[attr="class","pwf1body"] The soft glow of the setting sun stained the horizon in shades of orange and red, its vibrant light accentuating the figure of a lone samurai as it cascaded down upon the solitary ridge where she now stood, blade in hand. Her body flowed with practiced ease through the motions of ancient katas that were now second nature to her, the radiant glimmer of her blade carving a mesmerizing path as it sailed through the air with perfect form. Then, with one final cut, she transitioned flawlessly into a chiburi, before at last the blade was sheathed. [break][break]
Yousei wiped the sweat from her brow with an exhausted sigh. She'd been at it all day again, honing her skills in restless anticipation of the soon-coming battle with the Taiyou. It wouldn't be long now, just a few more days until the enemy would be at their door, and she could finally teach those Imperial bastards a lesson for trying to set foot in the Northern Fire Country. [break][break]
But where was she today, anyway? Well, I'm glad you asked! On this fine evening, Yousei found herself in the northeastern reaches of Otogakure; a mountainous region of twisting trails and rivers, that also served as one of the main entry points into the country for merchants and travelers from the Land of Hot Water, and more recently shinobi from Kumogakure as well. [break][break]
The Sound had become a veritable melting pot of new faces, ever since Mai had sent out that summons for the formation of a coalition to defend Onomichi against the Empire. They'd had people of all shapes and sizes turn up to answer the call, from every village and nation you could think of: shinobi, wanderers, mercenaries, and even some missing-nin, she'd heard! It was really something else. [break][break]
But what were the odds that she'd be having a chance encounter with one of those visitors mere moments from now? Well, uh...pretty good, actually! Enter Izumi Niijima. [break][break]
Who am I? [break] I fell into an endless trap known as love.
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Traveling was always so exciting. [break][break]
The adrenaline rush that came with traveling to somewhere unknown and away from those close to you was possibly one of the few things Izumi enjoyed as a geisha. Well, there was also her day job of being a shinobi, she supposed, although judging from the lack of mission taking and training since becoming a Genin, it was rather difficult to persuade anyone that she was a shinobi by just looking at her. She had the poise of a samurai, a onnabusha, as people in the samurai world called female swordsman, and the grace of an entertainer. The perfect balance, so to speak. But with this balance came responsibilities. She had her okiya, or the household of geisha dancers to support, the trainings of a samurai to uphold, and now the added responsibilities to her village as a kunoichi. [break][break]
How she does it, nobody would know. [break][break]
The sun slowly started to set as a young woman with dark brown hair and eyes appeared on the streets of the Land of Hotsprings. She had been asked, along with one other geisha from her lodgings to travel all the way to the minor lands for a performance. It had been some sort of diplomatic gathering, with heads of households and town representatives invited to a pleasant evening of dinner and entertainment. As a geisha, Izumi never sold her body, only her talents in music and dance, a hard rule that was implemented on all entertainers in her line of work despite popular belief. In fact, she had used six years of her life trying to learn the arts, practicing and perfecting her skills until she was ready to represent her lodgings. It had been a harsh six years, and as long as she was still a geisha, the training was never-ending. There was never a top position that one could hit, understanding that the best of the best could only achieve and maintain their standings through constant training. [break][break]
The girl was wearing a black and dark red kimono, her hair tied back with a pin loosely. Her obi matched the red of her kimono, and tightly strapped underneath the belt was her sword. Izumi had an obsession with silk fabric, almost all of her clothes made of the material. The kimono hugged her body tightly, the ends of the fabric fluttered gently against the soft breeze. She looked up at the sky and heaved a sigh. The party had lasted much longer than she had originally expected, and by the time she had gotten some rest, it was already close to sunset the next day. The Land of Hotsprings was a lot quieter than Kaminari no Kuni, perhaps for good reason. She had never thought about traveling here, since her home country was also famous for hot springs. [break][break]
But a change of scenery never hurt anyone. [break][break]
She made her way along the dirt roads, trying to retrace of her steps across the land so as to return home. She knew that once the sun went down, traveling would be dangerous, especially for a Genin like her. And what more, there were other neighboring countries that bordered Kaminari no Kuni that she had never stepped foot in too, one such was Oto no Kuni, if she remembered her geography correctly from her studies in the academy. Her right hand touched the hilt of her sword gently as she walked, knowing that she was on her own out here. Izumi seemed to recall that there had been a recent happening in Oto no Kuni, which conveniently opened its borders for travelers. This was rare, at least from her understanding, as she had been told even as a student that many of the major countries including her own forbid entry of shinobi from other villages. Taking cautious steps, she would make her way cross the lands, hoping for some hint or clue as to how to return back to her own land.
