He could feel a tension in the air now. It was almost palpable and one might wonder if there was usually this much discomfort between the siblings. Their personalities were so polar opposite it was a surprise that they got along at all. She was so wild in her nature that it was like a roaring hurricane smashing through anything in her path and she was good at it too. Far be it for some fool to challenge her pride. Julius on the other hand was a gentle summer breeze. Comforting and calm even when things got heated. He was a collected individual that saw the calculations in everything and prided himself in out thinking his would be enemies. He didn't seek confrontation but was ready for it if it came. What an odd pair they were in the back of a cart sitting in silence. What people failed to realize was they suited each other well. Picking up where the other dropped off. He was her anchor keeping her safe in harbor when she needed it but she was his sails, taking him out into the world when he could not do so himself. An Anchor never moved on its own and sails could run adrift without something to hold them safe. For now Kumo just happened to be their ship. Still he blinked in surprise and sat up as suddenly she giggled and hugged him around the shoulders. He could sense her anxiety about him being unhappy with her and didn't want her to mellow in it for too long. So he listened as she spoke.

“How about this Julius? We go get something to eat, and then we spend the day finding you some new books? It’s been so long since we’ve been in a place where we could find some new ones. I bet they’ve got some damn awesome ones here, books we probably couldn’t find anywhere else I bet. Oh, and then we can find a nice shady tree to sit under and have a picnic and you can read and I can throw rocks at stuff or something. And I promise not to even interrupt you too often.”

Julius would smile a little at her attempt to comfort him as the cart carried them uphill now at a rate that might almost be uncomfortable but still easy enough to keep their balance. She would jostle his hair with her hand and he would take his own hand to brush away her wrist with a smile. Straightening his own hair and even picking one of his hairs off the shoulder of his coat. It was a tempting proposal truly but he was eager to please her as well. The day he had planned was quickly becoming obvious as they rounded a bend and the resort came into sight. A separate area from the village itself the resort was built around pair of great waterfalls that crashed down to the valley below. There were dozens of shops and a motel and even a Ferris wheel towering to the side. He was open to buying books but this day was for the both of them. The farmer would sigh happily at the sight of the destination and Julius would feel the air becoming more comfortable. Even the temperature was cooler near the falls. Summer was great and all but it was warm. Still he would speak up in return to her comment and indicate with his hand the resort.

"I assure you Cleo, there will be plenty for both of us to do. While a meal is first on the agenda I intend to browse a couple of shops with you. I was also hoping you might enjoy a ride on that large wheel with me. I know you don't fear heights. They say the view from the top of it over the valley below lets you see all the way to the village from here."

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Cleo heard the sigh of the farmer at the front of the cart and would turn her head briefly to glance at him. What she saw made her eyes widen and she would turn full around, getting on her knees and leaning as far out of the cart as she reasonably could without falling. Up ahead were two large waterfalls roaring their way down the mountain, and a large resort area laid out at the base of the natural wonder. She could see the brightly colored shops and the shapes of people strolling about, but the thing that caught her eye was the Ferris wheel. Spinning slowly and flashing brightly in the sun it was tall and looked thoroughly dangerous.

"I assure you Cleo, there will be plenty for both of us to do. While a meal is first on the agenda I intend to browse a couple of shops with you. I was also hoping you might enjoy a ride on that large wheel with me. I know you don't fear heights. They say the view from the top of it over the valley below lets you see all the way to the village from here."


Cleo would squeal her excitement in an unintelligible noise that vaguely resembled that of a diving hawk. Her brother knew her all too well, of course she would want to go on the Ferris wheel. She wasn’t afraid of heights, or anything else for that matter, and a happy grin spread across her face as she turned back to face Julius. One thing an archer loved was a high vantage point, and she couldn’t see a higher one anywhere around. She wondered how many people she could manage to shoot with her bow before anyone could get to her, or even notice where they were being shot from. Still holding on to the side of the cart, precariously balanced to get a better view of the resort in the distance, she spoke excitedly to her brother.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you think of everything? Because you do, I guess that’s why you’re the brains huh? Yes I most definitely want to go on that wheel, do you think they’d let me try to climb around on it? Can you just imagine all the people you could see from up there? I bet they look like tiny bugs from the very top. But first food, I am starving and would literally kill for a good meal right now.”

