 17, honestly Asahi wasn’t good at ages of children’s and he didn’t pretend to be. Outside the white sheet he wore grubby clothes over a dark skinned body, black hair thatched ontop, and a rather scared look on his face. Which, Asahi didn’t blame him. He wouldn’t want to be held by Yasahiro like that either.

“And......you don’t work for ghosts correct?” Asahi started slowly and rushed the sentence despite the scoff and eye rolls. “Alright alright, just return the stuff you’ve nicked, and the Namahage won’t get you.” That ought to do it he thought. He smiled proud of himself, only to be taken aback dropping to a crouched stance with hands out stretched and making a shushing noise, as the boy had started to cry uncontrollably.

“He’ll kill him!.......m-m-my.......borthe......r.......he’s trapped inside! We just h-h-Ave to steal for.....Mr...Bigs” the boy went in, a blubbering mess. Not really knowing how to handle the situation he looked up at Yasahiro.

“Ummm give him a shake to calm him down will you?” Asahi said, thoroughly taken aback.

TWC - 1120

Maybe you're just small, Yasahiro thought without betraying any such doubts on his face. Asahi was a good guy and an even better friend, but he wasn't what one could call imposing or, one might go so far as to say, masculine. The younger Yagami's form was not all that much bigger than his youthful assailant. Suffice to say, the exile did not entirely trust his cousin's assessment of size especially when it cast him in a bad or unfavorable light. Regardless, he simply listened to the back and forth between the kid and his cousin without so much as a word.

"Alright, alright, that's enough," he finally cut in as the kid was reduced to tears under his arm. "I said, that's enough, both of you."

His gaze flicked to his cousin before placing the kid back down on solid ground. 'Shaking' kids calm rarely worked in the exile's experience; in times of crisis, children—like any human—wanted one thing: to be told that everything was going to be alright. Asahi's inexperience was showing for the first time in a while, but Yasahiro was there to pick the slack.

"Don't worry, kid," he put a hand on the kid's shoulder to steady their shaking. "We'll help your brother, can you show us the way?"

Composing himself with a few sniffles, the kid remained silent as if sizing up the distance between himself, Yasahiro, and the not-too-distant tree line. The kid, however, thought better of running and spoke.

"You promise you can help my brother?"

The exile didn't hesitate.

"Yes, now show us the way."

The kid nodded once before dashing off towards the same part of the tree line he had been eying up previously. Instead of chasing him, however, Yasahiro followed him with Asahi close behind. How had this gone from a ghostbusting mission to a mercy mission in no time flat?

---
WC: 1002

With only the tiniest bit of grumbling, Asahi followed after the boy and his cousin. Understanding kids had never been a specialty, and he had taken quite the shock for the day. Discovering there actually where no ghosts. The ryo he’d spent on the paper wards was basically now a waste some would say. Surely Yasahiro would at least when they made it back home. Kicking a rock and causing it to skip forward he continued to wear a glum look on his face. At first when the lad had said inside he’d thought he meant the house. Rather he moved around the house towards the swamp.

Moving through the swamp he was careful to follow deftly behind the boy. Not wanting to sludge to deep, a mistake that had been made before, and the stitches from a rather nasty bite hadn’t even been taken out yet. As they moved deeper in, what little light had existed became completely non-existent. The rank smell of the gases that escaped the decaying vegetation that built up the swamp began to become almost overpowering. Off in the far distance to their sides will-o-wisps could just barely be seen as the methane ignited for a split second. Those had been what led him astray once before, sure it was commonplace they weren’t ghosts, but one had to be sure.

“Soooo do we believe this kid or.....” Asahi would whisper over to Yasahiro. He didn’t trust the kid, he’d already been laid out once by his formidable physical prowess. Who was to say his acting wasn’t among the same caliber.

Yasahiro would have just enough time to form a response before they came upon a shanty of a shed. Even smaller than a home, with a small well located several paces from the door. The bot would walk up to the well, tears still seeming to stream down his face, and point down.

Walking forward, perhaps a bit to trusting for having his doubts. Asahi would put his hands on the crumbling stone, leaning forward and looking down. “Any wishes down there!” He’d shout, pleased with his cleverness.

