[M] Tricks of the Mind

[Fayori]

SPOILER: Click to show

name; card trick
rank; c
description; An aged shinobi was once conned out of his money by a local civilian who later died from unrelated causes. Over the years he has been unable to determine how he lot to the man, and his frustration has lead him to hire ninja to inquire. His youngest daughter is still alive and knows all of her father's tricks, though she is a wanderer who may be harder to track down than most people. She is also a kunochi, and has been known to react violently to questions about her father or his tricks, which is why the shinobi will not inquire himself. Find her and discover how the man was conned.
reward; 40 experience, 500 ryo
minimum shinobi; one
mission status; open, requires npc, credit vegapunk

---

The search was on.

Tap. Tap. Tap. The only sound that could be heard as Fayori sped through the forest, heading for the small village marked on a rather fragile looking map. He knew it wouldn't last the full journey. Flimsy piece of...

*cough*

Only a mile from the village gates, Fayori had covered quite a distance to her last known location. This girl... the profile they gave him seemed rather... vague. She reacts violently to questions about her father's tricks, got it, but what about regular conversation? Did she not take kindly to company? Was she shy?

To be honest, Fayori didn't care.

He stepped up to the wooden palisade of a small village, looking upon the makeshift gate with an expression of disappointment. It was so... weak. They were hiding behind walls that did not matter to the modern shinobi. Especially one with Katon. But of course, destroying a small village wasn't in the mission. Plus he needed to see the people in here anyway. But it would have been so satisfying to obliterate this place from the map.

"Let me into your village! I'm a shinobi from Kumogakure and I need to speak with you all"

The response came after a few seconds of awkward silence. Obviously they were wary of anyone requesting to enter their village. What had this girl done here?

"W-we're opening the gate now"

It was an old voice that responded to him, which surprised Fayori. Why would they have an old man guarding the gates? Isn't it usually their best warrior they have guarding their entryway? Y'know, to die for the village or some crap? Maybe he was watching too many movies.

The gate creaked loudly open, allowing Fayori to step inside. And he wasted no time speaking to the locals, first talking with the old man who was manning the gate. He seemed rather timid and refused to even speak about the woman, which puzzled Fayori to an extent. But to be honest, he wasn't surprised either. This girl seemed... dangerous... if she could terrorize a whole village like that. Of course, the man became a little more... 'sympathetic'... when Fayori moved his fringe to the side, showing his facial scar. That was one of the perks of this thing, it was good for interrogation.

"S-S-She's no longer in the village"
"Then where is she?"
"S-S-She left yesterday for the mountains"
"Hmm..."

Fayori let go of the collar of the man, letting him drop to the floor before stepping out of the village gates again, setting off towards the not-so-distant mountain range.

Where the hell was she...

---

[Fayori]

---

Tree after tree.

Green leaves flew past him, some bright with the immediate sunshine that had abruptly arisen from the murky depths of the clouds, others dark in the shadow of their master. A squirrel would move past, it's feet striking the wooden branches, a scattering sound echoing through the forest, disturbing the once dormant sparrow families that inhabited this place. A small forest snake, only about a foot long and with deep green skin, moved along the branch, silent as the wind. It traversed the wooden branch slowly but surely, it's head occasionally dipping out to check it was still there. It's prey. Only a few feet away now. It's fangs flaring in the sunlight, casting an unusual light upon where the snake lay. The master hunter. And in a flash, it was all over...

Fayori, ever persistent in his search, was now heading for the mountain peaks of Kaiminari no Kuni. He would find her. It was his duty. Three hours now, he had been away from the village. How much farther could the peaks be? Nevertheless, he increased his speed, the light tapping of his feet as he struck the branches increasing tempo, as if it's orchestra was building tension to excite the crowd. Maybe that was what he was doing. Show-boating. It did not matter now, he just needed to get there faster.

And then it occurred to him. She could not have left that small village very far ahead of himself, which meant that she most likely had not reached the mountains. That made this a little easier and yet all the more difficult at the same time, like searching for a needle in haystack when you know that every movement you make pushes it further into the abyss.

...Ok... calm down and think this through. Her last known location was the village that I've just left. And then she headed for the mountains. If she was heading to the mountains without delay for something important then she'd most likely take the most linear path. Which was the original theory. But then... if she could take her time... then she'd curve round here to go past this small hot springs town. And it's almost dusk too, which means she's probably stopped there already. I found you... hehehe...

