Rena gets her groove back

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> The morning after Nadia's latest foray into nocturnal kleptomania, everyone gathers in a hotel room to review the documents liberated from Fukui's office. Birds sing outside, the residents of Tokyo go to work, but inside there are plans to be made!
<Yomi> "Since it's such a rare chance of me to be in Tokyo again, I was thinking of looking up my old friends," Yomi says, Mei's letters lying discarded nearby. "Erin, you said you were interested in meeting our diviners once, didn't you?"
<Erin> "Yes, that's correct," replies Erin, glancing at the papers. "But... well, I hesitate to say so, but how sure are you that they are your friends?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Perhaps the emphasis was on 'old'?" Nadia posits.
<Yomi> "It can't possibly be that everyone who was ever nice to me is either dead or wants me to be," Yomi responds cheerfully. "Are you coming or not?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Will they object to meeting foreigners?" Nadia asks in case her disguise should be renewed. She's already getting tired of walking around in so much heavy makeup.
<El-Cideon> Rena shrugs. "It's alright, Yomi. If your old friends don't like you anymore, you have new ones, don't you?"
<Yomi> "No real way to tell. We never came across any back in the past," she tells Nadia, giving Rena a smile.
<Erin> "Well, we might as well find out," replies Erin. "Honestly, I've had enough of disguises, too."
<Nadia_Chekova> Considering Erin and Rena will be present anyway, Nadia decides to be herself rather than Natsu.
<Nadia_Chekova> "They are fun for a little while, but wearing them all day grows tiresome," she agrees with Erin.
<El-Cideon> Yomi's old group had an office of sorts in Tokyo, a modest one, mostly a means for people in the city who might need them to reach them more quickly than heading to the Isayama clan's village outside the city. It's still there, you find, but largely unpopulated. There's only one person immediately apparent when you walk in--Nobu, Yomi's old fiance, casually rifling through a filing cabinet. (more)
<El-Cideon> He's wearing a suit--he was always a sharp dresser--and looks rather dashing with unfashionably long hair, though his smile tends toward the arrogant and mischievous. He looks up as the door opens. "Wasn't expecting any missions toda--OH, Yomi? When did you get back? Typical, not telling me about it at all."
<Nadia_Chekova> Well, he sounds friendly enough, and isn't expressing surprise that Yomi's alive, so that puts Nadia's mind at ease.
* Erin looks curiously around the office which purportedly holds the Isayama diviners, quite eager to pick out any occult trappings that may be about.
<Yomi> "A few days ago," Yomi responds, heading inside to get herself something to drink.
<El-Cideon> "Days ago? What've you been doing the whole time, apart from snubbing me? Did you find what you were looking for?" Erin finds the office is very businesslike, mostly a place for everyone to gather before going out to work. There's a briefing room of sorts next to the main room; yomi finds her other old teammates inside, seated at a table drinking tea. (more)
<El-Cideon> Yuuki, a pretty young girl in a shrine maiden's outfit, and Takeshi, a man of more martial training who aided Yomi in bludgeoning into submission the more corporeal supernatural menaces they encountered in their work. He has a shaved scalp and dresses simply, like a monk. Both of them look as surprised as Nobu to see you.
<Yomi> "I know, I'm overdressed, aren't I?" Yomi asks, moving to pour herself a cup of tea. "But I just wanted to look pretty for the reunion."
<Erin> It's not at all like the lodge, or Myriam's place. Crisp, businesslike, and efficient spring to mind as suitable adjectives, at least until she sees the... what was it they were called here? Miko?
<Nadia_Chekova> "Are you going to introduce us to your friends, Yomi?" Nadia asks politely as she tags along with the swordswoman.
<El-Cideon> "Not going to be much of one if you didn't come back with the sword," Takeshi says. "Mei was very insistent you not come back without it. So I guess you found it?"
<Yomi> "Takeshi, Yuuki," Yomi says, gesturing to the two, and then turns around and continues the introductions. "Nadia, Erin, Rena. There, we're all friends now." She gives Takeshi an apologetic smile afterwards. "I'm afraid I had to abandon Elder Sister Mei's request on account of her hiring ninja to assassinate me. I'm sure you understand."
* Nadia_Chekova smiles as she's perfunctorily introduced.
