Mr.Squiggles [Mission | Miyu]

It didn't take no more than a couple of hours to walk from Kirigakure to the Hozuki Fisheries. This wasn't Inarie's first trip here as memories of competing against Ann lingers in her mind. Inarie was disappointed that she had lost, and she has been keen on improving herself. However, she hasn't seen much of Ann lately, and that raises some concern within the young Kaguya's mind. Still she wasn't alone in this journey.

Accompanying Inarie is a fellow Genin named Miyu Ryuutei, although they are the same rank Miyu is at least skilled than Inarie. Envy brushed her thoughts, but Inarie assures herself silently that she will get there one day. Upon arriving a couple of the fishermen recognized Inarie with just a glance. As much as Inarie hates to stand out, her face is hard to forget. One of them perked up with half a grin while unraveling the nets cleaning it from the seaweed and other junk that was caught within the folds. The weather was clear, the heavy scent of fish lingers within the breeze, and frankly it was a smell Inarie wasn't particularly keen on.

"Well I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Brought someone new with you I see." The man called out to them which drew some eyes towards their direction for only a few moments. Inarie nods in agreement before approaching the man. To be honest Inarie never got the man's name, but he was being extremely sexist that Inarie didn't bother to ask.

"Neither did I expect to return so quickly. This is Miyu Ryuutei." Inarie kindly introduced Miyu to the man. He was a middle aged man with a weathered skin of dull bronze and sun bleached short hair. Hesitant he was, but after shifting a glance over to Inarie he respectfully nods in acknowledgement of Miyu.

"Pleasure. Now what is it that brought you to this gods' forsaken place? Surely you didn't come to take in the view." Setting the nets down on the ground, the man turned his full attention to the pair.

"We are here to collect octopi. Do you know where they like to hide in?" Inarie was straight to the point, and the man's brow rose at the mention of octopi. Scratching his beard, the man pondered on the thought.

"Well they like to make their dens and hunting grounds at the reefs. You might have a hard time finding them though as they tend to blend in with their environment pretty well." Inarie frowned at the mention of that. It was still afternoon and the sun was high in the sky.

"It's a bit difficult to hide when there is so much light to go around." Of course she really doesn't know much about octopus other than they have tentacles and she heard they squirt ink. Squids do the same from what Inarie was told, but nothing concrete information. The man briefly shook his head while lowering his eyes.

"Camouflage is one hell of a thing lass. They can blend in with their surroundings in water making them practically invisible to the naked eye. Now I have seen you fight, so I'm not worried about you." Inarie slightly tilted her head as the fluffy tail of platinum hair sways with her. Frankly she doesn't have anything that can counter camouflage, and while she could stun the octopi her abilities has a very small radius. So Inarie turned towards Miyu with a hint of a smile on her lips.

"I don't suppose you have a solution to this problem?"

The trip to the Hozuki Fisheries took less time than Miyu thought it would, having been essentially constrained to the village over the last 5 years after Midori found her and took her in. And it felt great to leave the walls, even if she did need to hurry back to get prepared for her special guest in case she arrived soon. As they walked, Miyu would tell Inarie stories of distant villages and interesting locales within the Land of Water. Spinning riveting tales, with sound effects and articulated motions to add onto the stories, so as to more fully share stories of outside the village walls.

As they neared the place Miyu stood back having heard for Inarie that she had previous experience there and let her do the talking, and as things progressed Miyu started doing a little happy dance in place and squeed in excitement. Building up in pitch till Inarie asked her if she had a solution. Where Miyu let out a happy whoop of excitement, "Do I ever! My sensory is always on, so I could easily sense the chakra of the octopi, and point you out to them. That'd be a good bit of teamwork right Inarie-chan?"

[1]

Miyu seemed to be overjoyed at Inarie asking for a solution. She was also doing some kind of dance that Inarie was unfamiliar with. Still the Ryuutei announced that she can detect the octopi. Which was good since Inarie can take care of the octopi. Inarie nods in acknowledgement to Miyu's question before turning back to the fisherman.

"Indeed, well now that we established that I believe we're ready to take some octopi." The man grinned before he begins to walk over to one of many shacks. Inarie opted to follow him, and the man was simply grabbing a bucket and handing it over to Inarie.

