A Pup in the Wolves Den

Mission Name: Lost Pet Chinatsu
Mission Type: Recovery
Mission Rank: D
Mission Goal: Retrieve the lost pet!
Description: Mrs. Fukimoto's dog has run away. Last sighting of the small animal placed it heading towards the Training Grounds. Track it down as fast as you can and be careful, it's surprisingly strong for its tiny size.
Payment: 10,000 Ryo
Requirements: Genin

---

Some nice time to rest had passed, a few days even, but the Shinku twins would recieve their first official mission. Was it some daring assassination? Maybe spying on a secret meeting for information? Maybe tracking down some illusive Nukenin?...No, of course not. Hell, this was pretty much was Tsukiyo figured it'd be. An annoying mostly meaningless task. Catching a dog...But Haku wanted the Shinku twins to train, and well, this was his idea. 'Snot...ugh.'

Tsukiyo would lead the way with her brother in tow into the forest, near the training grounds, where the escaped pup they was to track down was last seen. A deep sigh was breathed through Tsu's nostrils, easily heard by Tengoku's sensitive ears. She was annoyed...but understood the 'need' for such meaningless tasks. The experience wasn't lost on her...but it didn't mean she had to like it. This sort of work...it felt beneath her. She had a intellect only a few matched, and fewer still surpassed, to be sent on a wild pup chase was a bit mind numbing. But her body was weak, and she needed to fix that. Besides...she could work smarter then most, and had Genjutsu on her side--along with Ten by her side. It was a match made...well, in the woods by a witch--but lets not go there. Either way the Shinku twins was quite the unit, a duo no one could hold a candle too in their family bonds.

Tsukiyo would stop and take a minute, well, several. She wanted to pre-make sealing tags. The woman took the time to rest her feet under a tree, and catch a drink from a flask she carried...no telling if it was simple water, or something she ought keep away from children. She sat there for a good ten minutes. Blank Sealing Tags out, 30 of them to be exact, a brush, and a pot of ink. She went on an on, over and over, the same seal each time--the X used in her latest jutsu. With this she could speed up the process during combat or missions...cause this, this was slow. Her coordination was not the best...but as she made them, she got better, faster, more accurate.

The first few took almost a minute each, but by the end, the last few she was zipping off in a few seconds. She felt like she was getting better, even giving her brush a spin between her fingers and smirking before putting it away. The ink pot? Empty. All 125mls used on the blank seal tags, turning them into something useful.. But it was worth it, she had 2 more anyways, and now whenever she wished to Connect her and her Brother's mind, the marking part will be much, much faster. She'd made 20 of these sealing tags, marked by an X, and easy to place quickly on her and Ten's necks to do the Fuuinjutsu. The other 10 was something else, a rendering of what marks she needed for one of her durability enhancing Fuuinjutsu. Step one of the design was easy enough to do with a quick finger with a bit of blood--a small diamond--but the second level of the Fuuinjutsu required a more intricate design. This made applying it ontop of the first level easier.

"Alright...I think I'm done...these will come in handy down the road, now lets find that dog...no pup can outrun 2 grown wolves." she said with a smirk, looking to her brother as she put away her materials and tags, sans two X-Seals for possible use now, keeping them up her sleeve for when they needed them. The curvy woman pushed herself up, standing tall...a full 5'4". Yeah, real tall.

((Items used: 1x 125mls Ink Pot, 30x Blank Sealing tags. Materials converted into: 20x Kokoro no Tsunagari ('Connection of Minds') Seals, 10x Chitan-tai no Okurimono Fuuin ('Titanium Body Gift Seal') Seals.))

Tengoku had set to a habit that morning of drawing his blade half way and looking at it. Sheathing it fully. Wandering around the room and then repeating the process five minutes later. Either he was admiring the weapon or was troubled by something. In reality he was just kind of bored. With the city so quiet he really didn't have much to do other than constant training. His body was feeling less sore so he was restless. When his sister told him they were going on a mission he really got his hopes up. However when she told him they were just chasing a dog down his frown grew immensely. He would keep quiet and walk around with his sword a little more before she was about packed and ready to go. Only then would he put it down and lean it against the wall. When his intelligent sister reminded him it was dangerous to leave his weapon behind he sighed and tied it to his waist. He was wearing black jeans and boots with a black V neck shirt he had found. His long coat with the fur shoulders was slipped into casually to fight off the cold of the day. His white hair a mess as usual.

