Island Tour Vacation! [Closed]

[problemdaimyo]

Who: Hotohori, Adela, and Yamato
Where: A grand tour of Noodle Island!
When: The last two weeks of September.
What: The daimyo inspects his lands while escorted by two hired shinobi. It's a land whose biggest concern is noodles. Very little could possibly go wrong.

Originally he'd wanted to leave early in the month, and as it turned out there was enough of a delay that it was possible he could have arranged missions with other countries in the interim. Impatient though he was, it felt wrong to do so once he'd already sent one request...and aside from that, he respected the ninja he'd requested before. On a mission where most of their time would be spent simply interacting, it was wise to choose companions whose company he would enjoy.

Thus, he'd postponed traveling the island: the inspection wasn't exactly an urgent matter, after all. And though he'd willingly post-poned it, it didn't mean he wasn't antsy to depart for it once the time finally did come that the (two!) nin arrived.

He arrived at the gates of the Daimyo's Palace before his counselors did, once he got word that the ninja had arrived in the city, and smiled kindly in greeting once he spotted them. "I trust that the trip here was a pleasant one?"

Comments

September 18th -- The Arrival (Free for All)

[abileunaspada]

Oh dear god why was this her first mission off of medical leave.

When she had heard that she was to be sent to the Land of Noodles and was dealing with the annoying lord, she had begged and pleaded for Obito to send someone else. It was even worse to know that she had been requested for this mission specifically and that it had even been held off due to her injury. The combination of overwhelming guilt and Obito's firm decision regarding the mission were things she thoroughly despised at the moment. Her only saving grace was that, at least for the duration of this mission, she would have a teammate - an older chuunin by the name of 'Yamato' (though she had a feeling that it was only a safety precaution due to her recent injury).

It was with great disdain that she entered the gates where the noodle lord was waiting, and she swallowed it down to put on a stoic and professional expression. Two weeks of this guy... Hopefully it wouldn't go as poorly as trying to escort him back home that one time. She could still remember the smell of that damn bird poop...

"It was quiet, Lord Xing-Shu. You have our humble gratitude for your concern."

[problemdaimyo]

Now, he didn't think it was necessary at all to have two chuunin involved in the mission, given how tame and safe this sort of tour usually was, but the recent injury of the chuunin made such a determination reasonable all the same. He certainly wasn't against further company, as long as it wasn't a thinly disguised attempt to prevent him from performing his duties properly.

"We're to be companions for two weeks, simply 'Hotohori' is more appropriate than such a formal term." He smiled pleasantly at the woman as he spoke--after all, their previous interactions were more professional and diplomatic than this one. Expecting formality would be reasonable. "Do either of you need anything before we leave? An hour's rest and food before the journey begins wouldn't damage our schedule." Mind, he was impatient to leave...but not so impatient he was completely thoughtless.

Fashionably late, with a starbucks

[mokutonno]

Getting signed off for active duty had been a mission all of itself and he'd missed Adela by almost an hour because of it. The medic-nin on duty had been less than sympathetic and considering the cause of his injuries, Yamato could almost agree...if the mission in question wasn't going to be the biggest milk run he'd ever been assigned in his career to date.

He should have been insulted, but given the circumstances and the Hokage's particular brand of persuasiveness, he had battled for the sign off and spent a good portion of the journey, closing the gap between himself and his fellow Chuunin without further complaint.

Yamato made good time, all told, arriving what he assumed was not long after Adela herself and dropped out of the tree line only marginally winded.
His left arm and side ached; even supported by the network of bandages under his uniform, but he felt surprisingly well given the short recovery time he'd had and none of the discomfort showed in his gait as he approached the waiting pair.

"Forgive my tardiness, Hotohori-sama, Milani-san. I hope I have not kept you waiting long." He bowed from the waist and offered a sheepish smile with the apology.

/takes all the starbucks

[abileunaspada]

Aah -- Adela blinked at Yamato, a little surprised that he was there (or rather that it had actually taken him that long to catch up, she thought he had ditched her or something) but otherwise just a little put off at calling him Hotohori instead of, you know, his actual name. Guh, this guy was so... Annoying.

At least she actually had back up this time.

"No, you haven't Yamato-San. I just arrived myself."

