Calling The Steward (Private)

[Kairyuu]

The room he was in was clean, to say the least. Hoshikata saw not even a speck of dust, not a single errant strand of hair. Whoever was cleaning this place was either a tyrant on their workers, or had a method of madness he had not seen before to keeping it spotless. Much like the rest of the village he had seen, the tower left him with a sense of emptiness, as if the people were simply temporary passengers in the ride of life, and not the permanent residents they thought themselves to be. It would have been a spine chilling revelation if he hadn't encountered worse already.

The walk through the village had been an interesting one for the man in black, for he had never seen a shinobi village quite like this one. Mist had been inside the crater of a dormant volcano on a massive lake, open for all to tourism and visiting. There had been little security. Cloud was similarly an open place, while there was security it was rather lax and in truth laughable. But Sand was truly hidden from all down in the earth, and the security certainly was impressive. Oh he could have easily ghosted through most of it but he was here to be a diplomat and not a terrorist.

The people went about their business, but naturally there were a few stares as the golden man walked through them to his goal. The directions had been clear, and even had they not the guards escorting him would have likely made sure he did not stray too far from them. As he admired the sight of the square grounds with the four pyramids of bronze, he knew his goal was in that tower betwixt them.

The sound of his staff would create a soft chink as the blue crystal cap tapped on the glassy floors. His first thought was how bright it was due to the platinum coloring of the floor and walls. He second had been about how clean it was. He had a feeling that the man he was here to meet, the one referred to as Lord Takahashi, would be an interesting character.

Hoshikata wore the same outfit as he had during his meeting with the sentinel at the gates. A flowing black robe with the hood down to reveal a mane of long white hair, with black boots to match. His skin was golden in color, a deep dark color that was inhuman in its nature. And his eyes matched, a bright golden like molten metal with the pupils in an unnatural shape of hourglasses. In one hand he held a staff as long as he was tall, capped at the bottom with a pointed blue crystal and at the top with four talons holding a clear globe. Inside that globe, a rainbow of colors would twist and swirl about.

For a moment he considered announcing himself, then decided against it. They knew he was here.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

The floor panels would open up, and a set of stairs would form as the panel descended. It seemed that someone was coming up. Voice could be heard from underneath. "I told you to push Magnetica all the way back to Soon's Sanctuary. Let them deal with her. That city of piss poor merchants." An older feminine voice would say. The first to emerge from the stairs below would be the speaker. She had violet hair with quite a bit of grey. Her hair reached to shoulder length. She wore full military uniform. Her broken jacket adorned with all sorts of medals. She had part of her jacket pulled up and stapled because she was missing an arm. In addition she wore an eye patch as well. Some wrinkles were present, but she wasn't that old. When she got up the whole set of stairs, she turned around and look down.

"Pushing Magnetica into Soon's won't do us any good. "<i></i> Another voice came. The voice was monotone. "If we push her into Soon's and they take over, it would be difficult to take Soon's back. It is always easier to defend that it is to attack. I thought you knew this grandmother."<i></i> The Steward's grandmother rolled her eye and shrugged. Sousuke came up the stairs. He wore his traditional white lab coat and MkI armour. His hands and face covered in steel. The resemblance between Mother and Grandson were present in the hair colours as they matched, except in the case of Sousuke there was far less grey.

Mako turned her eye from his grandson to the stranger. "You have company. If you need me I'll be enjoying my brandy... and doing my usual which is remaining as far as humanly possible from your mother." She waved her grandson off with a lukewarm gesture and left Sousuke with the stranger.

Sousuke turned to greet the stranger. The Steward wasn't the tallest of men, but to the unseen and untrained eye the stranger would find a perplexing riddle. He would see a soul, an extraordinarily damaged soul. The wounds were older than the body before him by a few months. The soul looked like it was torn and ripped apart, or at least over half of it was. Yet while the soul was damaged, there was heart. A great deal of heart present. Enough to perhaps counter balance the lack of soul. "Salutations Traveler."<i></i> Sousuke would speak. The stranger before him in a manner reminded him of Mikaboshi, but the staff and crystal were foreign to Sungakure.

 

[Kairyuu]

As the two come into sight, Hoshikata turns slightly to face them better, letting his eyes take in both the seen and unseen of each. The woman was not too advanced in age, but the wrinkles, gray hair and missing arm gave proof to the experience she held in her mind. He words were another clue into herself, likely that hard exterior was no show and to the core she was military and straight as a rob, but if you found the right chink she would show her own kindness, in a way. She had issues with her daughter, but not her grandson, which meant she knew the value of family and that was likely a sore point for later use if need be. The missing arm was another thing he could use if need be.