They were hunters by necessity as younger versions of themselves. Wolves on the prowl but this time not after a bandit or a deer even. Just a lost runaway dog. They had taken the stairs of course for the work out and as she had mentioned conserving power just in case. It apparently took a lot to run an elevator. He wasn't so careless as to not heed his sisters warning. Though the walk out to the woods was tiring. As it usually was. He would walk with his hands shoved in his coat pockets holding it closed. Silver eyes looking for any tracks until his sister stopped. He didn't mind resting really. Not even while she took the time to prewrite some seals. He thought it an interesting idea of course. Still they likely wouldn't need it just yet. He would take in a breath and focus a moment. Gathering his chakra as he felt from himself. It was only a tiny amount but for him it felt like a great deal. After all they were still in training. He could sense everything around them for five hundred meters. Everything touching the ground. Animals here and there but no dog yet. When his sister spoke he opened his glowing silver eyes and rose to his feet. Speaking as he did so.

"It isn't within my range yet. We must not be close enough to where it was last seen."

Tsukiyo watched as Tengoku would rise to his feet, having taken the time to rest while she wrote up the Sealing Tags, noticing his eyes essentually glowing. Honestly she didn't know if that was what she really saw, her eyes wasn't the best, or if it was just how the sunlight reflected in them in the moment. Still, her ears burned with the sound of his response, noting he can't sense the dog yet...that meant they was still pretty far away, earning a huffed sigh at the prospect of having to walk so far into the forest. But that was their task, and luckily, they'd get paid for it. She'd turn on her heel, just a bit more gracefully then she had been able to before their training, and march on further into the woods.

She'd remain quiet, falling back onto old habits...days of hunting for their food. She didn't even need to tell her brother, they both knew how this went. He had much better senses then her--sharper eyes, hearing, even nose--and thats not even counting his ability to use the Sensor Jutsu. She may have been the brains of the operation...but she'd be lost without Tengoku, he was a much better hunter then her, much better suited for it--better senses and faster then her. Honestly, back then, she'd probably have starved had it not been for Ten. She appreciated that...he always would help take care of her like that. But this wasn't that...tracking, hunting, sure, but this wasn't for food, it was for training, and a paycheck. The two would venture further in, her waiting for Tengoku to pick up on something.

About 900 or so meters away, the dog they would seek leaned over a creek running through the forest, lapping at the water with its tongue.

They would move as quietly as they could for the most part. It was hardly impressive how they shifted but they knew how to move in the woods all the same. Hunting meant survival for them a lot of the time and you failed as a hunter if you made an abundance of noise. However soon he was shifting a little to the left. Ten would pause as he knelt down to touch a broken branch with a piece of cloth on it. He would pluck it and bring it up to his nose to sniff it. Still a strong scent. His keen eyes would follow the trail left behind of its careless run through the woods. Disturbed undergrowth here and there. Soon he was moving again. Slower now but on a set path. Here and there after he stopped to examine them even she would see where a paw scraped off some moss where the dog stopped to bark at a bird. A silly creature really. Raised in comfort and not knowing that it too could be hunted out here. Well it was being hunted but not by something trying to kill it. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that at least.

Tengoku would stop after another good twenty minutes of walking. There was no point this far out of fully concealing their voices but he would drop his voice all the same. Five hundred meters was some distance but he wasn't interested in chancing anything. Still he would drop low and hold up his fist as his sensory picked up the foolish animal. A signal that had always meant stop before. He would wait for his sister to join him before whispering to her. He didn't have exact measurements of the range for his sensory but she likely did. He would whisper quietly to her though.

"Up ahead at the edge of my sensory....doggy found. Doggy is drinking water and doesn't appear to have its guard up. What is the plan?"

Tsukiyo continued to quietly follow Tengoku, eyes peeled for signs of anything, while also keeping an eye on him for any gestures to quietly call out things. If she'd have activated the Connection of the Minds jutsu they wouldn't even have to do that, able to have full conversations with each other while not making a peep. But right now wasn't the time for that as they slowly made their way through the forest. Soon enough he seemed to spot something, a broken branch, and an obvious path that had been recently run through, disturbing the forest around it, leaving a trail. She continued following Ten once he went off after this path, and found more clues along the way.

