soul_logs | ✿ I pay the price for my karma; (CLOSED)

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✿ I pay the price for my karma; (CLOSED)

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Akiha Tohno
Location: Brazil
Rating: PG-13 at the most
Time: April 11th
Description: Mission 170a: People in Brazil have reported giant slug-like creatures burrowing up from the soil. These large beasts have been known to consume an entire person whole on contact, and do not release their prey the moment they latch onto them. The Brazilian government has requested Shibusen’s aid with destroying this threat before too many of its citizens are consumed.

[ Traveling was a cinch for someone as adaptive as Sakura, so there was no immediate culture shock whenever they traveled through the mirror into a completely different country. She's dressed for a mission as expected of a kunoichi with various packs along her legs, hips, and back. Honestly, it's as though she came prepared to investigate the area more than actually beat up a bunch of slugs.

As such, she'll be proving said point to her partner for this mission. Pulling out a bottle of cloudy liquid, she'll give a firm nod. ]

It's as I was saying. [ She more than likely has been chatting her head off for the past few minutes... ] Slugs don't do well with salt, so I've brought a couple bottles of water filled with salt. We'll just toss one at a slug and see how it reacts!

Oh, but first I'd like to get a good look at them. [ Gently placing the bottle back into the pack on her lower back, she looks away from Akiha while continuing. ] Someone I knew back home was known for this kind of creature, so I'm wondering if there's any relation. You don't mind that, do you?

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[Whereas Sakura had indeed been talking Akiha's ear off since they met up for the mission, the meister wasn't paying much attention. Her thoughts were turned inward, going over the exchange her and Sion had at breakfast regarding this mission.

It still didn't make sense to Akiha. Needless to say, she didn't quite catch all of what Sakura had been talking about and it showed.]

...hm? Mind what?

[Unlike the ninja, Akiha was wearing a long red skirt, white blouse and black fingerless gloves. She had her hair pulled back in a long ponytail and her shinguard/greave-like armor on her right leg. They didn't remotely look like they belonged together.]

Getting a closer look at the slug. If it turns out to be identical to the ones back home, then it'd be a morale boost for some of the people.

[ Er. ] Not so much the fact they're killing people, but that my teacher might be around here.

[ Don't get the wrong idea about Tsunade, Akiha. Sakura's just having a bit of trouble mentally with this mission. Her last one was with Naruto and with the remnants of Team 7 having left her, it's taking quite the toll on her. Fortunately, instead of being the kind of girl who wept openly when she was left alone, she's learned since then to channel her emotions a different way. ]

Then we're gonna kick all of their asses.

I doubt they are the same, but fine. We can look at them closer if needs be. I'd still rather stay out of their reach as much as I can given the reports.

[She pushed her hair back behind her shoulder.] What's your weapon form again? I generally prefer a mix of armed and hand-to-hand combat.

You're just now asking me that?

[ Slightly embarrassed to admit, she glances away from her. ] A hammer.

[ Spoken just a tad bit higher than a whisper. ]

Don't give me that. You should've offered that information up when you asked me to accompany you. After all, I would be handling you.

Tch.

[She holds her hand out.] Let me see and get a feel for you. I'm going to assume you're not a common hammer, Haruno. And unless you are, I don't understand your embarrassment; Sion is a staff.

[Meaning she's used to blunt weapons.]

Embarrassment? Who's embarrassed? Me? Nah, I'm not embarrassed. Nope!

[ She's embarrassed. ] I'm pretty heavy, but with our levels the way they are, it shouldn't be a problem for you. I hope.

If so, there's the salt water!

Haruno. Transform so I'm not going into this blind.

[Akiha narrows her eyes and beckons with her fingers.]

I don't have time for these games.

I'm getting to it!

[ Isn't this supposed to be something intimate? Either way, she's not able to cross her arms as a hammer, but she's quick to transform at the other woman's instructions.

Right, a hammer. More like a giant sledgehammer with an Eastern-theme design to it, but that's pretty much her. ]

[It can be something intimate with one's permanent partner, but that mattered not to them. Akiha's grip was firm and, surprisingly given her frame, she had no issue handling the hammer's weight. Sure, this was a lot different than the staff Sion was, but she was at least used to something weighted on one hand.]

Hmm.

