"An epiphany?" Sumire repeated the word as if it were foreign, a brow raised out of equal parts curiosity and disbelief. Yohei was absolutely correct in his initial assessment that a non-believer such as Sumire herself would assume he had lost his mind. However the false miko didn't write him off yet and shifted to cross her arms with open ears instead. Not that she expected much after the man had declared whatever this was to be a 'sign from above'. An absurd notion enough for the woman to brush off how hopelessly candid he was for the time being. Coupled with the fact that she was physically being shaken from the excitement that emanate off him, well there wasn't much else she could do. [break][break] Still it didn't much change the kunoichi's perspective on the entire ordeal. Listening to the story through she was beginning to understand why most shinobi were not believers of faith. The description of where the zealot had gone off to and inspiration from this otherworldly experience was hardly anything that'd intrigue her. At most the sole amusing thing was how alike Yohei acted to an eager young puppy. If anything she was more troubled with the idea that someone was watching him and he came back without identifying it further than just 'a good sign'. "A sign that I should check for brain damage perhaps," she replied simply with nary a sign of any concern that might have been arisen. Instead she brought a hand to lightly hold Yohei's shoulder and returned a smile in exchange for his grin. "You're free to your own opinions though since you were the one that felt it." [break][break] Despite the act, Yohei was no child and knew better than to allow himself to be followed unwillingly. Then there was the fact that Sumire herself did not sense anyone else in the area either and she had the highest belief in her own instinct in that regard. Thus her focus was elsewhere as worrying about nothing was more fruitless than nothing itself. Proving as such, Sumire lifted the opposite hand to hold a singular finger up to the silverette's face. "Let's not forget the murder part, shall we?" She began with the usual matter of fact tone, carefree as usual in spite of the words themselves as she began shifting her hand before him. "Follow my finger without turning your head. Were you attacked?"
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Been a weird week.
I'm the champagne that'll quench your thirst
[attr="class","itsover"]
"Hm?" Hot springs? Where exactly did that topic come from exactly? While it was understandable, albeit too late, to be secretive regarding the hidden village's policy with foreigners; the sudden mention of hot springs brought a momentarily perplexed look upon the woman's features. Bravo. Was the Land of Lightning known for their onsen or something? Not a bad thing to be known for if so... and it certainly didn't sound horrendous. If anything it sounded rather relaxing and that was precisely why after gathering her thoughts did the false miko offer a smile towards the gesture. "A hot spring sounds lovely, though I wouldn't want to trouble-" [break][break] The words were cut short after the sudden entrance instantly reigned in their attention. Of course considering the timeline that was given moments before, Sumire couldn't imagine that the preparations for those hasty demands were suddenly completed. Thus 'Miho' took a silent stance of listening in on the host's explanation, concluding that the man probably just wanted to have a sympathetic ear for his ranting. Not that he received it as this infighting that was being referred to was outside a job description of a geisha or a shrine maiden. A classic case of SEP - Someone Else's Problem. Apparently the geisha thought so as well though Sumire hardly expected her to turn back and swiftly reveal as such with the display of her features. Meeting the girl's gaze as she spoke, the pinkette took a moment of pause to take in the words and the swift turning events. [break][break] "Ah... Is this truly alright?" The hesitance wasn't hidden in the miko's tone, slowly standing from the seat as her eyes darted quickly between the man and the geisha girl. A natural enough reaction from a priestess, she thought. In truth the nukenin didn't minded the arrangement considering she was forced into this, but it did bring about some inconveniences such as the arrangement of pay or the amusement of bringing heresy into this odd place's tradition. Then there was the factor of being guided around by someone she just met as if they were old acquaintances. Odd by any means. This girl seemed to have a strange attachment to her for some reason. Perhaps she is one of those devout that believed in showing kindness to priests? Or perhaps it was loneliness or something. Either way, it mattered little. It served as an opportunity to gather more information if anything and thus much more productive than anything else she could have been doing otherwise. [break][break] Nevertheless the bewildered expression shifted as she mimicked the bow the geisha had given moments prior before walking over to where she was gestured to. Admittedly being ordered around so many times in one day didn't sit well with Sumire, but she'd pocket that sentiment for now as she turned to the younger woman. "You mentioned your family home... I do not mind accompanying you, but is that quite alright? My visiting will not be an inconvenience to you, will it?" She asked while allowing self conscious concern to color her tone. Naturally she took the cue to continue out the door afterwards, but went no further than that without the lead of the other. It wasn't as if she knew where they were going or anything. "I know you were here for work and I can hardly offer much as recompense for your hospitality."
