His partner seemed apt to letting Takumi handle the talking, which was fine. He slid her his purse and let her go on her way. Out of their grouping, he was the charismatic one, if nothing else. As the conversation continued, the woman would ask more about what brought them to Takumi. Pushing away from his seated position and rising to his feet he would leap up, but soon be met with the woman, landing beside them. He was slightly startled but would never show it. Composure was his game. He re-seated himself and would continue.
" Not surprising that people opposing the UHV are welcomed here. I was raised in Takumi city until I was eleven. My friend, Belamos and I both witnessed an attack on the city. I moved away shortly after, I'm mainly watching over my companion who just exited. She came in for supplies and wandered away on her own. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to visit my mother while I'm back in town either." He sighed. " She can be so worry-some."
Breaking away from his own thoughts, he turned to the woman, obviously seasoned. " You don't look like a run of the mill woman yourself. Just what did this...friend...do to gain such a bounty?" He asked in a more hushed tone.
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Rinka jumped in her seat, startled by the woman landing next to them. Quickly regaining her composure, the Oni looked over their new arrival once more. Whatever seemed to be throwing off Rinka in the first place seemed to be gone, maybe because she had confirmed the two kids weren't a threat to her after all. She was content to let Takumi do the bulk of the talking, but as the woman inquiried as to what their bussiness was in the city, Rinka felt a reply was warranted. "Puppets. Scrolls. Too expensive, though" She said with a shrug.
So they were here for supplies. It interested her that they did not have supplies such as those inside of their village proper, with some luck and greased palms she might be able to open up an enterprise there. Very interesting. Though it saddened her that the woman could not afford that which she wanted so with a sharp whistle she motioned to Tatsuya and opened her hand extending all five fingers. After a moment the cute waitress returned with five, one thousand bundles of ryo. Stacking them into a single pile she slid it to the woman,"A soldier should have the resources she needs to fight. If you want to pay me back you can keep fighting the UHV." Facing the young man she smiled a bit though the smile hurt her somewhat,"I am sure your mother would appreciate it." Though when he inquired about her "friends" bounty she nodded and sighed,"She resists the UHV. Blowing up factories, ambushing convoys, taking out spy's. Generally being as large a thorn in their side as she can. Just don't ask her about why she does it if you meet her. She won't shut up about it. Its earned her quite the reputation but fame is relative ya know. To some shes a hero and to others shes a terrorist."
SB5K
Kondo Kaicho
Jutsu Used:
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:14 pm
Takumi nodded to Rinka's commentary. Puppets were somewhat expensive. Her minimal involvement in the conversation was normal and Takumi would pay it little attention.
The woman would then gesture for a waitress to fetch her something. She returned with five thousand ryo and would quickly slide them Rinka's direction. Takumi looked on with interest. The woman was clearly the owner of the establishment, even without the introduction her commanding presence paired with the obedience and waiver of fees gave it away. Takumi would hear her out on her story of her friend's perils. The woman was an asset. Takumi had not been so inticed to bring someone into their fold. Let alone so quickly. He restrained himself, keeping his cool face.
" I see. It seems your friend is quite the scoundrel. Although, I can sympathize with her efforts." he held up a single coin he had pulled from his pocket, spinning it between his individual fingers as he stared at it. " To achieve such a lofty goal, one must often put themselves in less than valued positions in society. To be claimed a terrorist and continue is quite the resolve."
Takumi paused, examining her face for hints of agreement with his statement. Assuming he was not far from the beaten path with his words, as he seldom was, he continued. " Resistance..." he trailed off, allowing the coin to fall to the table. It slowly rotated on its edges before landing face down. " ....resisting but not extinguishing. Would you agree that if everyone shared your friend's vigor in this that would be a more attainable goal?"
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It would be impossible to hide the wide-eyed expression on Rinka's face, even if she tried. Here this person was, a total stranger, giving her such a considerable sum of money to what, go about her plans as usual? Whatever, thanks, Lady. Stowing away the money, Rinka looked to Tsuki and offered a friendly, and admittedly a little awkward, smile. "Thank you." She didn't need to say much else. Even without her usual preference for brevity, she'd probably be too shocked to say much else anyway.
Giving a light smile to the other woman she nodded,"Its my pleasure." Addressing the man however would be a bit of a problem. Not only was this kid smart, he was cunning like a fox. Leaning back in her chair she shifted her weight to balance upon the back to legs of the chair before she began. Though when she did her voice was softer,"I don't think so actually. If everyone wanted to fight then it would mean everyone would have blood on their hands. I cant say for her, but I personally don't want that. There are those like young Miss Tatsuya here. Who are pure and innocent, the thought of someone like her being forced to take a life...its not something I want to see. That sort of thing should be left to those who can't go back. Who have left their innocence behind, like my friend." Through all of the betrayals, all of the pain and suffering, that was the one thing she could never break herself from. The desire to protect the innocence of those around her.