[Holding the staff in two hands before her, Akiha thought about how best to wield a weapon of such... brute force. She twirled it a bit experimentally in her hands before falling still. Shifting her stance a bit lower, she held the hammer more parallel to the ground and slid her primary hand up the weapon's length until it rest against the base of the hammer's head. ~~And that was the least suggestive I could make that sentence orz~~

Closing her eyes, she tried to quiet her wavelength to give Sakura a chance to try to at least level with her. The ninja might pick up on the oddness of Akiha's soul, like something might be a bit off about it, but it was steady.]

Can you match me?

Having a bit of trouble, but we should be able to.

[ Sakura notices alright; even if she was lost without Naruto or Kakashi, she was still able to focus. That was where she excels. Back home it was to handle her chakra calmly even when the world was in battle all around her, but here it was something new. Thankfully she's had plenty of training almost every day on various topics, so it doesn't take Sakura long to match her level. Well, at least she's hoping that's the case, but just to confirm: ]

Like this, yeah? Sorry, Naruto-kun was difficult to get used to, but I find it a lot easier with someone more level-headed than him.

[Akiha was, by this world's standards, half-kishin and her soul reflected it, bearing the same vermilion color as the kishin egg souls did. She also had her own constant struggle with madness that had nothing to do with the madness wavelength, but thankfully a will of iron to control it. She was, of course, very used to not having to worry about the way her soul felt as being something of concern since Sion knew exactly what she was. Sakura had no such knowledge and it never crossed the meister's mind.]

It feels suitable enough from my end. I warn you, my wavelength will become a lot more dominant and demanding when we must enter battle and I favor the direct approach.

[ Fortunately for all of that, Sakura's had little experience in this place. The one person she practiced with that wasn't from Konoha left a couple days after her arrival, so her knowledge of this was barely much to go off of. Besides, Sakura knew anger well.

She's just managed to turn it into her ally instead of allowing it to control her emotions. Although if someone was to say something stupid... ]

Just as long as you don't do anything stupid, you'll have my support. [ Fair enough, isn't it? ] Direct is better. We might not have the time to sit around and study them as I originally liked.

[Internally, Akiha rolled her eyes. She wasn't Sion, so she didn't get upset over the very idea that she could so something stupid - she has indeed done stupid things - but she didn't like the implication that she could.]

We have to find them first.

[Shouldering that giant hammer now, Akiha starts to walk, continuing on to where the reports have pinpointed the slug-creature's hunting grounds to.]

Did you wish to stay like this or return to human?

It won't tire you out to walk in this manner, will it?

[ Sakura's voice remains calm, but not overbearing in volume. ] It might be smart to play it safe just until we run into one of them.

[Akiha gives a bit of a snort.]

You will find my strength and stamina are far greater than my appearance relays.

[It was weird - Sion usually walked next to her on missions until she was actually needed to be in staff form. Then again, it also seemed that Sakura wasn't as comfortable with her transformation as the alchemist was. Perhaps this was better, so that there wouldn't be any possible delay. If Akiha got herself severely injured on this mission, she'd never hear the end of it from Sion.

...in fact, she was pretty sure her partner would be upset with her for a while afterward. Akiha wasn't sure why, but... eh. She'd worry about that later.]

You said slugs were something important to someone from your world. What was the significance? Slugs are fairly gross creatures.

[They're slimy, okay.]

My teacher and the great leader of our village has a slug familiar she summons often during times of war. If any of these resemble Katsuyu in any form, I'd like to study it the best I can to see if there's a link between Konoha and here that isn't related to the BREW.

[ Among other things. It's a dumb theory, but at least it gives Sakura reason to get out from her apartment. Traveling between the pool and then back to her place of residence didn't make for a very good social life. ]

I won't question your strength. It's only natural for someone to be concerned about their partner and besides, it's better I take the safe route than dare ask you about your weaknesses.

[So, the girl IS smarter than she comes across as. Which is good because asking Akiha about her weaknesses was never a good idea. It would become known well enough should there be any madness cropping up on this missions. Akiha was able to resist it very well, but it made her hungry and she'd never learned to shield her minor bloodlust from her partner. She didn't expect it to be any different with her current temporary partner.]

A slug familiar? It sounds as if she ended up with the short end of the summoning stick. What can a slug do in war?