This would go on for a while, probably longer then she'd have liked, but harping back to their hunting days, she knew to be patient. Still...this whole task annoyed the Wolfy Female. Finally as they went along she noticed her brother drop low, and did the same--he must be picking up on something. She would quietly catch up to him, joining the young man. He'd go on to say something, he seemed to have found the dog. He let her in on what he could sense, not able to give a range though. This is where her Jutsu could come into play.

She slipped the paper from her sleeve, and before Ten even knew it she'd pressed it to the back of his neck, and now formed a single hand sign, charging her chakra for three seconds--half the time it took the other night. She was getting better at this. Her hand pressed forward and met with the sealing tag on the back of his neck. "Might hurt just a lil..." she warned as chakra pulsed through the paper, and it burned away with a quick blue flame--marking his neck with the X. She'd done the same to herself, her seal as well burning away and leaving its mark on her. It was a much smoother process then the other day, thats for sure. With this...their minds was linked, and like the other day, Tengoku could feel Tsu within his head.

'Alright...lets see...edge of your sensory range...its about half a kilometer out. We can move up about 300 meters before we're within ear shot of it and need to be quieter. Once there we can split up, spread out and do a pincer tactic...if you can make it run my way, I can be ready with a trap for it.' she'd let flow from her own mind to his. Meanwhile as she did, she pushed forward, trying to get him to follow--they was still far enough to not spook the animal, so'long they remained quiet.

Tengoku would be rather shocked as suddenly there was burning paper on the back of his neck. He thought it might have done more than singe a couple of hairs as he patted back there. His fingers feeling for any pain. Luckily aside from the seal and a bit of warmth nothing was there. He would almost sigh in relief as she pushed through his fear and in his mind she began to speak of a plan to him about how to handle this. A simple matter of positioning it appeared. He was the faster of the two so it would fall on him to be the distraction. That made sense to him at least. She wouldn't get much words wise from him but rather a sense of agreement. He was still getting used to having their minds linked. This being the second time and all. However it was going much smoother this time since they both knew what to expect. She would likely position herself in the path of whichever way the little beast took off into. It was like hunting rabbits all over again. He supposed this tiny dog was about the same size anyway. Just slower. Which would benefit them.

Tengoku would nod even though the mind link was there instinctively. He would shift and break right at a light jog. Keeping up the space between him and the dog so he remained as quiet as possible. He would circle around to the right as his eyes remained peeled for something else out there. He knew not just to rely on his sensory. He had a way of suppressing his and her or really anyone who let him from being detected. Turning even the mighty into acceptable every day folk. He knew the feeling of living like that anyway. Still he would move over to the right and then slow done. Using the rushing water to cover his approach as he moved more silently than his surroundings. The dog was upwind of him so now he had a scent at least. He moved forward slowly while keeping track of his sisters position. He would finally pause about fifty meters away. Poking his head over a rock before glancing over to where his sensory told him his sister was. He was prepared now to chase it towards her. He seemed more focused lately. They could easily do this but why chase it when you can trick it?

She'd know he was in agreement with her tactic. Luckily a dog was a fairly simple creature, there was no need for an elaborate or complicated plan, a simply distraction to run it into a trap would be more then enough to accomplish what they needed to. The Shinku twins pressed on, and once meeting a certain point, would split without even a word passed between them. This would be the advantage her jutsu brought to the table...it gave them a sense of the battlefield nigh unmatched by a single entity, even if she wasn't the best eye around--she knew tactics--and she had Tengoku as her eyes, ears, and nose...the perfect predictors of the battlefield...

But today it wasn't a battlefield, more like a game of chess...or Shogi. The pieces was being moved into place. Soon, they'd find their checkmate. She moved around to the left, keeping slow and quiet as to not give away her position...she had to stay far enough away that the dog couldn't smell her--Tengoku had the advantage of being down wind from the dog, hiding his scent--Tsukiyo wasn't this lucky, up wind of the pup. She happened across a puddle...her eyes narrowed, she knew what it was...and what it'd help with. Apparently the dog has marked here recently...with a regretable sigh, she'd take off her jacket, the thick overcoat she'd found in the penthouse, and rub it against the tree that had been marked, just above the puddle. It'd put their scent on her, and keep her hidden. Gross...but smart. She wanted to hurl as she put the coat back on, but at least she had no real ties to it and could ditch it after the mission.