<El-Cideon> He stands up, slapping a hand on the table in obvious outrage. Teacups rattle. "What?!" Nobu follows you into the office (seemingly too surprised by your declaration to notice Rena's obviously appraising glances).
* Erin nods her head, but scrutinizes the reactions of the individuals present when Yomi drops her bombshell.
<Yomi> "I was surprised myself. Who knew she was just like the rest of them?" Yomi wonders out loud. "So you can see, I hope, why I likely never return home for as long as I live. There's simply no place that remains here for me. The only thing I couldn't know before coming here is if I'd leave the country while making a clear cut with my past, or by retaining the friends I protected humanity with."
<El-Cideon> "Never return?" Takeshi says, incredulous. "We should go there now and punish her for this outrage!" Nobu waves him into silence. "Let's not break anyone's neck before stopping to think about things? Yomi, how do you know this?"
<Yomi> "Her fiance keeps a meticulous record of their correspondence. How about that for a start?" She shrugs, sipping the tea and savoring the taste. "I could also show you the scar in my chest from when one of the ninja tried to kill me in my sleep. Whatever works."
<El-Cideon> "Well, you know I'd always be glad to see that--" Nobu starts before being shushed by Yuuki. "Do you have these letters?" she says. "If they prove it, why not take them to the police?"
<Yomi> "She wouldn't do this without the support of the family, for one. They're forging closer ties with Fukui, and it's hardly something she could undertake on her own. There is also the fact that Fukui Armaments is likely of enough importance to the government that it would be easier to merely shut me up than deal with the scandal."
<El-Cideon> The three of them exchange glances. "I wish I could say that's hard to believe," Yuuki says, "but it does make sense. Mei's been different since you left. All the time she talks about doing our part to serve the empire, as if we don't already. There are all these new guards around now and they dress like soldiers." (more)
<Erin> "Is that right?" asks Erin, blinking. "That your family would support her, I mean... why would they allow your journey in the beginning? I'd thought her to be acting alone. But, well..."
<El-Cideon> "All the more reason to take justice into our own hands!" Takeshi butts in. "If a criminal can't officially be punished for their crimes, why not do it yourself?"
* Nadia_Chekova likes Takeshi's style.
<Yomi> "There is the slight problem of me not wanting to kill anyone," Yomi responds with a frown. To Erin, she tells, "Not that surprising, really. I was only grudgingly tolerated while Father was still alive."
<El-Cideon> "I could do it for you," Rena says with a shrug.
* Yomi coughs. "Let me rephrase that, Rena. I don't want to solve things by killing people."
<El-Cideon> "What do you plan to do, then?" Yuuki says. "I don't really approave of killing anyone who causes you problems, either...but are you just going to leave and never come back? What if Mei sends someone else?"
<Yomi> "Alright, so I haven't really thought this through," Yomi admits, claiming a seat by the table.
<Erin> "It would be possible," murmurs Erin. "To evade them indefinately, through various means. But that is not really a resolution, is it?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Can't we ruin her instead?" Nadia suggests. "Strip away her power and influence so that she's not a threat?"
<Erin> "Besides, my understanding is that the Isayama family bills itself as a group of defenders of the people. If they seek to assassinate Yomi, it gives clear lie to their stated concerns."
<El-Cideon> "Why does she want you dead, Yomi?" Rena wonders, taking a seat herself, next to Nobu. "I don't see any reason to kill you at all. You've been very helpful to me."
<Erin> Erin finds herself blanching at Rena's statement. No matter how long she hangs around that girl, she just can't get used to it...
<Yomi> "I can't really find a way out that works for me. Could I buy safety by destroying those who protect people from monsters for being corrupt?"
<El-Cideon> "I think, based on what I've been hearing come out of her lately, that she and her father have some ambitions of being big players in the empire," Nobu says. "Destroy their chances of that and they might stop being dangerous. Of course, they might also hate you a lot more."
<Nadia_Chekova> "That's your decision to make, Yomi," Nadia folds her arms. "Assassins aren't coming after anyone else, so it's up to you how you want to deal with it. I'll help you with whatever you decide."
<Yomi> "Ah, this is just too depressing for a reunion," Yomi mutters. "Yuuki, how about we talk over something else? How would you seal a parasitic demon that possesses multiple people and gives them magical powers?"
* Nadia_Chekova shrugs as the relevant point is brushed aside. They'll have to come back to it sooner or later, and it isn't her life on the line.
