Going north [Kininata and Ryutatsu, private, NDE].

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

((OOC: Please post here Ryutatsu "Sakurai Sword" and kininata))



[Enter Marii]


'It's 6 PM sharp. Both of them should be here soon' thought the female. She wore her charcoal winter boots, black trousers plus a slate gray coat. On her back was a field pack. It contained 6 kunais, a military ration pill, a gas mask with filter B, 2 dokas, a six inch flashlights, 3 voice-recording marbles, a wireless radio, a motion sensor with handheld surveillance monitor, a lensatic compass, a rebar splint, a torsion wrench, a half-diamond pick, a hook pick, a ball pick, a rake pick, a glass cutter and 5 exploding pouches. Her hip pouch was on the left hip. Inside it was 6 kunais, 15 hira shurikens, 2 smoke grenades, 2 hikari bombs, a multi-tool, 2 thermal capsules, 2 speedy healing herbs, 11 exploding tags, 40 senbons, a pair of goggles with camera and a continental map of Periander. A double kunai holster with two kunais was strapped to her left leg.

Three tickets laid in her field pack. They were taking the overnight ferry to Yuki no Kuni. Marii was fortunate enough to get three deluxe tickets plus two cabins. 'I know we're married, but this is a mission. Sleeping with a bodyguard would seem unprofessional as well' thought the young woman.

[kininata]

[Enter Kininata]

He could see Marii in the distance as he moved towards the meeting point. His rust-red coat flowed in the light breeze, covering the hidden tools he had slotted into the various internal pockets from his former Chuunin vest that had been integrated, including an assortment of kunai, shuriken, explosive-tag kunai as well as a mix of pills and medication just in case. His ice gourd hung off a baldic set to his gi's belt, while his three sword were set up on a triple-baldric strapped onto a unique setup using the coat. He carried a large backpack with several quick release straps, which lay over the sword sheaths. Aside from the swords, the only openly visible weapons were a pair of kunai in the thigh-sheaths of each of the gi's pads.

Kininata allowed a slim smile to slip through as he came within notice of the Raikage, and returned himed himself back to his reserved, professional face.

'Raikage-sama.' He said in greeting, giving an appropriate bow and title deference. They were married, but for this trip, no matter the personal reasons for his own decision to go, he was here in official capacity as an escourt and guard. 'All ready for the trip.'

[Ryutatsu "Sakurai Sword"]

Ryutatsu carried a pair of swords, each blade was crafted to perfection and held special meaning to him for sentimental reasons. Hidden in his sheaths was also a lining of Iron Sand.
 The pearly white Mithral armor that he wore was nearly a full set of chain mail that fitted to him like a glove. With it he wore an odd gauntlet, one he crafted himself. He wore a Tactical Vest that spoke of his rank as Chunnin. In it carried three pouches of seeds, three pouches of metal shavings, and a pouch with a bunch of Quartz. He also carried in his pockets a Plenty stone and a Skull of healing. A Tengu Drinking Jug hung from his hip.



Ryutatsu had been armed to the teeth with two slots of Bo and three slots of Hira Shuriken, a slot of steel marbles, a pair on knives and a pair of Kunai. Spread through his battle cloak was also several grenades. One was a Samum and nine were Stormstone. On his thigh was a leg harness which carried his pistol crossbow and magazines. He carried four magazines of Northern Wind and Four of Dancing Star Explosive tipped specially made for him. Also hidden among his pouches and pockets was a half bottle of agility boost.



His X-ray goggles sat on the crest of his forehead rarely used. His actual shinobi plate hung around his neck right next to the strap for his wireless radio. A slot of circular LED lights, a pair of Obfuscating Eye, a slot of flint, a pen flashlight, and eight tracers made up some of his gadgets that sat in his waist pack. To top it off his clothing was all specially made to be fire retardant.



