The Knock that Never Came [Village Exit]

Standing at the window of her room on the top level of the little INN she had a clear view of the village gates, be it from her time as a gate guard in Sunagakure before, but she found no issue in drawn out watchful periods. It was maybe a day or two since her last discussion with Emi about the upcoming summit that something was beginning to happen at those gates. It hadn’t been written down or formally agreed upon that she was indebted to Emi or Tanbogakure, seeing as how her part of the deal - her one stipulation - had not been met yet. Below her at the desk was a pen she was fingering lightly as she watched from a distance.

Though the distance was great enough not to make out faces the scene itself was unfolding to be a crowded affair. One after another appeared, then one fell at the hand of another - causing a rise of interest enough in the neutral party that she activated her Byakugan to better see the exchange. There was little to really see, just a short exchange then the man was gone in a flash. Raising her thumb nail to her teeth she bit it thoughtfully as the doujutsu was dropped and her gaze fell to the windowsill. Why had she not been called upon? Was this an exchange of information? Was this coerced or consensual?

Too many unknown variables for her to feel comfortable with… perhaps this venture was too soon in the taking. She missed her family and she had been gone long enough, and had this not been illuminating enough an excursion? Seeing the state of other villages was the point afterall, and who is to say that she didn’t owe a visit to her old friend Ayato? Or maybe even to her first real home of Sunagakure. When she returned to Yugure she would pose the choice to them and see what they had to think of it. For now though she had better gather her things up and leave while the dust was settled.
Waiting a few days to ensure the gates were clear of sudden guests she would place her hat back on her head, all possessions she brought with her having never left her person to begin with there was no ‘packing’ to do. She paid her bill at the front desk and walked to the village gate - the sun high enough in the sky on that day that her shadow was all but captured under the brim.

She only stopped once she reached the gate guard waiting to be allowed out - and hoping she was unrecognized or questioned in her departure.

WC 450
Attempted EXIT of Tanbogakure

Vis and codex stood guard at the village's inner gates today, twin figures radiating strength. A sign to the people that change was brewing, that power once again roosted in the village. That was what the village needed at this time, the attack from the Hokage, for upon their return to the village that was what they had been informed it was, had shaken the villagers. Though few would dare say it the strength of the village had slowly rotted away, the powers that had once founded the loosely fortified village abandoning it to the ravages the world, but change is not bad, even now their master was busy re-organizing the villages military. The old withering branches of the military were even now being trimmed and pruned. Soon those weaklings who clung to their titles and positions only through the guise of tradition would be alleviated of their posts, making way for new talent to grow.

Vis was busy ruminating on these developments, a predatory smirk dancing at the edge of it's mouth as it thought about the potential such new blood brought, the strength it could glean from watching them develop, but before it could become too lost in it's own thoughts it saw a flicker of movement from it's twin, a twitch as the mirror image turned it's gaze to stare as a figure approached not from outside the village, but rather from inside of it. Neither of them knew this woman, the bond between them strong enough that Vis could tell that innately. That was an oddity, Codex had already memorized all the names and profiles of village shinobi, and this woman did not fit any of those descriptions.

"Halt, state your business" The repository stated, it's tone cold and calculating as it eyed the approaching woman with interest

Taking a deep breath she drew her hands forward in a measured way, folding her fingers together to show non violence and raised her eyes to gaze blankly at the double image in front of her. Standing, rarely, shorter than she were two identical figures that had to turn to face her - clearly they weren’t expecting confrontation of any sort from within the walls of the village as their attentions had been focused out. Deigning them each a glance her eyes would flit to the road that lay between them - the same place that still held a shadow of bloodstain - before raising them once more to watch the one who had actually spoken.

Cold was their tone, but they were met with a chillier voice than theirs as she replied, “Shouldn’t that be the question if I were entering?” Her eyes dropped once more to the bloodstained earth, as she continued. “As my business outside of these walls are my own I will consent to answer if you tell me who disgraced this beloved ground with their blood, and who caused the staining.” The expression on her face as she spoke was one of disgust, but only as she stared at the stain, when she was finished it morphed into a hardened look of determination. “I returned to Tanbogakure to make an official pact and this was something I had hoped to be able to prevent… but the knock at my door remained unbidden. So, while I still have sovereignty over my actions with no official ties to this land I implore you… tell me who it was.”

