Welcome to Gaia! ::

((For those finding this, this is the sequel to The Albino Twins.
And god dam wasps! I've been attacked while moving a goat, one sting but almost a dozen bites on my legs and one on my neck. Hurts like hell, but i'll live for the most part ^_^' ))

Nine, for the most part, has been taking most of his missions solo and mostly consisted of blowing a fortress or two into oblivion, even damaging some of the major villages border walls to have them push fortifications. For the few missions they went together, it was Tsukiko pulling out hostages, or protecting them with her fortified diamonds as Nine obliterated the enemy base around them, later digging them out of the rubble. He began to notice the changes with her coughing, only to dismiss it when she made it clear that she would be fine. It became serious when on one mission together, her crystal barrier did not hold up against one of his barrages and almost buried both her and the hostage alive. They were both recovered safely, but after the report was filed Pein made it clear that she was to be pulled out of future missions until her recovery. Due to their history together, Pein enlisted Nine and Konan to finding a way to cure Tsukiko's illness...

Nine and Konan were awaiting Tsukiko outside of their current hideout, needing her to guide them. "The best place to look would be where her place of origin: the lab that made her. Tsukiko never said anything about it until now..." Nine was worried, wearing the mysterious crystal necklace he unknowingly forgot Tsukiko gave him from long ago. Konan placed a hand on his should with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We will find a cure for her." Nine felt better after that, Konan was always the motherly one of the team, despite the doom-and-gloom look she always had on.

"It's not like we've seen anything worse, right?" Konan looked annoyed and slapped Nine upside the head with a paper fan. "You tend to use your fists and jutsu to get past your issues. This is a whole other story." Nine rolled his eyes and looked away as she turned back to Tsukiko, leaning in to whisper to her only. "I'm coming along to see that you get there, one way or another Tsukiko. Besides, if something happens to you we all fear Nine would snap."

Konan thought long about it, then had the idea formed in her head. "Alright, I have something in mind. Tsukiko and I will sneak onto the ship when it comes to dock. Nine, you stay outside and radio us if anything changes. Once we find those records, start causing havoc and keep your chakra skin up at all times. I'll then catch ourselves the ones responsible for Tsukiko's medical needs and have him fix up a cure for her. After that is out of the way, we get the children out and Nine will drop his Biju bomb, destroying the whole thing." Nine took all of this in but something was bugging him about it. "What about the men and women?" Konan shook her head in dismay. "I'm sorry, but they are far beyond saving. If it's as bad as Tsukiko says, they'll just end up either killing each other or innocent bystanders."

"It won't stay floating after i'm done with it...."

They had to wait within the Rain Village until it came close to the appointed time for the ship to arrive for it's semi-annual supply pick-up; medical supplies, equipment and 'volunteers.' Konan was planning with Tsukiko about how to enter the ship while Nine stood in the balcony of the tall motel they were staying in, staring out at the stormy sea. Rain, it always rained in this country, or just stayed cloudy as hell.

Luckily for the rain, it dampened their scent, making them untraceable to the 3 unholy dogs the size of cars that observed the cargo and volunteers, often breaking a tampered cargo or eating spies from other countries. Konan and Tsukiko had to switch to plan B: Stealth and Bait. As they hid behind a paper wall that matched the background of the ship, she radioed Nine. "Plan B, make a scene." The dogs, however, could hear the radio frequencies, walking close to the paper wall and sniffing the air.
An explosion went off, drawing the attention of the nearing hound, then got it's full attention when another went off. "What's going on?!" "Someone's destroying the food supply crates!" "Crap, she'll have our heads if we don't get it away from here. Go now!"

Luckily no one was paying attention to the coughing that seemed to be from mid air as Konan sent a paper bird (which looks too much like a real bird to be noticed) and flew through the opening that Tsukiko had pointed out. "There's always another way, hang on." She held onto her sick ally as they both poofed inside the ship, the paper wall breaking apart so there was no evidence.

Nine on the other hand was having his own issues with the massive dogs, their pushing force equaling out every impact they made to one another. His radio sounded again, trying to get it to work while busy with the giants. "This is Konan, we're inside the ship. Pull back and await further orders." It's about dam time, these dogs are like nothing else. Just what the hell is going on inside that ship!? He threw the dog away with a spike of brute force then pulled away, the other dogs giving chase until a whistle sounded, calling all of them back to one of the scientists (Had jet black hair, an eye patch and bandages covering both arms, one of the other villains that will be a major part of the story I hope. Feel free to call him whatever you want ^_^) that came to observe, heading back inside to inform the woman in charge. "Ma'am, the attacker has pulled away, but only managed to destroy two crates of our food supply. I would advise reducing feeding hours for the other test subjects to conserve on resources."

Inside was where all the crates of food supplies and science equipment was stored once inside the ship, Konan and Tsukiko hiding in a corner to check on the sick member's condition. "Hang on Tsukiko, we're inside now. We'll be getting close to finding that cure, just a little longer." Her motherly side was creeping up as she checked her friend over.

"Take your time. Remember, your not alone this time, and you will overcome this." Konan remained ever alert in case anyone decided to show up on them, while coaxing Tsukiko to remember the path to the women's ward ((I think this is how it's spelled, not trying to be rude or anything ^_^; ))

Nine watched from a distance, healing up a nasty bite from one of the dogs. It's a good thing I shut off the nerves there, otherwise this would hurt like hell... huh? He heard the unholy horn of the ship and saw it take off from the shore. "Oh crap! Konan, Tsukiko! The ship is taking off!! Repeat: the ship if taking off!" All he could get was static, cursing at the piece of crap as he tore it off his neck and crushed it. He had no other choice but to follow after it, jumping onto the water with chakra on his feet and sped after it, surprised that a ship so large could move so quickly.