One Hundred Percent Organic [Mission]

[|Ayame Unbound|]

[One hundred percent organic!]
Rank: C
Danger: Very Low
Minimum Shinobi required: 1
Maximum Shinobi (Recommended): 2
Description of Mission: An old lawyer from years ago - now residing in outskirts of Kusa with his wife - has contracted an odd sickness that he has yet to rid himself of. Being a firm believer in all natural methods, he shuns mednin and their healing powers, but welcomes anyone that dabbles in the art of herbs, irregardless of person and profession. As such, only an herbalist can take this mission and cure him.
How to Complete: Must be an herbalist. Create a concoction using local herbs to cure the old man's sickness.
Pay rate for Mission: 1000

Ayame Hanakora left the Kusakage’s Tower and made her way to the edges of Kusa. The unfurled scroll blocked her sight as she continued to walk, using her hearing to find her way and keep herself from hitting villagers instead of sight.

A frown crossed her face as she read the report on the man. Elderly lawyer lives on the outskirts of town with his wife, that was all fine but two things baffled the Hanakora. The fact that he detested med-nin, and the fact that, even though a med-nin had looked him over, they couldn’t tell what was wrong with him. The girl rolled up the scroll and secured it with the black band that had held it together originally.

She hummed softly as she passed through the central part of town. According to the med-nin the affliction was found mostly in his lungs. Ayame cast her thoughts to local herbs that might help the man since he apparently only approved of all natural methods. Lungwort came to mind. Though she knew the plant was difficult to find she was fairly sure the Hanakora Greenhouses held some.

She passed through the town, casting glances at everyone she passed. It was strange to think of those people, living quiet lives, never having to train jutsus or go on missions. It may make some ninjas second guess themselves but Ayame was loyal to her village.

Finally she reached the outskirts of town. She followed the pathway that supposedly led to the lawyers house. She knew her mission here was to find a cure for whatever was ailing the man. However this wasn’t something she had done before. It couldn’t be too difficult though, not for a Hanakora. She knew herbs well and how they reacted together, knowing that would be a good basis for trying to cure an illness.

There it was, in the distance stood a beautiful house surrounded by a well-cared for garden. “Well if that doesn’t prove he’s fond of organic things I don’t know what does.” Ayame told herself as she approached the house. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Someone coughed harshly inside. The door swung open soundlessly revealing an aging man with a tissue held up to his mouth. “What do you want?” The man demanded before turning to cough into his tissue once again.

Ayame winced, she could hear the cough tearing at his lungs. “Uhm, excuse me sir, I was sent here by the Kusakage-“

”Get out!” The man exclaimed, his body seemed to shake with rage. “I don’t want to see another one of you idiotic med-nin and your “Healing Jutsus.””

Ayame coughed slightly. “Uhm, sir, please, I’m not a medic. I’m an herbalist, from the Hanakora clan.”

The man stopped and looked over her with a critical eye. “Is that so… then by all means come in girly! My name is Fumihiko Daichi. And this is my wife Eri.” The man said as he waved his hand towards a plump women well into her fifties.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Fumihiko-sama, Eri-sama.” Ayame bowed to the pair before her.

”Call me… call me…” a violent cough tore from the lawyers chest. He quickly brought the tissue to his mouth.

Ayame watched in horror as red stains blossomed over the tissue. “This is bad,” Ayame said quietly.

Daichi’s coughing began to ebb. He cleared his throat and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask your name did I?”

”Oh! I’m Ayame Hanakora. It’s nice to meet you.” Ayame said hurriedly.

”The pleasure is mine Hanakora-san. So tell me, do you think you can cure me?” The man asked with hopeful eyes.

In truth Ayame did not know what she could do for this man, but the look in his eyes showed her that he was placing his faith in her. And she was determined not to let him down.

”Well let’s take a look at you.” She said with a smile.

[|Ayame Unbound|]

Ayame leaned back on her stool. She had just finished talking to the lawyer about all his symptoms and listened to his lungs. She could hear the fluid in his lungs, and that worried her. “I think I may be able to come up with something. But I’m going to have to visit our green houses to make sure we have all the necessary herbs. If we don’t I’ll have to go search for them. I’ll return as soon as I’ve gathered my things.” Ayame said as she stood up and bowed to the man.

”Kami bless you Hanakora-san. I will be waiting for you.”

Ayame bowed again before leaving the mans home. She raced back to the Hanakora Mansion, mentally making a list of what she would need. She burst through the gate to the mansion and rushed to the greenhouses. She paused to explain to the Hanakora’s present that she needed to take some of the herbs and a chemistry set for a mission.

The first herb Ayame collected was lungwort. If the man had fluid in his lungs this would be the ideal plant to use. But she knew that lungwort alone would not be enough. She journeyed through the different greenhouses collect Rewk 1 day, Sabito no prep, Ebur no prep, White Byrony boil berries in water. With the herbs and a chemistry set in hand she headed back to Fumihiko’s house.

Once she reached the house she used her foot to knock on the door since her arms were full of bagged herbs and a case of equipment to prepare them. Fumihiko Eri opened the door. “Welcome back Ayame-chan,” Eri said as she took some of the herb bags from Ayame.

Ayame and Eri made their way to the kitchen table where they deposited everything Ayame had brought. “How is he doing?” Ayame asked kindly as she popped the top off the chemistry set.

”He’s still coughing up blood I’m afraid. So do you know what he has Ayame-chan?” Eri asked as she watched Ayame unpack herbs and set them on top of the bags.

”I’m afraid not. I know it’s probably not best to try and treat him without knowing exactly what he has but only a medical ninja could diagnose him. With his symptoms though I think this will help,” Ayame explained honestly. Ayame pulled a mason jar out of the kit and dumped the White Byrony berries into the jar. She then went to the sink and filled the jar with water.

