[IC] Dangerous Future: The Second Shot

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo, Anoko, and Miharu

Several familiar faces are standing at the compound's surprisingly closed gate. Izumi (http://i.imgur.com/ufdAMSH.jpg), Izumo's date from the night before, and the blond-headed Shizuma heir, Tokaji, stand in front of the steel gate. Tokaji, flanked by his three Euryale bodyguards, holds a large bouquet of flowers--a beautiful arrangement of purple and white flowers--and seems to be talking to Izumi about something. Behind him are a trio of cars--black foreigner vehicles--surrounded by burly men in suits. They're probably an official Shizuma escort.

Hearing their conversation would require some decent ears from this distance.

"If I am not allowed to meet my fiancee, then could you at least give these to her? I have hopes that our clans will, some day, call whomever made this attempt upon her life to answer for their crimes."

"Heh... Whatever kiddo. Might not wanna be around when the little lady herself shows up. Ain't gonna like what you had to say, you know?" The Shizuma's words seem to amuze the Ishimaru guarding the gate. Izumi simply grins in response, then reaches out to take the flowers. A wide grin is plastered on her face, and it's obvious that she's taking great enjoyment in whatever she's figured out. The Shizuma heir, Hitoshi, and Vivienne turn to leave, while Cecilia steps up to Izumi and produces a letter. She shoves the letter into the gate guard's face, then hurriedly follows her friends and sibling to the car. Vivienne just shakes her head, and the Shizuma escort are in the car and off to the Shizuma home without so much as a word to the approaching Iga-nin.

When Izumi notices the group of ninja coming home she smiles and waves.

"Come here little lady", she says while motioning for Kiko to come to her side, "I got something special for you"

The ninja returning home find themselves left to their own devices. Yuuki, Seiji, Mei, and Kimiko head inside without further comment, but naturally Kiko stops at Izumi's urging. Izumo's mentor shoves the big bouquet of flowers into Kiko's hands. "Congratulations kiddo. Looks like you got yourself an admirer. Tell me, how many of his ribs have you broken?" Izumi's clearly referring to Kiko's triumph over her brother, and the heiress goes red at that.

"I didn't hurt him! I mean--Not that I didn't want to, but it'd be rude to beat up the master of Izumo's girlfriend." The boy's mentor turns her attention upon Izumo when she hears what Kiko said.

"Oh-ho-ho, a girlfriend? Did last night mean nothing to you?" Clearly she's referring to Izumo waking up with her bikini across his chest. "I'm hurt. I thought you loved me little man." Unlike Kiko's perfect straight face when teasing Izumo, Izumi makes it obvious that she's not serious with an obviously happy and wide smile on her face. Without further ado, she produces a letter and shoves it into Izumo's face. The perfectly white envelope smells faintly of chamomile and vanilla, and has the boy's name written on the front in very feminine script. "For you. Don't open it here, or else I might get jealous ya know?"

Unfortunately for Anoko: Izumi has nothing to provide the young swordsgirl. Except, of course, a genial smile and a nod.

Shirogane Kiri

Kiri finds himself in the Shirogane household amid a pile of unpacked suitcases. Whether because he was busy sleeping off his jet lag, or unpacking his stuff, the young man hasn't seen hide nor hair of his parents all day. That is, of course, until Mom pops in. Kiri's mother is a svelte woman with a slightly childish face that belied the hard-as-stone personality under it. She could outshout a drill sergeant on a bad day, and could be heard clear from Munich to Lubeck on a good day. The blond-haired German woman frowns at the state of his room, and seems ready to tell him to clean it up. Until she suddenly gets some weird look in her eye, sighs, then simply smiles at the boy instead. "Sweetie", she says in her native German tongue, "you should get cleaned up. We have to meet Papa's brother, and you have to meet your cousins. They're having a party for us, and it would be rude to be late." One more odd, almost forlorn look, follows the woman's words. Then she turns and starts heading downstairs. "Oh", she shouts over her shoulder to her son, "I've been told that there will be very pretty girls at this get together. You might even meet your future wife!" Unbeknownst to Kiri, the only girls there would be a pretty airhead or a vitriolic brat.

[Bad Situation]

The German/Japanese boy is lying on his futon when he hears the footsteps just outside his door and sits up when his mother's shadow shifts behind the screen paper. Sliding doors in the home. What a novel idea. Japanese architecture was truly a marvel. The room is, unsurprisingly, a mess. His clothes, boxes, and suitcases are all scattered about the room in various states of use, as though he attempted to unpack but gave up halfway through the task. Kiri grins cheekily at his mother when she pokes her head into his room however and waves his hands around non-commitally, "Ah, donmai Mama. I'll unpack and clean my room when I get back from meeting Uncle and the others," his tongue screwing around in his mouth in order to hamfistedly shove the Japanese terminology into his native German speech.

Ignoring the look in her eye for the time being, he slowly climbs to his feet and follows his mother outside of the room, bending down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Girls who are not as pretty as you need not apply, Mama. You will be happy to know that I'm as discerning in taste as Papa, eh?" Giving her a little wink, he retreats to his room in order to change.

As he sits down to put on a tight pair of pants he shouts, "Speaking of which, what's Uncle like, Mama? Papa didn't talk about him much on his visits."

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

Kiri's mother just smiles, sighs, and shakes her head at her son. "What will I do with you...?"

When Kiri starts shouting his mother replies in earnest. Her voice carries through the house and is loud enough that it seems as if Kiri were in the room with her. "I never met him. But your Papa tells me he's bold. Perhaps he is some dragon? Haha!" The booming laugh seems un-befitting Kiri's mother, and it echoes throughout the house. "I am more concerned about the children around here. I know it's sudden, but be sure to make a lot of friends here!"

[Bad Situation]

Kiri smiles uncomfortably at the hastily hung mirror as he buttons up his dress shirt., twisting his torso slightly to better fill the lopsided mirror. "You worry too much, Mama. If anything, I'd be worried about you. You don't speak the language as well as I do. And you don't have Papa's looks to fall back on." He'd heard stories of course, about foreign women and their occasional troubles in the country but who could be sure if his mother would face the same. Former assassin or not, it wasn't right for a person to have to deal with that. He would have to ask his Uncle about that. Confident enough with his clothing, a simple white dress shirt and a clean pair of slacks, he exits his room, taking the time to relish the novelty of the sliding door.

He practically glides through the halls, his lips pressed into a thin smile as he feels the altogether new sensation of tatami pressing against his feet. Unsure of where his mother is exactly, he loudly speaks up again, "Do you know anything about Uncle's family, then? Do you think I'll like them?"

[Cespenar]

The burly Iga-nin accompanies Izumi's grin with one of his own, and even manages to take the teasing in stride when the target inevitably becomes him. He puts his hands on his waist, striking a pose that emphasizes his barrel-like torso, and managing to look like something out of a cheesy shonen hero at the same time.

"No worries, I have enough love to cover the both of you."

Regardless of how many people he forces to roll their eyes (or gag), his posture breaks when presented the envelope. He gazes at it for a second, and palms his face, making groaning sounds.

"Oh, goddamn it. Crap, crap, crap."

He glances at the way the Shizuma went through his meaty fingers, and sighs audibly.

[roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

"I will have you know that your Mama is a beautiful and young woman!" Kiri's mother clearly took offense to the idea that her looks were lesser than her husband's, clearly missing the idea that a foreigner would be treated differently in Japan. "I'm sure a smart young man would be willing to help your poor Mama find her way around." After a few moments of looking Kiri finds his mother in his parent's room. She's wearing the same shirt and sweatpants she'd been wearing since Kiri saw her last. But she's holding an unfamiliar bright yellow sundress--probably a new purchase in Japan--against her chest with a pout-y look on her face. After a few moments of silence she looks up to see her son. "Oh", she speaks in a much more quiet tone than before but is still easily heard, "What were you saying?" If Kiri restates his question, then the german woman simply shrugs. "Papa does not speak of his family: Probably to keep their secrets. All I know is that you have 5 cousins: Two teenage girls, a teenage boy like yourself, and two young boys. As you know: Papa has a big family. Your grandma, your two uncles, and your cousins are just the tip of the iceberg. There's also the many servants, relatives who live nearby, and others who lived abroad like ourselves."

When Kiri asks the question of whether he'll like them, his mother simply places the dress on her bed, walks over, and hugs the boy. "I'm sure you'll adore them, just as they'll adore you."

Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu

Izumi just shrugs, while Kiko covers her face with her palm. Izumi waves the letter at the younger Iga-nin. "Come on, take it. It won't bite you." Whether Izumo takes the letter or not, Izumi just laughs. "She was real nervous when she gave me that, so I bet she'll be real upset if you don't read it at least. Her heart might be in that letter." That last bit from Izumi is surprisingly serious.

With that said Kiko just frowns deeply. "Regardless of what's in that letter I don't think you can respond earnestly. We are enemies." Izumi laughs at that, and Kiko blushes. "W-What? Just because that stupid kid thinks we're allies doesn't mean we're friends!" Izumi gives another loud laugh, and the heiress huffs loudly.

[Cespenar]

"Just, give me that," Izumo mumbles as he finally grabs the letter from Izumi's hands and gawks at it blankly. Kiko's words, however, prompt him to turn to her at once.

"That's what she said! Vivienne, I mean, not her. She made me promise not to "pursue" anything with her, because I might end up breaking her heart when our clans go to war, or something."

He whistles between his teeth, annoyed. "Like standing her short won't upset her or anything."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri smiles and leans into the hug, squeezing his mother for good measure before breaking away with a stern look on his face. "Something's wrong, Mama. You're not acting like your usual self right now." His tone is serious, devoid of the playfulness and heavy-handed Japanese from before. Still somewhat unsure of his words, he crosses his arms and tilts his head forward in what he thinks is a thoughtful pose as he slowly and deliberately speaks, "And I don't think Papa is the only one keeping secrets here."

Now concerned, he looks at his mother again. "What's wrong?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu

Izumi smiles and laughs at the young man when he reaches for his letter, but turns it over all the same. Meanwhile, Kiko goes off on her own rant. "And she was right to do so! What happens when we end up competing against one another? What if she was the one that came after my father this morning? You'd both end up hurt, or worse. They're a potential enemy, and nothing will change that!"

At that, Izumi gets surprisingly serious. "You might wanna cool down there young mistress. Not everyone is an enemy, and not everyone is out to get you, ya know?"

That makes the heiress go quiet, and Izumi looks at Izumo. "Just don't worry about that kind of stuff. Though, you should keep your promises kiddo."

Kiri

The young man's mother just smiles. "Nothing, sweetie. I was just thinking that my little boy is all grown up." She motions to the sundress, then puts her hands on her hips and looks at Kiri with a faux sense of anger. "And someone told me I wasn't as pretty as my husband, so I was worried I'd lost my girlish charm."

[Cespenar]

Izumo gets out of his melancholy a little, and replies to Kiko's rant with a shrug.

"I dunno. Chalk it up to my super-bodyguarding-senses, but I don't think this morning was them. It's too obvious. Ask our genius detective here," he says, glancing at Miharu.

When lectured about promises, Izumo simply looks at her mentor with deliberation. He nods as an afterthought.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu simply shrugs when Izumo decides to bring him into the conversation. He hadn't really been paying attention since the Euralye had left. "They wouldn't let me in, but from what little I've been told, it doesn't seem like their style. Besides, your love life is way more interesting to me than politics. It's already looking like you're going to need help to get out of your situation." Miharu does his best to look wise and superior, but it falls flat next to Izumo's obvious physical superiority.

[Cespenar]

Izumo shrugs in return. "Hey, at this point, I'm open to suggestions."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko yawns on the way back from school, a bit tired out from the early start, getting blown up, and class. Her thoughts drift elsewhere until they're pretty close to the gate, only paying much mind to the other clan's little heir and his entourage as they drive off. She isn't quite snapped from her super samurai fantasies until she sees Kiko receive the bouquet. "Wait, what now." She blinks rapidly as she comes back to reality. "Master of Izumo's... we've only been at school 2 days, you guys work fast," she says in the general direction of Izumo and Kiko, her level of sarcasm/sincerity impossible to gauge.

Anoko purses her lips at Kiko's talk of potentially fighting their clan in the future and the complications of a relationship for Izumo, but relaxes somewhat when Izumi speaks up. When Izumo polls for ideas, she can just shrug, honestly. "Um... I have some kind of ideas, but the Practical part of my brain that sensei's made me hone says they're too stupid and rooted in fantasy to mention. Plus I kinda don't know the situation very well. I would definitely read the letter though."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu

The heiress scoffs angrily at Anoko and Miharu. Obviously upset that she's the only voice of reason among them. She unceremoniously shoves the bouquet she received into Anoko's arms. "If you like it, then you can keep it. But since we're done acting like this is some sort of shoujo manga, then we should at least go home." With that said, Kiko storms off. It's obvious where she'll go, and that she wants no company on the trip. Izumi just watches the little heiress leave, then sighs and shakes her head.

"That annoying kid... Doesn't even realize she's being courted, huh?" The older ninja turns her attention upon Izumo. "My suggestion would be to be yourself. Respond earnestly, act for today, and to hell with the future."

[Princess Tracy]

Not quite yet in tune with Kiko's outbursts, Anoko is caught unawares by the bouquet and finds herself coughing as the heiress storms off thanks to a face full of pollen. She holds it awkwardly away from herself, they're not her flowers to appreciate after all and she doesn't really like that kinda stuff anyway. Shrugging, she resolves to give them to her mother later. She smiles at Izumi's advice, "Yeah, that sounds good, do that," she seconds it to Izumo.

Anoko heads into the compound, stretching her arms and yawning as she heads home to at least change into some street clothes. Catching herself a break, she heads up to the main building to see how things are, considering training for the rest of the day if there's nothing to do.

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks suspiciously at the Ishimaru-nin.

"I don't understand if you're praising or mocking me, but whatever." He shrugs, and taps the letter softly to his head, twice. "I think I'll go and be myself, then."

As he wanders off too, faint mumbling can be heard by those who are near.

"What would Blast do, anyway?"

Retreating to his room, Izumo finally cracks open the otherworldly seal letter, and gives it a read.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Unless Miharu or Izumo has anything to say, then Anoko is able to get home to change without any problems. The young girl finds herself walking up the ramp leading into the short one-story house she shared with her mother. Without a father, and with her mother working constantly, Anoko often finds her home as empty. Today is, fortunately, an exception. The creak of her mother's wheelchair tells the young girl that, for whatever reason, the maid is home rather than working at the main house. The beautiful dark-haired woman seems to be in the kitchen, based on the sounds. If Anoko looks in, then she finds her mother wearing an apron covering a set of very casual clothing. Perhaps after the explosion this morning the maids were sent home? Whether Anoko says anything to her mother or not, Ayaka does shout when the front door opens.

"Ryosei!" Why was Ayaka using a man's name without an honorific? "I'm here, in the kitchen!"

Izumo

Unless Miharu has anything more to say, then Izumi allows the young boy to go in without further comment. Unless he has somewhere in particular to go, then he finds himself in his house.

When he decides to open the letter, then he finds it contains a thin folded letter. The letter looks like a mess of eraser marks, and it's plainly been written, erased, and re-written many times. Why she didn't simply get a new sheet of paper no one could tell.

Hello Iga-kun!

You're probably really surprised to get this, but it's for a good reason. And it's not just so I can tease you about it tomorrowwhich I will! So, uh. I haven't been honest with you. I mean I didn't lie to you, but we have to. I know it'll come as a surprise, but I'm afraid we cannot be more than friends. I know you probably expected something more girlish and happy to come from this letter, but I feel you deserve the truth.

Vivienne and I are monsters.

Well, we're not physically monsters, but we have monsters inside us. The Euryale are monsters. In the past, we didn't live for too long. But a great hero brought us salvation. We could live forever, you know! Well, we could if we didn't get old and creaky like Grandmother. But the monster's blood still resides in us. We can't be together, because that blood seeks out others. It tries to kill everyone we're close to. That is why Vivienne and I wear long sleeves in summer, and why we have to wear gloves to help Tokaji... And why he's sick. It's my fault he's sick. I killed him, but he doesn't know it yet.

That's why I have to write you this letter. I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused for you. I do not wish for you to suffer the same fate I brought upon Tokaji. Vivienne thought I should just stop pursuing you, but we plan to make ourselves scarce when Tokaji talks to that stupid girl you hang out with. And... I felt that it wasn't right for me to just ignore you. That's why I wrote this letter.

I'm sorry, but I ask that you do not tell anyone else. It's a secret between us, okay? It's a secret between us.


There's no signature on the letter, but it's a fairly girlish script. Plus, it was plainly Cecilia who handed the letter over to Izumi. Nonetheless, it seems fate has dealt the young boy a poor hand.

Miharu

Izumi is left looking at the little detective. "You know, the little master is looking for you. He said he had something to show you, and seemed to be carrying around a case." The older ninja just shrugs. "Probably some new gun he got from somewhere. Who knew a boy as cute as the little master was some weird gun-otaku."

[Cespenar]

Izumo stares at the words, plain and simple.

And to think that a love letter would be complicating things.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko slouches into her home fully expecting to be alone again - with such a state she might catch a nap. However, hearing her mother's voice sends a sudden spring in her step and a smile on her face - Ayaka was here! Just as she makes to call back to her, it dawns on her that wasn't her name she was shouting for. Who's Ryosei...?

She ponders for a moment before peaking her head around into the kitchen. If possible she tries to sneak up on her mother and drop the bouquet of flowers in her lap before surprisingly announcing herself, but if Ayaka is facing the door she just announces herself normally and holds the flowers at her side. "Hey oka-san," Anoko greets sweetly, trying to give proper greeting for once. "I'm glad to see you home so early! Are we expecting company?" She wonders if she can tease the old beauty at all.

Move Silently? Its a bit inconsequential but seems suiting [roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo

The letter's words do not change, no matter how intently the boy stares at them.

Anoko

Her daughter's sudden appearance draws the young mother's attention. "Oh! Ano-chan. I didn't expect you to be home so early." Ayaka picks up the bouquet of flowers, looks at it, and looks to Anoko with a surprised look on her face. "Everlasting love and loyalty? Oh, Ano-chan. That's wrong. I mean, I love you Ano-chan, but only as a mother loves her daughter." Then, as if a shock of electricity ran through her spine, Ayaka jolts up and smiles. "Wait! You don't know anything about flowers, so someone gave this to you! Oooh~!" The idea that her daughter had an admirer, a lover, brings out the girlish side of the former doctor. "Who was it? What's he like? When will you bring him to see me? Oh, this is serious Ano-chan. You're finally becoming a woman~"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko is perplexed by her mother's talk of love of her daughter, but eventually figures it out and pretends to flinch like that's what she'd been going for (obviously struggling not to laugh). She gives an actual jump of surprise as her mother suddenly starts fretting over her potential boyfriend. "Wh-what? No, no. Why would anyone give me flowers? Sorry to disappoint, but these are just Kiko-chan's rejects that she threw at me, I thought you might like them." While its clear that Anoko doesn't consider herself the sort of catch that boys chase after, her eyes do stare off into the distance for a moment as she drifts off in a way that her mother recognises as her characteristic daydreaming. She gives a little sigh, while she didn't much care about boys in that way, it might not be so bad to get that kind of attention every once in a while.

She quickly shakes her head out of it and tries to turn the tables, even as her mother's excitement has left her blushing in embarassment. "W-well, what about you Ayaka-san." She clears her throat and tries to put on her 'mature gossip' voice that she'd seen women on TV use. "When do I get to meet 'Ryosei'?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Ayaka sighs loudly at that. "Well. Violets", she points to the purple flowers, "mean "loyalty". And yarrows", she points to the yellow flowers, "mean "everlasting love". Essentially, together, these flowers are akin to a confession of love. Or, perhaps, a marriage proposal." The maid goes back to her cooking, and seems to be chopping garlic for something. "I'm sure you'll find someone cute someday. And hopefully give me beautiful grandchildren." When Anoko tries to turn the tables, Ayaka simply smiles. "You heard me, huh? Well, your mother is still young..." She looks at Anoko for her reaction, then laughs loudly. "I'm kidding. Ryosei was involved with your father. He called me this afternoon asking to come by and talk to me about him."

[Cespenar]

After a while more of staring Izumo crumples the letter, and in a fit of mixed feelings, throws it in his mouth, chomping down hard.

He gets out of his room and decides to take his frustration out from the Blastmobile, still chewing the thin paper. Some mindless grunt work. That would be fine for now.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri giggles softly, a sound not entirely typical from a boy his age, and waggles his feet as they dangle off the edge of the high western style bed. "Well you don't need to worry, Mama. I know Papa didn't marry you for just your looks." He lets himself collapse onto the bed, sending ripples streaming through the delicate fabric as he rolls around on his back. "Do we need to bring anything to the meeting with Papa's family? How soon do we need to be there? I was thinking we could stop by a florist and pick up some flowers. I've been practicing my shopping vocabulary since we boarded the plane back in Munich and I've been wanting to practice with real Japanese people."

[Princess Tracy]

At the explanation of the flowers she nods thoughtfully. "Wow, the guy's only known Kiko for like a day whoever he is, he must be eager. Though... I guess Kiko would say its just clan politics or something. What do I know," she remarks, shrugging. Anoko can't help but feel she's let her mother down or something by not having the flowers directed at her. "You don't really think guys would be chasing after me... do you?" All the same she shivers at mention of grandchildren, no way!

Despite her best attempt to be the one to put the pressure on her dear mother, Ayaka still manages to make her daughter blush deeply with the way she trails off. She sighs in relief as she better explains who Ryosei is, finally chilling out. She didn't object to her mother seeing people, but relationships in general weren't something she was necessarily comfortable discussing. "Oh! A friend of dad's? Should I get out of your way or what?" She's suddenly quite excited, curiosity in her eyes as she bounces on her heels slightly

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Anoko's mother simply explains her own thoughts concerning clan politics. "As you know, Ano-chan, Kiko-sama isn't like you and I. We were born free, able to choose for ourselves, and our future is as mercurial as water." Ayaka is quiet for a moment, then sighs. "The young mistress likely had her future chosen for her, or else this boy would not have brought such a gift. After all, as bright as the young mistress can be concerning her enemies: She doesn't know anything about flowers or boys. This was probably a message to her father. Something like, "I accept this one", I imagine." A deep sense of pity wells up from within her mother's voice, but then Ayaka suppresses it and looks at her daughter. "Ano-chan, be a good friend to that poor girl."

Ayaka moves on from the heavy topic when the conversation turns back to Ryosei. "Yes, he was your father's business partner. Well... I've come to realize in recent years that your father was not the salaryman he claimed to be. So, to that end, I suspect Ryosei was his partner-in-crime. Not that your father was a criminal in the past--though he did have that kind of face--but I digress." Ayaka shows her daughter a smile. "And I would be happy for you to be here. After all, Ryosei is coming to talk your father. And it is important for you to learn about him from someone else. After all, Ryosei and I do not share the same image of your father."

Kiri

Kiri's mother just sighs. "You truly are your father's boy." She shakes her head, then starts answering Kiri's questions. "No, we don't need to bring anything except ourselves, and we'll be meeting them in half-an-hour. More importantly, I need to get dressed." With that, the young german woman starts shooing Kiri out of her bedroom. Once the young man is outside, then he needs only wait for a minute before his mother comes out in that very same yellow sundress. Whatever his mother said about when she got it: The dress is clearly a size too small, and obviously fits rather improperly. However, Kiri's mother simply forces the boy outside before he can protest about it. Probably out of self-consciousness. The boy and his mother head out, but after a few moments of wandering the compound it becomes plainly obvious that Kiri's mother has no idea where to go.

Izumo

Unfortunately for Izumo, working on the Blastmobile seems like a distant dream. As soon as he steps out of his house he discovers a pair of foreigners on the compound. One is a svelte blond woman in a dress one size too small, and the other is a young boy in a white shirt and slacks.

Kiri and Izumo

Kiri and his mother finally run into someone who looks like they know where they're going: A muscular boy with a disciplinarian's face still wearing his school uniform. Kiri's mother waves at him and asks in german: "Können Sie mir den Weg zum Haupthaus? Mein Sohn und ich sind verloren. Wir würden gerne Ihre Hilfe." Whether Izumo understands it or not, she clearly has a confused look on her face and seems to be lost. Of course, Kiri could easily translate it into "Could you direct me to the main house? My son and I are lost. We would like your help", but that would involve helping his mother instead of watching her flounder in the face of language barriers.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko stares sadly at the table as Ayaka describes Kiko's situation back to her. Arrangements already being made to wed her off... that's exactly what Kiko had been fearing. No wonder she's always trying to run away. At her mother's request though, she looks back up and gives a brave smile. "I'll... I'll do my best. I only realised yesterday how bad things were for her and I really want to help her. With her attitude its hard to even be by her side, and I don't really know how to help her longterm but... I'll do what I can because she doesn't seem to have a whole lot of people in her corner."

Anoko humms in thought at her mother's hypothesis of her father's shady activities. Anoko didn't think too much of her father - she was largely raised by her mother as far as she could remember, and with Ayaka wheelchair bound she had to learn independence early on, not really pausing to yearn for a second parent. Or at least that's how she figured it - she didn't like to let things get her down. All the same, she regarded her father as someone important to her mother and that was good enough for her. That and with how important lineage was to everyone else around here, she would entertain some notion of curiosity if it did turn out her dad was a criminal of some sort.

Anoko nods after a bit of thought. "Okay momma. I'm gonna go get changed to be all presentable and stuff," she declares, heading to her room. She quickly changes out of her uniform and into an anime t-shirt and jeans, not being one much for fashion but the untimely Sailor Moon reference is buried under her plain red hoodie. She returns to the kitchen shortly with her heirloom sword sheathed and at her side, her hand resting on it a bit more comfortably each day. If Ayaka's still alone, she sits down at the table and asks her to tell her about her father for the first time in a long time, getting into the mood to learn.

[Cespenar]

Izumo stops to face the duo. He examines them both, maybe the woman the tiniest bit longer because of her choice of dress, but then totally loses it when she opens her mouth.

"I'm almost sure that's not English. Is it?"

"I am sorry. I can't understand you. Do you speak Japanese? Japanish," he adds what he thinks as some foreign word for "Japanese", in a helpful and creative streak.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu blinks a few times before Izumi's words finally sunk in. Oh, he's got something new?" With a whoop Miharu rushes off to find out. He remembers to wave a "thank you" before disappearing from sight.

[ZeroNumerous]

Miharu

Running distances the young man from the gate very quickly, but he's stopped by a trio of people occupying the main walkway. He immediately recognizes Izumo, but beside Izumo is a svelte blond-haired foreigner, and a foreign-looking teenage boy.

Izumo, Miharu, and Kiri

"Japanisch?" The blond-haired woman shook her head. "Nein, ich entschuldige mich, aber ich weiß nicht Japanisch sprechen." She suddenly switches to English. "English? Uh... Eigo?" Whether English succeeds or fails, she switches back to her native tongue. "Es tut mir leid Kiri. Es sieht aus, als ob wir unseren eigenen Weg zu finden." She speaks while looking at the boy. It looks like she's given up on figuring out how to communicate, and is going to try and find their own way around. Nonetheless Izumo and Miharu are able to figure out that the boy's name is Kiri, as that's clearly not German and plainly used to address the boy. Or maybe it is german, and is just german for "son"?

Anoko

Talking to her daughter about her daughter's father put Ayaka in a good mood, and soon enough the young maid is moving her arms and hands with renewed gusto. By the time Anoko is done getting changed Ayaka has chopped up what she wanted and is watching the oven bake something. The young maid smiles when Anoko asks about her father, and starts to tell a story. "Well, you know how your father and I met, right? He saved me from an accident. This businessman was drunk at the wheel, and... He suddenly lost control. His car hit mine. Your father saw it all, and ran into the mess of both cars and pulled me out. My spinal cord was severed below the L3 vertebra--my lumbar vertebra--so I couldn't get out even if I was conscious. Your father was so worried that I wouldn't make it that he came and visited every day... Or, at least, that's what the nurses told me." Ayaka closes her eyes, and grows quiet for a moment. She smiles, then returns to her story. "So, when I finally woke up and the hospital said I was okay to be discharged, your father came to me with tears in his eyes and confessed that he had fallen in love with me from the moment he saw me. He promised to take care of me, and we dated, and we got married. And then I came to work for Iga Kinzo--your father's friend--and he went to work for Iga-sama. You were born a few months after, and you were the apple of his eye." Ayaka reaches up to grasp her daughter's hand.

"Your father was loud, easily annoyed, and spoke his mind too much. But he also had a big heart, and he loved you dearly. He went overseas on business 11 years ago. I never received any letters, and he never came back. You probably don't remember, since you were so small. But that sword", she points to the blade at Anoko's side, "was the last thing he gave to you before he left."

Ayaka closes her eyes and leans her head back. "I... Ignore the kind of work he must have done for Iga-sama for your sake. I'm not stupid, after all. I know your kendo instructor is the kind of man who killed people before, and I know the little mistress has killed already. I think he's dead, and I pray you do not follow in his footsteps."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko listens with rapt attention to her mother's recounting of her father. She'd heard it all before in some form or another, but it was nice to see her mother so enthused and honestly her own curiosity was suddenly piqued by their incoming visitor. She shivers a little as she recalls the accident and her wounds, not enjoying one bit imagining her mother in pain and danger, even knowing she emerged safely.

The emphasis of Ayaka grasping her hand catches her off guard, and the idea that her father cared for her gets through for once. "If he loved me so much I... I feel bad for not remembering him." Her grip tightens on her sword a little as she realises just a bit of closeness for the old man. "Still it's... nice to think someone else cared for me." she concludes with a smile

Ayaka's last words bring a dark look over Anoko - they seem to be just the right ones to bring up thoughts she was doing her best to tuck away. Yeah Kiko had killed - she'd seen it, been accessory to a whole room full of corpses. And her instructor seemed to be expecting the same kind of brutality in Anoko now. And as much as she beats herself up for being gutless and knowing Kiko did what she had to, she's still a teenage girl and still has yet to cross into the world of killers in earnest. And a big part of her never wanted to... and feared having to. God knows what would happen then. And Ayaka's last note of not wanting her daughter to follow the same path just further shakes her resolve...

Anoko sits shivering in the chair, her eyes drawn down to the table and away from her mother's. She removes her hand from her blade and doubles up her grip on her mother's as she tries to keep it together. A few deep breaths and she tries to move on with a shaky voice, still not looking at Ayaka. "S-so when are we expecting th-this guy?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Anoko's mother just laughs when Anoko mentions not remembering her father. "Your father wasn't big on being remembered. I still don't have any photos of him. But he wanted to make the world a better place, even if he did so in obscurity."