Thinking about food had made her stomach growl loudly and now she was quite uncomfortable, her insides angrily reminding her that it was time to eat. It was not very far away, the promise of a filling meal, but it seemed the closer they got the more insistent her hunger became, and the more antsy she became. With a distressed sigh she would slump down onto the seat again and turn to her brother with an overly dramatic whine in her voice. “I think I’m going to die, if I don’t eat right now, I’ll just keel over and fade away from the land of the living. How much longer is it going to be? I’m too young to die like this you know.”

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He would watch her turn and notice where they were going finally. The sheer joy in the way she twisted and leaned over the side of the cart as if to get a closer look made him snap his hand out and grab her belt to keep her from falling out. He would sigh almost in a sound of a mixture and frustrated relief that she didn't just tumble off the side of the mountain. She was excitable but he was sure she wouldn't adapt well to falling off a mountain. They simply were not ready for base jumping yet. Not that he would ever be. He for one was not about to lean over the edge and look down at what awaited at the edge of the road. Sheer cliffs he was sure. Bouncing down the side of a rock wall simply didn't seem fun to him. Of course he could picture her simply firing an arrow tied to a long rope down to the base and using her belt to slide down it. Sure they would get home faster but he would throw up he had no doubt about that. Heights just simply weren't his thing. Still as she took in the ferris wheel she would squeal out her excitement in a nearly unintelligible sound. The driver would rub one of his fingers in his ear as they began to cross a large bridge with water misting across it. Finally she would speak up and compliment him as he smiled softly.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you think of everything? Because you do, I guess that’s why you’re the brains huh? Yes I most definitely want to go on that wheel, do you think they’d let me try to climb around on it? Can you just imagine all the people you could see from up there? I bet they look like tiny bugs from the very top. But first food, I am starving and would literally kill for a good meal right now.”

He could hear her stomach growling as she finally returned to the cart. The cart itself was slowing after the bridge. Coming to a stop outside the crowds. The farmer would grunt at them before nodding to Julius. The kind of nod that suggested that the kid knew what time they were leaving and he was on his own if he was late. Julius would slide from his seat as some music started within the square and people began to dance to it. Nothing soft or gentle. It was bordering on techno rave music and lights were flashing. Still they were far enough away to easily speak over it. Hence why he heard his sister speak as he helped her out of the cart. “I think I’m going to die, if I don’t eat right now, I’ll just keel over and fade away from the land of the living. How much longer is it going to be? I’m too young to die like this you know.” He would smile and pat her on the back before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. There were so many different smells in the area. Water filling the air, different perfumes, lack of deodorant here and there. However to the right something caught his attention. Causing his head to jerk slightly towards it as he took another breath in through his nose. His right hand would lift to point to the right in the direction of the Ferris wheel. His eyes opening as they looked in the direction of his hand.

"I picked up traces of some ginger fried duck that way. Shall we?"

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Cleo perked up at the idea of ginger fried duck, she wasn’t actually in any danger of dying of course. As usual she was being melodramatic, and as usual Julius was happy to indulge her acting out. Well, maybe not happy, but at least he tolerated it. She smiled happily up at him and slid her arm through the crook of his elbow in an attempt to drag him along faster towards the sweet smell of food. Assuming Julius didn’t object she would walk along with him through the crowd, glaring at anyone who dared stand in their way until they moved. Which they always did. She may be small, but she had an evil glare when she needed it. And a penchant for lighting people on fire. It was almost her favorite thing, next to filling them with arrows. Thinking about causing mayhem caused a grin on her face to appear, and a fire to light in her eyes. She hoped, So. Very. Much. that someone would cross her or her brother so that she got the opportunity to lay waste to a miscreant today. It would pretty much make the day perfect.