Then his eyes swept to the other with her, the one he was here to see, and the only thing to show what he saw was the stillness he adopted suddenly. This creature was almost as interesting as Mikaboshi had been. There was some gray, and he was wearing armor which showed he was not a complete fool of a shinobi. His lack of inflection spoke to a man who kept a tight reign on himself, not given to emotional outbursts. A man of logic from the words, rationality above else perhaps.

His soul spoke to something different. The damage was plain to see, the missing chunks that would leave most men dead before they could draw their first breath. And that heart that fortified it. While this man might just be a rational being, he was by no means the same as Hoshikata himself, he could well be his very antithesis. One who, much like him, valued logic and reason, but did not put himself ahead of others. That was a sobering thought for all of the second it took Hoshikata to remind himself that he was above these people, much as a man is above an ant. He was a god, he did not need to worry of their concerns.

”Greetings, honored Steward.” He had picked up some knowledge of this rank during his time as the spymaster in his old home, so he did not make the error of calling this man a Kage though he held all of the power of one. Hoshikata stood straight before him, not a single dip of the head. While he wouldn't ask the man to bow before him in his own home, he would not bow to the man either. He would grant the illusion of equals this time.

”I am Isaki Hoshikata, second Mizukage and leader of the ancient Isaki clan. I have come to your village with a proposition that would aid both Sand and the world.”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

An enigma of a man stood before Sousuke. The Steward's eyes narrowed beneath the yellow lenses. It was time to see what sort of man stood before him. The staff he carried ornate in design. It was however just a staff, Sousuke doubted that the power of this man was within the staff. Most sage and mystical individuals rarely kept power contained within their staves. The staff was merely a tool of a conduit of sorts, still it was a subject of interest. His robes were as black as night. His boots too matched. There was a certain calmness about him when he spoke the word Steward. This man was well informed. Even some of the villagers made the mistake of calling Sousuke the Kazekage. He was no such thing. He was the Steward-Kazekage. He was first and foremost a Takahashi, not a Sunahoshi. The man did not bow, or even tilt his head. This was a personality that was ... well, Sousuke figured that this man bowed to no one, out of respect or otherwise.

"Mizukage."<i></i> Sousuke spoke slowly. He did not bow his head or bow at all. He merely stood there as strong as steel. "My sympathies to your crystallized homeland. A number of Kirigakure refugees have come this way. They reside healthfully within these walls. A goodly host is what they most required, and so I have provided them. My parents met with an acquaintance of yours ... one Akaoni Aomaki. A pleasant surprise for them."<i></i> He next spoke of a proposition to aid both Sand and the world. What sand needed right now was a Sunahoshi to stop the storms. That was not going to be easy to come by. "Go on. You had my curiosity Hoshikata of the House Isaki, but now you have my full undivided attention. "<i></i> Usually Sousuke spoke in long and winded sentences, yet he was somewhat short here. Sousuke relaxed slightly in his stance, but was very much looking forward to hearing what was to be said next.

 

[Kairyuu]

Hoshikata paid no mind as the man sized him up much as he sized them up previously. The Seer knew how to hide behind a mask, he knew how to keep his true self hidden. He kept his bearing, noting as he did that the other offered a similarly straight spine. Egos would be the death of man, one of these days. He also took note that the other offered no name, which meant he would be forced to refer to him by either title or surname, both of which were what one did for a superior. But Hoshikata had grown up in this game, and he knew ways around that.

”I thank you for providing them refuge. I arrived after the freeze and gathered who I could to send to our new home on the Isle of Moon. I would appreciate it if you would let me tell them of this so they can go see if they have any surviving friends or family there.” He lets go of the staff, the weapon balancing perfectly on that crystal cap as the Seer steps away from it and reaches into his robes. He withdraws a large rolled up map, which he unrolls across the floor; it had to be for it was simply too large for anything else in the room.

”With the loss of Mist, the power of the shinobi villages has been through a curveball as I'm sure you're aware. I'm not going to guess how it's power was compared to others, but it was substantial enough that the vacuum left in its wake could cause issues. To help iron out the creases in the future over this loss and other issues, I am organizing a meeting between the reigning Kages of the greatest shinobi villages here.”

The staff rises an inch off the floor and floats over the map before gently setting down on an island just south of Lightning Country. ”The country of Moon has long been neutral in all shinobi matters, and I think it would provide an excellent meeting place. I do not wish to see a repeat of the wars which have happened in the past. Kirigakure was lucky, it was founded well after the great wars of old, but we stand on the brink of another due to the loss of a great village.”

