Fried Rice

Fire brigade :

Building blow up:

Asahi Look for the thread :

Half past three in the morning, it’s a peaceful time to those who choose to stay awake and experience it.  Most often when one discusses the habitual late nights with someone that is the common response.  Between those hours when the concepts of night and morning are intwined in their most intimate, that is the time when no one needs something from you.  When you are your most free, free to peruse your own desires without the judgmental eyes of peers, and the needs of family.  It is that desire that leads many to stay awake during the these hours……tonight however proved to be the exception to that rule.  

Asahi hadn’t been to sleep.  His blue eyes were on the clock, still dressed from the day before.  He’d been sent to deal with some negotiation on the tea houses behalf.  The new supplier of some of their more expensive imported products had come all the way to their small village to negotiate rather than do so by missive.  A young lady, Asahi had opted to change his normal normal appearance.  A white button down shirt, with a salmon colored jacket still covered his torso.  Small earrings of jade dangled from both ears, a recent gift from the holiday season. Black slacks, slightly wrinkled from sitting up in bed, but at least barefoot for some semblance of comfort rapped the footboard.  Looking to his left the moonlight caught the mirror that rested on his dresser, revealing a young man looking back, his blue eyes lost in the dark.  It’d had been a long day, and I’m doing so he had lost some of his normal youthful energy.  

Still, it had been productive enough.  The signed contract and his temporary roommate proved that.  Still, it felt a hollow victory.  He loved his position within the tea shop, but it was just a hobby, not a true soulful pursuit.  Gingerly he stood and leaned on the windowsill looking out on the town, his eyes tracing the castle…..it was there that held what he wanted to chase.  As he looked however, a twinkling light caught the corner of his eye…..followed by a bang loud enough to shake the glass.  Startled he turned scanning the town that he could see, to see an explosion of light this time.  One thought crossed his mind, and with that thought he didn’t have time to form another before he had slipped his wooden clogs on and ran towards the sound of growing panic.

“Fire”

TWC - 416

Tanbogakure, the village hidden in rice - a quiet place to reside, gather themselves, ready for a next embarkation but Izumi had other plans. She was settling in nicely among the even tempered and female starved growing nation, it irked her to no end if she were honest but she loved her sister and what made her happy was the first priority after all. Kuniko had not grown as accustomed to the village, far more action driven and ready for movement than her sister - albeit due to her nature of intolerance of the fruitful game of intelligence recovery that she had become so apt at; drunk men will say anything to a beautiful woman it seems. She had been on her path for a few years too, but once her role of parent was reinstated she shed that skin to be what she had to be once more - no regret or resentment - only duty; there was no telling when that role would end if ever. 

These thoughts pressed against her every moment of her life, rising and setting with the sun almost in their cyclical pull on her person - making her rise with the day break and only succumb to sleep when her sister did; did she sleep often, no. Of course as this night was one wrought with sleeplessness as her sister had not come into their shared home til around 2 am; she said nothing and interrupted her comings and goings in no manner other than her own observations. She had just begun to fall into slumber a quarter past 3 am when her body did that horrible jumping motion, shocking her system into hyper awareness once again. Something was wrong - the light in her room was unusually bright for the time of night, looking around wildly her eyes land on the window that was flickering with a familiar liveliness - fire. 

Flinging herself from the bed she sprinted to the window, throwing it open and climbing out quickly - with the window open she could clearly hear the shouts of panicked civilians and the smell of billowing and growing smoke. Still barefoot she vaulted herself out of the window and took the most direct path to the nearby flames - the rooftops fleeting under her hurried pace until she finally landed in the dirt a few meters from the flaming building. The heat rolled out as she took in the scene, ushering people away and creating a barrier with her body from anyone rushing in as her eyes scanned the crowd for anyone else able to help - blonde hair flashed across her vision and a familiar face came into view. 


“Asahi, over here!”, she had no idea if he would be able to help but she was still so new to this place that even his face was welcome.

wc 468

His foot steps came quickly, the people around him passing in a blur. It was rare for Asahi Yagami to actually exert himself. To most of the civilians and even most of the shinobi he was a member of the shinobi corp of little consequence. Despite having completed a rapid succession of missions, it was widely considered his ability to talk rather than fight that had seen him through, and to their credit they were mostly right. Physical exertion, combat, all of that was awfully droll in a civilized society. Yet, the world they lived in was rarely civilized. By human or nature there was a constant turmoil behind any good day. This situation was an example, of how savagery came in many forms, and not always by humans.

