The heat was hot, the air was dry, the buildings were old and crumbly, and even the insects buzzing around seemed slightly torpid in the heat of late afternoon.
"Okay, I know this place," said Naruto eventually as he looked up and saw some banners hung with odd script.
[Marketplace at Thespa]
Hinata blinked at the words on the page as Naruto was holding the book in such a way that all three could read it. "Where's that?"
[Thespa]
[- a desert world claimed by the Banaris Republic.
A world of medium level magical energies mainly known for its rich mineral deposits and abundant magical plant life. Potion making is regarded as a high art here. The plants were once considered a C-Class Hazard, but much of the planetary surface has since been tamed.]
"Potions?" asked Sasuke.
"I don't have a lot of the local currency," said Naruto thoughtfully. "They won't take the money from Konoha. Hmmm. Sasuke, how good are you with throwing kunai?"
"You have a plan?" asked Sasuke.
"That's enough of that," said one of the gamblers, slapping some coins down on the table. "I know my limits."
"Thank you," said Naruto, inclining his head as Hinata repeatedly bowed her own thanks.
Sasuke merely smirked and flipped a few of the darts around in his hands. "Anyone else?"
"Nah, let's not push it," said Naruto. "These guys can get rough."
"So?" asked Sasuke.
"If that happens we can get banned from coming here again," said Naruto as he led them out into the street. "Like that one gal told me - 'Don't burn a bridge in the hand' or something like that."
"Uhm," said Hinata. "I don't think that was the right saying."
"Yeah, well, that gal was always mangling phrases," admitted Naruto as he tried to get his bearings. "Anyway, we got enough to make a couple of purchases I think."
"So what are we supposed to shop for?" asked Sasuke, carrying the money since he'd won it himself.
"The main things to get here are potions," said Naruto. "Think of them as one-shot jutsu. You drink the potion or throw it, depending on what the potion does. Some potions give you a boost on strength, heal wounds, or can turn you invisible. The kinds you throw can explode, spread fires, put a wall of thorns and vines up, stuff like that."
"So," said Sasuke, cocking his head. "Secret weapons we can keep back for emergencies."
"Hey, it's something mages and ninja have in common," said Naruto. "This way."
Sasuke paid attention to a lot of details, including the way Hinata practically stuck to Naruto like a shadow. Nervous about being in a strange place? Or had she seen something?
"N-Naruto, does the book say why there aren't any women here?" asked Hinata eventually.
"Eh?" asked Naruto, slowing. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen any. Bok Av Omenene?"
The book flipped open to reveal the previous entry still in place. More lettering appeared underneath it.
[Odd Customs:]
[Thespa was settled almost entirely by the followers of the Scholar Jahn Nohrmahn, a religiously followed path that denies it is a religion. Human males are seen as being of various caste levels to which they are born. Magical talent or lack of it can cause those caste lines to be crossed, likewise fighting strength, but otherwise it is set at birth. The more magical power, the higher the caste. Mid-Childan mages are considered foreign nobility.]
"That's odd," said Naruto. "I just remembered that when the TSAB sent me here last time, they told Fate and Nanoha they couldn't come. I guess it's that sort of thing."
[According to the "science-philosophy of Nohrmahn" - females of all species are property and therefore should be kept under control or out of sight. Unclaimed females or those without clear ownership are considered free for the taking.]
"Okay, that explains it," said Naruto. "The first time Fate or Nanoha ran into THAT attitude, they'd start putting people through walls."
Hinata was now crowding VERY close to Naruto and looking in as many directions as she could without immediately going to the Byakugan.
"Okay, this is the place, we'll get done here and get back fast," said Naruto.
Sasuke noted that Hinata was now pinching Naruto's jacket and banished the smirk from his face as he followed the two into the shop. At least she wasn't as 'jump on and cling' as Ino or as 'tsundere' as Sakura or (ancestors forbid) as SCARY as Dokoro. Instead Hinata was very low-key. Much better.
The shop itself was exactly how Sasuke would have pictured it. Skulls of bizarre beasts had candles sticking up like horns or something from them. Old dark wood shelves lining the room. Throw rugs that had seen better days, and in a previous century. Short guy on a ladder behind the counter wearing the same turban-loose robes sort of clothing as all the other natives.
"Welcome to Raschid's Potion Emporium. You, fine sirs, are in great luck. We have one quarter-off sale today, is very good karma, yes?"
"You always have a 25% off sale, Raschid, I've heard about you," said Naruto. "And you knock the prices up 50% before you take the 25% off."
"Lies! Lies and cheats spread by my competitors!" said Raschid. "Eh? Is that yours?"
Hinata zooped into full body contact with Naruto.
Naruto put one arm around her. "Yes, this is MY woman."
FAINT!
"You are Mid-Childan," said Raschid with a shrug. "Nobody here would expect you to be Enlightened. I was just asking because she didn't exactly seem to be dealing with the heat too well with that heavy jacket."
"Uhm, right," said Naruto, picking up the fainted girl and wondering what had set her off this time. Maybe it HAD been the heat.
"Set her over there on that bench," suggested Raschid. "You might open the jacket too. The heat here on Thespa can be quite oppressive. Now, how may I interest you in my alchemical wares?"
"You have 'invisibility' potions?" asked Sasuke, thinking that sounded handy. "How do they work?"
"Oh yes, honored customer, Raschid has many such potions available. My invisibility potions range from the common one that drops when you attack someone to the top end potion that conceals your presence by making it seem that no matter where you are, you are where you belong."
"If you want an invisibility potion, go for one that deadens your magical signature, since that's chakra," said Naruto.
"Ah, the Potion Of Unseen Presence," said Raschid. "Very good deal on that one. Very cheap. I made extra."
"Yeah, right," said Sasuke, his skepticism mirrored by Naruto.
The proprietor shrugged as if to say that you couldn't blame him for trying before rooting around under the cabinet and pulling a single flask with a clear liquid in it out. "For a mere 500 kiam, this has enough for a single dose. You can do any number of things while invisible, but once you intentionally and directly attack anything at all the spell ends. Be very careful of that, honored customer, for there have been those who swatted away a fly and broken the spell thereby."
"Hmmm," said Sasuke, counting off coins and noting that Naruto was back to fussing over the fainted Hinata. THAT could turn quite annoying very quickly. Though he doubted that Naruto even realized what he'd claimed or why Hinata would react like that to such a statement.
He thought of a few things before deciding to ask about:
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(Posted Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:42)
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