Ayaka just smiles. "An hour or so. You might wanna go talk to your friends in the meantime. I'm sure Ryosei would be happy to wait if he does appear. After all, he was one of your father's dearest friends." The wheelchair bound woman motions for Anoko to come closer, as if she were going to whisper something to the young girl. But when she leans in Ayaka just reaches up and hugs her daughter. "I believe in you, no matter what you do. You are my beautiful baby girl, and you always will be." Without further ado, the duo hear a familiar voice shouting outside, followed by the very loud voice of a woman Anoko doesn't recognize speaking in a language she doesn't understand.

Ayaka sighs, then looks to the door. "Ano-chan. One of Kiko-sama's cousins is coming today, but it appears they arrived without me noticing due to the events this morning. Would you go outside and direct any foreigners you see out there to the main house? Kinzo-sama will want to talk to them, since he didn't get the chance to earlier."

If Anoko goes to do as she's told, then she finds Izumo and Miharu outside in the street talking to a pretty, svelte blond woman and her equally impressive son. Well, the foreigners are speaking German, and Izumo seems very confessed.

[Cespenar]

"Kiri?" Izumo repeats, latching onto the familiar word. He turns to the boy, hopeful. "You're Japanese?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko is quiet for a moment before throwing her arms around her mother, hugging her back as her breathing steadies. Ayaka always knew just what to say. As Anoko's heart calms with her mother's comfort she whispers "I couldn't ask for a better mother than you," she says in her usual melodramatic tone but meaning every word. Finally she kisses her mother's cheek and stands up, smiling again. Anoko would figure her situation out somehow and she knew she had the most precious support of all until then.

Having bounced back she quickly wipes her eyes as Ayaka looks to the door. "Fair enough then. Maybe Kiko will enjoy the company, who knows," she half-jokes as she relaxes into holding her sword and heads for the door. "I won't be gone too long!" she promises as she leaves, waving to Ayaka.

The brown-haired girl in a hoodie, toting an old looking katana by her side, emerges from a nearby house and greets the crowd. "Hey, Izumo, Miharu. Apparently the main building's expecting some company, lets just show them the way, okay?" Anoko gives a bow to the two foreigners and tries to indicate with a wave of her arm for them to follow. If they do, she leads them right to the main building. "Come along, Anoko-chan know where you're going," she says in her most friendly tone.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri steps out and stands in front of his mother protectively when more of the teenagers come from out of the woodworks. To the trained eye of the Iga nin present, his stance is wide and ready to defend himself and his mother at a moment's notice. His eyes flicker from body to body, as if sizing up each of them as potential combatants but eventually he trains his sight on Izumo. His intense and focused gaze breaks however, when he scowls and places his arms on his hips. "Oi ya bastard, we're foreign not deaf and mentally disabled. Ya don't gotta shout!" He turns back toward his mother and instantly, the rough Japanese he used to address the Iga morphs into a polite and airy German, "Mama, let me speak to them. I'll get directions from them and we can be on our way."

His speech transforms again however, when he continues conversing with Izumo, this time with a slightly archaic and oddly formal Japanese.

"We are seeking the home of one Iga-dono. My father has made arrangements for me to meet with my Uncle and his most honored children. Though it shames me to ask this of a stranger such as yourself, I must humbly request your aid in this tiresome quest." He ends his request with a sharp bow but when he looks up, his eyes lock onto Anoko's and he pauses. He quickly abandons his mother and rushes to the swordswoman's side, drawing in a little too close for comfort.

"And just who is this vision of beauty?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's eyes lock with Kiri's and she instinctively steps back quickly into an iaido stance as he startles her with the fast and close approach. "Whoa! Er... do you mean me?" She stares blankly, hardly used to that sort of attention and not sure if the foreign kid with the archaic tongue was meaning what he was saying. "Yukimotou Anoko, samurai-in-training. Its rude to ask for names without introducing yourself first," she adds, wagging her finger playfully as she relaxes her stance. All the same, she bows in greeting IF he gives her the space to do so.

"Anyway I have an hour to burn so I can take you to the main building when you're ready. You're Iga Kinzo's family or something right? I should probably warn you about your cousin's temper..." True to her word she departs whenever they follow, and gladly walks and talks

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The appearance of more teenagers does nothing to change the way Kiri's mother carries herself. She seems genial and nice, but whether that's because she truly doubts children could be evil or because she doesn't believe she's in any danger is up in the air. The blonde woman looks at Anoko and smiles, nods, then turns to speak to her son in her native German tongue. "Kiri. Your girlfriend is pretty. Introduce your mother to the mother of her grandchildren." Whether Kiri introduces her or not, the German woman looks to Anoko and tries to communicate, hoping that at least one Japanese person knew German. "You're absolutely stunning dear. You shouldn't hide that beauty under baggy clothes and hoodies." She doesn't seem to be in any particular hurry to talk to Iga Kinzo.

[Bad Situation]

The German ninja gives her a cocky grin and backs off slightly, "Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Shirogane Kiri, they call me the White Wolf of Okinawa!" He runs a hand through his white hair, sending locks of it fluttering as if to punctuate his statement. Winking, he adds, "And of course I meant you! If you are suggesting that I could mistake a beauty such as yourself, I will not hear it." When his mother speaks up from behind he nods appreciably, "My mother of course, agrees. To hide one such as yourself from the world so is nothing short of criminal." Emboldened by his mother's words, he approaches once more. "The moon is beautiful, is it not?"

Remembering another line from one of his period dramas he steps in and reaches for her hand, "What say you? Will you be the sheathe to my sword?"

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks confused as various people spice the situation up -- confused enough that he can't even prepare a comeback at Kiri's initial outburst, but it all falls apart at the new kid's last words.

"What?!"

Izumo starts to walk up to the "pair", and unless Anoko can defuse the situation quickly, the Iga-nin seems like he will get at least somewhat physical with the newcomer.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko, Izumo, Miharu, and Kiri

Comprehension of what Izumo was upset about or what Kiri said didn't come to Kiri's mother, but she did understand the way Izumo moved. She immediately stepped between her son and the boy with the aggressive mien. Words weren't needed to communicate her intent, and likely would have simply muddied the message anyway. Regardless of their language barriers Izumo, Miharu, and Anoko figure out that the lioness has been roused by Izumo's movements. Her defensive posture toward Kiri makes her words crystal clear: Touch my child and I'll kill you. The german woman speaks in her native tongue to her son. "Kiri? Did you say something that I will have to kill this boy over? You should apologize before he gets too agitated. I do not like harming children, and would not want to ruin your first day."

[Overlord Rion]

One blink.

Two blinks.

Three blinks.

What the hell was going on? Did he say what I think he said? There are people who actually talk like that? Of course there was only one appropriate response. Miharu laughed. This situation just plucked all the needed strings. "Oh you've got to be kidding me. Please, Anoko, talk some sense into him before Izumo rips him in half."

He switches to English for a minute. Most people from Europe speak multiple languages, right? "So you're looking for the main building, right? I can take you there, Ma'am."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri looks as confused as his mother. "No! All I did was tell her that I wanted her by my side so I could get to know her, and fight alongside her! At least, that's what I think I said."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko blinks and just smiles politely as Kiri's mother addresses her, naturally not understanding a word of German but... whatever she was saying was in a nice tone at least. She even smiles at Kiri's introduction - with his whacky hair and weird way of speaking he hardly seemed boring, which was good for her! However when Kiri unleashes his salvo of praise in a tongue she understands, she's quite gobsmacked, blushing heavily with no idea what to say as Izumo storms up. She pulls her hood over her head bashfully, no one's ever gotten that sort of reaction from her before. And just after she was talking about this with Ayaka... why couldn't she have been discussing winning the lottery or something instead?

"Um... your Japanese is a bit off I think," she advises Kiri, clearing her throat. "That last line about sheaths and swords... I guess Izumo-kun here thinks it sounds a bit lewd," she tries to explain diplomatically. " I'm... not used to guys talking like that, er... Do, um... do you greet every girl this way?" she asks, wondering if its some sort of foreign thing. "Your language is good but your way of speaking is a bit... outdated I guess? I'm sure that will improve if you're staying and get in practice though," she says encouragingly.

"Its okay, Izumo, I can handle myself," she says to the biggest Iga-nin earnestly, not wanting some fight to start on her account. "He didn't mean anything bad by it." Still blushing.

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri, Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu

The german woman doesn't move out of Izumo's way, but when Miharu speaks she does respond in English. Though she doesn't take her eyes off of Izumo. "My English not so good, but at least a way to talk. Yes, we talk to... Kinzoo? Eyega Kinzoo." She was right when she said her English wasn't very good, but it's obvious that she's at least trying to communicate. When Miharu offers to show her the way in a language she understands, then Kiri's mom finally agrees. She motions for her son to follow, and follows Miharu to the main house. If either Izumo, Anoko, or both decide to follow then the german woman positions herself between Izumo and any of the other children. Apparently her first impression of the muscular Iga-nin is decidedly negative, and the physical barricade formed by her body proves surprisingly quick to intercede should Izumo attempt to get closer. Of course, all the way she talks to her son in german.

"Kiri, introduce your poor Mama to your new friend. And don't slouch, you want to impress. And don't come on too strongly Kiri, I like this one." It wasn't hard to see why Kiri's father often bent to her desires when she expressed them in this manner.

Kiri, Miharu, and Anyone who follows

Kiri, his mother, Miharu, and anyone who decides to follow the trio eventually find their way to the main house. Outside is a dark-haired familiar girl (http://i.imgur.com/W1J2LFa.jpg) whom any Iga-nin recognizes as Kiko. The little heiress looks at the group walking up, then frowns deeply. She looks to Miharu and speaks in Japanese. "You have some foreigners following you. If you want to keep them you have to feed them and walk them properly."

[Cespenar]

Izumo stops in his tracks as soon as he finds the boy's mother on his way, as if he'd hit an invisible wall. When it's explained that Kiri didn't know what he spoke of, he relaxes even more.

He turns to Anoko.

"Hey, I didn't mean you can't handle yourself. It's just that the dolt speaks Japanese better than to say something like this."

He looks over to Kiri.

"No hard feelings man, but someone really should teach you about this stuff."

Other than that, though, he shows no further aggression towards the boy, and totally ignores his mother's weird Mama Bear routine.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri chortles at the slight. In fact, he seems to fail to register the rude remark as an insult at all. Breaking away from Anoko's side, he marches up to Miharu and Kiko, rubbing his chin as he examines the girl. "Hm. A bit more plain than Beauty over there, but not bad at all..." He grins at the dourfaced girl, leaning in with his shoulder to get a closer look. "Likening me to a dog? Not bad at all. Though, I guess my reputation would precede..." The German ninja immediately jumps away from the heiress and strikes a fighting stance...only to punch and kick at the air randomly. Following his relentless assault on the sky, he launches himself into a series of backflips and aerial flourishes, finally sticking his landing with a ridiculous but undeniably cool pose.

"...Me! The White Wolf of Okinawa!"

Mentally patting himself on the back for his amazing introduction, he confidently returns to Kiko. "You're as sharp as you look. Cold, commandin', and a tongue that could cut through steel. Lemme' guess, you're one of those strong and silent types, aren'tcha? Or could it be that you're..." Kiri pauses suddenly and something seems to dawn on upon him, if his shell-shocked face is anything to go by. "Impossible, I thought those only existed in fiction...!"

"...a tsundere!"

Idly, he wonders how the girl might look in twin-tails.

[Cespenar]

Their first impression notwithstanding, Izumo feels something akin to respect to the newcomer. The boy got vigor and guts to go around, that was for sure. Even if he was a little bit... overblown. And this coming from Izumo himself.

He recollects his thoughts just in time to hear Kiri call Kiko a... "tsundere".

Time slows as he throws a side glance at Kiko, his eyes moving inch by inch.

Let's see if you can be in two places at the same time, obasan, a small part in him muses.

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri, Izumo, Miharu, and potentially Anoko

Kiko just watches the boy with a bored expression on her face. She watches Kiri go through several flips, spins, punches and kicks with the same face, and only claps slowly with a deadpan look on her face when he finishes. Of course, Kiri's mother claps loudly at the antics. All of that ends when Kiri calls her tsundere. The heiress goes surprisingly cold, and her icy words cut the air like a drawn sword."Yay for the mutt. He knows lots of tricks and funny words! Can you shake hands?" She extends her hand out to Kiri with a soft smile like black ice, but the young man immediately recognizes that putting his hand in hers would be foolish. Shaking this girl's hand would be akin to Kamen Rider shaking hands with the red-cloaked Great Leader; a foolish endeavor that would only end in misery! A taut smile through clenched teeth shows Kiko's obvious anger, but her hand doesn't retreat until outright refused. "Come on, boy. Shake, like a good boy!"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's head is still spinning as Miharu takes command and leads them away. She almost wants to run back inside and ask Ayaka what the hell to do when a boy is totally coming onto you. Still... Ayaka asked her to make sure they get where they're going, so she tags along, trailing behind Izumo. She shakes her head rapidly as they go - what on earth was up with her being affected by mere words like that, like some boy-crazed damsel!

At Kiri's acrobatic introduction, she finds herself calm down around him a little and give a bit of an applause that his mother's greatly overshadows. However, much like Izumo she tenses and watches in horror as he slaps a label on Kiko. As the heiress extends her hand, she quickly and nervously pleads, "C'mon Kiko, he's just playing around. He gave me a weird introduction as well." She gives an awkward laugh, hoping to give Kiri some sort of out in front of his mother.

[Cespenar]

Izumo slowly turns to Anoko, and raises a finger to his lips in a theatrical manner.

"Shh."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri's eyes widen slightly when Kiko lashes out with her vitriolic spiel but his grin only widens in a knowing smirk when she asks him to shake her hand. He laughs easygoingly at her rage and steps up to face her personally. "~Oh, guess I was mistaken~. It wasn't a tsundere after all."

More like he found a little brat, was all.

"Well, even that's charmin' in it's own way, I guess." He didn't know exactly what this girl's damage was but it clearly wasn't a very healthy kind of anger. If she didn't vent it off here, who knew what kind of problems she'd cause for her friends down the line. And if she did, the trouble would be on his hands. What was that saying? Taking responsibility? The German ninja gives Miharu a surreptitious little wink as he passes by him and resolves himself to a world of pain when he extends his hand out to shake her own "Sorry. But here, if it'll make you feel any better."

Bracing himself for the worst, he flashes her one of his trademark smiles.

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo, Anoko, Kiri, and Miharu

The smile and the trusting way that Kiri throws himself into danger causes something strange to happen. The heiress blushes when their hands meet. A sharp sigh follows her blush, and the heiress just closes her eyes and shakes her head. The pair share a firm, perhaps a little tight on Kiko's side, handshake and part without incident. "I suppose even I can be magnanimous from time to time. But do not be rude to Father. He is not so... Forgiving. Either way, get out of here." The cold dismissal doesn't say that Kiri is forgiven, but he did stick his hand into the fire and emerge un-burnt.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko clasps her hands over her eyes as Kiri extends his hand, oh god he's going to get the snot beat out of him in front of his own mother. After a second though she peers through her fingers to see Kiko blushing and giving a perfectly civil handshake. What. This one's full of surprises that much is sure, and suddenly Anoko feels less foolish for him putting her off-balance earlier.

She snaps to it as Kiko tells Kiri to go away. "Hey, lets head inside! Is this your mother, Kiri-kun? We haven't been introduced. I think there's some sort of meeting on today so I'm not sure who's back yet but I'm sure the serving staff will know what to do with you." She speaks quickly as she pushes into the building proper, inviting them along before Kiri pushes his luck with Kiko any further.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri's smile only deepens when the heiress surprises even himself with her sudden blushing. So the girl could actually be cute if she wanted. Who knew? "The name's Shirogane Kiri, and no can do lil' miss. I'm here'ta see Iga-dono and meet my cousins and Uncle today. Can't do that with my tail behind my legs, yeah?" He chuckles and looks around the little yard, caught up in the tasteful Japanese architecture. Remembering that he's in company of a girl he rounds on Kiko again and winks, "Sides', if I turned and left now I wouldn' be able to get to know you better, would I?" He reaches for her hand again but stops short after being interrupted by Anoko.

Though he frowns at the thought of somebody getting in his way, his expression softens when he realizes it's the beautiful samurai girl from earlier. He sighs and shakes his head in faux disappointment, "Well, I guess standin' out in the middle of the front steps might make trouble fe'rall the servants and other visitors."

He runs a hand through his hair, tosses it to the side, and looks as though he's about to say something but then promptly ditches both girls to run to his mother's side, chattering to her in their German tongue, "Mama, I think it's going well. The one who looked as though she was about to hurt me is what I think the Japanese call a tsundere." He leans in and conspiratorially whispers the word into his mother's ears." When he's done explaining the situation with the Iga to her he turns and smiles widely at the gathered Iga nin.

Taking a deep breath, the German begins introducing his mother to the other teenagers, once again adopting an oddly formal tone, "Everyone, it is my honor to introduce my most honorable mother. She does not speak your most honorable language as well as I, so please treat her with honor and kindness for the duration of her stay."

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo, Anoko, Kiri, and Miharu

Kiko looks at Anoko when she talks about who's back and who's not. "Father and that foolish brother of mine are in there", she says as she jabs a thumb at the door behind her, "but they're meeting some weird old man. They also sent all the staff home, so Ayaka-chan isn't here either." Of course Kiko wouldn't know whether Anoko had seen her mother yet, but the heiress informed her as to Ayaka's whereabouts all the same. Unless the heiress was lamenting Ayaka's absence to her daughter, which is equally possible. When Kiri talks about himself and his mission, then Kiko just frowns. That frown only deepens when he says something as ridiculous as wanting to get to know the heiress more. "So your name is Dog, and you're the Mutt of Okinawa come to get a pat on the head from Father. I'll commend your bravery hound, but Father does not like dogs. He is much more of a cat person."

Kiko looks at Anoko when Kiri goes off to talk to his mother. "He's kind of an idiot, isn't he?"

Kiri's mother had been watching the whole scene with a genial smile, as she didn't understand a word exchanged between anyone. When her son talks about tsundere, and the girls she just gives him a smile. "I don't understand what you mean, but I'm proud of you for making friends so quickly."

"Oh god the dog is talking again." Kiko covers her face with her palm as Kiri goes on about honor and more honor. She looks toward Izumo. "Let me guess, if I tell you to break his legs you'll just tell me to be nice to him."

Of course, when Kiri introduces his mother then she just stands there not understanding what he's saying. Unless Kiri expressly says something to her in German or English, the woman just smiles at the teenagers.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri explains to his mother that, "I told them that you didn't speak Japanese and that they should treat you extra nice, is all. Something like this happened in Choukenger before so I copied some of the lines I remembered."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko nods at Kiko passing info along to her. "Its lucky for Ayaka-san though, she's meeting someone important today," she replies. "How's things after... this morning?" she asks, obviously referring to their little rendezvous with the exploding door.

As Kiri goes off to chat with his mother, Anoko whispers back to Kiko, "Yeah he's a bit of an oddity, when he first met me he starts talking how beautiful I am like I'm his wife or something." Anoko regrets sharing that immediately, knowing Kiko will probably mock her for it. Eh, whatever. "Anyway he seems harmless so cut him some slack." She would find him more amusing if his kicks and flips weren't performed in the this air of unpredictable violence that surrounds Kiko.

When Kiri introduces his mother, Anoko gives her a traditional bow then points to her own chest with her thumb. "Anoko." She could at least try and get her name across. To Kiri she says, "Everyone you're here to see is in a meeting. No idea if you're welcome or not, but you could always knock on the door and ask," she suggests.

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks back at Kiko, and then glances at Kiri skeptically.

"I don't know. He seems like a gutsy fella, if a bit of a dolt."

He flinches in sudden enlightenment.

"Oh man. People say that about me as well, don't they?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Miharu, Anoko, Izumo, and Kiri

Asking about that morning just causes Kiko to frown and click her tongue. She doesn't say anything, and the lack of a smart-ass comment shows just how things have gone. Being leashed like that probably led to Kiko's current vitriolic attitude, and certainly contributed to many of the smart-ass comments that are sure to come.

When Anoko talks about the earlier encounter with Kiri the heiress simply rolls her eyes. "Great. So he's stupid and lecherous. I'm surprised Izumo didn't set him straight." She looks at the big Iga-nin. "What, is Anoko not pretty enough to be part of your burgeoning harem? We could dye her hair purple if it helps."

With that said, the heiress scoffs at giving Kiri any slack. "Harmless is a baby hamster. This guy cannot be relied on, and that's dangerous. How easily would he give up information to enemy? If he falls prey to pretty girls, then he's just a lecherous liability." The heiress looks to Miharu this time. "Not that we're lacking in lecherous retainers or anything."

The heiress waves away Izumo's sudden realization. "No, don't be silly. No one would ever say you were merely gutsy. Foolhardy more appropriate, or lacking in common sense, but never merely gutsy."

Kiri's mother meanwhile takes Anoko's introduction in stride, smiling at the girl and nodding her head ever so slightly. Whether she comprehended or not is still in question, but she seemed harmless enough as long as no one made overtly hostile movements. When Kiri talks to her about the special requests she nods and responds in German. "Looking out for your dear Mama? I knew your father and I raised you right. Please, tell your new friends that I'm happy to meet them."

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks sideways at the German woman as he replies to Kiko.

"I was gonna trash him, but then she interfered. And trampling a mother just to teach a dolt a lesson just didn't seem that classy."

A small smirk appears on the side of his mouth.

"Besides, why didn't you go all Lion Combo on that? I admit, I was expecting it."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko, Izumo, Kiri, and Miharu

Kiko just shakes her head, but before she responds she looks at the ground. "Bravery like that shouldn't be punished."

[Cespenar]

Izumo mumbles softly, "Yeah, I thought so too."

[Bad Situation]

Seeing the Iga nin gather up to talk amongst themselves, Kiri breaks off from his mother's side to catch the tail end of some of the conversation. "Oiyah oiyah, I'd appreciate it if you lot didn't talk as if I weren't here. I don't think I get everything the two of you are saying, but I think I do take 'ffense at being written off like that." Kiri pouts at them but easily laughs it off, adopting another easygoing grin. "Ma an' I may not look like much to Japanese ninja like you all, but we're shinobi all the same, yeah? I like ta' think I'm a bit harder to 'trash' than you seem to think." He laughs cheekily at the thought, "An' I wouldn' take Mama too lightly, neither. She's may look young and pretty but she's been workin' in the field for longer than we've all been alive, so show her some respect, yeah?"

Cocking his head to the side, he adds, "Sides', on all the missions I've been on, I've never once let my senpai down so don't you all worry 'bout me bein' a liability or nothing. I've got what it takes ta play nice with others. The Munich branch is small, so we all gotta do our part out there ya' know?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko pouts at Kiri being called a lecherous liability. She's getting mad at him for something she imagines he MIGHT do, that's nuts. Still, Kiko thought more like a ninja than she ever did so she avoids getting drawn into an argument over it.

When Kiri comes over to defend herself, she looks at him quite confused as his old-style gravitas melts away to a more... 'street' tone of voice. Was that an act before or something? "Er... I'm sure you're a great ninja, Shirogane-san. You're certainly full of surprises. I haven't really like... gone on a whole lot of 'missions' so I'm sure you're more experienced. But I am a samurai-in-training without a fancy clan, not a shinobi." Her complimentary attitude is mostly her feeling embarassed for not even knowing what to think of such a peculiar shinobi. "How long can we expect you to stay? And hey, if you're Kinzo's nephew maybe you can get yourself in their war meeting."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko, Izumo, Kiri, and Miharu

When Kiri tries to defend himself Kiko shuts him down. "Quiet dog. Humans are talking."

The heiress turns her attention back to Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu while blatantly ignoring Kiri. "The problem is how loud and annoying he is. We could have him fixed so he doesn't bark as much, but even so I do not trust him farther than Miharu can throw him."

[Princess Tracy]

"The extended dog meta-er... metathing - " -Anoko flubs the word (metaphor), naturally " - is a bit creepy, don't you think?" - she tries to retort to Kiko, though her lack of good language leaves her looking the fool. Before embarassment can kick in she tries to follow up, "Besides if you only associated with people you had an ounce of trust for you'd probably... um..." run away to live a completely different life, oh. Anoko purses her lips before falling back on a stammer descending into blissful silence, disguising her choice to not finish that sentence as another flub.

"Dammit, hurtful banter is hard, how did you hone it so well?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo, Anoko, Kiri, and Miharu

At Anoko's flubbing of the word metaphor Kiko immediately responds. "Metaphor."

However, when Anoko talks about how easily Kiko honed her tongue the heiress grows quiet, then stands up, shoves her hands into her pockets, and heads inside. The last words she throws at the group surprisingly isn't more vitriol. "Not all of us have your mother, Yukimotou-san." Unless followed the heiress leaves, probably to go to her room, and the group is no longer barred from entering the main house by the dark pall of Kiko's presence.

The main house is surprisingly empty, and aside from the sounds of laughter coming from a familiar hallway--the one leading to a room frequently used for meetings with guests--not a peep comes from the rest of the house. Of course, the heiress is no where to be found. Kiri's mother heads toward the laughter immediately, and Kiri himself recognizes one of the voices as belonging to his father. The others are alien to the young man, though Anoko, Izumo, and Miharu recognize one of them as Kinzo and the other as Seiji. Though the later is substantially less loud than his father or his uncle. If anyone aside from Kiri's mother goes to investigate then they find a small Japanese-style of meeting room complete with short but wide table. A middle-aged Japanese man whose bald-spot is his most prominent feature stands off to the side of the table, and immediately beside him stands the familiar Kinzo in a western style of business suit. Seiji stands on the opposite side of his father, and the three of them seem to be doing a stupid dance. Or, at least, it appears like a dance but in reality it's the henshin poses for Kamen Rider Gaim.

"Hooowaaah!" The three of them finish their poses with a loud cry, and then suddenly more laughter bursts out of the trio.

When Seiji finally notices Anoko, he shouts out. "A-Ano-chan!" Immediately the boy blushes brightly, and stands rigidly at attention instead of holding the nonsensical poses of his father and uncle. Meanwhile, Kinzo and Kiri's father turn to the source of Seiji's surprise.

Kiri's mother moves to embrace her husband, and the two hug. "I'm sorry I didn't come to get you love." Kiri's father says in surprisingly fluent German. "Ki-kun and I got caught up reminiscing about the past, and then I met little Seiji, and one thing led to another." The middle-aged man laughs loudly.

Meanwhile, Seiji moves stiffly toward Anoko. "Um. M-M. I mean, Father and Uncle were having so much fun, and... Well, Father insisted I... I mean... heheh. How was school?"

[Bad Situation]

Kiri watches the scene in shock, his face frozen in some kind of dull horror at the sight of his father acting like some kind of child. He closes his mouth dumbly and shakes in place a bit before finally seeming to work up the courage to shout in Japanese, "What the hell is this!?" He marches into the room, practically barreling into his father's legs with a big sweeping hug around the knees, inadvertently breaking up his mother and father's embrace. He stares up at the older man's face with something like betrayal in his eyes and blinks back a few tears.

He chatters noisily at the middle-aged man in an impressive blend of German and Japanese, and despite the oddball hybrid language he uses, his words are the most coherent any of the other Iga nin have seen from Kiri to date. "Papa, who's the old fart you're messing around with!? And what were you doing? I thought Kamen Rider poses was our special thing, how could you? And who the hell is Ki-kun!? I thought I was Ki-kun!?"

[Cespenar]

After Kiko leaves, Izumo turns to Anoko and shakes his head in a "come on!" manner. "You don't have to meet her in hurtful banter, y'know. Normal banter is fine too." Somehow the musclehead seems more considerate when it's about Kiko. If Anoko seems like she's planning to follow her, Izumo stops her hastily, again, shaking his head.

In response to the newcomer's antics, however, he simply palms his face and mumbles under his breath to whoever is nearby.

"This guy changes my ideas of him with every passing second. Is he for real?"

[Princess Tracy]

As Kiko stands up, Anoko knows she's ****ed up and there isn't much she can do about it. The comment about her mother makes her want to do something and she bolts forward for a couple of steps before thinking better of it. "I'm sorry..." she couldn't think of what else to say, really. At Izumo's scolding, she hands her head low. "I dunno. I figured I would try speaking on her level..." she tries to explain.

Anoko sighs and follows Kiri and his mother inside, her thoughts on Kiko. She isn't sure about poking her head into a meeting with a guest but hey the door was open and she heard Seiji. She freezes up at the sight of it though, her brain shutting down with a look of vague astonishment left on her face. The vision of Kinzo posing goofily alone shakes her fundamental beliefs to their core given her innate fear of him as the big boss around here. Its a moment before Seiji talking to her registers at all. "Huh? Oh.. that's fine Seiji," she forgot honorifics again, oh dear, "School was okay I guess." She's obviously a little stunned still.

When Kiri makes a scene she descends back into silence, just watching. "Your cousin's very... energetic."

[Cespenar]

Izumo pats Anoko once on the shoulder when he sees her actually distraught about Kiko.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kiri's father just laughs, and pats his son's head. "Haha. You inherited that nickname from my brother. When we were younger we were really into Kamen Rider, and that's probably where I got into Toku. That's probably why you're into it too!" Kiri's father motions to Kinzo, and the older Iga-nin looks to his brother's son. "Kiri, this is my brother, Kinzo. Ki-kun, this is my son, Ki-kun."

When Anoko talks to Seiji, then the heir rubs the back of his neck. "I.. uh. Good. That's good. Ya. Oh! My cousin. Ya, he's... Uh, energetic. Ya." The boy laughs nervously.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko gives a sigh and relaxes her shoulders, calming down a little. She looks to Seiji, a little fatigued but a hint of her smile back. No sense letting Kiko haunt her all day she supposed. "I have an hour to spend before I'm expected back, wanna help?" Anoko invites Seiji to hang out in her usual casual way between friends... specifically in the way she invites him along and she has no idea what she wants to do.

"Unless there's nothing you'd rather be doing than more poses. I won't judge, we have nerdy interests anyway." Anoko teases the heir slightly, smiling

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

"Uh, sure." Seiji relaxes a lot now that he's sure Anoko isn't going to make fun of him for joining in his father and uncle's antics. "Haha. I guess I am kind of nerdy... Heh. The heir of the Iga Clan is some kind of weird otaku."

The heir follows through with whatever Anoko wants to do.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko steps quietly out of the room, avoiding eye contact with Kinzo. "Hey, did you hear what happened this morning while you were gone?" she asks Seiji, wondering how much he's been told.

"Don't worry about being a nerd I guess... it apparently runs in the family, don't tell your dad I said that" she says, looking behind her as she says it once she's out of earshot of the room, still scared of Kinzo.

