The Pursuit of Happiness!: The Only Gold That Matters?

The Idaho Potato Museum. Kuro DID ask for chips, so Jun decided to take a humble request for all it's worth. He had already bought a bag of plain potato chips for his partner, and that was just the beginning. Later, Jun planned to bring them to an actual factory instead.

Sadly, this was still the second most exciting place Jun had ever been. The first being the DWMA. This place full of stale air, the murmurs of but a few people, and dusty plaques explaining chips, and the various turning points in their riveting history, and creation processes. Truly, this was a place of legend. One that really needed to go into Jun's journal later.

A museum. For potatos. The same root vegetable that created the crunchy, golden snack Kuro loved so much. This was a beautiful sight to behold. One that Kuro would not soon forget. After all, no potatos meant no chips, and that was a thought almost as scary as dying to Kuro. It was about time potatos got some recognition.

"So what are we doing here, Jun?" Kuro asked eagerly from inside Jun's head, then quickly added, "Not that I'm complaining, pretty pumped actually." Kuro was indeed pretty curious on why Jun had brought him here. Was it just sight seeing? Or maybe he planned to steal something from it? Either way, Kuro was content here.

Jun shrugged, skimming over a plaque. "I didn't really come here for anything." The whole idea of this was just to let Kuro enjoy himself, right? "I was thinking we could grab a few souls here, and then raid that chip factory." He continued, adding a nervous smile, in spite of Kuro not being able to see it.

The CHIP FACTORY?!? Now Kuro had to be dreaming. The potato museum, souls, then fresh off the line chips? That was genius! Where was this Jun before? "I like the way you're thinking today. I mean, fresh chips, fresh souls, and we get to pay homage to the greatness of potatoes. Pretty great day in my opinion." Kuro replied in a relatively rare tone that lacked sarcasm. Kuro was honestly looking forward to this.

Jun's smile broadened at Kuro's tone, leaving him a little goofy looking for anyone that didn't know he was talking to his blood... So, everyone. "J-just tell me when you're tired of the museum, and we can start cleaning up." He said, with an almost sweet little chuckle. There was only so much you could know about chips anyways... Kuro probably knew all of it already. Might as well get to the finale, right? Although... the output of chip factories were pretty impressive now that he see's the process...

"Sure thing." Kuro replied, taking a little while to enjoy the place. It wasn't as amazing as it should have been, but then again, it WAS a museum. He couldn't expect too much from it. When the pair had finished looking around, or Kuro had at least, he gave Jun a signal. "Ready when you are."

Jun nodded happily. He was actually a little surprised at how long it took Kuro to want to begin the soul hunt. He swiftly cut into his wrist again, and flicked it outwards to the people closest to the door, while holding his left hand open for Kuro's weapon form. There weren't many people in this place, but it would be a good warm up, and a decent catch when added to what they would probably get at the factory.

Kuro formed four needles from the scattered blood, aimed at their targets as the scythe grew from Jun's palm. It took it's regular form, glinting hints at peril for all who saw. "Quick thinking Jun. The longer we can keep any from getting out the longer we have to try a clean sweep." Kuro responded, ready for action.

There were only a few people in this room. An ideal family of three, and a guide. The needles would extend towards the guide, and husband number one. The two were conversing casually, and completely unsuspecting of the attack. The second husband, and the child read the exhibit plaque a ways behind Jun.

Jun again drank in the praise. He wasn't sure Kuro had ever acknowledged him before this. He never wanted it to stop. Kuro's needle's had loosed, and with no need, or want to see whatever result it had, Jun twirled to bring down Kuro's menacing form onto the childs head. It was best that he never knew this was happening, right? Jun noted, and mourned his new twisted sense of mercy. But, if that was the way Kuro wanted him...

Kuro was dug into the child's skull. One confirmed down, one alive, two undecided. Kuro was trying to keep track of the room, but he too hadn't seen the needles hit. Whether they were alive or dead, they weren't getting out of this room. If they did it would be an end to the fun.

"You targeted the child, Jun. Do you like to kill children?~" Kuro teased, even though he knew it was probably a bad idea. What was said was said thought. Too late to take it back, so might as well accept it.

