[h3]Divine Mission aftermath[/h3] Ft. Sakura and Amateratsu Words: 3825 (+4) (+4 rapport) Amaterasu had been expecting a little pool up in the hills or something along those lines when it came to the hotsprings they’d been directed too. In hindsight, however, the mayor had meant it when he’d told them ‘you can’t miss it’ [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWrUQDSMH4A][img]https://i.imgur.com/08qW7O4.png[/img][/url] (click for music)[/center] Now, naturally, they had missed it when coming to the town, but that was because it was a little ways further on, nestled into the bamboo forests out of which the turtles had emerged. Speaking of said turtles, once they’d gotten out of the village, Amaterasu had revealed she’d been steadily gobbling up every one she bumped into during the fight, and had promptly disgorged them from her inventory for usage. [hider=items get] [url=https://i.imgur.com/1UnAtWR.png]Terrarian Turtle Shell[/url](X3): A hardy material useful for crafting high end armour, such as the Turtle armour set (if combined with Chlorophyte Bars forged from jungle ore). [url=https://i.imgur.com/ep1duLd.png]Seaweed[/url]: a pretty normal looking piece of seaweed that interestingly never decays or goes off. It can be used to gain the Pet Turtle buff, causing a small [url=https://i.imgur.com/S82kdkJ.png]tortoise[/url] to follow the summoner around and look cute while doing so. If the buffed target gets too far from the tortoise, it will deploy a propeller backpack to fly to their side at speed. The tortoise is immune from harm, but can also only be interacted with to do pet things (like feeding and petting). Also his name is Tank. [url=https://i.imgur.com/NgaBOO6.png]Pickled Turtle Neck[/url] x3: Turtle neck meat, pickled in a bitter medicinal solution. The nutrients churn through the body, practically boiling out endless power, granting 22.2% increased stamina recovery for a whole minute. [url=https://i.imgur.com/ldgA49J.png]Strips of White Flesh[/url] x10: Thin strips of flesh taken from a bloodless creature. The dried meat is known for its long-lasting effect when used in combination with medical solutions, such as toughening the constitution or boosting resistance. However it can also simply be used in mundane cooking. [url=https://i.imgur.com/GmTquoQ.png]Turtle Shell Shield[/url]: an ineffectual melee weapon, decent shield, handy rain catcher and unlikely sled. [/hider] Sakura blinked. [color=f49ac2]”I didn’t know you stored things like that, Amaterasu-sama.”[/color] The wolf looked pretty smug as she restored their loot. With that out of the way, it was time to relax, and so into the hot spring establishment they went. Within, they found a high-spirited [url=https://i.imgur.com/FupuXi3.png]were-animal[/url] man who as soon as he saw the Sakura exclaimed sympathetically how “Oh wow, you look like you’ve been through it today” before glancing down at Amaterasu and adding “oh and your doggie too. Hello” before giving her a wave. The wolf gave him a flat unimpressed look, which apparently the were-animal was able to read pretty well, apologizing “Oh. Sorry. Serious dog. Forget I said anything.” She accepted said apology with good graces, namely by dropping the look of disdain that had been building on her features, prompting him to give a little sigh of relief. Then he went “oh right!” and stood up straight to actually do his job. “Welcome, welcome to the Blue Moon bathhouse! I’m Murakumo, and I’m here tol do everything in my power to make you happy!” he declared jovial, hands spread wide, before a cough resounded from one the doors in the room, causing him to duck his ears in a bit of embarrassment as he added “for a reasonable fee of course” The source of the cough, one rather stern looking [url=https://i.imgur.com/IjsEpJ2.png]woman[/url] gave him a nod, after which her features softened a bit as she saw the ruffed up state of the pair. “Trouble on the road? It's a long way to walk from Esaka while ruffed up” she asked, only for the man to lean over the counter and excitedly guess “oh, or did you just finish helping out the villagers? I can smell the fields on you and, hmmm, is that hint of tortoise meat as well?” which the divine wolf found rather impressive. Sakura, on the other hand, found it a little weird and embarrassing. She lifted one side of her jacket and put her nose to it. All she could smell was, like, the sun. She put her hands behind her back and bowed a bit. [color=f49ac2]”Um, yes, we did. There were some giant monster tortoises that we had to destroy.”[/color] She explained. [color=f49ac2]”Is there, like, uh, laundry here, too?”[/color] She asked. [color=f49ac2]”It’s my clothes that fell in the dirt, mostly.”[/color] She said. “Of course of course, and for the hero of Flowerbud Village-” Murakumo began to say, before pausing and glancing over to the stern women. She in turn sighed, and said “this one time I suppose” allowing the were-animal to finish his special offer, namely that it was “-it’s on the house!” Sakura let out a little sigh of relief. To be honest, she had kind of assumed that was a given, but felt it was too late to back out now if they decided to charge them. And by them, it was really Sakura, because she had no idea how much money a wolf kept on her! He then promptly rushed off to fetch her a gown to change into, leaving the woman to step into place to crew the desk, and to introduce herself as “Shino” She then promptly slid a menu of prices over, while also pointing out a recommendation "While you wait for your clothes to be laundered, I’d recommend a half hour dip in the spring, followed by this massage for fighters like yourself. Keep the muscles limber without leaving them too soft that you can’t go right back at it tomorrow, be it in a tournament or not” She then glanced down at Amaterasu for a moment and then said to Sakura “Murakumo also does an excellent fur treatment regime, if your… companion is interested" which the divine wolf indicated she was with a monotone bark. [color=f49ac2]”Um, she is, Shino-san. Her name is Amaterasu-sama, by the way.”