[center][img]http://i61.tinypic.com/vd1r2a.jpg[/img]

[h2][b][color=moccasin]Tsukiko Umene, Honeybadger[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Tsukiko hadn't paid too much mind to what the chuunin were doing, so she was surprised when Yamato, of all people, tossed her a flask of water. She didn't detect it immediately, only turning her head in time to see it land in the sand next to her. [i][color=moccasin]Is he being legitimate or is he looking down on me?[/color][/i] Tsukiko wondered, glaring at Yamato as she picked it up. [i][color=moccasin]Uppity little shit. Practically telling me he wants to fight.[/color][/i] She gave him no response after his words, instead devoting her effort to opening the flask and taking a big swig out of it.

Once she drank about half the flask she simply splashed the remaining water on her face, taking advantage of the desert wind to cool off to some degree. [i][color=moccasin]He better not have given away all his water. If he passes out I'm not carrying him.[/color][/i] Without warning she tossed the empty flask back to Yamato, giving him the same courtesy of aiming somewhat to the side so it wouldn't hit him if he didn't catch it. Tsukiko wanted to loot as much as she could, but the kids decided to get in on it. She could appreciate that they would place practicality over morality, but in this situation it meant that she got less goodies for it. Bittersweet, one could say. She barely got much from them, it seemed that the kids were luckier with the bodies they searched, but at least she nabbed a few items of relative worth.

Then Yamato decided to not only announce he would be leaving but also leaving her a challenge. [b][color=moccasin]"Excuse me?"[/color][/b] Tsukiko finally said aloud. She glared at him, clearly on the verge of anger. [i][color=moccasin]Is he trying to get me to race him or is he trying to get me to kick his ass? He should fucking know better.[/color][/i] Before she could retort, Aoi walked up to the group in her typical clown fashion and said something strange. Tsukiko's glare turned to her now, looking down at the young girl. [i][color=moccasin]Is she serious?[/color][/i] She stared Aoi down for a moment before letting out a sigh and shaking her head. [b][color=moccasin]"Whatever. Let's just get going."[/color][/b]

Yamato had already taken off several seconds ahead of the others. A mature and level-headed jounin wouldn't mind, considering he wasn't so far ahead that it would cause a problem. But Tsukiko knew he was challenging her dominance. It was clear from the start that Yamato was testing her. [i][color=moccasin]He wants to believe that he is the top dog. But the mission's basically over now. I have no obligation to cater to him anymore.[/color][/i] Rather than keep pace with Aoi and Nobunaga like the team had done on the way to the desert, Tsukiko decided she wouldn't let Yamato taste any kind of victory over her. The wild woman launched ahead of the chuunin, easily catching up to Yamato before passing him too. She didn't even acknowledge him with a glance as she sped ahead. [i][color=moccasin]He wanted to think he's smarter, I proved him wrong. He wants to think he's faster, I'll prove him wrong. And if he wants to think he's stronger when we get to the Bridge, then I'll prove him wrong again.[/color][/i]

[color=moccasin][i]This asshole's really getting under my skin. Hardest part about today is not killing him.[/i][/color] Once Tsukiko achieved a sufficient distance ahead of Yamato, and by extension Aoi and Nobunaga, she slowed her pace to maintain the distance. Leaving him in the dust was amusing, but she was still smarter than to abandon the team. If something were to happen while they were divided it would be Tsukiko that would get in trouble for it later. For now she simply just needed to be at the forefront. Not just so that she could detect and possibly break ambushes in place of the kids, but so she could symbolically establish her dominance by being at the front of the pack.

The troupe made their way across the desert and through the forests of the Land of Fire over the course of several hours. By the time Tsukiko arrived at Kannabi Bridge, there was only one other team there. Team Hideyoshi was lounging around, scroll in hand. But Tsukiko quickly noticed that Hideyoshi himself wasn't there. The three chuunin had the scroll but were lacking their leader? It was definitely something worth inquiring about. [b][color=moccasin]"Hey, what happened to Hideyoshi?"[/color][/b] Tsukiko immediately question upon arrival, serving as an announcement of her presence. The question wasn't directed to anyone in particular, and only after asking did she start to examine who was actually present.

Tsukiko couldn't recognize one of them, the one with black hair, though he did smell familiar. She knew Takeshi, and she knew he was rightfully afraid of her. But when she finally realized that Akio was among, them she let out a sigh. [b][color=moccasin]"You better not have had any trouble on such an easy task,"[/color][/b] Tsukiko lectured toward the girl, skipping formalities one would expect from a relationship like theirs. [b][color=moccasin]"I don't want to think that the time I spent training you was a waste."[/color][/b] Tsukiko tossed the scroll in her hand up and caught it again with the same hand, serving as a way of occupying herself with activity while she conversed.