Jun shook, retracting the scythe, and shaking his head violentely. He wouldn't register the fathers panic, and the way the man cried out in terror before grasping the girl tightly. "N-no!! It's not like that! N-not a-at all!!" Jun pleaded, trying to find a mental footing that confirmed this in his own mind. Come to think of it, he HAD always aimed for them first. But that was for mercy, right? DID he like killing children!?

The thought grinded to a halt, hitting a brick wall in the form of the fathers fist to his face. Apparently, he was over the depressed stage of grief. Jun had stumbled backwards onto his rear. He threw up an arm in response to the man who had attacked, and was approaching with extreme tenacity, sending a white spear through his heart. Already, all four people in the room were dead. Jun couldn't help but feel dirtier than usual. A child? And they had all went down so easily. They were practically spoiled by how sport-less this was.

Kuro's scythe melted black after all were dead, re-shaping into the snake form and grasping one of the two nearby souls in it's mouth and swallowing it down before speaking in his usual distorted tone. "You took a hit. If he had a weapon you may have taken some decent damage. Careful not to psyche out while fighting. Whatever gets your mind won't matter if you die during the battle."

It wasn't that Kuro really cared about Jun. He could handle himself, but if something happened and Jun slipped up bad then all of Kuro's work would be ruined. There isn't always just an animal nearby to jump to, meaning sometimes a meister's life was his life.

Jun nodded, holding his cheek. He berated himself internally for giving Kuro a reason to be disappointed. Kuro's advice was sound, as usual(?). Regardless, he picks up the other soul, and easily works it down. It was becoming natural to eat souls. They went down so easily now. He didn't take the time to bask in the feeling like usual. Like Kuro said, this was a dangerous area, and he wasn't to let his guard down anymore, no matter what was going through his head.

Jun waltzed over to the other two souls, taking one to himself, and allowing Kuro to snag the other before moving on. They headed to the gift shop, the last stop on the tour. There were only a couple of people in here, all unaware of what had just happened in the other room. This was too easy. "A-after this, we'll go to the factory." There were only a few people in this building anyways.

Kuro had snatched up the soul Jun left him the same as the first, then retreated into the hand as they got to the new room. The gift shop, eh? Souvenirs would be cool, but they'd probably just slow the duo down. Then again, a keychain on Jun's belt couldn't hurt. Maybe they could do that? Start collecting souvenirs from the places they hit up? Nah, that'd build up too quick. They'd be grabbing some fresh chips at the factory for sure though.

"Right. Sounds good. Good to start when you are." Kuro said to Jun, sure to do it so that others couldn't hear. After all, wouldn't want to alert the crowd (if you could call it that) before the fun started, right? Panic was the enemy here, and Kuro didn't like enemies.

Jun made his way towards the register, and swiftly gashed the man's throat open. He grew another white dart, and wasted no time throwing it into the other customer across the room. This place was a dead beat joint. Hardly any population. At least that made it easier too control.

He didn't bother checking on the man he had impaled. Instead, he nudged the cashier in the face with his foot. It was a grim curiosity. The man's soul hadn't appeared yet. "Still kickin' huh?" He remarked with a confidence, and uncaring unusual for his character. He lifted his hand to form another spear, and drive it into the man as a mercy blow. "There you go... A-all better..." He added, the blue orb seeping out of the mans body to hover inches above it.

"Just two, huh? You'd think somewhere like this would've been more populated." Kuro said, kind of disappointed in people. I mean, how could you not visit a place like this? It was a GREAT place!

Oh well. It didn't matter. He'd grab one soul and consume it eagerly. He couldn't help but notice Jun's slight sense of mercy. It wasn't something Kuro had shown a lot of lately, huh? Oh well, as long as it didn't cause a problem, Kuro could care less.

In all honesty, Jun was surprised there were THIS many people here. It WAS just a place for people to admire a vegetable after all. Admittedly one of Jun's more favored ones, but still just one type of food. As always, he knew the best path for this situation. Agree with Kuro. "Sh-shame..." Was his disinterested response. He had meant for it to sound a little more sincere, but he was no actor, and certainly no liar.

Jun took a lazy stride over to the soul, and swallowed it with a bit more haste than previously seen, and made his was out. He could feel his madness growing, and with it, his complacency in the situation. He was beginning to feel a lack of remorse for the effects of his actions. A thing that would be replaced by lifted spirits of whatever Kuro praised him for. He was beginning to think he could hunt innocents forever if it meant Kuro would go with him.