Takumi was taken back for a second by the woman's response at first, then the caveat to her friend's disposition reassured him he was on the right track. " I see. " He pocketed the coin from his table, retreiving his own slightly crumbled paper ryo and placing it under his drink. " Its rude not to at least tip for valuable service and information. " He said lightly, followed by a sigh. He knew their time was to be short lived. At least in the city. " Your hospitality is most generous Miss Tatsuya and won't soon be forgotten. " He pushed himself to his feet, nodding to Rinka in a motion to leave. He pulled his jacket from the chair and placed his right arm through the sleeve. He looked back to her with a smile. " Should your friend ever desire to end the wars and bring the nations to one lasting peace...I heard of a group forming just beneath the noses of the very organization she's fighting. It seemed like it have very...lucrative potential as well...should she find herself wanting." With that, Takumi's golden hair would be shoved over his jackets outer layer as he completed adding the garmet to himself. He waved once more as he stood in the doorway, holding it for Rinka. " Oh. How rude. I never introduced myself. Takumi Saegahara... We'll be in town gathering supplies, West to travel home. Be seeing you. " with that, the two would exit the tavern. Should the woman be well versed in cardinal directions and cartography in general. She would know that Kirigakure was not to the west, but to the South. To the West was Otogakure. Home of the UHV's command.
As the door swung open, the sound of music and mingling permeated out and into the streets. Belamos entered, hanging his cloak up on a nearby rack. The tavern was big- much bigger than he had thought it was going to be. He took a seat at the bar, and held up a hand to signal he was ready to order. A cute looking girl came up to him with a name tag that read "Tatsuya" "Hey, what can I get you?" She asked, a polite smile on her face. Hunching over the bar, he placed his elbows down and leaned forward "Mead if you have any, if not, water is fine" She scurried away to fetch his drink while he swiveled on his stool and scanned the room. She was here somewhere...he knew it
● Learn Ninjutsu in three (3) posts less. ● Learn Bukijutsu in three (3) posts less. ● Flame Resistance Training ● Thread Walking ● Dexterity: Spinning the Staff
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Rinka watched her partner get up and make his way for the door, an obvious sign it was time to be going. She looked to the woman they had been talking to, then to Takumi, then back to the woman. "Rinka...", she'd say, moments after Takumi did his own introduction. Their business was done here, so Rinka threw back the rest of her drink on one quick gulp then scampered off towards the door, taking one more moment to look back at the woman they had left at the table before heading out to the puppetry shop. [exit]
Takumi walked in behind Belamos. The two must have entered nearly two hours since they last departed. He spotted Tsukina wandering about the place. He signaled her with a hand motion, calling her to the bar where Belamos was ordering. " Sorry to drop back in so soon, unannounced....but I ran into a friend unexpectedly who seemed very....set on meeting you." Takumi sighed, a bead of sweat comically rolling down the back of his head. Should Tsukina put the information all together she might assume this was one of the group that he had mentioned her 'friend' coming to meet. .
Now that was odd. The mans sudden departure paired with the twisted bits of information he had given her. First he claimed to be from Takumi, but wore a Kirigakure headband, then the direction of his home was entirely wrong. The UHV's base of operations was to the west not Kirigakure. She had screwed the pooch on this one. If they knew where her friend frequented then it would be a matter of time before they would catch up. Letting out a sigh she smiled a bit when the man re-entered. Dipping her head she smiled,"I will meet with him in a little bit. As it sits, I am slightly unfit to formally meet people right now. Inform him please, that his food and drink are on the house of course." With that she dipped her head and retreated to her private room.
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The door to the tavern suddenly swung open to reveal a figure slowly stepping into view. The stranger was hard to make out against the harsh midday light flooding the room from behind them, but the figure would become clearer the closer they became. The figure's frame was hidden behind a cover-all cloak that ended at mid-shin level, and a pair of large scrolls was secured to their lower backside. The figure's face was obscured by what was obviously a child's festival mask of a cat, and all of this was topped with a short mess of hair and a pair of horns... it would suddenly become clear that the menacing figure was just Rinka; far less of an intimidating threat, if we're being honest. The now cloaked Oni girl made her way back to where Takumi was and stood behind him, looking down inquisitively. She wouldn't say a word, just stare at him.