Soon enough she moved into position, just in time for Ten to peek over a rock he hid behind off in the distance. She could now see the pup...now, time for the trap. Sadly, she had no useful Fuuinjutsu for this situation...she'd have to rely on her Genjutsu. The woman started to mold her chakra, instead of using the normal 'Tiger' seal she simply brought up one hand into the sign of confrontation, and she'd be ready in only a second, much faster then her abysmal start up time of 10 seconds against Haku in times past...but she had to concentrate, the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique required it...but she was ready, and surely by now Tengoku had already launched his attack, knowing she was ready. She planned to strip the dog of one of its most important senses...Sight. Should make for easy pickings for the Shinku Twins.

((Connection of Minds: 1/10 rounds complete before cooldown.
Primed to perform Bringer-of-Darkness.))

Tengoku would steady his breath. He was about to move and do so quickly. A dog might not be the most impressive prey but they were usually very quick on their feet and  he would need to cover some ground to get close to it. If it was just him out here his chances may be considerably minimal. However they were a team and did not lack experience. He could sense her out there. Moving into position. He knew she had intentions to bring down something upon the animal that would eliminate its ability to escape them. He would steady himself. His body rippling slightly as he slid his coat off so that he would have less drag on his person when he began. His silver eyes taking in the tiny beast as his ears flattened on top his head. He was a wolf. Superior to any household pet. More dangerous by far. He would shift to the side of the rock ever so slowly. Making sure his movements were anything but obvious. Just one awkward movement would draw attention to him.  He shifted slowly along the forest floor on all fours gaining some ground. His eyes never leaving the prey he stalked.

It was only once he was within a dozen meters that the dogs head shot up and looked directly at him. Tengoku didn't hesitate as he burst forward. His speed and acceleration were not the best but he was more prepared. His foot already was placed on a small boulder between him and the dog as he launched up and through the air. The dog of course yelped in surprise and turned to run. It's legs kicking up dirt from its panic before finally getting some grip on the ground with its claws. It barely managed to escape the spot it was in when Tengoku landed where it had just been. His launch a failure but still his muscles shifted as he launched after the dog. He was slower than the small beast but his sister was in the direction it was running. Soon she would take her necessary step to disable the mutt and either himself or her would be on top of it. Perhaps both of them. He sure hoped she had a bag or something ready or else this tiny thing was liable to bite them in its panic. His coat would have been useful for it but he hadn't really thought that through.

Tsukiyo would wait, ready to cast her Genjutsu when the opportunity came. She had to wait, and be patient. Tengoku and her had worked like this before, honestly it felt like riding a bike--although usually it was for food...normally they'd kill the beast they tried to capture, and use their pray for their next meal. Now, they lived back in the village, and food wasn't nearly as hard to come by, even in the odd state Konoha was in. She could now see Tengoku, and watched as he inched closer and closer to the Dog they was after. She knew the time was about to arise and their teamwork would have to pay off.

Boom. It started. The dog has raised its head and spotted Tengoku, who rushed forward after the mutt. Tsukiyo's eyes narrowed when Tengoku missed, and now the dog was running her way. This is what they wanted, if he wasn't able to just snag it that easily...and why would they be able to do that, a Mission couldn't be too easy now could it? The dog was quick, and Tengoku was hot on its heels but falling behind. Even with his advantage in speed, Ten couldn't keep up. But it didn't matter, thats what Tsukiyo was there for. The dog was too busy running from Ten to even realize it was heading straight for Tsukiyo, its eyes barely looking up to notice her in time. She moved her hands, and the Genjutsu she was primed for would trigger. Sadly...it wasn't instant, and the Dog turned, a 90-degree bank to the left, and darted off that way. Tsukiyo had to remain concintrating on casting the Genjutsu, remaining still. 'Keep after it, it should only be a few seconds and the pup will go blind and have no idea where to run' she passed along mentally to Ten.