"What do you want to do? My mamma's got a very important guest coming over soon, so I don't have all day like usual." If Seiji doesn't have any strong feelings, Anoko likely spends an hour playing video games with him before going home. "How do you like your uncle then? How was your day?" she asks at some point.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri leers at the esteemed head of the Iga clan suspiciously, crossing his arms and pouting at the much older man with something like distrust in his eyes. "So you're Ki-kun the First, hah? Well, thanks for taking care of my dad all this time but I'm tellin' you now I don't plan on giving up my position as the Second so easily." He casts a sidelong glance at his father and scrunches up his face, the defiant look on his face melting away into what everybody present can assume is guilt. "Dad hasn't seen his brother in a while, has he? Maybe I should be so rude to him..." Caught somewhere inbetween seething and regret, the German boy bows and is thankful he doesn't have to look at the man as he introduces himself, "It's a pleasure to meet you Uncle."

He stands up from his bow and crosses his arms, looking away again.

"...and I'm sorry for calling you an old fart."

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

Kinzo laughs at that. "It's okay young man. Youth are allowed to be impertinent from time to time." The head of the Iga clan nodded in response to Kiri's bow, and then motioned for his nephew to come closer. "You should be 15 this year, right? I have twins about your age. Are you planning on going to school nearby, or are you off to work as soon as you get settled in?"

Anoko

When Seiji and Anoko head out of the room they spot a familiar dark-haired heiress at the front door. She's dressed in a light jacket, thigh-high boots, and skirt for the warm weather. It's plain that she doesn't intend to stay in the house, but where would she be going so late in the day? Especially when she's still being punished by her father. Kiko doesn't notice them, and just casually opens the front door and heads out without comment. The heir looks at Anoko, then back to the door where his sister had left. "Where is... Did Father say Nee-san could leave? Is... is it okay to just let her leave?" The heir looks to Anoko, and then sighs. Whether Anoko follows or not the heir chases after his sister.

[Cespenar]

"Youth are allowed to be impertinent from time to time?"

The double standard of Kinzo's treatment giving him a foul taste in his mouth, Izumo leaves the room as well, following Anoko and Seiji from a bit behind.

As he sees Seiji following his sister, he in turn starts following him, catching up after some long and hasty steps. He looks at him wordlessly from the side, and if the boy returns the look, he smirks.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko doesn't say anything to Kiko. Having upset her just now she thought it best to give the heiress her space. However when Seiji asks Anoko what seems a rhetorical question she starts to answer. "Maybe you should just leave her to it for a while..." When Seiji starts chasing, Anoko doesn't see much other option but to follow, easily enough with her being the more agile of the two of them by her reasoning. With Izumo tagging along she hangs back behind him, not wanting to be the one to confront Kiko. When they get closer to the heiress though she says a little loudly so Kiko can hear it as a warning, "Hey Seiji, I don't think we even could stop her you know." '...even if I wanted to. which I pretty much don't'.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Izumo

Following Kiko reveals that the heiress is heading down toward the front gate. Seiji holds off from chasing her down as he realizes where she's going, and instead follows the heiress at a longer distance. Kiko meets with Izumi at the gate, and two exchange some words that are hard to determine.

"Oh, the little mistress. You know your daddy said to not let you leave, right?"

"Father need not know that I am leaving. I've got my door locked, and I have a few friends who think I'm sulking."

"Lying to your true companions? How could you."

"I didn't lie. I just don't sulk like most girls. I won't get hurt or followed this time."

"Haha. You certainly don't sulk. Well, it can't be helped. I'll just be guarding the gate then. It can't be helped if you happen to jump the fence when I'm looking in the other direction."

After awhile, the elder Iga-nin just shrugs. Izumi turns her back on the heiress, then seems to get lost in looking down the street. The heiress says something in response, but it's impossible to hear. Eventually, Kiko heads outside the compound and is gone completely. After the heiress leaves, Izumi turns back around and watches her leave. A grimace passes over her features, then she just sighs and goes back to her job.

Seiji turns to Anoko and Izumo. "Should we follow her?" He's plainly confused, and this is probably the first time he's dealt with his sister's odd behavior so directly.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri laughs out loud at the question, settling his hands on his hips as he affixes Kinzo with a grin. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to enroll at the school. I was always busy helping our around the base in Munich so I never really got the chance to go to school like other kids. Should be fun ta just slow down, ya know?" While his mother and the various shinobi on the staff were more than adequate teachers, there were precious few children his age around the base.

"Ah! But don't think that means I'll slack off any. I'm always trainin' for the next big scrap, yeah!?" He flexes his arm, as if to prove his point.

[Cespenar]

Izumo turns to Seiji and thinks about putting a friendly hand on his shoulder, but then rethinks, faintly remembering something about the heir being not so keen on informal physical contact. He tries to convey the same feeling with his face instead (and probably mostly fails).

"You should better leave this to me. We aren't the best at tailing people, and I have more credit than you for when we'll inevitably get flushed out." He glances at Anoko and shrugs, leaving her choice to herself.

Hopefully without Seiji, and possibly with Anoko, he trails off to confront Izumi.

"Hey. So. About last night..." Izumo fakes awkwardness for a few moments, but then bursts into laughter.

"Heh. Anyway. What's our hotshot lady up to this time? Busting up punks, or just some shady deals in alleyways?"

[roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo(+Anoko)

Seiji takes the hint, but frowns at the big Iga-nin. He responds in a cold voice, and for the first time Izumo sees Seiji display the same ninja-mentality that had been beaten into Kiko. "Fine. I understand. I am detrimental to the success of this mission, so I will return home. Please, make sure my sister is safe." With that, he turns around and leaves quietly.

Izumi just smiles when Izumo approaches her and jokes about the night before. She just shrugs at him, but isn't suckered in by his fake awkwardness one bit. Her student would have been as straight forward as a hatchet to the head about that kind of thing. When Izumo gets to the point his teacher just sighs. "The little lady is probably going to blow off some steam. I don't know what she does, and I don't ask. Best to just leave her be. But I bet you're going to get involved regardless." Izumi shakes her head, then sighs."Well, it can't be helped. I'll just pretend I didn't see you either, so no one will ask questions that might lead to the little lady getting in trouble."

[Cespenar]

Izumo shrugs back.

"I'm not gonna chide her or anything anyway. Just being extra muscle for when she needs it."

He salutes her with two fingers as he leaves in a casual manner.

"Anyway, see ya."

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo(+Anoko)

"You ever think that's exactly what she doesn't want?" Izumi's comment isn't followed up by anything, and is plainly a rhetorical question aimed to get her disciple thinking. Whether he does think or doesn't the elder Iga-nin is done with the heiress and her bodyguard.

[Cespenar]

Izumo doesn't respond, and just continues on. If the school of all places warranted three bodyguards, stuff like this warranted one at the very least, in his mind.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu probably should have followed Seiji farther than he did, but it was probably better to wait for him to come near the main house again. Didn't want to interrupt his time with Anoko, after all. "So, Izumi said you were looking for me before? Something about a case?"

[Princess Tracy]

The young samurai takes a deep breath and puts on her practical thinking cap. Anoko turns to Seiji as he decides to back off and offers some encouragement. "There's no reason for your father to worry about both of his kids. If he found you were dragged out to chase her, then just more trouble would get laid on Kiko for it. Trust me and Izumo to do our best to take care of her ourselves, okay?" She nods and smiles, breaking the business-ninja rhythm that Seiji had suddenly adopted. All the same she gives her sword a little readjustment to show she means business. Her hope was just that Kinzo wouldn't hear of this. She wonders briefly what specifically Kiko had said to the gate guardian but its clear that Izumi's in on Kiko's wandering and looking the other way. "I don't intend to interfere - I'm the one that got her moping in the first place," she says briefly to Izumi, betraying her innocence of the heiress' manipulation of more... trusting individuals like Anoko. Still believing it was some part of Kiko wanting to be alone to her thoughts after what the samurai had said. "But we can't well send Seiji back without putting up some effort." She trails Kiko with Izumo for a bit, tucking her sword away with her weapon containing gloves as she leaves the compound.

"So how long do we follow her for?" she asks Izumo. She doesn't intend to be here all afternoon, but wonders how long Kiko usually stays away after running out and imagining Izumo would have some picture of an answer. "It's not like she can't handle herself generally, right?" She considers for a moment if she herself could actually stand up to Kiko in a fight... then promptly stops thinking about it.

[Cespenar]

"She normally homes in on her goal pretty quick (whatever that is), but this time I'd expect she'll spot us even sooner."

At Anoko's final words, Izumo just sighs.

"Now you sound like Izumi. I know how capable she is possibly better than anyone, but she's tangled in a good lot of mess. There were thieves on the premise, plus types like Vivienne that tower all of our skills traipsin' around, and a whole lot of plots and plans that people build in what free time I seriously wonder," Izumo almost trails off to incoherence, but then stops himself.

"Anyway, it's just us trailing her, instead of her overreaching and finding herself grounded by Kinzo-sama. Or worse."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Izumo

When Anoko tries her best to cheer up the heir she finds the ninja mentality, which she'd only truly seen once after Seiji was injured by his sister, more robust in Seiji than in Kiko. After all, Kiko's business mentality still held that deep anger that Izumo had seen more than once, but Seiji reacts like a robot. "Father would not worry about Kiko. Only me." At least, his absolute rationality without regard for his own feelings or morality brushes aside the attempt to soothe over his suppressed feelings. "And my presence would only cause problems, Anoko, I understand that. I will return home quickly, and tell Father that I was visiting with Miharu. I do not wish to cause trouble for anyone."

After Seiji leaves the group follows the young heiress, and she takes a long walk to the nearby subway. She seems to be heading for the #4 Line, which would take her into the city proper, and the trip appears to be something that will take some time. Perhaps she intends to stay out quite a while? Regardless, if the duo follow Kiko then they'll be away from the compound for some time. And that in turn means Anoko will miss meeting her mother's friend and hearing about her father. While the young swordsgirl might want to think about the matter the #4 train arrives within seconds of Kiko getting to the station, and the heiress takes no time boarding it. A quick glance at a nearby Subway map shows the #4 going straight into the heart of downtown Fuyuki, but where could Kiko be going that far into the city?

Miharu

The young detective finds himself waiting for a while before Seiji starts walking toward the house. The heir gives Miharu a melancholic look when he asks about what Seiji had to show him, but he soon snaps out of it. "Oh, ya. Father took me to the docks to oversee some shipments of guns the clan is bringing into the country." Seiji casually talks about breaking rather serious laws, but seems to give his words no more reverence than one speaking of the weather. "The dockmaster gave me the pick of the litter, and I found a Ruger Super Redhawk from '89. Do you wanna see it?"

Kiri

Kinzo laughs at that idea. "Bwaha. You really are your father's son. You know, this old fool went got himself in a fight over a girl back in high school. Came home bloody and beaten, but when we asked what happened he just looked me dead in the eye and said: "I was in a fight. This isn't so bad. But I gave ten times what I got!"" Once again Kinzo has a deep and booming laugh. "Well, we can enroll you in my little boy's school. He needs a new friend. He was the little one who was here earlier, but I don't know where he's gotten off to."

Kiri's father laughs at that. "Friends made at this point in your life will be true companions, Kiri. So go forth and gather great allies!" The weird dialogue comes straight out of one of his father's Toku shows, and both Kiri's father and Kinzo laugh at that loudly.

[Princess Tracy]

Seiji's wording makes Anoko twitch. Its pretty much what she was saying but... with the exception that Anoko would not accept that on some level Kinzo truly didn't care for his daughter's wellbeing. Still she lets him go in silence.

Anoko actually lends an ear to Izumo's unique relationship as Kiko's bodyguard as they walk alone. "Hey, I get it. There's some crazy strong people out there, and wandering alone doing the things Kiko does - especially if you count 'being alive' as a thing she does, anyone could get in over their head with no one to pull them out of the deep end. You just wanna make sure she's got someone to rely on." She stares off behind the heiress. "How do you help someone that doesn't want help, right? I guess we just have to trust that, in the end, she's made her own choices and lives with them. But on the other hand... you wish she trusted you enough to not make these kind of decisions, right?" Anoko occasionally had flashes of wisdom beyond her years (or at least... beyond her airheaded exterior), only when her heart was truly focused on understanding something - and the revelation of Kiko's misery had made her pay some very close attention to the heiress and her jailers. "Maybe if we work together we can find someway to help her and have it stick," she suggests, smiling confidently.

"Hey, not to sound rude, but... My dad's friend is coming to visit today Ayaka-san and me today," Anoko explains, her lack of a father public knowledge. "I gotta head back sometime soon," she explains in anticipation of something coming up. Hell, she wouldn't even have come this far if Seiji hadn't asked her honestly to protect his sister - its the sort of thing that leaves one feeling a bit guilty for slacking off.

Anoko panics a little as she sees Kiko head to the trains, knowing what a trip all the way into the city would mean. "Um, hell, maybe she's just going downtown. Um, like to... or to... or maybe..." she quickly starts spluttering out destinations in Izumo's ear as she tries not to freak on the precipice of boarding the train herself.

[Cespenar]

Izumo makes with his hand a "so-so" gesture. He doesn't seem very comfortable talking about all these "feelings" out in the open, but he doesn't seem like shooting Anoko down anyway.

"Yeah and no. I mean, I try to be there when she needs it, but the rest is in her hands. She is not someone to be pushed, or have a lesson 'stick' to her."

When he hears about Anoko's plans, Izumo just smiles understandingly and waves a hand.

"Just go. I can probably find her with your directions."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri joins his uncle and father in their manic laughter and throws himself into a rigid salute, "You can count on me!"

He turns and gets ready to slide the door open when he stops and winks at Kinzo one last time, "And don't you worry 'bout your son or nothin'! You got a girl too, right? I'll keep 'em both out of trouble, just leave 'em to me, yeah? The guards you got hangin' 'round them are alright but'll need a bit more polishin' up before they're really up to snuff. They let their guards down around me right quick once they figured me for an idiot, ya know? Even led me right into the compound once I told'em I 'ad business with ya." The German laughs a little at the memory, "Well, just goes ta' show that everyone's got room for improvement I guess."

The door closes shut with a airy, "Well, bye bye~"

Once he's out in the hallway he looks around for the other Iga nin, hoping that they've stuck around for him to talk to.

[Cespenar]

Being unable to chart Kiko's route by deduction, Izumo can't think of any way other than rushing her train. Of course, that would probably end up in a confrontation, but it was slightly better than the alternative, he thinks.

With that, he makes his way for #4, pushing and shoving his way through if needed.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's moment of panicked hesitation gets dragged out a little long until Izumo insists he has a handle on this and rushes the cart. "Um..." Kiko didn't want to be followed, and Anoko didn't want Kiko to think of her as her jailer too, and she has things to do back home, but Seiji wanted her to be safe and maybe Izumo couldn't handle it by himself if things really DID go bad. Now not sure what to do, she steps forward just in time for the doors to close. "Um!" she intones awkwardly, only able to wave dumbstruck as Izumo clambers in alone.

"Well... that was embarassing. Can't believe I actually froze like that, jackass..." As the train pulls away and she's left at the station, Anoko tells herself its for the best really. Izumi had faith in her to slip away without causing trouble - the old hag was out for Kiko for a while now and the heiress knew how to look after herself, and Izumo could handle it himself. Still... she wouldn't be looking Seiji in the eye until Kiko came back safe.

Anoko heads home. If Izumi's still at her post, she gives a sigh and addresses her. "...He's more than enough for her anyway, right?" She wonders briefly if the guard has an idea what it is Kiko gets up to at times like these. "I guess she wouldn't be having fun if anyone knew exactly where she was. She'll probably change hangouts once she notices Izumo following her."

Unless Izumi has anything particularly insightful to offer, Anoko heads home looking a bit tired and fidgety as she intends to wait to see this guy.

In the end I went with my gut decision. If I was a 15 year old, lazy airhead with a previous appointment and all these considerations in my head.... and the time limit of a train leaving, I imagined that in all likelihood i would hesitate for way too long.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The train carries Izumo and Kiko away, and within mere moments Anoko is left adrift among the sea of people going back and forth on the busy subway. Her body's natural way of movement, honed as a practitioner of the sword, causes a tiny whirlpool in the ocean of humanity as people flow around the Iga-nin in an attempt to subconsciously avoid the danger of her maai. The young girl did not have a bloodthirsty nature like Kotoba or murderous intent like Soujirou, but she did have a natural capacity for violence that formed her own maai; naturally influenced by her teacher's skill. The people avoid going near Anoko like sheep scenting the blood of their own upon the fangs of a wolf, and for once the young girl is totally alone despite the crowd around her. Due to her maai the young Iga samurai is free to walk alone among the sheep unmolested by words or actions despite wearing her mother's beautiful face.

After sometime the Iga-nin makes it home to find Izumi standing guard. From further down the street it seems like Izumo's teacher is absorbed in playing with the smartphone attached to her headphones, but Izumi suddenly snaps her head to look at Anoko as she approaches. The samurai hazards a guess that she's 30 meters or so away, yet Izumi noticed her despite playing with a smartphone and likely listening to hard rock or heavy metal. A more hardened ninja would suspect the ground beneath her, based on Izumi's history as an Ishimaru and their status as former servants of the Earth Country. But regardless of what Anoko thought of the gate guardian Izumi lowered her headphones and listens to the young girl's statements. "Worried about the little lady", Izumi says with a smirk, "but not worried enough to put yourself in danger? Cold." Izumi laughs to herself at that, then shakes her head. "She goes to a club I used to frequent. Little underground number called White Knuckles. Above the table it's a rave spot, but underground..." Izumi leans in real close and whispers to Anoko. "They kill nosy teenagers."

Another loud gut-laugh escapes the older Iga-nin, but this time she laughs for a good while. As her laughter winds down, and she gradually wipes away the tears in her eyes, Izumi finally dispels the illusion. "I'm kidding! Kidding. I don't know where she goes. Sometimes she comes back pretty beat up, and sometimes she sneaks in late at night and crashes at my place. But most days she's happier after she leaves, ya know? She's the kind of wild animal that's too weird to survive here. That's what I tried to tell that idiot student of mine, but he's too dense to get it."

Izumo

Izumo is able to follow Kiko onto the train with no trouble. She walks past a few people, aiming to get a seat near the door, and a young man--probably no older than 20 or so--stands up in order to let her have his seat. Kiko exchanges smiles with the stranger, takes his seat, and then he stands and accidentally blocks Izumo's view of the heiress. The Iga-nin could move around to spot Kiko more easily, but doing so would seriously risk being discovered. Fortunately for Izumo however, the train quickly reaches its next stop and Kiko stands immediately. The heiress disembarks, and if Izumo follows her then he finds himself just one stop down from the compound. Fortunately, this station only has a few people at it so he's able to pick out exactly where she goes. Unfortunately she's climbing on board the #6 heading further downtown, and she's chosen to get on board a women's only carriage. While technically not illegal for Izumo to follow he would make his presence known in the quickest and most painful manner possible, and then the jig would be up. He could follow her by getting on another carriage, but he would be trading a risk of discovery for a risk of simply losing the heiress in the first place.

[Princess Tracy]

Lost in her own little world of thoughts, Anoko hardly notices as she's left to her own devices, how her presence subtly makes those around her the slightest bit uncomfortable. If she were paying more attention, she might lament common folk not trusting her subconsciously when she does her best to be friendly, but for now she was content to her own contemplations of just what being Kiko's friend meant.

Being accused of cowardice actually draws a look of insulted anger from Anoko. All she ever wanted to do was protect her friends, and having Kiko not want protecting confused everything she'd trained for, and having some stupid gatekeeper mock... Still, she relaxes a bit when she realises the older Iga-nin is just joking, but doesn't exactly laugh at her next joke about killing nosy teenagers, instead giving her a steely stare more suited to a swordswoman. She wasn't in the mood for such a twisted sense of humour.

"Kiko comes back beat up?" she has to repeat out loud, more shocked than anything. She remembers fighting a dozen men yesterday with the heiress being basically untouchable, what the **** kind of trouble was she finding herself in? She sighs at the end of Izumi's explanation. "I guess you're right. Still, I figured I should try find some way to help her out while she IS here... hell if I know how."

She waves a lazy goodnight to Izumi and wanders off home if not stopped, not finding her to be the most pleasant conversationalist at the moment.

Once she clears her door and pops her sword out from her gloves for proper storage in her room, she can't help but exclaim on the way to her room (quite forgetting for a moment that her company could have already arrived or even that Ayaka was likely within earshot) "What the hell am I supposed to do with that?"

[Cespenar]

As Kiko boards the women-only carriage, Izumo sighs and boards the next carriage, trying to keep an eye on the heiress, but with his resolve weakening every minute. Maybe she found out after all, or it could be just a precaution. Nevertheless, Izumo keeps the pursuit as far as it would go.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The guard just sighs. "You and that idiot student of mine are the same, huh? It's manly when he does it, but a pretty girl like you shouldn't fret so much. You won't land a boyfriend like that, you know?" With that said the guard launches into an explanation. "You may not get it, but some people aren't like you. They don't want to live with someone watching over their shoulder, being pitied, handled delicately, and treated like they were broken every day of their life." Izumi gets wistful at that, and seems to be speaking from experience. That feeling is confirmed with her next words.

"I'm like that, so that's why I'm not with the other Ishimaru protecting what little legacy of the old ways remain." She's clearly referring to the Earth Country, and what pitiful pieces of the Tsuchikage's inner court remained alive today. It certainly explained why an Ishimaru, the clan whose loyalty lay almost exclusively with the Stone, stood as the gate guard for the Iga.

"Pushing your ideas on someone like that just results in them running away. Besides... The little lady has enough people hounding her what with her father and all. Have you ever thought that following her around without her knowing would be seen in the same light as the fat-cat's meddling?" Naturally Izumi is less than happy with Kinzo, but then how did she end up in the employ of the Iga if not for Kiko's father? What could force an Ishimaru, whose clan were the absolute final bastion of the Tsuchikage's defenders, to abandon the past and their own family? Regardless of her past, the gate guard sympathized with Kiko's sentiments. And, of course Anoko, like Izumo, wouldn't understand that kind of sentiment so Izumi lets the conversation drop.

She does, however, seem surprised when Anoko is surprised at Kiko getting beaten up. "Didn't you know? There are places in the city where people like us--real fighters--can cut loose and have fun. Most of them are fight clubs, but there's the occasional place trying to relive the war games of old. I imagine she found one of those places." The Ishimaru shrugs. "But a place like that isn't something you'd ever frequent anyway, nor would it be some public place. So there's no way to know unless you followed her around."

Izumo

Naturally Izumo is unable to see more than a tiny window into the female-only carriage, and unfortunately he doesn't see Kiko through that tiny bit of glass. The first stop comes quickly, and as the subway rolls to a stop and the doors pop open Izumo is presented with a question: How, exactly, does he intend to get off on the same stop as the heiress he currently cannot see?

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko ignores the comment about her girliness and landing a boyfriend (or rather, bites her lip and chooses not to address it). "I get that. Kinda," Anoko tries to explain herself. She doesn't pay much heed to allusions of the Ishimaru's past - not being well read in the history of ninja beyond her own immediate swordplay, there's a lot of intrigue that's certainly beyond her scope of reckoning (and interest). "I don't want to make her feel that way and I know she gets enough of that from everyone else. I saw how mad she got just when I insisted on walking home with her, and I know her big plan is to run away in the end. But... I'm used to supporting my friends, and it isn't because I think they're weak or stupid or need to be fixed." Anoko kind of flinches as she says that - using the word 'friends' to compare her relationship with Kiko was something she got the feeling the heiress might laugh in her face for. But Ayaka had told her to be a friend to the girl, and Anoko wanted Kiko to be happy so... that counted for something at least, right? "I'm sorry for not being used to thinking on the level that Kiko does, but I'm doing my best to figure out where I stand with her. Kiko acts like she has no one, and she shouldn't have to feel that way, no one should." The last statement carries a bit of punch with her conviction. Not being immediately fond of Izumi, she can't help but feel a little talked down to and is glad when she drops it.

"Of course I didn't know that!" Anoko retorts, her voice going up an octave in frustration, stomping one foot hard on the ground. "Clubs for shinobi fighting... that's insanely, just..." She bites her lip, frankly it was terrifying. Becoming more familiar with the true nature of violence, the idea of some no-hold fight with actual trained assassins was not her idea of a good time - for a normal person it was last resort. "It does sound right up her alley though, huh. ..." Anoko descends into her thoughts again.

Anoko moves to go home, nodding to herself. "You're right though. Stalking her isn't going to do any good. Unless she were in actual danger, and I guess... she knows how to keep herself out of that," she says, recalling that Kiko said she was well aware of the attempts on her life for some time. Her back to Izumi as she wanders off, she lastly says "Just... keep doing whatever it is that you do that makes her life more bearable around here, I guess."

Maybe if I just ask nicely and openly, she'll let me come with her next time instead of me having to do all this no-trust espionage stuff. I can't even tell if that's a horrible idea or not, god I need a break...

[Cespenar]

Apparently the time spent on the carriage is enough for reflecting, because when the doors open Izumo doesn't feel like keeping up with the charade any longer. He continues on the line, heading for downtown for his own stuff, while typing out a text for Kiko.

"I'm downtown. Call if you need muscle. Or a bite to eat. -BH"

With that, he all but forgets the heiress as he goes around for his own business once he arrives the downtown area. He had to pick out some parts for his Blastmobile anyway. Or at least find out how much they cost until he could get them.

Visiting hardware shops and multiple cheap restaurants probably takes his whole time, and Izumo even remembers to ask casually around repair shops if anyone heard about the underground bike races that apparently have been going on for some time.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The gate guard just shrugs at Anoko's apprehension of not being Kiko's friend. "I'm sure the little lady thinks the same, but she pushes away others so that they can't be used against her. Or, perhaps, it would be easier on her when she leaves if she has no friends?" Izumi has nothing more to say about the other stuff Anoko talks about, except for the shinobi fight clubs.

When Anoko balks at the idea Izumi just shrugs. "A soft soul like yours couldn't understand, but I know where she's coming from. It's hard to use kids gloves with everyone, and one goes stir crazy without a good fight. Just standing here, burning my energy on nothing, when I could be in the Levant, North Africa, or Southeast Asia doing what I do best." She doesn't seem to have the conviction for what she's saying. Perhaps the words are simply air? Regardless of her feelings, Izumi has nothing more to say on the matter. When Anoko talks about making Kiko's life bearable the guard just shrugs. "She does her own thing. I just look the other way when she does it."

When Anoko heads home she finds her mother missing and a note written in her mother's hand on the fridge.

"Left dinner in fridge. Went out to see your father. Will talk when home. I love you."

Izumo

The response from Kiko comes surprisingly quickly, but it reveals nothing as to her intent.

"K."

Whatever thoughts existed behind that one letter remains unknown, as the heiress neither texts nor calls Izumo afterward. She doesn't make an appearance at any of his spots, and doesn't seem to have went home on the same train as the young man. It seems his days as a spy were short and barren.

Fortunately, his days as an information gatherer prove more useful. A guy whose friend knows a guy who has a friend in the local racing league. Supposedly they meet at the downtown subway entrance every sunday, then race to the outskirts of town. But lately all the races have been won by some lady biker named "Angel" and competition has gotten a lot thinner since Angel is lauded as unbeatable.

[Princess Tracy]

Coming home to find Ayaka absent isn't a surprise normally - with her mind still on Kiko and her apparent habit for sneaking out to fight other shinobi, Anoko forgets for a moment entirely her arrangements for the evening. However as she absent-mindedly reads the note her mother left for the third time - something not seeming quite right - she snaps out of her malaise. "...Dad's alive? WHAT!? What is... what... what does she mean, not that, what."

She collapses into a chair for a moment, its been a long couple of days and... what the hell even was this out of the blue? Shaking her head she springs to her feet and runs out the door, stuffing the note in her pocket. She wasn't quite sure what she was thinking but... whatever was going on she didn't want to miss it, somehow. She wanted some explanation and wouldn't wait for it.

She quickly bolts right back up to Izumi with the same intensity as a desperate assassin, barely grinding to a halt before the reach of her maai provokes some reflexive punch from the gatekeeper. "Did my mum come through here? The maid in the wheelchair, don't screw with me, was there a man with her?" she demands quickly and breathlessly.

If she gets a lead, she follows it out the compound. If Izumi says she hasn't seen Ayaka, she starts rummaging around the compound. However, not being a master detective, her odds of finding much are slim and she eventually returns home to wait on Ayaka unless she bumps into a helpful Miharu. Failing that, she stays up late, almost forgetting to have dinner and barely turning on the TV as she waits for her mother to return.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Izumi's as surprised as Anoko launches into a breathless tirade. "A wheelchair...? Hm. Ya. I remember her. I wondered why she seemed familiar. Man, you really do look like the spitting image of your mother." Whether Anoko lets her ramble or not, Izumi eventually gets to the point. "Your mom met here with some guy; tall, black, and foreign. Looked like a yakuza with big swollen knuckles and an evil face. I couldn't let him come in, so she wheeled herself down here to fetch him. They went back up to your house, but then came back ten minutes later." Izumi shrugs.

"I guess she wasn't comfortable doing it in the house her child lived in, because they got in his car and left about five minutes before you came home. I dunno where they went, and didn't ask. Why? If you need to talk then wouldn't it be best to call her?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko shakes in exasperation, looking about ready to pounce Izumi if she starts rambling. "They drove off?" She's about to call her an idiot and explain the situation in another breathless burst of words for the comment about 'doing it', not having much of a sense of humour in her excited state, but she stops. Izumi had a point, call her, right. "...Fine, um... man I need to buy a cell phone," she notes out loud, running back home to call her mother from the landline. If Izumi didn't have a clue where she went, she didn't have much other option.

Anoko rings up her mother, hoping she picks up, determined to get some kind of answer.

[Overlord Rion]

At Seiji's words, Miharu's eyes light up. "I'm sorry, did you say a Ruger Super Redhawk? Of course I want to see it! Come on, less lollygagging and more moving it!"

[Cespenar]

Even after finding out about the races, Izumo wonders about why he'd bothered at all. He didn't have a complete bike, and even if he did, he didn't know how to ride it properly. Oh, he probably could manage to go downtown and back or something, but nothing even close to the level of dethroning an ace.

Well, he could work on it. Despite his appearance, he wasn't a slow learner. Maybe some practice, a little new jutsu to give him an edge, and he could put on a good show, if not really win. As cheesy as it sounds, wasn't trying and having fun what counted, after all?