As Takumi sat, explaining the situation, the woman would smile and promise to meet in a bit. Takumi nodded. " Not a problem, and sorry again."
Takumi turned to Belamos and spoke. " She's not quite ready to entertain. She promised to be back for a formal introdcution momentarily. Said the food and drink are on the house." he glanced over, noticing a familiar figure in the door. The setting sun made it difficult to see the figure. It appeared cloaked, having two large scrolls upon their back....then...as she stepped in...he saw a blue cats mask...then messy hair....then. Horns. Takumi masked his laughter for a second before turning around. Rinka stood behind him, silent. Unfortunately, his height and the combined height of the barstool put poor little Rinka at eye level with Takumi. Making her much less intimidating than she already wasn't. "Please tell me you didn't spend the kind woman's money at a costume shop?"
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Rinka continued to stare Takumi down, face to face. The only motion she made was to shake her head in the negative in response to his question. "Souvenir shop," she'd reply. "Got supplies too," Rinka continued, giving a half turn to show off the scrolls on her back.
Within the confines of her room the young woman began to panic a bit. Could she run? She would loose everything, again. Her friends would likely be taken as well and charged with aiding and abetting. She couldn't let them suffer that fate because of her actions.. could she? She had run from Konoha when one by one her friends and family fell around her. She had run when one by one her fellow rogues fell around her. Would she run again? Could she? Letting out a heavy sigh she slowly pulled her broadsword off of her back and set it onto the floor. With practiced hands she removed the folds that held her katana in place. Holding it there, she could not stop the onrush of emotions which filled her. The desire to run, the principles that she had drilled into her very DNA, and the betrayal of those principles. Both her betrayal of them, and their betrayal of her. With a heavy breath she lightly pressed her head to the menuki embedded into the weapons tsuka. Rising to her feet she laid the weapon upon her bed and proceeded to undress. If she ran there would just be more blood on her hands. So many lives stained her soul that even her chakra reacted to it, taking on the blood soaked scent.
Heading into the bathroom she set about bathing herself. Despite the fact that her head had not chosen the path she would take in the next few moments her heart and her spirit did. The time it took her to fully wash and bathe herself was not all that long truth be told. But the spiritual cleansing that came with it was another story. Exiting the bath she brushed her hair into a simple but elegant style. Pushing open her door just a crack she summoned Tatsuya. The young woman would politely bow to Belamos and the others before hurrying up to Tsuki's room.
"I need your help sweetheart." No words were needed from that point. The young Tatsuya had served as her assistant for some time when it came to her pre-battle rituals. Together the two set about the process. First her black and silver trimmed gi, and hakama. Wrapping her shins with the Kyahan she fastened them in place while checking to make sure she still had all of the range of movement she normally had. Next her sune-ate shin plates. Holding her arms out to the side, Tatsuya set about attaching the thigh plates, haidate, in place. Picking up the kote, forearm guards, Tsuki herself tied and adjusted them to suit her needs and freedom of movement. Next came the breastplate or Do. Sliding it over her head, Tatsuya assisted her and tied them in place before tucking the straps into the plate so that they would be hidden. Rolling her shoulders she adjusted the shoulder straps to loosen them a bit. Letting out a light smile she joked,"I guess my boobs grew a bit since the last time I wore this." While the joke succeed in breaking the tension it could not shake the fact that Tsuki knew full well there was a chance she would never take it off again.
With all of her armor in place she tied her silver trimmed black and red obi onto her hips. Sliding her katana into the sash she took a deep breath and slid her Haiori on. The silver black and red styled Haori matched the armor flawlessly. Though now that the ceremony was finished all that was left was the finishing touches and to meet with fate. Giving Tatsuya a light kiss on the cheek she smiled,"See to our guests. I will be along shortly." Making her way over to her vanity she began to dig through it for a small box burred in the bottom. Pulling out the small silver box she lightly pulled the two bright, almost glowing earrings free and clipped them into her ears. Time to meet fate. Rising to her feet she took her broadsword in hand and pushed open the door staring down at the men and cloaked figure who was a new addition. Yup there was no doubt about it anymore they were here to kill her. She still had one last fight left in her. Placing her left hand onto the hilt of her katana she held her broadsword over her shoulder with the right,"If you have come to kill me, I warn you now it wont be easy. I'm not the queen of blades for nothing." She stood tall, proud, lethal. She would not run, she would not attack. She would stand and let her hand be forced into battle if it had to be. If those below needed further proof of her identity the armor alone would match the description the uhv had been given.
