Someone called in the ripping squad. [CLOSED]

[alastinglight]

Characters: Okita Souji, Takasugi Shinsuke, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke
Location: The Alps, site of Mission #82
Rating: PG-13 or higher, for violence
Time: December 6, pretty much the entire day
Description: Mission times, with a bit of madness~

Comments

[mumyo_ken]

Okita was no stranger to the cold, either, though after the relative warmth of Death City, it was still something of a shock, even with the extra layer of Western-style clothing he'd had the foresight to add beneath his more traditional uniform.

He nodded at his partner's question. "Yes."

He didn't know the pair they had teamed up with, but Takasugi did, and that was good enough for him. He knew he could trust his partner's judgement.

[hatedriven]

Sasuke drew up with all the look of someone who had spent most of his life in such a cold climate. Which was strange, considering his outfit- it was the one he'd brought from home. The open shirt and the cut offs, maximizing movement. While he did have something on underneath, insulated and long sleeved, it certainly didn't look weather-appropriate. Either way, the only shiver Sasuke had given was when they'd first stepped through the mirror, and since then he'd appeared perfectly fit

[ramenandawesome]

While it wasn't his first experience with such a climate, and he'd known worse conditions to run a mission in, the Alps still weren't hospitable. By any stretch of the imagination. One gloved hand lifted, and he tugged at the wrap around his shoulders, readjusting it the collar.

This mission, his partner, and the other team- they were all things that had fallen into his lap really. Despite his tendency to jump right into things, and the knowledge that he and Sasuke had resonated beforehand- something remained unsettled in his stomach. The same something he resolutely put out of his mind when he stepped forward, offering a nod to boy at the head of their group. The madness wavelength was something they'd deal with when they had to. Until then, this was a mission like any other. "Bring it on'ttebayo."

[alastinglight]

That was all Takasugi needed to hear. The boy smiled, then gazed off towards the road leading out of the village and up into the mountains. He started walking, knowing they'd follow. He would, however, fall in step beside Okita at the soonest opportunity.

"I figure we can follow the road up until we reach the area marked out for us on the map, and then break off to track the monster down. Do you guys have experience with following trails?"

[mumyo_ken]

Okita took the moment to look over the team they'd assembled for this mission. The boys were young--but so was Takasugi, who had proven himself over and over. He wasn't at all used to being the eldest one in the field, quite the opposite, really, but he would do his best. He simply had to hope they'd had the experience necessary to get them through what was going to be a difficult mission.

The weather and terrain was against them. The threat of the Madness wavelength was also hanging over their heads. Partnered, everyone would be less susceptible, but he could easily remember Halloween and that weird edge the world had taken on, the strangeness he'd only understood after the fact.

"I'm afraid that's not one of my strong points," he replied, following as Takasugi started to move out. He was much more used to cities, and human beings who weren't very good at disguising their movements.

[hatedriven]

"Yes," Sasuke answered not a beat after Okita, half to prevent Naruto from screaming about how great he was at it, and with a conviction that left no room for argument in his abilities. If he knew the other team was contemplated his and Naruto's age, and therefore their skill, it didn't show. Sasuke had long since started ignoring the doubt of others, and while in some part of him it still grated on him, he'd discovered the quickest way to shut someone up was to prove he could kick their ass.

But that wasn't on the Uchiha's mind right now, not with the task at hand. They had a beast to kill, and Sasuke was fully intent on getting out of this mission mostly unscathed- unlike last time.

[ramenandawesome]

Perhaps even to his own surprise, Naruto merely nodded in reply- gaze focused ahead, on the village that lies just beyond, and the battle that was waiting for them. He'd never been one to hold back, much less to keep from running head first into a fight- but he was preoccupied. The hesitancy was as new as it was uncomfortable.

His attention drifted once to his borrowed partner, lingered on his profile for just a moment, before returning to the pair ahead, and his fingers curled absently at his sides. "We can handle it."

[alastinglight]

"Then Okita-san and I will leave it up to the two of you to find the thing. If we can get the first strike in, everything else should be easy. Mind letting me in on any Meister and Weapon abilities that you guys possess?"

Cool and matter-of-fact. He knew, from Watch records and the like, what sort of experience the other pair had, but he didn't know all that much about whatever the BREW had given to them, as Meister and Weapon.

[mumyo_ken]

It was different, sitting back and letting Takasugi take control of thing. He'd been letting the younger man pick their missions--he wanted to help him on as many as possible before he ran out of time--and it was interesting to see what he could do in the field. He appeared confident enough, handing out orders without seeming bossy about it.

The other two, thankfully, seemed to possess the skills that he lacked. With any luck, that meant they wouldn't have to spend too long looking around for the kishin, which would be especially good with the threat of Madness wavelength hanging over all of their heads.

LATE SORRY ALJSD

[hatedriven]

Since their abilities weren't necessary until they hit a certain place, Sasuke didn't bother picking up his pace to lap them and take the lead of their little group. His gait remained easy, even as snow crunched under his (probably inappropriate for the weather) sandals. Though he was fully aware of Naruto's Meister ability at this point, he didn't bother pointing it out.

"I can manipulate electricity, on top of granting my Meister my Sharingan," He says it lazily, his focus out beyond the two walking a head of them. He expected a question on his Bloodline Limit, but he didn't bother trying to head the questions off with an explanation.

boo you suck

[ramenandawesome]

Naruto's response was so close to Sasuke's reply that it appeared as if, for all intents and purposes, he was cutting the boy off mid-sentence. It certainly didn't help matters that he waved one hand dismissively in the air as he trailed after them. "He's got weird eyeballs and I get faster and stronger and stuff."

you guys. XD

[alastinglight]

That made Takasugi glance back a little in amusement.

"I'd normally ask you to explain," he dryly remarked, "but I think we'll find out soon enough."

He looked forward to it, anyhow.

[mumyo_ken]

Souji didn't really understand the explanation at all--even 'electricity' was all but a vague concept to him, really. It lived in the walls, and that was all he'd managed to figure out.

"I'm afraid I don't know what mine is, yet," he admitted. It was a matter of some embarrassment to him, though he tried not to dwell on it. He'd never had to try at anything back home, so he still hadn't quite figured out how to even discover what his ability might be. Nothing simple, apparently. And then he was turning his attention back to their path, mentally weeding out any possible distractions.

[hatedriven]

Sasuke's mouth pressed lightly into a line as Naruto interrupted him, and he couldn't stop the reflexive, irritated glance he tossed in the other nin's general direction. Leave it to Naruto to make something that was the pride of his clan sound pointless and superfluous. But it didn't matter. When they got into battle, his talents would prove themselves.

Having nothing to add, he fell silent, tuning into their surroundings and lingering close enough to Naruto that he could reach out a hand if necessary. Even if the kishin was in a supposedly designated area, Sasuke had seen enough of them to know they didn't always stick to the plan.

[ramenandawesome]

His focus, despite the pointed look from his temporary partner, remained on the pair ahead. For the intensity of the situation, and the anticipation of what lay ahead, he appeared remarkably confidant, if not comfortable traveling with them. Still, while Naruto had never really been one to plan, he found himself asking the group at large regardless.

"How do you guys wanna do this'ttebayo?"

[alastinglight]

"As I said, I think it'd be best if the two of you find a way to lure it in. We'll keep the heat off of you both, and you can back us up with your charge."

They were well beyond the village outskirts now, and making their way to the highway. Takasugi stuck to the side, pausing for just a moment to check the map.

"We won't be walking for very long now, I think."

The latest spotting of the monster hadn't been too far from their position. That meant that they had to prepare themselves: the madness wavelength was reportedly strong there.