If he encounters nothing else, Izumo returns to the compound with a few bike parts, a full stomach, and a new (albeit far) goal.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Ayaka picks up on the third ring, and she speaks in a breathless voice. Anoko recognizes the inflection and tone of her mother's voice as being very distressed. "H-hello? Ano-chan. Um. I'm sorry, Ano-chan. I just... Ryosei. Your father..." Her mother's loss for words lasts for awhile, but then the maid takes a deep breath and reigns in her emotions. She transitions into a more business like tone of voice that Anoko had never heard her mother use before. "Your father is dead. I left to see his, to uh, look at the headstone. Ryosei told me he died overseas. 10 years ago, almost right after he left." Her voice cracks, and Ayaka chokes down a sob before carrying on with her explanation. "No one... No one told us. They hid it from us. They.." And with that said, for the first time in Anoko's memory, her mother openly sobbed and cried. She cries for some time, and it isn't until several minutes have passed that Ayaka is finally capable of coherent speech.

"Ryosei and I will be home soon."

And sure enough after less than ten minutes Anoko is greeted by her mother and a tall dark-skinned man wearing a crisp and well tailored suit. Ayaka wears a tear-streaked and puffy face that looks wholly out of place, and looks ready to break down into tears again the instant she sees her daughter. Her arms go out to her daughter and her fingers motion for Anoko to come closer. The resulting hug is so tight that one could be forgiven for thinking her mother had started weight-lifting, and Ayaka refuses to break the hug for several minutes. To his credit the dark-skinned male remains quiet and respectful of the duo's moment. Once Ayaka's settled down then Ryosei wheels her into the living room, takes a seat beside her, then patiently waits to be introduced. Ayaka waits until Anoko is settled in, and explains.

"Ano-chan, this is Ruto Ryosei. He worked with your father as a member of his... team?" She looks to the muscular man for an answer, and for the first time Anoko gets a really good look at him. He's got the same kind of build as Izumo, and if not for his substantially better sense of dress and dark complexion he could be Izumo's twin. Ryosei nods at Ayaka's statement, then explains more clearly.

"Your father and I worked as... Well, we were thieves and pirates all over Southeast Asia. But that was 20 years ago, and it's not what you want to hear about. Your father contacted me ten years ago, and told me he ran into someone dangerous. He asked me to get our crew together, and come get him out. Or, if we couldn't, then he wanted us to get something for his daughter." A muscular hand goes to the man's breast pocket, and immediately Anoko notices that his knuckles are just as swollen as Izumi said they were. Big rounded nubs of bone that had obviously been broken, healed, and broken again over and over. Ryosei fishes out a small cigar case--a square silver box with "Peace" embossed on the top of it--then hands it over to Anoko. Inside the case the samurai finds a photograph--a white-haired thin man whose appearance she doesn't recognize, but whose look says "father" to her--and a key with the kanji for "esteemed companion" written on it. Ryosei continues his story whether Anoko opens the case or not. "It took us three days to get everyone together and get to the coordinates he told us. We found his body, and that was in his hand. I tried to bring this back ten years ago, but I was forbidden from seeing you. I had given up until I happened to run into one of your mother's former co-workers yesterday. She helped me get into contact with Ayaka."

Ayaka interrupts at this point. "It's a lot to take in, so can we talk more in the morning?"

"Certainly. You have my number, so feel free to contact me at any time."

With that said Ryosei excuses himself, and Anoko and her mother are left alone.

Kiri

Kiri wanders around the house for a short time, but finds it empty. However, he does hear Miharu's exclamation from the front door. If he heads that way, then he finds Miharu and Seiji together. The heir is surprisingly dour, and seems to be entirely missing the energy he had when he was playing with his father and uncle. They seem to be talking about guns of some sort.

Kiri and Miharu

"Alright, let me get it out." Seiji reaches into his pockets and fishes out a pair of black gloves. He pulls them tightly over his hands, then snaps his fingers. In an instant a silver revolver appears in the heir's extended hand in a tiny puff of smoke. Seiji pops the cylinder out, checks each chamber for a round, and pops the cylinder back in when he's satisfied that its not loaded. Seiji passes the gun over to Miharu to look it over, then looks over his shoulder and notices Kiri. The revolver (http://www.handgunsmag.com/files/2010/09/hgruger_121707b.jpg) has a 19cm barrel, a silver scope attached to the top, and has a heavy weight to it. It seems to chamber .44 rounds, and looks like it has the kind of punch that most other revolvers couldn't measure up against. It's clearly masterfully crafted, and a tiny engraving of a stylized lion's head decorates the grip.

Seiji turns his attention to Kiri. "Oh, hello. My... cousin, right? Your father talked about you a lot. My name is Iga Seiji." Seiji motions to Miharu. "This is Momotami Miharu. We're... gun enthusiasts. Despite the, well, laws against them." Seiji seems a lot more comfortable now that he's had his hands on the revolver, and he extends a gloved hand toward Kiri for a handshake. Whether Kiri shakes the boy's hand or not Seiji waits for Miharu to return the gun before he stores it in his gloves once more.

Izumo

The bodyguard runs into a surprising sight at the gate this time. It seems that Izumi went home, and he spots the lanky and young-looking Seta Soujirou. He recognizes the older man as Anoko's sword instructor, and based on the archaic men's yukata and the sword on his hip, Izumo realizes why she's always referred to herself as a samurai. Soujirou leans against the wall surrounding the compound, looking up at the stars with the forlorn look of teenager, and seems to not notice Izumo approach. Unless the young man says something then he looks ready to let Izumo pass right into the compound. Of course, if Izumo tries to enter without identifying himself then the samurai instantly bars his passage with his--thankfully sheathed--katana. Soujirou finally looks directly at Izumo, and for a moment the Iga-nin senses the same intense pressence he felt from his homeroom teacher. Almost as if the next movement from Soujirou would be an attack, even though the man doesn't have a weapon drawn. The dark-haired man wears the face of someone the same age as Izumo, but when he speaks he talks like a stern and angry grandfather. "Little late coming home. Did something happen?"

[Cespenar]

Izumo eyes the changed door guard with mild interest. The long day and his exhaustion prevents him from reacting strongly to the swordsman's maai, so he just blinks instead. He greets him with a nod, introduces himself, and gestures with his head to his full hands.

"Nah, just had a busy day, bought some parts and whatnot." He pauses for a moment. "Is Kiko back yet?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko regrets making the call the instant she hears that, but could hardly hang up even when Ayaka utters the word 'headstone' and has her curiosity sated by poison. "M-mum... I-I'm sorry." There isn't much else she can think to say except to mutter that "It's okay," weakly when Ayaka breaks down crying. After her mother hangs up, she waits patiently at the table, rather still and silent as her mind finally seems blank.

Anoko is quite ready to receive her mother, readily hugging her just as tight when she gets home - getting to her knees to better wrap her arms around her. Her heart sunk to see her mother like that... It was a lot to take in and it was certainly hitting her mother hard, so for now she would do her best to show support. "I... I'm sorry, momma," she says softly. She gives Ayaka a last squeeze before they finally release each other.

Sitting across from Ryosei, Anoko's eyes take a moment to focus on him, her attention so focused on her mother that she'd barely acknowledged him. She gives him a nod in introduction, not feeling too wordy, "Anoko." She lets him tell his story in silence. Pirates were usually fun and interesting, and numbly she knew that in different circumstances she might have all kinds of questions for stories about her old man, but for now she didn't exactly feel that excitement. She takes the box and looks over it, taking a moment to find the seem and peak inside. Seeing the face, she cracks it open a bit wider, something stirring in her but she wasn't sure what. ...Recognition? No... Familiarity? She knew who it was in the picture anyway, she knew. The key goes ignored for now as she shuts the box tight to protect its contents, though seeing the kanji out of the corner of her eye puts the word 'nakama' in her head.

"Forbidden from seeing me...?" Anoko actually does wonder at who would be making such moves to forbid anything, but Ayaka's right, it could be dealt with in the morning. She gets up to show Ryosei to the door as he makes to leave. She clears her throat at the landing, looking up to the big man. "Thanks for looking out for my mother. Its important to keep promises." She puts on her rarely seen serious tone and gives a bow of genuine respect that normally only her sensei was allowed - keeping a promise after all this time and her father being dead was something she had actual respect for.

With him gone, Anoko returns to the living room, sitting beside her mother and putting her arm around her shoulder. She pops the weird cigar box open to show her. "Look, mum, you finally have a picture of dad," she says softly, giving a sweet smile.

[Overlord Rion]

Barely even glancing at Kiri, Miharu looks the gun over from one end to the other. "Gun enthusiasts, friends, that whole thing. You might be Seiji's cousin, but I will shoot you if I have to." He speaks as if he's talking about the weather while examining the gun. Satisfied, he flips the gun around and hands the weapon back to Seiji. "But you did shake Kiko's hand and live, so you've got my respect. I'm not sure whether you're ridiculously brave or just dumb, though." He extends his hand towards Kiri. "Nice to meet you, either way."

[Bad Situation]

"Shirogane Kiri and it's nice ta' meet'cha, cuz." His eyes go wide and clueless at the gun, looking up at Seiji's face as if waiting for some kind of explanation on why the gun was impressive. When he doesn't get a response his face lights up and he tries to explain, "I think guns are stupid so I don't know anything about them." Kiri is all smiles in spite of his rude words and doesn't look like he was trying to offend anybody. "I'm really more'ofa swordsman than anything else."

Kiri easily accepts both handshakes, squeezing tight and pumping up and down hard as he gives the two boys an eager grin. He pounds his chest with his right hand and nods. "A real hero doesn't care any about respect or nothin' they just do what they think they need ta' do. If the way I was actin' was makin' her angry enough that she wanted to hurt me then it was my responsibility to her and the resta' you lot to diffuse it or calm her down." He pauses a moment after saying that and looks somewhat uncomfortable, "Though, I haven' really been here for long but don't you think it might hurt her feelins' if you talk about her that way? I get that she's gotta temper but I'm not sure if it's right to treat her like a dangerous animal either."

Not wanting the mood to slip into something dark he quickly changes the subject, "Oh! I've been meanin' to ask. What's the city like in evening? I...really like to take walks at night so I was just wonderin' if it was 'visable or not to explore the city and stuff."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

April 4th, 6:00 am.

A normally sunny day lies obfuscated beneath the dark clouds of a sudden spring rainstorm. Fortunately, no cracks of thunder have announced an escalation to thunderstorm yet. Warm and soft rain, befitting the springtime, drops in lazy waves rather than the hard driving rains of the coming rainy season. Fortunately most people are inside at this point in the day, but a few aren't so lucky.

Izumo

Izumo wakes in the dank, dirty, yet familiar garage where the Blastmobile lay entombed. The scattered remains of the formerly noble moped lay strewn about the garage in a haphazard pattern. Whatever fallout that resulted from revealing Kiko's absence remained hidden from the bulky iga-nin. At least, he didn't hear any shouting or fighting during the night, but whether that meant that Kiko wasn't caught or that she simply hasn't returned yet remains to be seen. Outside the young man hears the sound of soft rain, and something else. Something more dark than simply rain. A loud thud like a body hitting the ground precedes the voices of two people.

"You should stand up. Don't wanna get dirty now. And before you ask: I may be your retainer, but I'm not gonna carry you little master." The familiar and feminine voice of Izumo's master speaks to an unknown party. Based on the joking title, it's likely Seiji, but who truly knows?

A familiar voice gives a grunt of pain in response. "D-Don't worry about that. Just.. Just go a bit slower, okay?" The voices of the very odd couple gradually grow louder as they approach Izumo's garage. Whether Izumo goes out to see what's going on, or whether he remains inside until they enter, the young Iga-nin spots his master and Seiji together. His master is wearing a dark blue pantsuit with an open jacket, but her professional style is marred by her ever-present headphones hanging around her neck. Seiji is wearing his school uniform, but it's muddy all over the left side. He's limping, favoring his left leg rather obviously, and seems more agitated at the injury than in real pain. Seiji greets the muscle-bound Iga-nin, but Izumi is as patently unwilling to follow conventions as always.

"Ishimaru-kun, I am told you taught my sister your martial arts style. Your sister--" Seiji's immediately interrupted by Izumi.

"Close, but no relation." Seiji attempts to pick up where he left off, but he's obviously flustered by both his faux-pas and the interruption.

"Uh. Right. Well, I was also instructed that you would be an exceptional teacher for me. Izumi-senpai proved... Insurmountable. I am told that you were taught in a similar manner, but it appears that I lack the body necessary to absorb the pain of being taught in this manner." Seiji bows his head deeply. "I ask that you teach me how to fight."

Clearly Seiji is referring to the fact that Izumo's bloodline limit meant Izumi was free to do as she pleased in order to teach the young boy. And, being a woman lacking in restraint, she did her best to impress the style into his flesh and blood rather than simply his mind.

Kiri

Waking up in Japan proves a bit harder than Kiri expects, probably because he "lost" 7 hours on the flight over to the island country. Nonetheless, when Kiri does finally rouse himself from sleep he finds his house is surprisingly quiet. The lights are off, and the only thing he can hear in the house is the light sound of snoring. His parent's bedroom door is closed, and the snoring sound emanates from within. It's likely his mother, as she has a surprising tendency to be exceedingly loud. Nonetheless, it appears that Kiri is on his own for breakfast, lunch, and getting ready for school. Unless, of course, he wakes his parents in his early morning preparations.

Miharu

Miharu wakes to his brother knocking loudly on his door. "Breakfast is ready ya weirdo!" Once Miharu heads downstairs he finds his dinner table is surprisingly sparse. His older brothers are there, but Mom and Father are missing entirely. If questioned Jun explains that their mother and father were getting on a plane and taking a trip to Korea for business. The young boy is left to eat the bland meal his elder brother made--steamed rice, nori, and soy sauce--in order to have sustenance. Whether Miharu eats or not his brothers get ready for school, and the young man is left on his own. He's got two hours before school starts.

Anoko

Unfortunately Anoko would need to wait to discover whether yesterday had any effect on her mother or not, as the young Iga-nin woke to discover that she had the house to herself. Her mother was the kind of person to not slack off, even when presented with the opportunity, so it wasn't necessarily strange that she went off to work. Naturally she did not need to meet with her teacher until she discovered the intent to kill buried within herself, and that meant for the first time in a long time Anoko was free to do as she pleased instead of waking up at 4 am to go swordfight with an old man. However, not knowing about the events with Seta, Ayaka had not cooked any extra for her daughter--though she had prepared a boxed lunch for later. A note sitting on top of it tells the young girl a story of where her mother went: "Working. Will be home late. Your clubs meet today" Regardless, the samurai is left to her own devices this early in the morning.

[Cespenar]

Izumo greets the duo with a yawn and an indistinct nod, their words pushing through his sleepy haze one inch at a second. He gawks at Seiji for long seconds before he catches up to him, and then he simply gawks more.

"Wait. You tried to learn the Ishimaru style from her? Oh god damnit." He rubs his face wildly, trying to jump start his brain.

"Listen, Seiji...sama. You don't wanna learn the Ishimaru style. It's punchy-kicky, lots of direct stuff. Needs muscle, power, speed. Fits Kiko, fits me, but you... I don't see it. You'd want a soft, open-hand style, or something armed. Kendo, maybe? Or that weird Chinese style that Vivienne uses. Turn your opponent's strength against him."

He goes in his mind through his (admittedly short) arsenal of techniques, and comes up with almost nothing.

"I mean, I guess I could train you on speed for starters. Speed is always good. But then you'd better turn to something other than Ishimaru."

Taking 10 for 12, does Izumo know any master in the Iga compound specializing on a soft style? If not, he'll advise him to go either to Anoko or Kiri for swordstuff.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri rouses himself out of bed with all the gusto he can manage while jetlagged and sleepy, which is to say he finds himself curled up on the floor of his bedroom tangled on his bedsheets like a wriggling silkworm. Pushing himself up and away from his cocoon, he drags himself into the shower where he begins his morning rituals, emerging from the bathroom as a dripping but now re-energized mess. He stumbles back into his room, half-blinded by the towel draped over his head, and shakes himself dry.

After (mostly) drying himself, he gets to work putting on his uniform. He grins at the full-length mirror and spins around in place to get a good look at the gakuran before smirking to himself in some misplaced sense of pride, "Gakuran's really are the coolest." He stops on his way out of his room however and gives himself another look in the mirror before slyly undoing the top button of his jacket. He winks at his reflection this time, and the reflection winks back.

When he enters the kitchen he finds himself oddly disappointed that his mother isn't around to prepare a bento for him. But whatever disappointment he feels is replaced by an odd sort of glee as he remembers something. "This means I can go to the convenience store and buy something there." He claps excitedly at the thought but flinches and looks carefully in the direction of his parent's room, his hands locked together mid-clap before he pulls them away and remembers to be quiet. Still more giddy than not, he retrieves his school bag from its hook in the kitchen and swipes a slice of bread from the cupboards, sticking it into his mouth as he skips out of the door.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko moves to get out of bed at 4am all the same out of reflex, shuffling like a zombie from the late night before. Her head knocks against her room door to bring her to a halt, giving her a moment to reconsider her circumstances. Her sensei wasn't wanting her right now anyway. She sighs and goes back to bed, settling back in easily enough. The extra couple of hours do her some good and she awakens ready to give some comfort to her mother... who of course isn't there. Anoko looks down at herself, with everything that happened she never even changed out of her street clothes last night, what a slob. Well, might as well TRY and enjoy a lazy morning. She gets in her morning shower and decides to wear her hair up in a ponytail for once, wearing long sleeves, knee-high socks and a long skirt to better deal with the rain.

She sits down at the table and wonders if she should just try making food for herself for once. Not like Seta needed to know about her breaking his stupid 'samurai don't cook' rule - before she trained with him she knew how to make some basic food at least, she can't be that rusty. She wasn't really in a mood for barging in on Miharu's family again today either. Screw it, why not. Anoko goes and does her best to cook up some scrambled eggs and bacon, not the healthiest breakfast maybe but... really nothing Anoko knew how to prepare was healthy. She mostly just knew how to make a few fatty dishes, things that could keep her going through the day so she wouldn't have to spend more time cooking, such was her lazy philosophy. All in all, Seta may have made up that rule just in her case, to make sure she wasn't too heavy for training. Pfft, no way, I've got great metabolism. In fact I'm gonna get a donut from that nice western bakery I saw around here just to show him, she threatens her own waistline.

Anoko sits with her food and the photograph she'd obtained last night, setting it down on the table. She takes the key from the box at last, turning it over in her hand as she puzzles over it. It was a nice key with an inscription, but was it really just ornamental? She couldn't think of what unlock, at least she couldn't remember anything right away... Still, she had a picture of her father to share with her mother now, Ayaka did say she never had a single one to remember him by. And now she could see his face... she wonders what he would make of it all if he was really that much like her. He must have really impressed a lot of care upon his friend if he went this far to deliver such a little package to her.

Finishing breakfast, Anoko sighs and grabs her sword, fastening it to her side like always, and an umbrella and heads out, supposing she might as well walk out and meet everyone before class. Maybe go see Izumo, give Miharu time to finish his breakfast lest she disturb it. She wonders where this Kiri lives too, not that she had much energy to welcome the new face to their school route. Her head's in the clouds again as she thinks on her parents, the cigar box snuggly tucked away in her pocket.

Intelligence check - figure out where Kiri lives [roll0]
Intelligence check - think of something that the key could fit [roll1] (just for fun)
Wisdom check - figured i would roll to see how well Anoko can prepare her food, hopefully its edible otherwise she might have to disturb Miharu for some bland rice after all :P [roll2]

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

Turns out umbrellas are more useful than one initially suspects, and today Kiri proves that by running outside without his and promptly getting soaked. The bread in his mouth gets wet, and rapidly turns soggy unless he eats it quickly. His uniform is quickly soaked through, and the young man is left looking for respite from the rain. Fortunately for him a certain beautiful samurai steps out of her house just in time, and her umbrella seems big enough for two.

Anoko

Picking up the bronze key proves easy enough, but holding it for awhile shows an oddity that Anoko had not noticed before: It was weighty--far weightier than bronze should be--and smelled slightly of sulfur. Holding it for a time proves fairly pointless, as the swordswoman proves incapable of discerning the meaning behind its kanji. And, of course, nothing comes to mind in the house that was locked: Her mother didn't need any keys aside from house keys, as finding them and using them would prove more troublesome than helpful due to her disability.

However, when Anoko picks up the battered sword she has a sudden realization. What if "esteemed companion" wasn't a phrase, but rather a name? Read that way, then the kanji would mean "Hakurei".

Oddities concerning her sword aside, Anoko is able to head outside and spots Kiri's house with ease. After all, he was standing in front of it.

Izumo

Izumo's knowledge of the taijutsu practitioners in the area proves lacking, as he fails to recall anyone who teaches any style; Izumi exempted, of course. When Izumo explains that he cannot teach Seiji the heir sighs.

"I understand. I had hoped to be able to try and get closer to my sister by learning the same style as her, but if you feel that I would be wasting my time then I will respect your wisdom on the matter and try something else."

Izumi looks at her student. "Rejected him already? Cold. At least have the common courtesy to demonstrate why such a soft body couldn't learn Ishimaru style." She laughs at that, and Seiji rubs his leg in response. It's obvious that the heir needs no further demonstrations, and it's a wonder that he's able to walk. Likely a result of his hardheaded nature as Izumi would have severely damaged the heir if she "trained" Seiji as she had "trained" Izumo.

Without further ado Seiji turns his attention away from Izumi and back to Izumo. "You mentioned another teacher; Vivienne was it? Do you think she would be willing to teach me?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Hakurei...?" Anoko mutters to herself as she turns the key over in her hand. This was an old sword, perhaps that was its name. She clutches the handle of her blade a little tighter than usual, suddenly thinking of it as her father's sword.

Anoko is quite lost in her own thoughts and barely notices a quickly drenching Kiri approach until she looks around in vague wondering of where he was holed up. Of course that building, there's only so many places he could be. Seeing him better, she gives a quiet little nod in greeting from under her umbrella. Between that and what looked like army boots, she was quite water proofed for now. However, even in her little morning daze Anoko has maai, her stride and stance restricting an easy approach; one would not hog her umbrella space casually, it would take a rather courageous swordsman to step into her reach!

Of course if he approaches, she eventually notices he's wearing a school uniform and snaps out of it long enough to comment. "Hello Kiri-kun. Are you coming to school with us today then? I was gonna go meet up with people before we head out I guess." She's obviously got her mind on other things, but hey, maybe she could use a distraction.

She heads over to izumo's at a calm pace unless stopped, Kiri welcome to come with. If the beat up Seiji is still there when she arrives then she naturally snaps to attention with a look that demands to know what the hell happened before she can even get a greeting out.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri's face brightens up at the sight of Anoko and he quickly covers the distance between the two, his grin as wide and beaming as ever. Though thoroughly drenched from head to toe, Kiri hardly seems to notice the rapidly accumulating water, even as he threatens to drip onto the swordswoman herself. He doesn't invite himself under the umbrella either but gets close enough to cross into her space, seemingly ignorant or completely indifferent to Anoko's raised guard. "Ah! Anoko-dono, your radiance befits you this fine morning!" When he catches sight of the sword however the interest on his face takes on a decidedly more excited gleam.

"Ah, but I cannot help but notice the blade your carry at your side, Anoko-dono. Does it have it a name? As a man, I should like to know the name of the blade that has so long served as your side." He follows her halfway back to the compound but excuses himself when he remembers his errand. "Though it pains me to leave your side, I believe this invitation must wait for another day. I will see you in school however, Anoko-dono." He gives her a gentle smile and leaves, eagerly waving as he leaves the gate behind him. "And perhaps when it is permissible, you will allow me the honor of a friendly spar? As a main branch Iga nin such as yourself you will no doubt find me lacking but perhaps it will be educational for the both of us?"

He ends his flowery speech with an almost childish, "Bye bye~!"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's maai with her sword sheathed and without fighting intent doesn't register as much of a baying aura of threat to a trained ninja, though a swordsman like Kiri should recognise the practice in her stride all the same. "Er, thanks," Anoko says, a little less flustered than yesterday but still no better than taking compliments of that sort. "I don't feel very radiant though." She looks up. "In fact... things are kind of dull this morning. I guess you're right about it suiting me though. But I guess it's usually sunny this time of year, so maybe you'll find me more myself tomorrow." She looks back to him and notices how foolishly wet he's getting, and extends umbrella a little to give him some cover from the weather, getting her opposing arm somewhat exposed in the process.

When he asks about the sword, she looks down to it, resting her hand on it like a real samurai with a trusted blade. "This beat up old thing... I don't know. My dad left me it," she says simply. "Who knows for sure if it even has a name..." And like that she's lost in her thoughts again until Kiri's next interruption. "Huh? Where are you going then?" Anoko asks as he makes to excuse himself, finding herself a bit turned around all of a sudden. She musters a bit of her usual cocky smile when challenged to a spar though. "I guess so. My sensei's kind of given up on me for now so I could use the practice. There's a kendo club at school I'm checking out if you want to come with. I'm an iaido specialist, kind of."

[Cespenar]

Izumo almost barks a laugh, but barely turns it into an amused chuckle. He lays it flat on Seiji.

"Well, she is a bodyguard/assassin of the Tokagi kid, so, you know."

He glances sideways at Izumi after a moment, pondering something.

"Hey, you oughta know other styles than the Ishimaru, don't you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo and Anoko

The heir's face drops when Izumo mentions Shizuma Tokaji. "I was afraid of that. Well... I suppose you deserve to know, as I'd rather you heard it before she did anyway."

After leaving Kiri Anoko finds herself face-to-back with Izumi and Seiji. The duo are looking at Izumo, and the heir doesn't seem to have noticed the samurai approach. Naturally Izumi turns to look behind her around the same 20 meter distance as last time, but she just smiles at the samurai and turns her attention back to Izumo. Of course, the younger bodyguard naturally spots Anoko arriving as he is facing the direction she's coming from.

Seiji continues. "The clan has brokered an agreement with the Shizuma. When Kiko turns sixteen she'll be married to Shizuma Tokaji, and the Shizuma will join the Iga as a vassal clan." Izumi just shakes her head at that.

"The little mistress won't enjoy that. I wonder who suggested that idea?" Seiji simply frowns at that, but then the elder bodyguard turns around and looks at Anoko. "So do you think that was what those flowers were about?"

Seiji turns to look at whomever Izumi is talking to, and when he notices it's Anoko the heir stands up straight--grimacing when his weight shifted to rest on his injured leg--and tries his best to appear unhurt. "G-Good morning Yukimutou-san. I, uh." The heir looks at his muddy uniform. "I fell in a hole. I should get home so I can change. Though it'll be hot wearing my winter uniform today."

Izumo's teacher crosses her arms over her chest in response to his question. "I do not teach children, and the little master would be starting with the most basic of basics."

Kiri

Kiri heads to the closest convenience store, but as its his second day in Japan finding one proves a bit troublesome. He finally finds one, and discovers that they sell boxed lunches and other minor materials. Unfortunately, the time he's taken in order to actually find said convenience store means he can't head back to the compound and get to school on time.

[Princess Tracy]

Hakurei, Hakurei... I've heard that name recently, right? Someone at school said it maybe...?

Hakurei Shrine.

Shrine...? Hakurei Shrine...

Her eyes on the ground, she doesn't pay much attention to her surroundings, and before Anoko knows what's up, she hears Kiko's name and snaps out of her walking meditation. For a moment she seemed almost to be sleepwalking but just like that she was out of it, shaking her head, she didn't hear that right, did she? Seiji just declared the 'plan' for Kiko... so the heiress was right in her fears.

She loses her words for a moment as she sees Seiji beat up and muddied. "What the hell happened to you?" she asks, worrying Kiko had lashed out. But... somehow she figures she doesn't know for sure yet - she'd been out last night after all, when would she have been told, and it feels like she wouldn't be hearing about it through casual conversation with Seiji if she had been told. She eyes Seiji doubtfully at his explanation of falling - she can't think of anywhere on the compound that a trained ninja could trip and cause themselves that much harm. But with everything else on her mind she doesn't press it much for now. "Right, well... be careful."

As Seiji makes to leave though, Anoko reaches out a hand to support him if he staggers. "Maybe get patched up to before we head out, okay." She looks away from her friend as she speaks in a quieter tone, though there's no doubt in her voice. "Seiji... Kiko won't stand for that, you know it. Being married off is the one thing I don't see her getting used to." Seiji hadn't likely known Anoko to show that much concern for his sister before the last few days - no more than most that simply hoped her rebellion was just a phase, but she was quite serious for once.

She felt this might be another long day. Clubs, Kiko, and investigating what the deal with Hakurei was.

[Cespenar]

Izumo's face turns sour at Seiji's words.

"Well, sh*t."

Few seconds pass before he speaks again. It's those rare times that actual anger is felt in the normally jovial Iga-nin's voice, as if the wrong has been done to himself rather than Kiko.

"Anoko is right. She will do something, y'know. And 'threaten the peace' between us and the Shizuma. Which will bring even more pressure on her.

"They are forcing her hand. Even I can see it."

He leaves it there and just gazes at the ground, apparently unable to come up with any solution.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri pays for his convenience store bento, nervously counting out the value of his coins as he slides them across the counter. Whatever bombast that might have led to his excitement before is gone, replaced with the sudden and inexplicable fear that his Japanese wasn't quite up to scratch. He awkwardly smiles at the staffer but as he shiftily backs away from the counter, he catches sight of the clock sitting just behind the man. The glaring digital read-out of the time, blinks in and out of existence, as if taunting his impending tardiness. Not one to be outdone by something as mundane as time he bursts into action.

Exclaiming, "I'm gonna be late!" at the top of his lungs, he reaches over the counter and rudely swipes the bento away from the cashier before messily shoving the box into his book bag. The German ninja breaks off into a run, out into the still pouring rain, failing to realize that he didn't actually know where the school was.

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo & Anoko

The heir sighs. "Unfortunately there isn't anything to be done about it." He's quiet for a moment, then speaks again. "I should get ready for school."

DM

Whether through luck, persistence, or asking for directions in Kiri's case; everyone makes it to school on time. Along the way Seiji tries his best to talk with Anoko about anime, specifically a weird one featuring time travel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steins;Gate) he saw recently, and he naturally responds favorably to any successful attempt to break through the fog of the Hakurei Question. When the group arrives at school the bell hasn't rung yet, and it seems like ten minutes or so until school starts properly. a bored teacher (http://i.imgur.com/vibhxLB.jpg) stands at the gate reading a thick book, and responds in a deadpan voice to every student that says Hello or Good Morning. A roiling mass of students waiting for the bell to ring stand in front of the school. Kiko isn't immediately visible on the school grounds, but would she go to the roof given what the Iga-nin heard? And if she did, then would the heiress or Tokaji be in danger?