The closer they went towards the Ferris Wheel the stronger the smell of food became, so much so that even she could pick it out now. Tugging more insistently on Julius’ arm she would practically run towards the food stall that seemed to be giving off the delightful aroma that her brother had first noticed. She would push her way through the line that was leading up to the brightly painted food stall, and excitedly call out to the person behind the counter.

“Ginger fried duck, you have some, and I want it. It smells delicious by the way. Oh and he’ll pay.” She motioned backwards at her brother with a closed fist and a thumb, and a sly grin crossed her face as she turned to look at him. Of course he was paying, she wasn’t exactly known for being the person that carried the money. If she did have all the money, then more than likely she would own a metric f*ck-ton of weaponry. Once she actually got some food into her and stopped feeling so murderous she thought it might be a good idea to look around at any weapon stalls. If there were any. She wasn’t sure that this was the venue where sharp things were going to be available, but then again she’d found stranger things in stranger places. As the man standing in the stall handed over two small paper boxes of steamed rice and savory duck she would turn to Julius and voice her thoughts. “Do you think we might find some weapons here? Or maybe a knife throwing booth? I was thinking I really wanted to stab something.” She would follow up her morbid questions with a charismatic smile.

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Julius would allow himself to be pulled by the arm for a time at the mention of food. They had been surviving off of what was easily stored in their ship for some time. Oatmeal and vegetables from the surrounding area. Rice mixed with herbs and at times the things that Cleo herself had hunted when she really wanted meat. It was certainly an affordable way to live. However not the tastiest. It was in all honesty about due time that he treated her to something. Her fascinating energy over such a simple dish amused him anyway. A thin smile played upon his lips as he was dragged with no ceremony through the crowd. Many just assumed them a couple and thought it cute. Though a couple scoffed and appeared to want to interfere with their fun. With a sigh Julius would eye them. They were behind them and closing in. Perhaps just punks looking to cause trouble but he couldn't chance that. If his sister got wind they were threatened she would light up the whole street. It certainly wouldn't do their vacation any good. He would need to deal with it rather quietly. Luckily he was good at doing so with minimal damage.

With his hands behind his back he was careful to move slowly so as not to alarm his sister to his plans. As subtle as he was she wasn't about take a challenger lightly. So long as she didn't know there was one violence so open in the streets would be avoided. Still once his hand signs finished he would idly drop the little green ball in his hand behind them before being pulled further into the crowd. It would bounce twice before one of the two would step on it and activate the capture field. There would be a yelp and Julius would smile all the more as the crowd quickly gathered around the barrier to look at the two caught within. Thinking it another show and rapidly blocking it from view. However Julius had a new issue. He was now being uncomfortably jostled around as he was pulled through a line of people waiting to order food. His sister of course forcing them to the front of the line. She made her order like a commander making a statement. Which drew attention but to the people taking the order it was just business. Regardless of the disgruntled lot around them.

Julius would sigh and collect his wallet within his inner coat pocket. Picking out exact change before paying the fee. Keeping their wallets interior hidden from view. Once it was paid he would quietly but quickly seal the wallet within his inner coat again. His gaze shifting back towards the barrier as he would release it. They had to realize they had been pursuing jutsu users. If not they had been significantly distracted from following their target. Still as the boxes were handed out Cleo had collected them both and handed one to him. Inquiring about weapon stalls in the area. He would raise an eyebrow before sighing and returning a smile. His fork pushing into the little box and collecting a bite of duck as he savored the flavor. Finally something he didn't need to cook. Still her question was hanging in the air as he collected himself and swallowed.

"We can go and peruse if you wish but we are not here to purchase equipment. This is a relaxation day. Eat your food my dear. They won't allow us to take it up onto the Ferris wheel and I would like to visit that first."

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