<El-Cideon> "Changing the subject?" Takeshi says irritably. "You should deal with her now before she succeeds in killing you--" Yuuki nudges him into sullen silence, then she herself speaks. "It should be exorcised from the host as soon as possible, to avoid any loss of life. From where does the demon originate? This is important to know, if it can't be killed."
<Erin> "From deep within the bowels of the earth, is my guess for it's ultimate home," replies Erin. "The actual location in question is somewhere in Siberia."
<El-Cideon> Nobu briefly looks very surprised about something, but says nothing.
<Yomi> "Its dominant element is fire, and its very presence unnerves the regular demons," Yomi adds. "There's also the disturbing fact that I can't sense it."
<Erin> "
<El-Cideon> Yuuki considers this for a moment. "An elusive and frightening creature, from the sound of it. If I were to deal with it, I would want to know for certain where it came from to see if there is some way to send it back there, and lock it away again. This might necessitate going there, unfortunately."
<Yomi> "What if I just wanted to exorcize the specific puppet it is controlling, and prevent it from seizing another right there? Would that be easier?"
<Erin> "Going there has had only poor results on those who have went before," replies Erin, grimacing.
<El-Cideon> "That would be my first suggestion, Yomi. Of course, the stronger the demon, the more difficult it is to drive it out."
<Yomi> "Do you know how we might try this? I might have a lead on one of those possessed, but it would be meaningless if there'd be nothing I could do." She grimaces. "You know I never trained in that stuff."
<Erin> "There is a chance that the demon- if it can be called that, I suppose- is not a lone actor. We know that both those who visited Siberia were 'possessed', but I was wondering if 'infected' may not be a better word..."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Oh, like a whole mess of them all acting with the same agenda?" Nadia asks, nodding as she considers the likely possibility.
<El-Cideon> "I could go on and on about the rituals necessary for such a task, Yomi, but I know you never had the patience for it," Yuuki says with a smile. "It might be easier for you to just bring someone of great holy power and training with you."
<Yomi> "I might have to. It's not the usual sort of demon. This one seems to want to destroy the world, and just might have a decent shot at it." She gives her ex-fiance a glare at that. "So if you have anything you'd like to contribute to this discussion, don't hold back."
<El-Cideon> "Oh!" he says with a start. "I was just busy being fascinated by the conversation," he continues with a lazy grin. "Don't mind me. I'm afraid I'm a little out of my league here. You and your friends can keep talking."
<Yomi> "No help on that front, then," Yomi mutters in disgust. "Right, what was I thinking."
<Erin> "If you would not mind, perhaps you could instrut me in the rituals you speak of?" suggests Erin, glancing at the miko. "I have some familiarity in that field. Besides," she mutter, "There isn't really anyone else I know of who is handy."
<El-Cideon> "Oh really? And how much experience do *you* have with world-eating nightmares, hm?" he challenges, leaning forward and resting his chin on his hands.
<Yomi> "You think I'm just making it up?" Yomi asks indignantly. "We already faced off that thing!"
<El-Cideon> "Well, it varies from faith to faith, Erin," Yuuki says. "The typical exorcism here might involve a great deal of chanting, purified substances, perhaps incense...the details could be different in other countries, of course."
<Erin> "Hmm. Would a Japanese exorcism take effect against a Western demon?" wonders Erin, peering at the woman. "Forgive me for the diversion, but we're touching on a subject close to me. I do have a point, though."
<El-Cideon> "I don't think you're making it up," Nobu says. "I just think, if you don't know how to deal with it, it's hardly fair to get upset at me for not knowing the same things you don't know."
<El-Cideon> "I don't know, Erin," Yuuki says. "I have never tried. It could be an interesting experiment. Unless it failed and the demon ate us."
* Yomi just ignores him for now. "I think it should work," she comments. "The blessing I bestow on my sword cuts through Western demons easily enough."
<El-Cideon> "You've fought many of them?" Yuuki says, sounding intrigued. Nobu goes back to listening in with a vaguely glazed look on his face.
<Yomi> "Vampires are real!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes? How close is the reality to the stories?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Yomi's demonslaying prowess is without peer," Nadia speaks up on behalf of her violent friend!
<Erin> "Well, they aren't quite like Stokers," mutters Erin.
