the beginning.

[marvolous.]

24 hour IIC.



It wasn't like me to linger in one place for such an extraneous amount of time, but there was something that kept me lingering over the land's expanse. Trurthfully, I wasn't any closer to finding out who exactly had spilled the blood of my only brother, nor did I have anyway of actually doing so; however, I was far too accustomed to Hi no Kuni's large connections to simply leave without reaping all of it's benefits. Thus, I found myself doing petty work for the cash - I didnt need it, but it felt good to actually have a purpose.

Pushing forth past a fence encasing a small village, I continued forward both casually and heedlessly; my attention, occasionally falling onto various villagers, keen in the sense that every face I passed was not gazed at without utmost scrutiny. Even though they all seemed relatively harmless to me, I remained weary of the fact that they were all criminals of some shape or form.

"God damn."

- Gather Intel.
Client's Name: Saito.
Client's Occupation: Mob boss.
Mission Rank: B
Payment for completion: 2,000 Ryo and 100 exp [Ryo split evenly]
Mission Subject: Being a mob boss is mostly about using your fear and making the best of it. Saito, one of the world dirtiest mob affiliated boss, wants an experienced and talented shinobi to gather intel on one of his rival gangs. He doesn't want word to get out that he hired people to do this, so the object is to get in and get the information and then slay everyone that you see to avoid any witnesses.
Special Requests: Don't be seen.
Notes: Once the mission is complete there will be a follow up mission.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

Who might this be?

Hunched over the edge of an old cathedral, his digits clung into the brick construct. Like an eagle atop it's perch, dark orbs scoured the lands, searching for a topic of interest in this rotten village. A lone man pushed forth through the tattered gates that surrounded this rural civilization, though something stood out about him. Whether it was the fact that his garments lay untouched by decay or the air about him, he knew not, but he felt drawn to this entity. He wanted to approach him.

The shinobi let go, his body falling loose, from a distance he might have appeared to have accidentally fallen from his perch. Though as he rapidly descended, he found footing upon the surface of the building, pushing hard and casting himself over the shinobi. He moved through the air with silence, gracefully landing beside him with a suppressed chakra. It was possible that vision would entail his approach, though in all likelihood, his landing would draw the most attention.

Standing tall, his gaze would fix upon the man, looking hard to discern the peak of his interest. "If I were to take my guess, you aren't from around here...." he mused firmly.

[marvolous.]

It would have hard not to notice the man's theatrics infront of me, even if he tried to remain stealthy. In all actuality, my eyes had caught on his form long before he even descended towards a lower level; even as he pushed forward through the air, my eyes never left his body. Thus, I was more than prepared as he landed gracefully by my side. His stature and sheer grace giving away his prowess as nothing but a shinobi.

"If I were to take a guess, I could say the very same about you." I mused back, weary of the fact that although we shared the same profession, the chances of him being an enemy far outdid the chances of him being an ally. I did not care either way - if he turned out to be an ally I'd use him; if he turned out to be anything else, well, he'd die. "Good job on all the acrobatics, you got everyone looking at us now."

I continued forward, leaving the man should he not follow.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

Unlikely it was me.

"Maybe so, but that's not what grabbed their attention..." he retorted, a smirk crossing his face as he glared suspiciously at this stranger. Genma advanced, matching pace with the man as they pushed on down a graveled road in the center of the village. Indeed, with the two of them together, villagers cast glances of malice and spite. It was more than likely that they bore resentment towards shinobi's and warriors alike—criminals would be the first guess.

Arms crossed his chest as they moved, his head tilting to the side. "What might have brought you here, my friend..." he coo'd through thin lips which curled tightly upon his face. His words were intended to reveal some background on the man, showing implications of friendliness. Knowing all to well that intensifying the situation would meet a bad end, this man was powerful. It was easy to tell that he could influence others, a confident demeanor is the hint of a leader.

[marvolous.]

"Maybe so, but that's not what grabbed their attention..."
"Don't consider that a good thing."