Kuro would have made a remark about how unenthusiastic Jun seemed today, but he was too busy day dreaming about what could happen if they kept going at this rate. They may be able to gather tens, maybe hundreds if they kept moving around and avoided students. This could wind up being the greatest pairing ever...

Or they could do something stupid and get caught or draw attention. Jun's bones could definitely end up a calling card if the school was paying attention. Bridges are crossed when they come though. "So now what? Factory you said?" He asked curiously.

Jun began a walk to the exit, and then through the unsuspecting streets. "T-that's right. It isn't so dead though. P-people work there, so we'll probably draw attention if we make noise." Jun's mind spun him through some possibilities. His mind set was becoming crueler, and less sensitive by the day, and it showed as he let loose with more of his skills. "I-I could take the time to seal all of the exits from the inside. M-maybe k-kill the po-power too. I-I would have t-t be quiet though." He delivered the idea with zero grace. At his core, he was still opposed to violence. That wouldn't matter as long as Kuro hungered for it.

Kuro thought that plan over. They'd have to locate the power supply and cut it so that they couldn't re-activate it remotely, and they'd have to locate each exit. This was a job that took a bit of planning. The only other option was to get in, take out as many as possible, then stuff the souls in a bag and get out, but where was the fun in that? Plus it left no room for chips.

"Alright. We'll circle the building and scope exits, block them, then look for a power line and cut it somehow. That should do the trick, right?" He replied, knowing it was easier said than done.

Jun wasted no time getting to work. Any exits he could find would be barred off with bone, hopefully assuring no escape. "I-I'm surprised you have the patience for this." Jun would think aloud, the words barely registering to even himself.

There was the issue of cell-phone's. Even when they cut the power and the phone lines, there was a danger for of the authorities being called. "K-Kuro. Are you sure this isn't telegraphing o-our presence t-too much?" He asked, the thoughts drawing his feet to a sudden halt. They were beginning to leave behind quiet a trail.

Kuro thought for a moment... They had been leaving quite the trail of bodies... And stealing chips wherever they went was becoming a calling card... It was only a matter of time before the DWMA could figure out their course and send students to ambush them. If that happened, there's no telling who would win.

"You're right, Jun... If we keep leaving bones and stealing chips we might as well be leaving calling cards for them. Maybe it's a good idea to lay low after this and try to move away from our trail before they send a meister or something?" Kuro suggested, trying to avoid a run in with the DWMA for as long as possible.

Jun nodded. "R-right. We'll be leaving after this then." He decided out loud. He didn't really have anywhere else to be, but he didn't want to fight a DWMA student, regardless of the odds he could win. Then again... He didn't really have a chance to see how he adds up... No. This wasn't the time for games.

Jun scaled to the roof of the factory, and made his way through the door their. He dropped into the corner of a random section from the factory. The mechanical noise of the factory was enough to distract the few workers in the room for now. "Commencing Virtuous Mission." Jun would say to himself in a stone cold , overly gravely voice, before covering his mouth for a childish giggle.

Kuro wasn't sure what Jun meant by that last part, but he seemed to enjoy the concept, so whatever. Maybe it was some personal joke or something. Either way, Kuro summoned up the bloody black scythe to Jun's hand, the small version once again. They didn't seem to get much opportunity to use. The big one lately.

The longer the factory workers took to notice they were being picked off, the better. Hopefully Jun saw this too and was stealthy, but if not then they had blocked all outside exits. The only issue here was if somebody had a cell phone. Which wasn't exactly unlikely. They'd just have to act fast.

Jun couldn't help but be a little disappointed. Kuro didn't get the reference? He supposed he couldn't expect more from some old man. W-was Kuro an old man? Was Kuro even a he...? At any rate! Factory. Souls. Kill things. Get potato chips. Destroy the Shagohad. Wait...

Jun shook his head. He had been sitting there blankly for a few minutes. Something was damaging his focus lately, and he couldn't put his finger on just what is was. He glanced down at the Kuro's miniature form, and smiled before taking off in deathly silence.

He would sneak his way behind the worker closest to the door, and plant Kuro through the side of his neck. No struggle. No noise. Silent panic. Jun pulled back on the man, and placed him gently on the ground to avoid a thud. There was a short shocked struggle. Nothing he couldn't deal with.