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "Oh?" There were footsteps approaching, what a surprise! Who could have possibly predicted such an unforeseen turn of events? The ambiguous, disembodied narrator perhaps, but certainly not Yousei. After all, it's not like her life had been unfolding like the plot of some weekly manga serialization lately or anythi- well, I mean... [break][break]
"A traveler!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, as the figure slowly came into view up the mountain pass. Looked like it was a girl around her age, probably a few years younger? Kind of unusual to see someone that young traveling alone, especially way out here. Judging from the direction she was headed, she'd probably crossed the border into Oto from the Land of Hot Water, but this ridge was a ways off the main trail. Was she lost? [break][break]
Skipping up to the girl with a gait so carefree that it was surprising a trail of flowers wasn't springing up behind her as she went, Yousei waved her down with all the genki energy she could muster. "Hey there, person-I've-never-met-before! You're kinda off the beaten path here, did you get lost? These trails can be pretty tricky if you don't know your way around. If you need help, I'd be glad to give you directions-" [break][break]
Wait a second! Now that she got a closer look, she'd recognize this girl's demeanor anywhere; she had the bearing of a samurai, no doubt about it! She definitely didn't seem local though, judging by her attire, and she didn't give off the same vibe as one of those Taiyou pretenders either. A foreign samurai, wow! That wasn't something you got to see every day. [break][break]
"Whoa! You're totally a samurai, aren't you?" Her eyes were practically twinkling with barely contained excitement at this point. That's awesome! I haven't gotten to meet another real samurai in like, forever! What brings you to the Sound Village? Are you here to join the coalition?" [break][break]
Izumi had heard the stranger's voice before she saw her. Perhaps that was a good thing though, for had it been the other way around, the young samurai would have drawn her blade without hesitation. Now that wouldn't have been pretty, especially in a foreign land that was not governed by Kaminari no Kuni. She could only imagine how that would have turned out. And so, it was both her luck and whoever had just called out to her that Izumi had heard the other approaching. The raven-haired girl ceased walking, waiting for the other person to show herself. Her right hand lifted from the hilt of her sword though, although her eyes narrowed a fraction as she was still trying to determine whether the stranger was friend or enemy.Izumi had heard the stranger's voice before she saw her. Perhaps that was a good thing though, for had it been the other way around, the young samurai would have drawn her blade without hesitation. Now that wouldn't have been pretty, especially in a foreign land that was not governed by Kaminari no Kuni. She could only imagine how that would have turned out. And so, it was both her luck and whoever had just called out to her that Izumi had heard the other approaching. The raven-haired girl ceased walking, waiting for the other person to show herself. Her right hand lifted from the hilt of her sword though, although her eyes narrowed a fraction as she was still trying to determine whether the stranger was friend or enemy. [break][break]
The first thing that caught the woman's attention was the other girl's hair color. It was a nice red tint, coincidentally Izumi's favorite color. The next thing was her bubbly personality, which was a sharp contrast to the calm and collected samurai. As she listened to the other woman speak, now standing a few feet away from her, Izumi couldn't help but smile to herself. The woman definitely seemed friendly, a little too friendly perhaps. She nodded her head at the mention of being a traveler. Was she lost? Well...she wouldn't really know that if she was. For a highly directionally challenged individual though. it didn't surprise her in the slightest if she was lost. It was her first time traveling so far out anyway. "I'm not sure really...I thought I was going the right way...." her voice trailed, barely audible as she spoke. She often found herself speaking to herself more than the people around her, musing over their words and thinking aloud. [break][break]
"Directions would be greatly appreciated..." Almost as abruptly as the other woman had stopped speaking, Izumi too would stop, her eyes looking into hers, trying to judge what little she could see of the stranger. Although not skilled at reading people, the girl was still skeptical of her overly bubbly nature, having met very few people who had the same personality. Most of the girls her age in Kumo were either too serious for their age or too immature. There was really no equilibrium. Before she could continue though, it seemed that the woman had caught on to her attire, one that reflected her profession as a onnabusha. There was an unmistakable twinkle in her eye that reflected excitement and interest. To be honest, Izumi was almost surprised that anyone who was not from a samurai family would be this quick to observe the samurai attire. [break][break]