My words came barely a moment after his own, almost as if I had been anticipating them being spoken. Nevertheless, I continued on through the village even with the man at my side. The further and further we forged into the village the more inconspicuous looks we were given by the many villagers. Though I was adorned in an attire that made me blend him greatly, this man - whoever he was - made me stick out like a sour thumb; to make matters worse, it almost seemed like he was doing it intentionally.

Needless to say, however, all this attention wasn't necessarily a bad thing. "Corruption has brought me here," I spoke, my fingers attaching onto the man's shirt - should he deem it - and pulling him into a gap of space separating two taverns. The space resembled that of an alley way; dark, small, and secluded. "I'm not sure if you have noticed it, but every man and every woman here is a criminal. You see her?" I pointed at a small girl as he whipped by - she was about the age of 12, yet was running and holding onto what seemed to be stolen goods.

"I'm under the orders to kill them all."

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

"I'm under the orders to kill them all."

The words pierced his chest, weighing down heavily as he considered their worth. It seemed that the precognition of the shinobi was deemed true, criminals, a safe haven for them in the rural country side. It was a difficult task, to morally complete, but as it drifted in his mind it began to make more and more sense. The shady figures, the intense blood thirst, and the foul stench of death that lingered over the occupants. Was this mission the right of a human, to take the lives of others? These people had done so, without regret or care—it was only fair that they should meet the same fate.

Genma's calm demeanor grew hostile, he leaned close to the man. "Do they deserve to die?" the words shot back at the shinobi. He paused, waiting for an answer, "If so...Then I shall abet." he cooed softly, keeping his voice between the two of them. A suspicious eye glanced to the opening in the alley, someone had noticed their submergence into the shadows and people were beginning to gather. It seemed Genma had gotten his answer, from the villagers themselves.

[marvolous.]

It was hard not to notice the sheer deathly nature this village seemed to emit. The place not only looked ominous but reeked of it as well - it wasn't that far fetched for someone to want them all dead. It did not phase me either way, I had been hired for the full purpose of eliminating every living soul that walked through the village's base; I was far too used to being sent on missions like these for my feelings to show. "That is not my place to say, but its clear what they are capable of." My words were cooed, kept to a solemn whisper in a means of ensuring only the man would be able to hear them. "See for yourself."

If my words alone wouldn't convince him, the actions of all the villagers that appeared before us spoke volumes. The only thing they knew about us two were that we were foreigners, nothing else . Despite that, they surrounded both exits of the alley way with great numbers, each person equipped with a weapon surely intended to bring harm to us if we moved. Saito, the man whom had hired me to follow through with the genocide of sorts, had warned me of their belligerent nature so I was not surprised; however, I hadn't anticipating another getting caught in the mess. As much as I hated to admit it, I was now responsible for his safety.

"If you're as good of a shinobi as you make yourself seem, get out of here without spilling blood."

Without another word my body propelled itself upwards, my legs tracing the sides of the tavern's walls as a base to continually bring myself up in the air. Once I was in the clear I darted across the many buildings, stopping only when I was sure I had lost the crowd that had build up.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

"If you're as good of a shinobi as you make yourself seem, get out of here without spilling blood."

His hands had begun to reach beneath the curtain of his coat, grasping at steel blades. But he let them go, hands falling limp at his sides as he watched his acquaintance escape upwards. Following in suit, Genma pushed hard off the cobbled stone street using the distance between walls to ricochet onto the roof. Poorly placed tiles slid out beneath his feet as he ran along them, causing him to stumble once before shifting to the spine of the roof. He moved gracefully henceforth, a short distance behind the shinobi until they came to a halt. The crowd was no longer in eyesight, the air grew quiet.

"How do you intend to kill them?" he mused, irritated that they had opted to run rather than taking advantage of the narrow alley. The close quarters would have made it difficult for multiple persons to advance at once and the onslaught would have begun. His thumping heart began to slow, and Genma came to the thought that it was a rather reckless approach. They needed to perform the task with more thought, to avoid careless mistakes. "Genma," he mused out of nowhere. It was his name, and he rarely gave it away. But this person, he wasn't out to get him, at least as the situation was currently.

[marvolous.]

