The long flight to Japan had left both Karin and Taro bored. They were the most ill prepared entertainment wise. Ichigo had gone fast to sleep, awaking occasionally when the flight attendants came by with meals and snacks while Ziva was reading most of the flight or watching a movie from the small screen in front of her. Taro looked out the window longingly, but when they were required to close them the oldest brother was irritated at first, and then continually bored. Karin didn't have a window to look out of, she was stuck next to a drunk middle-aged man. She was entertained for about one out of fifteen hours of the flight. Her and the man conversed for that time, mostly it was him talking about his life story to her. Eventually he fell asleep, and Karin had tried to sleep as well. Yet, she couldn't. Karin wasn't sure why, but whether or not she slept or stayed awake Toshiro was still on her mind. Not to mention the unlucky middle seat. No window and no aisle, torture.
The flight to Slovakia was estimated nine hours, which had Koji bored. McGee reading and writing, while Matsumoto tried to talk with anyone and everyone she could. Often she'd pestered McGee trying to get him to stop reading. McGee didn't really appreciate that though, so the lieutenant tried to pry into Koji's boredness. The boy didn't appreciate it either and would respond with a death glare. Matsumoto wasn't spooked by it, to her it just looked kind of cute. She found conversation with a couple of people across the aisle from her. There were a couple noise complaints throughout the flight regarding Matsumoto, but the orange haired soul reaper could care less.
DiNozzo, Gibbs, Urahara, Toshiro, and Nao were on a small, cramped, private plane to Hutchinson, Kansas. Gibbs didn't book a commercial flight to the Kansas town because there wasn't one available. They'd have to fly to Kansas City and drive about four to five hours to the town. So instead a private plane was booked, and would land on a small private airfield about thirty minutes away from the small town. Urahara was talking at Gibbs the entire flight. Not talking to, that would require Gibbs to pay attention and care. Nao and Toshiro were silent and sitting next to each other, Nao with one side to the wall and the other towards Toshiro. Toshiro sat with DiNozzo to his other side. Unusually enough, DiNozzo was uncharacteristically silent.
After the arrival to the town all DiNozzo could think about was how small it was. Coming into the town DiNozzo noticed the large prison first off, but then the small, rustic, slightly unkept, businesses. When they finally reached the salt mine they were surprised to see a large parking lot and building.
"Hello little boy! Where's your family? Are you buying a ticket for the tour?" Asked the woman at the front desk, her blonde ponytail bobbing up and down as she talked ecstatically. Toshiro was about to yell 'I'm not a child!' but before he could Gibbs approached and flashed his badge, as did DiNozzo who was trailing behind a cheerful Urahara.
"Oh? What do you need, agents?"
"I'm sorry Ms., but we need inside. Official NCIS business," DiNozzo said, eyeing the woman in front of him.
"What's NCIS?" She asked, fluttering her big blue eyes at DiNozzo.
"Well-" DiNozzo started.
"Naval Criminal Investigative Services," Gibbs answered, cutting off DiNozzo.
Still looking at DiNozzo, the worker replied, "What do you need here? We're just a museum. You might want to go to HSC headquarters building. This is just the Strataca museum."
"HSC?"
"Hutchinson Salt Company."
Nao shook his head no in response, and pointed in the building. They needed access into the mine, not the headquarters.
"That's alright Miss, thanks for all your help. But we need in the mine," DiNozzo said, ending his response with a sly smile.
"Well, I guess if you need in go right ahead, but put on these bracelets." The lady handed them bright orange bracelets, they were the paper strips with sticky material on the ends. DiNozzo had a good laugh watching Nao and Toshiro struggle to put them on. In which both gave the agent their varying death glares. Which, unfortunately for the two, made DiNozzo laugh even harder.
Before they entered, the thought dawned on Toshiro, "You can see me?"
The ticket woman smiled, "Of course, I can see both you and your friend!" Referring to Nao. "Why wouldn't I?"
When their flight arrived Karin and Ziva were the first two off the plane, Karin was leaning side to side and stretching her aching legs. She didn't get up once during the flight and she definitely regretted it. Ziva was just sitting closer to the exit so she had a quick run out. Ichigo and Taro were some of the last two off the place, Ichigo came out arms above his head, stretching and yawning.