Ayame looked at her hand and frowned. “This is the quickest way to heat it but I truly hate it,” Ayame sighed and concentrated her chakra into her hand a cloud of smoke erupted and a ball of fire balanced in her hand. With her free hand she held the jar over the ball of fire. “Will you go get your husband please?” Ayame asked as she winced at the burn growing on her hand.

As Fumihiko-san came from his bedroom the tincture began to boil. Ayame waited until it was boiling strongly before setting the jar on the table. “Sit here please. This is going to evaporate over the next hour. I need you to inhale the steam until then. It will help with your lungs.” Ayame explained as she carefully fished Hanakora leaves from her pack. She set two across her palm and sighed in relief as they began to remove the burn.

Ayame began grinding the Ebur and Sabito with a mortar and pestle while Fumihiko inhaled the White Byrony. “This smells horrible,” the man admitted with a weak smile.

Ayame pointed her pestle towards the man as she said, “Yes but you’re coughing less.” She returned to grinding the plants into a paste like substance. Next she set a pot of water on the stove and let it rise to a boil before adding the Rewk and lungwort. She checked the clock and made a mental note of the time.

Forty-five minutes later Ayame took the White Byrony mixture from Fumihiko-san and added the liquid and berries to her mixture. She took the Rewk-Lungwort-water mixture off the stove and let it cool. “I need you to leave the mixture here. It needs to sit until tomorrow. Then I’ll come add everything together and we’ll see how it goes!” Ayame said.

Fumihiko-san nodded anxiously. “Hanakora-san, I don’t know how I can ever repay you.” The man admitted.

”Don’t thank me yet sir. Let’s make sure you’re completely better first,” Ayame said somberly. She bid the family farewell and headed home, knowing there was nothing left for her to do today.

[|Ayame Unbound|]

Ayame slept poorly that night, if you could call it sleep. For hours she tossed and turned keeping a weary eye on the clock. She counted down the hours in her head, waiting until the time her concoction would be ready. Finally, a few hours before dawn, she slept. However she rose with the sun.

As soon as she woke she dressed quickly, had an equally quick breakfast, and rushed out to the lawyer’s house. As she crossed through town she knew it was still a few hours until her mixture would be ready but if she got there early she could check on Fumihiko-san and put the final touches on her work.

She knocked briskly on the white door to the house. Daichi answered the door and began to say hello but was interrupted by a racking cough.

”I see the White Byrony didn’t help,” Ayame said with a weak smile as Daichi ushered her inside. She found her things exactly where she had left them. “This still needs to sit a bit longer,” Ayame said as she checked the Rewk and Lungwort mixture. “So how are you doing today?” Ayame asked curiously.

”The cough came back after you left,” Eri answered for her husband. “He hasn’t coughed up any more blood yet though.”

Ayame sat with the Fumihiko’s and had tea while they waited for the mixture to set. Finally Ayame was ready to add it all together. They cleared the tea cups away so Ayame would have space to work. Ayame took her mixture of the Ebur and Sabito first and began to add the Rewk/Lungwort water a bit at a time. She paused in between to stir it in well. It was tedious work but Ayame was careful not to make any mistakes.

Twenty minutes later she had finished adding the water in. Ayame swallowed quickly. “It’s done,” Ayame whispered. Ayame sniffed at the mixture. “This is probably going to be disgusting,” she warned Daichi.

The man smiled and turned away to cough. “I think it’s worth it after all this,” he admitted before taking the cup Ayame had strained the mixture into. He picked up the glass and sniffed eagerly. He raised it to his pale lips and took a small sip. “Kami that’s disgusting!” He exclaimed before draining the rest of the glass.

He coughed, though Ayame could not tell if it was because of the illness or out of disgust. “How long?” Daichi asked.

Ayame checked the clock. “Half an hour at the most is my guess,” the Hanakora explained.

To pass the time Daichi and Ayame began playing Shougi. It was Ayame who first began to notice he was coughing less. When the game finished Daichi looked at the clock. “How are you feeling?” Ayame asked kindly.

”My lungs…” his voice came out as a harsh whisper. “They… they aren’t burning. Before, they felt like someone had lit them on fire. Now though… Miss Hanakora, I owe you my life.”

Ayame laughed quietly. “Let’s give it some time to make sure you’re fully better.”

”I don’t need to wait Miss, I can feel it in these old bones. You’ve healed me my dear, without forcing me to go to those horrible medical ninjas.” Daichi said.

Ayame hesitated before taking a deep breath. “I’ve been meaning to ask you sir, why do you dislike med-nin?” she asked curiously.

To Ayame’s surprise the man laughed, long and hard. “I’ll tell you a secret dear, my mother was a medical ninja. And she was one scary woman! Those medical taijutsus! I don’t exactly dislike medical ninjas. They just scare me!” Another laugh followed. Ayame smiled weakly as she began to gather her things.

Eri walked out of one of the back rooms carrying a scroll with her. “I’ve written a little something for you to take to the Kusakage,” Eri said with a smile. “It’s not much dear but it’s just explaining how wonderful you’ve been.”

Ayame blushed furiously as she took the scroll. “Thank you so much.” She hugged the older woman tightly, trying not to cry. “If you need anything at all you can find me at the Hanakora Mansion,” Ayame said as she pulled away.

”And you sir, I’ll be back in a week just to make sure the remedy held. Good day to both of you.” Ayame bowed deeply as the Fumihiko’s said good-bye. Ayame left the hut with a smile. She loved helping others more than anything. And she got to help Kusagakure in the process. In all she believed the mission rewarded her as a person more than it did the village or the lawyer.

[|Ayame Unbound|]

[Exit: Stage Left]