“P-p-please pull me up!” A voice echoed back. As if on que the other boy would walk over and hand a piece of rope to the cousins.

It took little time for the duo to pull the boy out of the well. Asahi feeling he’d supplied more than half the work required. Sweat dripping down his forehead despite the brisk air around them. What emerged from the well however.....well it wasn’t another child.

A short plump man weighed further down with several canvas bags plopped onto the ground, a wicked grin on his face. He was bald, and of crooked teeth. The other “child” removed his own thatched wig, revealing that what could be mistaken as two boys was just two very short older men. They’d both draw a knife each, rusty and the blade being knicked to the point it would likely hurt more as a blunt object than to cut. “Thanks lads, We’d never have gotten all this money out by ourselves. Looks like we’re going to get away with it, thanks to you meddling kids!” They’d both strike a pose reminiscent of bad kabuki theater acting and laugh.

Leaving over he’d whisper to Yasahiro. “I am so confused.” He’d say watching the two men.

TWC - 1680

"No, but I'd rather not take the chance of turning down someone in need," Yasahiro said, keeping pace with the group easily.

Children were, as a rule, fairly unreliable, and only a bit more reliable than their adult counterparts. So, frankly, the exile couldn't be sure whether or not the kid was being entirely truthful with them. That said, he felt confident that if he turned down the kid's request and found out days later that something untoward happened to the boy's brother that he would not sleep all that well. Plus, it wasn't all that far out of the way, and there wasn't much that he and his cousin couldn't handle, so what did they have to lose except for a bit of their time?

Soon the trio arrived in a clearing just a stone's throw away from a particularly pungent bog. The small shed in the clearing, perhaps a pump house given its proximity to a well, appeared to have been taken by nature long ago. Vines curled in and out of the roof, and there appeared to be something resembling a tree trying to grow out of the side of it. Suffice to say, that it was unlikely that anyone had been pumping water up from the well any time in recent memory, which did lend some credence to the kid's story of a lost brother—children, in Yasahiro's experience, had a tendency to explore the more dangerous corners of the world.

Following the lead of his cousin, the exile pulled and heaved on the rope as slowly but surely a small figure was pulled from the bottom of the well. The figure was, however, not what either cousin had been expecting. Where both had expected youth, their gazes found age in the form of crow's feet and beady eyes that darted this way and that like a trapped animal. It became very clear very quickly what this was all about: money. Everything always seemed to come back to money in some way, shame this instance was no different.

"There's nothing to be confused about, cousin," a dangerous glint appeared in Yasahiro's eye, and his tone sharpened like a hungry blade. "You take the one on the left."

Words were of little use anymore as Yasahiro felt the warm, familiar sensation of adrenaline pumping through his veins, something he hadn't felt since he last saw Kenzo on the ground in front of him. In a whirlwind of speed and aggression, the exile was on his prey in an instant. The man on the right attempted to gouge out the older cousin's guts, but he was far too slow and Yasahiro effortlessly twisted out the way. So, the man tried again and again and again to no avail—it was clear that the man had little training in real combat.

Despite this deeply unsatisfying exchange, the exile could not contain the wild smile that tugged at his face. It had been far too long since he felt the rush of combat, even if this particular instance was just a taste of true combat he found himself wanting more. More adrenaline, more fighting, and more blood.

---
TWC: 1533

Yasahiro quickly moved into action, accosting the old man with the knife.  For Asahi’s part he felt the need to act a little more cautiously.  Jumping headlong into the fray had never been one of his strong points, and there was no need to switch that up now.  So instead, he brought his hands together in a loud clap before making a semi-formal bow.  Upon standing back upright the other man had drawn his own knife.  

Giving the man a warm smile, he could feel his senses opening to the world around them.  It was an odd feeling to have such a keen awareness of ones surroundings, but it was one he enjoyed.  His first thing of note was the spiritual pressures exhibited by the two men.  Without needing to look, he could feel them around him.  As he examined such aspects, the man lunged.  

