[4] Kazekage Tower

[Hamura]

Taking in the paperwork handed to him, the receptionist would hand it off to one of those in charge of such documents at a later point in time. For the time being, he figured that it was a mission well done seeing as the details were above his pay grade. Handing the woman the appropriate funding for such a thing, he returned to his duties after filing up the papers properly.

(Done)

[Flower]

After recieving her payment and having the mission approved, Valerys headed on her way out of the Kazekage Tower and prepared herself for the shop where she would spend the money she had just gotten. She wasn't particularly good at saving... at the moment. There were things that she needed to invest in. With that in mind, Valerys left the tower and headed out to the shop.

[exit.]

[Flower]

[enter.]

Valerys entered the tower, this time wearing the face of one of the personalities that Shiki was familiar with. Victoria was her name, and her she had long blonde hair that fell down to past her shoulders and down her back, and golden eyes -- except when she felt like imitating the sharingan eye. But today she would not and came into the Tower with her spear that Shiki had given her, Bitter Mercy, strapped to her back with a red scarf falling from just below its blade. Victoria also had a messenger pack strapped across her left shoulder with the vial of Shiki's blood (just in case), the two ghost gems that she had just crafted, and several empty jars that she had been hoping to fill for several days. Other than this she didn't have much, not needing much here at the tower.

She walked up to the receptionist in her Victoria persona, wearing her white and blue dress (her extra pair of arms hidden away, still unknown to most everybody in the world) as well as her Sand Village headband around her forehead, and said, "Hello there, I am hoping to meet with Shiki." As she spoke she was vaguely aware of Shiki's super human senses and wondered if he could hear her. "Let him know that Victoria is here to see him, if you don't mind. It's of the utmost importance." She smiled, placing her hands on her hips and closing her eyes in to show that she meant no harm. Something that was easy for Victoria to do, but would have made Valerys gag.

She waited, wondering when she would see him. Although she had come to the tower with the hopes of taking on another mission, she also had recieved a message for Shiki and she meant to deliver it. She did love being at the center of so much conflict, even if it happened to be resolving it this time...

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

The receptionist took notice of the woman who had entered the building. She seemed sweet, she thought as she pressed a button unlocking the door to the hallway to her left. "You can come and go as you wish. You are on the list." The secretary said with a professional smile. Small rays of sunlight shined through the windows in the hallway ahead of 'Victoria' intersecting into bright X's in front of her as they intersected giving the hallway the appearance where the very air itself seemed to be made of different textures of color as the light reflected off the faint dust in the air. An artful way to cope with the sandy winds that covered this region.

The door ahead was open and in the office was where Victoria would find me leaning forwards on a table filled with different plants. The smell of pungent dried herbs filled the room masking the wooded ochre with their aroma. My eyes transfixed on a small branch of bonewood in front of me.

"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

As the recptionist told her to go down the hallway, Victoria listened and started walking in that direction. Her heart began to beat faster in her chest. It had been a while since she'd seen Shiki, and now he was the Kazekage. Would he be different now? Even more forlorn? Victoria smiled. She could not help herself, pleased with how fun it was to be surrounded by such powerful company. When she walked through the door she saw Shiki himself, sitting at a table and eyeing a piece of wood before him. Victoria thought about her own alchemical endeavors but put them aside for now. "Well, well, Shiki. You always do look so much like a philosopher. Are you sure you weren't meant to sit around and think all day?" Victoria gave him a smile, her usual semi-cruel grin, but was obviously being playful. She had missed him.

"It's nice to see you again," Victoria said, pushing her blonde hair away from her face on her left side and looked away, "you know, if it's nice to see anybody." She turned back to Shiki. "But I haven't just come to say hello. I've been gathering information per your request, although still no word on the homeless man or Rize. But there is another matter that has come up..." Victoria chuckled, a familiar sound, "one that I think you'll be very interested in."

Victoria let the suspense build in the air, waiting to see if Shiki would invite her to take a seat and closing the door behind her. Although it did seem a little flirtatious, Valerys wasn't bashful about her charm -- although her disguises, that was a different thing entirely. Her body was her weapon and her secrets were their ammunition. 

