Quest 29: Strikeforce Nebula- Aftermath
Jokisure, a big city that is known for its hot springs, you can say that the city gets its majority of wealth from them. Every corner of every street has at least one bathhouse, hell even the taverns, gambling houses, and inns have them for their guest. The city evolved into a steampunk fashion that never fails to draw in tourist. Buildings tightly clustered together with bronze pipes connecting them all, the citizens here are much like the city, busy and crowded. The Americans in the clan even call this place the Federation's version of New York City, which is right considering how much of a tourist trap this place is people from all over the nations want to visit this bustling city.
A pity I'm not here to visit. Aside from the lights blocking my precious starry night sky this place is pretty exciting and lively. I need to look for a place to bunk with my team, we been moving nonstop for an entire day to get here as quickly as we could. I sure Charles and Ryuzaki have handled things by now, so all we can do is rest up and look for them in the city.
"Toke-kun! Can you find us a place to sleep already, I'm exhausted," Mashiro says dramatically leaning on me.
"Give me a minute, and get off me, we need to look for the dragon's throat inn, it's somewhere in this district." I got the directions from a guard friendly enough to tell us when we entered the city.
"I think I um found it Tokegeroh-san," Midori points out.
She points to a building entrance had the pipe work shaped into a dragon blowing steam from its mouth which is pretty damn cool.
"That definitely look like it, good eyes Midori," I complement the shy girl she blushes a little at the praise.
We walk into the lobby the reception there is eager to greet, she walks from the desk to us.
"Ah more Shinobi, Welcome to the Dragon's Throat home to the biggest hot spring in town-"
"Did you say more shinobi, did you see two chunin, a small angry redhead, and a chubby brat?" I interrupt her, Vince chuckles behind me.
"Why yes, they book a room on the third-floor room 307 would you like me to accommodate you near them?"
Come to think of it that guard probably suggested the same place to them.
"Yes please," I pay for a small suite, and she hands me the keys to our room.
We ascend a few flights of stairs, and enter the corridor- what the hell? Ever since the chunin exams, I became more sensitive to dark emotions, but as soon as I reach the third floor, a wave of gloom crashes into me.
"You guys go ahead to the room I'll find the others," I say handing Vince the key.
Alright, three-o-seven, damn it's gotten worse what happened to you guys? I knock on the door rapidly. Nothing at first, but then I hear footstep moving to the door.
"It's me Tokegeroh," I clarify.
The door swings open revealing, Kali with this dead expression, she leads me inside, and the emotions hit me hard identify them now, hate, anger and most of all grief, so someone likely died. I walk up to Ryuzaki a lot of grief is coming from him.
Everyone is sitting around the room, and their faces look so uncertain of what to do. My vision is tinted a darker shade with all these gloomy somber expressions only one question hangs in my mind.
"What happened?" I ask quietly.
"What happened? Your fuck up cost us a man that's what fucking happened!" Charles roars from across the room. It's uncalled for but probably true Vito probably alerted that hideout soon as he left.
Ryuzaki's grief switches to anger. "If you weren't so haphazard with your fucking plan things would have gone more smoothly Totally!"
It sounds like Takashi running ahead without thinking.
"I agree with Ryuzaki, you moved ahead before we were even ready Takashi!" Honoka spits out.
"How the hell did you even make chunin anyway? Kallen should be wearing that vest, not you." Erik snaps, anger is rising building I don't like this.
Levi is relishing these emotions, his wild chakra presses against my psyche.
"Oh, really Yusuke, you want to know what happened Tokegeroh? It's because you and Ken are fucking idiots!" Charles exclaims.
Pure rage and it's coming from Tora, the Uzumaki rises to his feet "Take that back asshole."
Charles like the sadist he is, smirks at him. "Alright, I take it back, he died because he was weak that better?"
I gotta stop this before it gets worse Tora rushes across the room fist clenched and arm cocked back ready to swing in blind fury. Charles ready for a fight I can feel the fat ass' blood lust, But Ryuzaki gets in his path just as he throws the blow, his fist slams into Ryuzaki's jaw, but the boy is still standing blood comes out of his lips.
"Ryu-chan? What the-
" It's on me, Ken's death is on me, I was leading that team, so blame me, Tora,"
Tears well up in Tora's eyes his fist clenches again but he doesn't swing.
"And me I should've known that finding their boss was too easy," Erik says sincerely.
Tora turns around leaves slowly walking to another room.
I heavily sigh, Ken was Tora's best friend, there's no way he wouldn't be upset, those two were inseparable, everywhere Tora went Ken was there, they joked laughed and played together during the academy days.
