When Paths Cross

On the way to the temple, the group took a moment to rest and ask for directions at a nearby settlement. Junko took this as an opportunity to wander around the dirt roads that snaked past various wooden homes and small shops that didn’t look too appealing. It reminded her a bit of what the small towns in Moon Country had been like before making the village, and she couldn’t help but wonder if this place simply needed a bit of fixing up. If Akabayashi had accompanied her, the two of them would be walking beside each other, their arms interlocked together as they strolled along the road.

Admittedly she felt a bit out of place while adorned in her newly made armor. Lunar’s Embrace clung to her hourglass form giving off a sense of elegance with a bit of danger. However, due to the neutral smile across her face, she seemed rather approachable. Her crimson, siren-like eyes gazed at anyone who crossed her path, inviting them to speak with her. After spending some time at some of the small shops, Junko figured it was best to start asking for directions. Unfortunately, even with her soft and gentle demeanor, most people steered in the opposite direction and attempted to avoid the pairing.

She figured it was due to the populace knowing it was best to mind their own business, but still, their lack of assistance was a bit disheartening. Junko knew a general direction to head in but wished she could have gotten exact information about the location of the temple. She looked a bit defeated as she contemplated on where to turn to next, if they couldn’t find somebody who would assist them soon it may take them quite a bit longer to find the place.

WC: 304

Note: Junko is currently under the effects of Chakra Supression from the armor she is wearing.

With them walking Akabayashi only had one free hand to to make seals with. As they moved he formed one handed seals for FTG before placing marks on various surfaces boulders, trees, and buildings. The reason they were so unapproachable was the aura of menace coming from the doctor which told others to keep away. This was not a diplomatic visit, they had a purpose and he did not want anyone whom may be around thinking of them as a target.

One of Akabayashi's paths followed them wheeling his coolers filled with organs. As usual Akabayashi wore a black suit and vest, with a light blue dress shirt underneath. His tie was black and tucked neatly into his vest. It was odd to see Junko so quiet, perhaps she wanted a silent walk. If so, he would not be the one to break the silence. He was not even sure of where their destination was or what it looked like, but he assumed a temple would not be hard to find.

Voyage to the other side of her adorned prison had been nothing short of eventful; having befriended a lone Hyuuga and run into an old subject of her kage-dom, proved to be more than she had initially bargained for. Things had settled back at the temple enough for Mizuki to venture out of the immediate range and refresh her senses in the silent surrounding woods. It had been far longer than she would admit that she had been around so many beating hearts - the incessant noise was pervasive after the years sequestered with kin.

So that is where she found herself, cigarette lit and held in still lips - when the group of heartbeats pinged at the edge of her hearing; approaching from the road and not the temple at her back. Two beats of stunned immobility were all she allowed before she was up in one of the trees and nestled in the row of branches just above the lowest array. Fear wasn’t the driving force behind her actions - dramatics and presentation however, were simple pleasures that even someone as historically noted as Mizuki Ohta could not refrain from.

Quickly settling her back against the trunk she got into position, leaning over her knees that she pulled pulled up to brace against. The smoked lazily floated around the brisk air and filtered down through the sparse dead leaves still clinging to branches long petrified. Tracking the pair in her minds eye she waited, certain enough in herself that the byakugan itching to be activated, remained dormant. Mismatched eyes stared down at the pair - and a mismatched shock coursed through her system.

Mizu:

Three meandering figures appeared, two of which were familiar in jarringly different ways; starting with the larger of the two, an old face from a time so long forgotten she had believed to never know a conversation with the tilted guard from Hoshigakure. The man was unmistakable as Akabayashi, the very same flame haired man who had shown her around the town during the Chuunin exams lifetimes ago. A memory more alarming when the woman who walked arm and arm with him was a replica of herself during that time.

Wind from the far east grabbed tendrils of her loose black hair; tossing them teasingly in the eyeline of the group who had now come within 10 feet of her perched location. Pulling on the cigarette gently she allowed a small hit to take the edge off the alarming sight - while her free left hand remained held out of sight and ready to engage if needed. The thought of this sight being a cruel symptom to the cost forever owed to Jashin tried to settle over her. The thudding beats of life that drew nearer were the drums of reassurance that held sanity close. Holding onto this she was able to remain outwardly unbothered.