[/color] Sakura said. She tapped her two fingers together, having really never done anything like this before. Standing around, awkward. [color=f49ac2]”Have you done anything like this before?”[/color] She asked the wolf in a hushed tone, even though Shino was looking right at them. The divine wolf barked again, but was unfortunately unable to talk about her time helping out at/enjoying the Sasa Sanctuary, a hotspring for the pure of heart run by the Sparrow Clan (who were giant sparrows). Shino visibility winced at the notion, and then, with a slightly sympathetic tone saying “Speaking from experience, a massage kind of treatment is excellent for fighters” pausing for a moment, and the offering “and as a special offer for your first experience, and for your hard work in the Flowerbud Village, I’ll let you try it out for free, and if you don’t like it, there's no loss on your part” This prompted a gasp from Murakumo who’d just re-entered the room, followed by an “ah, oh no, wait, got it!” as he juggled with and then caught a fluffy white bathrobe he’d brought for her to wear while her clothes were washed. Once he had recovered, she gave him a glare that said “not a word”, before turning back to Sakura and asking “so, how about it?” Endeared, the street fighter smiled. Then shrugged. [color=f49ac2]”What’s the worst that could happen?”[/color] She took a hold of the white robe. Caught off guard by its fluffyness, she put her face into it and shook her head around. [color=f49ac2]”These are pretty soft.”[/color] She complimented, voice muffled. [color=f49ac2]”Amaterasu-sama, do you want- well. I guess they don’t make one for wolves. Would you even be able to feel fluffy? You’re kind of fluffy yourself.”[/color] Sakura then pinched her own cheek. (truly, there was no robe that could beat her fluffyness, it was true) [color=f49ac2]”I’m not fluffy. I’m…what, smooth? Hairy? Squishy?”[/color] Blinking, Sakura looked around. [color=f49ac2]”Uh. Anyway. Where can I change?”[/color] “Right this way!” Murakumo told her, waving her to follow him through the door he’d been in and out of, before leading them through to the back. Back there there were changing rooms, a hamper for Sakura’s dirty clothes, and showers with which to rinse themselves before they got into the hotspring proper. [color=f49ac2]”Be very careful with that headband, please!”[/color] Sakura urged them after she managed to reluctantly take it off. Said spring meanwhile could be found just beyond the changing rooms, and up a short flight of stairs. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/oFgugKQ.jpeg[/img][/center] “Oh and don’t mind Ukee, he’s very friendly!” came a call as the two got ready, once again raising the question of who that was. As it turned out, Ukee was a very small [url=https://i.imgur.com/SWJ9uWr.png]monkey[/url] who was presently chilling on the central rock, to which an appropriately sized ship with small -[url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/b__/images/8/87/BTD6_Monkey_Buccaneer.png]cannons[/url] was moored. He seemed sort of nervous at the sight of the big (freshly rinsed) divine wolf strutting on in to his domain, but Amaterasu would not let that stand, and made herself as unintimidating as possible on approach, before casually slipping into the warm waters. She carefully approached, and then offered Ukee one of the more intact leaves off of a cabbage that had ended up in her inventory via midair collision during the tortoise fight, which the monkey happily accepted and began to munch on. Tribute to the master of the hot springs given, the wolf settled in to enjoy them. [color=f49ac2]”Oooh! [i]Ukee![/i]”[/color] Sakura’s eyes lit up with recognition. [color=f49ac2]”Of course!”[/color] Sakura lowered herself into the water, and her train of thought was briefly derailed. She sunk so low it was just her eyes and her hair visible. Eventually she rose up a little more to breathe again. [color=f49ac2][i]”Maaaah,[/i] that’s pretty nice, huh?”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”It’s like a hot bath but…well, okay, it’s a lot like a hot bath. But I didn’t have to do it myself. So that’s nice.”[/color] She cupped some water in her hands and splashed it over herself. [color=f49ac2]”And most, importantly, it was completely free!”[/color] Sakura raised a hand to high five the wolf. [color=f49ac2][i]”Banzai!”[/i][/color] The wolf, presently neck deep in the water, looked up at this, then down at Sakura, then up at the hand before raising a paw and giving her a rather wet high four. Settling back into her spot with a grin, she glanced at the monkey. [color=f49ac2]”Ukee, what are you doing here? Does Terry-san know you’re here?”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”He must. This is a good place for a monkey.