A smoke filled outpost

Mission Briefing:

She knows how much the threat of death can threaten someone, especially those who have a lot of power at stake for their survival. She was someone who had to survive under the threat of death for her entire life. The taste of it was still swimming in her mouth, when she had burst through those walls to find herself near the edge of a cliff, tumbling down and only saving herself due to the bare minimum knowledge of molding chakra. Her feet had clung to the sturdy mountainside, and she was thought to be dead, no longer being chased by those who wished to sacrifice her to their precious god. The bite of the cold, the stinging of her skin as the open wounds were bit by the frosty maws of the wind. It all made her realize death could have come for her that night from just the elements alone. Her mind still vividly remembered the trek down that mountain. Her small rags of clothing keep her warm along with her bloodline giving her a small out. She could manipulate flames to some extent. Enough to where her body wouldn’t freeze overnight. But it wasn’t enough for her, there was still a lot to be done about that cult of Jashin. Yet, she was on the lookout for someone who was greatly important.

She didn’t have trouble stealing from the rich, most were bastards, only capable of keeping onto anything their little grubby hands could get a hold of, but she had heard of rumors circulating the borders, of a rich man who had potentially buried some of his money, she thought it was silly, a fool's errand. But she was curious, anything to mess with someone rich and powerful, she didn’t care about appearances, her name would become well known soon enough. Her sword tucked to her side, the dirt road leading a path for many a traveler to walk along these streets. The appearance of the man was said to have been rather modest, a blue, well-cut kimono draped underneath a fish scale Haori that had the head of a fish on the back of it. He was a merchant, a man of quite renown for being the one who sold other rich individuals fish, usually at the highest bidder. Sukiba scoffed at the idea of someone like this being so rich, at least, from how he wasn’t killed for swindling so many people out of money. It was said that he would ride a horse on the side of the road with one of his many lovers, usually much younger women than himself who were mooching off of him for his money. She wondered if she would ever be like that, having to charm someone to survive off their money simply.

She was disgusted by that thought, the threat of weakness, of being under someone’s control again. It sickened her to her very core. The winds began to pick up at her disgust, her red hair flowing in the wind while she walked along the side of the road. Luckily, her sword wouldn’t happen to bump into anyone, just in case she would bump into the particular Ronin along the side of the road who wanted a good fight. She was almost itching for one to help it tore her away at the reality that she could have been one of those women, she was young, beautiful, and mostly unique in comparison to what people would consider normal. She would have been nothing but a collector's item, a doll for someone else before being thrown away when they found someone new. Her hand clasped around her sword handle in anger. Eyes peered along the road for anything she could use to get her mind off it.

Until she had heard the faint sounds of galloping behind her.

“Gotcha.”
Her stress could finally be managed, a small smirk on her face right as she turned around. The galloping intensified only further, as the outline of a man, wearing a Hoari over his Kimono came into view along with a much younger woman. She was slender in figure, different from her own filled one, but it seemed that they cared for far more slender looks than the one she had. Her eyes stared for a few moments, as they fully came into view, the older man’s haori was as described, fish scales with a blue Kimono underneath. While the women held onto a primarily pink kimono, both were made of fine silk. Much more fancy than the one she was wearing. An old robe of a ronin who had died while in the borders of villages, likely caught in the crossfire of one of their many wars. Yet when the two had seen this supposed lone warrior, now standing in the center of the road. Their horses skidded to a stop, the rich man having his horse's forelegs raised high as a sign that he would run her over if she did not get off the road.

“Beat it off the road! Do you know who I am?” He shouted, the woman beside him was surprised to see that who was standing in the middle of the road was another woman. One whose appearance was far different than her own. Sukiba’s first thought was to see if she could kill the horse to intimidate the man, but upon seeing it, she knew that it was a finely bred one at that. She could easily keep pace with it, but she didn’t want to risk herself any injuries.

“I heard that you were the one who was hoarding riches somewhere around here. One Gashi Umika? If that is your true name?” She said, the man’s eyes almost seemed to shrink into his skull, as the younger women remained silent. Only flicking her eyes towards the missing ninja, before returning her gaze towards her benefactor. Whose face was stone, only staring in bewilderment at Sukiba.  

“You can’t know that, besides, why would I confirm it?” He asked, his arms folded as he tried to look tough in front of one of his many lovers. Sukiba scoffed, and suddenly she began to draw her blade, causing Gashi and the women to lightly panic.

