Kano hated going back into the same store he had just been at, but it could not be helped. He smiled at the shopkeeper and pointed towards the door. "The rain shall spoil our moods and our goods. Just need a few more supplies and I swear I'll be out of your hair for the day."

Hinji entered the store behind Kano and gave a quick look around. He gave the shop keeper a simple nod, "I don't see what we are looking for."

"Rain gear is in the back boys. We usually park it up front on rainy days, but this one was sudden. Hadn't gotten a chance yet." The shopkeeper informed them with a knowing grin.

Kano bowed his head to the keeper. "Thanks." He headed to the back of the shop and started sifting through the umbrella barrel for one large enough for his liking.

Hinji was going to need one larger then his own hat, otherwise it would not be any more useful and thus not worth the money. "There are some large ones here Kano." he said as he inspected one without opening it fully, didn't want to bring bad luck onto anyone.

Kano turned and smiled when he saw the umbrella Hinji was checking out. "Nice find Hinji. This store has a little bit of everything, I wouldn't be surprised if we found some umbrellas that could be used as weapons."

Hinji wasn't really sure why you would want an umbrella as a weapon. "If you thought you would be getting into a fight that would need a weapon, why wouldn't you carry one on you instead of relying on an umbrella?"

"You're thinking in the wrong direction. You use the umbrella as a weapon, to hide your intent." Kano explained with a grin. "It leads people to believe you are unarmed because all you have is an umbrella."

"I see." Hinji said as he started to realize, "But that seems like you would be trying to invite conflict. By making yourself appear harmless then bandits will be drawn to you. If you carry a weapon in the open, then bandits would most likely stay away in hopes of an easier catch."

"True. If you were trying to defend yourself from bandits it wouldn't be very wise. However, if your mission is to infiltrate enemy territory, would you not think being harmless in appearance would grant you better access?" Kano countered with a shrug. "Not like it really matters though, all the weapon umbrellas I've encountered don't work very well for keeping the rain out."

"That does make sense." Hinji said, he hadn't thought about their usefulness in infiltration missions. He continued to rummage through the umbrellas, looking for one the would suit him.

Kano started digging through a nearby barrel of umbrellas. He wanted a large one as well, but he wouldn't need one quite as large as what Hinji was looking for.

Hinji finally stumbled upon one he could use. He pulled it out from the rest and opened it slightly to get an idea of its size. "This one will do." he said before looking to Kano, "Have you found one yet?"

Kano finally pulled one from the barrel and smiled. "I believe so." He opened it slightly and was satisfied with its size. "This one'll work."

Hinji nodded, "Is there anything else we should grab while we are in here?"

"Well the umbrellas will keep us dry. You've got some water sensitive stuff there, though don't you?" Kano asked him, indicating the art supplies. "We'll need something to put them in for water proofing I guess."

Hinji called up to the shop keeper, "Do you have any kind of watertight case?"

"Of course! What are you looking to keep dry?" The shopkeeper said, coming around the counter and over to the boys.

Hinji showed the calligraphy supplies he had purchased. "Parchment, inks, brushes and the like."

"Ah...I see. I thought maybe you had a challenge for me." The shopkeeper said with a grin. "I think I can find yah something. Feel free to browse around, I'll be back in a few." He turned and headed towards the back, calligraphy set, not too hard to find something for that.

"He's lucky that I purchased my scroll yesterday." Hinji said as he watched the shopkeeper go off in search of something he could use.

"Why do you say that?" Kano asked in return. "Is the scroll hard to package?"

"It was very large." Hinji explained, "The last fight showed me that I need to up the power of my arsenal and since my 'Last Ditch Effort' summons was used, I needed to replace it. Therefore I needed a large scroll."

"I see." Kano replied simply with a nod. "I'll be needing one of those eventually..." He grinned and felt he had the need to explain himself for that comment. "I plan to get an animal summoning contract for myself some time in the foreseeable future. I'll be needing a scroll for that though."

"How can you know you will be getting an animal summoning contract?" Hinji asked.

"Simple. I'm going to be the first one of my village to write it." Kano said with a smile.

