Team Cybele: The Hare and the Snake

[Princess Tracy]

"Yousuke, you're boundless ignorance is ruining my cake's taste," Amon comments as she digs in. Apart from a spoon, she eats like a pig, not really cutting the harder layers or anything, just digging in lke the spoiled brat she never learned not to be with sweet things; probably not that far from Yousuke. Muffled by cake, she adds "You know, how dare you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Camille pulls away quickly from Amon's hand. She didn't want to be touched, and doesn't respond to the girl's questions or comments at all.

Alice just looks at Amon, and starts a conversation to draw her away from Camille. Alice clearly felt that the girl would recover on her own eventually, and poking her would just agitate the situation. "I had forgotten what it was like to travel with my loyal dog, so I went with you to recapture that feeling."

The puppeteer looks down at Amon's fake leg, and casually talks about a potential replacement. "Getting a human-like foot would be a bit harder. But it should be possible. You seem to be stressing it far too much though." She starts to clinically diagnose Amon's overuse of the limb, and ways to potentially reduce the stress it takes.

While Alice and Amon talk about the later girl's parts Camille just remains quiet. Yousuke's attempts to talk are brushed off with shakes of her head, and she still does not speak. She becomes more upset as Yousuke presses the point and tries to "fix" her "problem", and the girl vigorously shakes her head. But the straw that breaks the camel's back is his attempt at sharing his ice cream. When the bowl slides her way she just slaps the table and stands up in the same motion. She's staring at the floor, and doesn't look toward Yousuke, Amon, or Alice. "I-I think you were right. I am just unwell. Goodbye." Camille leaves quickly without finishing her float, and storms out. Satsuki says goodbye, but the purple-haired girl leaves without saying anything else.

Spot DC 14

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Camille had tears in her eyes.

Alice closes her eyes and just sighs. "Well, it's probably for the best."

[Bad Situation]

Catching the tears in the young girl's eyes, Yousuke instantly feels miserable. Sighing, he slaps some money on the table and gets up to follow after Camille. "There should be enough money there to pay for all of us. I am sorry that you had to see this." With that said and done Yousuke dashes out of the store, hoping to use his greater speed to quickly catch up to the girl.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Yousuke starts to run, and Alice just raises her right hand as he starts moving. The boy gets a few feet, but suddenly a sharp tug draws him backward. His body unnaturally tenses as he turns, and walks back to their table like a puppet. Alice brings Yousuke back slowly, and settles him into the seat he'd just vacated. Then she makes him take back the money he had left. She casually sips her water while keeping her right hand pointed toward Yousuke. All four of her fingers, plus her thumb, point toward the boy's chest. "I couldn't sit by and subject that maiden's heart to you anymore, so I believe you'll be staying right here."

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Flat-footed touch attack: (1d20+11)[21] vs Yousuke's flat-footed touch defense of 16. + the better of (2d6)[5][3](8). = 26 vs Yousuke's flat-footed touch defense of 16.

Yousuke's captured by Alice's Living Human Puppetry Technique.

Yousuke can attempt a DC 25 Escape Artist check to break out of her chakra threads.

[Princess Tracy]

"Aw, aren't you a romantic," Amon quips as she's called a dog, though there is an element there of her meaning it that can't escape Alice's ears. "We should hang out more often, if you really like 'taking your dog for walks'. Think I can get the serving staff in here to sing me happy birthday?"

"Wouldn't it be possible to just make one?" Amon conjectures at the prospect of a human-fleshed foot and Alice's talk of it being easier to acquire. "I don't know, I don't see how I could be stressing it too much - I don't really do much running or anything, it's a bit too awkward with the foot for me to run track or anything over long distance like that. Maybe I carry too much equipment? Ooh, I know what it might be - I've had it for a over a year of puberty-growth now, having to fix it up myself rather than getting some sort of new model. Having to constantly adjust it by a centimetre or so just to not be lopsided is hard work and I'm probably doing it wrong."

When Camille runs out, Amon makes no move to stop her, having some basic sense about her sensei's judgement and trusting it more than her own judge of character, falling silent until Yousuke makes to chase after her. When he comes back though, she recognises her sensei's technique instantly. "Alice-sensei!" she remarks, slightly outraged. "That isn't even efficient! If you force him like that, it won't stick, he'll just chase after her once you let him go!"