Ten would see it change direction and drop a little lower as his feet slid a little sideways in the gravel. Kicking up rocks as they slipped into the river. The dogs shift in direction doing something similar. He was moving faster now than he used to. His intent was clear as he pushed himself. Moving quickly after the prey. It was heading for the woods so while he was low he would scoop up a rock in each hand. Her voice was in his head. Just keep after it for a few more seconds. That was all he had to do. Simple enough instructions for her to say. Of course he could feel her mental exhaustion from the use of chakra. Much like she could feel a sensation from him like his legs beginning to burn. If they had come at this blindly they wouldn't have been able to keep up with this dog. Their prey was usually larger and they could harm it. This time the mission required they do nothing of the sort. Still it was good to be hunting again even if it was playing at it. She would feel he was kind of enjoying being out here again.

The first second. His feet pounded after the dog. Likely freaking it out more. Chasing it across the open grass as it tried to make a break for the underbrush. The second second, His hand rose as he threw a rock with all his might aiming as best he could. His target was a large tree ahead. The rock slammed into it with an alarming thunk surprising the little dog. The third second, the dog alarmed at the noise and suspecting a third turned again to head left into a different section of the woods. The fourth second, Tengoku would throw a rock again, This time accidentally barely missing the dog as it yelped and jumped to the side losing momentum. Then it happened. The dog suddenly lost coordination and tripped over itself. Tengoku would dive forward and roll as he grabbed the beast. Quickly rolling to a sitting position as he held its jaw closed. It was struggling against him an he was having a hard time holding it closed as it tried to blindly wriggle free in a panic. He knew if he lost here he was going to get bitten. So he tried to reach out to his sister.

' Hurry with a bag or something. I can't hold it forever!'

Tsukiyo watched as her brother shifted his direction to keep after the dog, some rocks even flying into the river near them as he slide in the gravel to make this change in direction happen. The feelings Ten had for the chase was rising up within her, the link between them providing the emphatic feeling. She may had been worried when her brother plucked a stone from the ground as he ran, but she knew his intentions instantly. This jutsu was a true battlefield changer for the two of them. She'd shut her eyes from this point, and would put herself within Tengoku's mind, focusing enough that she'd be able to see through his eyes, and nearly become one with her brother mentally.

She watched as he threw the rock, aiming for a tree ahead of the target. It cracked with a loud thud as it hit, the bark chipped away from the tree as the stone struck it. This did what Ten wanted, and spooked the Dog. He kept after it, Tsukiyo watching through Ten's eyes as his next stone throw nearly missed the pup. 'Careful! You don't wanna hurt it!' She mentally scolded him from within. Oh how this Fuuin had changed their control over a battlefield...but it also opened Ten up to Tsukiyo's fury, him feeling a shiver of her anger run right up his spine. But then something would happen, what Tsukiyo had set to happen. The dog lost it, stumbling over itself mid sprint upon being cast blind, entering a world of pure darkness as Tsu's Genjutsu took over. Being such a simple creature, they had zero chance of escape from the Genjutsu.

She watched Tengoku dive for it, opening her own eyes to break this link the moment she felt he had him, but remaining connected overall via her jutsu. He quickly called for a bag...which made Tsukiyo's eyes go wide. She had no bag! They never brought one. Tengoku would be instantly made aware as even without thinking it directly to his mind, he'd feel the helplessness wash over her. She thought quickly, and had to break the Genjutsu she'd cast as she begun once more molding Chakra within her, shaping it, and soon enough, expelling it. This was different, no longer did she need the attention of the Dog to cast it.

Sadly...this meant Tengoku would be caught in it too. It only took 2 seconds after she'd returned sight to the dog for both the Dog and the Wolf pinning it down would both begin seeing pure white feathers...slowly drifting down around them like snow. 'Its a Genjutsu, don't let it get you.' she tried to warn her brother, in hopes he may be able to fight it off. He had the perception to...but not the ability to Kai out. Sadly, he was as doomed as the dog to fall victim to Tsukiyo's Temple of Nirvana Genjutsu. But now 3 jutsu in, she was worn out, and almost lost focus as fatigue set in.