Taking a quick step back and to the side he dodged the attack with relative ease, at least that’s how he hoped it looked, though the sliding of his wooden sandals on the muck possibly indicated otherwise.  It was one thing to be able to sense a movement, but another to properly react to all movements.  This was and had been always his failing as a samurai trainee.  Perhaps it was only Yasahiro who nearly matched him for intuition and planning, but the older Yagami had mastered the art of implementation.  It was indeed Asahi’s own ability to watch and learn and anticipate that led to him being Yasahiro’s second, and had even remotely kept him in contention in swordsmanship contests.  

Still......it had been months, and he’d gone that long without sword or fight.  The next strike was dodged in much the same way, but the third almost struck home.  Cutting through the fabric on his kimono, Asahi brought his arm down, gripping the sleeve and pulling upwards.  Trapping the blade in fabric and attempting to dull the majority of the damage that could come his way.  Unable to thus use this advantage he soon found himself flat in his back, the attacker on top of him.  Bringing his legs up, he’d move into a triangle type choke, though sloppily done.  In truth he didn’t have the grip or strength to force the man to be choked, so instead the two where in a stalemate.  From this position he’d old on like his life depended on it, and watched and waited for Yasahiro to finish his own fight.


“Ummmm......cousin a little help please?”  He’d shout out.  He would watch and wait for his cousins assistance, not wanting to give a chance for the knife buried away to actually be made of use.  A sour look was held on his face as sweat started to populate across his brow from the exertion.  This was not how he had wanted to spend his day, and he was beginning to think the whole mission was a bust.  As Yasahiro assisted him he’d shout, you’re picking the next job!”


TWC - 2180


———————
+7 str
+7 spd
+7 vigor
Chakra flar - 500

Scent masking - 500

Hiding camo - 1180/2500



Mission rewards total
4.7k ryo
11ap

Lunge for the head, sidestep to the left; blind slash to the right, duck down; enraged kick to the face, catch the leg and push back—for Yasahiro Yagami it was all a carefully choreographed dance between man and blade with each action meriting a reaction. In no time at all, however, the dance came to an abrupt end as the older cousin sent the shorter man tumbling backward in what would have been a comical somersault were it not for the grunts of pain issuing from his opponent.

Without missing a beat, he soon stood over the disgraced man who made one last wild swing at the exile's exposed legs to no avail. With a swift kick, Yasahiro sent the knife flying away into the undergrowth and then brought his heel down into the man's nose sending him into a state of unconsciousness. Seeing the blood streaming down the man's diminutive face, the eldest Yagami raised his foot once more with the intent of caving the man's face in for good measure—it would feel oh so good to feel the bones give way beneath his weight. The growing bloodlust in his heart wanted this, needed it even.

The voice of his cousin was the only thing to save the stout man's life; it staved off whatever demon had awoken in Yasahiro.

"Coming," he half considered bringing his foot down one last time before recoiling internally at his own thoughts and joining his cousin. "You really shouldn't need help you know that, right?"

It took only a matter of seconds for the two Yagamis to subdue the final assailant and tie both of them up with the very rope they provided earlier. What had started as a ghost hunting expedition ended in a knife fight. All in all, it had been a strange sequence of events, but at least neither cousin could say that it had been a dull day. The pair went back and forth about what the next job would be on their return to the village to collect their reward with no real decision one way or the other, they could decide on that later on.

Fortunately, they were greeted with open arms and an open checkbook by their client who seemed more than happy with the outcome of the samurai's work so much so that Yasahiro suspected they may have been set up—not that it really mattered, ryo was ryo. And so, after a few celebratory drinks, the cousins returned to their lodge in the swamp; Yasahiro wrote and Asahi prayed, it felt like a normal day or, rather, as normal as a day could be given recent events of the past couple of months or so.

It was strange and perhaps a bit uncomfortable, but it was nice.

Yes, it was nice.
---
Thread Closed, TWC: 2003
+ 10 Vigor
+ 10 Speed
+ 11 ap
+ 4700 ryo [3 missions linked in first post + 3*(100 ryo) for E-rank+ missions done at D-rank]
+ 997 words to Hidden Arms
+ 1000 words to Flying Swallow
+ 6 words to One-Handed Seals