She turns awkwardly to Yousuke. "Sorry, Konpaku-san, I wish I could say she isn't normally like this, but.... Just bear with it; if you piss her off, she'll do something worse." Maybe I can at least convince him to give up the chase before he does something stupid, like really stupid. "But look Alice is just concerned about Camille and has a funny way of showing it. You'd probably be doing little good by chasing her; people out of their element need time to adapt. You rescued her, you're an agent of transition, but..."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke makes a valiant effort at jerking away from the strands of chakra but to no avail. Scowling at his wasted efforts, Yousuke turns his attention back to Alice, "Why are you doing this? I have to go after her!?" In spite of his better efforts, Yousuke struggles uselessly against the threads, not used to having no control over his own body. "She's all alone in the city. I need to go see if she's alright."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

"If I really wanted him to not run off, then I'd just break his legs." Alice speaks in the same deadpan tone she's had all day. "But more important than just stopping him... He needs to know why I've stopped him."

Alice just looks at Yousuke. Even if Amon says she's angry it doesn't show in the slightest. Everything she says is the same even tone, and her eyes have the same expressionless and analytical gaze as always. "That girl trusts you and cares for you. I don't know why, nor do I really care. But you brought her here, then stomped all over her heart by fawning over someone else. And you even had the audacity to berate her for being upset? How dare you."

Alice waits for Yousuke to finish, and finally displays real emotion for the morning. She just scowls at him. "After what you've done? I don't think so. Why would she want you there? Going after her now would only hurt her more."

[Bad Situation]

Upon hearing Alice's reprimand, Yousuke's angered expression turns into one of confusion. "What are you even talking about? Why would she even care about who I happen to like?" Giving up on his escape for now he asks, "Then what do you propose I do? It should quite apparent by now that I know very little of the opposite sex."

Slumping back against his chair, or whatever he can manage while bound by the threads, he mutters aloud, "Yare yare da ze."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon would be pleased to see the expression on Alice's face (cataloguing it for later to later cite back at her all the times she broke her indifference wa s ahobby of hers) if not for the situation. As Yousuke seems to sigh and accept the circumstances though, Amon breathes a sigh of relief the situation defused. He seemed to be eliciting girl-advice. "I don't think it's the opposite sex that's the problem, Yousuke. You're just not good with people. Anyone. I mean, is there anyone you get along with? You just don't seem to grasp what goes on in peoples heads. Fair enough, I have trouble too, but i think you've been cooped up in theories-ville at the Academy too long, too little socialising. If only due to being a romantic myself I can tell you this much of her current heart Yousuke-kun." Amon looks him dead in the eyes. "You're her hero. THINK ABOUT IT."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Alice just closes her eyes and shakes her head. "Idiot."

The blond-haired girl sips her water, then lets Yousuke get as comfortable as he wants. "I propose you finish your ice cream, then go home. Leave her alone, and she'll confront you about it when she wants to. Is that acceptable, or will I need to make you cut off your own legs?"

[Princess Tracy]

"She'll do it, she's crazy," Amon corroborates, jokingly. "Having your leg chopped off is no fun, I assure you - your choice is clear."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke blanches at the woman's casual mention of his dismemberment and sighs, "I will be good." However, the imagery evoked by the woman's words call to mind his grandfather's own trouble. He had only caught the tailend of the woman's conversation with Amon but she seemed to have some ability with prosthetics. Swallowing his own pride for the moment he asks, "I overheard you speaking with Amon. Can you...create functioning prosthetic limbs? My grandfather has recently been in an...incident that had robbed him of his sword arm." The incident that had almost cost Youki his life. To say that he was still feeling guilty was an understatement.

"I realize that I am in no position to ask you for favors but I cannot call myself his grandson if I do not at least make the effort to ask. So I must humbly ask, will you help my grandfather." If Alice deigns to allow him to move, Yousuke gets up and prostrates himself before her in the most respectful bow he can manage.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Alice releases her hold on Yousuke, then waves the boy off. "I don't accept commissions from third parties. If you want to help him, then he'll have to come see me personally." Alice gets up, adjusts her skirt, then nods at the two genin. "I'll be going. Amon knows where to find me young man. If you want to help your grandfather, then direct him there." With that said Alice leaves, regardless of what either Amon or Yousuke have to say.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke gets up from his bowed position and seems to remember where he is and blushes embarassedly. Staring at Amon he sighs, "I suppose you would have met him eventually, your busybody nature notwithstanding. Will you come with me to the hospital?"

Regardless of whether or not Amon accepts, Yousuke goes to the hospital to spend some time with Youki before redoubling his training efforts.

