Tender, Loving Care...right. (Mission)

[Kildred]

Usio stood outside the building where the girl he was supposed to watch over resided. Frankly, it reminded him of Uncle Roji's house, only less cut off from the village. The gate wasn't as imposing, and required no key to allow him access. As he strolled into the front garden, his eyes came across a large fountain. It was aesthetically pleasing, and regularly pumped water through the spout at the top in an ornate fashion, making a sort of show with the water. It was rather mesmerizing, as he soon discovered as he walked dead into the front door of the large home. Apparently, someone took this as a knock and opened the door. He was greeted by an older gentleman, immaculately dressed. A butler, perhaps?

He questioned Usio's presence here, to which he only replied by presenting his mission slip. The man nodded, and proceeded to close the door. It didn't bother him much, and he turned to admire the garden some more. It must have taken quite some time and manpower to get all the flowers and plants set up in such a fashion. Making sure certain ones didn't overtake the others was a tough task. There must be a skilled botanist on the payroll. Well, it didn't matter to him. He had his own plants to worry about. No time to think about other people's...what was that sound? "Are you even listening to me? God! What a useless man. Are you really going to be my bodyguard? How are you supposed to do anything just staring off like that? And just look at you, covered in dirt, grime, and who knows what else. If you think I'm going out in public with someone who likes like you do, you've got another thing coming!" Good lord...her voice could kill crows.

"So, you want to to wash up or something?" This sent the girl on some kind of tirade, which seemed to point to the positive. Well, if she's going to be this annoying, why not be just as annoying back? "...alright then." Walking over to the fountain, he ignored her rapid questions and went about washing his face and hands in the makeshift basin. He caught his reflection, and made sure no smudges were left behind as he dried himself off. With the remainder of the moisture on his hands, he slicked his hair back slightly. "There. All clean. Shall we go?" He had hoped to render her speechless or something to that effect, but instead she simply continued yelling at him in that shrill voice of hers. As he left the mansion with her in tow, he wondered if maybe her parents simply didn't want her around and put this mission up as a way to keep her out longer.

[Kildred]

It was only a few hours into the mission, but it felt like it could have taken longer. Masumi had taken to buying all sorts of trinkets and knick-knacks, and seemed to mull over them for ages before deciding which one to purchase. In some cases, she would sit there pondering and decide not to buy anything at all. It was quite aggravating. Despite being treated as a pack mule, Usio kept as pleasing a face as he could muster. If anything happened to make this trip longer, he might not make it. Led into a clothing store, he relished the shade and watched the young miss pour over clothing like it was spun gold. She picked out a few outfits and flashed him an evil glare. He really couldn't help it, he was bored out of his mind. With a haughty "Hmph!" She disappeared into the changing room. While she was back there, he took some time to peruse the men's section. Maybe he could do with a new shirt, or some pants?

The curtain was slung opened rather fiercely, and Masumi came out to inspect herself in the mirror. Why, he had no idea, since he could clearly see another mirror inside the changing room. "Usio! Come here!" Damn it, it was getting so that he was starting to hate his own name. That friggin' voice...making his way over, she pushed down the sides of the dress she had donned and looked at him. "Well?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Well, what?" She sighed sharply, possibly to stop from snorting in disdain. "Honestly, how useless do you plan on being? How do I look? I do believe that this is quite the height of fashion, but I'm just not sure if this color really is me. I mean, it sort of is, but not quite. Also, the back of this is worrisome. It looks very nice, of course, but I can't help but think that the design might make my butt look big. What do you think?" She did a little twirl, the dress following in time.

Why the hell was she asking him this? He didn't know anything about fashion. He was a farmer! Still, he might as well answer as best as he could. "Uh...well, you stay with that color, but get a lighter shade since it would match your hair. The back of the dress is fine, doesn't do anything to...enhance certain features. Also, you may want to get something like gloves, or one of those pashmina scarves you wear across your arms. Or something, I don't know." She looked him over, squinting her eyes a bit before turning to the dressing room again. [color=[purple]"Maybe you aren't totally useless."[/color] Usio gritted his teeth. Maybe I'll strangle you with that damn scarf.

[Kildred]

It was shortly after leaving the store, new purchase in hand, that they started walking down a different street. Usio had most of Masumi's purchases in one hand, while holding the hanger for the dress over his back with the other. He so desperately hoped that they would be finished soon. As she chattered on behind him, he tried to keep up with the conversation. Something about it just made him drift off, though. They walked on for quite a while before he realized he couldn't hear her voice anymore. Doubling back, he sent out two clones to track her down and quickly made a coffin to store the bags in. Activating his Doton Ryouuken, he set off to locate the young girl.

As he traveled through the streets, a quick and rythmic pounding through the earth alerted him to a clone who had found her. Closing in on the location, it turned out to be two hoodlums cornering her in an alleyway. "I still can't believe we lucked out. The Suji heiress and some air-headed bodyguard. You'll fetch us a good price."The first one rasped in what he assumed was supposed to be a threatening manner. The second one practically drooled all over himself. "I wonder if we should charge extra to keep her...unspoiled?" The two goons laughed to each other. Sighing, Usio waved the two clones forward. They focused some hand-seals and disappeared into the ground. With his Ryouuten active, he felt them creep up on the two and quickly replace themselves with the goons. Suddenly neck-deep in the ground, they cried out in surprise but were quickly hushed by the clones.

"Honestly. Air-headed? I take offense to that." Tying them up with his ninja wire, Usio had the clones go to retrieve the purchases once Masumi made it known-and did she ever make it known-that she wished to return home. With one assisting him with the bags, he sent the other out with the two hoodlums to be presented to appropriate authorities. Once they managed to make it back to the mansion, Masumi relieved him of his bags and started to enter the mansion. The butler was there to geet her. After asking to get a signature for his mission slip, the butler merely glanced at Masumi. She looked them over. "Very well. His service was...satisfactory. Nothing more." With a signature obtained, he gladly made his way back to the atrium. Hopefully his blood pressure would drop as well.

-Thread end.

[KEITH]

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