/shines with beauty

[problemdaimyo]

When the second shinobi spoke, he offered a gracious smile. It was brightened somewhat with the use of his preferred moniker, as well. That was a good thing in a third member, one willing to share in being teammates and comrades, rather than the insulting cold professionalism some shinobi had been determined on. Those were usually sent back immediately: if a team couldn't trust each other, there was no point in having it.

"Please, there's no need for apologies. As I said, we still have time before we must leave. In that respect, it could be said you're early."

He gathered his hands at his waist, noting the difference of the coarser travel clothes to his usual silk. It wasn't the first time he wore such a thing, but the difference was so great he always noticed it. In some ways, he preferred the coarser riding clothes. "Shall we be going now?"

[mokutonno]

Yamato nodded, relieved that he hadn't held them up too badly and relaxed his shoulders under his pack. He inclined his head, feeling no need for any rest just yet.

"Of course. Lead the way."

[abileunaspada]

She really wasn't looking forward to this. Adela just nodded however, hitching her pack higher on her shoulders as she waited for Hotohori to give the word.

This was probably going to be a really annoying mission, though. Damn Obito...

[problemdaimyo]

Although it might have done the unfamiliar shinobi well to give him a break, the journey wouldn't be a difficult one, and there would be plenty of time for him to relax after they departed.

He swept his arms out with enthusiasm, and offered a beaming smile to the other two. "Indeed, then! Let us depart." He started down the steps, still wearing a pleased smile...if not so bright as a moment before, but without any packs of his own. "There are supplies we'll have to collect before leaving town, however. They should be with the horses."

Not that he was intending to bring any horses with them, but certain stubborn counselors had prepared three regardless. Which meant the supplies were there. He turned his attention to the male shinobi as he walked. "As we'll be companions for two weeks from now...it would be good to know your name." Adela's, at least, he'd figured out on his own already. The other, however, was a complete stranger to him.

[mokutonno]

"Oh! My apologies, Hotohori-sama, you can call me Yamato." He smiled, mentally face palming for his lax manners and quickly gathered his wits.

Regardless of the difficulty, this was still a mission and Yamato wasn't doing himself any favours by letting his mind wander off rote and he gathered everything he'd discussed with the Hokage to the forefront of his mind as they walked.

Lige-san (Mountain)

[problemdaimyo]

As predicted, there'd been really no reason so far to bring along not one but two chuunin-level ninja with him. The people in the villages they'd encountered had been nothing but happy to see him, if they paid him any mind at all (he wasn't exactly dressed in regal robes, he could forgive them not noticing). The biggest threat had been a small group of ruffians that fled the moment they'd seen three unhappy looking shinobi on the street (or an unhappy looking Daimyo, but then there was no telling they recognized him).

Still, even if the escort had been unnecessary, the company had been welcome in comparison to going on his own, and when he'd volunteered to help repair a damaged roof, and also to sort out a disagreement on noodle production efficiency (both parties were ingenius but incorrect) there were hands on...hand, to help.

This would be the first night they hadn't been able to stay inside a town, instead they'd have to camp on the island's extinct volcano. The weather was pleasant, not being the island's rainy season just yet, and no one really bothered to venture up to the peak as it wasn't a particularly tall mountain. Thus, he saw no reason why the stay wouldn't be even more uneventful than the ones in villages. There really wasn't any big game or predators that would attack them either, given they were on an island. Snakes, perhaps, but certainly three shinobi could deal with snakes.

He slowed to a stop once they reached a level enough clearing to sleep in without worrying about losing packs in crannies or things rolling away. "This appears to be an adequate spot to stay the night." He glanced to the two shinobi in his company with a pleasant smile. "What do you think?"

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[abileunaspada]

At the sound of hissing in the night air she couldn't help grabbing her arm and rubbing it in an attempt at self-comfort, tired from the long day and from just dealing with Hotohori. She tried to avoid speaking with him whenever she could, instead conversing through Yamato and otherwise trying to focus on her work. Adela didn't say anything however, instead turning to Yamato and seeing what he thought about it. He'd probably be better at setting up a secure camp site than her, so she'd just listen to him.

The less she had to talk to the noodle lord at this point, the better...

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[mokutonno]

Yamato nodded, eyeing the surrounding trees and the ground cover for any obvious threats or abnormalities and, finding none, stepped past his companions.

"This should do nicely."

His hands flashed through signs, the stiffness in his left arm finally having recovered enough to mould a decent amount of chakra for this and palms clasped together, he summoned a sizeable building in the clearing.