"Yes...indeed, I am a samurai..." It was rather strange for her to admit to another person that she was a samurai. Usually people paid her no mind, and for her to bring up her profession as bluntly as she was doing was new for her. Izumi's eyes widened a fraction as she took her gaze off of the woman's face for a second, her pupils wandered the surroundings. Sound Village? So...this was Otogakure! She had only read about its existence in textbooks. Of course, she knew that the place existed, but to think that she would actually find herself there was exciting. "This is...Oto no Kuni?" An obvious question demanding an obvious answer, the girl chided herself. "Coalition...?" Her gaze returned to the girl before her. Oblivious was perhaps too strong of a word to describe Izumi, but she definitely lacked some worldly skills, if one could call it that. If it didn't pertain to her specifically, the girl would just not know. And it would seem that whatever was happening in Oto was big enough to be called a coalition. [break][break]
"I just came from Yuu no Kuni." Seeing as the other girl seemed to be much better at directions than she was, Izumi guessed that she had already figured that out. "I wish to return to Kaminari no Kuni..." Her voice had kept its whisper throughout the entire conversation. Izumi wasn't sure what to make of this stranger. Was she a shinobi like her? Was she just some helpful civilian from the village? This was definitely a chance encounter, the possibility of a friendship sparking across countries! That is, if she played her cards right and this woman didn't think that she was weird or something. [break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "Sure is! You're currently in the real, genuine Village Hidden in the Sound, located in the scenic Northern Fire Country. To your left you'll see...uh, rocks! And to your right you'll see...more rocks! And a black pine, I think? Sorry, I'm a samurai, not a botanist! Hahaha." [break][break]
She laughed with all the innocence of the year's first snow, nearly doubling over at her own silliness. Yes, Yousei was indeed a samurai, though it would probably be hard for Izumi to believe it, but the exquisite blades she wore at her hip would certainly help give credence to her claim; one sheathed in brilliant white, and the other in midnight black. [break][break]
"Oh, you haven't heard? The Taiyou are sending this huge force to attack a city called Onomichi way far south of here, so Mai-..." [break][break]
It was a running gag, at this point. [break][break]
"...so the Hokage sent out a summons to all the nations, asking for shinobi to come to Oto and form a united front against the Empire! We've had quite a turnout, too. It's been pretty lively around here with all these new faces! You said you were from the Land of Clouds, right? That's double awesome! I'd love to hear all about-" [break][break]
Growl! [break][break]
No, that wasn't some wild beast or demonic creature readying itself to pounce, that was just the very empty stomach that Yousei had forgotten about. [break][break]
"Oh, right...I forgot to bring that bento I made, so I haven't eaten since this morning..." She'd been so focused on her training that she'd totally forgotten that she was starving, but now the cumulative hunger pangs were hitting her all at once. "Hey, wanna grab something to eat? I happen to know this great little spot nearby. Promise you won't be disappointed!" [break][break]
Izumi couldn't help but giggle a little at the way the other girl spoke. She had a certain carefree nature to her that...was unheard of in the Niijima family code. She looked to her left and right, following the other girl's rather vague descriptions of their surroundings, all of which would be seen with her own eyes. But she would nod her head any way. If there was one thing she did agree, it was that a samurai was no botanist, even though technically, Izumi was a botanist in-training. She had a taste for flowers, but only flowers, the art of flower arrangement being her next obstacle of mastery. She was a geisha after all, and learning new skills meant that she would be placed higher on the geisha hierarchy. The hidden hierarchy, that is. "It's quite alright, as a fellow samurai, I understand that botany is not everyone's strong suit..." [break][break]
It wasn't hers either, but she had coerced herself into learning it. She wanted to be different, to be a commodity in her line of work as an entertainer, to be known not just for her dancing and art skills. And the only two things that were learned by true ladies of Kumo were weaving and flower arrangement. Of course, there was tea ceremony, but she had already mastered that at a young age, having been requested as a host for small and large ceremonies for some time. Izumi was one of the most sought after tea ceremony hosts, her meticulous and gracefulness set her apart from even the others in her own geisha lodgings. Anything to make more money, she supposed. Turning her attention back to the redhead, she would catch the next bit of information that escaped her lips. [break][break]
Huge forces? Hm....[break][break]
In the shinobi world, she was still just a low ranked genin, having graduated from the academy not long ago. Her skills as a samurai and geisha outrank her talents as a shinobi, but the girl wasn't too concerned. If she had been, she would have insisted that her team invited her along some more missions to build her skills. It wasn't that she had no interest in rising up the ranks of a shinobi, it was simply that she found herself having little time to do so, with so many other engagements. The girl noticed the other stutter, possibly mentioning a name, before she quickly corrected herself and continued to speak. But Izumi would pay that little slip up no mind. After all, there was no expectation that anyone needed to tell a complete stranger everything. She, for one, wouldn't. [break][break]