"Just make sure to add some of the seawater into the bucket before you start piling them in here. When you're done return to me for your reward as we add it to the next shipment inventory." Inarie gives another nod as she takes the bucket from the man.

"Thank you, we'll return shortly." With that Inarie returned to Miyu with the bucket in hand. Her eyes briefly looking out to the sea as the lapping waters generate a white noise. The wind is blowing sand against Inarie's feet and it was simply irritating. Inarie doesn't really see any signs of a reef, but she certainly sees where the riptides are. She makes a mental note to avoid those areas. Turning her attention to Miyu completely with a smile on her lips.

"Ready to go find ourselves a reef to explore?"

At Inarie saying that they've established that they could take out some Octopi, Miyu gave a cheer, "WhooHoo! You bet'cha! We're going to catch so many yummy octopi that we'll be able to go into a food coma from how much takoyaki we can make.

She gave Inarie a double thumbs up, as they followed the man to get the pail, along with an explanation on how to place them in a pale. As they walked onwards Inarie asking if Miyu was ready for exploring Miyu gave an enthusiastic nod, "You bet! I know that by working together we'll definitely be getting a good haul. So let's go exploring and catch as many as we can."

And with they they'd go on the next step of their journey. As Miyu practically radiated rainbows and pep as she skipped along whistling a merry but tuneless tune. Happy to have someone along with her to go on an adventure with her.

[2]

Miyu was all in for this mission, and frankly, it was a nice change of pace to Inarie. The people she often associates are either strict and serious. Or puts up a fake appearance when talking to her and then immediately talk bad about Inarie the second she turns away. At least Miyu is honest and perhaps a bit too cheerful.

Either way Inarie nods her head in agreement as she turns on her heel and begins to board one of the small rowing boats. Of course she does ask the fisherman for permission to use one of their small boats to which they granted her one. After setting the bucket down inside the boat, Inarie takes the oar in hand and sits down. Then she will wait for Miyu to board as well if she hasn't done so already. Once ready, Inarie will reach over to the rope that keeps the boat from floating away and loosen the noose. Afterwards Inarie pushes off with her oar and hopefully in unison with Miyu will begin rowing away. Her eyes sharp and peering at the waves.

"We're looking for some changes of the waves that seem to collapse too early. That's where we'll find either reefs or sandbank." Inarie informed her teammate as she kept the repetitive motion of rowing. Eventually her piercing eyes caught sight of the waves collapsing differently than the other waves. Figuring that might be it, Inarie began to row over there. It was a good 60 meters away from the docks, and once she was near it Inarie took a moment to hop off the boat and walks along the water surface. The oar left in the boat, her hand rests on the hilt of her chokuto as her eyes scanned beneath the sea. To her unfortunate luck, this spot was not a reef, but a sandbank. She frowned while shaking her head. Inarie walks back to the boat and begins to board it again.

"This isn't it. We gotta search elsewhere."

As Inarie was going by site, Miyu decided to go another route. Sensing the chakra of creatures beneath the waves, feeling where they were and where they were gathering. Upon finding the location she wanted to go to was a sandbar. Miyu felt something promising about 30 meters to their upper left, away from the docks, "I think I found something promising Inarie-chan.

"Although my natural talent in Sensory didn't really awaken till after I arrived in Kiri. So I don't have a lot of practice in knowing what I'm looking for ... but there is a bit of chakra over there."

As they arrived at the location, they'd see a school of fish milling about, "This isn't it either, but at least I now know how to find large amounts of fish underwater. If you know what to look for, we can work together to find it easier."

She'd then help Inarie to find new locations dependent on her list of quantifiers.

[3]

It was good that Miyu was getting better with this sensing ability despite her admitting that she is still fairly new to it. Inarie found Miyu's ability interesting, but that was for another time. When Miyu pointed out that she detected something Inarie only nod and began rowing the boat in that direction. Unfortunately when they arrive at the location it was just a large school of fish. Still Inarie was surprised that Miyu detected this when she couldn't even see them. It made the young Dragon think that perhaps Miyu doesn't need sight to find something.

"Well I'm looking for waves that breaks too early. We're a ways from the shore, so when you see waves collapsing itself out here means there's something beneath it. This can either be a sandbar like back there or a reef." Inarie shared her knowledge to Miyu as her eyes scanned at the water nearby. She was rather focused on the task that Inarie realized that perhaps a little change of subject could do some good. After all aside from Miyu's cheerful personality Inarie doesn't really know her.

