Rokku - Leashed and Soiled

Missions:

Rokku rarely reflected on regrettable decisions he had made, instead deciding to focus on his future endeavours and so not be held back by regrets. This was unfortunately harder whilst in the middle of carrying out a regrettable act. I never should have taken this job. Walk a dog or two, it will be easy. These thought came quietly from his internal voice as the sound of yapping and barking of some eight dogs of various sides clamoured for attention, communicated with each other or perhaps just disliked the panoply of high pitched and irritating sounds that permeated throughout the village. Rokku was uncertain who thought it would be a good idea to have dogs on a floating village named the village of sound due to the amount of music, instruments and various unique sounds that formed its core culture. At that moment in time Rokku very much wanted to meet them and discuss this idea and the practical difficulties of it as they wandered to the edge of the village. Rokku felt the tugging at the circular leash belt tied around his waist which the other leashes were connected to and imagined walking to the edge and pushing the person off was a swift kick in the backside. The image brought a moment of satisfaction. He had taken a circuitous route around the village as his instructions had been to keep them out long enough for the handlers to clean out the cages and various shared dog areas of the kennels. This unfortunately meant that they had to pass by one of the more musical leaning sections of the village and what was usually a very interesting district where musicians might gather to perform and collaborate improvisational pieces or sometimes challenge others to the equivalent of musical sparring. Though one of the more intriguing and unique districts, it played havoc with the dogs heightened senses and drove them into a yapping, barking fervour.

Rokku had resorted to emitting a piercing whistle in short bursts to focus the dogs attention and urging them onwards at regular intervals to keep them moving. He also had to stop and deal with matters that he had rather not consider but required many disposable bags and suited those with a very weak sense of smell. Once he had collected the collective gifts deposited by his canine companions Rokku continued the journey, idly passing comments with other villagers when some inevitably stopped to pet one if not all the dogs as he walked the remaining distance back to the kennels. Several times the dogs had almost tripped him chasing each other, causing the leads to begin wrapping near his legs. Rokku only avoided by spinning with them as he grabbed at the leads, trying to pull them away gently but forcefully from each other. When he finally made it back to the kennels, he was mentally exhausted with ruffled hair and his clothes were covered in dust and mud. Rokku decided he was decidedly a cat person and had made a mental note to never volunteer for dog walking duty again or at least limit the number dogs to two or three so that it was more manageable and less chaotic.

Rokku tried to brush off the worst of the dirt but wasn’t too worried about it, his next job entailed helping out some neighbours with their gardening and he was under no illusions that he would be caked in dirt by the time the day was through. He was in no rush either as he knew that if he arrived late the there was a higher chance that the bath would be free. Everyone in his family had a united love of bathing which unfortunately meant that each of them liked to take their time and soak their worries away. His kid sisters and brother were usually the quickest and his dad was often busy but if he rushed home and his mother or elder sister had claimed the bathroom then he would be forced to wait a long time. Rokku decided he did not want to wash using the hose and he certainly would turn up to the public baths caked in dirt and mud so he chose the safer option as he dragged his feet around the village, humming to himself as he did so.

He arrived at the house of the couple that had issued the request, which was handily located a short twenty minute walk or so from his own home. Attached to the gate was a hand written scroll addressed to ‘The Temporary Gardening Assistant’. Rokku read the contents where it set out the areas to de weed and even had helpful descriptions of which plants were not weeds as well as advising that the tools required could be found in a small shed behind the house. The note continued to advise that they were out but thanked them for their assistance. Rokku rolled the note back up and returned it before heading to the shed and collecting the required equipment and returning with a trowel, hoe and hand held pitch fork. He also managed to find some potted plants and a pair of sturdy looking gloves, which he quickly donned. Rokku set his guitar case down gently by the door before rolling up his shirt sleeves and getting stuck in with the hoe to remove the weeds along the path and outer edge of the garden.

Whilst he worked, he composed music in his head and leaned into the work, letting his internal songs guide his rhythm. He used the trowel to fish out a few smaller weeds he missed before planting several small rows of the potted plants in the section handily indicated by bamboo sticks. Dusk had begun to creep in by the time he finished the weeding and transplanting of the potted plants and so set about tidying things up and finally sweeping the path to remove the excess dirt that had been deposited as he moved around and worked. He gave a final sweep of the steps and watered the plants he had planted as well before returning the broom and collecting his guitar after rubbing off as much of the dirt as he could on his jeans to protect the case as much as possible. He certainly wouldn’t even touch the guitar until he had a thorough bath and cleaned his fingernails and perhaps applied a fresh coat of polish, as a quick inspection showed most of it had flaked off during his work. He returned home with a yawn and was pleased to find the bath empty.

TWC: 1105

[Exit]

Claiming mission rewards: 2000 and 10 AP

Claiming stats: +11 Vigor

Claiming jutsu:
- Ninjutsu Amplifier (C-rank) - 1000 - 1000/1105
- 105 WC towards Mastery for Genjutsu Art: Genjutsu Release - 112/250 - 1105/1105