[Princess Tracy]

Amon looks at Yousuke with concern as he speaks of his grandfather's injury. Robbed of a sword arm - if he was as prideful a swordsman as Yousuke was that must be hell. When Alice gets up to leave, seeming to leave the affair in Amon's hands, Amon nods, a little surprised she would let anyone else in on her lair. With that and her aggression over the slighting of Camile, Amon can't help but comment as she passed "Aw, see Alice-chan, I knew you had a heart."

When she's gone and Yousuke invites her, she holds up a hand to pause him. "Just a moment, I'm going to finish my birthday 'meal'." She pushes a spoon towards him, hoping to raise his spirits as she offers the sugar to him. "Whether you split with me to make it go faster or not, I'll leave that up to you," she says between mouthfuls. Whether he starts eating with her or not, she talks anyway.

"I think I have a fairly good idea of what goes through Camille's mind. I didn't want to spoil the romantic mystery, but to save you the trouble of embarrassing yourself or, worse, offending her any more, I'm going to give you a crash course. First things first; she's lost her whole life and even her body. She cannot touch or look directly at any living thing outside the clan now without fear of them just dying. Cybele has her own lusts and is all too familiar with how she cannot touch, convincing herself she is only good for assassination, for killing that which would love her, 'wisdom' she'll have imparted on Camille - only making her life all the worse since coming to Soragakure. yet even when she stood back in that town, even when she came to knew how bad things had gotten, thinking she'd hit rock bottom, she pulled through; she held it together amazingly well. You pulled her out of that building, you saved her from an Oni, you're the one she..." Amon sighs.

"To put this another way, her thoughts would be something like 'I can't touch, there's no hope left to love; but Yousuke... if Yousuke has dedication in his heart then I can be strong, I can hope to find away around it, i can hope to lead a normal life, to feel love... he's my hero, he's dedicated to me already surely, always keeping an eye on me'. Then she sees you gawking at some woman without a curse, how do you think that makes her feel? To know there's these women out there, women who aren't cursed, the path of least resistance - woman her precious Yousuke-kun could fall for and run away with at any time because she knows, in her mind anyway, that she can't contend with that. You're her rock, Yousuke, the one thing keeping her steady. You think Cybele is giving her pep talks enough to keep her spirit as steady as it is? No, that's all you. It's time to grow up, Yousuke, time to stop being such an oblivious little boy. You're a ninja now; you're a man now. You can be your idiot self still, sure, but for now at least while she settles, while romantic hopes are her only escape in her current state - lost and frightened in a world she doesn't understand and never asked to enter - you have to be that. Her knight in shining armour. It can't be Kaede, it can't be Houshi, it can't be Cybele, and it can't even be me, it has to be YOU, so shape up." Amon sets down her spoon, finished.

[Princess Tracy]

"Don't speak," she says if Yousuke tries to object to any part of her analysis of Camille. "Think on it for at least a day before saying I'm wrong; I'm sure it's not 100%, but you know her better than I do, or you should; you'll figure out the rest on your own." She stands, going up to the counter, leaving a sizable tip as she beckons Yousuke forth. "Now, onto the matter of your grandfather..." she remarks, changing topic, confident she'd left Yousuke something to think about as she starts walking with him.

Amon drags her bike alongside Yousuke as they go. He can hear her foot squeaking oddly, sort of like when one is aware of their breathing they breathe oddly and audibly; whatever thoughts she was lost in for those few minutes, it was clear it concerned her prosthetics. Finally, she seems to figure out what to say. "How good a swordsman is your grandfather?" she asks suddenly.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke remains quiet during Amon's analysis of his situation and offers no thoughts of his own as she finishes her meal. Throughout the lecture he affixes her with a cool gaze, frowning when she points out Camille's interest in him. While it was very well true that he had rescued the girl and it just did not make sense for her to look at him with infatuation. He had been polite and courteous, honorable even, but he simply could not fathom the course of action he had taken to catch her interest. Yousuke rejects the offer to share and sits back in the booth to reflect on the day's events.

When Amon finishes her ice cream Yousuke stands up and holds the door open for them as they leave. Grateful for the change of topic, he gladly answers Amon's query, "They say that back in his prime, Konpaku Youki was the most feared swordsman in the entirety of the elemental countries. None who drew a sword could rest comfortably knowing that he was standing above them, at the height of swordplay. Men and women alike cowered before the Emperor of Blades, and tyrants and warmongers slept ill at ease knowing that the Phantom was fast approaching for their life." Yousuke gleeful explains to Amon some of Youki's greater exploits and seems to relish in blending the line between fact and myth. "Legends have it that a single swing of his katana would cleave mountains and whatever political alliance he deigned to take would force the daimyo's of old to enter negotiations. His body has declined in his old age but his skills are second to none," thinking bitterly to the events of last night he adds, "even to his would-be killer."

