[Enter from Land of Rice Fields]

It was slow going on the way back.

This time, it wasn't because Vox was escorting some lazy rich nitwit who didn't understand how to keep a low profile. Vox was just tired. It was an exhausting trip there, an eventful arrival, and he just wanted to rest. But first, he had to get home. Things had been uncertain with the Keukage lately, Vox needed to keep an eye on things in Kemuri. He hadn't been able to properly enjoy an away mission in a while, with mounting paperwork and all sorts of security concerns waiting for him back home. He'd get there soon enough, but for now it was important that he pace himself. It was a long journey, and he had a feeling he'd need all the strength he could get when he got back. So he trudged along, occasionally sipping from a thermos of cold coffee.

Dawn broke, and Vox broke camp. He didn't like sleeping on the road, but he was left with little choice. The last mission had wiped him out, and he didn't feel like facing his workload that exhausted again. He packed his gear, shoved some travel rations down his throat, and hit the road again. He hadn't slept well, but it was enough to get him going. With luck, he would be arriving around noon. He was going faster today, now that he had the energy to travel. Finally, he was making good time.

The noontime sun was hammering down when Vox arrived at Kemuri. It had been one hell of a trip, and a lot more trouble than the higher-ranked mission he had done the week before, but it was finally over. He made his way towards the gate, weaving through the sand and rocks. He had slowed his pace again, relaxing a bit as he got close to home. Things looked calm from out here, and there was a small part of him that thought maybe things wouldn't be completely insane by the time he arrived. He knew that was too much to hope for, but it was nice to imagine.

[Exit to Kemurigakure]