hide and seek. (private)

[♚]

As the fox stepped out of the threshold of the House, it pivoted on an inky heel and began a calm trek down the street. They would, fortunately, not have a long way to go--the artist had no intention of being sought after and so had not hid herself thoroughly. It did not turn around to see if the one now controlling it was following, merely turned the corner of an alley and began to run.

---

Brown eyes shifted up from their intent stare at a scroll that was unfurled across her lap and scanned the walkway lazily. Poised in her left hand was a simple paintbrush, its soft bristles stained with the same pitch liquid as was smeared across her paper. It was a picture of a squirrel, exact in its detail down to the very last strand of fur. A light, off-white glow consumed her hand as those fingers wiggled around the wood, and soon the squirrel was breaking free of the paper.

"Hmm. What use could I have for you? Espionage?" she mused quietly to herself, scraping her sandal-encased feet across the pavement. The ground was starting to become quite uncomfortable, but the fox had yet to return. "I'll need to perfect that technique first though, hmm? I can't yet gather the wealth of information you could provide me." The squirrel chattered at her, as if answering the statement with its own assent. Then, quite suddenly, its tiny ears perked up.

Right hand lifted to brush messy pink locks from her eyes as she lifted her head, turning to look at the source of her painting's concern. It was Mr. Fox, come back finally from his escapades! "Oh! Good! What did you find out?" She didn't expect an answer; even still, it was customary. The scroll was released and it snapped shut, allowing the kunoichi to struggle onto her feet.

Lips parted and a yawn issued forth, oculi closing contently. She was quite proud of her accomplishments this past year.

[King]

She wouldn't be waiting for her pet terribly long, for it turned a corner and bolted toward her with a seemingly genuine low. The beast would've stopped just shy of her feet, standing on its rear legs while pressing its front onto her lap. One might've thought it was actually alive if they were to witness the scene.

However, as she looked upon her creation, she would notice something very peculiar about it - those eyes, they were quite different from when she had created it.

[♚]

If there is one thing an artist is good at (besides the obvious, of course!) it is recognizing their own creations. When those eyes opened she studied the ink-defined creature, proud of the excellent craftsmanship, just as much as she had been earlier when it was dispatched to study the innards of a building she had only heard rumors of. Terrible, awful rumors.

But wait! " ... ?!"

Molten chocolate pools widened as they locked upon the fox's eyes, realizing they were no longer a mirror image of her own. Red they were, a pattern from her distant past that would never be forgotten. Sharingan? Kaori stood frozen, gaze unwillingly locked, mind too numb to process information.

"W-what ... ?"

[King]

"Interesting technique." The voice permeated from the shadows behind the girl, and if she allowed her gaze to follow the trail, she would find her sight resting upon the Oyabun himself. Completely illuminated by the pale rays of the moon, she would instantly recognize the fact that he appeared unarmed; that, and his face bore her no ill-will.

"It's been quite some time since I've seen that." With a brief glow from his own Sharingan, the mirror image was erased from the fox. "You're the second person I've ever seen capable of using ink based jutsu."

Before he'd even finished his sentence, the gears of his mind were turning furiously. The fact she'd managed to infiltrate the house of spades, by far one of the most secure locations in all of Kirigakure, spoke volumes that words wouldn't in fathom. The possibilities were infinite -- then again, he had a lot on his plate already.

"Did someone send you to spy on me?"

[♚]

The girl's demeanor seemed to change when a masculine voice, proud and smooth, reached her ears. The fear was tucked into a faraway corner of her breast, replaced instead by a stoic facade that had served her well many a time. Gaze was torn from her precious fox, shifting as she turned to face the newcomer. She wondered how he managed to sneak up on her, but that was her lesser worry currently.

"Ink-based jutsu is not easy to learn," she responded evenly. Her grip tightened on the brush in her hand, as if it would protect her from a possible retaliation. He was too close for her to unfurl that scroll and draw a protectorate in time, so unfortunately she would need to rely on his assumed benevolence. "I am one of very few who are close to mastering the art."

Did someone send you to spy on me?

Her lips curled into a smile at this, not bothering to hide the expression any longer. Is that what he assumed? Interesting. "Hmm. I take it, then, that you are the proprietor of the House of Spades?" Pink head tilted, questioning him with her eyes now more than the words flowing musically from her lips. "No. No one ordered me to spy on you, I was simply curious. They would not allow me past the door the few times I have tried."

There were more details she could give him, but it was never intelligent to expose all of one's weaknesses within the first minute of a conversation.

[King]

"I see." Interesting, indeed. It was very rare for someone to have harnessed the ability to manipulate ink; yet here she was, alone and unprotected. What's more, she wasn't under the influence of any foreign presence - she was acting out of pure independence, and curiosity as she so put it.

Casually, the Oyabun took a seat next to the artist. Being much taller than she, his feet didn't hang nearly as much; he was positioned comfortably, clearly relaxed. An assassin? Perhaps, but if it was his time than it was just his time.

"Did you find out anything interesting?" His hand extended to the ink fox, calmly stroking its faux fur. The beast, having been seduced by the man's Sharingan once before, was far more inclined to appreciate this rare showing of affection. "Or did our friend here disappoint you?"