Tengoku could feel his sisters anger. Of course he hadn't meant to get that close but it had proven effective. He would growl lightly under his breath in protest. Grumbling in his head about maybe she should be the one with her lungs and legs burning as she chased something faster than her. It was just a passing thought though. Tengoku wasn't likely to hold onto such thoughts for long. Instead he was focused. His boots digging into the ground as he tore after that damned dog with everything he had. When he managed to catch up to it thanks to her genjutsu a sense of elation came over him. However a surprising oversight flickered through his mind as he requested the help of his sister. He had relied on her for all the planning and as such kind of expected her to prepare everything. The fact that they didn't bring anything to shove this beast into for easier transport kind of baffled him. He had assumed this would be easy but now he looked down at the dog. He could swear he watched it go from innocent looking to suddenly vicious as it realized at the same time he did there was no plan beyond this point.

With a snarl it snapped at him as Tengoku tried to avoid getting bitten it latched onto his ear. He yelped and opened his mouth to bite its leg. Neither drawing any blood but they certainly seemed like dogs. However mid tussle both would stop while still biting to blink as white feathers began to fall down. Well now that was odd....Oh crap. The dog seemed to go slack first. It having no understanding or knowledge of genjutsu. It would go limp and release his ear about the same time that Tengoku would feel his own jaw go slack. His strength fading as he dropped the dog lightly on the ground in front of him. White feathers turning to dust as they touched the ground around him. He was fighting just to keep his eyes opened. As if he had been awake for days. The pain in his ear a light throb now as it served as a focus point for him. Knocking him out didn't feel helpful. If he could just hold on since the dog was already asleep she would likely release her genjutsu right? If he could just stay awake.

Tsukiyo could feel the annoyance from Tengoku over the lack of a bag or something to keep the dog in--but she ignored the feeling, remaining focused. She watched as the dog and Ten wrestled, the dog biting Ten's ear--Ten biting the dog's leg...seemed a fair trade as two pups tussled. She'd wait, watching for a sign that the dog fell asleep, hopfully before Tengoku would. Meanwhile she would start making her way that direction, but she wasn't very quick. As she 'ran', more like a jog at best, towards the two, she'd watch the dog be dropped, falling limp on the ground. 'Now!' crossed her mind, probably echo'd in Ten's, as she'd release the Genjutsu, just in time to keep Ten from falling asleep

She made it over to them at just about this time too, a hand reaching out for her brother's shoulder to try to steady him should he find himself falling limp under the effects of Temple of Nirvana. "You alright?" she tried to ask as she kept a hand on his shoulder, even if he was steady. She shifted about to check on Ten's ear, examining him quickly to see if the bite had been bad. Luckily, it didn't draw blood, other then some pain his ear should be fine. She sighed with relief and turned her attention to the pup. She'd remove her overcoat, and wrap it around the dog before picking it up within it. She'd hug the dog wrapped in her overcoat to her, it in a deep slumber and no longer a threat. She'd smile to Tengoku, smirking at the idea of a mission success...even if only as simple as catching a dog.

Tengoku would find himself drifting. Fading in and out as it became difficult to find what was a dream and what wasn't. A distant voice echoed in his mind. Urgent sounding but he couldn't make out the word. He would take a deep breath as if he had begun to forget he needed to breath. His eyes watched as all the white feathers around him seemed to burst and white chakra floated to the ground like snow. All around him glittering and turning to nothing as he sat back on his heels with his hands loose at his side. The chakra snow falling around him as sun seemed to fill the space he was in. A victory moment. One of their first. A mission success. The hand on his shoulder snapped him out of it. His eyes blinked as the glaze over them faded and while he felt light headed he was back to remaining awake. He would rub the bridge of his nose as a small head ache set in. Quickly he gently released the connection to keep her from feeling foggy like he did. Slowly rising to his feet and gaining a sense of steadiness. He had basically just about woken up after all.

He wondered why they hadn't started with that as he cracked his neck and moved over to where his coat was. It was cold now that the adrenaline was wearing off. If they had used that genjutsu to begin with the dog wasn't smart enough to realize it needed to get out of it. Neither was Tengoku until now honestly. That said, they could have stayed back and hidden and used that. His legs and feet ached now. He would breath out a light mist as he scooped up his coat and slipped it on. His pain left to be forgotten for now. He would turn to glance to her as he saw her smiling swaddling the thing that had bit him. He would touch his ear tenderly and wished that she would just drag it through the forest but this would do. Well he supposed he would live. He would move next to her and look to the tree's. Noting the moss on the north side. He had an idea of where they were now. Experienced hunters and all. Speaking in a grumbling tone.