<Yomi> "They drink blood, they're strong and fast, they can seize control of your mind with a glance and they turn into a mist! What else... they could scale walls, and they slept during the day. In real coffins! Decapitation and wooden stake through the heart worked, as did treating them as ghosts and just killing them with extreme prejudice."
<El-Cideon> Yuuki nods along. "Fascinating. I'm glad to see your traditional methods have proven efficacious in the outside world, Yomi."
<Yomi> "Beheading the horrible sadistic monsters was quite fun, but there's something to be said for attending to the classics and using a wooden stake," Yomi says sagely.
<Erin> "Fun?" whispers Erin, glancing at Nadia.
<El-Cideon> Nobu leans over and whispers something to Rena, who nods, and then he returns his attention to the conversation.
* Nadia_Chekova smiles and shrugs. "She does what she loves."
<El-Cideon> "There is something to be said for enjoying one's job," Takeshi says with approval.
* Yomi smiles proudly. "We rescued the humans they were keeping, so that was our true reward!"
<El-Cideon> "It's good to see you've continued being vigilant in your duties, Yomi," Yuuki says. "We'll always have faith in you no matter what Mei says."
<Yomi> Mei again. "Alright, I get it. I can't put it off. Where is she, anyway? I can't settle anything if she's away on business."
<Erin> "Yomi, I have to ask," remarks Erin, after a moment. "You still intend to recover Shishi-o, I assume?"
<Yomi> "They had no right to take it, so I'm rescuing it," Yomi affirms.
<El-Cideon> "She's at home, as far as we know," Takeshi says. "With the goon squad she's had around lately. You know sometimes she sends these secondhand soldiers out to do our job these days? Just has Yuuki here bless some guns and off they go." Disgusts is apparent in his tone.
<Erin> "Can you tell me about Mei?"
<El-Cideon> "I can tell you she's not a fighter," Takeshi says. "She'll use them when it suits her, though. Intrigue and politicking is what she knows. If Yomi ever confronted her directly, it would be a short conflict."
<Yomi> "So what are my options? Storming my old home, and making my family my enemy?"
<El-Cideon> "You're not technically an outlaw," Nobu says. "You could walk right in, probably. Walking out, though? That might be trickier depending on how things go."
<Erin> "I don't think that will be necessary. I found it interesting that Mei didn't solicit the assassins herself, but rather worked through her paramour," notes Erin. "Fukui Armaments was working on a rather interesting new project, weren't they? I'd imagine they've provided all sorts of resources to your family, as well."
<Yomi> "She might've wanted to keep a distance just in case of a double-cross."
<El-Cideon> "Her guards and their weapons, sure," Nobu adds in. "If you ask me, though, it's money and influence she wants to get from him. Fukui has a lot of friends in high places."
<Erin> "I'd imagine the Tsukino's price was quite high, and only likely to rise in the wake of their failure. Could the Isayama family itself bankroll such assassins without outside help?"
<El-Cideon> "I doubt it," Nobu says. "We've always had more prestige than money."
<Erin> "Then I would agree with Nadia," suggests Erin. "If we can find a way to sever the connection between Fukui and Mei, it seems unlikely any attacks would continue, except as part of some misplaced sense of honor held by the Tsukinos."
<El-Cideon> "Honorable assassins, that's a laugh," Takeshi says.
<Yomi> "It does sound ridiculous, doesn't it?" Yomi agrees. "Then it is pointless for me to return home. How could I show Fukui that this alliance is not in his best interest?"
<El-Cideon> Nobu shrugs. "He's a businessman. Make it more expensive than it's worth. That's assuming you haven't already. Good assassins can hardly be cheap and you've already cost him one. Other than that, I guess the thing to wonder is what he's getting from his arrangement with Mei. Ruin that and maybe he'll drop her."
<Erin> "Genuine love and trust, perhaps?"
* Yomi snorts, looking away.
* Nadia_Chekova snorts and covers her mouth as she laughs.
<Nadia_Chekova> "You're so funny, Erin!"
<Erin> "Well, anyone can fall in love!"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Not the author of those letters," Nadia shakes her head, grinning.
<Yomi> "Given enough money, love could bloom?"
<El-Cideon> "Money's never been very important to me," Rena says. "Looks are much more important."
<Erin> "I used to say money wasn't important, but you have no idea how much rent is in London..."