Old Raiton [Apprentice]: Did you know that Raiton is known as the most chaotic element? Thats what they said in the guidebooks... but anyway, that's Sumire's nature affinity. She can create some electrical currents from her hands that can extent up to 10m. The basic stuff.
New Raiton [Journeyman]: Did you know that Raiton is known as the most chaotic element? Thats what they said in the guidebooks... but anyway, that's Sumire's nature affinity. Having practiced the art for several years, she has learned to properly manipulate her chakra to infuse electricity into her weapons. In addition, aside from the basics of electrical current generation, she can call upon lightning bolts to strike within her immediate area with some focus and mild delay.
let me know if you need more to work with. I stopped it here because I didn't want it to get too long.
I'm the champagne that'll quench your thirst
[attr="class","itsover"]
"Ah... that..." was utterly unbelievable. Not that the thought reflected on the pinkette's features instead of the plain speechlessness of being told such things things so casually. Seriously though, kill? Is this boy really meaning to try and tell her that he's killed a guy before? This child? Fat chance. Honestly, even for the exiled kunoichi, she wasn't sure how else to proceed upon being told that. Best to let the topic go and not explore it any further. Which was why she was lowkey glad that the topic focus moved to her own travels. Waving off the obvious jest to her supposed failures, she offered a lighthearted chuckle to avoid having to explain the reasoning further. What she could explain was the clear implication of suspicions from the supposed mist shinobi towards her travels. Was she surprised? Not particularly, but she's developed this facade for quite some time so she knew how to address these types of questions - with the ambiguous concept of spirituality. "I do have protection. The gods watch over me and guide my way. If I were to be attacked or even killed then surely it would be no one's fault but my own for failing them." Not that she believed any of that despite how her tone portrayed otherwise. [break][break] "After all, I was fortunate enough to meet you. Is that not proof of the god's guidance?" Could it be argued? Absolutely! But who would honestly argue religion with a priestess? It simply wasn't a winning fight though he was welcome to try. She was a false miko after all. Still, with the declaration of the lack of faith in the land with a list of reason as to why that should be the case, Sumire couldn't help but raise a brow to it. Not because she didn't know about the reputation of the hidden mist, but because the reasoning was inherently flawed. "I disagree. From my experience, it is precisely when others face adverse conditions that they turn and pray to the gods the most. Part of my journey is to understand the state of the land and it's people so that I may better serve the gods' will." She should know. You'd be surprised how many people begged for forgiveness when their lives flashed before their eyes. [break][break] No need for things to get too serious though so with a brief chuckle did she add onto the sentiment. "Besides, even if there are no active shrines, I'm quite sure there is some form of shrine somewhere." But anyway it mattered little one way or another. Perhaps it was within the nature of being a shinobi that they weren't too religious in general. Nevertheless the answer that came with Sumire's question did silently befuddle the woman. Not because he specifically stated not to ask about village weaknesses but because he seemed to open to talk about it. Considering the behavior so far that shouldn't have been too shocking though it was still a wonder to the former Sunagakure kunoichi. It was almost... off putting. "I see..." That uncertain mutter alone was all she'd offer in return to his supposed sincerity. [break][break] Admittedly she didn't care to think further on the topic and therefore attentive enough to not be caught off guard to the next statement at hand. "Ah!" The vocal realization struck, though the surprise was more so due to the shinobi even wanting to offer a name to begin with. After having rung enough moisture to water a starved flower she immediately turned to face the strangely smiling male with an impromptu bow in spite of the declaration to dispense with formalities. She had to make it seem that formalities were a habit after all. "Yoshiwara Miho, but please call me Miho. Pleasure to- ah!" Another breath of shock having to catch the words before bringing herself back upright. "I mean... well met?" [break][break] No need for fake identities, huh? What an odd statement to make. Was that to assure her or clear the air that there were some suspicions between both of them? Either way there was no reason to play by this boy's rules. Names were hopelessly irrelevant anyway so there was no guilt or hesitation providing a different one than the one granted at birth. It also wasn't the first time she used that name either so it slid off the tongue easily enough. Naturally in turn Sumire herself didn't think much about the name the kid provided. It could have been a true name or not, but considering that he had already revealed himself to be a shinobi of some sort and given a name first there was a possibility it was truthful naivete. If that was the case then it was a good marker in his favor for now since she didn't recognize the surname Sato offhand as one belonging to the famed clans of old yore. [break][break] Nevertheless Sumire had no intentions of dropping her guard. That was what gets a ninja killed, wanted or not, and she quite preferred living. Thus she'd continue on easily, playing dumb and allowing her personality to take care of the rest. Which is why she added on an chuckle that was aimed to brush off the manufactured awkwardness. "Forgive me. Truthfully I believed shinobi were more... secretive? There is still much I need to learn, I see."