"Takashi don't ever pull that bullshit ever again," I say sternly.
The boys looks at me his anger rising he opens mouth "Excuse me, we are the same rank now don't act high mighty-"
"Provoke someone on this team into fighting again and you won't be dealing with the council, or the Hoshikage, you will deal with me, and it won't be anything chunin exams I promise you," I whisper to him with eyes full of malice.
He scoffs and backs down, he knows better.
"What about the target?" I ask,
"Tora killed her as soon as found out what happened, we got no other leads on paragon." Ryuzaki clarifies.
"That not necessarily true," I say cryptically.
"What do you mean aniki?"
"When we went back to the Star village the hoshikage gave me details on another mission, Ryuzaki, Takashi and I needed elsewhere, on the south border. When I discovered Paragon's intentions was to destroy the star, the Hoshikage disclosed some information with me I'll tell you about in the morning with everyone present."
I leave their room and head for mine where a nice bed calls to me, Tomorrow I'll tell my team the bad news, and hope everyone's on board for what comes next.
The next morning everyone is sitting around our suite all eyes are locked on me, listening to whatever I say. My team got news of Ken's death adding their solemn expressions to the gallery of gloom before me. I'll need their help for this so I have to make my words count.
"Everyone has been through a lot these past two days, we lost our objectives, and shinobi- uh a comrade, family, But were aren't done yet, Paragon has a fort in the south, discovered by the jonin and senior chunin who are hunting down mist spies in that area. The Hoshikage has requested only us chunin for back up to investigate the place, however, we have the option to take you with us for additional manpower."
I look up at their faces and see that morale is low they won't go for it I have to keep going.
" Paragon intends to give the mist information to that could throw us into a war. It's imperative that we search this fort for any leads to Dr. Vito or their leader."
The urgency in my voice grabs their attention, good let's see if can rally their spirits.
"I understand if don't want to continue if you're afraid or want to mourn the loss of Ken Inoue, I won't blame you for wanting to go home, but before you make any decisions I want you to know a few things. First, your profiles were given to us by Lord Sora Third Hoshikage of the village hidden in the stars, you are not expendable none of you are. You were picked on this team because you are the best and brightest of the genin in our village take pride in that!" I sense the gloom fading but it's not enough.
"Next, these assholes Paragon, they want to destroy the federation and drag us into a war. They want to destroy us, our way of life and everything we stand and fight to defend. We are warriors, our job is to defend the peace in our from whoever dares threaten it!"
Everyone's eyes light up a little, I sense more hate and aggression not good but better than gloom.
"Lastly, these clowns took our brother from us attacked our people we need to show them, not to fuck with us! So if you want to protect the peace we uphold or get vengeance for our fallen brother. Then come with us to the south border."
Tora hate is rising I knew shouldn't have pushed the vengeance button, but everyone else's morale has risen a lot from my little speech I see the fire in their eyes raring to go.
" I'm in but, damn does this mean we gotta do more walking," Vince whines in his usual joking nature.
"Yeah, I can't really turn back from a speech like that without looking a douche thanks a lot, Tokegeroh," Erik remarks.
"I'm sorry we couldn't more intel from Natsumi, after I heard what she I lost control of myself, please include me in this mission!" Tora shouts bowing his head.
"It's fine, I know how close you to were.-"
"It's not fine I lost control of my emotions, and acted without thinking, by all means, I should be punished for what I did!" he interrupts me, his guilt is eating at him.
"No one here is going to punish you Tora, I wouldn't be lying if I said I wanted that woman dead just as badly as you did," Ryuzaki says supporting his cousin. "You can come with us Tora, right guys?"
I nod and glare at Takashi, who just scoffs.
"What would you guys do without me anyway?" Honoka chimes in.
"Survive, and complete the mission." Vince retorts, the brunette preteen scowls at him.
"He's got you there Honoka-chan," Mao adds on. "I'll go too, we can't just let these guys do whatever they want."
"Um, I'll go as well, if that fine with you," A quiet voice squeaks in.
"Are you shitting me? Of course you can, Midori." I respond the shy kunoichi's cheeks turn red at my declaration.
"Well, I don't want to be away from my Tokegeroh-kun," Mashiro says leaning on me and pissing off Kali in the process.
"Get off me!" I shove her off lightly.
"Well someone has to keep the rest of you alive," Kali smirks.
"Since we are already pretty close to where we need to be I suggest we relax a little and take in the sights," I say shocking a few people in the group.
"Are you kidding me?" Charles growls.
"Nope, I'm dead serious."