[/font][/size]

Finally a plan. He knew where she probably was and also what she was doing there. Now just to get there in time before she has enough time to settle into the crowd. He considered removing his leg weights to allow him to run faster, but decided against the idea, thinking that there was no point in wasting them. He picked up speed, sharply turning south-west of his current position.

Dodging cobwebs and small mammals, Fayori had come to an irregular clearing. He knew exactly where he was, the heating station for the hot springs. He was on the right track. Instead of heading the direction he had been, he decided to follow the pipes from the large water tanks, stepping along them at terrific pace, moving to the side of leaking steam vents and water spouts, a determined look in his one good eye, the other only picking up the small hints of depth perception he had grown accustomed to.

A stone wall. Too easy. Focusing a small amount of chakra to his feet, running straight at the wall, he started running at a perpendicular angle, not losing ground in terms of speed in any way. As he got to the top, he placed his foot on the edge of the wall, allowing him to push using his legs, over the wall and into the city below, rolling to cushion the wall.

Now he had a crowd to deal with...

Where could she be...

---

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[◤ velocissimo ⊿]

The cycle hadn’t even hit mid-day however the avenues was swamped with inhabitants. The extravagant thing about the community is disguises are easy to endorse. There are so many classifications of characters here that even nobility could suppress their company. This adolescent woman was no different. However she needed funds and the only way she knew how to attain it was through her predecessor’s expertise. Which makes enduring a camouflaged existence harder. Since her forbearers wisdom was primarily stealing, just in a customary way. Stealing pine bills from purposeful folk.

Regularly this woman was never exposed. Her prowess with the mastery was astonishing. But today was inconsistent, for the adolescent woman was discovered. A trio of men craved to see how this woman performed the illusion. The illusion? Making 500 ryo dissolve like ignited paper. Earlier the execution of the method happened and these men were provoked. They wished for their ryo back. Though the woman had proclaimed it wasn’t conceivable, the ryo was gone.

The closest man vigorously forcing her three meters away from the trio. Once this happened the horde of the populace gradually encompassed around the current dilemma. Gazing upon the exertion with their voluminous oculars. One man squawking at the adolescent woman “Where’s our ryo!? Give it up or we’re coming after your sorry ass.” The woman apprehended these words however continued in a harmonious demeanor “I told you, the ryo is gone. I only know how to make it burn, not bring it back.” Amidst this animosity Kioshohei Fayori is thirty meters from the quarrel. The warrior cannot see the disputants but should apprehend the orbicular swarm of inhabitants.

-- Have Kioshohei Fayori remain hidden amongst the swarm while watching the quarrel.
-- Have Kioshohei Fayori enter the dispute and side with the woman.
-- Have Kioshohei Fayori enter the dispute and side with the men.
-- Have Kioshohei Fayori enter this dispute as a neutral.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Fayori]

---

A look of intense annoyance crossed the young man's face as he stepped over to the crowd of people watching the commotion. His palm firmly grasped the hilt of his jian, removing it from the belt, the intricately carved and polished black wooden sheath hugging the blade. He would not kill today but he was in the mood for some leg breaking if he did not get what he wanted.

He shoved people out his way, forcing them to part as if he owned them and their space. And technically, he did. He was the one with the sword here. Any of them stepped out of line, he'd cut them down to size. Literally. His hood concealed his face, the scarlet material draping over his head and the golden lining reflecting from the sun. He did not want to draw any unwanted attention that could cause him problems later. But he was pissed off enough to hurt something. Doing so inconspicuously meant he could satisfy both qualms.

He moved behind them, surprised to find that he was just as tall as the tallest man here. Being a large child had it's perks then. He shoved them aside, standing in front of the girl, turning to face the men, his sheathed sword pointed at the one in the middle.

"Leave."

He would not wait for a response. He simply spoke his reason,

"I am a shinobi of Kumogakure no Sato and this woman is vital to my mission's success. If you do not leave now I am authorized to use any force necessary to remove you. Move. NOW."

His voice was demanding, an air of absolute control. He had this discussion by the throat, a discussion that would soon turn into a fight if these men persisted. His expression said one thing clearly.

Get the hell away from here...

---

[/justify]

[◤ velocissimo ⊿]

May 24, 2011 12:19:20 GMT -8 Fayori said:

He shoved them aside, standing in front of the girl, turning to face the men, his sheathed sword pointed at the one in the middle.