Well this was great. After laying there for a solid minute or so, not only did she fail to find the gaze she was looking for, the rose haired kunoichi finally concluded she could not move. The best that she could muster was a flex of the fingers and even then the intense sharpness that came with the action mentally prevented her from attempting again. Perhaps she had pushed too far? The thought would have earned a disapproving scoff had Sumire the energy. Unfortunately she could feel whatever was left of it bleeding away as she laid there on her side motionless, blurred eyes losing the strength to remain opened as a strange weariness washed over. [break][break] Wait... she recognized that voice. And it sounded close by too. It was enough to flicker a bit more life back to the fuzzy outline that now stood there. Yet he was saying something she couldn't process at that moment. What was he saying? Why was it getting so cold? There were too many questions... and it didn't take a medic to know that was a bad thing. Being unable to think straight or process words even as Yohei continued to speak was enough to spur some sort of knee-jerk reaction, even if a minor one. "The body..." A dismal showing made worse by the strained attempt at lightheartedness. The thought never crossed that she'd die even in this state and it reflected in how she remained focused on their self imposed mission. [break][break] That said, it was difficult not to notice being moved in that state since every involuntary movement resulted in every nerve ending crying in agony. A pained grunt escaped initially, the full brunt of the injuries previously ignored now assaulted with full force to the point that Sumire impulsively bit her own tongue to detract with the duller one. The distinct wince remained sculpted into the woman's features though while Yohei's voice kept playing in her ear. "... C-can't" she began to mutter through gritted teeth, unable to finish the rest of the sentence coherently. She couldn't understand and the more he talked the more she'd try to. Not that it was a bad thing to keep her brain active, but he at least deserved to know she couldn't focus much on anything much less understand. [break][break] Actually, did he even know where to go next after this? Usually it was her responsibility to navigate. Was that what he was asking? It had to be. "Go..." Her voice trailed again, this time with a faded tone that fell into silence as consciousness began to slip away once more. She simply lost too much blood and in too much pain to consciously bear it any further. Of course considering that afterwards the kunoichi's frame fell into a clammy lifeless state, head now falling over her partner's arm, it probably wasn't a good look.
So it's true. Those widened doe eyes told her everything she needed to know. There was always the chance that Yohei was causing a scene knowing how much she'd disapprove, but sharing that gaze made it all too clear that he truly believed the act to be true - that she was someone capable of regret. As amusing as that might have been, it was also... oddly difficult to describe an emotion. So much so that Sumire couldn't muster the usual witty retort to the poorly supplied excuse. Instead the rare huff expired, "You're being the ridiculous one. I'm not sure who you take me for, but I am no shrew." [break][break] Regardless the false priestess hardly expected the zealot to make any bold moves after that, especially considering the topic. Hence when a certain warmth snaked around the curve of her back, eyes immediately darted down by instinct only to be forced forward once again from the subsequent pull that demanded all her attention. The whole action hadn't earned any resistance however. If anything it loaned Yohei a hint of leniency and a more sympathetic ear, not that it would ever be admitted to. She remained silent to the declaration, glancing to him from that position over his shoulder as if at a loss what had gotten into him today. It was as if he was trying to make it awkward for her to be any degree of upset. Honestly, he was too soft. [break][break] Yes, that thought was most prominent the kunoichi's mind even as an arm moved to reciprocate the embrace and took a thoughtless breath. After all that did he still need some affirmation? How cute. "Hm... I'll think about it. As I recall you still owe me two times over already," her voice a whisper spoken in the silverette's ear to remind him of the ultimatum earlier that day. Only time would tell if she was serious or not though as a chuckle followed soon after. She was confident that Yohei knew the answer though for it'd be doubly a shame if he hadn't considering how much faith she had placed in him already. Thus without skipping another beat she lightly pulled away from the sudden embrace to reveal a classic guileful smile. "You'll have to prove your sincerity. Otherwise we might as well turn ourselves in now." [break][break] Sumire was always a woman of action over words anyway. [break][break] Speaking of which, as if to personally prove that fact, a finger delicately traced the man's collarbone as she continued to speak. "Next time you get so worried, simply ask. Preferably when there aren't so many people gawking." Was she doing that to will him into listening? Hardly. It was just easier to examine the flesh by touch before abruptly seizing the male's bloodied collar in earnest. "Now then... is there a reason you reek of murder?" [break][break]
