Chapter 19: Thank you for Flying Dragon Airways
After everyone finished their breakfast, they cleaned themselves up, packed their bags, and left their suite. They walked out of the palace and into the streets of Mizukari City, which was bustling with activity.
"This city never takes a break does it?" asked Kankuro as he scanned the street.
"It's busier than Suna, I'll give it that." commented Temari as she looked at the bustling street in wonder.
Temari looked over at Izuka and Gaara, who were walking behind her and Kankuro. Ryu was in her usual position, Izuka's shoulders.
"Izuka, Gaara, where's Daisuke? He's supposed to be coming with us." asked Temari.
Gaara looked over at his older sister. "He said he was going to meet us outside of the city's gates. Something about doing a last minute errand for the Wind Daimyo."
Temari nodded and went back to looking in front of her. It took them the next half hour to reach the city gates. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the gate's guards.
"Hello everybody. I hope you guys had a great stay in Mizukari City." said the guard with the handlebar moustache.
"Thank you." said Izuka. The others nodded their heads and walked out the city. The group walked for a good quarter-mile before stopping at a couple of big oak trees.
"We should wait for Daisuke here. Since these trees are right next to the main road, he shouldn't have a hard time spotting us." said Temari as she took off her backpack and sat on the ground.
"Agreed." exclaimed Izuka, Kankuro, and Gaara as they took off their packs and sat down.
Ryu crawled onto Gaara's shoulders. "Okay, I know the purpose of this mission is to try to convince Amegakure's dictator to not wage war on Suna, but have any of you guys considered the possibility that it might be all a joke to him?"
Izuka gave Ryu a questioning look. "What are you getting at Ryu?
"I'm just saying that we should be on high alert. It may be just a peace mission, but who knows what could happen. It could even be a trap for all we know." continued Ryu in her high pitched voice.
Kankuro smacked Ryu upside her head. "Stop thinking negatively! Think positively!" exclaimed Kankuro.
Izuka slapped Kankuro upside his head. "OWWW! What was that for?" he asked as he rubbed his temple.
"That was for slapping my dragon." commented Izuka with a cold stare directed at the puppeteer.
Kankuro nervously turned away. He couldn't stand cold stares.
Temari came in with. "Ryu does have a point though. We should all stay on high alert for the sake of this mission."
Gaara jumped into the conversation. "You shouldn't mess with Ryu anyways, Kankuro. If you brush her the wrong way, she'll squish you with her paw."
"Or claw you up and maul you." added Temari with a shrug.
Kankuro was about to yell at them, but was interrupted by a familiar voice. "There you guys are!"
The five of them turned their heads to see Daisuke run up on the main road. When he reached them, he took off his backpack and bent down to catch his breath.
"I didn't think you guy would walk this far from the gate. When I said I would meet you guys in front of the city gates, I meant literally right outside it, not a soccer field away." he said in between breaths.
"Sorry." chorused the four teens and small dragon.
Daisuke curiously looked at the group. "So are we going to get to Amegakure on foot?"
Temari and Kankuro gave Daisuke a grin while Izuka and Gaara smirked at each other. Ryu crawled off Izuka's shoulders and onto the ground.
"What's with the grins and stares?" asked a nervous Daisuke.
"It's better that I show you how we're going to get to Amegakure." said Ryu matter-of-factly.
Daisuke gave Ryu a questioning look. The look soon turned into a look of amazement as he watched Ryu grow into her true size. She went from being a three foot long dragon to a 35 foot one.
Kankuro took a photo of Daisuke's face, which resembled a fish out of water.
"This will make an excellent calling card." snickered Kankuro.
Temari slapped him in the face.
"Daisuke, are you all right?" asked Gaara as he stood next to the advisor.
"Yeah, I'm just a little surprised that's all." answered Daisuke.
"The feeling of surprise is not a good emotion to have while on a mission." answered Izuka as she leapt onto Ryu's back.
"Another one of your wise, sagely statements Izzy?" asked Kankuro as he joined Izuka on Ryu's back.
"Nah, I got that line from the back of a cereal box." answered Izuka nonchalantly.
Kankuro face palmed and Temari took a photo of him in that position. Daisuke and Gaara, on the other hand, tried in vain to not chuckle.
"Really! You got that line from a cereal box!?" exclaimed Kankuro as he picked his face off of Ryu's back.
"I was only kidding Kankuro." answered Izuka.
Kankuro slammed his face back into Ryu's back. Everyone except Izuka laughed.
"GOOD ONE, IZZY!" yelled Temari in between her hysteric giggles.
"Thank you and can you please STOP CALLING ME IZZY!" yelled Izuka with a cold glare to match.
Temari, Daisuke, Ryu, and Gaara all stopped laughing instantly.
"Is the Lady Sage always like this?" Daisuke asked Gaara.
"Gaara sighed. "Only when we call her Izzy, but most of the time, she's usually the calm one in the group."
"If that's the case, what are you in the group?" asked Daisuke.
"I'd rather not answer that." was Gaara's reply. He jumped and joined Izuka and Kankuro on Ryu.
Daisuke only shrugged and soon joined them on the dragon.
Temari put away her camera, picked up her stuff, and jumped on Ryu.
Ryu looked over her shoulder. "None of you guys are forgetting anything are you?"
Everyone shook their heads no in response.
"Alright then, make sure you guys hold on tight, get comfortable, and thank you for flying on dragon airways." Ryu stated.
Ryu slithered onto the main road. She ran for about ten feet before leaping into the air. She soared up into the air until she leveled herself about a good 10,000 feet above ground.
"Y'all good?" asked Ryu as she looked over her shoulder once again. Everyone nodded their heads yes.
"Good." replied Ryu. She then turned west.
"Amegakure, here we come!" stated Kankuro as he looked out into the sky.
What's going to happen next? Nobody knows, for now.
End of chapter 19.
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving Everybody! You know what I'm thankful for; my family, my friends, my health, and Byakuya still being alive. Thank the sereitei yes. Please review, vote on my poll, and visit my profile page.