Team Maaya: The Hawk and the Ox

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya shakes her head. "No, for two reasons. A, it's not part of my mission. And B, even if I do, what will change? Those girl's lives were ruined the moment you stood up to a mob boss without a plan. Attacking Min would only get us into further trouble with Central, and I'm already in pretty deep for hitting her with that kunai."

[Cespenar]

"Oh, we were doing just fine until the brilliant minds in Central decided to pit two ninja groups against each other!" Momo retorts, visibly angry now. "And she isn't in trouble by drawing first blood on a Sora-nin, but you are?" She waves her hands around while speaking, making sweeping, harsh gestures.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya looks at Momo, and shakes her questions off with a shrug. "Did you expect things to go easily when dealing with the yakuza when they don't win? And yes, I have problems fighting my countrymen. So sue me."

[Cespenar]

"No, but I expected Central to not f*** up their act and assign two conflicting missions to their own ninja!" yells Momo, her cool totally lost.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya shrugs again. "Central's pretty chaotic right now. The Academy's first graduating class is hitting the world, and the Exams are just months away. Things like this will happen from time to time."

[Cespenar]

"Well, 'things like that' are going to get people killed. Hmph. Aren't there any regulations to apply in such a conflict?" Momo asks, her fire somewhat subsided as Maaya seemed to accept Central's fault at this.

[Overlord Rion]

It hadn't taken long, but Takuya was already miffed at the system. he was hoping this would have happened later, like mission 2 or something. "Let's all calm down for a moment, and discuss this someplace safer, shall we?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya shakes her head. "Normally both groups would withdraw, unless a client's life is in danger. If a client's life is in danger, then that mission takes priority. If both missions have a client's life in the balance, then the higher ranked mission takes priority. If both are of the same rank, then it's up to highest rank ninja in the field to decide."

Maaya goes on to explain. "In our case, our mission is a C-rank. Min's mission involves enemy ninja activity, and thus would be a B-rank. Her mission takes priority over ours. Of course, if our mission wasn't in the cards, then you could freely attack her. You should expect to get some flak from Central for that though."

[Cespenar]

"Enemy... ninja... activity?" Momo reiterates, some of her former anger resurfacing.

[Overlord Rion]

"Obviously we can't be the enemy ninja, so that leaves somebody from another village. Deeper and deeper we go. In any case, this mission is a bust. We kept Remi safe, but in the process, ruined her career, lost their studio, and made it so they can never work in this town again."

Some ninja I am.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya looks at Momo and shrugs. "Central wouldn't assign a chuunin to a bodyguard mission unless it involved enemy ninja activity. Given that we're clearly not the enemy, then that means someone else is operating in this city."

[Cespenar]

"I see," Momo replies, cooling down again, and glancing thoughtfully at Maaya. "Very convenient. The timing and all," she mumbles darkly.

She turns at her companions, as if they haven't just come this close to bloodshed between... well, if not "sisters in arms" per se, something close to that. She nods at Takuya.

"Yes. Though I wonder if we ever could do otherwise. Never mind. Let's get out of here."

"And you," she turns and looks sharply at Gonzou. "See how long you can keep paying for chuunin to keep you alive."

If no one objects, Momo will head out, covering the Queens.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The group heads outside, and they're not bothered by any of the guards unless they start something first. Once outside Maaya points a thumb toward Remi. "She'll be in trouble if Gonzou keeps his word."

Remi looks a bit depressed, but nods when Maaya talks. "Yes. I need to get my father out of town. And we have to save Masako's family too. And Keiji's mom! And Yoko's brother..." The monumental task involved in getting all of them out of town secretly starts to rear its ugly head, and Remi's overwhelmed by the whole thing.

But before Remi can go any further the doors to the ice rink open up, and Kyohei steps out with two goons in tow. Both goons seem rather worried, and they're sweating bullets to be outside with a group of dangerous ninja. "Well there they are. I will make sure they do not go back inside. You two will not be of use against ninja." He motions for the goons to leave, and they happily bolt back inside. Kyohei looks at the gathered group with disdain.

"Min's arrival wasn't in my plans. It appears Gonzou realizes someone is plotting against him. I'll find a reason for her to disappear, but I'll only get one shot at it." Kyohei reaches into the breast-pocket of the well-made suit he wore, and fishes out a small folded up piece of paper. He extends his hand with the paper inside it.

"This is the route Gonzou's men will take when he returns home. His daughter will be with him, so the best bodyguards we have will be with him. If I can lure Min away, then I would be in your debt if you got rid of him." Kyohei waits for the genin to act.

[Cespenar]

Momo receives the paper eagerly, and starts to study it. She nods once at Kyohei before leaving the scene. "Thank you," she says.