Was that a dodge? It was hard to tell from the heavy stink of BS that could hardly convinced a loyal mutt otherwise, much less the trained kunoichi. Still, Sumire listened to what her partner had to say without interruption in the same leisurely posture as when he began. She hadn't even move when he tried to signal a dismissal nor voice an answer to his rhetorical question. It wasn't as if she disagreed with the sentiment or anything. Those were all the points she'd make had she needed to explain the allure of desertion which meant repeating such was beating a dead horse while neighing. The sole thing that spurred any sort of reaction from the woman was the odd statement he made at the end. [break][break] "Have a little faith." [break][break] There was no helping the thin line that pressed along the kunoichi's lips as a thoughtful hum finally escaped. Through all of that not once did she receive a clear answer to either question instead of irrelevant nonsense and was told in the end to have faith. "Is that why you took me seriously and made a scene in town?" She finally responded in a calm yet unreserved tone when asking the third question of the night. Part of her wondered if he'd actually answer this one, but didn't bother to wait on it. Instead the rosy haired woman rose to stand right then and there to take a few steps towards him. "Come now. I know I'm good, but that was embarrassing." It wasn't meant to be intimidating, though now she wore the classic self-assured smile that might have otherwise given the wrong impression. [break][break] Which was actually Sumire's forte now that she was an exile. Probably why Yohei fell for the face of melancholy even though it was too out of character. Not that she'd believe that much less consider the possibility since they knew each other for so long and she wasn't afraid to call him out on that either. Thus once she had gotten close, a hand boldly extended out to lightly graze the silverette's cheek to coax him to make eye contact. "You know better. Unless... you're the one that actually has no faith in me. Hmm?" There was not an ounce of anger in the accusation, words instead tinted with unspoken concern. In her mind, that had to be the only explanation and if that was the case then... well unfortunately for Yohei, in spite of how she was the one wearing the shrine maiden garb, Sumire was no zealot by any measure. While she believed in him so far for the past few years, blind belief that didn't run both directions wouldn't work. Not from her end at least. "I still remember that sad puppy dog look you gave me so give me a straight answer. It did not look good on you either, in case you were wondering."
Well that was easy... and significantly more interesting than anything else in the last few hours. While Sumire asked the question with not much of an expectation on the response, the succinct overt answer easily earned a look of intrigue that she made no attempt to mask. "Kumo... gakure? As in one of those ninja villages?" Voiced with an uncertainty that bordered disbelief. After all, who wouldn't be interested in hearing about one of those infamous hidden ninja villages? To outsiders they were the stuff of myth and Miho would fully act as such. Naturally there was a possibility that it was a complete lie though so believing the answer at face value was solely left to fools. However, there was no immediate reason to otherwise mention Kumogakure or lie about it that came to mind. Unless this person somehow knew who she actually was, which didn't seem likely with how far they were from the Land of Wind, it led to compelling assurance. Not everyone was a shinobi in those villages after all, much less trained not to divulge village secrets. [break][break]
Nevertheless the miko clasped a hand to her chest from the mere implication of the proposed question. "I can't say that I've had the pleasure, but that's most impressive!" An earnest answer in exchange for the geisha's. For a missing ninja, Sumire truly knew very little about the locations of the other hidden villages that were not her own. Not that she was opposed to learning where they were in case she needed to take advantage of that information, but considering the whole wanted status it wasn't high on her list of priorities. Which was why she didn't bother pushing on the subject more than that. "In all of my travel, I've never came close to one as far as I'm aware. Maybe one day I'll be able to... if the gods allow it." [break][break]
For now simply knowing that Kumogakure was close by, apparently less than an hour assumedly by carriage, was enough to narrow down the area. Knowing that was enough to sway Miho's reservations, observing a breath as a sign of relief. Not that it stopped the conversation from continuing, this time about why she was in the country. It didn't bother her whatsoever that the girl assumed she was not from this land - Sumire already admitted she was traveling after all. Still, it was a bold question since it betrayed the geisha's thoughts on her. Not that she minded that and thus chuckled despite herself. "Aha! I ended up here, really. I'm currently on my pilgrimage and my travels led me here. Perhaps the gods sensed these people needed aide and guided me here." A lighthearted response, fitting for a priestess if she were to say so herself. Might have been a disappointing answer for the native though since it wasn't like she came here for a specific reason. What was she, a tourist? [break][break]
Well... that technically wasn't wrong to be honest.
