Herb Gathering D-Rank:

Jamie was happy being with his new family, even though it seemed like he got Shippo in trouble sometimes. Like that time they both went for the same piece of meat and Shippo's mother glared him off it. However Jamie was bothered sometimes as he was still rather quiet, a bit too scared to cause trouble for Shippo and at times was really well behaved helping with dishes and chores around the house. While other times he would just sleep in the middle of the floor or outside on the grass only to be taken back inside.

Apparently Ashi noticed that Jamie liked collecting herbs and decided that it would be a good way for Jamie and Shippo to get along better so she signed them both up for it herself and packed in a small lunch for Jamie and something for Shippo as well and told them to go and do a mission together. Missions were serious, but so was family as Jamie went on a bit ahead his hair blowing through the wind as he still did not smile. Something he found hard to do at times and being alone on this mission with Shippo he hoped he would be able to get to know him better as he got the Herb List from the hospital earlier to save some time as they finally reached the Southern Forest to begin their first mission together.

"Shippo?" as he turned to look back to someone who was like a brother to him, he would wave for him to get over there but he would soon feel embarrassed blushing as he looked away again turning his small back towards Shippo. He felt safe knowing that Shippo and Tsume were watching his back.

(292)

So now Shippo had a younger brother. This Jamie kid he had met entirely by happenstance was proving to be as good a brother as Shippo could ask for. Of course, it was a huge adjustment as well. Because now Shippo was starting to learn about sharing, and not being an only child anymore. So, in certain instances his mother would have to remind him very sternly that he had to consider the new addition to the family. Shippo didn’t mind of course, at least not as much as he should’ve or would’ve had he not been the one to invite Jamie to come and live with him. It was also nice to have someone who could help with the chores and the day to day of life.

Then came the day that Shippo’s mother signed them both up to go out and do a mission together. Shippo didn’t mind this in the slightest however, and was happy to go out on a mission like this with his new brother. As they arrived in the southern forest Tsume and Shippo were holding back, only just now coming up when Jamie waved to them. The way he waved and then got embarrassed was adorable. He came up behind Jamie and pat his head gently “Hey Jamie, sorry about the lagging behind. The wounds to my legs are still giving me trouble.” He said as way of apology.

Tsume was moving ahead of them sniffing around and trying to scout ahead for any kind of scent that he could pick up. After all most of the herbs that they would need had familiar scents, and Shippo had taken great pains to make sure that both he and Tsume were familiar with most every kind of herb scent. They needed to use their nose often, so it would be a waste not to put these skills to use.

WC: 320

Jamie had still not gotten used to how Shippo was so fast even with his injury as he felt the hand on his head. He blushed a bit while looking down to the side and noticed Tsume move passed him as he looked forward pouting slightly as he did not want to look at Shippo directly. Everyone understood that Jamie just was not used to family and while he had an old lady who looked after him, there was a sad truth that none of them could touch on.

Jamie always felt it was cool how Tsume could sniff out things, though he always found it weird when their mom would do it, he usually called her Ashi even though she did try to get him to say mom which he would on rare occasions as the word did not make too much sense to him yet. As they walked for a bit Jamie started slowing down as Tsume may have already noticed that one of the herbs was in this location as there were a lot of flowers in the seven colors of the rainbow, which was wear the clear flower usually bloomed as a herb that helped with reflecting light and was good as a sun screening herb.

The problem though was that it shared a similar scent and would require a really good nose to find it among all the smells that surrounded them. Jamie just squinted his eyes a bit then opened them to focus more and could not figure out where they were. "Shi..., can you find it?" as he took out the picture from the list so he would get another good look at the herb. He often shortened Shippo's name out of habit, though sometimes he would say Shippo when he was upset.

(301)
[593]

Shippo noticed that Jamie seemed to look away from him, and was not sure why. Tsume was much the same sniffing around and looking for the scent that they were locating. Shippo smiled as he looked at Jamie and recalled such a time when his mother was using her nose to find something and Jamie just stared at her with a look of shock on his face. It was something that was not normal to those who didn’t know the Inuzuka and Shippo forgave his new little brother his little bit of shell shock. He had to admit that the little squirt was coming a long way since they had met in the hospital. This thought reminded Shippo that his wounds were still fairly serious, but healing up nicely. He only hoped they didn’t have to fight anything on this mission, he would be much slower than he normally was.

Tsume was moving through the field and he soon found the scent of something that was familiar. Giving a few yips to signal he moved over to it. Jamie seemed to have some trouble spotting it in the flora that they were in. When he asked Shippo looked at the picture of the herb in question and then walked over to where Tsume was standing. He shook his head and pat the little hound’s head who was now the size of a beagle and still growing “This isn’t it partner.” He looked around and then he smiled and walked over to the herb “However, this is.” Kneeling down he pulled out his kunai knife and was careful to take as much of the herb as was possible without damaging the base and roots of the plant.