"You mentioned that before you came to this village you picked up sensory. What did you do before you came to Kirigakure?" Inarie inquired as she looked at Miyu for a few moments. Funny enough, Inarie spotted another set of waves about 40 meters west collapsing on itself. Inarie will point it out before beginning to row over there. It should give them plenty of time to talk Inarie figured as she strangely has the stamina to do this for hours.

Miyu's eyes shone with unrestrained glee when Inarie told her about how to search for reefs by the collapsing of waves, giving out a squee of joy she offered Inarie a high five, not trusting herself not to tip them off the boat if she were to try a glomp, "You're so cool Inarie-Chan! Thank you for sharing that with me, Miyu would exclaim while giving a face splitting grin, "I always love learning new things. It's one of the best ways to better oneself."

Giving a sage nod, she'd let Inarie look above while she sensed below. She sensed several groups of sealife around them but would let Inarie lead. It was a good way to build up team work in Miyu's opinion. Let Inarie practice her ability to spot things in the distance, while Miyu learned how to fine tune her senses under for underwater combat. Something that was surprisingly more difficult than she would have expected, but was more fun due to those little wrinkles. But Miyu had a good feeling about it. She sensed a bit of diversity in an area about 40 m out. And would let Inrie's expertise be the one to determine if they'd go that direction.



Miyu was smiled at the question about what she did before she came to Kirigakure, "I was a wanderer and an adventurer of sorts. My parents abandoned me at birth, and I grew up in an Orphanage near the Southwestern most tip of the Land of Water. At around 6 ... well lets just say that I have a horrible sense of direction and get lost easily ... and I wandered away from the orphanage. It was about a day of wandering when I met Hermit-Sensei and for a time I journeyed with him across the land, learning about medicine, drugs, and how to use nature to my advantage. How to survive. And had quite a few adventures together for two magically amazing years.

"Then we came upon a city when I was about 8, and he abandoned me there. It was kind of sad to see him leave, but he said it was for the best. Ended up getting brought in as a mascot to an Engineering Business in a small town near Kaya's Fisheries. And well, let's just say that I got lost and separated from them when they were traveling to Kirigakure.

"And I was alone, but adventurous. Striking it out on my own, letting fate guide my path as I wandered the earth ... well wandered the Land of Water. Until I came across Midori Ryuutei. She ended up taking me in as her family about five years ago. Unlike the others though, whenever I get lost, my family in Kiri would find me and bring me back home. They let me know that at least they would never let me disappear or be forgotten. And even though the rest of the village other than you fears the Ryuutei, and fears my Big Sis Midori even more for being born with the Nature Clan's cure running through her veins. They've never once given me a day where I didn't know how much I was loved. It's just sad that people don't learn to see with their heart the people around them. And let fear cloud their vision.

But what about you? I'd like to know how you got those pretty scales, and a little bit about yourself ... if you want to that is?"

[4]

Miyu was excited when Inarie began explaining why the waves fall early. To Inarie it was one of the basic knowledge to have when she is sailing so that she won't get stuck out here. However this became clear as to why Miyu was excited about it later on. Still when Miyu reached up with her hand for a high five. Inarie smiled before returning the high five and then returned to rowing. Afterwards Inarie will listen quietly to Miyu's story. It was a bit sad in some parts since some people have come and gone from Miyu's life. In a way Inarie was envious of Miyu being able to travel from place to place. Inarie has lived in Kirigakure for all of her life and has only been out here in the Fisheries and Ota.

"Sounds rough, but at least you got to see many new things both out there and in Kirigakure. I remember when I was a little girl that I dreamed about what it was like outside of these islands. Tales of lands with mountains touching the sky and powerful nations with cities bigger than this island. My father's books often spoke of the mainland, but I have no recollection of ever seeing it." Inarie grew a bit distant in the mind as her memories recall the sketch her mother made of Inarie's father. However Inarie snapped back to reality when Miyu asked about her. A blush of red can be seen on her porcelain skin aside from her mother nobody said that her scales were pretty. Granted Inarie thought the same and made sure to take care of them. After all Inarie hasn't seen anything like them other than herself.