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”I’m pretty sure that’s Terry-san’s monkey, Amaterasu-sama.”[/color] She pointed a thumb at the monkey, looking at the wolf, who tilted her head and then glanced up at Ukee before tilting it the other way. [color=f49ac2]”I always meant to ask him what it’s like to have a pet monkey. I’ve only ever had a pet dog. He’s a good dog, though. He likes to sleep. So when we went out on walks my brother always said the dog was walking me.”[/color] She explained with a smile. With Amatarasu’s tail buried in the hot water it was hard to tell if she was amused or not. After a conversation that mostly involved her speaking and, if she was lucky, the occasional bark or monkey noise, Sakura shut up for a while. [color=f49ac2]”...Man, I wish I could talk to animals.”[/color] The wolf opened one eye, propped her head onto the side of the bath and settled into a half doze. A moment passed, and then four streams of water leapt out of the bath in turn, each one forming one word of joint up calligraphy that hung there for about 2 seconds, with which the divine wolf wrote: “It rather inconvenient yes” in the air. Sakura made an unimpressed face and glanced over at the divine wolf. [color=f49ac2]”Like you’d be so talkative.”[/color] The wolf simply rolled her eye and wrote the word “relax” in the air before closing her eye again. Sakura lowered herself into the water once more. [color=f49ac2]”That, I can do.”[/color] Soon, the clothes were laundered and it was time for a message. [color=f49ac2]”I feel like the techniques for a wolf message gotta be different for the techniques of a human message. Do you have wolf massagers here, Shino-san? ”[/color] Sakura asked. “Groomings are somewhat like a massage, so in a sense, yes” Shino replied as she got everything ready. Places like this had always been too rich for the Kasugano family’s blood. Being ‘waited on’ was an unusual luxury that didn’t fit her personality. [color=f49ac2]”I, uh, guess I’m ready if you are.”[/color] She said. “Given how you've never had one of these before, it may hurt just a little at times. But if it's too much, please, just let me know and we can stop" the woman informed her, before cracking her knuckles and declaring “now then, let’s get to work” Sakura blinked. About half an hour later, Amatatsu, her coat luxurious in its sheen, perfectly brushed, and smelling of peach blossoms, padded out of the room with her snout high and proud and her tail softly wagging behind her. She paused beyond the threshold before glancing back to check back on Sakura. The street fighter had changed back into her eye catching street wear, and walked out of the room more than a little sore. [color=f49ac2]”I feel all droopy, Amaterasu-sama.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”Still, by tomorrow morning, I should be ready to go. But you look like you should be trotting around a palace, not getting into scraps.”[/color] Sakura smiled. “You’ll both also be performing before an audience" Shino pointed out from the front desk she’d taken over while Murakumo tidied up the back. With her was a familiar looking gentleman, namely the mayor of Flowerbud Village, who gave them a cheerful wave and he “hellloooo” Sakura waved back. “The mayor was just telling me all about your escapades” Shino informed them, before saying that “I can only imagine you’ll go far tomorrow" [color=f49ac2]”I’ll do my best.”[/color] Sakura said. On an anachronistic laptop sitting on the counter, the pair could see the brackets of the tournament tomorrow displayed. It seemed the locals had taken interest in what they’d be up to tomorrow. The Mayor confirmed this when he said “Oh yes! Quite the pair! We’ll be keeping an ear on the radio for your performance, that is for certain” “For tonight however, we still owe you a hero’s feast! Not to mention that care package for those friends of yours” he then said, before glancing at Shino and saying “you’re more than welcome to join us for the feast mam, we do owe you both a fair few freebies. It's the least we can do” “I couldnt… but do take Murakumo with you, I can cover any evening visitors we have” she replied, to which he gave a nod, and then tuned back to the pair of seekers to which he said “Now then, I hope you two are hungry, because we’ve pulled out all the stops!” which had Amaterasu eagerly wagging her tail. Sakura was touched that she and Amaterasu made some new fans. [color=f49ac2]”We sure are! Thank you so much for your hospitality. Flowerbud Village really is an amazing place.”[/color] Sakura grinned sheepishly as she bowed, her cheeks a light shade of rosy red. “Why thank you kindly” the mayor replied, briefly removing his hat and giving a little bow of thanks, before popping it right back on and saying “now then, lets see if we can live up to your high praise shall we!” The villagers provided the raw ingredients to make food, packed up in a wooden crate. Lots of lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetable products. The basis of lots of great meals, combined together with the right spices and ingredients. Hopefully it would do. [color=f49ac2]”Hey, watch this!”[/color] Sakura called out to the villagers. Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out the Fulton and secured it to the crate. With a button press she scampered away. The balloon popped out, and slowly lifted the crate off the ground. Just long enough that Sakura hoped she did it right. Then, at astounding speed, it zipped away! [color=f49ac2]”Nice! Pretty cool, right? That’ll go a long way, I hope.”[/color] A little while later, and the duo were sat down pride of place at an improvised feast hall, which had definitely been a barn at some point, but which was now sporting a long table made out of smaller tables grouped together. Villagers tottered in from their homes over the next few, bringing a cavalcade of different dishes of freshly harvested food onto the table that they’d prepared at home, producing an overwhelming aroma of deliciousness. They really had pulled out all the stops, but then, the villagers themselves had been living off of rations since the tortoises took their fields, and so the oversized potluck was as much for them as it was for the heroes of the hour. Still, that didn’t mean that the pair weren't the stars of the show, which meant that the mayor had to shoo off a whole lot of wellwishers with promises that there’d be time for that after they’d all gotten to eat. Once they were all set up and ready to go, the man declared that they should give “three cheers for the heroes of the day!” to which the town responded with a “hip hip hooray hooray hooray!” Sat upon a raised bench so she could eat at the table Amaterasu happily basked in this praise, while beside her Sakura sank a bit into her seat, waving to the adoring populace with a smile. The subsequent call of “now then! Let’s eat and be merry!” got its own way less organized cheer too, before the hungry villagers got stuck into their meals with great gusto. Jubilant, Sakura smacked her hands together. This was something she could get behind! [color=f49ac2][i]”Itadakimaaaasu!”[/i][/color] She exclaimed, before joining the villagers in tearing through her meal. [color=f49ac2]”Mmh! Mm, mm! The farms must be protected! At all costs!”[/color] She declared not long after starting. On this, Amatarasu happily barked in agreement, eagerly chowing down, but not so quickly as to risk messing up her fur-do. Between the trip out, the duking it out, and then hotspring and feast, things started running late. Especially the feast, because the farmers were more than happy to keep that going as long as they could, especially once they were past the initial rush and conversation could start. Sakura got plenty of questions about her travels, prowess, and so on, and got challenged to at least one arm wrestling contest to boot (though fortunately no actual fights). As time went on, a crowd of strangers became a group of friends. Sakura wasn’t shy anymore. Indeed, by the time they were all longing around stuffed to the brim, the sun was down and the moon was up. Thus, while between the carpackage of food that had been sent to the avenger before the feast and the feast itself, the pair had technically received their payment (and more) they were also offered a guest room to stay overnight in, plus breakfast and a lift to town early in the morning with the village’s first delivery to market. [color=f49ac2]”It really is too much…”[/color] But Sakura considered walking back to Esaka at night, and also the fact that because they didn’t have any money, they still technically didn’t have a place to stay! Unless they borrowed some of Nadia’s money but Sakura wasn’t really paying attention at the time. [color=f49ac2]”And yet, I can’t turn down such a generous offer!”[/color] She admitted with a laugh, rubbing the back of her head. Amaterasu was also more than happy to accept their generosity given that she too was flat broke. Of course, so too were the farmers, more or less, hence the whole arrangement. Really the only person in the village at the moment with liquid capital was Murakumo and that was only because the villagers kept refusing his attempts to give them his money to help them out. Soon enough, then, the pair had been shuffled into a spare guest room where Sakura got the bed and Amaterasu a lovely nest of pillows and blankets. Sakura flopped onto her bed. What a day! She’d been dropped from the Avenger, battle Yokai in the outskirts, gotten into a 2v2 and then a 1v1, and then smashed some monster turtles and spent the rest of the day relaxing and eating. There was a lot of fighting to do tomorrow, and Sakura was giddy just looking forward to it all. Laying in bed, she tapped her ear piece. [color=f49ac2]”Uh, Sakura coming in. Amaterasu-sama and I are spending the night in Flowerbud Village! We’ll be in when the morning comes. We also used the Fulton balloons on some veggies to send up to the Avenger. Anyway, goodnight, I guess! Sakura out.”[/color] She said. Then she lay on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. [color=f49ac2]”That was a lot of fun, huh?”[/color] She said. Sakura rubbed her eyes and kicked off her shoes. [color=f49ac2]”One good thing about being a Seeker is I don’t have to study anymore, so I can finally get to sleep on time instead of squeezing in all my training at night. Or…skipping. Haha.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”...Well, goodnight, Amaterasu-san.”[/color] She said. Without thinking much of it, she stopped addressing the divine wolf so formally after the day they shared together. The wolf responded by writing “pleasant dreams sakura-san” using the fire of the little candle lighting the room, before blowing it out with a tiny gust of wind.