A voice caught his ear, he sprinted at his full speed in that direction to end up next to Kunika. It took a moment but he recognized her as the over protective sister of Izumi. That night was a little hazy, but his memory was good enough to put that much together. “Fancy finding you here…..”. He’d say with a half grin smile. His eyes however looked upon the inferno that swirled with the wind before them. Taking a deep breath, he’d exhale….blue eyes wishing they were the water they needed scanning them area. Black smoke had begun to bellow from one of the open windows…..a very bad sign.

“We need to do something or half the town is gonna go up….” He’d say thinking on the best course of action. “Can you get some people together? Get a line and put some water on these houses?” He’d gesture to the two houses on the side of the fire. “Maybe we can keep them from going up. I’m going to see if there is anyone inside.” With that he’d rush forward hands already moving to form seals. First one then a quick succession. His energies rushing upwards, a tingling feeling spreading across his blue eyes and then to mind as his senses opened to see the world in a different dimension. He concentrated looking for any signs of life within the building, he prayed there wasn’t any, but despite what he considered to be an amicable relationship with the Kami this prayer wasn’t granted.

With the car eye technique he could see easier, and his minds eye being open he could sense the two small chakra signatures in the second floor. “Oi!” He’d shout at some of the bystanders getting their attention. He’d point towards Kunika hoping she had initiated the water brigade. “I need a bucket of water folks, real quick!” He’d shout after the pointing.

Yasahiro may have been the natural born leader. The one who was meant to stand in office, who had the poise and the look. Asahi had never held that against him, it was never something he had interest in. He preferred the second seat, it often had more leg room. However, despite his best efforts the two had many things in common. Not folding in a crisis, and surprising people when they where needed was one thing the Yagami men had always been good at.

TWC - 947 / 2k to complete both missions

The light of the flames still danced behind her, menacing in their reach and unendingly hot even at this distance - the tinge of them reddening any of her exposed skin while simultaneously engulfing her form in a glow of flame making her hair flying around her as she whipped her head back and forth blaze as if alight. “Save the banter for the aftermath.” Her tone was far more severe than it needed to be, but she was the serious sister for a reason. She was following along with his plan with rapt attention, even as her eyes danced around the growing crowd - some coughing from the fumes and some with looks of willingness - all until he said he would be entering into the fray for survivors. Those words snapped her attention back to him in an instant, the foolish flamboyant man she had met was nowhere to be seen, only a man as serious as she. Before she was able to protest or even grasp his arm he was gone, hand seals forming in his departure - cursing to herself she swung her attention to the bystanders; vowing to give him a piece of her mind once he was returned. 

Her voice rumbled over the thrum of chaos with ease, for a woman of slight stature this was easy - she had been the loudest and most abrasive force in any group since she was a toddler. “A line of water at my position now! Buckets, hoses, jutsu bring it here and soak the surrounding buildings to stop the spread. Then the building itself, if you are of no use, step aside immediately and make way!`` Her expression had twisted into one of a war lord commanding forces, eyebrows knitted down into a scowl as the strange yellow glow of her eyes locked onto any moving bodies to confirm they were of use. As a fire user this was not her realm to stop flames but to encourage them, breathe life into their destructive natures - so she felt even more at a loss for this chaos. 

The surge of men and women to her call was enough to cut through the gnawing worry that was growing at the edge of her consciousness - seeing the 20 some forms do as she commanded with swiftness before turning their attentions on the blazing building behind her. Some even rushed past her to aid in the command of Asahi as he demanded immediate water at his location. Even though it felt longer the heat of flames began to recede and the light that was once brighter than any street light could hope to be was diminishing as the sun was still nowhere to be seen. She had been rushing back and forth aiding where she could but mostly she was waiting for the blaze to subside enough for rescue to be possible.

The smoke was thick and billowing now as the flames became more and more suffocated by water and lack of flammable material - now was the time. Quickly shedding the light robe she wore over her night clothes - form fitted black sweats and tank top - she tore the bottom 5 inches off with ease and tied it around her face before slipping into the charred building. She waited for no one, she answered to no one - and this wasn’t her first fire either. The interior was still radiating a lingering heat but nothing that was detrimental, her bare feet barely feeling it as she skimmed the rooms looking for anything… anyone. After a few stifling minutes she did find someone, an older man who was face down on the side of his bed having seemingly woken up from the smoke and failed to get himself out in time. Heaving his weight onto her shoulders she made her way to the sounds of people now shouting - probably at her act of idiocy upon entering - it was a good distractant to the unmoving form she was lugging with her.

wc 663

Senses and eyes alight to match the scene, Asahi perceived what he loved about Tanbogakure.  There was no showing off here, no one man heroes.  There was a community coming to stand together, a brigade hoisting water buckets.  The main hero of the day being that of the common folk rather than some mythical figure who dipped in and out as though across pages of a scroll.  It made him smile a little as he was about to do the opposite of that.  He grabbed the bucket dunking it on himself, giving himself a thorough soak.  Leaning back onto his heel he was about to rush forward when a stripped down redhead beat him to the punch.  