“Cause if you don’t, I won’t hesitate to force it out of you,” She said, her face dropping the once small smirk and replaced with an annoyed stare down at the man. Her sword was of good quality, that much he could deduce, especially with how she was holding it. Gashi gulped. He knew that this would be a futile effort to resist. His breathing was rapid, she knew that he was panicking. Yet his lover, she was barely holding on, scared that she too would be a victim to her interrogation so the man with scales would spill the beans. Sukiba wondered if her threat of violence was enough to make him hand over the location of his money. Yet he just stood there in silence, right before trying to make a break for it like a fool. Sukiba almost smirked as the man’s horse came rushing towards her. His lover's face almost broke from him trying the aggressive option, yet Sukiba had been preparing for him to either flee or try to attack. His horse rushing at her now, fully intent on slamming into her before she had time to pull out her blade. Yet in one swift motion, her blade would slash right at the horse's ankle. The animal whined in pain as the man dismounted his horse, jumping off of it in order not to be crushed by the weight of the beast. The moment his foot landed on the dirt road, Sukiba’s sword was already right near him, her blade wouldn’t strike him, she needed him alive. What she had done was place the sword on the man's back, her hands holding the sword gently, almost like a stick.
“That was strike 2, you try to run, and maybe I can send your current lover here in pieces.”

It was a horrible comment, a threat no less, but she had pressed her blade a small bit more into the man’s back. He was shivering from being right near her. She had him right where she wanted him. He just needed to spill the beans and she was good to go. Sukiba felt overjoyed at having run into him but knew that she was scaring his lover into silence, as she heard her croaking out a small cry at her threat.

“Now, don’t be hasty, she has nothing to do with this, I can give you the money I have on me now if that is satisfactory, even my clothes. Just don’t hurt her, please don’t hurt.”

She paused for a moment, knowing that she was doing something that she thought was horrid for her wants. The grip on the handle of her sword tightened. Only her staring his back down while he begged for her not to hurt his current lover. She wondered if he did care for her, in this small moment. Was it an act? A ruse to make her lower her guard? Sukiba kept herself on edge, she knew that he probably loved that woman at the moment. Yet she knew one day he would let her go, yet today was not going to be that day. At least if he wanted her to live that is. She knew what she was doing wasn’t good, but it needed to be done.

“It’s alright, let’s get this over with then, the money, where is it? You gotta have it stashed around here somewhere? Is it in the forest? Underneath the lake? Lead me there, just so that way I’ll know that you took me to the right place, I promise after this, I’ll let ya go.”

His audible gulp told her that she had won, he’d shuffle around in his Haori, turning towards the small shallow pond by the side of the road, slowly trotting over towards the pond with Sukiba in tow. She knew at least this way he wouldn’t do something stupid like run. She knew far too well that if she gave him some distance he’d try and book it into the forest without a second thought. Her sword was still only a few centimeters away from his haori. Her face was blank, focused on where the man was taking her. When they had reached the pond, he pointed down at where a small little piece of silver was poking out of. Sukiba motioned for him to go and grab it with a small flick of her sword, threatening to cut through his back if he did not comply. Gashi shivered once again. Knowing that the woman before him was serious, he’d crouch down at the base of the pool, slowly lifting out a small bag that was encased in gold and silver coverings to keep it fresh for when he had to retrieve it. He’d begrudgingly hand the contents of the bag towards her. Gashi’s glare down at her said all that he wished to say. As Sukiba would flick her sword, allowing him to go free. She’d check the contents of the bag, seeing primarily Ryo and small little bits of jewelry here and there. Primarily rings of gold and silver, it was enough to last for a while. She wouldn’t need to fend for food this time around inside of the woods.

Sukiba watched as Gashi and the women would reunite with a hug, as the rich man suddenly saddled up on his lover's horse. Holding her close as he galloped away from theSukiba. She knew that this event would cost her some amount of good faith with some locals on how good of a person she was. But she knew that this amount of money would cover her food expenses for a while, especially since she knew that she had some groceries to attend to. It was much safer this way than a direct fight. As Sukiba would walk away from the road, back into the forest where her fuel lay beside her, in her now ever-expanding list of crimes.

WC:2036

Wind Release:2000/2000

Vigor +20

+4000 Ryo and +20 Bonus AP

Current Bonus AP is now at 40