Looking at the waning color of the sky he asks, "It is getting late though, perhaps you would be better suited meeting him some other time."

[Princess Tracy]

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I'm pretty sure it was early morning in my narrative, but if we're ending the scene, so be it.

Amon nods as he starts to explain, opens her mouth to say something smartass, then closes it, shocked, 30 seconds or so having passed before the great detail set in in her mind. Choking, she points at him, her hand wavering in disbelief. "Y-y-y-you're grandfather is YOUKI!? THE Youki Konpaku!?" She looks in disbelief, which turns to wonderment as Yousuke tells his tall tales of his grandfather's deeds, nodding and blushing, her fists to her chin. "Wooow... THE Youki Konpaku..." She bows comically, yet sincerely. "I-I'm sorry I ever insulted your swordplay, Yousuke! If it is born of the training of Youki Konpaku, to insult even his shadow would be blasphemy! May a thousand lashings descend upon my insolent soul!" She stands up straight, still with her hands at the side of her face as if embarrassed, "Ah, my idol, Youki, the whole reason I ever thought to carry a sword..."

The phrase 'would-be killer' seems to snap Amon back to reality though. She stutters, her eyes snapping open as she turns to Yousuke, looking a little heartbroken herself as she remembers the situation. "Konpaku-san... there's something I think you have to know. You might not be able to afford Alice's price to replace your grandfather's hand. Here, grab my leg..." Showing amazing flexibility, she touts up her cleaved leg, her long skirt kept in place by its own leg as she seems to invite Yousuke to grab the wood of her prophetic. It's quite beaten up, with odd dents and scratches, and Amon has to tighten a bolt here and there even as he looks. "This thing is.. kind of awkward to get used to, and it can't really be used in a fight, too lightweight - the wood would crack if I were regularly kicking, sword or now sword. And wounds don't heal on these prosphetics... they just pile up." She puts her foot down, looking awkwardly to the side. "All I'm saying is... don't get your hopes up he'l make a full recovery. Even with a hand from Alice, there's a chance he'll won't ever fight again, at least not with the strength and skill he's known for..."

Whether Yousuke goes to the hospital or not, she walks with him a while longer, looking to te ground as if ashamed. "How did it happen? You said someone tried to kill him..."

[Bad Situation]

Realizing that he had let on more than he intended, Yousuke quiets himself, "I have spoken rashly. Let us speak of this no longer." Great, the one person who was capable of helping his grandfather was one of the man's crazed fangirls. "If Alice can help at all, direct him to her. If you truly need to see my grandfather beforehand tell the receptionist that Yousuke sent you. You will not be able to see him otherwise."

With that done Yousuke is glad to let the subject drop and departs.

[Princess Tracy]

"Konpaku-san..." For the first time since they met, Amon seems concerned for him. "...We both have to get stronger don't we?" She nods as he leaves. Looking out towards the sunset, she gets an odd sense of deja vu as the wind seems to concern her oddly. "Is this how Kaede felt? ...I'm going to get out of the air before whatever trouble the wind bears arrives." With that, she heads back to Alice's hideout, knowing Yousuke's name would not be enough and not seeing much point to her presence anyway; if the real Youki Konpaku was anything like his grandson, the last thing he needed was her to get on his nerves. She resumes her training with Alice promptly.

Amon spares some time to call up the sand-nin from her first mission and ask if they're okay. On the last day of her downtime, she checks her house to make sure nothing suspicious would befall her family upon their return. She breaks in, having forgotten her keys again, and leaves a note on Aiko's bed saying 'On a mission. Me and Usagi have lots of stories to tell when we get back though! Hope your vacation was fun, we should eat some cake to make up for lost time..'

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The remaining days of training pass uneventfully. Yousuke's able to get his grandfather to Alice's, and she prices his new arm at six million ryo. Youki surprisingly accepts that kind of price, and doesn't even try to hit on Alice. Possibly because of the young lady's appearance as a teenager, but maybe because he legitimately respects her skill. Probably more the former than the later, but one can never truly know.