He couldn’t help but laugh a little before he chased after her, the shouts behind them a warning, the fire in front a bigger one.  Yet, he couldn’t be outdone.   His senses where open and he could feel where the man was, and something else.  He’d make it to Kunika as she hoisted the man onto her shoulder.  “Nice.”  He’d say with a shout, before giving a cough from the smoke.  “Stay low!”  He’d say pointing to the ground before digging around underneath where the man had been.  

He’d help shoulder the man with her assuming she let him.  Working to quickly extricate the sole living human unfortunate to be inside the inferno besides the two volunteers.  Bursting through the door as several beams crashed behind the house was truly and well done for.  Helping love over to where some medics had arrived he’d help Kunika lay the man down giving him over.  Asahi would then lean down placing a slightly ash stained and scorched cat on the man’s chest.  “Poor sod must have been trying to save it.”  He’d say before breaking into a serious of hacking coughs from the smoke.  “That was either very brave, or pretty dumb……but seeing as I was about to do the same……..I’d say brave.”  He’d wink and barely give her time for a rebuttals before moving off.  

Asahi could have an annoying habit of that.  Inserting a quick wittism and then finding a way to sneak away.  His focus now back on the water brigade and then the ensuing job of watching the burn.  In total it would be 4 more hours before the burn was completely out.  Morning had crept over them with the morning light showing over the distant horizon.  Blankets, water, and small amounts of bread and other food had been supplied to those aiding in the efforts by some of the local wives.    Word had come down from the main office that both Kunika and Asahi where now officially in charge of the effort seeing as they had been the first shinobi on scene.  Their current job changed from damage control, to wreckage.  They were to oversee the tear down of the skeleton of a house and clearing of debris.

“Sooo, where would you like to start?”  Asahi would ask Kunika with a smile.  Standing next to the kuniochi as the laborers began assembling.  He’d had his moments in charge during the fire when he’d been forced to act.  Now that emergencies had died down, he was more than happy to work the second in command  job.  

TWC - 1492 / 2k

Suddenly the weight of the man was eased slightly from complete dead weight - which was definitely not impossible to lift but it was far easier with help. Heeding his advice, even through his coughing, she crouched as the two half dragged the man out of the wreckage - with no time to spare as the support beams crashed down behind them. There was no time to process how close the three of them had come to being crushed… possibly to death, but with the adrenaline coursing through her veins she trudged along with him to medical teams scattered around the area. As they laid him down the blonde would place a well scorched cat onto the mans chest - her gaze stared for a few seconds, mouth open under the makeshift mask until she noticed the faintest rise and fall from both of their chests; with that she would close her eyes in relief before resting back on her heels in the crouched position. 

The hacking coughs of Asahi would cause her eyes to fly open once more, scouring his form for any sign of injury - luckily the coughing was only from smoke inhalation and the man seemed well enough to make a jesting comment so he must not be in as much pain as she worried. With a scowl she would stare up at him, face and body covered in soot and dirt only making the glow of her amber eyes more intense. Ripping off her makeshift mask and tossing it to the ground she would hurry to his side again, not letting his comment go, “Bravery is stupidity, anyone trying to tell you otherwise is a liar.” Her words were short and clipped, the glance she gave him held more meaning than it should - but she left it at that, breezing past him to attend to those who still needed her help. 

With the change of orders, or rather the instilling of orders for the first time, they were now set to demolish and clear the wreckage of the smoldering building. Glancing sideways at the man, who now that she had more time to take him in seemed more and more on equal playing field - the two stood at the same height and even though he had to be of higher rank he was deferring to her for their next steps. Scrunching her eyebrows together and crossing her arms across her chest she would continue to stare at the man with intense curiosity - which likely came across as rude given her facial features. Pursing her lips she would turn to the smoldering mess, taking a deep breath before suggesting, “Well… I recently learned something that might make this all go a bit faster. Everyone is going to have to step back, like way way back, give a good 25 meters in every direction not an inch less, evacuate people if you have to… I’m not sure how strong this will be. I’ll give the signal when it's safe to return.” Her tone was serious, severe even as this was not a point she was willing to argue with.