Well...that explained it...she thought to herself as the woman mentioned something about the Hokage asking the other countries to send out shinobi. Being of such a low rank meant that she wouldn't even have been considered, or thought of for that matter, on such a high priority mission. She wondered who from her village had been dispatched, though judging from her social skills or lack of them, she wouldn't know them anyway. Izumi liked to keep to herself, as her geisha role required her not be too close to the others. Geisha identities were always kept secret. It was half the reason why they often wore heavy white makeup on their faces and arrived at the parties they were invited to in a carriage. They were never allowed to walk on the streets with their geisha attire, the mystery behind who they really were half the appeal of their profession. [break][break]
"I would...love the join you..." Perhaps she had said that with a little too much conviction, the sound of the woman's grumbling stomach reminded her that she too was hungry. Although the party she had performed at the night before provided her with food, her appetite was...somewhat disturbing, to an outsider. Although still a little cautious of the other, she would and could not pass up on some good food. She had been meaning to try the delicacies from the other countries, already visualizing in her head what sorts of foods Oto no Kuni had to offer.[break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "Now that's what I like to hear!" Izumi definitely seemed a little more on the reserved side, but the way she agreed so readily to Yousei's invitation made it obvious that they were kindred spirits in having empty stomachs, which was one of the most sacred bonds to be sure. [break][break]
"Onwards!" She gestured dramatically into the distance, before taking Izumi by the hand and pulling her merrily down the mountain pass, as though they'd been friends for years. "This place is a little off the beaten track, but the best places are always the hardest to find, right? Trust me, I bet you've never been any place like it!" [break][break]
Then it dawned on her that in all the excitement, she still hadn't introduced herself. "Oh, right! I'm Yousei, by the way. What's your name, samurai-acquaintance-from-a-distant-land-who-I'm-currently-using-this-really-long-nickname-for?" That was a Yousei-brand nickname alright, spot-on as ever. [break][break]
It probably took them close to a half hour, but after crossing a few streams, climbing a few hills, and navigating the absolutely labyrinthine layout of the trail network that seemed to run to every obscure nook and cranny of the region, the pair finally arrived at the foot of a winding path, where a makeshift signpost had been haphazardly erected. [break][break]
It read: "The Hundred Tales Inn". [break][break]
"Almost there, now! Our destination is just at the top of this rise. Oh man, I can almost taste Gama's cooking already..." Practically drooling at the thought, Yousei started up the path with some pep in her step, as she turned to Izumi with barely contained excitement. [break][break]
"Gama's one of the owners of this little establishment, you see! He mans the kitchen and makes all the food, while his brother Kusari runs the front of the house and deals with the customers. Two of the biggest weasels I've ever met, those guys! Hahaha." [break][break]
Izumi watched the girl, who had then introduced herself as Yousei. A very pretty but uncommon name, Izumi noted to herself as they continued down the path. Yousei had grabbed her hand, in such a smooth but abrupt manner that it made her tense a little. The raven-haired girl was not a fan of physical contact, but for the sake of not seeming too hostile, izumi allowed it. She secretly wondered if the redhead beside her was always this friendly. And if so, if there was some kind of unfriendly side to her that she had yet to show. From her knowledge no human was always this joyful, and the happier one was, the more unhappiness they were trying to hide from the outside world. [break][break]
But then again, they had only just met. [break][break]
Izumi nodded her head as Yousei explained to her about this place that they were about to go to. She wondered if anything in Kumo could par or come close, but from the sounds of it, this Gama's cooking was something to be anticipated. "That sounds quite interesting indeed. And I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Izumi." She was admittedly not the best when it came to self-introductions, keeping them as simple as possible. If the person(s) she met wanted to know about her, they would ask, so she rarely volunteered information about herself on her own accord. "It seems that this Gama you speak of is a great cook. I am excited to try." Her voice was still barely above her whisper and although she had used to word 'excited', her tone didn't match normal excitement. Izumi had a problem displaying positive emotions, Yousei would soon find out. [break][break]