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's withdrawn into her thoughts again by the time she reaches the train, though Seiji doesn't let her quite get as drawn into them as before. She's distracted but still does her best to chat when things are brought up. (Know: Pop Culture check to speak proficiently on anime [roll0])

"Hey, Seiji... I'm trying to work out where I've heard the name Hakurei before. I think it might be really important," she reasons with him, not wanting to get into the full explanation of her dad on the train cart. "Have you heard it?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Seiji looks a bit surprised. "Hakurei? Um... I haven't heard it as a name, but I've heard of the Shrine before. Um. It's a small shrine near Mt. Nagi? It's really old though. Why do you ask?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Mt. Nagi? Hm... guess I'm going hiking this weekend then." That felt wrong just to say it - Anoko didn't go places to do physical activity unless it related to swords or she otherwise had to, weekends were for window shopping and video games. Though for all she knew there was a bus going to the shrine. When Seiji asks why, Anoko bites her lip a moment before reaching tino her shirt pocket and producing the cigar case; she pops it open and flashes Seiji teh key before re-pocketing the whole thing as if the other passengers had an interest in taking it. "An old friend of my dad's came to visit last night, said my old man wanted me to have this. I guess the kanji reads Hakurei."

Anoko yawns when they arrive, trying to remember what club it is that's on today. "...Where is Kiko?" she asks no one in particular as she looks around.

[Cespenar]

By the time Anoko asks Kiko's location, Izumo already trails in front of the group, making his way forward with powerful, decisive steps. His target: the roof.

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo(+Others)

Seiji follows Izumo when he heads off, and whether Kiri, Anoko, or Miharu follow them the duo finds their way to the roof easily enough. When the duo, and anyone that follows them, arrives they find the pale-looking Shizuma Tokaji (http://i.imgur.com/qghsxns.jpg) and his trio of Euryale bodyguards; Vivienne (http://i.imgur.com/xeSyJJr.jpg), Cecilia (http://i.imgur.com/8CrIgZo.jpg), and Hitoshi (http://i.imgur.com/ITPs5fn.jpg). The Shizuma entourage are alone, and the young heir leans against the chain-link fence surrounding the roof. He's as far from the stairwell as possible, and is just staring at the sky. His umbrella is raised up a bit, but he doesn't seem to care about the rain. Meanwhile the Euryale stop anyone who enters the roof at the door, and none of the trio are beside the boy in their protection. Both Vivienne and Cecilia are looking at the small boy's back, and it's Hitoshi that notices Izumo, Seiji, and anyone that follows them. He grunts at the purple-haired sisters, then jabs a thumb over his shoulder at the intruders when they turn around. Cecilia takes one look at Izumo, then looks away quickly before turning her back on the group and watching her master once more. Vivienne is the one that finally breaks the silence.

"Greetings", the martial artist clasps one hand over a clenched fist and bows, "I am told by the young master that we will be allies in the future. We are in your care." She turns her attention to Seiji and anyone else that might have followed Izumo. "I'm afraid we have not been introduced." She looks back to Izumo, then motions to Seiji and any others. "Would you do us the honors, Ishimaru-kun?" The Euryale seems to erroneously believe Izumo belongs to the Ishimaru clan, given her usage of their name in reference to the bodyguard.

[Princess Tracy]

Seeing Izumo stomp off with purpose and Seiji follow, Anoko can't think of anything better to do than come with, following them up to the roof. "Are we looking for Kiko? Why would she be this way?" she asks en route curiously. "Oh, the roof, right." She could picture Kiko going up there to get away from people, she guesses as they head up a flight of stairs.

Anoko blinks and hangs around at the doorway, not exactly in a rush to push past the guards just to awkwardly unfurl her umbrella. She recognises them from yesterday, she thinks. Wait, the flowers, Seiji said someone from that clan had been set up with Kiko... so that kid was the guy, huh? "He looks a bit young, doesn't he," she says out loud all of a sudden. But then, everyone here was too young to be getting married in her thinking.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu is quiet on the way to school. Not because he had nothing to say, he was just too tired to respond. He had not slept well the night before and it was really taking its toll. Somehow he managed to register that Seiji was going to the roof with Izumo. Man, I was really hoping just to have a normal day of school. Too much to ask, of course. Adjusting his umbrella, he follows the group up to the roof.

He waves to Vivienne and the others, trying to smile while he did so. "Morning everyone."

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo(+Others)

Vivienne looks back at the Shizuma heir when Anoko says that, and speaks in a voice wiser than her age would suggest. "An eternity, youth forever fleeting, marriage a fast trap." Vivienne's sudden haiku, a bit off as her middle is only six syllables rather than seven, ends with the assassin turning her attention back to the group. "Perhaps, in time, my master will learn that a man must be steel in politics, and put aside ideals like love and friendship." Cecilia scoffs loudly at that, and the purple-haired assassin looks to Vivienne in obvious scorn. Vivienne simply accepts it in stride, and continues speaking. "Our lords want this, and we must obey. Our lives were forfeit at birth after all, and we are but pawns for our masters. You would understand that, wouldn't you Miss Samurai? You are your master's sword, after all. His orders are absolute whether he orders you to kill, to die, or even to warm his bed?" The Euryale smiles at that, and turns her eyes upon Seiji. The Iga heir blushes furiously, and opens his mouth to contest that idea, but then simply says.

"A lord who would abuse their retainers in such a way is undeserving of their respect or adoration." Seiji says, but Vivienne counters almost immediately.

"But obedience is expected, even threatened, regardless of the righteousness of such an order, is it not?" Seiji furrows his brows at that, but seems at a loss for words as to counter her statement. Of course he couldn't believe that he could simply order Anoko to do anything, right?

[Princess Tracy]

The samurai-in-training gets mentally caught on the haiku for a moment, counting the syllables, and happily pockets the knowledge that the girl's poems weren't perfect - a petty 'victory' that leaves her not paying attention for a moment, the better to be blindsided by the comment about warming Seiji's bed. Whether she meant to or not, the Euryale seemed to be good at pushing Anoko's buttons to rouse her from her quiet stupor "Oh what the hell," Anoko makes a showy gesture of raising her arm in protest, but bites her lip and lowers it, giving an annoyed sigh. "It is way too early in the day for that kind of crazy talk. Maybe your leaders are that way, but Seiji's a cool dude who won't get pulled into your weird mind games. Also he'd my friend, and you're gross." She sticks out her tongue like a disgruntled infant, really not respecting the formality of meeting another ninja. "Also, hey, how'd you know I'm a samurai? I don't even have my sword out - I mean, with me. I could be, like, a taijutsu... person, for all you know." Since she'd never done much to research other ninja or scout out her rivals in the school, she assumed no one else had. That would just be cheating.

"Also, what he said!" Anoko says, seconding Seiji's interjection about a lord being worthy of being followed (though a little late to the draw). Of course Anoko wasn't stopping to consider how much pull Seiji's orders had on her - he never really demanded anything of her so it wasn't a question she took seriously.

Anoko calms down once she's done ranting and turns to Seiji. "...Hey, if they're going to be a vassal clan, doesn't that mean you'd be their boss once you're clan leader? I mean, assuming this wedding thing actually happens." Anoko purses her lips, not wanting to bring up Kiko's doubtless refusal of the thing right in front of their audience. "Seriously though, have you even met Kiko?" she asks, raising her voice to address the Tokaji kid. FINALLY the actual meaning behind Vivienne's haiku occurs to her rather than just the prose.

You ever just look at the clock and think to yourself 'why the hell am i still awake'

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo(+Others)

Vivienne just laughs when she's called gross, but both Hitoshi and Cecilia are rather stonefaced about the whole event. Hitoshi seemingly lacks any other expression, while Cecilia seems to be having a spat with her dear sister. When Anoko questions her assertion the Euryale simply smiles and points to the girls legs. "Your hips. You're turned to face me, as if you were aiming to take me head on with a weapon in hand." She points to Izumo. "A martial artist turns to the side, presenting a smaller profile because they have no need to use a weapon aside from their own body, but they still face the danger." She then directs her attention to Seiji and Miharu. "And non-fighters turn to look me in the eye, but forget the positioning of their legs and feet. They don't understand the concept of closing distance, or striking with power, and thus care nothing for their foundation." The Euryale finally smirks. "As for knowing about your sword... I did say "Samurai" rather than "swordswoman", but now I know you favor the blade over the spear, the bow, or the hammer. That's important information that you should avoid divulging to your enemies, lest they devise tactics to defeat you."

With all of that said, Vivienne drops the facade of appearing to be some wise and observant person. "Plus, I recognized the Iga heir, and it's well known that Iga Kinzo has the swordsmaster Seta Soujirou as his vassal. Logically, his son would have the sole student of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu as his vassal. I knew Ishimaru-kun from before, and Momotami-kun said he knew nothing about taijutsu when we met. So I guessed that you were the samurai, and it turns out I was right."

Anoko's little rebellion seems to shake her master out of his stuper, and when Anoko talks of vassals and lords then she gets a shake of Seiji's head. "The Shizuma would become vassals of the Iga. The Euryale are vassals of the Shizuma, and thus beholden only to the Shizuma. I doubt that this girl would follow my orders anymore than my sister would."

Vivienne smiles and nods in response to that, affirming the heir's suspicion that her master would remain Shizuma Tokaji.

When Anoko calls out to the heir the three Euryale look to him, but he doesn't turn around or respond. Vivienne is the one to speak as his bodyguards turn to face the group once more. Vivienne steps back a bit, placing herself directly in the path of the door to outside and thus directly in the way of the Iga and her master. "I'm afraid the young master wishes for solitude. His fianccee was rather irate, and said some hurtful things to him. I ask that you refrain from bothering the young master. I would hate to be forced to remove you, and thus sour the young master's relationship with his future Brother."

[Cespenar]

Izumo doesn't stay for all the talk, but as Anoko and Vivienne engage in conversation, Izumo nods to the Euryale to the extent of acknowledging their existence, and turns back on his heels to leave with the air of one who's busy, busy.

"It's Iga-kun, and it looks like you are getting to know each other already. Have you seen Kiko, by the way?"

Izumo only waits for long enough to catch Vivienne's response (if any), and leaves. Making his way through the school, he checks the places Kiko could be: the entrance, the basement with the commissary, and the room of her first lesson today. Not that he was worried for her, but the smallest sense of anxiety seems to build up in him, as he fills in the blanks from yesterday and now.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri listens into the conversation, his face scrunched up what might be confusion. That or some manner of constipation. Regardless, he breaks through the silence that has fallen over the group by stepping out in front of Seiji and speaking up loudly, "Alright, I'm the newcomer around here so I may not know what's going on here but," he points at Vivienne, "you're full of ****." As an aside he winks at Cecilia and shoots her a fingergun, "Not you though, doll, yer still aces in my book."

Honestly, it's a wonder he managed to be quiet for so long.

"You've gotta point about leaders needin' ta be strong or whatever but I'd rather work for a well-meanin' loser who's got my best interests at heart than somebody who thinks he's gotta stop bein' my friend just because he's gotta boss me around or summat. Maybe the whole cuttin' ties thing works where you live, in cuckooland, but here in the real world that kinda selfish thinkin' ain't gonna cut it. The guy who throws away friendships and love just because of some duty of his just wasn't tryin' hard enough to protect it in tha first place. An' I can't say the same 'bout yer little guy but if Seiji ever forgets that he's human bean' I'll make sure ta personally beat the sense back inta' him!"

"Anyway listen up, I don’t much care what you 'Shizuma' punks do with yer' own people but *******s who blunder in and mess with my friends or family… whether yer' some kinda feudal lord, tall dark and broody over there, or hell! A uh... a meteorite! I’ll beat them all down!" He crosses his arm and huffs, rounding on to the quiet Shizuma clan heir.

"Oi! What's-your-face over there! I know you can hear me. I won' help you get into the little lady's pants or nothin' but if you wanna get ta know her better, you come to me! Those two girls you got followin' you 'round wouldn' know how to woo a girl like Kiko if...a book about wooing a girl like Kiko bit them on their beautiful asses."

When he's finally done talking he claps his hand on Seiji's shoulder and shoots him a completely unwarranted grin, winking as though he hadn't just casually admitted his willingness to beat the boy up if the opportunity presented itself, "C'mon, let's ditch these losers."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko bites her lip when Vivienne gives her analysis of her and her companions and tries to actually focus her mind and size up the people in front of her in turn, but still can't help but give a bit of a chuckle when she mentions knowing her sensei. "Ha, so you already knew. Who you trying to impress?" When Izumo goes to leave, Anoko answers his question for him. "Well from the sounds of it she was just up here exploding in this kid's face, so she can't have gone too far. Maybe wait until first period starts before freaking too much, 'kay?" she advices. Somehow being in the presence of a potential enemy had a way of making her feel more confident at the moment, perhaps because it kept her mind from wandering and worrying beyond her immediate concerns.

"As for Kiko, you're gonna have to be ready for a lot more of that, because her personality isn't going away any faster than this feudalism -" Suddenly Kiri steps forward and Anoko isn't the most disruptive ego in the room. She falls silent, vaguely horrified at Kiri's verbal inferno that just keeps burning, leaving her quite shocked by the time he's done, her mouth still hanging open. Somehow that was beautiful and baleful all at once and she's left quite without words by the end of it. "...Yeah. Let's...." She doesn't turn around away from the Euryale until the roof door between them is closed, instinct telling her to maintain eye contact, and heads towards class if Seiji does.

Here's something odd to try: Knowledge (tactics) to identify the possible fighting styles of each of the peoples from the way they position themselves and stand. I considered Taijutsu to also be a possible roll for the job, but I figured tactics would give information about how they coordinate as a whole.
Vivienne [roll0]
Cecilia [roll1]
Male Euryale :smalltongue: [roll2] (its Hitoshi, committed to memory now)
Tokaji [roll3]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Vivienne nods her head at Izumo's question, but gives no further answers. If pressed, the Euryale simply says: "The young master's fiancee did not wish to be disturbed, and she is as much my master as her husband-to-be."

When initially speaks up the Euryale simply watches, smirking when Kiri goes off about friendship and love. But as soon as he starts to shout at her master she lashes out like a snake. Before he can even get the "Oi" out of his mouth Vivienne shifts her weight and kicks him square in the chest while he's gathering up wind to be even more of a windbag. She's clearly pulling her power in order to avoid causing serious injury to the Iga-nin, but her actions and intent are obvious. "What the---" Seiji tries to exclaim, but then Vivienne steps forward. Hitoshi doesn't seem surprised, and steps up with her, but Cecilia looks at Izumo. She sighs softly, and moves to support her sister without further words. With Kiri's tirade cut short Vivienne speaks. She seems to direct her words at Kiri, but they would also apply to everyone.

"Do not be foolish. Friendship and love was abandoned by your clan already, or else the Yato and Mibu would not have been exterminated like dogs. And I would no more brook insults or threats to my master than would any of you. If you would like to settle this with might, then I will oblige. If you wish to settle this with words, then my master will speak to you when he wishes to speak to you. But all the same I will warn you once more." Her next words come not as Vivienne, the sixteen year old high school student, but as a Euryale assassin of the Shizuma Clan. "Do not threaten my master again, or I will show you why ninja put aside childish things like friendship."

Whether Kiri wants to fight or not Seiji steps forward to place himself between the newcomer and the assassin. He looks at Kiri. "Enough. A battle will not help either of us." He turns to Vivienne. "Tell your master, and my sister, that I would speak to him as Heir of the Iga Clan, and his future lord, within three days." The heir quickly, almost mockingly, adds. "At his convenience, of course."

Seiji keeps himself interposed between the two groups unless forced aside. "We're leaving." It's not a request, or a suggestion, but an order from the heir.

As soon as anyone shouts at Tokaji Vivienne's readied action goes off, and she Palm Heel Strikes Kiri.

Vivienne Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] Non-lethal.

Kiri needs a DC 17 Fort Save or be stunned for a round.

[Princess Tracy]

Well, she seems to be some sort of taiju- OH GEEZ. Anoko's analysis is cut short and confirmed when she socks Kiri. It wasn't an impressively strong hit she could tell, but it was fast, faster than she was sure she could dodge, and pretty capable of knocking the wind out of someone. On reflex, she steps back and reaches to her side, but of course her sword isn't there - stored away in her gloves' seal; still she maintains a defensive posture. "Seiji-" Her first instinct when he interposes himself is to yank him by the collar out of the way before something happens, but seeing teh situation calm down she understands what he's doing. He seemed to handle it pretty well. She exhales slowly, relaxing, and nods, not taking her eyes off the Euryale, and backs away into the school when Seiji moves to leave.

"You okay?" she asks Kiri, putting out her hand to help if he got knocked down

[Bad Situation]

Kiri takes the blow hard in and flies back from the impact, several feet further than is strictly warranted and when he sits himself up he clutches at his chest as though he were some kind of fictional hero. "K-kuh...!" Despite his overblown theatrics he smiles knowingly, a smile so small that only the Shizuma nin who have a direct line of sight to his face can see. Before anything can come of it however, Anoko comes into his view and offers to help him up. Clearly taking it the wrong way, he reaches out for it, only to plant a kiss on the back of her hand. He pulls himself back up to his feet by himself and doesn't seem at all fazed by the sudden lashing out of Vivienne. In fact, as they turn to leave, Kiri waves at the group pleasantly before skipping ahead to catch up to Seiji.

When they're finally out of sight he speaks up, "She's hiding something about that 'master' of hers, Seiji. She might talk all reverent an' junk but the way they act and talk when they're 'round him, you'd think he was some kinda porcelain doll. It's s'picious, ya know? Didn' even get'ta know what kind of man he is."

[Princess Tracy]

Once again, Kiri catches her quite off guard, and he's rewarded with just the sort of maiden-like blushing he'd seen in his shows. "Did... she hit you so hard that you're delirious?" she awkwardly comments as he stands by himself.

Once Kiri's talking about the Shizuma heir, she raises an eyebrow, her red face having gone down. "What do you mean, what could they be hiding? That... he's not very strong, maybe?" She shrugs her shoulders, having not gotten much of an impression of the guy from across the roof.

"You okay, Seiji? That was pretty brave there," she compliments him with a smile. "Stepping up to make sure everyone didn't get dragged into a brawl. Just remember I'm the one supposed to be watching your back, 'kay?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The Euryale make no effort to pursue the Iga, but do not step back when Seiji interposes himself between the two groups. Vivienne smiles at the boy, and once more she has become just another sixteen year old high school student. She says nothing, and the trio are as unreadable as always.

Seiji withdraws quickly, but once they're out of sight it becomes plainly obvious that his hands are shaking. "That was intense." Seiji looks to Kiri. "Did you have to pick a fight with them? Especially when this whole event is already precariously balanced?" The young heir clenches and relaxes his hands over and over trying to calm himself. "We can't start a feud with the Shizuma. If we chase them away then they'll turn to the Okada, and perhaps it will cause undue stress to my sister." The heir finally gets his shaking under control as the adrenaline finally dumps out of his system. When Anoko talks about his bravery, the heir simply shakes his head.

"She wouldn't have attacked me. Instigating a fight would probably cause trouble for the Shizuma and threaten the clan's place. The Shizuma aren't exactly popular, since they're connected to the old Ishimaru and the Tsuchikage's old reign, and they've recently lost a few of their elites in the Levant." Seiji speaks of the tyrant of the past who formerly ruled the country with an iron fist, and it's a small wonder that the Shizuma survived as long as they did if they were one of his supporters.

But when talk turns to the Shizuma heir Seiji proposes his own idea. "He was really pale when I met him yesterday. Perhaps he's sick?"

[Princess Tracy]

Seeing Seiji shaking, Anoko steps up and puts an arm around his shoulder in support. "Hey, you were afraid but you still had the guts to act. That counts as bravery in my books, and quick thinking," she compliments him. "Even I know you'd need to be an idiot to attack you, but it can't be easy to remind yourself of that when staring down a pissed off assassin." She gives him a big smile.

"Well, at least that's one more needless crisis we've averted, right?" she says, somehow having her morning brightened just by not getting drawn into a needless fight - even a zero sum victory was better than she was expecting when Kiri got beaten up. If he's sick, what does that really mean for us though?" Anoko doesn't have much thoughts on the matter as she tries navigating down to first period class from the roof - not imagining that the heir was ailed by much more than a cold. "If he's that bad he should really get out of the rain, geez."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri rolls his eyes and doesn't stop walking, lacing his hands behind his head as they step through the halls. "You saw the way she lashed out at me. She coulda' stopped me any time she wanted. So why'd she choose to interrupt me right then, huh? She didn' want us talkin' ta him directly for some reason. Violence tells you a lot 'bout a person, yeah? When and where ya choose ta use it. How far yer willin' ta go an' all that. So was she stoppin' me cuz' she wanted to 'protect' her master or because she was startin' ta get a bit hot under the collar?" He flashes Seiji a goofy smile, "Or something like that, hm?"

When Seiji proposes his idea, he simply shrugs. "I didn' get a good look at 'im since his back was turned but if he's so sick he can barely walk an' talk, the hell's he comin' ta school for? You said it yourself, the situation back there was real tense, so why didn' he react to it any? 'Sides, what kinda man gets all mopey and **** just 'cuz he gets shut down by a girl?"

"Like I said, s'picious."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Seiji shakes his head at Kiri's accusation. "I don't buy the idea that she was angry. She was too calm and collected to be angry. Like you said: She knew exactly when and where she was going to stop you. But she also knew just how much violence she was intending to use from the beginning, and speaking from experience: Anger doesn't let you pick and choose how much you hurt someone." The boy absentmindedly rubs his ribs, and then looks to Anoko. "Can you find Izumo and tell him to talk to try and talk to Tokaji? He's the only one I know of who has some connection to Vivienne."

Izumo

After Izumo left the roof he finds the entrance, commissary, and Kiko's homeroom devoid of the heiress' presence. He could try asking the gatekeeper, but given how little interest Kiyori showed in teaching class then there's no chance she would pay any attention to who comes and goes at the front gate.

[Bad Situation]

"I don' think she was angry. But she definitely didn' like us pokin' 'round then and there. She's hidin' something. I just don' know what yet. And from who." He brings his hands up defensively and smiles, "But if you don' like me makin' trouble I guess I can back off or somethin'. Got three yearsa' of my rose colored high school life ta look forward an'all. Could do without the drama, yeah?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Well, I'll try, but I'll have to find him first." Anoko shrugs and gives Seiji a last pat on the back before she goes looking for Izumo to pass on the message. "You're a weird sort of dude, Kiri-kun," she says as a parting shot.

[Cespenar]

Giving up his search, Izumo either returns to Anoko and the rest, or, if it's close to the bell, to the classroom.

[Princess Tracy]

If she can find Izumo before class starts, Anoko tells him that Seiji wants him to try talking to Tokaji. Either way she heads to first period unless another thing happens.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu waves as Anoko leaves. I wonder if Anoko is as oblivious as I....yeah, no, it's Anoko. She has no idea. "She's going to Mt. Nagi this weekend, right? Think we should come along, or do you have something else in mind?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The school bell rings and the day begins with no further incidents. Kiri finds himself in the same homeroom as Anoko, Seiji, Miharu, and Izumo. Their blind teacher (http://i.imgur.com/78Rn7Oy.jpg), whom both Izumo and Anoko recognize from their first day, enters the room with the familiar tip-tap of her sight cane. The feeling of being watched, despite their teacher being blind, remains as pervasive as ever. Of course, none of the other students seem to recognize it or at least haven't acted upon it if they have.

Kotoba speaks quietly and without the familiar pressure that Anoko remembers from the day when the dragon spoke of her past. A more astute ninja would likely recognize the mask of servile weakness for what it is: An excuse to protect the mundane students from her true nature as a violent murderer. "Good morning! I hope my lovely students hope to learn, because I would love to teach! But before that, we have a transfer student today. Shirogane Kiri? Come up and introduce yourself to the class."

The class turns to Kiri and waits for him to approach the teacher's desk. However, once Kiri gets within five feet of his homeroom teacher he immediately recognizes the feeling of facing down an armed attacker. But, unlike Anoko's maai, it's less like a swordsman and more like a serial killer with an unfulfilled desire for blood. His teacher has not drawn a weapon, but Kiri immediately realizes that he's being threatened, and that any action he takes would provoke a counterattack. Even with his swordsman training there's little doubt that the young man would be pierced through before he could draw his blade, but the question of where her weapon was hidden remains to be answered. Whether the young man figures out where her hidden weapon remains or not; Kiri has to introduce himself under the withering pressure of having your back to a smiling killer.

---

Once Kiri introduces himself the homeroom teacher claps for him. "Good boy. Class! Please--" A knock interrupts Kotoba, and immediately her frown goes darker than the mask she wears, and for a moment a bit of her true nature leaks through. Then it's gone as she switches back to a smile, suppresses herself, and gets up and goes to the door. She has a whispered conversation with a balding man in a dark blue suit, and then turns her attention back to the class.

"Mr. Arai? What do you need from me?"

"The Disciplinary Committee has requested your negotiation skills. Apparently a student stole something from a teacher, and the Committee is investigating. They would like you to talk to her and try to get her to turn over what she stole."

"Hm. Very well. Tell the Master of Students I'll be along shortly."

Kotoba turns her attention back to the class. "I must apologize, but I must leave class for the time being. It's nothing serious. Take this time to free study, but if I hear from my neighbors that you were too loud then I'll be sure to punish all of you tomorrow." With that, the dragon leaves and the class is left to its own devices. It takes several seconds for the talking to start, but eventually there's more socializing than studying.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko sits in class quietly, going back to her thoughts while they wait on Kotoba-sensei. Mt. Nagi... She smiles faintly when she arrives, remembering that she thinks she has kendo class with her today.

Anoko's ears prick up in curiousity as Kotoba has her little private conversation. When the teacher's gone, she bites her lip and thinks. "Hm. Nah, that's probably not Kiko. Not the sort of thing she would be most likely to get in trouble for." if the other's show any interest (and actually even if they don't), she explains "Apparently someone stole from a teacher, so the disciplinary people want Kotoba to talk to her to get whatever it is back. Not sure why they need her specifically, but then... well, she is good at getting a read on people." For an airhead, she was attentive when she felt like it.

Untrained Knowledge check - taking 10 for 11 to know long would need to travel to get to Mt. Nagi.

[Bad Situation]

Though he knows she can't see it, Kiri beams at her with his typical face-splitting grin. His first step into her bloodcurdling maai is initially apprehensive but his second step is sure of itself and he proceeds to completely disregard the danger she poses.

Without so much as a second thought, Kiri launches himself into the fore of the classroom where he pounds his slipper-laden foot onto the floor fiercely and strikes a sudden and powerful mie, his eyes widened and hands splaid out behind his head and hip as though he were some kind of kabuki actor. "It is as your most esteemed teacher says, it is I! Shirogane Kiri! Hailing from the west, I descend upon your school, my journey yet begins!" Taking in a deep breath, he bows sharply at the hip, "It is a pleasure to meet you all and I hope we can all become the best of friends over the course of this magnificent school year." Tilting his head up, he winks at the nearest pretty girl, "And maybe something more~☆."

He takes his seat when directed, smiling brightly at whoever has the misfortune of being his seat neighbor for the rest of the term.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko shakes her head, she couldn't keep letting herself be stunned every time Kiri did something unpredictable since it seemed like that was just going to be a thing with him. "Where do you find the energy to be such a weird dude all the time, Kiri-kun?" While she could certainly appreciate being passionate, she was generally too laid back to be firing on all cylinders as he seemed to. No doubt she just needed some encouragement in her springtime of youth!

[Cespenar]

After Anoko explains what she heard, Izumo forcibly suspends his worry for Kiko and just seems to enjoy the break caused by their teacher's absence. As Kiri makes his glorious introduction and returns, Izumo looks at him skeptically. He asks with a serious face.

"Hey, do you actually get girls with that attitude? I'm just curious."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri looks at Izumo and shrugs, "I wouldn't know, you two are the first kids my age I've really met," answering the Iga nin's question with a smile. He scratches his head, seemingly untroubled by his somewhat depressing statement and tilts his head in thought, "Mama and the older girls at the base told me it was endearin' though, so maybe?"

He giggles at the thought, "Sides', can't really expect other people ta have confidence in me if I can't even be confident in myself, ya know?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko smiles, no wonder Yuuki was kinda weird if he had a bunch of older girls to impress who wouldn't be so caught off by the whole... thing he seems to do around her. "I guess that's a healthy attitude to have. Hey Seiji, maybe you should try acting more like Kiri, see if it increases my esteem in you," she suggests jokingly, giggling if her sarcasm was just too subtle. Whether he knew it or not, somehow Shirogane seemed to have cheered Anoko up, taking her mind off the hundred and one things that maybe weren't worth spending her homeroom time worrying about anyway. "Hey. so like you don't really mean it when you say weird flirty things to girls then?" she asks, a little relieved that Kiri wasn't so... incredibly lovey-dovey at first sight with her as his flowery speech had suggested. Of course, Kiri could always give a more serious-faced dose of flirting if he wanted to swipe that comfort away from under her and into the hurricane of awkward teenage relationships.

Anoko rests her head on her hand. No one else was bothering with self study, why should she, what would she even study, its only the third day. Still, she pulls out a math textbook and opens it up in case the teacher comes back and sees her not working - a tradition so engraved in her slacker instinct that she doesn't even consider the fact that Kotoba's blindness and apparent extrasensory ability makes such an act useless. All the same, she coos. "Oh sweet, that's where I left this," she mutters to herself as she finds a comic she'd hid in the textbook for sneaky reading and assumed she'd lost, and soon enough she's flicking through it and staunchly ignoring being productive.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The day passes without further interruptions, though Kiri does get several weird looks. Most people tend to avoid him, though a few students are drawn to his odd nature and manner of speaking. The school day passes, but there's still no appearance of the heiress. Miharu, Anoko, and Izumo know that she was absent in all of the classes she shares with them, and even Kiri would recognize the Iga name and the surprising absent mark given by his teachers. Eventually, the group are released in order to do their own thing, though club activities are still on. As it's Friday the Iga-nin have several clubs to go to. Izumo has Motor Club, but he's not required to show up if he doesn't want to. Anoko has both Kendo and Occult club to go to, and fortunately for her the Occult club meets at 5pm to 6pm while Kendo goes from 3pm to 4pm. Miharu has both Occult and Archery, but fortunately his clubs have the same schedule as Anoko's. Kiri and Seiji are both in the Go Home club, unless the exchange student wants to sign up for anything. Naturally, the Iga-nin could blow off their clubs and go investigating instead as it seems the heiress has disappeared, and Anoko still has to find someone to bring her to Mt. Nagi. There's also still the problems of the Baseball club that attacked Seiji on their first day of school.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko spends some of her lunch time in the library, googling to see what sort of transportation she can get out the mountain - she did have a fair bit of cash saved up for a girl her age after all. She regrets not having one of her mother's bentos today and eventually leaves to get herself something out of the machine before afternoon classes.