Maybe it was the way she spoke or the look on her face but the malice in her words were directed outward - like the call of an angry spirit rising from slumber to enact its will on the world. All of this said, without an inch moved - she stood as she so often did now - still as a statue. The only movement on person was the wind dragging wisps of hair along it or the gentle movement of her cloak. She didn’t offer her name yet as she was not asked, nor did she ask their as tension was high - and intentions were of more importance than names easily forgotten.

WC 378

Vis watched with cold calculating eyes as the woman came to a stop, narrowing its gaze when the woman folded her fingers together in a placating gesture, the construct let out a wry chuckle at the action. It was clearly intended as a sign of peace, an indication that this individual was not a threat, and yet the idea that putting your hands in a prime position to begin forming handseals was anything less than a threat amongst skilled shinobi... well as humorless as Vis was it could still appreciate the grim humor in the act.

Codex's words had brought the woman to a halt, but the woman's response was as frigid as the north wind. “Shouldn’t that be the question if I were entering?” she asked and Vis simply watched in silent amusement as the woman's words caused an imperceptible shift in it's sister construct's demeanour, the irritation clear to one who knew the construct's tendencies, all the same the pair remained silent, allowing the woman to continue speaking. "My business outside of these walls are my own" the woman said and Codex's demeanour shifted further from a masked irritation to one far more overt, its chakra begining to churn in a way that conveyed the irritation to anyone who was capable of sensing such things. Thankfully of course as the woman continued to speak the construct calmed, it's expression softening ever so slightly as the woman gazed at the still blood stained ground in disgust.

"I will consent to answer if you tell me who disgraced this beloved ground" she said, and the two exchanged a look for the first time even as the woman continued, her words were floral, filled with the twisting formality common among those who walked the path of political intrigue all too often... all the same the woman's actions, her emotions, were worn on her sleeve. It could be an act of course, intended to make the pair more amicable to sharing classified information, but there was little loss to be had in the information here, that the village had been attacked, again, was public knowledge, that it was a political play by the hokage, intended as a means of extortion, and no doubt a way to exert his power, that was far more difficult knowledge to come by. Still the aura running off of this woman showed enough power that turning her on their enemies could be... advantageous to say the least.

With those thoughts in mind Codex made a decision, speaking firmly "We are not authorized to disclose such information to strangers, however your words imply some political purpose here, one we have no record of. Who are you, and what is this pact you speak of?" It said, intent on first ascertaining the woman's allegiance before disclosing such things.


WC: 469
TWC:771

The firm speech peaked her interest and she devoted her full attention to the male version of the duo, his choice of words were fascinatingly insightful. Reading between the lines wasn’t something she found abundant in the general populace, but perhaps she was being more open than she usually would. Having turned her face slightly away from the more overtly aggressive of the two she lifted her head in a sign of respect toward the one who spoke. Violet and white eyes met his as a faint smile flitted across her lips, the ghost of her true nature.

“You wouldn’t have a formal record of any pact as the leader, Emi, had not finished with our agreed upon measures. As those measures were private… I am not authorized to disclose such information to those who were not her.” The smile, grew more playful however as her body became looser and she turned to look at the woman. “Seeing as I have nothing to hide however, I am Mizuki Ohta. I came here to create a pact with Tanbogakure as a sign of respect and payment for the sanctuary given to me so many months ago when I renounced my reign over Sunagakure.”

Heaving a heavy sigh the manic energy that had been building was extinguished as quickly as it flitted to life, leaving her shoulders low and resigned. “Unfortunately I was not called upon in aid, I waited for it. I do not meddle in affairs that I am not wanted in, but with a little information … wrongs become right in time.” Cocking her head suddenly, her eyes unfocused in the space between the two, “I guess the question isn’t why I never received that call to action… but whether the wrong person was relied upon to do the knocking.”

“Does that satisfy you?”, her question, and gaze - now sharper than it had been - was focused on the female. Pointedly not asking the question to the one most willing to converse, but to the one who had remained silent and ready. Though her gaze was sharp it wasn’t aggressive, more watchful as she pinned the girl with the question.

WC 360