A Budding Tidal [Youei]

[Amano Rei]

[atrb=cellpadding,10,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 460, true][atrb=rules,none][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/WholeLottaChaos/asian-rice-paper_zps6ad0fe3b.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-bottom: #101010 solid 6px; border-right: #101010 solid 6px; border-left: #101010 solid 6px; border-top: #101010 solid 6px;][atrb=style,padding-top:10px;][atrb=align,center] It was like the Taki her elders had told her about, yet this place was unnervingly alien. Amano Rei stood at the bridge over the many streams rolling freely within Takigakure, the sun playing a kaleidoscope of colors across the gentle waters that danced diamonds in her eyes. A calm sat over the village, a frightening contrast to the chaos that had befallen the surrounding nation less than two weeks ago. Here though, the inhabitants of the village moved about in relative peace, finding serenity in the busy work that kept the community functioning, that ensured it's efficiency. And still, Rei couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to her skin like filth. In her reflection of the waters that moved underneath her the cinema of images and memories played vividly in the pools. Iwagakure invaded in a way that could only be exaggerated in children's nightmares, descending in stealthy droves, infiltrating the underworld and courts. The paranoia would take years to subdue, a time where one did not have to be suspicious of their neighbor being a sleeper agent, as the people of Hidden Rock had favored so. Since the debriefing from the capital, only a few pockets of scattered resistances remained, and Taki no Kuni would soon be entirely free of the threat that had seiged their nation. But it was the cost that weighed heavily upon her heart. Eboshi Seiichi was a lot of things, not all of them Rei found favorable. But a traitor was too much to digest. The folder in her hand caught the wind, almost pulling itself from grasp. And she knew it would be time to find out soon enough... Outside the Takigakure Lord's office, the “sword princess” was approached by the routine security. Or as routine as these new unfamilar agents had been. Previously, Rei couldn't move about the village without being reminded of her noble status, the legacy she had to uphold for the people of Takigakure. Now these newcommers stared upon her. Empty, devoid of warmth, and almost threatening. “I have the Lord's report on forces in the southeast...I was asked to deliver it personally...”

[Hanamuke Youei]

Youei was sitting in his chair and listening to the commotion outside. Amano Rei was a child, but she was a dangerous child not to be underestimated. She was the son of a bastard whose name had been wiped from Taki no Kuni’s histories, and she had served as one of the traitor’s four ANBU elite. While she carried the title of ANBU now, she was not treated as such. Youei had seen to it that meetings did not include her, and that the missions she received could be completed by any chuunin or genin team.

When the knocks came, Youei allowed her entrance. A guard slid open the paper and ushered in the “sword princess”, a name that Youei thought she had hardly earned.

“Welcome, Amano Rei,” he began, his voice light and his features keeping his thoughts on her secret, “I trust you have brought me the reports?”

Youei’s hands tented in front of him, and he watched with keen eyes to see her response. Today he would find out if her loyalty could be broken to suit him, or if she’d have to be removed.”

[Amano Rei]

[atrb=cellpadding,10,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 460, true][atrb=rules,none][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/WholeLottaChaos/asian-rice-paper_zps6ad0fe3b.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-bottom: #101010 solid 6px; border-right: #101010 solid 6px; border-left: #101010 solid 6px; border-top: #101010 solid 6px;][atrb=style,padding-top:10px;][atrb=align,center] The white haired child retreated to her familiar territory of cold stoicism and icy stares, stepping into Youei's domain with a tenuous mix of budding grace and rough discipline, her swords rattling in their sheathes louder than her small loafers across the neat floors. She bowed, a quick and short thing, less than what proper etiquette allowed and adopted a stance that quietly rested in the uncertain demeanor between militant and standoffish. A gaze narrowed of bright slits, while the new lord of Takigakure was much more skilled in masking the spectrum of his emotions, wherever they may lie-Rei's substitute was to drown in pure edginess. “Hai,” she returned curtly, presenting with two outstretched palms the brown folder of confidential logs and information to his desk. There was a silence, a heavy pause as if she were awaiting permission to speak before taking the liberty for herself. “As suspected, the Iwagakure invasion forces are scattered but not without a course of action. The scouting teams have been reporting an increasing number of skirmishes in the southeast region and a few civilian villages remain 'dark'” The southeastern parts of Taki no Kuni, Rei had once called home. Rather as much as a home as wandering about, caught up in the adventurers and exploits of legends much greater than she could claim. A much larger thicket of woodlands in that territory, it was easy to suspect that the stranglers were resorting to guerrilla tactics in her hometown. The chaos Iwagakure had sowed would not be forgiven. Though digesting Eboshi Seiichi as a traitor was something far too great of a pill to swallow. There was no trial, no rousing evidence beyond claims and orders...and yet the citizenry moved like sheep to the news. Whether they believed it earnestly or were struck dumb by fear, Rei was uncertain. She added quickly. “Perhaps adding more detail in those regions would expedite their removal...”

[Hanamuke Youei]

Youei flipped through the reports as she talked. He scratched his beard while digesting the information that the southeast region was still in battle, and thought over her idea of adding more detail to that area. Other reports had been streaming in as well, the most terrifying being of the Kamizuru host that prowled those woods. Among them was the Stinger that Crushes; Kamizuru Kireme was legendary for his brutality, and the reports brought truth to these tales.

“Perhaps,” Youei finally said.

He looked at Rei with hard eyes, and he could read the dislike she had for him. Drowning her emotions was useless against a man like him, who could hide from even the dragon eyes. But he knew that there was a thread of loyalty to the village and country within this small girl. It was with that thread that he knew he could play her like a puppet, and hopefully remove two dangerous threats to Takigakure no Sato.

“Amano Rei, your mission is over. I now give you a new task,” Youei commanded, sliding over another folder across the desk, “You are to find and assassinate this man, Kamizuru Kireme. He was the general of the invasion from Kusa, and he must be killed so that we can scatter his host. I will send one other man with you. His details are in that folder. Meet with him tonight at midnight outside the village entrance and begin then.

“Any questions?”

Youei sat back then, tenting his hands and studying whatever diluted reaction Rei would have.

[Amano Rei]

[atrb=cellpadding,10,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width, 460, true][atrb=rules,none][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/WholeLottaChaos/asian-rice-paper_zps6ad0fe3b.jpg); -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-bottom: #101010 solid 6px; border-right: #101010 solid 6px; border-left: #101010 solid 6px; border-top: #101010 solid 6px;][atrb=style,padding-top:10px;][atrb=align,center] A fire of pride erupted in her chest, only for it to immediately cool into a chilling thing less than a moment after. The opportunity to serve, the chance to join the hall of revered heroes as she was forced to mingle in the shadows with was more than honey to a bee for this young girl. Yet, having it come from Youei, under the weigh of his piercing gaze, she was unsure to break out into a smile or a defiant, disinterested scowl. So she just opted for the same glacier of a stare as she entered the room in, mentally performing back flips. The child had pit herself against the Kamizuru before. Bee users, and like what she seemed stemmed from the culture of Hidden Rock, exhibited the same kind of brutality and ruthlessness that had once labeled them the global villains of the shinobi world. Kireme was a name not known to her specifically, though she would learn more, taking the dossier from Youei's desk and tucking it underneath her arm. Somewhere, she was already envisioning the battle, possible tactics, the look on his face when he was slain for the new peace of her country...and then the victory buffet. And her fantasy was vacuumed from her head by reality's ever vengeful intrusions. “When do I leave?” she asked in response to his question. Eargerly ready to venture off at the moments notice.