Anoko does some stretching as she walks out of the last class of the day, swinging her arms around to loosen them up from her hardcore half-nap she snuck in the last ten minutes, had to keep sharp for kendo club after all. Deep breath, and exhale. A little hop, spring in her step, click the neck, good to go. She hadn't trained all day after all, she should make the most of this hour here. These were hardcore thugs that Kotoba-sensei said she kept in line (or rather, that she gnawed on to keep her hungry maw from reaching others) - she couldn't take it lightly. Hell, Kotoba had trained her sensei, she knew she was predictable in nature but had to make sure she surprised her with pure quality.

She waves to Izumo. "Hey, any luck seeing Kiko? I have a club on now, do you need me?" she offers, smiling.

"Seiji, are you good for walking home without me?" she asks, a little embarassed to abandon him even if she wasn't his official vassal yet or anything. "I guess you've got Kiri-kun at least, but Miharu and me have stuff on until late. Oh, also, I've been thinking, who do we know with a car and, like, an entire day they're not doing anything with? I was hoping to check out the Hakurei Shrine this weekend."

I don't think you need to be trained to make research checks, so I take 10 (hit 11) to find public transportation and viable hired drivers out to the mountain.

[Cespenar]

Izumo nods back at Anoko, returning a half-smile.

"Nah, still didn't see her. Well, I guess we'll find out back home."

When she mentions Hakurei Shrine and a ride, he winks at her.

"See, when I finish the Blastmobile, we won't have any problems like that. I could then just whip you up there and back in a jiffy. Or just ride around."

He sighs.

"Speaking of which, I'd best pop up by the motor guys and say hello. See ya."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

With Izumo not needing her help Anoko is able to find the Kendo club room easily enough. The square building looks like a modern building on the outside, but the inside is a traditional Japanese dojo. There are about twelve students inside, eleven of them sitting in a semi-circle around a sparring arena marked out in white tape. The blinded blond-haired Mibu is sparring with a white haired young girl (http://i.imgur.com/ZkzTF.png) who's wearing a decidedly non-traditional uniform. Both women are using wooden swords rather than shinai like competitive kendo would require, but both are wearing the protective armor that's standard in competitive kendo. The two swords flash through the air like lightning, clashing with loud wooden clacks, but it's obvious from the girl's aggressive stance that she's got Kotoba on the defensive. Or, at least, that's how Kotoba is presenting the situation. Every one of the white-haired girl's swings are met with Kotoba's blade, and every step she takes forward is taken with obvious struggle on her part. However, Anoko notices the blond-haired teacher moves with a sense of purpose and bloodlust that her student lacks. Her students were calm and quiet, but was that because they knew what was to come? Or perhaps they didn't know Kotoba as Anoko did. Or maybe Kotoba did not wish them to know. Anoko's suspicion of the dragon's bloodlust is confirmed when the blind teacher suddenly goes on the offensive. In an instant the white-haired girl swings forward, but Kotoba reverses her grip in order to block. The girl is surprised at the sudden change, and in a heartbeat Kotoba shoves the grip of her bokken into the girl's breastplate with a great deal of force. The white-haired girl drops to her knees as the air is forced out of her lungs from the power of Kotoba's blow. Her bokken drops from her numb fingers, and Kotoba brings her own wooden sword down to rest softly on the back of the girl's neck. The girl struggles to rise and continue the fight, but she doesn't realize she's been beaten. Her eyes look to her arms and legs with obvious surprise, because the strength of her body doesn't come when she calls. It takes several seconds for her to be able to summon her strength and stand up. Kotoba's bokken leaves the girl's neck, and the teacher speaks.

Anoko recognizes Kotoba's attack as a modified version of the Palm Heel Strike: She used the hilt of her sword to strike a vital point, and thus stunned her opponent.

"Your opponent is not beaten with mindless aggression", Kotoba says in a voice far softer than most would expect a kendo instructor to use, "but you also cannot win without aggression. The sword is both weapon and shield, and to forget that simply because your opponent is on the ropes--or because you're too afraid to strike--is foolish. You would do well to learn that, Anoko-chan." The blind teacher doesn't turn her attention to Anoko, but the students do. They all rapidly stand up, and bow at the waist to the newcomer, and during the flurry of activity Anoko notices the white-haired girl slink off to take her place with her fellows while the focus is drawn away from her. Kotoba speaks to her students as she introduces the samurai. "Students, this is Yukimutou Anoko. A girl who believes herself a samurai. Tell us, Anoko, how long have you been practicing kendo?"

Izumo

The motor club is surprisingly quiet and seemingly empty when the Iga-nin approaches, but his trained eyes spot something fishy as soon as he comes close: If club was canceled, then why was the side door open and ajar? If the burly Iga-nin moves toward it then he hears voices inside, but they're being quiet and he can't quite make out what they're saying. However, he definitely doesn't hear the kind of ruckus anyone who lives near a garage would expect.

"Come on Rui. You can't do stuff like this here. This place isn't like our middle school: There are people here I can't protect you from."

"Ya, whatever, I've seen you in a fight before. There's no way anyone could stop you, and I'm not stupid enough to get caught without a scapegoat anyway."

"Ugh. Rui. This school isn't some place I can just do as I please. The Disciplinary Committee..."

"Ahaha! I thought you were worried about teachers, but you're worried about a bunch of students? That guy last week couldn't stand up to you, and he was an adult! So why are you worried about teenagers?"

They sound like they're having some sort of involved discussion.

[Cespenar]

Being unable to hear the hushed conversation, Izumo decides he's not in a mood to be all suspicious and sneaky about it, so he raps on the open door a couple of times and simply walks in while announcing himself.

"Hey, Kurokawa-san? Anyone here?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko remains quiet and snaps to attention, all her concentration on observing and analysing the fight before her as she walks in the dojo. Her eyes follow it quiet well and she stands quite fascinated at how the aggression of the two opponents play out against each other - the technique used as simple enough for her to understand, allowing her to focus on intent as it seems Kotoba wanted her to. For a moment she isn't even distracted by her usual banal thoughts like 'whoa, is white that girl's real hair colour'. Was Kotoba just humouring the girl? She can almost count the seconds down to when she seems to snap and flash her real aggression, sensing it just from the size of their arena limiting how much the teacher can step back before being officially cornered. She doesn't blink until after the last strike is landed, knowing then that the fight was over. To deliver such a strike with just the back of the handle, and with armour - she stores away the memory of that technique in the hopes of recreating it later.

So wrapped up in observation, she seems to forget she was actually standing in the dojo, with a serious look on her face, until Kotoba addresses her. It dawns on her that she was supposed to learn from that, and it was somewhat enlightening to see that style of fighting play out, but at the same time she had trouble visualising herself as the one with such intent. All the same, she knew she wouldn't be so careless with her guard as that girl. She had to find a balance, she guessed...

Anoko bows at the waist the same as everyone else, rather polite to show some proper etiquette for once. She isn't quite sure how to answer Kotoba's question - of course she knew she would have to be training with Seta for some time, but she hadn't trained in kendo specifically before, and wasn't necessarily keen on divulging her full training as a samurai to the class. She gives an awkward laugh, scratching the back of her head at 'samurai'. "Heh, d-did I say that? I just get enthusiastic really. Erm, well let's say... I've done some stuff, but this will be my first day actually practicing kendo. So, er, I guess I'll need to be shown the ropes. All the discipline and stuff." She's suddenly rather aware of what that Euryale girl said of her stance earlier, how facing head on indicates her a practiced weapon user, though at least with the waterproof stuff she was wearing her physique wasn't too much of a giveaway. Maybe it was good if she sold herself short so the class underestimated her a little - it would let her scout out her rivals without getting too serious. She'd never met so many would-be swordsmen before and wasn't quite sure where she stood, and actively resists the temptation to try breaking the ice with too many of her awkward jokes. "Erm, sorry, do you have equipment I can use, Kotoba-sensei?" She gives another of her rather sincere smiles, eager to learn.

Anoko makes that Taijutsu check on a roll of 1, yay.

Unrelated, I've been wondering. How DO you pronounce all those Euryale names? I seem to say the clan name itself differently every time I say it out loud, and nearly all the members of it I have no idea how you pronounce their names.

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo

When Izumo heads inside he's greeted to the sight of Kurokawa (http://i.imgur.com/DjudyPp.png) arguing with a blond-haired girl (http://i.imgur.com/1URU7xP.png). However, when Izumo knocks and enters the pair stop and look at the intruder. The blond-girl takes a step forward, then balls her hands into fists and plants them firmly on her hips. "Hey! If you're the Disciplinary Committee looking to catch me, then my boyfriend here will beat you up." Kurokawa covers his face with his palm, sighs, then looks at the girl.

"Listen, Rui, this is uh... Iga. Sorry Iga-kun, I, uh... I forgot your first name. He looks like he's part of the Committee, but he ain't." The girl, presumably named Rui, relaxes a bit as Kurokawa introduces them. "Iga-kun, this is Watabe Rui. My annoying childhood friend."

"Annoying childhood girlfriend!" Rui interjects loudly.

"We're just friends." Kurokawa sighs. "Well, as you can see club activities aren't going on today since there's only the two of us. Did you need something?"

Anoko and Kiri

The blind woman turns, seemingly surprised at Anoko's words, then the dragon smiles. "Ah, where has that confidence gone I wonder? What were your original words..." She puts on a show of thinking, then smiles again. "Ah! I remember... You asked if I was scared of you. If I was scared of a student of the sword instead of my... What did you call them? Thugs?" The dragon motions to her students, and both Kiri and Anoko can see the frustration on their faces. Whether because they're frustrated that Anoko is right, or that they're being looked down upon, is unknown. The dragon turns her attention to them instead of Anoko. "Students. Are you thugs? Are you cowards? You have trained for a year, but this girl fresh out of middle school believes you're nothing but thugs and she is a true student of the sword. Will you let her simply deny your sweat, blood, and tears?" It's obvious to any casual observer that she's appealing to their competitive nature in order to get them ready to fight. Unlike herself and Kiko such people lacked the desire to fight, and unlike Anoko and Seiji these students lacked the switch that allowed them to simply decide to fight when necessary. Kotoba turns her attention back Anoko with some short words. "Then lets see how well my thugs do against a samurai, shall we? How about a little competition?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Wh-what? I don't remember saying anything like that... I-I'm really, not yet, er, a Samurai, I mean even i wouldn't..." Anoko trails off, biting her lip as she sees the look in the assembled students' eyes and realises she's being played. You couldn't let me have a regular first session, huh? Had to break me in by turning everyone against me, Kotoba-sensei? She puts her hands on her hips, "Hey, I've never met anyone here, you're the one that called them 'thugs', Kotoba-sensei," she retorts haughtily, knowing she wasn't going to win this argument anyway.

When Kotoba mentions a competition, Anoko takes a deep breath. "Well... what kind of competition? Like I said, I've not actually held a kendo stick before so you've got me at a disadvantage. But now that you've given me such a kind introduction to everyone, I can't exactly say no and quietly retreat to the back of the ranks, can I?" Anoko seems to grudgingly accept. She tries to stare down the blind woman for a moment before remembering, oh yeah, blind. Her Iaido methods wouldn't be much good here, but she's sure she can handle herself against anyone here one on one. I mean, with armour on there's only so bad even the strongest of them can bruise me up compared to even the smallest accidental hit from Seta-sensei.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

The dragon smiles. "Nothing too serious. A simple kendo tournament. You show us how far a real samurai can go, and my poor innocent thugs will do their best to win. Konpaku-chan is my best student, so if she stands aside we'll have twelve students. Perfect for a single-elimination tournament." The dragon motions to one of her students, but whether she had picked any one student in particular or a random student remains to be seen. "Help her into a suit of armor, and get her a shinai." The white-haired girl that Kotoba had been fighting with earlier hops up, and moves toward the blond-haired samurai. The other students start speaking among themselves as Konpaku-chan gets close to Anoko. "Follow me." She's quiet, but quick, and soon the white-haired girl starts heading to one of the sliding doors leading further into the building. If Anoko follows then she finds herself in a storeroom where the girl's already busily digging a suit of clanking metal out of a box. "What size are you? Never mind, try this on and tell me how it fits." The girl throws a set of dinged up armor at Anoko. "You'll need it. Kotoba-sensei will get those guys whipped up, but I assume you can handle it. Don't worry, she won't let you get hurt. She did the same thing to me when I joined last year."

[Cespenar]

"Izumo. It's Izumo."

The Iga-nin nods his greeting, looks at the girl, cleanly ignores the girlfriend argument, and offers a hand. "Hi, yeah, sorry to look like a Committee thug, I guess."

He turns to Kurokawa afterwards.

"Nah, I just came to hang out, and maybe pick your brain on a couple of things. I did some tweaking on my... ride-to-be." He grins amiably but doesn't elaborate, since it might bore the girl or something.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri steps up after they're done talking, interrupting whatever the blind woman has to say in response to Anoko's words. "Sounds like a party, count me in!"

He looks at Anoko sideways and winks, "I dunno what musta' gone down 'tween you two but it sounds like mores at stake here than a little bitta' pride. I might not have the whole story an' all but your ideals and junk...once you decide to protect something, you protect it until the very end! That's what a samurai is, right?!"

The German ninja grins wide enough to bare his teeth, with a manic glint to his eyes she might remember seeing when he issued his challenge to her that morning. He holds up his fist to bump against hers but regardless of whether she accepts the offer or not he pulls the fist toward his chest and thumps it loudly, "Listen up, even if the time comes when you gotta throw away your sword, you should never cast away the unwavering sword you hold in your soul."

Kiri smirks, suddenly he's back to his old playful self and scratches at his nose, "'Sides, what kind of a man would I be if I let you walk into this all by yer' lonesome?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo

The girl shakes Izumo's hand when it's offered, while Kurokawa perks up when given the opportunity to talk about something other than Rui. "Oh? What's the problem then?"

Rui interrupts before the conversation gets any deeper. "Wait, so you're not part of the Committee? Then why are you all muscled up? Unless you're part of that weird teacher's kendo club or something."

Anoko and Kiri

"No." Kotoba's response to Kiri is blunt, to the point, and allows no room for argument. "Even if we allowed students to wander off the street and compete: This isn't about you. It's her problem, and that means you stand aside."

[Bad Situation]

Persistent if nothing else Kiri asks, "What if I called all of your students thugs and then told everybody that I was a sam-no, a super samurai? That would put me in the same circumstance right?"

"Also, I'm her friend? That means her problems are my problems an' all that. 'Sides, I'm lookin' ta join the club too. Isn' that enough?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

"No." The dragon brooks no argument, and persistence does nothing but raise its ire. But then Kotoba takes a breath, and points to the mat beside one of the more burly students in the room. "If you wish to join, then you must understand what it means to stand on your own. You will either sit down and be quiet, or I will not be so polite in my next refusal."

[Bad Situation]

Kiri throws his arms into the air theatrically and sighs but levels his gaze at Kotoba, "Fiiiine. Maybe she does need'ta stand on her own for this but you can't stop me from cheering for Anoko-tan when she comes out to fight." When Kotoba points Kiri toward one of the bigger students he makes a face and waves his hand in front of the blind teacher dismissively, "Ah, well I was thinking of sittin' next to that cute white-haired girl from before. She's sittin' outta the fight too, right?"

Pausing, he drops all pretenses and looks at the dragon seriously, "Do you know if she's single?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko opens her mouth to respond to Kotoba on the conditions of the tournament, but jumps in surprise when Kiri cuts in. With the looks she was getting from the assorted 'thugs' she'd forgotten he'd come with her to the club. She shakes her head and smiles. "I can handle it myself, Shirogane-kun. Have a little faith and take a seat. You're good enough at getting yourself into trouble without taking on my fights too. It's like Kotoba-sensei says" She looks at his fist for a moment before returning the bump reluctantly and heading off with the Konpaku girl, sighing a little as she hears Kiri continue to argue a little longer on her way to the store room. "Let's do it then."

"Erm, dunno, I-" Anoko begins to answer when asked her size, being cut off as she catches whatever's thrown her way. She just kind of bought clothes that fit, whatever. She takes a second to find the head hole then does her best to fit the armour on. In early training with Seta she had worn some degree of armour that she could move well in, but this was way bulkier. "Geez, I can barely move in this thing," she complains, trying to stretch her arm as she scrunches up her face in frustration as she feels her getup weighing down her otherwise spritely self. Still, its not like she was so weak she couldn't move in it, so she would endure.

Anoko tuts when the girl says she's been through the same thing. "Hmph, I guess we're both Kotoba-sensei's favourite chew toys then. How tough are these guys - are they much of a threat to you? You move pretty well." Anoko was more concerned with making a bad impression than being in any kind of real physical danger - though it would suck to attend Occult Club with a concussion.

Only got Light Armour proficiency to qualify for Samurai, sadly. Since we didn't get proficiencies for free, what low-dexterity safety-conscious maniac would spend 3 feats on wearing o-yoroi anyway? :smalltongue:

[Cespenar]

Izumo responds to the girl before returning to Kurokawa.

"I do karate and work out a little," he spouts a half-truth. "Just hobbies."

"The Committee members are all buff guys as well, then? Aren't they around our age anyway?"

And to Kurokawa,

"Well, nothing serious. Just cleaned up that old Honda engine I told you about. I was thinking about wheels, and got an idea. What if I tried to widen the wheelbase by... around one foot. Does it cross any laws or what-have-you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo

Kurokawa looks confused. "Well, wheelbase extensions aren't really a thing the law covers here in Japan, though it'll make turning tight corners harder which will in turn make it harder to get around the city. The problem is: Unless you've got decent welding tools and experience then you might weaken your frame. And then you'll run the risk of it falling apart if you're trying to tow something, which I figure you want to do since that's biggest reason most people extend their wheelbase."

When Izumo talks about the Committee Kurokawa shakes his head. "All buff? No. All guys? Definitely not. But they're all weird looking. No offense, but you do stick out like a sore thumb. Nothing personal, but you can expect to be confused for a Committee member."

The girl throws her two cents in as well. "Ya, plus they're all bad guys right? And you do have that kind of delinquent look, ya know? Like you're part of some kind of gang or something."

Anoko

The white-haired girl shakes her head. "I don't know what you mean. Ah, sorry, I didn't introduce myself." The girl extends a hand to Anoko. "Konpaku Sena, president of the Kendo Club, and I suppose your senpai from this point onward." If Anoko takes the girl's hand then a sense of kinship passes between them, almost as if she had held her hand before; or, perhaps, held it in a dream. Whatever that feeling is the white-haired Sena seems to sense it, and narrows her eyes a bit. She shakes her head then goes back to looking for gear for Anoko.

"As far as the other students: Most are thugs with little more than physical strength, though Kotoba-sensei has taught them the basics of kenjutsu they lack the desire to use it. She cannot teach bloodlust, so their place in most competitions is fairly low." The girl suddenly throws a battered and well-worn shinai at Anoko without warning, but rather than go back to searching she simply watches and waits to see what the Iga-nin will do.

Anoko needs a DC 11 dexterity check to catch the sword, which she can take 10 on. Failure means she takes a d4 of non-lethal from being hit in the face, and the sword drops in her square.

As far as Euryale, it's pronounced like the gorgon: Euryale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euryale), roughly "your-rye-lee".

Their names are standard Latin pronunciations except when their names are Japanese. Cecilia being Sa-see-lee-a. Vivienne being Vivi-ee-en. Hitoshi being HI-to-shi. Kinuye and Sinuye being Key-un-ey and See-un-ey respectively. Yuiten being Yoy-ten. Cybele being Sy-bi-lee. Setsuna being Set-soo-nah. Sune being Soo-ney. Though, you'll notice a distinct pattern where Euryale who have thrown away their Japanese names take on Latin names.

Kiri

The dragon doesn't respond to Kiri's nonsensical questions, or his weird nature. Naturally she doesn't respond to the young man waving his hand in front of her, as she's blind and thus unable to see it. She certainly wasn't the type to humor him, so perhaps it's for the best.

Kiri will need a Will Save.

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks surprised by the duo's comments and tries to give himself a once-over. Brushing off his school uniform and ruffling his short-cropped hair (futile attempts, all in all), he glances back at them in a (somewhat exaggeratedly) frustrated manner.

"Oh, man. Are you serious?"

After a moment, though, he comes around, ceasing his touch-ups.

"Ehh, never mind. I can always explain afterwards, you know," he says in a weird turn of logic.

At Kurokawa's technical reply, he just shrugs. "It was just a thought. Both to tow stuff and to increase stability sideways, y'know. I can probably weld worth a penny," he adds as an afterthought.

[Princess Tracy]

"Yukimotou Anoko, pleased to meet ya," Anoko responds in turn, readily putting out her hand to shake the Konpaku girl's. Her smile mellows out as she takes her hand, suddenly looking and feeling a lot more thoughtful as her brain chases around for where that weird feeling of familiarity's coming from. Deja vu indeed. All the same, she shrugs and beams, and goes back to the clumsy fastening of her armour as Sena digs around for a 'kendo stick' as Anoko had so graciously called it.

As shinai is tossed though, Anoko's still busy with a belt. For a moment, her reflexes kick in, a serious look flashing in her eyes as she spins around... and her arm promptly snags on the belt she'd been messing with, putting a halt on whatever feat of dexterity she may have pulled off. She has an innocent surprised look on her face just in time for the backside of the shinai to bounce off of it and clatter to the ground. She staggers a moment before falling into a defensive stance, snapping her hand out of its entanglement as she looks about for her attacker with sharp eyes, before seeming to remember it was just an accident and losing whatever flash of combativeness had been about to manifest. "Geez, ow, mah head..." She rubs her forehead, blinking away the dizziness, but after a moment she relaxes and seems fine - she had a bad habit she'd been working on of whining over pain more than she actually felt it. "Do you just like throwing stuff, senpai? Totally getting you back for that later. Um... does this suit come with a helmet?" she suddenly ponders out loud. "If I'm going to have this clunky thing getting in my way, it might as well give actual protection," she comments, picking up the shinai. She gives the stick an experimental swing or two, nodding as she finds its balance.

Anoko considers herself good and ready to start whenever Sena gives her the go ahead to return to the main room.

I eat that [roll0] nonlethal damage right up

[ZeroNumerous]

Izumo

"I suppose so." Kurokawa's a bit surprised at Izumo's seeming nonchalance as far as being confused for a member of the Disciplinary Committee goes, but he seems to accept it and move on quickly.

"Whether you can weld or not is secondary to the question of whether you have the tools or not. I'm afraid we don't have any tools here in the club room, but I could put you in contact with some guys who... do less than savory things if you need a garage. Problem is: You might need to do something to prove you aren't police." The thin boy looks nothing like what one would expect when thinking of a chopshop employee, but he talks as if he's very familiar with the people running the place. He rubs the back of his neck before carrying on. "My word doesn't go as far as it used to with the change in management, so if you don't mind boosting a car then you could get tools and parts there on the cheap."

Whatever Rui thought about the situation she remains focused on Izumo. "Too bad you aren't on the Committee. Something's been bugging me since yesterday, and I was wondering if someone on the Committee could help me out."

Anoko

When Anoko gets whacked in the face by the shinai Sena simply looks to her side. "Huh. I suppose I was wrong about you." The girl shrugs, then fishes around for a metal helmet with a face guard. She walks over to Anoko and gently puts the helmet on her head. "Listen carefully. You win based on points. You can only hit areas that are armored: The wrists, the sides, a thrust to the throat, the top of the head, and either side of the head. Hits anywhere else don't count, but a hit on those spots is a point. Whoever gets two out of three points wins." Sena motions for the other girl to follow, and then starts heading away from the room she and Anoko had just left.

Ghost!Anoko

While her stupider fleshy side is busy getting ready for a nonsensical contest involving neither bloodshed nor true battle, Anoko's ghost side has insight that her fleshy body lacks. Konpaku Sena, the girl talking to her fleshy side, is being followed by her own ethereal ghost form. The two converse quietly for a moment, the ghost speaking to her flesh, and then Sena throws shinai. When Anoko's flesh fails to catch the thrown shinai the two Senas exchange looks, and then speak to one another again. While Ghost!Anoko is able to hear Flesh!Sena speaking--telling her ghost side that she was wrong about Anoko--Ghost!Anoko is unable to understand what Ghost!Sena says in response. Likely due to the ghost not wishing to be heard, and communicating directly to her flesh.

Anoko and Kiri

Kotoba dismisses her students, instructing them to get into their gear, and then motions for Kiri to follow her. She leads the young man into a room bigger than the one they had just left, with a hard wood floor marked with white lines forming a square arena in the center. Anoko and Sena head into the room from another door, and after a few minutes they're followed by Kotoba's other students. Everyone's suited up in black kendo armor, and most of them are far more burly than the lithe Anoko. Kotoba motions for them all to line up, and they do so without her needing to say anything. Sena prods Anoko, then points to the last spot in line. "Go on", the Konpaku girl whispers, "and don't look afraid." Sena then goes off to a chalkboard set up beside the arena with several lines drawn on it. Upon closer inspection it seems like the chalkboard is set up in a rudimentary tournament style, and when Sena picks up a piece of chalk it becomes obvious that she's going to be writing names down.

With her favored student ready Kotoba picks up a box that was sitting beside the arena, shakes it, then walks over to the first person. "You'll be competing in a single elimination tournament. This box contains twelve lots, and you'll shout out your number when you draw it. Konpaku-chan will write it down, and you'll take your seats around the arena. When we're down to the last three, then whoever has the highest number gets to go to the semi-finals, and the lower numbers will fight as the quarter-final match. Any questions?" Kotoba walks up to Anoko, holds out the box, and waits for the girl to pick one. If the girl reaches in, then she picks out 7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4637695/), making her the top of right side bracket. Due to being the lowest number in her bracket Anoko would need to fight in four bouts: Once against #8, then again against whoever won between #9 and #10, then she'd have to fight the last person in her bracket before moving on to the finals. By the time everyone has a number, Kotoba moves back beside the chalkboard. "Oh, and in order to spice things up. I will be putting forward a reward. The winner gets a chance for private lessons with our dear Ms. Konpaku, and five thousand yen." Sena looks at her teacher incredulously, and Kotoba moves to sit down, but then stops. "Ah, I almost forgot. Whoever can knock out Yukimoto Anoko will get the same reward as the winner. So if you knock her out and win, then you'll get double the reward. Good luck!"

And with that target painted on her back Anoko is thrust into the tournament.

---

The first opponent is a... well, Anoko can't really tell given the form-obscuring armor, but it's obvious that he's about 5'4" and very well built based on the width of his biceps. Hopefully he isn't terribly good.

Anoko will need Initiative checks. It's a standard melee attack in order to score a point, and Anoko is free to use any of her skills or abilities she'd like. The armor works as per normal heavy armor though, and imposes a -3 penalty to strength and speed ranks.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu heads towards the Archery Club, still in a bit of a haze from his exhaustion. Was it Archery he had first or was it Occult?

[ZeroNumerous]

Miharu and Kimiko

Miharu heads to Archery club to find Kimiko waiting outside. The club room is a squat but long building in traditional Japanese style, with a short low wall surrounding an open air courtyard. The sound of arrows hurtling through the air followed by the familiar thud of an arrow hitting home fills the air around the club room. The duo seem to be a bit late, as no one is outside the club room and someone is clearly practicing.

Anoko

Her opponent steps forward, shouts a kiai, and swings downward straight at her head. Unfortunately, being utterly untrained and without any skill whatsoever, he misses terribly.

He steps forward and attacks with his wooden katana, which automatically deals nonlethal damage due to being made of wood. As he is non-proficient, lacking archaic weapon prof, he'll be at a -4 penalty to hit.
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Nonlethal Damage: [roll1]

[Princess Tracy]

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Anoko responds, puffing out her cheeks in an annoyed pout when Sena comments on being wrong about her. Still, she drops it and listens closely to the rules before she finishes equipping herself to head out. "Right, gotcha two out of three points, hit 'em there. Heh, maybe it's a good thing I got bumped on my noggin - a little jolt of pain tends to be good for my getting my focus in a fight." Just a gross observation she'd had - that being beat up seemed to bring out her fighting ability more sometimes. Of course, being closer to death would bring her closer to her ghostly half, or it could just be that an idiot like Anoko needs the sight of her own blood to remind her to pay attention. Anoko gives a little sneeze as she senses herself being talked about.

Seeing everyone all suited up and gathered around gives Anoko an impression this might actually be some hard work, Sena's tip on not looking afraid only putting her more on edge. All the same, she sucks it up and calls out her number as she's told "Seven!" Looking over the board though, her face falls a little as she sees she's taking on the maximum opponents by her count. Well then...

When Kotoba calls out her last condition to encourage everyone to attack her, Anoko can't help but wonder, What did I ever do to you, Kotoba-sensei? Whatever it is, I'm sorry. I'll even apologise on Seta-sensei's behalf for Buddha's sake. She sighs and steps up to where she thinks her mark is, nodding to herself as she finds her footing, struggling to quite balance herself with such a weapon and armour combo. For all her reluctance to kill opponents, it just felt wrong not having a proper blade in her hands, somehow even more wrong than having her speed weighed down with this silly armour. She shakes her head, telling herself to stop complaining and focus on the fight, focussing on her pain from the fresh bump in her head to remind herself to pay attention. If anyone actually strikes me down under such pitiful conditions, I'll be sure to return the favour on my own, a thought passes through her head like a katana through bloody pork. Whoa, where did that come from?

Anoko snaps to attention when attacked, sidestepping the swing quickly. Wordlessly, she lashes out, spinning around hard with the shinai stretched out to whack him at his armoured side, swinging the big stick like it was a katana, before coming around to rest in a practiced stance, facing her opponent with her eyes trying to lock on his.

[roll0]
[roll1] - wielding two-handed.

[Overlord Rion]

He waves at Kimiko. It felt like he hadn't seen her in a while, even though it had only been like, two days. "Yo, you ready?" Regardless of her answer, Miharu checks out who's practicing.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The boy blocks the attack, then shouts another kiai as he throws his weight forward and swings at Anoko's wrists. He still misses thoroughly, having not suddenly gained any skill or proficiency in the last six seconds.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Kiri

Meanwhile, Kotoba and Sena are watching Anoko fight from the sidelines, and the two are whispering a conversation to one another.

"She's a bit like a fat bull in a china shop, isn't she?"

"She's certainly rough, but she's thoroughly Seta-chan's student. I could feel it coming off of her. Could you win?"

"Me? No. I could never beat up a child. She might, but not me. I'd feel bad afterward."

Miharu and Kimiko

The boy? (http://i.imgur.com/FpDNO7l.png) from when the duo first signed up is inside, and she seems to be practicing her shooting. Behind her, as aloof and nonchalant as ever, stands a familiar raven-haired girl (http://i.imgur.com/8GNPUpm.png) along with a couple of other students. The other students are burly manly men, and seem to be following the dark-haired girl around. Though, upon a second and closer examination, it becomes obvious that the men following her are not quite students and closer to gorillas stuffed into student uniforms. The black-haired girl is giving the red-haired boy? pointers. "Do not lose focus simply because you successfully pulled the string back."