Once the group was in range of her voice she addressed them with a playfully regal tone. “I have yet to see battle armor be so aesthetically appealing than I have right now. Why,... you don’t belong on the arm of a man so tinted in bloodshed I almost didn’t recognize the rogue.” As she spoke she leaned forward a bit, looking down from her branch held 8 feet off the ground. Mizuki herself was wearing an odd array of clothing - mid cleaning of some of the longer worn garments - she was left in the black base body suit, netted stockings and Hara’s thicker traveling coat she had taken for her smoke break. Outwardly she held no show of her previous stations but it was impossible to miss the identical features that she shared with the woman in front of her.

Taking a longer pull from her dwindling cigarette she took her time blowing out the inhaled air - all the while staring directly at the woman, no sign of hostility to be seen, just astonishment as she drank in the familiar. “It’s customary for the younger, of meeting parties, to lead introductions. Starting with themselves.” Her prompt at the lady was gentle in nature, but held the underlying weight of someone accustomed to getting their way.

WC 691

Chakra Suppression

Junko had grown accustomed to the menacing aura surrounding Akabayashi, so she admittedly forgot how off-putting he could be to others. Thankfully not everyone around them shied away so easily, one of them being a woman who was perched in a tree, smoking a cigarette. It was quite odd, the woman looked nearly identical to Junko, though she seemed a bit shorter. As they approached the mysterious woman, Junko found herself intrigued by what she could offer her. Although she didn’t leave Tsukigakure to make new friends, there was no harm in finding a potential new ally. Especially if they ended up being similar to each other, this meeting could end up quite profitable.

As they approached her, Junko’s demeanor remained calm and inviting, hoping the woman wouldn’t find Akabayashi’s threatening aura too offensive. She stopped roughly 10 feet from the base of the tree as the woman spoke. A slight smirk crossed Junko’s face as her attire was complimented, she was happy to hear that the two of them at least had similar taste. She snickered slightly and glanced over to Akabayshi as the woman noted that Junko didn’t belong on the arm of a man such as him. Like many others before her, the woman had underestimated Junko, which was exactly what she wanted.

In other scenarios, this is where Junko would have laughed off her statement and introduced herself with a bow. However, she wasn’t meeting this new friend as the Tsukikage, instead she was simply meeting her as Junko. If able, Junko’s crimson eyes would meet the woman’s, holding her gaze with no sign of trepidation. Speaking up, her voice was melodic and full of charm, resembling that of a siren calling a sailor close to her.

”I appreciate your compliment, perhaps you could draw inspiration from it should you ever make yourself a set. As far as this wonderful man on my arm, I prefer him to be “tinted in bloodshed,” that’s what makes him so interesting. Plus others are far too boring, and can’t keep up with me.”

If their arms were still interlocked, Junko would pat Akabayshi’s arm reassuringly. She was sure he’d have something to say to the woman, considering she seemed to recognize him. As the conversation continued, the woman spoke of introductions, seemingly wishing for Junko to speak on the matter first. Thankfully she had no problem taking the lead, especially with things of this nature. She had always been a charmer, and though this woman carried herself with confidence, Junko felt secure enough to exude the same amount.

”I would love to dear, though I’d prefer to meet with you on the same level so why don’t you come down to talk face to face? You’re partially obscured up there and I’d absolutely adore the opportunity to see you fully”

Her voice was filled with confidence and a sweetness that could nearly make anyone sick. Though Junko was going to be the first to say her name, she knew she couldn’t allow the woman to be above her while doing so. Regardless of who this woman thought she was, Junko refused to be talked down to by somebody so seemingly similar. Should the woman agree and climb down from her perch, Junko happily kept her word and continued speaking.

”My name is Junko Tsukiko, and you are?”

However, if she refused her offer and remained within the tree, Junko held her ground and refused to offer the woman the information she requested. For a moment she wondered if her name had spread. Recently her title became “Lady Junko Tsukiko, the first Tsukikage” though she figured it was best not to open with that.

WC: 625
TWC: 929

As Mizuki made herself known, Akabayashi would look up. Smoking? What a disgusting habit. Of course he would not openly say such a thing to the former kage of Sunagakure or even let it show in his facial expressions. Instead hoping she would climb down, so that he could stop looking up. The path would turn himself around and keep an eye out behind them to ensure no one was approaching from the back.

No, hello to her aquentence, just commented on Junko's attire, before asking why she was with Akabayashi. What was the motive there, he wondered. Was it to hit on Junko or display jealousy at not being the one wrapped around his arm. Remembering their last in person meeting, she had grabbed his arm and walked beside him similarly to this, before arriving to his home in Hoshi. Oddly, they also looked similar in some ways. Also, there was Yoshinori who had a similar look. Oh shit, I think I have a type. The evidence was too pronounced to simply be coincidence. Junko's snicker was enough for him to escape his thoughts.