Houshi's teacher happily explains how to open the Second Gate, and trains the boy to the best of his ability. Unfortunately, there is little else he can do for Houshi, and warns the boy that he'll be taking a trip for the next month. If questioned, he explains that there's been rumors of a strong swordsman here in the River Country, and he wants to find the man and test his skills. He wishes Houshi luck on his next mission, and sees the boy off.

Amon discovers Alice had already went to sleep when she makes it back to the bike. Somehow she had leveraged the bike and the pole it was tied to against one another to create a stable place to sleep. Admittedly, she had to do it sitting up, but it was still pretty astounding. When the pair make it back to Alice's hidey-hole the puppeteer continues to train Amon to the best of her abilities.

---

Amon

Amon wakes up at Alice's in time to find Hourai and Goliath cooking breakfast. There's no reason for Amon to be excited about this meal, because every single other meal they've cooked so far has been terrible. Yet, every morning they're in the kitchen and trying their best. Alice always eats it, but never berates them or corrects their mistakes. And anytime Amon asks questions about Hourai she gets ignored. However, this morning the twin human-sized dolls are cooking for one. Alice is still asleep when Amon wakes up, and the door that leads beyond the kitchen is closed and locked as always. Unless stopped Hourai eventually serves Alice some eggs that taste very sweet, almost as if they had been sugared rather than salted, and bacon that's slightly burnt. Goliath eventually produces two pieces of toast that could be favorably compared with charcoal. If Amon eats, then Hourai waits until she's finished before turning over a note scrawled in Alice's messy hand-writing. Otherwise, Hourai turns it over immediately.

The note reads: "Today's the last day freeloader. Shoo." And Hourai points toward the door after Amon reads it.

Houshi

Houshi wakes up early this morning, but there's no sounds coming from the kitchen. If he goes to investigate, then he finds a cold pan of undercooked eggs on the stove. The stove's off, and no other food is set out. Luckily there's a note sitting under a 500 ryo note on the table. It reads plainly: "Sorry Houshi, but your dad accidentally cut himself while cooking. He'll be fine, but we need to take him to the hospital. So there's no breakfast this morning. You can make some yourself, or go get something. There's some money on the table. Good luck today!" Houshi's mom has drawn a smiley face at the end.

It looks like Houshi's on his own for breakfast.

Yousuke

The Konpaku household is very quiet. Youki returned from Alice's last night, but she has him sedated and under strict orders not to stress his new hand too much. The wooden appendage moves much like his old one, but both Alice and Youki realized it wouldn't handle the rigors of a two-handed sword style. Youki's still stuck using his secondary hand for using his blade, but at least now he's able to use his primary hand for day-to-day things. Yousuke wakes up to no sound in the kitchen. If he checks, then he's treated to the sight of an empty kitchen. Yousuke has finally been given free reign to make his own meal. If Yousuke checks on his grandfather than he sees Youki's bedroom lights are off, and his room is as quiet as one would expect a sleeping person's room to be. The door's locked, but he can be reasonably assured that his grandfather is inside.

DM

When the trio arrive at Soragakure's main gate they don't immediately spot Cybele. Instead, the genin find a familiar dark-haired older man talking to a tiny purple-haired twin of their teacher. Kaede seems a bit put off, or upset about something, while Sune is surprisingly angry. The young girl and her older companion seem to be discussing something at length, and don't stop until the genin get within hearing range.

Listen check DC 18

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"Are you sure you're okay? You could always give them a free day, or ask Cybele to take care of them and you could watch the little one."

"I'm not my sister big guy. I don't need you to baby me."

"Heh. Sorry, sorry. I know you're real--"

"I'm real what?"

"Nothing. So how's the little one doing?"

"... Well. Cybele's being Cybele about the whole thing. I just hope this girl or Cybele don't end up like Nanako."

"I..."

"Hey, look sharp. Your kids are here."

Sune looks toward the genin once they come into view, and leaps away before they arrive. She clearly intended to keep whatever her problem was to herself. Kaede just nods toward the group when they get closer. He's wearing a traditional Soragakure ninja uniform with matching sky blue ninja vest. Unlike Cybele Kaede's actually wearing his headband, and he has it wrapped around his head like it should be. The sky-jounin greets all three genin as they arrive.