The dark-haired girl turns to look when someone enters, then goes back to supervising. "There are spare uniforms in the back, and practice bows if you've never used one before." She seems to be speaking to Kimiko and Miharu, but doesn't look at them as she speaks.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's grip on the shinai is clumsy with the way she tries to overcome his block and her attack is deflected, but she doesn't let her rhythm get any more disrupted. Or doesn't intend to. I'll try a different attack, get more used to moving with this weight... She takes a step back before springing forward with a thrust aimed at his helmet, a simpler "HA!" ringing out. With every attack she intends to teach herself the foundations of kendo, even in the heat of this lukewarm battle.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Bad Situation]

"Well said, but I think you two need to give her a little more credit."

Kiri appears behind the two, adjusting an imaginary pair of glasses as he speaks. He seats himself on the floor, scooting a little closer to the older student than strictly necessary and smirks. With his eyes closed and his hand pinching his chin he would not look out of place in a shounen manga. "Ufufu, she might seem clumsy and slow but beneath that beautiful exterior is the grace of a true swo-" He winces as the girl misses the blow but not one to be stopped by logic and actual evidence he marches on without a second thought, "-t-true swordsman. If you give her a chance I'm sure she'll surprise you."

Satisfied with his words he pauses in pose for a few seconds before grimacing and leaning forward. "She's thinkin' too much 'bout this though. If she gets all tense like this inna' fight maybe I should hold off on duelin' her for a while."

He watches the fight, chanting for Anoko to do her best but gets bored of cheering after a few minutes and turns his attention to the girl beside him, "So, you're the trophy an' allat' then? You must be pretty good if sensei is pawnin' your lessons off as prizes, yeah?" He looks at her, his sharp eyes wide and searching for something in the white-haired girl's expression.

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

The Konpaku moves aside when Kiri gets too close, and she looks to her master. "Is this one Seta-senpai's student too?" Kotoba just frowns and shakes her head.

"No. He's too stupid. Seta-chan would only teach one student, and this one doesn't understand what it means to be a samurai." The white-haired girl frowns, and turns her attention back to Kiri when he assaults her with his inane statements. Whether she has any maai or not: The girl either hides it very well, or her teacher's overpowers her own. She responds plainly.

"Whatever skill you, and she, thinks she has: She's having trouble fighting an untrained loser right now without relying on her chakra. The next student will be better than him, and the next better than him. She cannot win as she is." She speaks bluntly. "I do not think I can help her, but Kotoba-sensei thinks otherwise."

When Kiri talks about the girl's skill she just shrugs and looks away, instead choosing to pay attention to Anoko's fight. "I am nothing compared to Kotoba-sensei."

Anoko

Anoko's thrust successfully hits the boy square in the throat. Sena raises her hand to shout: "Point to Yukimutou!" The boy takes a step back, gathers up his strength, and rushes at Anoko.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Bad Situation]

Kiri leans back, his arms lanced into the ground to support his weight as he whistles appreciatively at Anoko's first point. After Sena finishes calling the point he approaches her for conversation once more, "Well sure, but she's all old'n junk so it makes sense for her to be strong. 'Sides, if she's rec'mending you for lessons, doesn' it mean you've got a recognized strength?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko watches as the boy staggers, wondering if she'd overdone it a bit. She's pretty sure if that armour was less sturdy he'd probably have lost consciousness. "Are you still good to go-WHOA, okay then," her concern is wiped away when he gathers himself an attacks again, promptly blocking. Right, this is how you block with a shinai I think. Don't have to worry about the blade blunting this way at least. "Hi-yaa!" She puts some oomph in it as she adjusts her grip and tries to score against his wrist. She felt she was quickly learning to overcome the handicaps of unfamiliar equipment, easy enough with such an easy opponent as a punching bag.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Anoko misses once more, her blow glancing off the enormous shoulder pads of the kendo helmet. The boy throws himself into the fray again, but enthusiasm is a poor substitute for true skill.

Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage: [roll]1d10+2[/roll[

Kiri

The young man is stonewalled by the Konpaku. "Whatever Kotoba-sensei sees in me is a wasted endeavor compared to getting private lessons from her." However, it's obvious that the two were colluding together for something earlier, and whatever they were plotting was not for Kiri's ears to hear.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko tuts in frustration, oh yeah armour, that. Her technique was usually based around movement and cutting off an opponent's retreat, having it so they were protected enough to just take her blows was frustrating, but perhaps... valuable training. She nods and parries into a counterattack.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The young samurai-in-training continues to be totally useless, and her opponent attacks once more. Meanwhile, both Kotoba and Sena are plainly disappointed with Anoko's performance.

"Are you sure I shouldn't teach her the basics?"

"I was sure, but now... Not so much."

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko hears something... stupid. Is that chanting? She looks over to Kiri and his inane chanting an it throws off her strike entirely. Still tuned in to the sidelines, she hears Kotoba's disappointment and some rage bubbles up in her. "KIRI. SHUT UP." She tries to take out some frustration with another blow to the throat. Just focus, dammit. In fact, don't think about anything. ... So far she just about appeared true to the introduction she gave herself to the class though; she'd never done kendo before.

[roll0]
[roll1]

I might just roll my next couple attacks OOC to save time.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Anoko finally lands a successful blow, and Sena raises her hand and shouts out: "Match to Yukimutou!" With that, the boy Anoko was fighting stops the battle, bows, and moves away. The next few fights decide where everyone else is in the rankings, and it quickly becomes obvious to any on-looker who precisely is good and who isn't. While the other bouts are going on Sena talks with Kotoba in private, then approaches Anoko. The white-haired kendo practitioner looks over her junior with an appraising eye. "Harder than you thought, isn't it? Even a samurai has trouble with things like this." She goes on after the small talk. "Your next bout will take place with just the breastplate. Without helmets or gloves strikes to the wrist, neck, or head are no longer allowed and do not count as points. It should help you a bit, since it won't weigh you down as much, but that goes for the other guy too."

---

Once the other bouts have finished Anoko finds herself face to face with a nearly 6'0 tall foreign boy. He smiles at the girl, says something in his native tongue(was that Portuguese?), then speaks in Japanese. "Do not worry. I will not hurt you." With her opponent looking down on her like that he gets ready for the battle to begin.

The breastplate alone counts as medium armor, reducing the non-proficiency to only +2, increasing the Max Dex to +3, but only providing DR 5 vs wooden weapons. It also only provides a -1 penalty to speed and strength ranks instead of -3.

Initiative: [roll0]
If he goes first: Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

[Bad Situation]

The German ninja doesn't exactly look put off by Anoko's frustration but instead rolls his eyes and looks at the girl with...disappointment? He sighs and sits himself back down, quieter than ever and with none of the energy he had before. If his cheering was enough to throw her off her game, how the hell was she going to participate in tournaments. Or worse, in the field, with her teammates relying on her to keep the pace. He crosses his arms and frowns at the girl, "Forget the basics. She's better off not swingin' that sword 'round if she can't even keep her cool when things aren' goin' her way."

After speaking up however, he pauses and stops to consider his words. "No. That's not fair to her. Everybody loses their head every once in a while and it would be wrong to write her off as hopeless just because she made a few mistakes." He frowns, mostly at his own behavior, and speaks up to make a correction to his statement.

"I don' take back what I said though. I haven't fought her yet but I can tell she's a real talented girl. Once she gets 'er head in the game, that is."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko exhales slowly to relax once she wins the first match, smiling under her helmet until its removed. "Heh, yeah, the equipment gave me more trouble than I was expecting. Still, I'm warmed up now and I think I've gotten the hang of it now," she boasts. She waves after her opponent, "Are you okay? I kind of punished your neck a bit much there." It was clear she wasn't up against any kind of ninja-level threat for now so there was no pride to be had in wailing on 'em. "Thanks for my first kendo match, it was fun," she says with a bow.

She's quite happy to get out some of that armour, though feels embarassed to take off her helmet and show the bruise she'd gotten from failing to catch her own weapon previously. All the same she watches the matches, studying the movements carefully to pick out the fundamentals from any actually skilled members of the club. Before its her turn again, she turns to see Kiri looking... deflated somehow. "...I'm sorry I snapped at you, Shirogane-kun. It's my fault for being so easily distracted I guess. Worst part is, sensei says my focus isn't even my most hopeless trait as a samurai," she roasts herself with a nervous laugh, thinking back to his demand for killing intent. "Still, I really appreciate the thought of support, really."

She heads up to her mark with renewed enthusiasm, some confidence in her now. She looks up to the boy, somehow finding herself blushing at the difference in height. She needed to get used to all shapes of opponents though, she decides with a nod. She tilts her head at the foreign tongue but smiles cockily at his words in Japanese. "Yeah, you won't," she says before taking a swing.

[roll0] first attack so flat-footed maybe woo
[roll1]

Since he's already rolled his first attack and missed, I'll just roll my second attack too

[roll2]
[roll3]

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

The samurai's wooden shinai smashes through her opponent's guard, crushing his feeble attempt to defend himself and smacking his breastplate so hard she dents it. The tall foreigner staggers backward, drops his shinai, and steps away. Sena raises her hand and shouts: "Abril forfeits. Match for Yukimutou!" The foreigner goes up to shake Anoko's hand, and then goes to take his place. The remaining fights take some time, as they aren't finished as quickly as Anoko's. The remaining bouts are little better than Anoko's last, and fall as quickly as her previous opponent.

Yukimutou stands on top of her defeated enemies, unbeaten and unbroken atop a mountain of fallen foes... Well, after defeating four people. None of whom could use chakra. And one of which she struggled against.

"Congratulations, Yukimutou-chan. You've bested my thugs and delinquents." Kotoba turns her eyes upon her defeated students. "You lot struggled, but failed. That's twice now someone has come to this dojo and thrashed the lot of you. I'm disappointed. Club activities are dismissed for now, take care on your way home, and don't hurt anyone." The thugs get up and shamble to the exit, defeated and broken, and kendo club ends with Anoko as the winner of the tournament. However, when Anoko tries to leave Kotoba calls out to her. "Not you. Konpaku-chan has to give you your reward."

The white-haired girl looks to her sensei, and Kotoba waves her hand away as if to dismiss her. She disappears into the back room for a time, and the blind teacher turns her attention back to Anoko. "So, how did it feel to beat up the weak?"

[Bad Situation]

Unsure of what to do with himself, Kiri looks around shiftily and sits by the door with his knees hugged up against his chest, waiting for Anoko to finish with whatever it was she needed to do with the kendo club. He rocks back and forth and fidgets in place.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko had been using all her strength to compensate for that heavy armour; with some of it removed, she instead ends up putting all that same force forward into the swing and sends her opponent practically flying. She sucks air through her teeth nervously until he comes up to shake her hand. She happily shakes his hand with a smile. Having used her first opponent to test her equipment (at least that's how she would describe her struggling) and her second to recalibrate her strength, the remaining two matches are easy enough for her and she does her best to focus on scoring points rather than causing any more major bodily harm.

Anoko laughs nervously as Kotoba calls everyone disappointing on her account. "You did alright guys, I just meanly let you all underestimate me," she says, feeling kind of bad for beating up on them. Well... specifically for having Kotoba rub it in that she'd beaten up on them. There was only so bad she could feel for fighting a willing opponent.

Anoko starts for the store room to remove the rest of her armour when Kotoba stops her. "Huh? Oh yeah, 5000 yen, sweet. Normally I would say not to bother, but I actually have something to spend it on I guess," she says, thinking of the bus fare to Mt. Nagi. And she was needing to buy a phone sometime, for god's sake it was 2014, any phone would do. It takes her a moment to remember that something about lessons with Sena was mentioned too, which seemed to annoy the Konpaku to her perception. Anoko looks over to the white haired girl, humming thoughtfully.

When Kotoba quizzes her, Anoko takes a moment to consider the question. "You're wondering if I enjoy it like you do? Well... not so much. I find sparring with a willing opponent to be exciting and interesting, and I guess I did had some fun today, but with opponents that are too weak I get kind of tense worrying. I don't want to break 'em, you know? They're not some enemy to be taken down at all costs, after all, they're just high schoolers." She shrugs her shoulders. "What about your thoughts, Kotoba-sensei? Was I much of a disappointment out there?" she asks, sticking out her tongue and wondering if the blind teacher would sense the gesture.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

Kotoba just smiles. "I don't enjoy beating them up either, but it's better than letting myself run wild. But that wasn't what I meant. I set up that tournament for you after all, so I didn't expect you to enjoy beating up the weak. Regardless, you'll see soon enough." Kotoba "looks" to Kiri, which is an odd gesture considering her blindness. "I assume you don't need a sword, but I have one you can use if you don't have one here." With that oddly cryptic statement Kotoba turns her attention to the room where her student disappeared to, and waits. She doesn't answer any questions, and simply waits for her student to return. The reason why she waited, and for her odd statement, becomes obvious when Sena returns from the storeroom wearing two swords--a pair of matching lacquered scabbards with matching cherry blossoms inked on the side. The scabbards are new, but the hilts sticking out of them are old and mismatched as if someone lost the original blades and replaced them with what was on hand. Anoko's white-haired senpai has her hair pulled back into a functional ponytail, and has abandoned her track uniform in favor of a restrictive looking pink kimono. Anoko and Kiri both immediately recognize that her swords--stuck through her obi--are turned upward in the style of an iaijutsu practitioner. The white haired senpai bows at the waist, bowing deeper than even the thugs and delinquents ever did, and then addresses Anoko.

"This one apologizes, Anoko", she speaks in an archaic manner reminiscent of old samurai and says Anoko's given name without an honorific, "but as this one said before: Kotoba-sensei cannot teach you the one thing she feels you lack: Blood lust. To that end, this one will be teaching you blood lust." She reaches down, grasping the hilt of her katana like it was a familiar lover, and assumes a stance Anoko is intimately familiar with: One her teacher used quite frequently. "Kotoba-sensei believes you are like this one and must learn through your body. This one will be doing her best to kill you, so in order to avoid dying this one suggests fighting with the intent to kill." The girl's maai comes alive for the first time since the duo met her: An aura of calm restrained violence that stands as a stark contrast to her teacher's wild and bloodthirsty aura. Kotoba looks to Kiri and smiles.

"This is something you can help her with, if you do not wish to see your friend die."

Konpaku Sena initiates combat, so Kiri and Anoko will need initiative rolls. She starts 20 feet away, so whomever wins initiative will get the opportunity to charge her. She readies an action to defend herself on her first turn if she wins, in order to allow Anoko and Kiri to retrieve their weapons.

Initiative: [roll0]

You recognize that she's in Battoujutsu stance. Additionally, Anoko spots shadows of Seta Soujirou's style in it, or perhaps Seta Soujirou's style is a shadow of this original?

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko shrugs at Kotoba's words and just goes back to removing her armour while they seem to wait. She shivers as Sena re-enters the room, turning to face her. She seems different somehow, really different, but why? "Blood lust?" she repeats. "But you're not even an enemy..." This isn't quite how she'd intended her evening to go, so suddenly.

She raises an eyebrow at how familiar her stance was. "What do you mean, I'm like yo-" The second Sena unleashes her maai though, even Anoko recognises there was no arguing with words, and almost on reflex outstretches her hand, conjuring her father's sword, sheath and all, from her sealed gloves, and falling into one of her master's stances to mirror Sena's own, looking to oddly mirror her opponent as their eyes lock. This is crazy. Even Seta-sensei wouldn't...

Its 3am here, I'll work out actions in the morning, I have sleep to catch up on. I don't even know what action it is to retrieve from my weapon storing seal or if I can do that before combat.

[Bad Situation]

In spite of, or perhaps even because, of the blind woman's cryptic tone and menacing advice, Kiri's mouth widens into a manic grin. He tosses his gakuran off to the side, undoes the top few buttons of his shirt, and rolls up his sleeves. His attire and state of dress wouldn't look out of place on the cover of some kind of young man's fashion magazine--that is, save for the teenager's absolutely predatory gaze. He runs a hand through his hair and bares his canines as he grins at the Konpaku standing across the room. "Hihihi, a fight against a beautiful girl, with a beautiful girl? Might just be my lucky day, innit?"

He accepts whatever katana Kotoba has to offer, giving it only a few practice swings before shrugging his shoulders and settling himself into a stance. It's not a formal style that any of the swordsmen present recognize but the way he stands and sways give the impression of it being something fiercely aggressive. The sword itself is held firmly with both hands, his left leading the blade, and his manner seems to completely preclude any sort of guard. Any of the silliness seen in the boy previously is gone, replaced by something similarly pure, namely, his utter excitement and willingness to fight. His eyes widen, taking in room-no, battleground that surrounds them, and he licks his lips in anticipation.

[Cespenar]

Izumo listens to Kurokawa talk about his supposed contacts, but looks unsold.

"Eh, it was just an idea. Nothing that serious, really. But I'll keep that in mind if I need any heavy tools later on."

He turns to Rui, regarding her issue. "Actually, I kinda have a friend in the Committee, so, you know, I might tell him your problem if you want. What is it?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko stares at Sena as she puts her scabbard and sword to her side, ready to strike out with an Iaido attack. If she's using quickdraw style too, does that mean Kotoba's been instructing her on the Hiten Mitsurugi? If it comes down to an Iaido attack, then I should wait for her to move first and strike to use her momentum against her for a decisive attack. At first she's willing to let Sena come to her, she didn't want any part of this fight really and if it wasn't for the vicious sting of the Konpaku's maai she wouldn't take the threat seriously. "So what, you're going to try and kill me as some favour? Why would you go so far on my account?"

She's absorbed in her opponent and doesn't even notice Kiri getting a sword until he suddenly moves into a flanking position. A sudden moment of panic hits her as she sees her new friend so close to a dangerous opponent that was aimed at her and she knows if she doesn't engage Sena then he'll be the one getting hurt on her account. Or at least that's how she seems to figure it in that split second decision in which her plans go out of the window and she charges forward with all she can muster, drawing her blade and striking in a flash. Even if the Konpaku hadn't drawn out bloodlust, without even striking she'd already drawn out everything Anoko had... or at least everything she was conscious of having as chakra flows through her movements. When their blades meet, its clear that Anoko's making a distracting nuisance of herself, that nothing is more prominent in her mind than protecting others, yet still there's no bloodlust in her eyes, no desire to strike vengefully against her opponent, merely deflect her.

Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu - Jiki Ryu Sen Zan, the strongest attack sensei taught me before my lack of bloodlust limited my training. I guess that's as good as I can do as I am. A big part of her hopes that fighting on this level is enough since she still doesn't know where else to draw from.

Anoko unleashes speed rank 2 and strength rank 2 (4 chakra for 5 rounds of each).

If Hand Cutter can be performed on a charge, Anoko uses that, causing bonus damage and provoking a fort save versus Dex damage. Otherwise she just uses a regular Iaido attack.
Charging Iaido attack with flanking, so... [roll0] attack, [roll1] damage.
Bonus damage [roll2], plus DC 18 Fort save or Sena takes [roll3] temporary Dexterity damage for 5 minutes.

Defence 15 (normal 19, but penalty from charge and Iaido/Hand Cutter)
HP 30/30 (2 nonlethal damage from earlier)
Chakra 18/27 (or 21/27 if I can't use Hand Cutter)
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 2 (1/5), Strength Rank 2 (1/5)

[Eurus]

The two-day break seems to have relieved some stress for Kimiko, and she's as cheerful as ever when Miharu greets her, responding with bounce and enthusiasm as she surveys the club.

"Mikkun! I'm always ready."

The sight of the burly men makes Kimiko repress a grimace, and she subtly gives them the once-over, curious if they're just here for the girls or something stranger. It was hard to tell around this school, and she was still a little paranoid about thugs after the "baseball club" incident...

At Sanuki's directions, Kimiko grins and nods at Miharu.

"I've never seen you shoot, are you good? Don't expect wonders from me, I warn you."

She's fairly self-conscious as she picks up a bow, getting a feel for the pull and making sure it's in good condition before donning her glove. It wasn't something she had much of a natural knack in, and even after practice she still considered herself pretty mediocre. She'd figured out how to steady her hands and sharpen her eyes with chakra out of sheer embarrassment, practicing the concept for days until she could use it to snipe down a target 95% of the, but it felt like cheating rather than skill. Today, she plays fair.

Once she's checked her equipment, confirmed that the range is clear, and done a few stretches, she starts actually practicing, from a slightly closer distance than usual. It was mind-numbingly dull, the combination of patience and focus that she'd eventually managed to exert but never really enjoyed, but today her new surroundings and peers are novel enough that she doesn't mind.

Just work on getting back in practice... steady draw, clean release. Don't worry about the target. Breathe, draw and release.

Taking 10 to Sense Motive the males for a total result of 20. Aaaand firing, from about 80 feet...

[roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Miharu and Kimiko

The two burly men don't seem aggressive, but rather simply watch the situation and wait. Perhaps they're waiting on some sort of order, or perhaps they've simply been ordered to watch and wait? Regardless, they do nothing to interfere with the Iga-nin nor pose any threats to them. When Kimiko steps up and fails her shot her androgynous senpai takes his? shot as well. Surprisingly, she too fails in a spectacular manner as his arrow falls short and buries itself in the ground just fifty feet ahead of her. Kimiko's classmate covers his face with her palm and tilts his head back to look at the sky. Sunaki speaks to Kimiko and her senpai both. "Don't worry. Every foundation requires work and diligence to build, so you just need to try again. Don't get caught up in succeeding, but rather get caught up in building your skill first."

Sunaki provides a +1 morale bonus to hit and skill checks with Coordinate.

Izumo

The girl looks at her "boyfriend", who in turn shrugs, then looks at Izumo. "Well, there was this girl who got framed in my class. Thin, black-hair, really quiet; they think she stole something, but it wasn't really her. And she's friends with whoever stole that thing, so she won't just tell the Committee who actually did it. So I was wondering what happened to her, since I haven't seen her at school today."

Kiri and Anoko

The Konpaku draws her sword in response to Anoko's rush, attempting to parry her attacker with her blade, but failing to do so. "Flanking me? How rude." She doesn't bother to look at Kiri, and instead dramatically sheathes her sword. The speed of her sheathing technique, combined with some chakra from her body, creates an explosive wave of pressure that threatens both of her attackers simultaneously. When the explosion of ear-splitting noise passes the white-haired Konpaku stands at the ready, her sword and body seemingly radiating a soft white light.

As she's flat-footed she cannot dodge, so she takes the damage from Anoko. Damage Dealt: 13?

Fort Save: [roll0]

Whether she succeeds or fails, she follows it up with Deafening Dragon Flash, aiming to catch both Kiri and Anoko in the 20ft radius. Both Kiri and Anoko need two Fort Saves (DC 21). The first is for half damage: [roll1]. The second is to avoid being stunned for a round. Finally, a 3rd Fort Save(DC 15) determines whether or not you have a -2 penalty to Listen checks for a minute.

Further, she uses her swift action to activate her Spirit Shroud to increase her defense.

[Princess Tracy]

"If that's the way you want it then I'm your opponent," Anoko says resolutely in response to the comment about flanking. I performed that technique perfectly but she barely seemed to react. She can put on a strong front if nothing else. Anoko's eyes widen as she recognises the meaning to her moving to sheath her sword - that's one of sensei's advanced techniques, he hasn't even taught me any of those yet! So Kotoba did take her on as a student in that style.

The shockwave hits her hard, Anoko stumbling back onto her knees and only able to keep her grip on her sword at all from sheer instinct, one hand shooting to the side of her head. She can't even quite hear her own scream of pain. There's this much distance between us...? I... I can't. It doesn't matter what kind of intent I come at her with, I can't beat that. Need to get away, stop this. But, Kiri...

Stop being distracted. You're her target. Don't use him as an excuse to fight. Find your own reason to fight.

My own reason...

You won't live if you run. Isn't that reason enough?

There it was, that transcendent feeling of bloodloss again, Anoko staring at Sena sharply as she tries to regain her focus.

AC 12 now I think. HP 15/30. Stunned so no actions can be taken I guess, unless its different from DnD stunning

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

Sena remains where she is, but tucks the sword she had just sheathed back into her obi. This time she reaches for the other, an older blade based on its ratty looking hilt, and withdraws it from her obi. She holds the sheath in her right hand, with her left hovering over the hilt as she prepares to quickdraw it as if she were in some sort of duel from the wild west. She does not move from her position, but is tensed up as if she were ready for someone else to act. "This one will simply cut you down if you run", the girl says seemingly out of nowhere, but whether she somehow sensed Anoko's hesitation remains in the air. "Pick up your sword. This one does not wish to kill someone unable to fight back."

Sena swaps weapons as her move and standard action, and does nothing else.

Ghost!Anoko

Ghost!Anoko is able to see Ghost!Sena overlayed perfectly with her flesh, almost as if she were ambulating her body like a puppet master directs a puppet. It's not hard for the ghost to figure out that it's not Sena speaking, but rather Ghost!Sena speaking through her flesh. Logically then, Ghost!Anoko would be able to act in the same manner if her flesh were distracted with something.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri's eyes widen as he senses the intent behind Sena's movements and throws up a hasty guard against the impressive shockwave. Though he manages to avoid the brunt of the attack his sword goes flying out of his grasp, too paralyzed by the ringing in his ears to catch it in time. He clenches his teeth, his mind racing from the implications of the girl's latest attack. "She's strong. Too strong for us to fight..." She was only playing around with them too. The second she got serious about the fight, it would be over. Was it be so wrong to give up in the face of something so insurmountable?

"No."

As if in response to his own question, the German ninja slamming his foot down hard enough to splinter the wood below him and regains his stance. He pivots slightly and lances his arm out behind him to the sword he knows is somewhere behind him and grasps the blade. Knowing the desperate struggle to reclaim his sword would leave him open for a counter, he surges forward into the white-haired swordswoman and completely abandons his defense in favor of a furious assault. Konpaku Sena wasn't a foe they could beat with half-assed measures. Kotoba wasn't lying, they would need to come at the girl with the intent to kill if they wanted to come out of this intact.

Using the momentum of his turn he all but launches himself at Sena, and like a hungry wolf, comes with his fangs bared. He drives in fast, his blade laced with nothing more than his chakra and his intent to cut.

Wolf Fang Slash: [roll0]
-- Weapon Damage: [roll1]
-- Empowered (3) Jutsu Damage: [roll2]
-- Fort Save 21: Halve the Jutsu Damage
"Anoko! A sword heavy with hesitation will never reach her. If you want to protect your ideals, you'll lay your heart on the line!"

[ZeroNumerous]

Kiri

Sena lashes out when Kiri rushes forward, but rather than rip through flesh her sword heals the injuries left behind by her explosive Hiten Mitsurugi technique.

Sena opts to take her AoO, using Opportunity Strike for +2 to hit and damage. She also spends 2 chakra to activate Sanzumaru's Healing effect.

Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]. Kiri takes no damage, and instead is healed by half the damage dealt.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's fingers hover near the blade, though losing her grip she almost refuses to lose contact with it and fell as one with it. There's still an awful ringing in her ear and she can't really be bothered interpreting through it to get what Kiri was trying to say, for once very focused on the fight in front of her. Still the word 'ideals' stands out. There aren't any ideals here, this is a senseless fight...

She wants to kill you. She's toying with you. Where is your anger? To kill you would be to harm those around you, who rely on you. There's a limit to selflessness. Resent her for trying to lash at your mother and steal her remaining family away, and for leaving Seiji defenceless and without a vessel, and everyone else you ever intended to help without ever having even met you. She would kill you on a whim that simply - kill her first. Rend her flesh so she knows to not chase your neck any longer. She wants to see your killing intent and that is intent to live when one is cornered.

I... I want to live. And I shouldn't let her have her way. So why don't I feel angry...

You've forgotten how to feel hate, to identify and face a true enemy.

Anoko's breathing becomes slower and slower and without meaning to she seems to eventually hold it entirely as she tightens her grip on the katana and stands, putting up her guard again. Hate her, for she is your weakness. Strike her down. Make her fear you. She is scum that would kill for nothing, something you despise. You are a girl being attacked by a mighty ninja, what dishonour is there in simple resentment, of valuing your life! I... dammit, I... At the very least, she faces Sena head on, and thoughts of retreat seem absent from her being. She's still holding her breath though, as if in an odd meditation - she doesn't even realise she hasn't breathed for a while. Anoko silently strikes, a certain sharpness to her blade that it lacked before, but she still needs more of a push for a true killing intent; this is more a cornered rabbit flailing at a wolf. She needed to be as a wolf herself. A desperation was in her eyes as she bears her teeth, but it is hardly the joy and flow of battle, they are the eyes of one that fears it.

Move action to pick up sword
Empowered Blade Rush (5 chakra total) [roll0] plus Faith-Action Point from her ghostly half's encouragement [roll1] (plus 2 if I'm still flanking). Damage [roll2] plus [roll3] +1 from strength ranks, plus she needs a fort save against movement of DC16 I guess. Plus 10 more damage if crit.

Ghost!Anoko

The closeness to death and desperation of the maai was bringing Anoko closer to her other half, in a flash greatly empowering her, her eyes gaining a white glow like reflecting the steel of her blade. Yet still there was hesitance in her, as if a fear of herself, of losing herself, an instinct against the slippery path of violence. Why was she so afraid of herself? Of truly being a samurai?

"I can't act through her as you do. Not yet. She resists my aid almost consciously, though that resistance lessens in moments like these."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

The girl ducks and weaves around Kiri's attack, deftly avoiding his attack and she reaches for her blade as if to counter, but suddenly pulls her hand away. Kiri was not her target, and pursuing him would serve little purpose. Though, Anoko--whether her ghostly half or her flesh--would recognize the start of her technique as being another Hiten Mitsurugi technique: The Coiling Dragon Flash. Anoko's furiously fearful flurry of strikes is impossible for the girl to avoid, but Ghostly!Anoko realizes that her ghostly form is splitting away from her flesh. Perhaps her relationship with herself is much like Anoko's own? Regardless, the Ghostly!Sena takes a moment to reassert her presence then looks to Anoko with a dispassionate gaze. She's plainly injured; bleeding from her arms, legs, and other small cuts across her body, but she does not seem to acknowledge them. "So in the end you chose to die afraid. Not the choice I would have made, but I respect that. Nonetheless, I am done. I hope you hold no ill-will when we meet in the next life." She grabs her obi and pulls it free, letting the restrictive garment come undone to reveal the girl's school swinsuit underneath. Without the restrictions placed upon her by the kimono her body is suddenly much faster and stronger, and she takes advantage of that.