<Yomi> "The comedy routine aside, what's really our next move? Seeking out the ninja to persuade them to stop? Going after Fukui Armaments and making them lose a fortune or two? Walking through the front door of the Isayama home and setting down the law? I'd choose myself, but it'd really involve others from now on."
<Yomi> She nods to Nadia. "If this thing is botched, I'm not the only one who'll be getting assassins sent after her."
<Nadia_Chekova> There isn't an assassin in the world who can outsneak the legendary cat burglar Nadia Chekova! "Well, we did such a good job with the last assassin. Why don't we get them off our backs first before confronting Mei. She'll be more tractable without the reassurance of having them on her side."
<Erin> "I doubt we have much ability to convince the ninja of anything, fools that they are. You saw how crazed the other one was," replies Erin, grimacing. "And I can't speak for the wisdom of talking with your family. Going after Fukui seems our best option..."
<Yomi> "We know Fukui was planning on blackmailing them if things went sour. Would you continue working for a man like that if you were a secretive clan of assassins?"
<Erin> "To be honest, I assumed that was standard practice."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Well, I didn't necessarily say we'd convince them with words alone," Nadia gives Yomi a meaningful look. "But cutting off the flow of money also works. Just so long as we undermine her some way first before laying our cards on the table."
<Yomi> "How about you guys?" Yomi asks Yuuki and Takeshi. "Going to stay out of this? Help me out?" She eyes the playboy Rena is warming up to warily. "Be tempted into turning me in just because?"
<El-Cideon> "Convincing someone with words is always easier after some convincing with your fists," Takeshi adds.
<El-Cideon> "I'm not going to turn you in, Yomi," Nobu says. "You're more entertaining than your cousin. There's a never a conversation with Mei, you agree with her or she stops talking to you. Whether we help depends on how illegal whatever you're planning is. At least, that's where I stand."
* Nadia_Chekova is sure Rena will amply convince Nobu of the benefits of remaining friendly to them.
<Yomi> "We want to hurt Fukui's pockets or prestiege, right? So it would be helpful to know just what will hurt those. It would take more than reading his mail to determine... isn't it nice, however, that his company is making ties with the clan and, by extension, all of you?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, severing his financial connection to the government will be hard. There aren't many other direct competitors by this point. A lot of the other leaders in the same business have died the past couple years. Funny how that works, huh? Find some way to embarass him, make him unpalatable to his allies in the government? Or Mei, if you want him to cut ties with her?"
<Erin> "Given his interest in weapons, perhaps his interest in Mei lies within that sphere," suggests Erin. "Were there spiritual weapons other than Shishi-o?"
<Yomi> "There always are, but I haven't heard of any of the same caliber."
<El-Cideon> "It was the best we had," Yuuki confirms. "It was a great blow when it was taken."
<Yomi> "It was just insulting to know if was sold back here, in Japan."
<El-Cideon> "Not that I've heard, but it's not like I keep an ear trained on the black market for mysterious magical weapons," Nobu says,.
<Yomi> "I don't think we can achieve both goals on our own. Is there a way for you to look into Fukui Armaments without drawing too much attention?"
<Erin> "If we caused some kind of catastrophe and fingered Fukui with the blame... they are a weapons company, after all. Ironically, that would mean safety is a key part of their trade."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, we probably can," Nobu says. "Mei's always exhorting her flock to take a more active interest in furthering the empire's goals. I could always play the good lackey and maybe get into the good graces of both. Might take some time, though."
<Yomi> "How much time are we talking about, here?"
<Erin> "If you were to investigate that, we could take the time to investigate certain other leads. But that is a pertinent question."
<El-Cideon> "Hard to say, really. Could be a few days? Depends how suspicious Mei is at my suddent change in attitude. I'll put on the charm as best I can, of course," he says with a winning smile.
<Erin> "If it's only a few days, or even a matter of weeks, that would make you a rather adroit investigator."
<El-Cideon> "Well, it was just a guess. It is hard to know until I try."
* Yomi doesn't doubt that he could do it. "How could we keep in touch?" she asks. "I'd love to visit again, but it just might seem suspicious if I am seen."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Perhaps Rena could take messages between us?" Nadia suggests brightly.
<Erin> "I have a fam- oh! Yes, perhaps," mumbles Erin.
<El-Cideon> "I could do this," Rena says. "I will not be needed to fight ninjas?"