"Good afternoon", Kaede says as he drops into a familiar partial grin, "I hope your break went well, because today's mission is a doozy. Cybele's training the little girl she found. Who knew a member of her clan was out here all alone, huh?" Kaede either doesn't know the truth, or doesn't know that you know the truth. Either way he continues onward. "So I'm taking over for her this time." The sky-jounin produces three small scrolls from one of his belt pouches, and passes them out to each of you in turn. The scrolls detail the mission, and read as follows:

Letter

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Operation Dog Hunt
Primary Objective: Retrieve Ueki Tsume.
Secondary Objective: Make peace between the Garou Clan and the village of Sonada.
--Contingent objective: Eradication of the Garou Clan.
Location: 20 km north, on the border between the River Country and the Rain Country.
Potential enemies: The Garou Clan. Sonada village Peacemakers. Suspected ninja involvement.

Greetings, my name is Sonada Nakazo. I am the mayor of Sonada Village, and descendant of its founder. A clan of unsavory people arrived near my village, and have refused to leave no matter how often or nicely I ask. They've proven most irritating, but there was nothing to act on until recently. A young girl from my village, Ueki Tsume, disappeared reecently and I fear they have kidnapped her. I have sent for help from your village with the hope that you would be able to save the girl and make peace between our villages.

But, if something has happened to her, then I implore you: Destroy the Garou. For the safety of my people.

Kaede waits for everyone to read it, then asks. "Well, do you have any ideas or thoughts based on what we know so far?"

[Princess Tracy]

Amon smirks as she finds Alice apparently napping, though wonders inwardly if she was narcoleptic or something. She remains there a while, a little interested by how well Alice managed to balance the bike, but more slightly surprised Alice felt safe enough to just sleep out here like this. She almost regretted having to wake her, but she'd be damned if she was going to try balancing Alice all the way back to her lair just to improve her nap. "Why, if a pretty girl like you lies around like that in public, some dishonest person might snatch you up, Alice-sensei," she teases Alice awake before riding home once more

---

Over the next few days, she uses the events of teh day to tease her a little. "Aw, isn't Alice a romantic, intervening to protect Camille's feelings," and such. On the last day, after enduring the odd cooking and being woken up by the unfeeling gaze of Hourai (the restraint of the puppets only making her want to snoop around more), she leaves her own note, tucking it into Hourai's hair as she stands, it reading 'Sorry for the trouble, Alice-sensei. Hopefully next time I crash at your place I'll be able to help out more on whatever you're working on. Thanks for the scroll on puppet construction; I'm sure I'll figure it out. -Your loyal dog'.

--

Amon turns up to the meeting in her new dress, taking a second to realise that the girl wasn't Cybele before her mood sank a little. Well, Kaede's pretty cool. She seems to be travelling a lot lighter, carrying only a small, more compact bag under her arm, her Shanghai case. That, and a few essentials. She DID bear a more confident stride as she walks down the street, feeling a bit more confident after the last mission and some training from Alice, hoping to impress her teammates, but with only Kaede there, she pouts, feeling more like her whiny self, her hands on her hips as she approaches. "Sup, Kaede. Are you allowed to just replace Cybele like this? Eh, I guess you're the brains of the operation anyway. Who was that girl, by the way? It wasn't Camille or Cybele, but she looks familiar..." She thinks back, suddenly remembering the scroll Cybele gave her on their first mission. "Oh! Her sister, right?"

Amon waves as her teammates join her. "Hey, Yousuke, how's he holding up? Alice-chan says she made it, so... HOUSHI!" She slaps her head in self punishment as she remembers. "Ah, I promised to meet you sometime, didn't I? I'm so so sorry, but I got really caught up in my training... Maybe you'll forgive me if you see me in action?"

She takes the scroll, reads it and tuts. "Anyone else getting deja vu? Hey, I'm the local landlord, some ruffiance are disrupting my doings, go kill them if you have to, on an unrelated note the weather forecast today is a 200% chance of fighting super powered enemy ninja," she remarks. "Well, at least this one outright says there may be ninka... Might as well get over there ASAP though, if someone's life hangs in the balance. We'll take it from there, I figure."

Amon digs around her bag, finding some space for the scroll as she addresses Kaede. "Hey did you hear about Sonia? What's teh deal with that?" she asks, trying to pretend she had nothing to do with it as she pulls out a crystal - Cybele's crystal. "Cybele wanted this back. Think I can trust you with it?" she jokes, handing it to him if he accepts. "By the way, are ANBU in the habit of beating up young girls for fun?"

[zeone3000]

Houshi sighed at his dad's accident, Must've been pretty deep for to have to go to the hosiptal. Houshi opted for going out and went to go get dress.

---

Houshi had to admit, it sounded awfully familiar but he now knew nothing was certain in this world, especially after their last mission. Houshi shakes his head at Kaede, "Nope, last time I tired, dead wrong. I'll wait."