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

"Charming as ever." I said plainly as I felt a small smile drift across my face. I looked away from the herbs for a moment as I picked up a small mortar. I had a hunt coming up soon and I needed to make a few things for it. Specifically blade oil. I was surprised to see her again so soon. Especially given the fact she still had some missions pushed forwards for her to complete. I took a moment as I poured some of the distilled solution into the waxy paste I was going to compound the ingredients in.

I enjoyed the playful flirting. I wouldn't act on such things without my wife giving the greenlight of course. But it was still a charming change of pace from all the gloomy characters I tended to work with on the regular. "Now you have my interest peaked. What's going on?" I asked with a metered tone. Instinctively watching her mannerism for any sort of indication of her trying to mislead me.

"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

Of course, Victoria showed no signs that she was trying to mislead Shiki -- a change of pace from what she was accustomed to. When Shiki called her charming, Victoria blushed a little -- although all for show as Shiki probably knew well. Since he had not offered her a seat, Victoria assumed that they were past such formalities and walked over to sit beside him at the table, choosing a chair unless none were available and then sitting on the corner of the table itself. Now that the door was closed she allowed her golden hair to turn the familiar auburn color and her eyes to transform into their bloody red. All of a sudden Valerys Kedoin was standing before Shiki once again, the same as when they first met. She laughed.

"Always a real man, Shiki. Most boys would have ran the first moment that they met me..."

She looked at him closely then with her eyes, implying all of a suddenly that she was being more serious, and said, "During my travels I met a woman who goes by the name of Krystal. She appears as a neko from the Stone Village. Normally I would have reported her to you anyways cause, well, she seemed rather powerful and I did quite the job of garnering her trust..." Valerys let the words linger, making a few insinuations of what the two of them had done, and then said, "But then I figured out the interesting part.

"She once stole your fiance. A bitter story I'm sure, and I'm sorry to remind you of it, but I feel as if now I understand you a little better. Krystal left me with a message, when I told her that I could deliver one. She wanted me to tell you that she's sorry. And that she built a boat for you." Valerys looked at Shiki amused, wondering how this man, this Kage, would react to such a message. She was just the messenger, and she hoped the old axiom rang true, but was generally curious to see where this would lead. It felt bigger than her, as if she was now taking part in something she did not fully understand. "She says that it can hold at least fifty men. I know it's none of my place to say -- but she really did seem sorry." Valerys shrugged. "Although humans are often sorry about quite a lot... But I am very curious to know where you stand on all of this."

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

I paused for a moment as she started talking. She moved over to one of the many chairs in the office. This one located at the large desk that stretched across the whole length of the room. I took a moment as I listened to her report. It took me a moment to even understand who she was talking about. I never even bothered to learn that bitches name. Anger would flash across my eyes for several reasons all of which I'd keep to myself. I felt a bloodlust as I felt the need to silence the woman speaking. Painful memories of heartbreak and the broken and battered state my body was from the subsequent fight before and afterward was the lowest point of my life. The sheer bluntness this was brought up and the almost... enthusiasm she had bringing it up angered me.

"You are on a mission. Galavanting with whores and prostitutes are not a part of the mission I assigned you. You came here to tell me you found a stray cat? Get the hell out of my office and don't come back until you have some actual results."

The door would slowly swing open behind her leading back out to the hallway. My bloodlimit clearly visible in my eyes. When I first learned how to harness my power anger like this would have metal objects flying around the room. Now it could be controlled but the tension on my bloodlimit was palpable.

"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

His words cut into her like a knife. This time she had tried to be good. This time she had listened to her kage, and when she heard a message that concerned him -- she brought it to him. Only to be kicked out. Valerys sighed and started to shift back to Victoria's appearance, her hair taking back on its gold hue and her dress changing to the white and blue one she had entered in. Too bad, she thought.

"Alright. I'm leaving." She stood up from her chair and held her pack close to her as she moved toward the hallway. As she was leaving, she turned and glanced at him once more with her yellow eye and giving him a slight frown. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Shiki. I'm a messenger. A person without a face who happens to hear pieces of information, and when I hear something about my lord I bring it to him. I know that this must be hard for you, I can see it on your face, but even though you're kicking me out I implore you to think about the options that are now available to you..."