I had been so focused on my own escape that I had not even noticed my new acquaintance make his own escape from the crowded alley. Before I even realized he was once again standing by my side, his irritated demeanor not failing to be noted as I watched him; he seemed eager to kill, far more eager than I myself was. Truthfully, I hadn't run because I was afraid we wouldn't make it back, no - quite simply, it would have been quite easy to slay each and every one of them without breaking a sweat. However, I couldn't quite gauge this man's-- Genma, supposedly -- intent, so I thought it best to halt on the killing.

... At least for now. "Call me Sora." I answered, continuing forward and allowing my left foot to get a footing along the edge of the roof. There, I peered over in an attempt to properly scope out our location and the best possible way to proceed. Not even after a moment of thinking I came to a conclusion; several years of being an ANBU commander and near perfect memory granting me such prowess. Thus, I turned back to Genma; my right hand lowering as my digits caressed the hilt of my blade. "From here on out theres no turning back. If you so much as falter, I will kill you myself."

I extended my free hand forward, my fingers held together in a fist.

"Remember: simple and clean."

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

"From here on out theres no turning back. If you so much as falter, I will kill you myself."

He chuckled, not out of doubt, but in the truth of his words. His gaze falling on Sora's physique, even in posture did he appear to be a leader, an alas he felt the drive to fight. It had been awhile since he had enjoyed himself, losing all care in the thrill of the battle. His arms crossed upon his chest, a smirk on his face. "Lets do this," he remarked. A thin porcelain mask slid over his face, it was a persona which he upheld on the battlefield—one that struck fear into enemies as word spread.

Taking the first steps, Genma bound swiftly across the roof tops, eyes scanning for the villagers. They had begun to split up, covering more ground in less numbers to search for the to foreigners. A flaw in their strategy that would make it much easier. Falling low to the roof, he slid off, landing gracefully behind a group of three. Taking the hilts of his blades in each hand, he charged forth dropping men like flies. Two calculated slices aimed for major arteries along the neck. A final blow piercing through thick back muscle and damaging vital organs of the final. All fell, bleeding out quickly on the ground.

Eyes darted, looking for sign of his acquaintance and the progress he had made. He couldn't wait to bear witness to the prowess of this so called Sora...

[marvolous.]

"Lets do this,"
"Yes, lets.."

There was something about this man, something that quite intrigued me. He was quite ordinary in a sense, as far as appearance went, but he held an air of almost... ingenuity. It was of course masked by his over confidence, and even, now, his porcelain mask; however, it was still there - buried underneath his otherwise stoic demeanor. He would be quite useful in the future, that was for sure.

Nevertheless, without any further words Genma took off in pursuit of the wandering fugitives so I followed in his stead, my body transcending through the rooftop like a ghost - swift, and with utmost grace. I continued like this for a good amount of time, only leaping off - much like Genma did - when the rooftop no longer extended. When I landed on the ground I took off in the opposite direction of my kin; a group of the villagers, unknowing of my presence, lingering around an entrance of the tavern. There were six of them, all equipped with a weapon of sorts, and only one of me. The odds were heavily in their favor, so it seemed, but there was no inclination in my body to even think of stopping.

Tch... I started with the closest man to me, my blade whipping around my body as I leaped forward. With the momentum gained from my movement the slash that ensued ripped through the man's throat, causing him to fall back as a result. From there, with great alacrity, my blade was used to accurately stab the man towards to my right; my left hand, in the same fluid motion, ascending in the air and falling directly in the face of the other man to my left.

There wasn't any further movement, but without even giving a second of hesitation, a bright blue orb erupted from my flesh, igniting the man's countenance as it made contact. I stopped there, however - it was only right that I give them at least a chance, y'know?

"Three of ya' left. Who wants to be a hero?"

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

The odds are against who?

He turned just in time, catching glimpse of his comrade as he confronted six foes. Quite an unfair disadvantage, but he did not rush to his side, he wished to bear witness to the shinobi's capabilities. Approaching with ease, he watched as steel flashed through the air, arching blood patterns spilling from three corpses. The odds were now in Sora's favor, or so it seemed...for moments later villagers came pouring out from either side of the tavern. Some one must have noticed the blood shed that had commenced.