"Hello, Raikage-sama and Kininata-sama." Ryutatsu was the unusually the last one to arrive but considering his long absence in a space without time, it seems to have screwed with his sense of timing, or maybe he just is calmer. Something about Ryutatsu speaks of a kind of displacement of self. 

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

She was not surprised when her spouse showed up first. "Raikage-sama, all ready for the trip" told the male. He gave her a polite bow to show his respect. "Glad to see you Kininata-kun" replied the female. There was a tiny smile on her face.

The younger guy appeared a few minutes later. Marii was impressed with the gear he was carrying. "Hello, Raikage-sama and Kininata-sama." greeted Ryutatsu. "Hello to you both. I got the mission details here" started the young woman.

She pulled out the map and showed it to the duo. "We'll go to the port here first. To avoid unwanted attention, we're taking the overnight ferry. I booked two cabins for us. You two will share one. Don't worry - they are in the business class section" assured the Raikage.

"We'll meet for breakfast tomorrow morning. It's included in the price apparently. The ferry should be in Yuki no Kuni at 10:00 AM sharp. Our next destination is the embassy in Yozamu. I am going undercover as a diplomat while you are my bodyguards" informed the female.

"I will use a henge to disguise myself. Do you have any questions?" inquired the brunette. Ice blue eyes glanced at the duo. This was the first time she went to Yuki no Kuni as a Raikage. It was somewhat embarrasing since Yuki no Kuni was just across the sea.

[kininata]

Kininata nodded to Ryutatsu as he arrived. There was something a little different from the last time he saw him, but that was several years ago now. He couldn't quite see what it was that was triggering the sensation he felt, but for the time being, he didn't want to bring it up. After all he was still the odd one out of the three for a mission like this, and it wasn't his place to question anything.

"Hello to you both. I got the mission details here" started the young woman.

She pulled out the map and showed it to the duo. "We'll go to the port here first. To avoid unwanted attention, we're taking the overnight ferry. I booked two cabins for us. You two will share one. Don't worry - they are in the business class section" assured the Raikage. A look at the mpa showed a relatively simple path through to the embassy for Yozamu, but he also recognised some of the land marks indicated on the map.

"We'll meet for breakfast tomorrow morning. It's included in the price apparently. The ferry should be in Yuki no Kuni at 10:00 AM sharp. Our next destination is the embassy in Yozamu. I am going undercover as a diplomat while you are my bodyguards. I will use a henge to disguise myself. Do you have any questions?"

Kininata looked back up the Marii, though not directly to her eyes. 'No questions, Raikage-sama. I might offer a point of thought. The path planned runs past an area used by snow bandits. When they were more active last, they tended to set up snow drifts as ambush points and they were often use three point attack strategies. They are usually not in groups larger than four to six, but I would recommend caution through this area.' He indicated a short part of the route between the port and Yozamu, which was around a quarter of the path intended on Yuki no Kuni.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

((OOC: Please post when you can Ryutatsu "Sakurai Sword"!))


The younger male looked at her. "No questions, Raikage-sama. I might offer a point of thought. The path planned runs past an area used by snow bandits. When they were more active last, they tended to set up snow drifts as ambush points and they were often use three point attack strategies" explained Kininata.

He pointed at a short part of their route. It was the road that connected the port to Yozamu. "They are usually not in groups larger than four to six. But I would recommend caution through this area" told the man. The female gave him a sincere smile.

"Thank you for the input Kininata-kun. That's why I wanted the two of you to come with me. I know you two can work well together. You proved that a couple years back in Enrai. Good teamwork is crucial for a diplomatic mission like this one" replied Marii.

She turned her attention to the younger shinobi. "Do you have any questions Ryutatsu-kun?" inquired the young woman. Her ice blue eyes looked into his. Their emerald green colour made her slightly envious. After all, it was one of her favourite colours.