<Yomi> "I suspect there's no solution that will make me happy, so decide what you like," Yomi says, opting to finish her tea than comment either way.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Oh, you can fight ninjas when it comes to that, it just means that you'll be the one who comes here to see Nobu and find out what he's learned instead of Yomi," Nadia explains for her, turning to give her a wink without any of the Japanese people seeing.
<El-Cideon> Rena nods. "I am satisfied to do this."
<Erin> "You don't need to *encourage* her promiscuity, you know," mutters Erin, in Nadia's ear.
<Nadia_Chekova> "She has needs," Nadia replies quietly to Erin, having heard enough complaining from Rena these last few weeks about the lack of 'action'.
<El-Cideon> "Is whatever you two are whispering about something you need to share with the rest of us?" Nobu wonders with a raised eyebrow.
<Erin> "No."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Girl talk," Nadia asserts, nodding.
<El-Cideon> The meeting breaks up; Yomi's friends stay behind, the rest of the group prepares to go to Kyoto to track down a ninja. Outside the office, Rena speaks up. "Are we leaving immediately? I would like to go have breakfast and spend some time with Nobu. He has agreed."
<Yomi> "I'm not listening," Yomi declares. "I'll not be listening back in our hotel."
<Nadia_Chekova> "You can do that, we can get a train to Kyoto in the afternoon," Nadia smiles winsomely at Rena.
<Erin> "I will join you in your ignorance, Yomi," responds Erin, striding forward.
<El-Cideon> "Should I speak louder?" Rena says to Yomi, not seeming to understand.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Yomi..." Nadia slowly turns towards their resident sworsmistress. "Is that jealousy I hear?"
<Yomi> "I really hate that man. Erin, let's go hate him together in the hotel's lounge."
<Erin> "Yes, yes, tell me all about it!"
* Yomi takes Erin's hand and hurries away.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Oh, well. Why don't you go and have fun with Nobu, Rena?" Nadia says to the German. "Just remember to come back to the hotel by lunchtime."
<El-Cideon> Rena nods. "I will do this, yes. Goodbye for now, Nadia." Rena turns and heads back inside the office.
<El-Cideon> Rena returns a few hours later, around ten o'clock. As is usual, she doesn't actively volunteer information about what she did outside your presence, but her hair is decidedly tousled and it's obvious some manner of physical activity was recently indulged in. Maybe she ran back so no one would worry about her? In any event, the four of you soon pile onto a train bound west, arriving in Kyoto by mid-afternoon. (more)
<El-Cideon> It's a very picturesque city, being the old capital and littered with ancient royal estates and shrines. Fukui's notes were very exact on your quarry's address, so finding her house from the train station should be no problem.
<Erin> "How shall we tackle this?" wonders Erin. "Do we simply wish to speak with her, perhaps approaching openly and brazenly?"
<Yomi> "She professes a skill with a sword. Having heard of it, I wished to meet with her. Would you buy that?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Ordinarily, except for the fact that you're a target of her clan and supposedly dead in London," Nadia replies with a shrug.
<Erin> "If I was a ninja? No, not in the slightest," replies Erin.
<El-Cideon> "We could beat her up until she tells us what we want to know," Rena suggests. "That usually works."
<Erin> "We could approach bluntly and suggest a truce. We have the documents, after all. I don't know how much stock they'll put in them, but it may at least give them pause."
<Yomi> "I was thinking of how to explain it to her family, which presumably doesn't know about her employment by the ninja clan. Where it comes to her, I want to be direct, naturally."
<Nadia_Chekova> "There is something to be said for the direct approach. If they don't believe us and continue to be belligerent, well that just means she can see Yomi's skill with the sword," Nadia muses.
<Erin> "Ah. In that case, you might just as well request a sword to be forged for you?"
<Yomi> "Though I hate the idea, there is a way to ensure my enemies would not use a sword again without killing them," Yomi agrees with Nadia. "That could be my last resort, I suppose. And we could go with that as well, certainly, Erin."
<Erin> "I can freeze them in place, if necessary," replies Erin.
<Erin> "Well, they should be frozen."
<Erin> "It would work about three out of four times."
<Nadia_Chekova> "That's a good average," Nadia smiles supportively at Erin and her poor underwhelming magic.
* Yomi coughs. "Alright. How about you two use a disguise for this, and Rena waits in reserve with Erin's familiar?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "I can disguise myself once we find a place to stay," Nadia agrees.