He looks down to Amon, scratching his head, "You did? Well, I was pretty busy too; so no harm, no foul."

Houshi heard the rumors, mainly from his parents. He felt Sonia finally got what she deserved. Still, maybe Taro was just making a power move and Sonia is innocent. Who knew? He knew that it wasn't his place as a genin to worry about it.

Finally, he turned to Amon once again with a confused look, "And you ask this because...?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede answers Amon's questions. "Well, that bastard Taro took my team away, and didn't say I couldn't leave." When questioned about the girl, he just nods his head. "Yup. That was Sune, Cybele's older sister. By a minute, or so she tells me." Kaede just shrugs at that. It just plain didn't matter if Sune was a minute older or not.

"Ya. That thing with Sonia got a lot of outsider ninja stirred up, reprimanded, or worse. I was taken off active duty, and my team reassigned. Taro's probably making a power play, and removing anyone who might oppose him in the process." Kaede crosses his arms as he recounts what happened. "It'll hurt Soragakure's income in the short-term", Kaede says with a shrug, "but I suppose he knows what he's doing."

Kaede takes the crystal from Amon, then goes on about ANBU. "Well, the simple answer to that question is: What do they gain? If it's just amusement, then they'd have to be pretty twisted. Otherwise, it's a risk-vs-reward system, and if the rewards are great enough then no one is safe."

[Bad Situation]

From afar, Yousuke strains his ears to hear the conversation, managing to catch the barest wisps of informatio. "Nanako? A mutual acquaintance of theirs?" Storing the information away for later use, Yousuke greets the other assembled genin with a wave. Feeling in better spirits he even smiles as he accepts the scroll from Kaede. Listening to Kade's question as he reads the scroll he mentions off-handedly, "I think I remember reading about the Garou clan using blood sorcery to adopt bloodlines into their family. For whatever reason they seem let go of these bloodlines before long." Closing the scroll he meets the man's eyes, "I do not know much about them besides that."

Nodding at Amon, his smile widens a bit, "My grandfather is well Amon, the price you had worried about was really no matter to him after all." It was true that Youki would never hold a sword true again but even that, the man had turned into a type of training. Clenching and unclenching his bandaged fists, Yousuke feels the newly obtained callouses on his hands, a testament to the conditioning Youki had outlined for him before succumbing to the sedatives. Just another step toward his new style as far as he was concerned. "He grew accustomed to the prosthetic shortly after its attachment. You need not worry."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede looks to Yousuke. "Good. You're right. The Garou clan use ritualistic ninjutsu to steal the bloodline abilities of other clans. But they've weakened considerably since the advent of hidden villages, so there won't be more than genin-level challenges among them." Kaede shoots the group a goofy smile. "And if I'm wrong, then I'll be there to cover for you guys."

Kaede jabs a thumb over his shoulder toward the gate. "Well, we should get going. This girl needs us, right?"

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke nods dutifully, readjusts the weight of the bag on his shoulders, and marches toward the gate. It was a shame that Cybele would not be traveling with them but at least they had what seemed to be a more typical jonin instructor with them this time around. Once on the road, Yousuke keeps his eyes and ears open to his surroundings.

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I take 10 on Spot and Listen to 17 and 16 respectively.

[Princess Tracy]

Amon is taken aback to see Yousuke smile that much. He was genuinely in high spirits! She actually seemed a little embarrassed, out of her element to not be the most cheerful person present, even blushing a little. "Ah, that's good to hear. I'm sure he'll manage to get by... Care to tell me how it happened sometime? Sorry if it seems like I'm nosy." She lifts up the long shirt of her new black dress, showing her fake leg. "But there's always a story there, when one loses such an appendage." Dropping her skirt, she adds "I hope he's handling the anaesthetics alright. I don't even remember the first week after I got my leg, I was just kind of in and out. You let me know if he needs anything, 'kay? I could teach you some basic medicine if you want."

"Stealing bloodlines, is that possible?" Amon asks. "Do they do commission?" she jokes. "That's a pretty strong technique though, you think they'd be more of a threat. Perhaps this captured girl is one such victim of their stealing ways? Oh wait, I crammed a lot of fuinjutsu during otu downtime, maybe..." She humms, closing her eyes as she wracks her brain for anything useful.