[Ryutatsu "Sakurai Sword"]

Ryutatsu looked at the Raikage and shook his head in the negative. "No, Raikage-sama. I have no questions. We will work out a guarding schedule, and have to be on guard as it seems the Ferry is becoming a favored form of transportation." He had a quiet air about him, a kind of zen as he looked over the map.

Ryu's mind was focused and sharp like a blade but it had shadow his ability to feel what was going on around him. He was still getting use to being back and this was his first major mission since his return. More though what bothered was the fact the AnBu were correct that he needed more connections in the real world. His departure had left little imprint.

[kininata]

"Thank you for the input Kininata-kun. That's why I wanted the two of you to come with me. I know you two can work well together. You proved that a couple years back in Enrai. Good teamwork is crucial for a diplomatic mission like this one" replied Marii. He nodded as he looked at Ryutatsu along with Marii. "Do you have any questions Ryutatsu-kun?" inquired the young woman.

Ryutatsu looked at the Raikage and shook his head to her question. "No, Raikage-sama. I have no questions. We will work out a guarding schedule, and have to be on guard as it seems the Ferry is becoming a favored form of transportation." Kininata could tell that Ryutatsu was considering the potential risks seriously with his look at the map and his response. It was good to see he had that aspect to himself.

Kininata adjusted his triple baldric slightly, finding it a little tight compared to the last time he wore it. He had gained a little muscle mass and tone since then after his exercises, so he would have to make a lot of adjustments on this trip. It would be his first actual mission since working with Ryutatsu, in fact.

'Well, we can discuss shifts and tactics accordingly as we make our way there. We'll also need to ensure we co-ordinate techniques if a fight does ensue.' He said to Ryutatsu, and then moved to flank the right side of the Raikage. 'Shall we get started, Raikage-sama?' He asked with a little enthusiasm.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

"No, Raikage-sama. I have no questions. We will work out a guarding schedule, and have to be on guard. As it seems, the ferry is becoming a favored form of transportation." replied the male. His demeanor seemed calmer compared to earlier.

"Well, we can discuss shifts and tactics accordingly as we make our way there. We'll also need to ensure we co-ordinate techniques if a fight does ensue." suggested the young man to Ryutatsu. He moved to flank the right side of the Raikage afterwards. "Shall we get started, Raikage-sama?" inquired Kininata. There was a bit of enthusiasm in his voice.

"Yes" replied the female. She had a calm smile on her face. Marii would approach the gates with her two body guards. 'I have not been to Yukigakure for several years. I wonder how they're doing' thought the woman.

[Exit when Kininata and Ryutatsu has posted]

[Ryutatsu "Sakurai Sword"]

Ryutatsu bowed his head to the both of them. "Very well. Interestingly enough I think I was part of the escort team the last time you went to Yukigakure, Raikage-sama." He moved to one step behind and to the left of the Raikage. "Kininata-sama, please remind me your specialty? Mine is high speed sword attacks and cherry blossom storms." He was ready to leave as he started his coordination effort with the other guard.

[kininata]

"Yes" Marri replied with a calm smile on her face. She would start the approach to the gates with her two body guards. Kininata on her right, and Ryutatsu starting to form up with them, giving a slight bow to them both as they started.

"Very well. Interestingly enough I think I was part of the escort team the last time you went to Yukigakure, Raikage-sama." He moved to one step behind and to the left of the Raikage, matching the standard flank positions. "Kininata-sama, please remind me your specialty? Mine is high speed sword attacks and cherry blossom storms."

Kininata had a slight miss in his step at the question, returning quickly back in pace with the pair. 'You know, Ryutatsu-san, I'm not sure how to answer that.' He said, really thinking back to his skills, his experience, his techniques. 'I hold mastery of Suiton, Hyouton, Raiton. I'm not as fast as you with a sword, but I am a master of the Busosen. A speciality, though?' He paused again as the gates came closer. 'Kouu Bunshin tactical fighting and analysis.'

[Exit with Marii and Ryutatsu]