There was enough space for all three of them and a fire pit inside and out, given the weather.

"It's not a feather bed, but it's better than sleeping on the floor."

He titled his head at Adela "We should still set up a perimeter though."

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[problemdaimyo]

He blinked, and stared up at the newly formed building. "What...a truly amazing jutsu!" Looking at it, it appeared to be composed of wood. From history books, he knew that Konoha's founder, Hashirama Senju had possessed the ability to manipulate and produce wood--and had been famous for it, in fact. It stood to reason, then, that Konoha would retain possession of such an impressive ability.

"One could hardly complain of a roof over our heads compared to sleeping outside."

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[abileunaspada]

"It really is amazing, Yamato-san," Adela nodded, allowing her expression to soften as she set her pack down inside of the make-shift building, "I'll see to the perimeter first. We don't want any stray animals or the like sneaking in."

... Especially not snakes, now that she was really thinking about it. She really didn't want to, not after the last time, but after taking a breath she managed to calm herself. It'd be okay. They weren't under attack, this wasn't like the mission to investigate that cargo wagon...

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[mokutonno]

He flushed lightly at the wonder expressed by both his companions and was thankful for the gather gloom of evening to cover for it. Yamato nodded to Adela though and took on the duty of lighting their fire, not overly concerned of keeping it hidden, given the ease of their journey so far and the generally quiet mountain side.

"Ah, I'm glad you approve Hotohori-sama.. It's the first time that I've had to accommodate someone of your rank."
It's said with a smile, but with the utmost respect and little irony, Yamato quietly self concious of the Lord's opinion of his handy work, aware that he was probably used to much grander.

Re: Lige-san (Mountain)

[problemdaimyo]

Hotohori shook his head slightly at Yamato's comment. "Please, I am no different to you. If I wanted to be constantly reminded of my position, I would have taken along my faithful counselors on this trip." And what a horrible thought that was...

He offered the shinobi a warm smile after a moment, banishing that terrible train of thought. "I am flattered to know that Konoha has sent me such an exceptional shinobi for a mission such as this, however. To possess such an exceptional jutsu, you must be very prized by your village." He didn't have any hands-on experience with jutsu, but he had studied them, and he had a rare privilege of being able to observe shinobi of many different nations show their handiwork. For that, he felt he had a fair right to say that Yamato's was an impressive jutsu. Not that the rock huts he was occasionally provided with weren't also impressive!

[abileunaspada]

[[OoC: Lalala perimiter check here TO YOU, PINNKU. Seriously, I don't know what to put in here.]]

September 27th - Adela and Hotohori

[abileunaspada]

The dust had settled, and all was said and done. Maybe... Just maybe... She'd been unfair. And through all of her pride and her value in her career, she'd been blinded to just how Hotohori felt about it. He... Wasn't really in the way, after all. His sword play was good enough for him to not be a total hazard, and she still didn't know how but he managed to break her out of a genjutsu at some point. As much as she didn't want to admit it... He'd been helpful.

It was while they were camping out by the shoreline that she approached him around their fire, glancing briefly at Yamato before her gaze focused on the subject on her mind, "Hotohori-Sama... May I have a word with you, please?"

Her words were still formal, but there was something different in the way she spoke - rather than the matter of fact strict business tone she had used before, her voice was soft and more genuinely polite than before. It was then that she finally used his requested name, even if it still sounded so strange to her. Why would he want to be called by anything other than his true name...? She didn't understand it. Not fully.

[problemdaimyo]

He'd been surprised by the bandit attack. It cleared up the mystery of who had been tampering with the Land of Noodles' supplies, however, so as inconvenient as it had been to encounter them while assuring his travel-mates of the relative safety of the island, it was good that they'd been able to deal with the matter before the Land of Noodles' reputation had been irreparably damaged. Or before the bumbling fools had managed to get many people under their grip. The situation could have been greatly different had they made this same trip a month later.

Still, much as he was fulfilled knowing that he'd helped to protect the nation, and satisfied in being able to fight alongside other shinobi (rather than need to deal with the many attempts to 'protect' or 'shield' him that some shinobi ended up primarily concerning themselves with), it was something of a relief that this night was quiet. Technically, the borders of the Land of Noodles extended somewhat into the water, both out of a need for a certain amount of safety and the ambition of previous Daimyo, but this shore was close enough to the far edge (in this direction) of his lands to count for him. From what he could see of the water in the distance, that much was also calm anyway.