Spoiler

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Did he mean this night? What is the time now, exactly?

[Jacior]

The Manabu's don't react other than to watch Momo take the paper. "Who are you and why do you want Gonzou gone?" He asks the man as non-threateningly as possible. He turns to Remi. "If it really comes to that, don't worry. Just pack and get things ready for a quick flight."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kyohei smiles at the group of Manabu's. "I'm just a concerned citizen who wants the world to be a better place."

[Cespenar]

When the group takes its leave from Kyohei, Momo drops the act and promptly tells the group her plan.

[Overlord Rion]

"I like it. Couldn't have done better myself actually." As expected, sharp mind. Good.

Manabu also acting according to expectations. At least something went right today.

[Cespenar]

Assuming Manabu okays the plan as well, Momo looks over the group and initiates step one.

"Okay, let's split up (as best as we can) and gather the families, then, in case this all gets wrong and we'd need to get away."

"Sensei and I will cover Remi's and Masako's. Manabu, get to Keiji's, and Takuya, Yoko's. Don't let them pack too much. Let's meet near the west(?) entrance of the town in 30 minutes."

Even as she seems decisive, her tone is soft enough to allow for questions or rebuttals, in case the group has any.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Maaya shrugs. She'd been forceful about all of them going together during the Gonzou debacle, but this kind of splitting up didn't seem to bother her. "Remember, don't pick any fights while I'm gone. I can't cover you if you get in over your head."

[Jacior]

The Manabu's nod and form up around Keiji. "What about Gonzou? How do we know when he's going to leave?"

[Cespenar]

Momo shrugs and sets out a few options to the group off the top of her head.

Spoiler

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My post went two pages below overnight, dammit.

[Overlord Rion]

Spoiler

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Holy crap, I keep an eye on the OOC and even I missed it. Wow.

"Okay, the two of you have the most raw power between the three of us, so...Manabu, can you send one of your Bunshins to gather the family instead of yourself? I can escort, so at the very least it looks like there are two of us gathering the families. They won't know which one is the real one, so they might hesitate long enough for me to get the job done. What do you guys think?"

[Jacior]

"I would think my bunshin alone would be enough. at least against anyone who wasn't a trained ninja, anyway." Manabu lifted one of hands about mid-waist and did some random typing motions. "Not that they actually have much time left. Probably expire before we got to the first house." He shook his head. "No, that'd just leave them exposed. And could get you in serious trouble apparently." Manabu gave his teammates a look like he was really seeing them for the first time.

They really had no idea what they were doing. They had no idea what the others could do. And central sent them out like this? "I'll go. I can protect the girls, and Keiji, fine by myself. You guys stay here and do the important work. Gonzou is the biggest threat to them right now."

[Cespenar]

Momo shrugs and nods. Any action was better than nonaction at this point.

"Where will you take them?" she asks Manabu, before they leave.

[Jacior]

"main gate. If you guys aren't there in an hour, should I assume the worst?" Manabu waits for an answer before leaving with the girls.

[Cespenar]

Momo nods, even if that was a bit too grim for her liking. She had no intention of biting the dust on a pitiful genin mission, after all. That would... disappoint Kaede.

[Overlord Rion]

Takuya preferred his idea, and disliked Manabu's...screw it, he was going to call it overconfidence.

If it got him killed, so be it. Takuya nods his assent, distastefully.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

After an hour Gonzou finally leaves the rink. Eight goons surround him, his daughter, and Kyohei. Sure enough, Min is no where to be found, and if asked Maaya confirms that she's not hiding somewhere nearby. Momo, Maaya, and Takuya follow them for awhile, until Maaya points out the four-way split up ahead. "That would be the best place to ambush them, but only if we can block all the entrances."

Spoiler

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I'll need Initiative if you're planning to ambush them.



Feel free to place yourselves anywhere on the map

Legend:
Pink - Gonzou's Daughter: Azai Emiko
Light Blue - Gonzou
Dark Gray - Kyohei
Red - Thugs
Light Gray - The Road
Green - Grass
Dark Brown - Buildings. 45 feet high.

[Cespenar]

Momo takes her place in the north. She holds the folded piece of paper tight in her hand, and casually greets Gonzou.

"Ahoy there," she says with a forced grin, fishing for a reaction.

Spoiler

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Momo will interrupt with a speech if Gonzou directs his men to attack without any conversation.

Also, she readies an action to use Memai no Jutsu if any hostile other than Gonzou and his men close in to attack Momo.

Edit: You may put her in 10,3 or somewhere like that.

HP: 18/35
AC: 14
Pool: 12/22
Reserves: 6/10