It was Jinmei's first mission, and the nerves had set in that morning. The day started with the young cub raising from his dirty mattress, pulling back the dirty green tarp and revealing a levelled clearing in the middle of a dump, some of his family members were awake and cooking a meal of unknown origins. The boy's belly rumbled with excitement, or probably just hunger. He quickly got dressed into his rags, which were some of his best clothes, ran off past the circle of elders who waited patiently for the food to cook - some knitting, others passing the time by playing chess. "Jinmei, you need to eat first!" Called one of his fathers, stirring the bubbling pot that enticed the noses of all those who stood near.
"I can't," The scruffy cub called out, "I'm going to be late!" and he scooted off, climbing over a pile of junk, which gave him the height to jump over the tall wooden fence that separated the jump from the village. The chubby bunny landed with a thud, dust up-kicked into the air, beats of sweat dribbling down his forehead. But the mothers and father of Jinmei just gave each other a confused expression, "How does he know the time? He's going to be early." One said with a firm shake of her wrinkled head, her dried strands bouncing with each movement. The elders just laughed with a 'boys will be boys' type of expression.
Well over two hours later, Jinmei had seated himself outside of Mr. Shinbatsu's knitting shop with a scroll to confirm his student identity. He sat with his elbows against his knees caps, while his hands cupped his jaw and supported his frame from falling over. The pudgy faced boy sighed at how early he was, and was only reminded of this with every grumble caused by his stomach. Jinmei watched as the people past by, doing their own thing, going to their work, school, academy or wherever. He watched the parents with their children, the lovers with their spouses and idlers just idling. A smile of sympathy washed across his face, but not for himself, for his portion of food back home - which would be kept for him but the flies would probably nest their way into it long after it was off the boil.
Suddenly, the door clunked and clicked with activity. A gentle old man with a peculiarly long, white beard appeared and made himself known. "Are you the help? He enquired, the door only an inch of the way opened. Jinmei, arching his flabby body around, nodding his head before standing up with a pleasantry smile. "I'm Hajimeru Jinmei from the Academy." He would go on to state, passing over the scroll for Shinbatsu to take. The old man just looked at the dirty cub for a few moments, up and down, before narrowing his eyes and opening the door. He didn't read the scroll but instead left the boy to his own device.
"Bubbles is quite troublesome, she won't leave the knitwear alone and she's ruining my stock. You'll need to get her to calm down and bring her upstairs." Shinbatsu would then placed both hands behind his back, clasp his fingers together, and walk upstairs to his own accommodation until the task was finished. Jinmei looked around the shop, entranced and enthralled by the colours, fabrics and materials that lay around so carelessly. Some of his mothers would appreciate this stuff, maybe one day he'll buy some for them with his mission money, he would go on to think. The pudgy cub would shake his had, reaffirming his task and searching the shop floor for Bubbles. The cat was easy to find, its constant meowing was more than enough for even the most inexperienced of shinobi to hear (i.e. Jinmei).
Jinmei calmly approached the creature, hands up to show that he meant no harm, step-by-step getting closer to the ginger and white fur ball. Bubbles was positioned on one of the many shelves of the store, with a ball of yarn in its paws, playfully batting it around - yet with a hind of seriousness to its feline eyes. The cub would reach to touch the cat, but would only be clawed viciously. Jinmei would frown comically, pulling back his hand while now maintaining a safe distance from the creature.
The cub would soon come up with an eye though, something that was so simple, it made him wonder why Shinbatsu didn't do it himself. He would find the largest ball of yarn possible, untangle it loosely and drag the ribbon of material across the ground while making little noises to attract Bubbles' attention. Of course, this method worked and the cat dotingly followed the boy, prowling long the floor. It took at least twenty minutes for the cat to be lured upstairs, where Jinmei slammed the door shut and wiped his forehead. After a few moments of rest, Shinbatsu appeared to give the boy his payment and to be on his way, with a small tap on the head as a thank you for his effort.
Food. Use the money on food, he thought.
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"I can't," The scruffy cub called out, "I'm going to be late!" and he scooted off, climbing over a pile of junk, which gave him the height to jump over the tall wooden fence that separated the jump from the village. The chubby bunny landed with a thud, dust up-kicked into the air, beats of sweat dribbling down his forehead. But the mothers and father of Jinmei just gave each other a confused expression, "How does he know the time? He's going to be early." One said with a firm shake of her wrinkled head, her dried strands bouncing with each movement. The elders just laughed with a 'boys will be boys' type of expression.
Well over two hours later, Jinmei had seated himself outside of Mr. Shinbatsu's knitting shop with a scroll to confirm his student identity. He sat with his elbows against his knees caps, while his hands cupped his jaw and supported his frame from falling over. The pudgy faced boy sighed at how early he was, and was only reminded of this with every grumble caused by his stomach. Jinmei watched as the people past by, doing their own thing, going to their work, school, academy or wherever. He watched the parents with their children, the lovers with their spouses and idlers just idling. A smile of sympathy washed across his face, but not for himself, for his portion of food back home - which would be kept for him but the flies would probably nest their way into it long after it was off the boil.
Suddenly, the door clunked and clicked with activity. A gentle old man with a peculiarly long, white beard appeared and made himself known. "Are you the help? He enquired, the door only an inch of the way opened. Jinmei, arching his flabby body around, nodding his head before standing up with a pleasantry smile. "I'm Hajimeru Jinmei from the Academy." He would go on to state, passing over the scroll for Shinbatsu to take. The old man just looked at the dirty cub for a few moments, up and down, before narrowing his eyes and opening the door. He didn't read the scroll but instead left the boy to his own device.
"Bubbles is quite troublesome, she won't leave the knitwear alone and she's ruining my stock. You'll need to get her to calm down and bring her upstairs." Shinbatsu would then placed both hands behind his back, clasp his fingers together, and walk upstairs to his own accommodation until the task was finished. Jinmei looked around the shop, entranced and enthralled by the colours, fabrics and materials that lay around so carelessly. Some of his mothers would appreciate this stuff, maybe one day he'll buy some for them with his mission money, he would go on to think. The pudgy cub would shake his had, reaffirming his task and searching the shop floor for Bubbles. The cat was easy to find, its constant meowing was more than enough for even the most inexperienced of shinobi to hear (i.e. Jinmei).
Jinmei calmly approached the creature, hands up to show that he meant no harm, step-by-step getting closer to the ginger and white fur ball. Bubbles was positioned on one of the many shelves of the store, with a ball of yarn in its paws, playfully batting it around - yet with a hind of seriousness to its feline eyes. The cub would reach to touch the cat, but would only be clawed viciously. Jinmei would frown comically, pulling back his hand while now maintaining a safe distance from the creature.
The cub would soon come up with an eye though, something that was so simple, it made him wonder why Shinbatsu didn't do it himself. He would find the largest ball of yarn possible, untangle it loosely and drag the ribbon of material across the ground while making little noises to attract Bubbles' attention. Of course, this method worked and the cat dotingly followed the boy, prowling long the floor. It took at least twenty minutes for the cat to be lured upstairs, where Jinmei slammed the door shut and wiped his forehead. After a few moments of rest, Shinbatsu appeared to give the boy his payment and to be on his way, with a small tap on the head as a thank you for his effort.
Food. Use the money on food, he thought.
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