"Well… I guess I should start from the beginning. There is a clan scattered across the world known as Yoru. These people have a unique ability called the Dragon's Blood, to which certain dragons gave Yoru their power so long as they remain loyal to those dragons. Currently I know of 6 dragons that has the power to do so. There is Tyrsas, Lord of the Sky who once reigned supreme for a time. A couple of dragons fought Tyrsas and lost the fight. According to my father either Tyrsas is dead or still lives in the shadows. There is Buldrassu, the Titan who remains slumbering deep within the vast sands of Land of Wind. Leviathan, Tyrant of the Ocean and so far has remained out of sight for centuries. There is Nyssaes, the Nocturnal and perhaps the most gentle of the dragons. Hakkun, the Dragon God of War and Wisdom. And finally there is another dragon. A very powerful and oldest dragon to exist. I don't even know if he truly exists, but father referred to him as C."

Inarie took a moment to pause as they were near the waves. Looking over the bow, Inarie can see the corals underneath the water. Inarie's skin however, on her arms where the scales aren't protecting is starting to turn pink.

"Each dragon has their own faction called Loyalists that are loyal to their dragons. However these Loyalists are quite extreme since if any of them were to migrate into other villages or go against their dragons' wishes. Are regarded as defectors, and the Loyalists will root out these defectors and execute them. My father was one of them, a Loyalist to Tyrsas in fact hence where I inherited my scales from. He came to Ota originally to grab supplies for his next journey to the Land of Tea. At Ota, he met my mother there. Mind you the Kaguya are very strict on who to marry, and the old Kaguya even encourage incest to make sure their bloodline is pure. So when my mother was head over heels in love with my father, she got into a very bad position with the Kaguya. Still that didn't deter them in the least and I was the result." Inarie really doesn't know why she is just spouting this stuff, but perhaps it was because she has been keeping all of this information to herself.

"According to the Kaguya I was an abomination, and frankly with good reason. The Dragon's Blood under normal circumstances weakens the body especially when the Yoru is still a child. It also eats away foreign organs that does not have Yoru blood in it, so implants for other bloodlines were impossible. Kaguya does something similar, and as such a mixture of the two was unheard of until I was born. The scales are the makings of Tyrsas, and with it came particular perks." The Dragon held up one of her hands with the open palm facing up to the sky. Live sparks of electricity can be seen wreathing around her fingertips to her wrist.

"Unfortunately, my father succumbed to a disease, and because he never carried Tyrsas's orders the Loyalists branded him as a defector. As such part of that falls to me as what they consider an offspring of a defector and something that shouldn't exist in the first place. Still my mother and I live in the Kaguya Compound roughly at the outskirts. Neither her nor I are allowed to attend events and parties hosted by the Kaguya. But that didn't seem to matter. I spent most of my childhood playing with my cat and reading all of those wonderful stories father brought with him. Some of them, according to my mom, were written by him." Inarie's mind had been drifting off and has been talking like crazy that Inarie briefly forgot why they were here. Upon realizing this Inarie lightly blushed from embarrassment as she giggled to herself.

"Hehehe, listen to me talking your ear off. That's a reef down there, so we probably should start looking for those octopi. Lemme know when you find one or three." Inarie will see to it that the container is secured before reaching into her hip pouch. Inarie brings out some steel wire and two shuriken before she begins tying them together around her wrist. After working it out, Inarie made what appears to be a noose with the shurikens serve to tighten the noose. From there Inarie will hop out using the water surface technique to stay above the water. Her eyes scanning through the reef from what little she can see while walking towards it.

When Inarie spoke of the stories her father told her, and the things she had wanted to see. Miyu rested a hand on Inarie's own as her emotions went from slightly envious, to distant and reflective. Giving her a soft, warm smile Miyu would give Inarie's hand a reassuring squeeze, "It was, and when my Big Sis from Kumo comes to take me there in a few weeks or a month from now. I will be able to see even more. If you'd like we can be Pen Pals, and whenever I come over to visit, I can give you souvenirs of my journeys ... and maybe ... someday ... if you want to that is. We can go on a journey together, and I can help show you how big and amazing the world can be? It'd be a fun little trip between friends?"

Miyu felt herself feel a bit uncertain about that bit. But as a fellow spirit to whom the open sky called like a sirens song. Miyu wasn't going to just let a potential friend languish in the cage of protection that was the city. Beings like her, and apparently Inarei as well felt the call of the world reaching out to be explored.