[/justify][/quote]

The young woman gazed skyward upon the Kumogakure no Sato ninja’s murky fuzz. This warrior’s rear directed towards the violet haired woman. The sheer audacity that this warrior would shield this woman angered her. Upholding the woman’s right support she placed a nudging kick upon the warrior’s rear. This animation should design a situation where the warrior inadvertently clashes into these three men. Nevertheless the woman still conversed with animosity exactly after the specified liveliness. “Who the fuck do you think you’re hot shot? Trying to stick up for little ole’ me? I can handle myself thank you very much… dick.”

The woman’s lavender oculars gazing upon the four men as she murmured with supreme annoyance.

-- You may roleplay the three men. Whether they run, join Fayori or fight is all upon your decision.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Fayori]

---

Protecting?

Really?

He glared at the men, even more pissed than before. The insolence of this girl was wearing on his nerves. A small nudging was felt on the backside of Fayori as he forced the men back ever so slightly with each second, to which he responded with a quick turn, his arm snapping out, reaching out for her throat, the force of which would slam her against the wall of the building and the speed meant it would be difficult for her to dodge.

"I'm not here to protect you..."

For a second he questioned the need of such violence to complete the mission but those thoughts were quickly erased as he turned his head to the men, pointing his sheathed sword at them again, this time with an expression of absolute fury upon his features, a delicate blend of pent-up hate and annoyance built up over the years.

"Take my advice... leave... NOW. Before I decide to get serious."

The men, now with a hint of panic in their eyes, all stepped back, fading into the crowd. He would still hold the girl against the wall by the neck, squeezing a little harder just to let her know that he was still paying attention to her. He would then release her, holding the sheathed blade in the middle of the mahogany coating, ready to draw his sword if needed.

"Now... you're coming with me... for a little... chat. And if you refuse... hehe... let's just say you won't walk away from out little encounter.

---

[/justify]

[Kinz]

(gming at shibu's permission for him.)

The throngs of people encircling them would begin to slowly slink into the rest of the crowd, leaving them with a loose opening amongst the busy streets of the resort town. The women, with her violet eyes engulfed in a wrathful stare, gazed at the shinobi who assaulted her.

“Just who do you think you are, you scab faced piece of snake shit. I hate it when people stick their noses into my business, and it’s especially true for someone with a destroyed mug like yours.”

The women picked herself up from where she landed on the ground after the man had released her. She continued in the same scorching tone.

“Now you get away from me, before I flag down the guards in the area. With you brandishing your sword like that they’ll probably be here any minute.”

She kept the anger in her eyes, but the slant on her lips which spoke of indignation slipped to a more amused curl. It was a smile that spoke of winning an argument, or getting over on someone. It was a smile little sisters wore when telling on their brothers. One thing was true; the devil was in that expression.

[Fayori]

---

...scab faced piece of shit...
...destroyed mug like yours...

It was over for her now...

The steel of his Jian slid halfway out of it's case, pulled with the mightiest of tugs, before stopping as the blade only barely glinted in the sunlight. Maybe there was another way to do this.

Shoving his sword back into it's sheath, a grin appeared on his face. Not one of happiness, but one of amusement, like someone laughing at a sick joke. And it was actually a pretty sick joke she had just stated. The guards? Hehe... legally they couldn't do anything, and physically they could do even less against him. Did she really believe they could help her.

"...Now.. I'm a little curious as to why you think the guards can help you. For one, you're a stranger to their village. Two, I'm on a mission for Kumogakure in which I can use any means necessary to defend myself, and since you kicked me first, It still counts as me defending myself. And Three, did you think the puny-ass guards of this village can do ANYTHING against someone like me?"

He started chuckling to himself, before letting the laughter cut short, the look of intense hatred crawling back into his features. He quickly drew his blade again, slamming the point of it into the wooden wall, very close to her head, so to scare her and through her clothes so she could not escape.

"Time's up girl, I need your info, now. Explain to me, how did you do this trick? And no funny business. You have ten fingers and ten toes but I'm not a good mathematician and even I know that's subject to change."

Tick tock goes the clock...

---

[/justify]

[Kinz]

The man seemed annoyed by her comments. Good. And she didn't truly expect the guards to assist her. Usually that kind of threat would simply scare people off. At least in this instance it gave her an idea of who was probing her for information. Her violet eyes kept her amusement while the man sheathed his weapon, then burst out attempting to pin her to the wall. As the man brought his blade from sheath, the women was already prepared. A shunshin would carry her 10 meters, gaining access to the edge of the crowed. A smoke pellet being left behind for the man to enjoy. Its gas exploding and probably confusing the surrounding crowd enough to allow her to slip into it and blend out of sight.