A concise laugh escaped rosary lips, hands unfolding before the genin as light gave form to life. Twenty sparrows crackled with energy, vaulting forth upon the mob that flanked Sora's left side. As eyes glowed bright in surprise, death would come, and bloodshed would signal their demise. A dozen villagers dropped, incapacitated by blood loss, and by now Genma had closed the distance. His back to kins, they were beginning to become surrounded. "Don't mind me..." he cooed, a sarcastic remark in the least.

No later than words fell from his lips did he commence, dark steel blades delving into the mass of bodies at surmounting speeds. Using strange hand movements, the blades appeared to majestically change course crossing path around several villagers. A gleam of light revealing a thin steel cable before it tore ruthlessly at flesh and bone. Faces of grimace were met with a grin, and the blades zipped back into the shinobi's hands.

[marvolous.]

"You there," I spoke, my blade ascending into the air steadily; blood and pieces of carcass visible upon its silvery base "You'll be first." Without another words I lunged forward, darting past the dead bodies of the slain men as I attempted to reach my next target. He was the biggest of the group, large in stature as well as wielding a large broad sword. He attempted to swing his own blade once he saw me take off too, however, my speed was far greater than his own and he fell once my blade made contact with his chest.

That wasn't all I did, either. Following in suit of my attack I attacked again, my body flaccid as I turned on the balls of my feet and pivoted my way towards my next foe. His death was brought even quicker than the last, and when he fell his dying body was used to shield myself from a blow from the last remaining victim. With his weapon now stuck inside his friend's body he was left defenseless, and so I used that opportunity to slay him smoothly and return to my previous position next to Genma.

Despite only a couple moments having passed since we began, he had already gone through a great portion of the villagers - frankly, I was quite surprised. "Follow me, we'll regroup in a secluded area." I took off again, bounding past several villagers all taking aim at my body with their various swords and weapons. Once I was in the clear, as in, far enough away that I wasn't being followed, I stopped and waited for Genma. Though I hadn't realized it, my whole body was now drenched in the blood of the men that had been slayed.

Even with that, still, I did not feel a single thing - physically and emotionally.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

Blood rained down from the heavens.

Hearing the voice of my comrade brought him back to my senses, he capered backwards, escaping the range of weapons and following the lead of Sora. Several men grouped together in hopes of blocking him off, though using one's face as a foot mat he found his way over and past the group, using his speed to lengthen the distance. Finally catching up to his kin, he stopped looking intently upon him.

Death lingered in the air, even remnants of slain foe stained the pure white of his mask. "Seems I let my self go... he mused, laughing at the thought of it. He had really let loose of reality, savoring the emotions of battle. The surprise of enemies as they dropped in great numbers, only moments after showing such great confidence. It fluctuated intensely, but it only kept Genma going. Giving him reason to continue. He felt grateful for stumbling upon this man, and being graced with the participation in his mission. He only hoped allegiances would carry on past this day.

"What next?" would their next moves be any different than the previous?

[marvolous.]

It didn't take him long to reach my location, as I expected. No less, with his reappearance before me I took it upon myself to once again scope out the location, my eyes, plunged into a new incarnadine sense of visage, seeking out any nearby chakra pools. When none were found - essentially meaning we were alone out here - I turned back to my new brethren. I didn't bother deactivating my blood lineage's sheer power, instead allowing myself to view Genma and peer right through him - indeed, his rather extensive chakra pool was further proof of his strength.

"Nothing, we're done here for now." It was probably words he didn't expect to hear, so I furthered explained without breaking speech. "The goal of this mission was indeed to eviscerate every living being in this village, but what we have done will suffice." I turned with this, once again looking around the corner as if anticipating someone sneaking up on us. There still wasn't anyone there so I deactivated my sharingan, my now naked eyes locking onto Genma's own through the slits of his mask.

"As far as killing people we're done, but theres still more this mission left that needs to be completed. Not only that, but after this is done I have another thing that needs to be taken care of." I added, my facade void of any emotion - I looked almost inhuman being so calm, especially considering what we had just done.

"You're welcome to join me."