Victoria turned back around and headed for the door. "But I'm out of line." And with that, given that Shiki did not let his frustrations get the better of him, Victoria would be walking out of the door and toward the lobby of the Kazekage Tower and eventually out the building -- Shiki's words ringing through her mind as she left and not even thinking about the mission. A little hurt, but blaming herself for expecting more than she should have.

[exit attempt.]

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

I felt the regret instantly as I saw her try and walk out the room. Ever the storm I glared as I slammed the metal door shut with my bloodlimit. A few of the metal objects around me started to tremble as my rage was continuing to build. I reached down into drawer at my feet and pulled out a arm piece of my armor. I pulled it over my right arm whispering the word "peace" against the metal. It glowed a gentle green as I felt the cooling energies of my own enchantment soothe the gathering bloodlust.

"Stop." I said with a disgruntled edge to my voice. "Before you think much less of me. That woman has done much worse to me than what you mentioned. She is the reason I'm covered head to toe in these scars, the reason I entered a world of darkness and pain and the reason I've cut most emotions out of my life and the reason why I left my life as a sailor behind. This is not a conversation where just stumbling into it does it much credence."



"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

Victoria turned and looked at the scars upon his face once more. Now that she had transformed and the door had slammed in front of her, she didn't feel like it was necessary to change back. She studied the misshapen skin, which she had often admired, and wondered at how Krystal could have done. Krystal did this? But it confused her to no end. Try as she might, Valerys had been unable to get Krystal to agree to any evil actions or manipulations -- it seemed that she just wasn't going to have it, although it was obvious that she was chaotic at any time. Still, she trusted Shiki more than anybody and decided that she must have missed something along the line.

"I apologize," Victoria said, lifting up her right hand and holding out in a semi-shrug to her right side, "I've always been better at being direct when I'm being myself. So maybe it's best I let Victoria do the talking... my Lord." She smiled, trying to soften the tension, but thought to herself, A world of darkness and pain. Emotions out of his life. Leaving his life as a sailor. She was somewhat used to the life of a messenger, and Shiki's reaction had not been as bad as the worst of them. Men with a temper could be a deadly matter, even to a neutral party. But strong as Shiki was, Victoria didn't fear him or any man really. Even if she died, she knew that she would come back. This time she had gone too far with her soul...

"And I'm sorry for what she did to you. It brings me pain to hear it and see it on your face. I've told you that I would be here for you," Victoria reached below her left back and grabbed Bitter Mercy's shaft with her left hand to demonstrate what she meant, "and I meant it. If you want to get your revenge then I have brought you a way to do so. But you are clearly strong, and I think if you had wanted revenge you would have done it already... So I guess, I wonder, what is it that you want with her? Nothing at all?"

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

"I simply wish to keep as much distance between us as possible. I fear if I lose my temper around her I may kill her despite that not being my intention. I am a kage now and that means I can't simply call for blood everytime I feel slighted." I paused for a moment as I thought about what exactly to say next. "She represents a time in my life that is behind me. It is only because my wife that I have not gone after her myself at this point. I wish to keep it at that."


"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

"Fair enough," Victoria said, "I'll leave it at that." Although she was a little envious that she had not known Shiki in his youth, when his thirst for blood was not as well quenched. She still hand many lifetimes to go before she would be so at peace with things, and prepared herself for her own missions and schemes. "I'll be off then. I tried sending you a dream about this, but it doesn't appear as if you recieved it? Interesting...

"In any case, goodbye my Lord. I'll report again when there is something better worth reporting about." And with that she prepared to take her leave, knowing that there were things she still needed to accomplish.

[exit.]

[Flower]

[enter.]

A little while later, Valerys found herself back at the Kazekage Tower. Her group was still waiting to find this man in the abandoned home, as much as she wanted to carry on quickly, and she figured that she could do a mission in the down time to help herself get closer to the requirements for Chuunin. She wouldn't need to bother Shiki with this and walked into the tower, wearing the face of Victoria Uchiha and wearing her usual blue and white dress. Her weapons weren't on her yet, just her messenger pack, as she would grab them on her way to the mission.