"Cry is a strong term," the wounded woman couldn't help but retort as if to spite the laughter that permeated the now ruined space. Not that it mattered considering that the failure already took the bait for a second time. How is it a shinobi could be so dense? They don't train them like they used to. Or perhaps it was merely the fault of Amegakure itself. Which was why being unable to avoid having the contemptuous excuse for a ninja be moments from a finishing blow an unspoken disgrace. Still Sumire didn't budge, knowing doing so would prove futile from what she gathered of her injuries, and instead retained a steady unmoving gaze towards their foe's final descent. [break][break] Thankfully her partner came right on time, the sight of the silverette's frame ramming the other earning a smirk on the kunoichi's lips. The loud clatter that followed was merely assurance that this was going to work. All she had to do was get up. A feat easier said than done as it turned out, grunts subconsciously voiced from the dull aches that chip away at her frame as she pushed into the warm sodden soil to stand upright. When considering how much damaged was sustained and their current position, one final gambit was all she could think to manage. The sharp pain wracking at her skull was too jarring to seek any alternative. [break][break] ...Pain? [break][break] Suddenly the realization struck with the weight of several tons of stone. "Dear me..." Grumbled through onset exhaustion, a hand raising to briefly brace her head. If she was only now realizing that sensations were returning then that meant two things. One is that the dosage of poison was starting to wear away. The second... her cognitive abilities were in jeopardy which was objectively far worse than the first. Time was of the essence though and lingering on that thought any further was of no benefit now. So with what was left of any energy she could muster, Sumire forcibly brushed past the oncoming wave of agony and broke into a swift sprint. One flick was all it took for the smokebomb to tumble into an uncontrolled spin behind the two men, sending the usual erratic smog of black into the already dusty atmosphere. Dashing through smokescreen in those seconds, there was no hesitation as to where to go. The target won't bother moving out of moxie and so the duo didn't take long to find. Not that the Ame shinobi seemed to care with his focus lasered onto the one in his grasp. [break][break] While Sumire did her best to mask her presence in the veil of smoke regardless, she knew she had to do something so that Yohei could get out of there too. Naturally that was factored in, but admittedly not fully so some of this was played by ear. Quite literally actually with Sumire somehow managing a bounding leap to slam her usable hand onto the Rain ninja's back to propel herself upwards above the two men and allowing gravity to force her opposite hand to dangle uselessly overhead. Yes, the same hand that had a kunai lodged into it for the past few minutes - which was about to change in the next split second decision to rip it away for use as the weapon it was meant to be. Still it was odd for the kunoichi to start slashing recklessly mid fall, aiming at the rain shinobi's hands to both disable and pry them away from her partner as much as possible before delivering a spinning kick to the face. [break][break] It wasn't as strong as she liked but it certainly caught the explosion user quite off guard, having slightly recoiled and giving the pinkette enough time to shove herself into Yohei whether he expected it or not. Her dislocated arm certainly didn't appreciate it though and Sumire failed to withhold the wince that came with it. And of course, she didn't have time to say anything either amidst the flagrant cursing against her gender... or at least the brief amount of it ahead of the madman's spontaneous spinal combustion . Truly a brilliant squall of crimson bloomed and the subsequent rain a fitting confetti. What a shame to miss. Which they did... because, you know, explosions cause shock waves? There were no words to adequately describe the aftermath through Sumire's eyes since they were shut for most of it. As if she knew that an explosive tag was stuck on the Rain shinobi's back and purposefully misdirected his attention until it went off. [break][break] Needless to say, it blew the kunoichi off her feet and onto the ground most effortlessly. Not that she wouldn't have fallen over if she wasn't knocked over anyhow since her legs were akin to paper at this point. In no way was she relaxed by it all either, seeking Yohei's gaze through blurred vision just so she could tell him something very specific. "... Next time we do something like this, I'm wearing my shinobi gear."