But she let go and gave Inarie time to think and process things until she was ready to start her story. As she listened to her tale she felt a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement of learning about such a thing as Dragons, and their names. Anger at how unjustly things were for Inarei growing up. And more than a little sad for Inarie's loss. As she wrapped up her tale and as Inarie stopped to giggle, Miyu glomped her, and held her in a hug, speaking softly into her stomach, "You aren't an abomination. Your scales are super pretty, and your nice, and a good person, don't let anyone tell you otherwise okay?

"Everyone was born for a reason, and I'm happy that you're alive Inarie, I'm just sad we couldn't have met sooner," Miyu would look at into Inarie's eyes, and give her a determined look, "And if you'd like. I can try finding these dragons either for you, or with you. And we can get their autographs, or hear their stories ... and maybe, get one of the Dragons to pardon your family? And I promise no, matter what. If any one of them hurts you, they'll have to answer to me."

She'd step back and look to the side. Sensing the waves when Inarie mentioned that they were over a Reef. Giving a nod, Miyu would cast her awareness down, and felt several underwater creaures on the reef floor. She was sure at least one of them as an Octopi, but with her lack of fishing skills didn't know what else was there as well.

But at the very least it would be a good exercise to fine tune her senses based on what they pulled up. As Miyu pointed out the locations near this particular reef.

[5]

It was a bit sad to hear that Miyu was planning to leave Kirigakure. Especially after Inarie finally found someone as close to a friend in a long time. Still Inarie knew that everyone has their own path to follow, and as Miyu stated they could always visit each other. As for Miyu's suggestion on whether to travel and see the world for themselves. As much as Inarie wanted to just say yes, there was something within her mind that prevented her from saying so.

"I guess that depends on where my path takes me. Regardless, I wouldn't mind traveling with you in the future." Then she spoke of her story, and never realizing how much empathetic Miyu really was until now. Perhaps it was because Inarie was just numb to it. Sometimes when Inarie finds herself discouraged the memories of the Kaguya snickering and gossiping really pissed her off. However, right now she was just being nonchalant about it. Of course the talk about dragons and her father had her nearly bouncing in her seat as Inarie's rose pink eyes twinkle with admiration.

Although she was a little bit surprised by the sudden hug, Inarie only smiled before patting Miyu on the head. "Oh I'm not sad about it. I mean, come on it's not everyday that I can just say that my ancestor is a powerful dragon." Inarie attempted to assure Miyu, although she's not certain if it'll work. Still after that's been said and done. Inarie hops over the boat and with chakra coating her feet she practically walked to the reef. Her eyes focused underneath the water surface. Schools of fish can be seen as the ocean roll and collapse around the reef. With her sheathed chokuto in hand, Inarie took a couple of deep breaths before submerging into the sea. For a couple of minutes she swam underwater as she frequently resurfaced to get some air before diving back under. Eventually with enough poking around with her chokuto, she finds a blue ringed octopus. With precision and fighting through the water. Inarie snatched it up by hand and swims back to the boat where Inarie will put the squirming octopus into the bucket of saltwater.

It has taken Inarie quite some time to find and capture each one of the blue ringed octopi. On top of their infamous camouflage and hiding either in the open or in enclosed areas. Yet with precision Inarie snatched up each octopus even as they thrash and wrap their tentacles around her arm. With a brief discharge of her Aura outside of the water. It was enough to stun the creatures as they loosen the suction and Inarie pried them off from her. Miyu had grown quiet it seems, but Inarie assumed that Miyu was concentrating on her sensory field. So Inarie would dive back under only to reemerge a few seconds later with another octopus in hand.

Eventually, Inarie got all of the required octopus in the bucket. Now Inarie climbs up on the rowing boat. Careful not to tip them over, Inarie plops down on the seat across from Miyu. She was exhausted from all of the swimming as she didn't expect that task to drain so much from her. So Inarie took a few minutes to rest before grabbing the oars. Where the young Kaguya will begin rowing them back to the waiting docks of Hozuki Fisheries. Once there, Inarie drops off the bucket of octopi at the dock master and was deemed mission complete. Probably chatting with Miyu along the way, both of the Genin leaves from the Fisheries over to Kirigakure.

[Exit to Kirigakure]