She wouldn’t elaborate, as this jutsu took a good deal of her attention and gearing up for it she could feel the sweat gathering already - nerves for sure as this could be just as destructive as it was helpful - and the last thing she wanted was to cause Izumi to reallocate again. She would wait until he had cleared the area with whatever means he needed, all while she shook her hands out at her sides and stared at the wreckage in front of her - heart pounding. Whispering to herself, “Okay, you got this… you can contain it, everything will be okay.” Standing 10 meters from the building in question she squared her shoulders and began the hand seals process - Ram - Rat - Tiger - Snake - Bird - Ram - Rat - Tiger - Snake - Bird - Ox. 

Forming in the heart of the building was a small 30 cm wide black tear that immediately began dragging anything and everything in it’s reach toward it - never growing in actual size even as the gravitational pull radius expanded to its max of 20 meters in every direction from the tear point. The force of the jutsu would give a shimmering effect to anything that was being dragged into the tear and it would only take a few moments - though with her teeth gritted against the effort of maintaining it felt like a century. After a minute or so she would end the jutsu, immediately leaning forward with her hands on her knees as she gasped in deep breaths of sweet clear air - with a glance up the wreckage was gone, all rubble and debris swept away in an instant. Quickly she would check the surrounding buildings for fear that it had caused more damage, but to her relief it only seemed to have stripped some of the trees of their already loose leaves. 

Raising her hand she gave a thumbs up to the air, signaling it was safe to return - only a moment before the world blurred before her and she felt the pull of gravity dragging her body to the ground - she would hit the pavement in a rush of exhaustion unless caught.

WC 874

Jutsu Used:
AP 400
Imitation Black Hole AP 47 Power 65. Speed 65

AP 353

Her quip from earlier Asahi eyed the fiery red head.  She was someone who needed the last word Asahi thought, which wasn't a bad thing.  Those kinds of people could either be very interesting or very exhausting.  So far, he felt she was the former.  It was with quite relief that he listened as she took charge of the situation no doubt moved to action by his instance.  True or not, that was where he categorized the sequence of events within his mind.  A bit surly for his more whimsical disposition, but effective none the less he thought as he watched the kunoichi order those around her into action with direction.  She would order most of the workers away as she was about to try something.  "Remember now, don't break anything you aren't supposed to.  Old Yas won't thank you for that."  He'd say with a smile and chuckle.

Mostly ignoring her insistence to stay back, he stood arms crossed rocking on his heels about two paces back from her.  His blue eyes watching her hand seals, the sweat drip from her brow, and the heavy cloud of concentration eclipse any humor from the moment.  What came next was a wrenching and tearing across spatial reasoning.  He watched as the destruction although tidy, was undoubtedly unnatural.  Unfamiliar with the majority of shinobi techniques, he couldn't help but let out a ringing whistle as he watched her work.  It only took around a minute, but the hard part of the job seemed over and done with.  Only a couple decorative trees the worse for ware, forgivable given the situation.  He would see the thumbs up, and then the impending fall.  Stepping forward in two quick steps he would catch her around the waist with his right arm, his left hand catching just above her elbow, pulling her back to a full standing position, though rather closer to him than she probably would have intended.

"There we go, we don't need heroes on the ground.  Gotta stand tall."  His smile never wavered, and in the next moments he was more than happy to congratulate her.  Not only this, but when he retold the tale of the night before he would leave out his own trip into the burning building.  If one listened only to Asahi's story it was easy to think he had barely even been at the scene.  That instead it had been Kunika with the idea for a water brigade, only Kunika had entered the building to save a man and his feline partner.  In truth Asahi was more than happy to allow her all the spotlight and move on to other affairs.  The rest of the cleanup went quickly and plans where set up for rebuilding at the cities expense.  A Yasahiro declaration no doubt, though Asahi wondered if the large sum he'd donated to village services would help.  He quietly hoped so, though he had never made a mention of this to anyone sans his cousin.  His chatter however had made it so he and Kunika wouldn't get much chance to say anything to one another unless she made an intense effort.

Instead, as the crowd would try to question her, and even an enterprising lad asking for a quote for his paper, Asahi would slip away into the crowd.  The job was done, he would get his small pay, no need to spend any more time in such a situation.  No, a cup of tea and bed was much more inviting than all that.  He clasped his hands as he walked away and said a prayer to the Kami for the man.  He'd then make his way to the tea house, truly worn out from the day.

TWC - 2112 / 2000

Exit

Claims
8k ryo and 40ap from both mission rewards
42 AP from max stats
2k towards One handed hand seals

Approved