The group wandered out of the airport and found a cab, Ichigo tiredly instructed the driver to the Kurosaki household.
After a long, silent drive they were finally at the Kurosaki residence. When Karin saw her home in front of her, tears immediately welled up. Their taxi had stopped, and it was time for her to go home. Ichigo got out of the car and opened Karin's door, taking her hand and leading her out.
"You're taking this better than I thought," Ichigo said in Japanese, switching to his native language.
"I always have!" Karin replied, also in Japanese. Her brother was only thinking of her safety when he agreed to this. Just like Toshiro. Karin was lucky her brother hadn't noticed the tears welling up, she needed to be strong. If not for Toshiro and Ichigo, she'd be strong for herself.
They were standing in front of their home, and Karin knew there was a possibility she wouldn't see her brother soon. He could be gone for a long time, she knew that. In a flash decision Karin ran into her brother, embracing him, "Ichigo," she said into his shirt, "Be careful." The tears still didn't fall.
Patting her back, Ichigo replied, "Of course, I always am." He finished with a short laugh.
"Idiot." Karin said, muffled to the point where Ichigo couldn't hear.
Karin let go, her cheeks rosy. "I'll see you." She smiled and waved him off.
"I'll see you too." Ichigo replied, getting back into the taxi.
As Karin watched her brother drive away in the taxi, Karin could feel the soft, warm, tears trail down her face. Without hesitating she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
Knocking on the door, then entering, Karin looked around the quiet house, "Tadaima"
Matsumoto was filled with joy as she got off the plane, "Oh thank goodness! My legs are cramping!"
"Do you just constantly talk?" the middle brother asked.
"Excuse you, little boy. There is nothing wrong with how much I talk!"
McGee help his hands up to his temples, and massaged them. It was already a long flight, this was going to be a long trip.
The trio found themselves in the middle of nowhere. There were a few houses here and there and a big hotel, but other than that just nature all around. When they had reached the cave they were slightly surprised by how tourist friendly it was. They were relying on Koji to help with directions and instructions, but the boy seemed lost himself.
"Last time I was here there weren't as many people."
McGee sighed and instinctively reached for his badge when it was their turn to buy tickets. He ended up stopping mid-reach though, he didn't have jurisdiction here. The Slovak woman at the counter had tan skin and dark hair, she looked McGee up and down with a frown. She spoke Slovak first, then transitioned to English, "How many tickets sir?"
"Three please," replied McGee.
The ticket woman gave him a weird look and pointed to the elderly couple behind him, "Are they with you?" She asked, her English heavily accented.
"No, it's me and-"
Matsumoto patted McGee's shoulder and sighed, "They can't see Nao and I."
"I mean, I just need one!" McGee said, holding up one finger.
The woman rolled her eyes and handed McGee the ticket.
Taro, Ichigo, and Ziva decided to travel to Kyoto first. The three agreed it was a good starting point. Taro had assigned them two caves in Japan because he knew both of these would probably be abandoned, better to send more to the other locations.
"Two tickets," Taro said told Ziva.
"Why two?"
"They can't see me," Taro shrugged, better to be cheap.
Ichigo asked for two tickets in Japanese, but got a quizzical look from the ticket seller.
"But there's three of you?" The ticket seller replied.
"Just two of us." Ichigo said, motioning to Ziva and himself.
"Three?" The ticket seller replied, motioning toward Taro.
Taro's eyes went wide at the fact he was seen, and quickly replied, "Three tickets then."
After the tickets were bought the trio briefly settled at a small cafe outside the cave, next to the gift shop.
"What was that? I understand that Ichigo can be looked at because of his gigai, but what about you?" Ziva questioned.
Taro sighed, "I was afraid of this."
"Of what?"
"We have problems with some of the black market goods. Occasionally strong and powerful spiritual pressure is released, and if a person is in or around it for a prolonged period usually it leads to being able to see. Usually workers don't work too long of hours and have multiple shifts, so it's not too bad. Not to mention our employer is in deep parts of the mine so it shouldn't spread this far."
"What you're saying is that someone's definitely here?" Ichigo asked.
Taro nodded, "It definitely means there's activity, a large amount."
'I was wrong,' Taro thought miserably. Of course, seeing a lowly soul like him wasn't too bad. If they were to see a captain, that would be a huge problem.