All things considered, any shinobi would be considered a fool for not remaining diligent and on guard when isolated alone. While Sumire was no different in that respect given the fugitive aspect of her current lifestyle, no movement nor concern was made in consideration for the approaching footsteps in the not too far distance. Was almost contrary wasn't it? Sitting there unmoving in a nonchalant manner as the brush parted for the figure that came into view. There was a possibility that it was some lost child or something, but for someone to so blatantly make their presence known and approach an inhabited clearing after dark... Could it be anyone else but Yohei? [break][break] Flashing a smile in reciprocation of the not greeting, she allowed him to get comfortable without retort. It was true after all - a lady had to treat herself as such or otherwise risk losing a sense of self. Which, of course, would normally mean that they'd actually go out of their way to stay at an inn nearby if possible; but not after that scene they made hours earlier. The thought of it managed a refrain from mention. He couldn't get away without at least one quip though. "Roughing it? You don't think the trees are nice and cozy? You'll hurt their feelings." She almost sounded appalled by the assertion had her purposefully overdramatic tone not given away the jest. [break][break] Nevertheless a flick of the wrist sent the bingo book into the small blaze since its contents no longer interested the one that held it. The pages burned quickly among the crackling flames that sang harmoniously with the charm of the bleeping crickets. Unfortunately none of that was enough to distract from the silverette's attempted action in word form. "Uh-uh-uh. Aren't you forgetting something?" The sing song tune of the sentence could have possibly detracted from the severity of the statement, but that mattered little to Sumire who continued without bothering to wait for a response. Hell, she couldn't even bother to get up from that placid seated position from when he arrived. "Tell me. Do you miss village life? Or perhaps regret deserting? And don't try to change the subject or avoid answering the question."
"Oh?" The rosy haired miko vocally mused at that statement, more so due to oddity than amusement. Fend for herself, she says. Big talk, but surely not one without some degree of bite if she truly believed as much to come dressed as such without protection. Still even if this girl had the level of bite to support the claim, declaring as much ruined any credibility she could have earned so Sumire didn't linger on the subject longer than the hum that carried through the otherwise still air. More importantly, somehow managing to refrain from exposing the overt contradictions between the geisha's appearance and rejection of fuss, Sumire receive the words of thanks with an affirmative nod. "It seems so." Glancing over to the sorry man servant, she'd also offer him a nod of greeting upon noticing his work with the stored wares. [break][break] While the newfound tone of the strangely dressed girl didn't escape her, how she apparently preferred to walk behind a supposed priestess than the offered lead was more noteworthy. Not that Sumire particularly cared, but she did already say that she was a visitor herself so it wasn't as if she knew where to go either. Nevertheless the thought was masked amidst a chuckle before Sumire turned towards the shrine and carefully walked back up the stone staircase. She could not relay the fact that she too was not looking forward the these coming events as that may betray her disguise. Besides complaining about it wasn't going to change matters and she did enjoy the occasional cup of tea. Not that she knew too much about the intricacies of tea ceremonies themselves. [break][break] Thinking over such matters almost caused her to miss the sudden introduction, though the sound of a name did spark the amethyst orbs to shift towards the source. Names were... irrelevant. Did this girl actually want to get to know her or something? Or perhaps it was a professional courtesy. Either way, offering a name was a way to build trust - even if a false one. "Please, call me Miho then." Offered with a buoyant vibrancy that was muted moments before by the previous decorum. A hand subtly shifted over her chest as she continued, "The pleasure is all mine. Again, I do apologize I know nothing more about this ceremony." [break][break] It wouldn't be as much of a pain otherwise. [break][break] As if to prove the exiled kunoichi's infinite wisdom the official in question appeared like a great typhoon sweeping across the halls in greeting despite having pawned the chore off to herself moments before. The entire ordeal was of great annoyance and one that Sumire didn't feel the need to listen to, stepping to the side in wait as a reflection of such. It wasn't as if either was addressing her at the moment and she had nothing to especially say either. Yet no matter how much the nukenin didn't care, it was second nature to subconsciously listen in on the conversations around her. Something about this party being a big deal and this girl being so famous and important that she could demand whatever she wished. To Sumire it was just more bark. Could this girl be anymore fussy? At least she was getting paid, and surely paid more handsomely than a poor passing miko at that. It wasn't as if Sumire herself was known the be the most considerate person, however it was beyond her why anyone would bother with anyone like this... even if they possessed some miraculous skill at... wooing? [break][break] Either way, it mattered little. The sole thing that had caught her by surprise was the declaration of accompanying the dark haired woman during their forceful delay. "Ah, I couldn't-," she started quickly but failed to finish at the urgent usher of the tea aficionado. Awkward. Now she had to do nothing but keep company for an hour? Not an impossible task but certainly not one she was being paid enough for. Yet at this point it'd be rude to refuse and so bowed once more before relegating herself into the makeshift waiting room. Thankfully it was not some storage room filled with bags and barrels of perishables - it truly did resemble a meager waiting room lined with chairs and straw woven cushions. Otherwise it was a sparse space and not much room do much else than daintily sit upon one of the actual chairs on entry. [break][break] 'Miho' waited for her current companion to do the same and settle in before attempting small talk. Surely that was her purpose here. "Is your lodging far from here? I imagine that it will take awhile longer than an hour for both a message to be sent and your companions to arrive unless it was close by." Since she knew little about the details of where the geisha came from, there was some hope that she was wrong and this 'lodging' actually was close by. If not then it was at least another conversation topic that can be branched to had time forced it. Speaking of, the miko took a moment of pause and continued. "I cannot say I do not feel some measure of guilt in delaying their ceremony. It seemed important to them."