"I'm here to take on a mission," Victoria said and put her mission request on the counter, "It seems there is an iguana infestation. I can deal with this." Although to Valerys, who hid inside Victoria's mind, it seemed a little rudimentary -- it was the necessary path to acquire Chuunin as Shiki had requested. 

Name: Get rid of these Damn Iguanas!
Rank: “D” Rank
IIC Length: 2 Days
Difficulty: low
Objective: Get these Damn Iguanas out of my sight, I can’t take it anymore. The objective is to remove all of the Iguanas that have infested the shop keepers’ stores. The desert breeds cruel beasts.
Description: In Sunagakure the heat attracts some undesirable guests. These Iguanas are prime examples of this fact. It is your job to remove these iguanas from the premsis of one of the many shops or residencies that reside within the walls of Sunagakure. These bloody creatures aren’t very aggressive, but they are persistent. Get them out of my sight before the shop keepers throw a fit. This mission may be taken by one person and up to a squad of three with one Chunin/Jonin leader. If you fail to remove all the Iguanas from the site, your Kazekage will have to have a talk with you about your performance, and the money will not be received. Go get em tiger.
Reward: 30,000 Ryo

[Deleted]

The secretary looked at the woman and smiled. "Certainly! Your mission is approved." The secretary paused for a movement before she pulled out another small parcel containing another set or orders. "It seems the kazekage has additional orders for you as well. It seems he wants you to meet with the Kage from the land of stone and see what they are requesting. Shiki doesn't want his position to be known. Also, he also said to tell you he's on a hunt for headbands from different villages and if you came across any to bring them back rather urgently."

[Flower]

Victoria smiled in response and listened to the information. All of a sudden something much more unusual was happening -- there was a message from Shiki. Victoria listened closely and memorized this moment, storing it in her mind for later, and prepared herself for the many tasks ahead of her. "Thank you, if you see Shiki let him know that it will be done." Victoria headed out of the tower to complete her tasks without another word.

[exit.]

[Flower]

[enter.]

Valerys returned to the Kazekage Tower, familiar as it was, and stepped into the first floor upon arrival thinking about all of information that she needed to report. She was wearing a face she'd never shown here before, but undoubtedly one Shiki would like, named Shihana. It had emerged on this mission, and proud of it. Shihana stood about six foot and had long white hair up in a ponytail, falling around her mid-back, with a patch of black hair that fell to her left side. Her eyes were purple, extentuated by her black and purple dress which covered her body. White laces tied the dress up in the front. She appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. Around her left shoulder was her messenger pack which held few items save the two headbands which she had been entrusted with by the Tsuchikage herself. On her back was also her spear Bitter Mercy -- an obvious indicator to Shiki about her identity.

Shihana moved up to whoever was working the front desk and delivered her paperwork for the completed iguana eradication mission (link here), telling them that the job had been done and waiting on payment. When that was done, Shihana would go to meet Shiki telling the person at the desk that, "In regards to the Kazekage, I have completed his other assignment." If they motioned her to go to his office, Shihana would make her way over to finding Shiki, knowing that he would probably already hear her and be opening the door with his strange magnetic powers when she arrived. She looked around at the decor of the Kazekage Tower as she went through, always amazed by its beauty, and eager to report to Shiki what she had learned of the Tsuchikage. 

So much history, legends even, that she was just beginning to understand... 

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

"Of course ma'am. Right this way." She said as she let the shapeshifter through. After handing her her money of course. With a modest amount of ryo changing hands she would open the passage to the outdoor hallway once more. A quiet twilight casting rays of orange and delightful yellows across the slate and sandstone floors. That warm glow was short lived however as the enchanted candle light from my office continued down the hallway. Muted red light casting just the most faint levels of visible light possible. I of course wasn't expecting company and didn't need much light to see perfectly.

Eventually, she would find me once more. This time not in my office but in the training room to the side of my bedroom. Dressed in only the lower portion of my Gi and shirtless I was practicing more sword saint. Across from me stood a shadow clone, this one fully dressed and controlling three man sized puppets. For once, I was so engrossed in the fight I wasn't paying attention to the new arrival. The puppet lunged forwards at me, spinning it's whirling blade saw towards my body. I lowered my shoulders and rolled to the right and also forwards under the swinging blade arm of the puppet. Now on the floor I swung my legs around with a modified gotetsu kick by pushing off the ground with my hands. The kick while normally intended for an 'uppercut' to the chin, was used against the under arm of the puppet. This overpowered the force of the blade saw knocking the arm skyward as it was wrenched out of socket slightly.