He hadn't asked where Adela had gone: there were only certain times in which he intentionally riled her up, and invading her privacy if she'd gone somewhere to be alone wasn't one he felt like doing at the moment. Thus, he was neither surprised nor expecting her to appear when she arrived at the fire. He'd already glanced up at her when she'd gotten close to the fire, but his expression brightened to that of a happily surprised smile.

'Sama' was of course unnecessary, but she'd used his name! Had he finally managed to earn her respect in their journey then? "...Here, or another place?" Her phrasing made it seem apparent to him she must have wanted to speak to him privately, after all, so it seemed a matter of whether she expected him to move away from the fire to speak to her (not unreasonable, as the night was warm anyway) or Yamato.

[abileunaspada]

"... Further down the beach," So that Yamato could overhear if he really wanted to, but she at least wanted the illusion of privacy. Again she glanced to Yamato, nodding silently so that she could try and converse her meaning before she made to walk away, closer to the high-tide line of the shore and not bothering to wait for him to follow suit. She wouldn't wait, assuming that he'd come -- if he didn't... Well, she'd deserve that, wouldn't she?

Sigh.

[problemdaimyo]

He gave a slight nod at that. It did take a moment to put away his sword, as he'd been meticulously cleaning and oiling it since they'd finished setting up camp, but...despite whatever misgivings she might have on the subject, he really wasn't that far behind her, though he followed her without offering any words until she made it to whatever arbitrary (or perhaps not arbitrary at all) point at the shoreline she meant.

Rather than wait for her to speak first, he spoke just about as soon as they stopped moving. It might have been because he expected her to waver and silently mull over whatever it was she wanted to say if he left her to it...or he might simply have been too curious to wait for her to speak first. "What did you need to discuss with me?"

[abileunaspada]

That was about when she stopped -- still within sight of the camp and the fire where Yamato was, but far enough that she was satisfied that she wouldn't be easily overheard. She finally looked over her shoulder at him, clearly flushed even in the minimal light the moon and stars gave. Damn, this was... Hard. She didn't want to hear his arrogance, but... More for herself than for him, she had to say it.

"... You're not as useless as I thought you were. I guess... If it weren't for you breaking me out of that genjutsu, I dunno what would've happened."

She looked away again, her back still turned as a hand raised to scratch at her cheek. This was too damn awkward... "... Thanks."

[problemdaimyo]

...Did she really think he was arrogant? Arrogance was a man overestimating his abilities and lording it over people. Even if she (wrongly) disagreed with his beauty, he wasn't in the practice of lording how beautiful he was over the less fortunate. Compliments (that had nothing to do with his attractiveness) would not necessarily warrant displays of narcissism.

He did, after all, have feelings as well.

Although he was aware his expression might have been missed while she was attempting to hide hers, he offered her an honest and open smile anyway. She'd given him a genuine compliment despite her own discomfort and pride, he wouldn't disrespect that with an insincere smile or response. They were, after all, comrades who'd fought alongside each other in battle.

...He did attempt to keep some of the amusement he felt at 'not as useless' out of his smile, however. If only to keep her from believing he was mocking her. "...From you, that means a great deal. I am overjoyed to know that I've proven that much to you of myself." He gathered his hands at his waist, loosely, and offered her a slight bow. Not inappropriately deep, given they were equals as they stood currently, but a small bow just the same. "...Thank you. As well."

[abileunaspada]

When she did see the smile an bow out of the corner of his eye, and when she did she visibly jumped a little. Wait a minute what was he -- she immediately flushed darker and stepped back a few paces, frazzled by the display as she shook her head, "O-Oiy, you don't need to do that!"

[problemdaimyo]

Ah--alright, he couldn't help laughing, just a little. A rich, deeper laugh than his usual one. He was nothing more than amused, truly. At times, he wondered exactly what sort of relationship she thought they had--too personal for a moniker, yet too formal to use it without an honorific. If not for her blushing, he wouldn't be sure if she thought he was being too formal or too personal.

...In truth, he still wasn't completely certain. But it was much warmer interaction than her forced stiffness when they'd set out, and therefore it was welcome.

"You drew me aside for the purpose of telling me just that, at great difficulty, isn't it true? I should give nothing less in return."