<Erin> "If we must," grumbles Erin. "They'll probably find out about us anyway, once that other ninja returns."
<Yomi> "It's not that we strictly have to. We could approach as we are, if you'd like."
<Erin> "They're already after you, and we're going to be with you, anyway. I don't mind sharing the risk."
<Yomi> "Thanks for that. And we might as well keep your other skills to ourselves, if we need to pursue the ninja to their village."
<El-Cideon> The Nishimura residence is a modest, but well-maintained one-storey house in a quiet neighborhood. This is an old part of the city, you can tell--the houses are quaintly old-fashioned and tall trees shade the road. You don't see anyone obviously out and around the house as you approach. There's no fence or anything; you could walk right up if you chose to.
* Yomi walks right up to the house, knocking on the doorframe.
* Nadia_Chekova hangs back a bit down the street, monitoring Yomi via the telepathy orb as she keeps Rena company.
<El-Cideon> A young woman answers the door. She's very plain, the sort of face that could pass totally unnoticed in a crowd, with straight hair cut off at chin level. She's wearing plain office wear. "Yes?" she says, looking from one of you to the other.
<El-Cideon> Rena seems content to lean against a tree and watch clouds through gaps in the tree line.
<Yomi> "Nishimura Sayuri?" Yomi asks her pleasantly enough.
<El-Cideon> "Yes? How may I help you? If you are looking for father, he is at work right now. He dislikes being interrupted, but if it is important..."
<Yomi> "Oh, no. I'm here to see you. Ah, but where are my manners?" she bows. "I am Isayama Yomi. I came here hoping to talk to you for a bit."
<El-Cideon> "May I ask what about?" her tone is polite enough, decidedly neutral.
<Yomi> "Certainly. I would be delighted to explain if we could talk in private."
<El-Cideon> "I do not typically invite strangers into my family's house. If you could explain your concerns more, perhaps."
<Yomi> "If I must. Ichirou Fukui has tracked you down and intends to act upon all he has learned as a result once his business has been concluded. I personally can't say I would care either way if I weren't involved in the matter myself, so as I'm finding myself choosing sides... well, I certainly like him a lot less.
<Yomi> Would that work for a reason to have a nice conversation where I can support my claims with facts?"
<El-Cideon> She's silent and unresponsive for a long moment, then: "We do not talk here. There is a small shrine a short walk down the street. It should be empty at this hour. Wait one moment." She closes the door.
<Erin> "Well, that went well!"
<Yomi> "We didn't get stabbed in rage. I'd say it qualified, yes."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Looks like they're going to be heading back this way," Nadia tells Rena, "Lets go move near that Shrine over there and out of their path."
<El-Cideon> Rena nods and complies. Shortly, the door opens again. Sayuri is back. She has donned shoes and carries a cloth-wrapped bundle, but is otherwise the same. "We go now," she says, setting out down the street. She seems intent on keeping pace with you, not letting anyone drift behind her.
* Yomi is happy to walk alongside Sayuri, her own wrapped bundle in presence.
<Erin> Erin does likewise, although her hands are empty of bundles.
<El-Cideon> The shrine is indeed quite modest, basically a single-room frame of wood behind an elaborate gate. It appears deserted right now. The grounds surrounding it are unevenly covered with trees, fairly unkempt. Sayuri enters the grounds and stops at the shrine entrance. "Speak. You begin by explaining how you know these things and substantiating your claims."
* Yomi retrieves a smaller bundle which she then holds over to Sayuri. "Can I assume that you do know who exactly I am?"
<El-Cideon> "Should I know this?" She reaches out a hand and takes the bundle, keeping her eyes on yours the whole time.
<Yomi> "Perhaps not. I don't profess to know how your organization operates. The bottom line is fairly simple. Fukui and I have a dispute that he escalated by bringing your people into it. I would very much wish for that connection to be reconsidered, especially as you can see that he isn't dealing with you in good faith. That should leave us both quite happy."
* Yomi pauses here, giving the ninja time to read the implicating evidence.
<El-Cideon> "He is a client. We do not typically consider eliminating current clients, if this is what you suggest. The circumstances would have to be unusual." Sayuri retreats to a distance of fifteen feet or so and scans the documents, frequently glancing up at you as she does so. (more)
<El-Cideon> Finally: "He knows enough to be dangerous if chooses to be so," she concludes. "But I see more suspicion than intent."