Turning my palms on the ground I generated torque rotating my body in the same direction as my palm. As I did my free leg spun around sweeping low and kicking the hip out from underneath the puppet. The puppet whirled angrily as it's free hand slashed around angrily trying to slash me violently with it's extended sword arm. I gave a strong push off the floor, enough to spring me a good 8 meters in the air arcing over the puppet and it's wild swings. The puppets face opened upwards, revealing a series of senbon launchers. As it fired a wave of senbon at me I would vanish instantly in a flash of light. Reappearing on the floor where I had made my handstand. A hirashin mark now easily visible now unobscured by my hand. I'd punch the puppet square in the chest sending it flying backwards 55 meters and crashing into the wall.

I gave one final deep breath as I relaxed out of my fighting stance. I looked towards my shadow clone for a moment. Waiting.

"Your speed is fine. But I honestly think you need to be bringing more emphasis to fighting with your gear. You don't spend a lot of time without it. While being strong without your gear is good. I'd recommend more weapon training."

I listened and nodded. I dismissed the clone who vanished in a puff of smoke.

"I know I'll be more lethal with a sword or a knife than with my fists. But those are just tools. I am the weapon."

I said more to myself then to the clone at this point. Still not noticing my new comer if they chose to enter the room I would move over to my vanity mirror. Rather then bottles of perfume and make up it was more bottles of various spirits, tonics and drugs. I'd pour myself a gin and tonic water and take a small sip.

"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha

[Flower]

[OOC: Don't forget to add ryo to account. Thank you~]

Shihana watched from the bedroom doorway after making her way down the hall, seeing Shiki in the training room -- shirtless and fighting well against a puppet as a shadow clone analyzed his movements. Shihana was also analyzing his movements, wondering exactly how he fought. It would be good to know if she ever found herself guarding him. She grinned at the prospect. As Shiki poured himself a drink, Shihana said, "Do you think you could pour one for me?"

She had just finished Shiki's request to meet with the Tsuchikage as well as a mission and felt that she deserved one. Not to mention, it appeared to be some clear liquor -- which she preferred in general. Especially with good company. She didn't enter until Shiki saw her, and if it all seemed well than she would step inside of his training room to accompany him. She marveled at its architecture and build, wondering what it would be like to train her as well. Under Shiki's powerful build... Indeed, seeing him here made her realize even more about his job, giving her a deeper apprecaition for him and his training. If horror ever came to the Sand Village, she trusted him to take care of it. Whether or not she was at his side.

As she got closer, Shihana pushed back her long, white bangs from her face -- altough it did little good. Her hair was very long and dangled all about her. "I met with the Tsuchikage as you requested. Let me know when you are ready to get down to business, otherwise I'll take some time with this drink." It felt good to relax again, although she knew that this was touchy business. Just like before. She strode carefully, knowing the mine-field that she could be walking into, and waited for Shiki to intiate the conversation.

[Deleted]

[The White Wolf]

I smiled as I heard her voice. Even with the new disguise there was something familiar in the way she acted so comfortable around me that was alluring. Most people acted with an innate sense of timidness around me. I found the smile on my face lingering as I poured a second drink for her as well. "I'll pour you one if you promise to help me finish this bottle." I said playfully with a jockish nature to my voice. "I could use the company." I was long past the point of trying to keep my interactions with this woman on the strictly professional level. I stepped closer towards her, within a few inches into a more well lit area still clutching the crystal glass containing the gin and tonic. It's floral scents of minty juniper berries being aerated by the bubbling tonic water. The cold icy beverage forming condensation on the glass itself.

As I actually entered into torchlight the extent of the scarring on my body could be noticed. Rows and rows of cuts, bites and puncture wounds glared like gnarled marble against my pale white skin. The marks of the many fights and monsters slain left a long story book of all the near death wounds I had received.

"What did she have to say?"



"Player Speech is A25428 "

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Template Made By
Hitora Uchiha