"I'll live. The village is to your left. We should get back before it gains some fight back."

Tsukiyo was keeping a worried eye on her brother when he 'snapped' out of it, and got up without a word. He'd broken their mind link, so by now she had no idea what was running through his head, her turning to keep facing him as the young man walked over to pick up his coat, slipping it on. The look back towards her and the snoozing pup she kept cradled rather comfortably in her arms was enough to tell her he wasn't feeling the best about it, Tsukiyo's features softening a bit as she watched Tengoku. Her brother was about the only person who could make her worry or feel bad, and he'd done both in the matter of seconds. She watched as he would come back over, walking to join her, and taking note of the moss on a tree. She'd hear him speak, his tone grumbled. Maybe the Mission could've went smoother, but it was still a success.

She let out a sigh and her pink-red hues shifted to glance down at the dog in her arms. Shockingly now that it was asleep, it was rather cute. Surely not the vicous thing that had bit Tengoku's ear only moments before. She'd nod in response to Tengoku and stepped closer to her brother. She'd let him lead the way, even though she knew exactly where she was. The woman did have an amazing memory, and could track their steps all the way back home likely with her eyes closed...if she wouldn't bump into things trying to do so. That was more his specialty, a master of senses. A true Wolf. Its what made them a great team, his senses and physical prowess, and her stunning intellect. "Right..." she agree'd, somewhat quietly, and would follow his lead back to the village. Luckily the dog would be out for quite a while.

"Ten-Nii, you sure your ear is ok? I can check it out once we get back home..." she offered. She was trying to express some emotion or care...something she wasn't good at. It was obvious. But she was trying, which was more then she'd do for anyone else.

Tengoku would only remain irritated for a little longer until the throbbing stopped finally on his ear. It was only sensitive when he touched it but he would hear her concern. He knew he was being a moody dick so he would lick his teeth with his mouth closed to relieve some irritation. Just once along his canines. It felt good for some reason and calmed him. He would smile and step next to his sister. Virtually towering over her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked with her. Taking their time as she seemed confident the pup wasn't going to wake up. It was a vicious little beast but he didn't mind it so much. instead he would speak up as they walked through the woods. His thin form was warm from the effort exerted and the heavy fur coat. "I think I will manage to live through this terrible wound. Maybe ice it when we get home." He would give her shoulder a squeeze as they walked. Staying like that for some time. If anyone didn't know them they might think it a terrific and odd picture. Two dog like individuals walking almost like a couple with a small dog swaddled in a blanket like a baby. Did the two of them give birth to an actual dog?

They would enter through the main gates. His arm slipping from around her shoulder as they passed through a bustling crowd. He would remain quieter now and his shoulders would hunch a little as he kept to himself. He still didn't like crowds and people staring at his ears. Even people openly talking to each other about them. Instead he would keep his silver eyes to the ground and avoid bumping into anyone until they reached the administration building. Once there they would return the dog and he would let his sister do all the talking. Once it was confirmed that the dog was the right one and they were each paid he left his share with his sister. She would be the one comfortable with all the shopping after all. He would tug on her sleeve to urge her out of there. Keeping pace with her as they moved back to the penthouse. Most people had returned but not the penthouse owner luckily. Probably moved their business to where they were told to go was his sisters assessment. So there was no need to evict themselves.