[ Sakura, on the other hand, is excellent at resisting that sort of thing. Akiha's safe in her hands even if it's her hands holding onto the kunoichi at this very moment. ]

Mm, most summoned familiars aren't magnificent beasts. The only other one I've seen is a toad... er, but to answer your question, she can spit out acid that melts through stone with ease. The most important thing is that she can split into several smaller slugs and be used not only for communication, but providing medical aid on the battlefield.

It might not seem like much to some of the people here, but from our world it's a vital advantage.

...are you expecting me to believe the slug slime contains healing properties?

[That was absurd. Slugs were gross things one poured salt on.]

Ew, of course not!

[ WHERE DID YOU EVER COME TO THAT CONCLUSION?? ] Tsunade-sama--[ ~~and I hate using honorifics~~ ]--channels her chakra through her to help heal.

I don't think she's capable of doing it on her own. What I'm interested in is how they look.

Good, because if you were honestly expecting me to believe that, I was going to drop you on the ground and make you catch up to me.

[Akiha glances over at the hammer before focusing her gaze on the area they were approaching.]

I find it odd that you're using that honorific, Haruno. You aren't Japanese. But enough of that, I believe this is the edge of the hunting ground...

[ Well, she does enjoy running so it's a tempting offer. Instead, she dismisses it in favor of going bwuh. ]

Wha-? Japanese? No, I don't think I am. [ She's heard the phrase before. ] Is it strange that people use honorifics when they're not Japanese?

[ BECAUSE EVERYONE CALLS HER TSUNADE-SAMA. ]

Yes. It is part of the Japanese language and culture. [Then again, so are ninja... just from a really, really long time ago.]

I'm sure there are other cultures that use honorifics, but -sama is definitely Japanese. My maids refer to me as such back home.

And I said enough of that. It's an unimportant matter in the face of us being in the slug's hunting grounds. [She says as she moves further into it, watching her step carefully and focusing to level out her wavelength again so Sakura could adjust to it now that the time for idle conversation is over.]

As you are the slug expert, what can you tell me about the habits of one? Well, a giant one.

[ Sakura wants to ask if she needs to cut it out with the honorifics or not, but seeing as her partner's decided the subject should be terminated, she honors it easily enough. Although she does note what she said about her maids. While this kunoichi is never had a maid herself, she can't imagine them using '-sama' even to someone who was just wealthy.

So what kind of leader was she? Maybe if she's fortunate enough, she can discover that today. ]

From what we know, they enjoy eating people. [ Wryly spoken. ] Beyond that, it's mostly to the imagination. If we come across one, I advise staying behind it as facing it means taking on any potential liquid it might spit at us. I'm used to seeing them spit out acid, but who knows what they might have here.

I've already had one mission with the kishin egg expelling noxious gas; I'm not thrilled about the idea of one spitting acid or something equally dangerous at me. But good to know.

My fighting style is a mix of armed and unarmed, so don't get worried if you see me getting closer than necessary given your range.

[Akiha moved slowly through the hunting grounds, twirling the hammer between her hands to continue familiarizing herself with Sakura's form, before letting it rest on her other shoulder.]

My meister ability requires that style, should I need to use it.

[She stopped and knelt down, finding a bunch of bone fragments in a thick mucous-like substance. She didn't touch it, but brought her hand close. Ew, it was giving off heat. She knew that meant it was a recent deposit by their target, but still. EW.]

It must be nearby.

[ The remark isn't meant to insult her intelligence, but to reaffirm it in Sakura's mind to prepare herself. She's on alert, eagerly waiting to see if there's anything out of place other than the bones. ]

If you have to, I'll take the blunt of any acid-related attacks. I have the training to tend to my own wounds. [ The thought of visiting Akiha's apartment every day to check up on her doesn't seem like it would be a good idea. ] Alright? This isn't me trying to be a hero, just saying what's best.

[Akiha hummed in acquiescence. She knew Weapons in their weapon form had higher resilience than meisters do. She'd thought for a while they were impervious to most damage like that until she'd seen Sion hurt by those creepy clowns during the invasion.

She walked past the bones, footsteps as soft as she could get. Since she couldn't see the giant slug, it was most likely underground. So, she had to find where it was mostly likely at and force it up. At least it didn't take long to come across the giant hole in the ground.

Akiha blinked as she stared at the thing. Holy hell, that was bigger than she'd expected.]

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✿ I pay the price for my karma; (CLOSED)

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cracks knuckles

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now that I know I'm sticking around in game, resumes logging u_u

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