"Kumogakure has some nice restaurants too. If one day you are interested and happen to travel there, I can take you to some too." This was more of a courtesy than a real invitation, returning the hospitality that the other girl was showing. "What is this Gama known for? What dishes do you recommend?" This was possibly the greatest extent of Izumi trying to make conversation. One would think that such a reputable geisha like her would have no problem socializing and making conversations with people. But it was not the case at all. As Sakurako, a geisha, she would have to talk to her customers because that was her job. She was paid the converse, to listen, to show emotion. But as Izumi, she was what one would call an introvert at its finest.[break][break]
They continued to walk down the path, her dark brown hues casually catching glimpses of her surroundings. It still made her feel quite surprised that she had managed to just stumble on Oto no Kuni, and it took no effort other than her getting lost. Which...meant no effort at all. She noted that even though both countries were quite close in proximity, the weather and overall landscape was very different. It was as Yousei had told her at the beginning of this encounter, Oto had a vast sea of rocks whereas Kaminari was more about mountains and terrains. "Oh, that reminds me. You are a shinobi too, correct? I'm surprised you're not helping in that battle against the Empire you spoke of earlier." Again, another feeble attempt to keep the conversation going, though she was genuinely interested in learning more about what was or had happened. [break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "That would be awesome! I'd love to visit Kumogakure. Hopefully one day open borders and cooperation will be the standard for everyone, and the whole ninja world will be able to get along for once. Wouldn't that be rad?" It sounded like a pipe dream, and maybe it was, but Yousei still dared to dream that with any luck they could make it a reality. [break][break]
"Oh! Gama's special is fresh caught river trout, and he also makes the best oshiruko I've ever tasted, hands down. You haven't lived until you've tried it!" And she definitely wasn't just saying that because she was an absolute fiend for anything made with sweet red beans, no sir. [break][break]
"The battle? Ah, it hasn't actually started yet! The Imperial forces are still a few days away, so while the Hokage and her strategists are finalizing our defense plans, I've just been out here training. You can never be too prepared, after all! [break][break]
When the pair reached the top of the hill at last, the sight that greeted them was the welcoming light of a traditional mountain inn. Even from here, the tantalizing aromas and the boisterous sounds of what seemed to be a surprisingly large crowd within would start to reach them. Was this place really that popular, even in such an out of the way location? [break][break]
As they stepped up to the door, Yousei slid it open without hesitation, before brazenly announcing herself. "Yo, everyone!" A voice from behind the counter, no doubt the aforementioned Kusari, then shouted back as if on cue. "Ah! Yousei!" The entire room soon followed, erupting in various Yousei!'s of their own. She certainly seemed well known around here! Must've been a regular. [break][break]
Now, this is the part where we should probably clarify something. You see, there was something rather unusual about the staff and clientele at this establishment, as Izumi would soon come to realize; namely, they were all animals! Not the normal kind of animals either, but talking ninja animals of all shapes and sizes! [break][break]
"Oh, is Yousei here? I'll get the usual on! Hahaha." Another voice chimed in, his furry face peeking out briefly from the door that led to the kitchen. Assuming that was Gama, it seemed Yousei's description of the brothers had actually been quite literal; they were, no doubt, two of the biggest weasels that Izumi had ever met as well, standing in at over five feet tall! [break][break]
"Make it two! I've got company today." Yousei replied, getting a quick hand gesture in the affirmative as Gama ducked back into the kitchen. "Come on, Izumi! Let's grab a table." [break][break]
Her complete nonchalance in a setting like this was really astounding, like chilling with a bunch of talking animals was completely normal. Just how long had she been coming here to get acclimated like this? How had she stumbled across it in the first place? All excellent quetions, but that would be telling, wouldn't it? [break][break]
Izumi nodded her head, her eyes fixated on the road ahead as she listened to Yousei. She agreed with the red-haired girl, the idea of having the countries open their borders to traveling seemed like such a common sensual yet impossible feat. "It would be really nice to be able to travel to different places without needing an actual reason other than wanting to take a little break." She had only traveled to minor places and countries because she was a geisha. If she was not one, she would have had to have some very substantial and convincing reason every time she wanted to leave Kaminari no Kuni. "It would also help the world overall, I think. We could use sharing resources and learning from one another..." The girl was now talking to herself than anything else, although she truly believed in the words that were coming out of her mouth. [break][break]