Hinji looked at Kano with a clear look of confusion. "I'm not sure I follow."

"On my Island there is a legend of a spectacular creature. There is evidence all about the island of its existence, however no one has ever actually captured one." Kano explained, crossing his arms. "I intend to discover their hiding place and writing the summoning contract with them."

"Ah, I understand now." Hinji said with a nod, "When you decide to undertake this quest, let me know. I believe I can be of assistance."

"I'll keep that in mind, Hinji. Thank you." Kano told him with a nod

"You are welcome." Hinji said before looking back in the direction the clerk had traveled. "Any idea when you shall try?"

"I've been looking for their lair since I first heard the tale. No luck yet, so I don't know when it'll be." Kano admitted with a bit of a sheepish grin.

The shopkeeper came back with a couple of items in his arms. "I've got a few options here for you, boys. There's a hard case with an airtight seal. A satchel made from the hide of the water boar, very high quality and water proof material that. Then of course, there's the good old fashioned weaved sack made from the fibers of a rubber tree."

"I will take the hard case." Hinji said, "Don't want them to get jumbled or damaged in a soft sack."

"Very well. So that's 2 umbrellas and one hard traveler's case. Anything else I could get for you boys?" The shop keeper asked them with a smile.

Kano looked at Hinji curiously. It looked to him as if they had all they needed now. "What do you think, need anything else?"

Hinji looked over everything before deciding, "No, I believe we have everything."

"Very well then, just bring them up front and I'll ring yah up." He said with a smile and headed to the register.

Kano nodded to the shop keeper and gestured for Hinji to head that way. "Not too bad of a find. That case looks pretty nice, man."

Hinji nodded his agreement and made his way towards the counter so they could pay, "I agree, it is a very nice case. I feel like I am spoiling myself."

"I do believe I said it was my treat?" Kano reminded him with a smirk.

"That you did." Hinji said, "My old sensei would not approve of that either."

"Why not? My sensei from back home always taught me to jump at a chance for someone else to pay." Kano told him with a smirk

"My sensei would consider it a kind of charity and accepting charity is weakness. Also buying extravagant things is a sign of growing vanity which is also weakness." Hinji explained, "Also, asking for help or favors is the same as selling yourself into someone else's possession. They will own you till the favor or debt is repaid."

"Well, you are my friend Hinji. I could never own you." Kano told him simply. He took his wallet from his inside pocket and looked at the shopkeeper. "So what's the damage this time?"

"Let's see...2 large umbrellas and one hard traveler's case...that'll be...86 ryo." The shopkeeper told them with a wide smile. It was a wonderful price in his mind.

Hinji frowned at the price. He didn't like that he was partially responsible for such a price tag. He just hoped that he wasn't taking the last of Kano's money.

Kano couldn't help but cough a little when he heard the price. It was a bit steep, but then again, it was some pretty quality merchandise as well. He grit his teeth and opened the wallet, taking the 86 ryo out and handing it to the man slowly. He hated to part with that much, but it was certainly better than getting wet...

Hinji could tell how painful this was for Kano and knew, despite Kano's words, that he would have to pay him back somehow. He would definitely be traveling with Kano in search of that rare beast.

Kano nodded to the shopkeeper as he received the merchandise and his receipt. He sat the umbrella on his shoulder and passed the other things to Hinji. "Enjoy dude. You heading back to the apartment, or have you got more stops to make?"

"No, I have finished my errands for the day." Hinji said as he placed his purchases into the box. It was then that he realized he would not be able to carry the case and utilize his umbrella to its full effect at the same time. He plucked one of the few cards from his hat and did the usual summons and up popped a small, waist high, gremlin looking thing. Hinji gave him the case, "Do not damage this case or allow its contents to be damaged." the thing sighed and nodded. Hinji then looked to Kano, "I was planning on returning to the apartment."

"As am I. I think I'll order in for lunch though...I was playing on stopping and picking something up...but this rain...man it's killin me." Kano told him as they headed out into the inc village

Hinji and his shadow gremlin followed behind Kano, "I ate before starting my errands, so I am not hungry." he responded as he left the store.