An Appointed Time [Kaoru|Nishiko] [P|NDE]

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[/i]"

So basically all I knew was that I had to be here - that is, the Village Square, just after rush hour, and tomorrow in comparison with the note's arrival - and meet with someone whose only clue to their identity would be a headband located on them somewhere akin to mine. Oh, and they would be female. I slouched against an orange concrete wall, only a few other humans in sight, head bowed but secretly surveying my surroundings, waiting for this Nishiko character to arrive.

Shinobi were usually pretty easy to spot from regular citizens. They tended to dress a little more elaborately, I'd noticed.[/ul][/justify]

[Nishiko]

The village square was overly bright and bustling for her tastes. Nishiko was not the sort of person to partake in these bustling streets. An overhang from one of the buildings provided a modicum of shadows. It was there that she lounged. Her arms folded across her chest as I watched her survey the crowd. Her eyes were taking in everything, as they always did. Her eyes alighted on a woman perhaps an inch taller than herself. Her features were hardened but there was a feminine air about them.

Though the head was bowed she could still sense much about it, I was sure. The uneven locks of hair, the cloak was a bit much too. Only shinobi had that flamboyant style of dressing. Even Nishiko was a little out there in her Chinese style garments. While I raised her well in the way of fighting arts I was not well versed in how women should dress, thus she picked what she wanted. Now the steps would be taken for the meeting.

I watched as she raised her hand into the air lazily, catching the eyes of the other woman. Her eyes slid to the side indicating direction before she slipped to the back of the building. That was the Nishiko I knew. She preferred to be away from the madding crowd. Back there they could speak privately, far from the prying ears of the busybodies of Takigakure. Now hopefully the girl would be smart enough to follow.

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[/justify]

[Nishiko]

The tomboy followed. A smirk crossed Nishiko's face as she approached. "That's what I am called. You can put that away." She said with a nod. It was an intelligent guess. The way her arm was positioned behind her back was unusual. She could only guess it was to grab a weapon. "Your name is Kaoru if I recall." She said, half questioning. The way she said the name sent a certain chill up my back. "My favorite Noh artist is called Kaoru." She offered. Now that was curious, I didn't even know the girl new of the existence of Noh, let alone followed it.

She offered her hand to the female. "Apparently we are to be a team. I believe it would be best if we get along." She stated it as if it was pure choice that decided friendships. "I believe it best if we know each others strengths before we delve into the tasks they ask of us." That was my Nishiko, no nonsense and straight to business. "I am a master of Boxing and Pressure Points as well as the Wood Release. I am currently on my way to mastering Paper and Sound. Yourself?"

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[/b] I exclaimed softly, releasing the weapon back into my pouch. I figured if she'd known I had a weapon and she made no motion to attack then she was probably a friendly. My guard was still up.

She asked my name, and I responded with a simple, "Yup. That's me." There was something odd about the way she said it, though. Detached, almost. As if it was just a word and not an identity. It irked me, and I almost didn't register her next phrase, something about Noh. I didn't fancy that stuff myself, and gave a simple, "Hmm." Of halfhearted acknowledgment. Then she offered me her hand. I was cautious as I accepted and shook it, and kept my arm tense in case she tried any sort of twists or other sort of martial art techniques. I knew all too well what influence you could have over someone simply by manipulating their arm.

"Apparently we are to be a team. I believe it would be best if we get along." she said, in a tone oddly reminiscent of an order. "I believe it best if we know each others strengths before we delve into the tasks they ask of us." "Seems reasonable." I muttered inaudibly, but with her apparently heightened perception who knew what this Nishiko character could detect.

"I am a master of Boxing and Pressure Points as well as the Wood Release. I am currently on my way to mastering Paper and Sound. Yourself?"

...Presented with this I was unable to form an immediate reply. It was so... structured, the way she told me of her combat knowledge, as well as her being a fucking Ninjutsu user, and it didn't help that she was apparently a far more diversely-skilled Kunoichi than I was. Not necessarily better. More diversely-skilled.

I decided to just come out with exactly what my mind was thinking. What was the point of trying to fool this woman? "Tch." I offered first, lowering my head in slight disgust. "I was never much for any organized sort of curriculum. Brawling. Gladiator Style. That's pretty much all I do. Can't use Ninjutsu, see. Never have been able to. Probably seems weak to someone like you." There wasn't really any hostility there, I was simply using the same sort of businesslike tone that Nishiko had offered me moments ago. "Well, I might not know how to stop your heart by poking you in the right place, but I can still win... well, most fights. I guess we can't win them all."

I paused. "So. A team. I seem to remember we're supposed to receive missions from the Kage tower."[/ul][/justify]

[Nishiko]

"Ninjutsu does not make one stronger or weaker. It is simply a tool that if we can use it, then we make use of it." She explained with a shrug. There was that pragmatic attitude again. Normally she reserved that attitude for death but I suppose she was letting it leak into the rest of her attitude. "Just as no single style is greater than another, no skill set is greater than another. As a shinobi we make use of our tools. I may have chakra at my disposal but your strength and speed are no doubt greater than mine." A ghost of a smile passed her lips.

Some found Nishiko infuriating, I found it adorable. "No, we cannot win all fights. Our time will come. But remember what the first step to eternal life is. You have to die." There was that wolfish smile that made most people shudder. "I'm sure if we apply at the tower they will have something of interest for us. Let's be on our way then. Maybe if we finish quickly we can train. I've never trained with another person, besides my Sensei. It may be interesting." Ahh they grow so quickly. I was watching her blossom before my very eyes into the most beautiful and deadly flower.

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[/i], truly was. But I all I got was reasoning. Educated, organized, precise reasoning. She even gave me a compliment, but I had no doubt that it was sarcastic. She obviously believed herself superior to me. Maybe, if she saw me in action, she might change her opinion.

Probably not. I could hope though.

"No, we cannot win all fights. Our time will come. But remember what the first step to eternal life is. You have to die." She grinned. Eerily. Knowingly. Now she's a fucking philosopher too. Oh man, could I have been any more unlucky? "I'm sure if we apply at the tower they will have something of interest for us. Let's be on our way then. Maybe if we finish quickly we can train. I've never trained with another person, besides my Sensei. It may be interesting."

I found her casual approach to death disturbing. "Alright. Just don't decide to give up and get stabbed in battle we have to fight anyone. You don't sound as if you'd have a problem with that." I finished sardonically, turning my head and rolling my eyes slightly. I was well aware of where the Kage Tower was from here. I pocketed my hands, and began to leave the alley.

"Come on, then." I said, still not trusting, or necessary liking my new partner, but accepting her as such anyway.[/justify]

[Exit to Kage Tower][/ul]

[Nishiko]

Exit