"Oshiruko! I love that." As a girl who loved hot springs, Izumi had a natural weakness to cold weather, which meant that she enjoyed a lot of piping hot food. One such dish was oshiruko, which was a red bean soup with shiratama or glutinous dumplings. She was also very fond of sweets, something that she had to curb and consume in moderation to keep her slim figure as required by her geisha status. She smiled genuinely, her eyes lighting up at the thought of the red bean soup. Kaminari did not really have red bean, so the idea of anyone selling or cooking oshiruko was difficult to find. "Red bean is a delicacy in Kumo. I haven't had it in awhile." They would continue walking until they reached the top of the mountain. She could hear the sounds of crowds of people from within, aromas that made the stomach rumble filled the air. It surprised her that people would visit such a place that was so far out of the way, so to speak. "It seems like a popular place..." she commented, as they stopped near the entrance. Izumi pulled out her white satin veil, tying the metal beads around the back of her head so that only her eyes would be visible. The veil had a flower print. [break][break]
"As a geisha, we have to wear a veil outside of our lodgings and of the places we perform at. This is to make sure that our identities remain hidden and retain the mysteriousness of our line of work." The girl would explain, while looking back at the red-haired girl. "Ah, I forgot to tell you...I am a samurai and a geisha. To the outside world, our line of work does not have the best of reputations, but we were trained on skills like dancing and singing to perform at parties for the rich." She closed her eyes briefly. "If you do not wish to associate yourself with an entertainer, we can go in separately. Although I know that what we do is not what the world perceives of us, I can't change anyone's perception of the job..." she had heard much negativity, at least in Kumo, and assumed that other countries and villages held the same reputation of geisha as they did. But her words were said in earnest, having been chastised in the past for 'stooping so low' by those from within her own village. [break][break]
As she entered the inn, the girl would be immediately surprised by what she saw. Yousei hadn't been joking at all when she mentioned that they looked like weasels, as Izumi had assumed she was referring to their personalities and not their actual appearance. But it would seem to her now that they were actually weasels, her eyes locked on the staff of the establishment. And it would occur to her that that was not the only surprise, her eyes taking in the rest of the staff, which now appeared to be talking ninja animals of all shapes and sizes. Now this is going to be interesting...the girl spoke to herself as her eyes continued to wander. [break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] Yousei wasted no time plopping herself down unceremoniously at the nearest empty table. Despite being pretty much the only regular customer that was actually human, she'd somehow ended up fitting right in, and the place was practically a second home to her at this point. Everyone needed a place like that, in her opinion; a place with good food, and good conversation, and talking animals...now that was comfort! [break][break]
"So you're a geisha too, Izumi? Wow! It must be pretty tough, balancing your samurai training with a serious profession like that. Sounds like you have all sorts of rules you have to follow, too. That's super impressive! I bet I'd be tapping out in no time." [break][break]
Youei had never really been one for high society (the closest she usually got to the fine arts was her weekly manga serials), so geishas weren't exactly her area of expertise, but it sure sounded like a huge pain from what Izumi had been telling her, especially if she was trying to be a samurai too! [break][break]
"And no adzuki beans! I couldn't imagine." Just then, the chime of a service bell rang out from the kitchen, followed by a tell-tale shout from Gama. "Order up!" Kusari had the food at their table in no time, the scent nothing short of mouth watering, and the dishes no less a feast for the eyes. [break][break]
"So who's your friend? Don't think I've seen her around here before." The large weasel inquired, glancing at Izumi and giving a curious sniff in her direction. [break][break]
"Ah! Just met her today. She's a traveler from the Cloud Village; got lost on her way back from Yu no Kuni, and ended up here in Oto. Thought she might be in need of some good food, I know I am!" Kusari gave a hearty laugh at that, nodding his head vigorously as Yousei snapped apart a pair of chopsticks and wasted no time diving into her fish. [break][break]
Izumi took a seat at the empty table opposite from Yousei and looked around at the staff and customers again, captivated by how different this place was from anywhere she had ever been to. "This is a very interesting place, Yousei-san. How did you find it?" Of course, she knew that the most common way for anyone to find any new place was just to happen upon it. But from what she could see of the exterior, she knew that she would feel slightly intimidated if she had come by herself. Granted, there could be numerous places just like this in Otogakure. She would take two cups and pour some tea for both her and her new acquaintance, waiting patiently for the food to arrive. [break][break]