"You just told us that paragon has intel that can start a war and you want to just relax."
"Yep, these past two days have been exhausting for everyone emotionally and physically, we need to recharge and unwind, before diving back into the madness," Everyone else sees the logic in this but Charles isn't biting.
"We should get moving!"
"Takashi, what are we gonna do, some of you are still recovering your wounds," I point to Erik and Ryuzaki who have bandages on them. "And my team just traveled nonstop to get here as fast as we could if we keep moving like this we'll burn our team out, and we'll be useless on the mission."
He glowers at me and scoffs "Whatever, do what you want. I don't care."
That kid is gonna be the death me, I just know it.
"So check out the hot springs gift shops or whatever eases your stress today everybody's a tourist." I declare Mashiro quickly jumps back to me.
"Well I'd like a date, Toke-kun that would ease my stress,"
"Whatever," At this point, there's nothing stopping her.
She links her arm with mine and beams at Kali who is getting angrier by the second.
"Actually Kallen, I um need to talk to you, privately," Ryuzaki says quietly, I smell a confession.
"Um... Sure Ryuzaki," Kali take one more look at Mashiro and shoots her a glare.
"Come on Toke-kun, let's look around." Mashiro chimes pulling me out the door.
Ryuzaki
I standing here alone in a room with Kallen it all seems so surreal, funny a what near death experience can do someone.
"Ryuzaki are you okay? We've been standing here for a minute and you haven't said anything." What? It's been a minute already, I look like a total idiot what am thinking.
I contemplate running out the door like a complete loser, argh no man up just say what's on your mind.
"Kallen, I.. well the thing is..." Oh my god, she looks so uninterested right I screwing it up! Breath deep and just come out with it. "I like you, like not as a friend but like something more totally," Stupid verbal tick!
She looks at me and smiles a little, like a pity smile, oh god. It is a pity smile abort, abort.
"Ryuzaki that's sweet but I can't, there's someone else."Dammit, I knew it's Tokegeroh isn't it that bastard. "But I want you to know I glad to have you as a friend." Oh hell no!
"That doesn't cut it for me Kallen-chan! I liked you ever since I first saw you at the academy, I like everything about your smile, your eyes, your voice your hair, I won't settle for just friends totally." Oh no I sound like a stalker. "I mean I won't give up on being more than friends Kallen totally!
She laughs at me she's laughing at me this isn't funny man, I put my heart on a platter for you.
"Well you're welcome to try Ryu-chan," She smiles at me I feel the heat burning in my cheeks.
"Then come out with me today, not as a date just to hangout," I say feeling incredibly bold.
"Sure."
Woohoo, I got a date, I mean sort of, It's one step closer to her being my girlfriend.
Brian/ Tokegeroh
"Oh look at this one, Toke-kun," Mashiro points to another figurine.
Dear god, someone please kill me now.
"That's fine Mashiro," I say not even looking at the things. She suddenly elbows my rib cage. " ow the hell!"
"You're not even paying attention,"
"Why would I, I'm not interested in this stuff or you for that matter," I mutter making the raven-haired girl angry.
"Well then who are you interested in?
Akiko,
Whoa, where'd that come from, surprisingly she's at the forefront of my thoughts despite the fact she's been gone for the past week, I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder. I seriously need to stop thinking about her like that she's my superior it'll never work out, but I can't. I keep remembering how she looked at the founder's festival, her blue kimono with the white butterflies against the night sky and fireworks, those beautiful teal eyes shimmering like gemstones, her bright smile-ouch the fuck!
Mashiro elbowed me again, "You're still not paying attention, you just zoned out I can't believe this."
"Why are you so hell bent on going out with me, to begin with."
"Cause your strong," She says simply.
"Why do you want to only date strong guys?" I need to nip this in the bud.
"My mom is a civilian who married to a shinobi, he died on a mission. It happened before I was born so I never met him, but mom would never stop talking about him, how he was so strong, She told if was to ever marry I should find a strong man like him." She says being serious for a change.
"Mashiro, I think you took her words too literally," she looks at me confused, "I think your mother meant a different kind of strength, the kind that comes from the heart."
"That's cheesy, Toke-kun," maybe a little but she adopts a contemplative look all the same. "Well, I'm not getting anywhere with you obviously, wanna go get something to eat, boss."
About damn time you open your eyes. "Yeah. I hear there's a good ramen stand around here somewhere."
ability learned:
Dark empathy
Dark empathy proficiency lvl 1
An: Things will be slowing down now, I'm going back to revise the earlier chapters so it's not as much of a cluster f*ck to read.