Sena drops her Restraining Obi as a free action, and doesn't suppress her speed/strength ranks. As she is now moving at Speed Rank 2 she's able to utilize Deadly Twin Dragon Flash

Attack #1
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack#2
Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]. Sena spends 2 chakra to activate Sanzumaru and instead of dealing damage heal Anoko for half.

Sena then spends her Heroic Surge for the day, and uses it to attack Anoko with Rising Dragon Flash.

Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5] + [roll6]. She burns an action point for chakra: [roll7] and regardless of the result she'll have the 2 chakra necessary to activate Sanzumaru again and avoid doing lethal damage in favor of healing Anoko for half.

Total Damage dealt to Sena: 47?

[Bad Situation]

Kiri watches the girl move to her sword in response to his attack but quirks his brow when she chooses not to press her advantage over him. With some of his own tension drained he looks around the Konpaku and at the now flagging samurai. Putting what he knew of the girl and the circumstances of the fight together in his head, he clicks his tongue. "Tch, so it's like that then, huh?"

He readjusts his footing and without stopping to catch his breath he comes crashing into the older girl, swinging furiously to catch her steel with his own, and seeking to occupy Sena's movements for long enough for Anoko to recover.

"Don't you dare give up, girl! A samurai doesn't need a reason to do what's right. If you want to protect your way of thinking, you must draw your sword! If you-hrn, run into a wall and pretend it doesn't exist, you'll never make any progress. The wall will never change, so you're the one who has to change."

Aid Another: [roll0]

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko's eyes wide as she's mercilessly cut up, blood soaking through her uniform as she staggers back, mind going blank as she realises its over. Her eyes are still open as she falls back, unconscious and at her opponent's mercy; as she loses her grip and her sword rolls away, her connection to her ghostly half falters and all of a sudden her body remembers to breathe - of course, rather raggedly until Sena uses her blade to relieve some of her body's trauma.

The samurai in training seems to just lay there staring at the ceiling even after she regains consciousness, not quite realising she's awake for a while as she just pants for air, in a small pool of her own blood and in the tatters of her uniform. Did I... choose to lose?

The other Anoko seems to shake her head at it all. There were many things Anoko lacked as a fighter. She'd just been taught desperation, and it seemed the next thing she needed was fury. Perhaps a real opponent, not a manufactured threat... perhaps the samurai in training needed to not be so foolishly absent minded to only view violence as an outlet of factions, as something that only happens against enemies for her allies. To fight for herself. The moment of battle had passed, and so the ghost's attention wavers from her surroundings once more...

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

Ghostly!Sena clings to her flesh tightly, protecting herself from Kiri's sword with her own, but while her spirit was willing her body was not. The Konpaku girl sheathes her sword, tenses her body for another battoujutsu attack, takes one shaky step forward, then falls to her knees before falling over without any fanfare. She's alive, but clearly too tired to fight any longer. Kotoba finally steps forward and speaks. "That's enough." She moves over to Kiri, to take her sword back, then motions for the young man to go into the room Sena had left when this all began. "There's some energy drinks in there, as well as bandages and water. Go fetch some, then come back." The blind swordswoman expects to be obeyed, and moves on to tend to Anoko's injuries without any further comment. If Kiri goes, then he finds everything she mentioned inside a room with a familiar, almost lived in, feel to it.

Her blond teacher appears in Anoko's vision, looking down at her student's student with a smile. She kneels down beside Anoko's head. "You lived. You didn't win, but you chose to survive. Lay there for a bit, I'll be back to help the pain." Kotoba looks around for Kiri, then motions for the boy to come over and help Anoko. She then walks over to her student, kneels down, and pats her on the head before taking Sanzumaru from her. "You did well. Sleep for now." The swordswoman grips the blade tightly, raises it over her head, and slashes Sena across the spine. The sword works its magic, mending flesh instead of tearing it, and the girl is good as new--but tired--after the strike. Kotoba moves back to Anoko, raises the sword once more, and smiles at the blond-haired Iga-nin. "Any last words?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko finally blinks when Kotoba leans over her, realising she was awake and still in the room. She feels too weak to speak, but mouths 'okay' all the same when Kotoba says she'll be right back. Her breathing gets a bit heavier as she tries to exert herself, so just stays pinned to the floor in a neutral position to not provoke her wounds, and flops her head to the side to see Sena. She's too wiped out to really think of anything conscious about the girl, but her gut feeling is all the clearer for it - that even that fight still doesn't leave her with any resentment to the Konpaku, hell she'd even be worried about her if she wasn't quite sure she got the rougher end of it all.

She watches as Kotoba uses the sword... she'd seen it be used against Kiri in the fight and hadn't quite understood its meaning then when he seemed unharmed but after an initial moment of horror at Kotoba slashing her own student she takes a moment to realise it seemed to aid her wounds somehow. Of course she shivers as Kotoba holds the blade above her, clenching her eyes shut - of course she had some understanding that the blade could heal somehow, but it still defied her logic and she couldn't help wondering if she was dreaming from all the damage she'd taken. Still, she was hardly in a position to refuse. After the 'hit', she tries sitting up again, groaning with her head swimming.

"I chose to survive?" she finally repeats to Kotoba after a long pause, her voice lacking its usual punch, rubbing her hand against the wound running down her torso to investigate the damage by touch.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri thrusts an energy drink at Anoko, "You fought back til' ya couldn' anymore. If that's not 'spectable I dunno what it is," and gives her a mischievous wink. He leans over to hand her a towel but stops halfway to get a good look at the girl, "Exhausted and sweaty...ain't a bad look on you, if I say so myself." Laughing to himself, he drapes the towel over her head and sits back down where he cups his chin in the palm of his hand. He slides the bandages over to Kotoba though he pauses slightly, giving the blind swordsman a once over.

Satisfied with what he sees, he turns and smirks at Anoko, "I didn' really catch what was goin' on until the very end there but it looks like you learned whatever it was you were 'sposed ta' learn, hm?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko and Kiri

Anoko finds most of her wounds healed without scars, though her uniform is a mess at the moment. When her statement is mirrored back to her Kotoba looks to the sky, a wasted gesture given her lack of sight but an important one. "You could have run away, dropped your sword, or refused to act and just let her carve you up. But you didn't. Perhaps you didn't grasp the totality of the lesson, but you understood not running. That's the first step on the path: The terror of death."

Once Kiri hands over the bandages Kotoba gets up and gives the two some privacy. She heads over to her student and starts to wrap up Sena. Sena apologizes to her teacher. "I'm sorry sensei. I burned myself out."

"Probably because you decided to get all fancy. I don't know how you worked out the sheathing technique, but you shouldn't burn up so much chakra for no reason."

[Princess Tracy]

Even having been knocked out, Anoko's heart was still going a mile a minute and only just now starting to calm down she notices. She takes an energy drink and puts it by her side - she gets a pinch of pain trying to reach over with her other arm to open it so just leaves it for a moment until she's given herself a chance to rest. At Kiri's comment on her appearance, she blushes, grabbing the fabric of her shirt closed. "And covered in blood," Anoko adds morbidly, looking a bit disgusted at the thought that Kiri might be into that before dismissing it.

Anoko bows her head opposite to Kotoba's gesture when she spells out some of the lesson, trying to contemplate it as the blood returns to her head. Whatever healing she'd received didn't exactly generate haemoglobin after all so she's still left rather pale, doing her best to focus. "That is... I don't know. Something in her maai told me she wouldn't stop. And something in me told me that running was pointless. Somehow fighting her I seemed to understand that I guess... so all I could do was fight. I wanted to make her stop fighting and that was how..." She looks over to Sena, eyes half lidded. "It wasn't killing intent no matter how you look at it but... that's the most I've ever hurt someone," she explains.

She shrugs at Kiri's evaluation of what she'd learned. "I guess maybe I learned to fight even when afraid?" She wilts for a moment, rather dizzy even as she sits, and grabs the energy drink, using some of that dexterity to just pop it open with one hand and drink a few gulps, knowing she needed the energy. "Whatever it was, it builds into whatever path I'm on now... Seta-sensei won't train me in the Hiten Mitsurugi any more until I can fight with killing intent. I've never had to take a life before or fight like I had to... which isn't acceptable in a successor to the Iga head's vassal," she explains. "But then... I guess he's not the only one teaching that style these days," she says, looking over to Sena and remembering that sheathing technique.

[Eurus]

Kimiko grins sheepishly at her peer as both of their shots fail. Sunaki's words of encouragement are... rather soothing, actually. She doesn't get embarrassed or defensive, but briefly encouraged, rather. Refocusing herself, she returns to her practice, slowly drawing and releasing one arrow at a time, focusing on the fundamentals.

Only after several minutes have passed, and her body is aching from the strain of holding steady, does Kimiko finally lower her bow and turn back to the androgynous classmate, giggling.

"I always forget how hard this is. You remember me, right? Iga Kimiko? I don't remember if I ever got your name, though!"

[ZeroNumerous]

Miharu and Kimiko

Miharu's shot hits the target, and of the three shooters he proves the only one capable.

When Kimiiko tries to start up a conversation the androgynous boy? responds with a smile, but doesn't stop practicing. Not that she ignores Kimiko. "Ah. Sorry. My name is Emiya Sayuri." With a name she's finally gotten a defined gender. Sayuri couldn't be a man's name after all, unless his parents hated him. The girl draws her bow back once more, takes aim, and fires to no avail. "Ah. I don't know how Sunaki makes this so easy." She distinctly does not use an honorific with Sunaki's name. "She can split a bullseye with a second shot, but she claims it's not hard. Something about just being a trick-shot."

[Bad Situation]

"Huh, looks like I was right then," Kiri picks at his teeth with his tongue and looks directly at Anoko as she comes to her conclusion, "You think way too much about pretty much nothin." He takes a long drink from his bottle of water and messily wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt, exhaling with an air of satisfaction. Setting the bottle down with a slam, he points his finger at the young woman.

"Who cares if it wasn' killin' intent or not. See, it's real simple. When somebody comes bearin' down on you with all they've got, it's a ma-no, a warrior's courtesy ta' meet them with tha' same. And then, providin' you were strong enough ta' win, the only person who can decide whether or not you wanna kill somethin' is you. It's a lot harder ta' fight somebody when they want you dead sure, but it was worth doin' it wouldn' be easy would it? It’s better ta' get dirty while living true to yourself, than to throw yourself away and die a clean death."

He jerks his head over to the Konpaku recuperating aways from them, "You should apologize. Ya know, for takin' so long ta' get yer headspace all sorted out, yeah?"

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko smiles weakly at being called an over-thinker. "Heh, not really. Just... a lot seems to get by me, I realised lately, so I'm trying to get a grip." When he gives his lecture on killing, she looks to the side uncomfortably. "I understand all that. It's just... I don't feel it. When I'm put in a real situation... well, at least i didn't do as bad as last time. I dunno, just... there's something she's got that I don't, something every real samurai I know can see I don't have. I guess... killing is just another fear to be overcome. I'm working on it." She downs the rest of teh sports drink as an excuse to stop talking for a moment.

She looks confused when he says to apologise, shaking her head a little. "Heh... dunno if I've got my headspace sorted at all. I'm kind of having trouble thinking straight right now, but at least the room stopped spinning (as much). Might need some help standing." Finishing the drink, she discards it to her side and finds her hand brushing against her blood-splattered katana. She pulls it to herself, stopping just short of wiping it down on her already ruined uniform. She looks at her torn up shirt again. "Heh... I have another club later tonight too. God, I can't exactly ask mother to stitch this up while it's all covered in blood either. Dry cleaner won't be happy either, ha..." Already making awkward jokes again, she seemed determined not to stay down too long. She gives it another couple minutes before she tries standing though, unless encouraged.

"...You're very different when you fight, Konpaku-senpai," she says, not quite straining to look over to Sena.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu, miss? Of course not. He grabs a bow as Kimiko misses. Next, the arrow. He spins it around absent mindedly as he thinks about the target. Once Kimiko finishes, Miharu just thinks of it like a load. Load, Aim...Fire. The arrow flies and...


Huh, that was not what I was expecting. He smiles and turns toward Kimiko. "I still prefer guns, but this isn't so bad, honestly."

[Bad Situation]

Anoko gets the feeling that Kiri's eyes glaze over when she goes on about her problem. Something about her problem just wasn't clicking in his head and he seems to not understand the real depth of the issue at heart. Not on a human level at least. When she's finally done talking he simply says, "Maybe you're just not cut out for it or somethin'."

He breaks into a cheeky grin at that and helps stand her up, hefting her back up to her feet with a little more force than strictly necessary. He pushes her over to Kotoba and Sena and hurries out the door, grabbing his crumpled up gakuran as he skips out the door. "Oi, you say what you need'ta say. I'll wait for you outside. After that I can walk you to yer' next club."

[Cespenar]

Izumo looks a tad apprehensive when the girl tells him what she does. He chuckles briefly and without mirth, and proceeds to give a short description of Kiko to the girl.

"Heh, uh, so it wouldn't be her, right? Kiko, I mean. Probably was someone else?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Yeah, thanks," Anoko says, pouting at the observation she just wasn't cut out for it before weakly punching him in the leg. "I've thought of that, but you still sound like a jerkface saying it so lightly." Still, she doesn't hold a grudge for long and takes his hand to stand when offered, though woozily almost tips over from his method of basically throwing her upright to her feet. At least she doesn't fall on her own sword when he pushes her. "Er, sure. Occult club's not for another couple hours though. I guess that's enough time for me to wash up or something if I decide to go..." and he's gone. Well he's still energetic enough, huh?

Anoko takes a moment to check the cigar box in her breast pocket was still okay, though is really just distracting herself from approaching the two for another moment while she gathers her thoughts. "You said we were similar," she finally says. "Were you also once hesitant, then?" Of course her next question would be how she got over it.

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

When Anoko approaches the Konpaku girl she finds Kotoba and Sena talking lightly, but their dialogue stops when Anoko gets within hearing range. Sena is sitting straight on the floor, while Kotoba is wrapping her arms, legs, and body with bandages. At Anoko's comment concerning her change of nature during battle the Konpaku girl just sighs. "You're right. I'm not fully myself in battle, or more accurately: Battle adds something to me." The girl looks upward apprehensively, then shrugs. "Or perhaps I am lesser outside of battle, but that would be a depressing way to think about it. I don't know." When Anoko talks about how similar she and the Konpaku were, Kotoba interrupts the two of them.

"Before you have your discussion, perhaps it's best to go get changed." She tilts her head slightly in Anoko's direction, while finishing up Sena's bandages. "You can borrow a uniform and leave that one here. I'll have it fixed by tomorrow morning." Kotoba helps Sena to her feet, and then hands over the girl's sword. Sena sheathes the blade, then heads for the room she had left before all this began. If Anoko follows then she finds a room attached to the main clubroom that seems more familiar and lived in than most expect. A table sits in the middle of the room, a small cooler to the left, and a lacquered sword rack in the back. Two out of three of the spaces on the rack are empty, but the top space contains a katana contained in an ivory-white sheath adorned with a pair of golden intertwined dragons biting one another's throats. Sena goes over and reverently places both swords back on the sword rack, then turns to Anoko.

"I have some spare uniforms. There's water and energy drinks in the cooler, if you'd like some more." It takes a few minutes, but Sena eventually comes back with a uniform that looks like it fits Anoko. She's also wearing a uniform instead of the swimsuit she was wearing before, and both uniforms are long-sleeved shirts and pants rather than the traditional female blouse/skirt uniform. "It should fit, but you'll look a bit boy-ish."

Izumo

The girl looks surprised, but shakes her head. "Um, no. She was smaller? Like, thin, and didn't have any muscle on her like that. She was a younger student though."

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko nods at Sena's observation, not sure what to make of it but it seemed true enough. "I think battle has a way of bring out things you don't expect. I have such weird thoughts in fights sometimes. You were really going to kill me..." She nods at Kotoba's offer for a spare uniform, though gives the sensei a chance to bandage up Anoko's own body a little too, before heading off with Sena. Sheathing her sword, she has it disappear into her gloves, and collapses onto whatever can take her weight as she rests, sipping down a bottle of water happily.

On the comment of the uniform being boyish, she shrugs. "That's fine, I'm not in a showing-off kind of mood or anything and it beats wearing what's left of this uniform," she says, taking the uniform to get changed, her voice coming out a little stronger again now that she's had a couple of minutes to herself to recover. Once she's gotten changed, she sighs, feeling her nerves finally relax - being in Sena's presence now without combat onm served to ease her somehow. Somehow she knew... well, felt anyway, that it wasn't the same girl who attacked her, and doesn't recognise her as her previous opponent. She looks around the lived-in looking room and thinks on the presence of the uniforms. "So what do you do, Sena-senpai?" she asks, curious of the girl she'd spilled blood with. "You know the Hiten Mitsurugi too... I guess Kotoba-sensei can still teach it even if she can't perform it fully without her sight."

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Sena's quiet at Anoko's accusation, and says nothing more until the Iga-nin comments on not wearing the tatters of her old uniform. "Don't worry about this. Kotoba-sensei will fix it. She's good at things like that." The girl takes the uniform and places them aside on top of the cooler. Anoko's questions bring the girl back to reality, and she rubs her bandages. "I guess you could say I fight. Kotoba-sensei wants to pass her style on without... impurities, and the Konpaku Clan sent me here to learn it from her. Their condition was that I be allowed to teach it when I return home, and Kotoba-sensei agreed if I came to live with her." The girl shrugs. "So here I am. They said she was completely unable to use Hiten Mitsurugi, but I don't believe that. There are moments where I can see her blood lust wake up, and she starts to act on instinct..." The girl gets silent, then shakes her head. She looks upward, and seems to be thinking about something given how her face contorts as if she were focusing intensely. Then she looks down, shrugs, and says something seemingly out of left field.

"Do you hear voices when you're alone? Like... someone that sounds like your thoughts, but isn't?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Your clan sent you? Hmm..." Anoko looks thoughtful at that. "I know I've heard that name before, Konpaku... at least one swordsman sensei's mentioned has it, I think..." Anoko had a poor memory when it came to actual figures of swordplay, far too wrapped up in popularised fiction. "So are you actually a student here at school or do you just happen to live here?" She looks to the ground, her hand on her chin as she thinks. "Hm. A couple of days ago to my knowledge, Seta-sensei was the only one that knew that style and I was his only apprentice. Guess I have more rivals than I thought." There's a sudden urgency in her thoughts at that, a determination that she WILL learn the style and get a move on about mastering it, now that she knows its secrets were now not so secretive.

At Sena's sudden question, Anoko actually shuts up for a moment to think. "I do..." She purses her lips. "Doesn't everyone though?" she says. She knows the general wisdom about people talking to themselves or hearing voices was taht they're crazy so she'd decided to ignore such things for the most part. But still... it had been happening more frequently recently. "...When I was fighting you there, I... did kind of hear a lot of things. About the proper way to fight... Some of it definitely didn't seem like things I would think, but I figured... maybe the desperation was bringing out something in me." She's silent for another moment before looking Sena in the eye. "Why, do you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

Sena shakes her head. "I simply live with Kotoba-sensei. I do not go to school, nor do I intend to. I exist to fight, and I serve no purpose beyond that."

When Anoko talks about rivals, and Seta's secretive nature, the girl simply shrugs. "I wouldn't really consider us rivals. Though, I suppose you are technically my fellow student, as you are Seta-senpai's apprentice. Nonetheless: There will come a time when I have learned everything, and then I will return to my clan. So we are simply two ships passing in the night, rather than rivals."

At Anoko's statements concerning hearing voices the Konpaku girl grows quiet. She looks to her side, then nods and turns her attention back to Anoko. "In the quiet places, at night especially, you need to take the time to stop and listen. You'll find more than words then, and perhaps things will help you."

[Princess Tracy]

"Fair enough I guess. If you've already got things worked out as a samurai or whatever then I guess you don't exactly need education." Anoko guesses that for such a girl she doesn't have much in common, at least not in the way most people would outside the world of ninja and samurai. Everything they shared was related to their status as fighters, it seemed. Still, she isn't too put off or anything, perhaps it was the familiarity of Sena's presence. "I guess so, but... knowing someone else is learning the style makes me more motivated to learn it I guess, so we're just rivals in that way I figured," she shrugs.

Anoko is quiet for a while at that advice, looking away to the door. She bites her lip for a moment, not quite confident in her words. "Sometimes it says... I hear some scary things..." she whispers. "But... it can't be scarier than what I just experienced, so... maybe I'll try. ...I shouldn't keep Kiri waiting too long," she says, edging toward the door a little. "Must sound crazy," she mutters to herself.

[Cespenar]

Izumo is visibly relieved when it doesn't turn out to be Kiko, and he replies knowingly.

"So, you want to inform the Committee and clear out the girl's name? That's mighty high of you, to do that for someone you don't know."

[Eurus]

Kimiko almost says something about how it's not that hard once you know the trick to it, but catches herself with a wry grin.

"Heh. I guess it just comes naturally to some people. Nice to meet you, anyway!"

Raising her bow again, she makes a few more slow, focused shots. She misses at least as many as she hits, but it doesn't seem to bother her much. After a few moments, though, her mind starts to wander back to Sunaki, and she finds herself extending her senses across the room, trying to feel for the familiar tickle of chakra.

Sensing chakra.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko takes a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship on display at the sword rack and asks he former opponent if they're named blades. "If my sword's got a name, my dad never got a chance to tell me." She wasn't sure what was normal small talk among swordsmen, but her eyes do genuinely light up at a cool sword or two.

If Sena has no further wisdom to share, Anoko heads for the door of the dojo, nodding to Kotoba as she goes. "I'll see you and Sena-senpai on Monday, Kotoba-sensei. ...Hey, didn't you promise 5000 yen if I could beat up all your thugs?" she asks, teasing her. "Really you should be thankful no one knocked me out or else you'd be down another 5000. Anyway, um... Even though I'm terrified to be in a fight like that again, I feel I should thank you for today's lesson," she says, bowing at the waist in a rather respectful fashion for a moment. "Something about fighting Sena feels like it was important, so I guess you were right."

Heading out, she greets Kiri. "Hey. I gotta rebuild my iron after losing all that blood, let's go get steak or something." She looks around and sees its still in the afternoon - somehow being in a cramped dojo and getting knocked out had messed with her perception of time. "Oh. Maybe a bit early for that I guess. I didn't get a decent lunch though and Occult Club's not for another couple of hours anyway, lets at least get a bite to eat." Anoko looks around for the local restaurants to essentially waste time as much as anything else (and maybe wash the blood out of her hair in the bathroom, ew gross is that a white hair, weird), before heading to the Occult Club for her first meeting; on-time, in a fresh set of tomboyish clothes, and with Kiri in tow if he's still up for it.

Posted in the OOC by accident

[ZeroNumerous]

Anoko

When Anoko mentions Sena's swords then white-haired girl looks toward the sword rack. "Um, I only know of one of them." She points to the battered sword that had been used to close Kiri's, Anoko's, and her own wounds. "That one is named Sanzumaru, after the Sanzu River. It separates the living from the dead, and you've already seen what it was able to accomplish." She shrugs. "The other two are enigmas. The one I used before is sharp, but that's it. And Kotoba-sensei won't draw the one with dragons. Though, she seems to meditate with it every morning. She's up at 4am every day. Something about samurai rising early, and other stuff I don't really get." Perhaps that's where Sena picked up his habits?

Anoko and Kiri

Kotoba almost hands over Anoko's money, but then jerks her hand back at the last moment. "While you did win the tournament: I'll be keeping this to fix the dojo after what your friend did to the floor, and to clean your blood up." The blind teacher grins, then lets the kids do as they please.

Izumo

"Oh! No, no way. Um. I just wanted to know if you'd seen her. I haven't seen her since she got caught yesterday. I just hope she didn't get expelled." By the way Kurokawa's friend describes this other girl Izumo can figure out that she's the girl from yesterday: The one those two girls from the Disciplinary Committee beat up pretty badly. If she hadn't shown up today, then perhaps she was in the hospital? Or maybe she was the girl Kotoba was called away to interrogate?

Miharu and Kimiko

Kimiko detects two moderate chakra signatures: One belonging to Sunaki and one belong to Sayuri. She also detects 3 Faint signatures, as well as Miharu's. Sensing that Kimiko is done with the conversation Sayuri goes back to her practice, while Sunaki watches them both.

[Princess Tracy]

"That was pretty amazing how the wounds closed..." Anoko nods at the explanation of the swords, but pauses to think on where Seta got his habits. "Does she also have a rule about samurai not preparing their own food?" she asks. Wonder what the third sword does, maybe it has a cool hidden power like Sanzomaru.

Anoko pouts for a moment, but shrugs. She hadn't really been expecting money anyway, though she wasn't too happy with 'paying' for what was essentially Sena's mess. "I would say she's more your student than my friend. Though, I suppose at least some of the blood was from me cutting her..." she mutters to herself. "Well make sure you get the blood out properly then, I'd hate to have to explain to Seta-sensei where I'd spilled it all," she half-jokes

[Bad Situation]

Kiri grins sheepishly, a gesture ruined by his too wide smile, and looks away. "Ehehe, guess I don't really know my own strength..."

Before they leave however, he turns around and gives Kotoba a meaningful look, "Oi, you tell her that she owes me a rematch. And that next time, I'll come crashin' down on her so hard she won't be able to ignore me like she did today. Got it?"

[Cespenar]

"Oh."

Izumo's face sours openly, and his words take a cold edge as he speaks them.

"She's the one that got beat up by those Committee members. I'll... look into it. Thanks."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

When Miharu, Kiri, and Anoko arrive at Occult Club they find the clubroom empty. Neither the teacher nor the students are there. The teacher likely left after realizing that none of the students were showing up, and both Anoko and Miharu remember that she said they never showed up to these things anyway. Meanwhile, both Izumo and Kimiko are left on their own to do as they pleased.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko had heard the club was on at six so makes an effort to turn up early. She waits for a good half hour or so before giving up and going home if the teacher never shows up, leaving a note on the desk saying "We totally showed up, so you should too next time, maybe it'll be fun - Anoko, Miharu, and Kiri (he's new)."

She figured she really should buck and see her mother soon anyway, so she heads straight home, bracing herself. It was good that the school day had distracted her so well from it but at the end of the day... she knew Ayaka was hurtin'.

[Bad Situation]

If nobody shows up, Kiri waits until everybody leaves and writes his own words on the note, circling his name and scratches out, "That's me!" replete with a very detailed rendition of his name.

[Overlord Rion]

Miharu looks around at the empty room. "Well, this could be worse....maybe? So, I'm basically done for the day here if no one comes up." A smile comes over his face, and he ceases to look tired. "Okay everyone, listen up! We will come back next week and it if's the same way, I'm going to start get the ball rolling on this club. By the time I'm done with this, this will be a respected club!"

[Cespenar]

With the club route closed to him, Izumo makes his way back to the compound as well, thinking about if he can do anything about the stealing girl and her friend, and the exact situation of Kiko for the moment being.

Sheesh. Izumo isn't a worrying person, but this school year really did start on a bang, didn't it?

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The next day sees the overcast sky still firmly in place, and the soft spring rain still falling. The lazy feeling of the rainy morning makes rousing from sleep harder than normal, but once everyone wakes and goes to school they discover the half-day of classes proves mind-numbingly slow. A combination of being at school for just a half-day and the rain makes it hard to stay awake, but those who struggle to remain conscious find themselves enduring a riveting lecture about cognates in the English language and how the evolution of the language has altered the meaning of words over time. Fortunately the half-day does eventually end, but not after what seemed like hours of English. The warm spring rain had lessened after school, but the lazy Saturday afternoon still held the oppressive aura of a time to sleep and rest rather than adventure. Nonetheless the group of Iga-nin are left to their own devices, though Anoko's scheduled trip off to the Shrine is set for the day. Whomever is going along on the trip has to meet at the bus stop shortly after 12:30, and from there ride the bus to another stop, and from there get on the bus that would take them to the shrine. If Ayaka is invited by her daughter, then the maid explains that she would need to arrange transportation via a rental car and an adult to drive for obvious reasons that Anoko would have totally thought about because she's dealt with her mother's disability her entire life.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko trudges through school them stops off at her home to see her mother and get ready before its time for the bus to leave. She'd done her best to look for some transport for Ayaka, but supposed there didn't seem to be a public trasnsport out there that was accessible to her mother. Anoko was getting to the age where non-handicap accessible things made her mad on her mother's account even if Ayaka wasn't so righteously indignant. Still, she explained a little of her thoughts to her mother the night before - that dad had left her a key and the inscription was her only clue so she wanted to give it a go, and if they could find a way Ayaka was welcome to come too. Anoko considers holding off until Ayaka can arrange transport to go together, but ultimately her curiosity wins out and she decides to go this weekend. "I don't remember dad much... I want to know what it is he was trying to get to me," she explained. "Let's do something together sometime soon though, mum. A little day with just the two of us to make up for me going myself."

Presently, she's switching into some rain-ready gear, including some mountain-worthy boots and a goofy yellow rain coat to wear over her clothes. After maybe grabbing a lunch for the ride over and giving her mum a last hug if she's around, she heads to the bus station along with anyone that invited themselves along. Miharu and Kiri managed to get her plans for the weekend out of her back in the occult club while she had been waiting around for the teacher, and while she didn't want to tell them all the details of her family drama, she wasn't quite so rude enough to turn them away either. Might as well ask Kimiko out for balance - maybe Kiri will flirt with her too.

The other's arrive to find her at the bus station early, tinkering with the phone she'd bought the night before, praying she could get some coverage up in the mountains. "Friggin' touch screen doesn't work with my gloves on, great..." she mumbles as she waits.

[Bad Situation]

Kiri shows up to the bus station on his own, cheerfully greeting whoever else is waiting at the stop with a chirpy, "Yahallo~!" The foreign-born ninja is wearing his casual clothing today, consisting of simple t-shirt portraying some inane Tokusatsu show or another, well-fitting jeans, and a ratty pair of sneakers. He settles into the station's seating and is unusually quiet, too busy fiddling with an expensive looking camera he doesn't seem capable of using. Slung over his shoulder is a long, gray case that Anoko might recognize as a shinai bag. The bag shifts and slides around every so often as the young man fidgets in his seat, causing the acryllic sword charm attached to the bag's zipper to flit around on the breeze.

[Princess Tracy]

Anoko looks up at Kiri, pursing her lips in a tentative smile. "Hey. Um. You excited, I guess? It's just a shrine, I'm sure it'll be really boring," she comments, though from the looks of how he's decked out carrying a camera, and raring to go, she supposes she's gonna have company anyway. Just as well she guessed as she suddenly realised that, yes, while she'd brought enough manga to last the 3 hour journey, she didn't account for this being a two way journey back when packing her little bag for the day, so the company would at least be a good distraction. "...Is that what I think it is?" Anoko asks, pointing to the apparent shinai holster.