As she moved on to say the younger party should introduce themselves he tried to look harder at Mizuki's face. Not a crow's foot or wrinkle to be found. How old was she? She barely looked older than her early twenties. While Akabayashi was in his early thirties, but had stopped aging years ago. Luckily, it was Junko who spoke first.

Junko called him wonderful, before patting his arm and saying that she preferred him tinted in bloodshed. Maybe it was the short, black haired, crimson eyed goth look he was attracted to. However, it was the personality of Junko that he was in love with. The things he liked about himself were also the things she found interesting about him. The Vulture of Hoshigakure was never one to be ashamed of what he did in the process of his duties. He did not need someone who would forgive him of his misdeeds, but to accept them simply as a part of him.

He would look back up to the tree after listening to Junko. "Hi." He would say not wishing to spoil the reveal of her name which seemingly she wished to do on her own. Normally, he would introduce the two to one another. But that is not what was asked this seemed to be more of a conversation between the two ladies. With him simply being there, at least it did at the moment. Perhaps, he would get sickeningly sweet with Junko to annoy her at some point in the conversation, but now was not the time.

WC: 448

Smoke circled up into the sparse canopy above the group, and a curiously stern gaze remained on the pair below her. The initial response from the doppelganger was more telling than she may have realized - word choice and demeanor spelled out much to the trained ear. The insinuation that she would wear a matching set unsettled the habitually isolated woman almost as much as Akabayashi being referred to as 'wonderful'. At her reference the eyes would snap to his face, narrowing slightly as she recalled the last details surrounding him; was he not set to take over Kirigakure at the whim of Ayato? That was surely the last word she had heard regarding him, and now he stood latched onto by an eerily identical woman.

Once openly curious her expression suddenly shifted to cold blankness at the too familiar 'dear' that was used. Call it a consequence of past authority or simple aged weariness, but this, paired with the request as though she were a child being coaxed down a tree - did not sit well. So overly sweet and kind it set off every alarm in her head - mistrust settling into her very being as she contemplated the veiled demand. The words she spoke in jest at Akabayashi was definitely mistaken; the woman's subtle defense and the reaction from the mas was clear enough. So serious all of the time... releasing a frustrated sigh her face fell from stern mask like poise to apathetic weariness.

Removing the smoldering butt from her lips she snuffed it between her fingers and slipped it into her pocket as she stood and stepped off the branch in one movement: still maintaining the distance. The open jacket fluttered back into place around her mid thigh as she laced her fingers together behind her back - tilting her face to the side and staring at the two. Even at this distance it was clear how much shorter Mizuki was, but the air of authority didn't diminish nor did the smile as the name relayed sparked devilish insight.

"Tsukiko? You know... I had a sister long ago who would not stop going on and on about a man she had fallen in love with that held that very same name... but-", she had kept her attention on Junko as she spoke, only turning her face and attention to Akabayashi at the end, "- I don't recall him hailing from Hoshigakure or Kirigakure... where did you say you were from." With that her eyes darted around the surrounding woods, noting nothing of worth. "I didn't think the likes of this place were Ayato's style...-" The thought that he had abandoned the village crossed her mind, causing a wicked smirk of approval to cast itself over her face momentarily before switching back once more into proper mannerisms.

With a slight bow of her head she acquiesced, "Lovely to meet you Junko Tsukiko, curious to meet you here of all places Akabayashi. I am unfortunately a relic of a world I have only just learned is gone, so forgive the hesitation. Please, call me Mizuki Ohta, or-", with a flippant laugh she corrected, "- Mizuki Kyuketsuki." She had raised her head from the bow as she gave her name, showing more respect than either had deigned to show her. Was she this way in her youth? "Seeing as how you are on the only path leading to the temple, allow me to be the first to welcome you, and warn that you are not alone in your pilgrimage."  

Unfolding her hands and swinging them out in a welcoming gesture she gave a rare true smile, that reached her eyes for a moment before being smothered by the grief she still fought through. Watching her was like watching the waves in the middle of an ocean - glimmers of her past shone through before being swept away by a slightly chaotic apathy. Non-hostile but difficult to read as her mannerisms, tone and expressions shifted with no discernable pattern. "Care to add another to this merry band?"

WC 671