The Sneaky Cat

Yuuhei had taken to hanging out in the old ruins on occasion, as sometimes it could be helpful to have other people around. No one ever stayed there permanently, though. It was usually just wanderers who were looking for a roof to sleep under. But Yuuhei was often in the same situation, and being so young (and appearing even younger), sometimes the older folk took pity on him an shared their food with him. And he definitely wasn't going to turn down a free meal.

Today looked like slim pickings, however, as Yuuhei wandered the ruins, seeing only a few scattered vagrants. The energy around the place was slow and sleepy, with nothing really happening. Except for one man, Yuuhei noticed as he stopped walking for a moment, observing the scene in front of him. "Ohh... Kiki, where did you go...? Oh, my poor Kiki..."

'Who the heck is Kiki,' Yuuhei wondered. But the guy looked like he could use some help, and if he was like most people, he might give Yuuhei a little reward for his effort. So he took a chance, and walked over. "Hey ossan, what are ya lookin for?" The kitsune rested his hands on his hips, leaning over to look around the pillar the guy was stood at. The man looked up when he heard Yuuhei's voice, a look of relief coming over his face. "Oh, you look small and quick - can you help me find Kiki and get her back in her crate? She's a cat, with fur as black as shadows. She's fond of hiding in dark places... but I'm too big to fit in small spaces. If you find her for me, I'll give you some ryo, ey?"

Yuuhei considered the man's offer, his head tilting a bit. "Deal," he said finally, grinning and shaking the man's hand. Then he set off, carefully moving around the ruins and peeking into any crevices he could find. Most places turned up empty... but there was one building he hadn't checked yet. Moving carefully, Yuuhei crept closer, peering through a small opening. Deep in the darkness, he saw a peculiar glint, and he smirked. 'Showtime,' he thought, pressing his hands together in the sign of the tiger and funneling chakra into his eyes. In moments, he was able to discern shapes in the darkness, confirming that the glint he saw was that of the cat's eyes. His hands then took the shape of the dog, and in an instant, he poofed and turned into the image of a black cat.

Using his new form, Yuuhei crept into the crawlspace, approaching Kiki curiously. He mimicked a cat's playful body language, lifting his paw and batting at Kiki before rolling onto his back and flicking his tail restlessly. Kiki took the bait, and soon enough, Yuuhei had her chasing him around the crawlspace, while he gradually let her out into the open. As soon as the cat was safely outside, Yuuhei dropped his transformation, quickly snatching up the cat and running her back to where the man stood waiting.

The look on the man's face was pure joy as Yuuhei struggled to put the cat in the carrier, earning himself several scratches along his chest and arms - but he was eventually successful, his body relaxing as he locked the lid shut. "I'm so grateful to you young man! Here, for your hard work." He held out a bag of coin, which Yuuhei took off him without a second thought. He'd earned it fair and square, and now he had something to barter with for his dinner.

[Exit]
_______________________________
WC: 600
Mission Claims: 1,000 Ryo, 5 AP
WC Claims: +4 Chakra, +2 Strength; 500 WC for Spine Chill (D), 100 WC towards Kitsuketsuki [Stage 1] (100/2000)