* Yomi should've been more selective after all, perhaps. "He wouldn't stop, and it's only a matter of time before he decides he cannot afford a tie to you. You do know how important his government contracts and public image are to his business, don't you? What I would like to see is you breaking off ties with Fukui. Is that up to negotiation?"
<El-Cideon> "This is possible, but it is not a decision I have the authority to make. I will need to speak with my superiors." A pause. "You have read these documents, I assume? You know all of us that he does?"
<Yomi> "I've also relocated to Great Britain and don't foresee a reason to return, ever."
* Erin blinks.
<El-Cideon> "Yet you are here now."
* Yomi shrugs. "Unless I'm forced to return, of course, as I have been."
<Yomi> It is childish, she decides, to just say 'you started it'.
<El-Cideon> "Fukui has discerned the location of our present base of operations. Therefore, so have you. I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I let someone with such knowledge simply walk away from me. But you also make us aware of a possible threat. Therefore, this is what will happen: I will go to Ueno to report all of this. You will accompany me and make your offer in person. At least this way we know where you are at all times."
<El-Cideon>  At least this way we know where you are at all times."
<Erin> "
<Erin> "I do not object to this. Of course, you would not try something so crass as to set a trap," notes Erin, blandly. "Precautions have already been taken. An honest deal WILL be made."
<El-Cideon> "We are always honest in our dealings as long as our clients warrant such," she says.
<Erin> "I'm glad to hear we rate as clients."
<Yomi> "Accompanying you sounds like the best way to resolve this up to everyone's satisfaction," Yomi agrees with Sayuri, happy that Erin is onboard for that.
<Nadia_Chekova> 'Should we come with you or follow secretly or stay behind?' Nadia asks Yomi via telepathy.
<El-Cideon> "Then we waste no more time, and proceed immediately to the train station. We should arrive by nightfall." She looks from one of you to the other. "I must know the names of those I escort to Ueno."
<Yomi> "I've given mine," Yomi says, leaving it to Erin to introduce herself.
<Erin> "Erin," replies Erin.
<El-Cideon> "Do westerners no longer carry family names?"
<Yomi> 'Study our route and follow afterwards,' Yomi thinks to Nadia while the ninja's attention is on Erin. 'Whichever way seems best that wouldn't get you revealed easily.'
<Erin> "Erin Callahan. Thats Ca-la-han, not Ca-ru-a-han."
<El-Cideon> "I understand," she says flatly. She pockets the documents and nods. "We go now. We should arrive by nightfall."
* Nadia_Chekova leads Rena to the train station, intending to beat them there and get on the same train to Ueno but in a different carriage.
<El-Cideon> Sayuri accompanies the duo back to the station and boards a car with Erin and Yomi. She sits across from both, not taking her eyes off them the whole time and always having her hands near the wrapped bundle in her lap. She doesn't seem eager to speak any more than she has to to get where you're going. (more)
<El-Cideon> It's another couple hours' ride before you reach your destination, the journey taking you deep into the mountains, the rail line swinging through valleys and over hills. It's a picturesque little trip, but probably hard to enjoy when you're sitting across from a paranoid ninja. (more)
<El-Cideon> Ueno itself is a small town, barely large enough to justify having a train station. Apart from a handful of locals (and a couple foreigners that you totally don't recognize at all, no sir), you three are practically the only ones to depart. "We walk from here. The path takes us some way into the woods north."
* Nadia_Chekova and Rena get off quickly and scoot into the restrooms to wait until their friends and the ninja have departed the station before they follow.
* Yomi managed to enjoy herself on the trip, even though it was a shame the ninja was so quiet and kept to herself. "Lead the way," she suggests at the prompting. "Unless you're worried we're going to stab you in the back. Then I could lead the way."
<El-Cideon> "The suspicion had occurred to me. We walk alongside each other whenever possible." She takes you through the town itself--there's really only one main road here, of packed dirt, and as evening falls there's no one out and about. At the point where the road leaves the town proper and heads towards a valley of rice fields, Sayuri hangs a left and takes a barely noticeable break in the treeline, heading into the woods around the town.
<El-Cideon>  heading into the woods around the town.
* Nadia_Chekova follows at a very sedate pace, the attention that needs to be kept on the telepathy orb keeping her from walking very fast or paying note to her own surroundings.
<El-Cideon> ~