The village somehow knew they were students of the new Hokage already so it seemed to buy them some favor. At least with the owner of their building. Who was working the front counter when they entered. He would nod to them with a smile and Tengoku would give a sheepish smile back. Not only had they fixed the doors the twins now each had a key card to the room. It wasn't officially theirs yet but likely the manager intended to tell the owner if he returned they were unaware of how it happened. Once they were inside Tengoku would sit down and let out a breath as his muscles ached. His sister likely tending to wrapping his ear. It stung at first but she knew enough of what she was doing that when she finished he was ready for a nap. Too many people to interact with. He smiled and said "Thank you." before laying down on the couch to take a small nap. He could always take a bath later. It wasn't like they were in any danger here anymore. No army coming after them after all.

exit thread 160 exp

She'd follow Ten's lead, following maybe a meter or so behind him, eyes tracking the ground in front of her as she stepped. The woman was left to think of why Ten was irritated, although it was honestly clear to the bright minded girl. She simply kept following after him, glancing to the dog she carried within her coat. The thing smelled of the dog's 'markings' anyways, not like she'd ever wear it again. Yuck. But anything for a mission, right? Besides, she was in for a wardrobe change. Her old getup from their years living in the woods, the purple dress, was worn out. The bottom was fraying, it had small holes and tears in it. She had returned to civilization, time for a new outfit. But still, that wasn't on her mind.

She'd be pulled out of her mind when she felt an arm fall over her shoulders. She looked forward sort of spooked at first, then turned and looked up to see Ten towering over her, a smile on his face, his arm half hugging her shoulder. His mention of 'living through it' but maybe some ice would be nice brought a slight curl to the edge of her lip. Barely noticeable. She sighed and looked forward again, feeling him give her a small squeeze. She really wasn't the touchy-feely type, but it was just Ten. That was a bit different. They was family, she didn't mind him hanging an arm on her. Any other man would've likely lost said arm by now in a flash of fiery rage from the short Wolf-like human. But she let it slide and remained quiet, only giving a nod in response to the ice.

It would indeed be an odd sight for those who didn't know them--virtually everybody.

But once they got back from the training grounds, and many people was about, it'd seem Tengoku with withdraw into himself, keeping to himself, hunched over, head down. She breathed out a sigh as her eyes returned to their natural sharp intensity. Resting bitch face. They made their way to the administration district, and would return the Dog to its owner...who squeezed it so hard hugging it that it was awoken by it and whimpered as the pup was taken by the owner, smothering it in love. Tsukiyo huffed an annoyed sigh at this, she was always one to love animals over humans...the idea of keeping an animal as a 'pet', trapped, no freedom to roam...it wasn't right. Taking care of them, loving them, giving them their freedom they deserve--that was fine. Keeping it locked up in a house and nigh hurting the thing...it sickened her, glaring daggers at the dog owner as they left.

Still. She dealt with the paperwork, oddly quickly, and they got their pay. She'd end up getting Tengoku's pay too, she tried to make him take it but he declined. She had in mind to force it on him, but knew she would likely have more use for it. Tengoku was...well...Tengoku. She sighed and felt the tug wishing to leave, and she quickly obliged. The Shinku twins made their way home, took some time but they'd make it to the penthouse. Luckily being the Hokage's students earned them some form of clout, even if only surface level. Still, the owner of the building let them stay, a 'favor' for the Hokage's students. Lucky them!

Tsukiyo cast the manager a convincing smile, even if just a mask she put on over her true emotions. She was good at that...she was smart enough to know how to manipulate others, and she was rather attractive...Men would do nearly anything she asked if she put on a flirty face and tone, and it was a powerful skill not many understood the importance of. Tsukiyo did. Either way they got back to their penthouse and got in the legit way this time. She watched Ten sit down and she fished around for some simple medical supplies. She hadn't the chance yet to go out and get more proper tools of the trade, but the Peroxide, clean rag, and bandages was good enough. Not like the pup took a chunk out his ear. This was more cause she said she'd tend to it, even if he could just tough it out.

She sat beside Tengoku and carefully cleaned the bite on his ear. There wasn't even blood, so really he was fine. She didn't need to bandage it. The woman would leave for a moment before returning with some ice in a rag--taking a more comfortable seat next to Ten. She'd softly hold the Ice up to his ear, gentle to not hurt it more then the initial touch. She smiled slightly at the thanks she received, a soft "Anytime" coming from her. Eventually he had laid down on the couch and she would finally get up...the day still was young, and even though she was tired...she had some Ryo to spend. Earlier wasn't the time to think of what to do with the payment...but with 20k Ryo in her pouch, it was too tempting to not go get some stuff. Off the market she went...after making sure Ten had a blanket over him and a pillow under his head, her barely able to get it under his head without waking him.

--Exit post