"Geisha work is just a job, to be honest, although rather tedious if I must admit." The girl took a sip of her tea, lifting her veil slightly and smiled. It was matcha, probably one of higher grade than what was served at most places. "What people see as an hour of dancing and singing takes a geisha years to perfect and train. But that's the case for most jobs it seems. A shinobi for instance." She set her cup on the table quietly. The road to being an entertainer was sometimes not worth the amount of time and effort she had to put in, admittedly. And yet, she had spent eight years learning all she had to for it. Did she think it wasn't worth it? Sometimes. If she wasn't indebted to her teacher...[break][break]
She quickly pushed the thought aside as the food was served. Just from the smell alone, Izumi knew that it was going to taste great. The girl bowed her head at the weasel who placed the dishes on the table, feeling still a little awkward interacting with a talking animal. "Yousei-san, do you drink?" It was a rather abrupt question, but alcohol was perhaps one of Izumi's few indulgences, guilty pleasures if one could call it that. She was no alcoholic of course, but she always loved having a drink whenever she ate out. "May I have some umeshu?" The girl would turn her attention back to the weasel, giving him a small smile that would probably be hidden by her veil. Umeshu was her go-to drink, the sweetness and acidic nature of plums balanced out the liquor content in perfect harmony. "On the rocks, please." she would add. It wasn't until she finished ordering her drink that she felt slightly embarrassed, glancing over at the red-haired girl. What would she think of her if the other girl didn't drink? [break][break]
Changing the topic of conversation abruptly, she took a pair of chopsticks and began to take a small portion of the food carefully. "Have you traveled to many places?" It felt easier to make conversation now that they were sitting down and having some food, breaking the ice or whatever people called this sort of thing. Izumi was no world traveler, but she had gone to a few different minor countries in the name of performing at parties or training for her geisha career. She understood that most people in her village, shinobi or not, were not as into traveling as she was, the idea of leaving the comforts of their own country often too daunting. Had it not been for her job though, she knew that she would feel that way too. Not to mention, leaving her village to go sightseeing was not as easy now as it had once been perhaps, before their time. Her eyes twinkled as she savored the food, allowing the different tastes to linger in her mouth before swallowing. "The food here is excellent!" [break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "Ah, now there's a story! See, back when I was still a chunin, one of the very first assignments I ever got was dealing with this group of bandits that had been causing trouble up here in the mountains. Well, as it turned out, those same bandits had gotten the jump on Kusari and captured him that same day before I arrived at their hideout. Had him locked up in a cage and everything; apparently they were planning to sell him on the black market!" [break][break]
"Wager they would've gotten a fair price too, for a weasel this handsome!" Kusari chimed in, getting a round of raucous laughter out of some of the patrons, who'd paused their conversation to listen in on the tale. Yousei just rolled her eyes playfully as she continued. [break][break]
"So I sprang him, of course, and the two of us gave those bandits a serious ass beating. Put an end to the whole little operation they had going. Then Kusari told me about the inn, and invited me back here to meet his brother and celebrate; and the rest is history!" [break][break]
She began tearing back into her food in short order, scarfing the fish down with such reckless abandon that she nearly choked when Izumi asked her if she drank. Kusari, for his part, nearly died laughing. [break][break]
"Oh, no no no! Not me, I never touch the stuff. Last time I tried drinking alcohol...well, let's just say I've steered clear of it ever since." It's not like she cared if Izumi drank or anything, she new it was a popular pastime and all. It just, uh...wasn't for her. [break][break]
Regardless, Kusari wasted no time slinking off to the bar, leaving the ladies to talk for a bit as he prepared Izumi's drink (he was also the resident bartender, as part of his front of house duties). [break][break]
"Traveled? Not as much I'd like! Not outside of the Northern Fire Country, at least. Being a shinobi is busy work, especially ever since I got promoted to a jonin last month. I'd love to see more of the world someday, though! What's become of Konoha and the rest of the Land of Fire, especially." [break][break]
It wouldn't be long before a certain mustelid appeared once again, planting a rocks glass full of golden liquid squarely in front of Izumi. "Umeshu, on the rocks!" [break][break]
