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

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

Tsukiko didn't have to wait around as the only adult present for long, as soon Team Ayame arrived. The Hokage's Assistant was someone that Tsukiko had found she could get along with. The woman was smart, respectful, and skilled. Maybe not as skilled as Tsukiko, as far as she was concerned, but Ayame more than made up for it with her intelligence. So when she asked for a favor of writing some reports on the chuunin, Tsukiko didn't feel any reason to deny her. [b][color=moccasin]"Sure thing,"[/color][/b] Tsukiko agreed, twirling the scroll in her hand several times. [b][color=moccasin]"The mission went off without a hitch. The kids were obnoxious, but I'll save my bitching for the reports."[/color][/b]

After their formalities and greetings were given, one of the kids from Team Hideyoshi finally explained what happened with their mission and their team leader's absence. [i][color=moccasin]Wordy little shit. He's already boring me to death,[/color][/i] Tsukiko thought, eventually losing focus on Saburo's words and completely tuning him out. [i][color=moccasin]Once all this is over I'm going to have to take another shower. Do I need to go to the market? I'm pretty sure I have some pork in the freezer. Unless any of those neighborhood brats broke into my house and stole my food again. Maybe I should stop at the market just to be safe...[/color][/i] Her inner monologue was finally snapped out when Yamato spoke up. Her earlier irritation with him made the sound of his voice enough to bring her back to the real world.

Tsukiko gave him a quick glare, for no other reason than to confirm he was actually standing next to her, before redirecting her attention to Ayame and taking a less hostile expression. [b][color=moccasin]"Megumi? That airhead is probably forcing her team to smell the flowers or something,"[/color][/b] Tsukiko began to theorize. [b][color=moccasin]"Don't know what would be holding up Fujitora though. Maybe he stopped to get high or something..."[/color][/b] Sure enough, as they were talking about it, Megumi and her team arrived by air. [b][color=moccasin]"Well there's one."[/color][/b]

By now the kids had mostly started fooling around. Tsukiko couldn't care less about what they were doing. If they were reading, eating, fighting, making out, she didn't care in the least. The chuunin weren't necessary from this point onward, as far as Tsukiko knew. Their condition was irrelevant to her. But Megumi began to do her weird thing again, and that irritated Tsukiko slightly. She didn't stop the younger woman, but was clearly bothered by Megumi's carefree nature at this moment. But it didn't last long, as Team Fujitora arrived. And Fujitora himself arrived with distinction, being he almost landed on Megumi.

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[center][img]http://i58.tinypic.com/inaedy.jpg[/img]

[h2][b][color=orange]Shin Maru, Topaz[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Immediate medical attention from Paneru probably saved Shin's life, but he wouldn't acknowledge the severity of his injuries. He never would. Where normal men would faint or submit to the constant pain, Shin persevered with the straightest face he could make. His effort to maintaining an image of full health took most of his energy. He didn't show any emotion as he watched Jaakuna's fight, which went about as bad as his own fight did, only because he was worried if he lost focus he would succumb to his injuries. Instead he sat oddly stoic, watching the fight without a word. He was glad Jaakuna survived, but he was given a beating.

It was clear that neither Shin nor Jaakuna could possibly go on. Thankfully Fujitora was in good condition and was able to finish the mission. [i][color=orange]Were we really needed? The jounin commander probably could've done this entire thing himself, judging by looks,[/color][/i] Shin wondered, keeping his question to himself rather than directly asking the man. The team began to leave, notably with less enthusiasm than when they arrived. It was at the exit that Fujitora gave them a choice. To go to the hospital or continue with him. [i][color=orange]Hospital sounds oddly nice right now, but...[/color][/i]

[b][color=orange]"I'm good to keep going, sir,"[/color][/b] Shin finally spoke, wincing in pain slightly but attempting to mask it with a grin. He was able to stand on his own, after all. Surely he could keep going. [b][color=orange]"Hospitals are for the sick and dying. I'm neither."[/color][/b] With his resolve established, Shin looked to his teammates and gave them a thumbs up too. For appearances, Shin did seem surprisingly well for how devastated his body had been. But it took all his energy not to simply lay down and succumb to the pain. As they traveled to the meeting point, Shin was notably slower than his usual self. He did the best he could to keep up, but with the pain he was in along with his overall exhaustion he simply couldn't match his prime self.

Once Team Fujitora arrived at the bridge, Shin took a moment to catch his breath behind Fujitora. It was only after the jounin commander made a joke about a hole did Shin look up. [i][color=orange]That's not funny,[/color][/i] Shin thought, still keeping a straight face. [i][color=orange]That's not funny at all. That hurt like hell. Still does.[/color][/i] With a grunt of effort he stood upright to his full height, taking a moment to look around and see who had "made it." He didn't expect anyone to die or anything, but this was supposed to be a large meetup from all the teams. It became obvious that Team Fujitora had the hardest time, judging by the relative lack of injuries across the others.

Then Shin began identifying the girls that were present. Sentou was here, which was always nice. Shin wasn't too familiar with Rin, and she was too young and flat to evoke any real reaction out of him. But then he saw that Tsukiko Umene was talking with Ayame Choko. Suddenly the pain in his chest had elevated and a goofy grin came over his face. [b][color=orange]"Tsukiko-sama!"[/color][/b] he called out, rushing forward with his arms outstretched to give her a hug. [b][color=orange]"It's been so lo-"[/color][/b]

The older woman turned around and, without skipping a beat, brought her left boot across and into Shin's face, interrupting him mid-glomp and sending him onto his back several meters away. [b][color=moccasin]"Don't fucking touch me,"[/color][/b] she said simply, before bringing her attention back to the adults. Shin remained on the ground, unmoving. The pain he felt before had returned, along with the new pain on his face. [b][color=orange]"As expected..."[/color][/b]