[♚]

To say Kaori was unprotected ... well, the Oyabun would be ignorant to believe that to be one-hundred percent true. If he knew anything about the users of ink, then he would know they were more than capable of both amazing offense and defense.

She watched him cautiously as he claimed the seat next to her, unnerved by the idea of the owner of that rumored establishment so close in proximity. The few tidbits of information she had managed to gather painted him as a violent and powerful man--one she would never want to tangle with if it could be helped. Still, she was not one to be trifled with; the moment he reached out to touch her fox one dainty wrist flicked, snapping her paintbrush in his direction. It might have been considered hostile if the fox did not immediately melt into a puddle of ink on the ground.

"He was a disappointment this time, yes. I am still perfecting the art of espionage with my creations ... " she paused, eyes narrowing at him as she studied his face. He was much older than her, so there was little doubt he would be stronger in a confrontation. There was also the small matter of his Sharingan eye. "But I suppose not all is lost on this venture. You did come back with him, did you not? I was able to learn something after all."

Right hand extended, offered up to him for a shake, should he choose to take it. "Shinohara Kaori."

[King]

The hand that would've grazed the fox's inky fur was redirected to the girl instead, taking her hand into his with a delicate nature. The shake was even more tender, and after two notions he released her appendage from his cautious grasp. "Kouketsu. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Indeed, he was very well aware of how quickly an ink master could turn their defensive skills into a full onslaught. Their potential was limited solely by their imagination, and from the looks of things, Kaori wasn't anywhere near being handicapped in that front. Still, as a sign of good faith, the brilliantly lit Sharingan were dismissed, fading to the dull steel of a more normal color.

"If you don't mind me asking, why would you use such a talent for espionage? An artist of your caliber could be put to better use, wouldn't you agree?" She seemed far different from the other, more recent additions to the Akumabito. He'd have to play his cards right if he wanted to enlist her for his services. "You do know the penalty for those convicted of espionage, don't you?"

[♚]

"Kouketsu." His name was repeated in that quiet voice--always with its hint of skepticism--to catch the flavor on the tip of her tongue. It was a fine name, suitable for a man of his caliber and not easily forgotten, which was probably a benefit for his plethora of subordinates. "The pleasure is all mine," she purred in response, before finally drawing her gaze from his face and back to the scroll in her lap. Fingers worked to unclasp it and open it just enough to reveal the painting that was beginning to etch across the smooth surface; simultaneously, the newly destroyed fox's puddle was beginning to disappear.

It was a picture of the inside of the House of Spades--not his personal room, but the main area where women and drug men abounded. She studied the shadowed faces calmly, though her lips curled into a pleased smile. So the technique worked better than the first attempt? "I use my talent for whatever I desire. Sometimes that includes satiating my curiosity; other times, I simply like to lounge around and create new pictures."

His mention of a penalty for espionage was brushed off with a shrug, even going so far as to present the image on her scroll to him. "I don't fear retaliation. I no longer belong to a village, so always I am walking the line of life and death. Wouldn't you want to enjoy yourself if you knew you would die tomorrow?" She forgot to mention that she did not think death would come easily for her; minor ego aside, she had enough resources to counter or escape most of the shinobi sent to hunt her down. Thus far, she was successful. "Besides ... I like to think my talents will eventually be noticed."

[King]

"I've been walking that line since I was a child." A mere statement brought back wave after wave of memories; his past was a horrid one, written in the blood of his enemies, and sometimes his closest friends and family. As a ninja, he'd committed many crimes against the people of the wolrd; as the Oyabun, he had committed several times more. "Unfortunately, a man in my situation cannot afford the luxury of such simple pleasures. My happiness comes from my ideas and goals being brought to fruition; however. . ."

His pause was brought on by him nodding toward the puddle that was disappearing, followed by a cascading gaze toward the girl and her scroll. "Fine company such as this is a rare treat that I cannot deny myself. You truly do possess and amazing talent, Kaori."

Unfortunately, he had business to attend to. Slowly standing from his seat, he brushed away what little bits of dirt and dust that had collected on the skirt of his kimono. "Believe me when I say that your skills have been noticed, Kaori. If you ever wish to lend them to someone, you know where to find me; the life you're living now is nothing compared to what I can offer you."

And with that, he began his trek through the alley and back to the house of spades.

[♚]

The scroll was allowed to snap shut when he had viewed it, wishing to keep it for her personal collection, at least until she managed to memorize the details of that room. "Thank you," she replied, humbled by the compliments her work was receiving. The length of time between the last time she showed off and now stretched like a winding road in her mind, empty of familiar faces entirely.

His abrupt change in position startled her, however. Brown eyes locked back onto the man, widening a fraction as her eyebrows raised. He was offering her compensation of some kind for this skill? A pleased grin crossed her face, but she made no effort to respond to him, even as he walked away. It would require quite a bit of thought before Kaori would throw herself into a new situation like that. The Li girl stood up, brushing off the bottom of her pants and motioning to the squirrel at the same time. Like its brethren it splashed into an amorphous puddle, animal no more. And then she was off, heading in the opposite direction of Kouketsu and his establishment.

exit.

[.DEVIOUS]

Addy: +55 exp
Genbu: +45 exp