Her hand stopped short, just as she was about the put a piece of fish into her mouth. Yousei had begun telling her a story, the story of how she happened to come to know of this inn and those working here. But what had caught Izumi's attention wasn't the actual story itself, it was literally the first sentence that came out of the other woman's mouth. Her first assignment as a Chuunin? That could only mean one thing: Yousei was of Jounin rank or above! Although the Kumo nin would never judge a book by its cover, the idea of her acquaintance being of such high rank had never once crossed her mind. This was somewhat explain away the woman's nonchalant behaviors and words, perhaps. She put down her chopsticks and stared at her, listening intently to the rest of the story. Yousei could not be much older than Izumi, but if she was already of Jounin rank, it would mean that her skills would reflect upon it. [break][break]
She had thought too lightly of the red-haired girl after all...[break][break]
The girl nodded her head, listening to the story of the bandit chase and how she had rescued the same weasel that had served them their food. Judging from the little banters between the two, they were quite close. This made Izumi feel slightly jealous, the close bond people shared with their friends and family always reminded her of how alone she felt. She had made a couple of friends in the academy, but hardly found the time to connect with them outside of their studies that the friendship couldn't be called close by any means. The customers she performed for were simply her customers, never once stepping past those boundaries no matter how much they confided in her. As a geisha, she knew that it was her job to talk to them, that she was paid for being a good listener, and so the thought of making friends with the people who gave her money seemed...strange if not unfathomable. [break][break]
"Oh, I see..." she commented at Yousei mentioning that she didn't drink. Or rather, that she used to but didn't anymore, Izumi's gaze glancing over at Kusari behind the bar, having again noticed that they seemed to share in some secret or some memory of back when the woman did drink. The girl wondered what had happened to make her new acquaintance stop drinking, but thought against asking, at least for now. They had just gotten acquainted to one another after all. It seemed to be a conversation for some other time, if there would be another time. For now, Izumi let it go, simply picking up her chopsticks again as she gingerly took another piece of fish to her mouth. She was indeed eating a little too slow and too dainty, careful of the image she was upholding.[break][break]
The talk of traveling was one which Izumi agreed on, her assumptions previously that Yousei was of Jounin rank confirmed by the woman herself. Her family had told her about the fall of Konoha, and how Otogakure had taken over the land some seventy years ago. Izumi had always wondered why the village had been swallowed whole like that, the textbooks and teachers in the academy had offered little insight of the matter. All she knew was that Konoha had once been governed by a Kage, similar to Kumo, and that for some reason the entire village was subject to Empire rule. "I've heard of the conquest of Konoha..." the girl would turn her head and bow to Kusari, who had now made her the umeshu. "But I admit that I know very little about the details."[break][break]
[attr="class","pwf1body"] "Ah, the Fall of Konoha is a tragic tale indeed..." Yousei replied somberly, as the tables around them turned their attention to her in anticipation of the story that was about to unfold. This was the Hundred Tales Inn, after all; stories like these were always in high demand, and with such a diverse crowd there was never any shortage of them to go around. [break][break]
"Over 70 years ago, the Land of Fire was widely regarded as one of the most powerful shinobi nations in the world, thanks in no small part to the might of the Hidden Leaf Village. But for fear or ambition, three certain countries hatched a plan to undo them. Together they launched a three-pronged attack against Konoha, using armies of so-called samurai that even now continue to disgrace the reputation of our order, and whose forces were bolstered by corpses of the dead, desecrated and reanimated through dark and forbidden techniques." [break][break]
The other patrons were on the edge of their seats. It was always so chilling to hear about the Fall of Konoha, especially from someone so personally invested in the history behind it. [break][break]
"Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the Leaf Village fought valiantly to repel the invaders, but they were ultimately defeated. The minor countries of Hi no Kuni then fell in short order, standing no chance against a force that was able to bring even Konoha to its knees, and soon the Land of Fire had been conquered in its entirety. The three nations that had spearheaded the invasion would then combine to form a single power, known today was the Taiyou Empire, with one ruler consolidating sovereign authority the Emperor, while the others became his subordinates as the daimyo of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Tea. It's said that the ruins of Konoha now serve as the seat of the Emperor's power, but even after all this time, details from inside the country are still scarce to say the least." [break][break]
Yousei leaned back in her chair with a sigh. The Empire had always been a frustrating subject for her; just the thought of those no-good thieving usurpers was enough to get her blood boiling. [break][break]
"After that, the refugees from the invasion fled here, to what we now call the Northern Fire Country, and settled in the then-fledgling Otogakure. Skip ahead about 30 years, and here we are." [break][break]