When he had as much as he could get from this plant he packed it away in his pouch that he had brought along just for this job and then looked to Jamie smiling “See if you can find any other plants like this. I don’t think this will be enough, but we will have to find plenty of other herbs on the list.” He looked to Tsume and brought over a small cloth rubbing the pup’s nose gently and smiled “Focus on another scent partner. Scents overlap here.”

WC: 381/ 701

Jamie was inquisitive as he silently kept an eye on Shippo and Tsume watching how skillful these two seemed. While they were busy he had already found two of the other herbs on the list, the white grass herb that was just laying mixed among all the other flowers. There was also the dew flower which had little to no scent, but appeared like a drop of water on a blade of grass while actually being a kind of grassy moss. There were still other herbs on the list like the dagger grass which was sharp and required gloves or a cloth to handle. The problem with dagger grass was that it was often able to tear most clothes as well as Jamie got closer he stopped after feeling a sharp pain as he carefully stepped back, he was enduring the pain but his eyes were a bit watery as he got a light cut on his leg. "Shi... Tsu..." as he tried calling out to both of them that he found another herb. He actually had experience in finding herbs, but was lacking in other areas which is why he had trouble with higher than usual ranked missions. He had encountered one wild boar hunting mission as he knew very well what combat could be like, he wondered if he would ever be as strong as Shippo and Ashi.

Since he was a ronin before it took a while for them to give him a ranking as he had to do a small test just to show he had some of the basics down. Jamie did not even know that Shippo was also a genin yet as they never got around to discussing that as he only stood being a bit shaky as the blood ran down his leg. This was the second last of the herbs on the list and the final herb would be the solar tree herb that could be found high at the top of trees looking like a mini sunflower. The dagger grass gave Jamie some ideas, however he did not speak of them yet as he got influenced a lot by curiosity.

(359)
[952]

Shippo and Tsume were harvesting one of the few herbs that the pair of them actually knew when the scent of blood filled their noses. There are few scents that are stronger than blood especially to those who are trained to hunt it down, and those trained to use their nose. He frowned deeply whipping around with one of his Kunai in hand ready to attack. The pain he experienced from it was agony, but he kept crouched and on his feet ready to attack. When neither saw a threat they slowly rose to their feet and moved over towards where Jamie was standing in order to inspect him, and what had happened to him. That was when they noticed the dagger grass and Shippo smiled nodding his head “Ah, I see. You found the Dagger Grass. However, you didn’t have to go and get cut by it.” He said.

Meanwhile, Tsume ignored the words and instead he moved towards Jamie and carefully licked the wound that Jamie had obtained from the sharp herb. Shippo smiled and nodded his head “Good boy Tsume.” He said in approval to his little partner. He slowly and carefully sliced through the dagger grass with his kunai stabbing the pieces that fell so he could place them on a thick piece of wool. He brought this so that he could put this specific herb into the bag and take it home. He had been sent out to gather Dagger Grass before, and well knew how hard it was to transport if you were not prepared.

With this herb now placed in the wool, he wrapped it up carefully before wrapping a bit of twine around the bundle and putting it into his pouch smiling and nodding his head slowly “Be careful Jamie. Mom wouldn’t like to see you getting all scratched up.” Standing up he looked around for another herb just by sight. He did have some memories of herb gathering, but he didn’t enjoy Herb gathering on his own. He was enjoying doing it with Jamie however, it was nice to have someone going around with him.

WC: 357/1,058

Jamie nodded when Shippo told him to be careful and he felt a bit dejected and then looked up to the sky and noticed it from a distance as he pointed up to the tops of the trees as he wiped away the water from his eyes and then spoke a bit. "That's last one Shi, is it okay if you get it so long" as he took the herbs he collected and started heading in to the hospital to get a bandage and to hand in the herbs for reward. He would wait at the hospital until Shippo caught up or over took him as he felt like the herb gathering was more fun when not alone as well as he did not get so many injuries this time which was a huge plus. After Shippo got the final herb their family mission would be complete.

(148)
[1100]

750 (Mission)
+300 (Extra Pay 25[3] = 75)
1050 Words

Exit Thread

Shippo smiled widely as he nodded his head tucking the last herb into his own pack. Hearing the request Jamie looked up at him nodding his head slowly “Sure thing Jamie. I’ll meet you at the hospital.” He said a little hesitantly worried that he might’ve said something wrong, or hurt Jamie’s feelings in some way. He was not used to having a brother, and very, very unused to worrying about stepping on anyone’s feelings. When Jamie left he looked over to Tsume and sighed softly “Did I mess up?” Tsume looked at him and tilted his head right then left showing that he also didn’t know or understand what he was asking or what he saw. With a shrug, he stood up and rushed to the hospital turning in the herbs that were also part of the mission. Looking to Jamie he smiled and at him “Thank you for letting me tag along. I’m happy that I got to help you out.” He said in a way that would hopefully make Jamie happy. “Let’s go home.” He said moving off towards their home walking along with his brother.

WC: 196/ 1,254
{Exit Thread}
750 (Mission)
Training
Reaction Time: D2 – D3 WC: 450/450, 75 Ryo
Words: 504 -450 =54 words remaining
Ryo: 426 – 75= 351 Ryo remaining