So she's literally a sitting duck that poison is gonna wear off :)
I'm the champagne that'll quench your thirst
[attr="class","itsover"]
With the beating she took, it was a wonder that Sumire could still process sounds. Yet when a pained outcry bounced off what was left of the walls, the unfamiliarity of the voice offered the rosy haired maiden a morsel of entertainment. Nevertheless all of that dissipated the moment her vision started to cloud in smog, an arm instinctively raised to shield herself from inhaling it. An obvious sign of panic, but made the kunoichi all the more wary given the circumstance. Had it not been for the sight of Yohei jumping backwards towards her then she couldn't have been certain that she wouldn't have retaliated from being moved as she certainly didn't feel the hand that grabbed her. Turning to affirm who it was that was moving her, Sumire instantly gave the silverette a look of confusion. "Out of this?" She repeated it in disbelief because she was. He can't truly be thinking of bailing out now after having gotten this far, did he? "We can't leave until he's dead or else all of this was for nothing." While her breath and tone were level and even, her brain raced for an alternative. Had their target escaped then they would definitely be more heavily targeted in the near future - not to mention losing the element of surprise on any other targets that learned their modus operandi. [break][break] Not that she had much of a choice in the matter for she couldn't actually tell how well she could move on her own. Amethyst irises could only dart to the daring declaration whilst whisked in the opposite direction. It begged to question who here was the villain. Nevertheless the new position she had taken gave her a proper view of what was to come but not enough time to properly defend. Mere seconds was all it took for the two to be sent flying. Luckily the numbing effects of that vial were still in effect even as she took the form of a shooting star - streaking across the night sky silently before crashing down violently into a self made crater. Naturally there were some attempt at minimizing damage, however no amount of repositioning and dexterity did much when combatting against sheer force. [break][break] A grumble later and the exiled kunoichi sat up to looked down to her impaled hand, realizing it lost all range of motion. "Heh... I must be in worse condition than I thought," she murmured softly as if to make a mental note. First her hand, now a dislocated shoulder at best? Night kept getting better and better. Actually had it not been for Yohei... [break][break] Not even a second after the name crossed her mind did she quickly taken in the scene around her. Nevermind the ruined town. Out of all the problems she had at the moment, that one actually wasn't her problem. "Yohei! I'm here!" She called out as loud as her lungs would allow. It served two purposed. One was to allow her partner to locate her whereabouts. The second, the more foolhardy one, was so that their enemy could do the same. In this position, who would turn away a bounty? Sumire couldn't which led to her using her only free hand in retrieving a smoke bomb and an explosive tag.