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Fuinjutsu check to see if I know anything about how one would use Blood Sorcery in such a way.
(1d20+5)[23]

"They took you off the service? Are they mad?" Amon fidgets awkwardly. She felt betrayed in an odd way, but it's not like Taro was obligated to know how best to 'scratch her back'. "I'm sure you'll get your team back sooner or later, Kaede, once the dust settles. Right?"

At Houshi's apparent lack of caring about not seeing her, she pouts. "That's no good, Houshi! We gotta do something when we get back. I should have at least invited you to hang out for my birthday, but I got caught up with other, meaner company." When Houshi asks her why she inquired into the doings of ANBU, she subconsciously rubs the back of her head as if tending a wound. No tact, this one, though that just makes him more endearing I guess. Like a cat with three legs. Although you'd think such a quiet boy would read between the lines She sticks her tongue out, teasing Houshi, though an odd hand gesture seems to suggest she'll tell him later, once hey're clear of the town. "Well, I'm just thinking," she whispers, leaving in so only Kaede can hear her. "If a young girl were to be knocked unconscious coming out of Taro's home, having just delivered a report that might indirectly incriminate Sonia on the eve of the start of his power play, and having been made a promise to tell no one else of the events she reported, only to be found on a seemingly random bench sometime later, no worse for wear save a few bruises, and no additions, alterations or subtractions from their possessions... that would be quite odd, wouldn't it? Theoretically of course."

If nothing more is said, Amon sets out with her team

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Spot, roled an 18 (somewhere OOC)
Listen took 10 for a result of 12

On the road, she mentions to Yousuke "Hey, maybe we should raid this clan for info. There may be something of note for our Eurayle friends to work with," she suggests, obviously talking about relieving the curse, specifically from Camille. She suddenly stops in her tracks, going to Kaede again. "Kaede, has Cybele told you anything of Eurayle Setsuna? Her unseen presence seems to be haunting us throughout our missions so far; she's been researching ways to lift the clan's curse or at least to exploit it in horrible ways, from what I understand. She might have a connection to this affair... we should be cautious."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

"I dunno why they took me out of active duty," Kaede says as he turns toward the gate and starts walking, "but whatever caused them to do it seems to be permanent."

Kaede just shrugs at the question of if he'd get his team back. "Maybe. Maybe not. I hope so, but Taro doesn't really trust outsider ninja. For now he has to, but who knows what'll happen in the future? Besides, why would he reassign my team if I was gonna get them back eventually?"

When Amon whispers to Kaede about her involvement with Taro, he just frowns. He whispers to the young girl in return. "Then I'd say that such a young girl now knows not to trust people she doesn't know. Theoretically, naturally."

With that said Kaede's quiet throughout the trip.

Four hours into the trip

When asked about Eurayle Setsuna Kaede just shakes his head. "No. Cybele doesn't share information about her clan with me. Probably because she thinks my clan is just like me." Kaede says the last part sardonically, and rolls his eyes in the process. "So who is this Eurayle Setsuna? Why do you think she's been harassing you, and what has she done?"

But, before anyone gets a chance to respond, a group of four poorly armed men leap out of the bushes and onto the road. Each one carries a weapon of some variety--a sword, two maces, and an axe--and each one looks capable enough to wield it. The four of them are joined by eight more men armed with an assortment of bows stepping out from the forest nearby. Kaede looks toward the genin, and is about to say something when a shout from the sword-using bandit cuts him off.

"Hey, you four! Surrender, we have you surrounded!"

Kaede just frowns, then shakes his head. "He's rude, isn't he? Just because there's twelve of them. I'll leave how we proceed to you guys, but there's no real reason to kill them."

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Legend:
Dark Blue - Amon
Dark Red - Houshi
Light Blue - Kaede
Dark Gray - Yousuke
Green - Grass
Brown - Dirt
Dark Green - Trees, 110ft tall, block LoS and can hide when within 5ft of one.
Yellow - Bandits.

The bandits act on (1d20+2)[3] initiative.
They had a surprise round, but they wasted it revealing themselves and yelling at you.

[Bad Situation]

With a slight click with his right thumb, Yousuke clicks the katana's blade centimeters out of its sheath, regarding the assembled rabble with thinly veiled disgust. Clicking his tongue disrespectfully, he places his left hand on the hilt of the blade but makes no move to draw it any further. "Lay down your arms or die clutching them. None shall mourn your passing." Killing them would likely prove to be the easier option but Kaede had a point. Despite clearly having the initiative, the bandits had instead to confront them and make their presence known. Killing them without learning more could be a waste.

Repeating himself, he says, "You have no hope of defeating us. Surrender, or die in obscurity."