As a matter of fact whatever it was that Yohei had chosen to go and do was beyond his partner. To each their own, or so they say. Which was why Sumire herself could be found nowhere near that shrine in question, having taken instead to scavenging for herbs and mushrooms. Best not to bore you with the details, but she did also shoot down a rabbit for dinner. That had to account for something, right? After having taken advantage of the endless supply of fish and other assorted seafoods for days now, wild game surely was a welcome change of pace. Of course this meant that the exiled kunoichi was no where near the fishing hamlet that she wandered hours before. None too surprising seeing as she tended to roam where she pleased. [break][break] Fast forward and night fell shortly after. The impromptu campsite was rather peaceful among the crackling flames and the rustling brush of winds. Poetic if she were to say so herself. As she leisurely flipped through the loose pages of a bingo book picked off their last victim with the nearby tree providing much needed back support, there was no concern reflected in her posture. On the contrary, she seemed quite at ease. "A shame. If only they put more information in these," she mused as she snapped the booklet shut to turn her attention towards the dull shining moon. "Hm. Maybe he won't actually find me tonight." [break][break] A pause. Then chuckle followed. [break][break]
No need for such formalities? Coming from the person dressed like they were about to swear in wedding vows for the Daimyō himself? What a contrarian wrapped in pretension. Not that she expected anything less. Most members of prestigious shinobi clans acted like that too. More embarrassing for those shinobi though since half of that was within a geisha's job description. However the statement that followed her own question did bring a raise of a brow that she didn't bother to hide for it was strange all around. "No attendant? Excuse my manners, but I thought those of your trade usually employed protection." [break][break] While there was no fear that tinged the miko cloaked woman's voice as she clearly asked out of curiosity, it was quite an intriguing notion that warranted further investigation. Considering her wanted status, she had every right to be wary. Not that she suspected a threat, Sumire had fully expected protection detail in the form of armored samurai or some random foot soldier of an unnamed hamlet. Those were the people she was actually concerned with. So unless geisha in the Land of Lightning had different protocols that she was unfamiliar with or a straight up liar, this woman might have been more than she was led to believe. Wouldn't be the first time and Sumire herself was proof of it. [break][break] "Ah, right. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't quite know the details you are asking about myself." With attention brought back onto this silly little tea party, she held no reservations about relaying how little she knew about the entire affair. Apparently the host didn't bother to tell this lady either, which made it difficult for them to do whatever it was these officials expected them to do. Nevertheless it was too late to back out now, so as mental gears churned the false miko stepped to the side and gestured a hand upwards as to guide the stranger inside the building first. It was only then that the rose haired maiden acknowledged the eyes on her features with an amiable smile. "All I know is that this is to follow some tradition these countrymen believe in. If I were to guess based on how many I observed while I was inside, I'd say about forty to fifty individuals are present? Though that isn't to say more won't show up, but hopefully that helps you."
Ah, I'm not a fan of discord. I'd make a plotter but then I'd feel obligated to certain plots or otherwise feel bad when no one posts in it. I prefer organic development through threads and events anyway. [break] Also I don't mind another person joining as long as things remain chill~
I'm the champagne that'll quench your thirst
[attr="class","itsover"]
Big city... the term cause a momentary pause thinking such a phrase over before chuckling at it. He wasn't wrong, but nowadays no one ever thought about the Hidden Sand anymore and the only other large village out there was the Hidden Rain. Which was a funny assumption considering how she was reacting to the water droplets that pelleted them now. Nevertheless, replied unreservedly. "Not quite. A neighboring village, but there's nothing noteworthy there to mention." Just lots of sand. Plus there had to be some credit for telling the truth. She'd leave it at that though and followed along the bedraggled path that the mystery shinobi treaded, taking the time to step carefully as to not stick herself in any mud along the way. White clothes were hard to clean after all. [break][break] "I'm sure my stories are nothing compared to your own. Truthfully I haven't had the pleasure to meet many shinobi on my travels." Which hence was why the stranger kept raising the nukenin's suspicions. Revealing themselves to be a shinobi yet failing to mask their own body language, and now casually assuming that a supposed miko would have more interesting stories than a shinobi? She wasn't doing that bad of a job with her disguise, was she? Or maybe there was a reason he was making himself abundantly obvious, aside from the most basic assumption that he was a newbie. Though were genin in the mist actually allowed outside their village alone? A question for another day as she made an effort to keep pace, though occasionally lagging a few steps behind. [break][break] Thankfully it didn't seem that the building in question was too far off. Within a few minutes the silhouette was within sight much to the silent relief of the pinkette. The sight alone also seemed to spur her to answer the next of the endless barrage of questions. "I've been through a portion of the Land of Earth and Fire. I remember being shocked the Land of Fire had so much water. I expected more lava or something of that sort." While she didn't answer in too much detail, the route she stated was a sound one. That said, while being by the coast was pleasant, that tidbit about the land of fire shouldn't be unexpected for a shinobi with training which was why she kept her eye on the shinobi for his reaction to that sentiment. "Naturally, visiting the Land of Water seemed to be the next reasonable place to travel. I was curious to see if the shrines would be located by the water this time since the nation has plenty of it too, but I haven't run into any shrines at all." [break][break] Finishing off that statement with a disappointed breath, Sumire made the effort to sprint the last few paces to the patio cover right after. It wasn't coming down pouring, but they were out there long enough that enough water could be wrung out from the false miko's sleeves and hair. Doing that was more for herself than anything else though. Before either of them had the chance to approach the doorway though, she thought it best to ask first as if being hush about some state secret. "Is it proper for me to ask about your work?" And technically it was supposed to be even if she was the only one acting like it. [break][break]