“Rogue shinobi, with no place to call home, wander the world. Some may head to Cloud, some here, some Leaf, some even elsewhere. And what happens when one village attains such a startling advantage of numbers over the rest? Human nature does not change. There will be a war unless we act now to prevent one.” Golden eyes rise to meet those of Souske as Hoshikata lifts his hand, the staff flying back into his grasp. ”I've come to deliver your invitation.”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"I will inform them properly. Is it your intent to remain in the shadows? That is to say do I alert Aomaki of your presence? People deserve their own secrecy, and that I can respect."<i></i> There was a slight pause of sorts. The Steward's face plate retracted revealing two scars forming a cross on side of Sousuke's face. This was a man who had fought hard in the past. Very hard indeed. Sousuke's mind ran rampant. Several gears in motion. The first was that Hoshikata was true in his word, that this would be the new home of the Mist Nin. Yet, why would he reveal that? Suna was not hidden by choice, it was by necessity. The second option that Sousuke thought of that this was a trap of sorts. Who knew what slights this man had and how he wished to pay people back. The Steward thought of Shuu. While he didn't suspect her to be on anyone's radar to have harm done onto, it was in fact a possibility.

The Steward was hesitant with what was said next. An organization of the kages. "I'm afraid you will not find a Kazekage here to give an invitation to. As Steward I am not of that bloodline of the reigning house. What you are asking for is something I cannot deliver. I lack the right. I am here because it is expected of me by the descendants of the First Men."<i></i> Another pause followed. Sousuke's features seemed to grow troubled. As he was thinking this over. His gaze shifted to the map that Hoshitaka was showing him. Moon country. It was close to Cloud. "I once heard from mist of a missing nin. That was the first and last missive I was given by your people. This is the third... given the second was the destruction of your homeland."<i></i> He mulled things over. Thinking hard upon the matter. "I have not dealt with any of the fellow Kages. You are the first, and a subject of interest I will not deny this simple fact. My father, his experiences were limited in that regard as well... not by choice either but my circumstance. Moon is close to Cloud. I do not doubt their noble intentions... but is the climate of Moon not affected by the mountains? That is to say your people who lived in tropical lands, would they not ... they would be hard pressed to adapt quickly. Being the host to your refugees, it is a concern of mine. A goodly host who adheres to the ancient rules of hospitality must make sure when his guest leaves that they are to be kept safely."<i></i> The mention of war was a concern of the Steward. Sand could hold its own. Sand held its own. Yes. Sand had faces sentient disasters and had bested it in the field of battle. Yet... it would be good to know if any of the other villages have seen or heard of the Sunahoshi. "A peace between nations. That is fine. Yet... we the descendants of the First Men rose out of a war with the Ancients. It was not man that we fought, but something more. Not gods, elemental in nature yes, but war comes and goes. War with the landscape. War with cataclysmic entities. War within man is abhorrent in the extreme. This I will agree to."<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

So far so good, the man was not half the idiot Shin was, not even close come to think of it, but he was proving malleable enough. He showed concern over someone that Hoshikata hadn't the foggiest idea of who, and for the refugees from Mist that had come in. Something about the question bothered the Seer, however. At no point had he made a show of secrecy, indeed he'd all but grandstanded his way up to the gates and through the village. Those shrewd golden eyes turn as his body does to face the one before him slightly, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts.

Aomkai was not familiar, but apparently they knew of Hoshikata. He had gathered a small following in the past few months, but he'd only brought a few people to this desert with him. Youko sat safely outside of the gates along with Zaku and his entourage. That kid had vanished, however. Perhaps that was who he meant, but why would Hoshikata desire to hide from a kid. ”No, I've made quite the show of my arrival as is. I think I would like to meet with Aomaki and the others who have fled here from Mist, to explain to them where the rest are going.”

Many words followed, and Hoshikata paid rather close attention to them now as the man went on about how he was not a Kage and had no power. Hoshikata held back a snort of derision at that one, for the man had all the power he wanted, and apparently more than that, but he was too scared to reach out and grip the bull by the horns. One did not leave their mark on the world by meekly denying their gifts, and this man was well on the track to being a forgettable occurrence in history.

”Yes, the traitor Tetsuyama. We alerted all of the villages of his betrayal, and apparently Leaf chose to give him shelter. Believe me, I would have preferred closer relations between our villages, but events transpired that forced me to abdicate the position of Mizukage before I could make a diplomatic visit.” And then that fool Yojimbo ensured that there could be no ties by allowing Koho to join his private harem. Had the man thought with his other head he could have neatly arranged a marriage to Sunan royalty and increased his political power, but Yojimbo was not a thinker, he was an acter. ”When I returned from my endeavors to save the village, it was too late to do anything else. I chose instead to attempt to finalize a treaty that was cropped up with Kumo, and when I returned from that act I found my home wrapped in the embrace of ice.”

He points on the map to the two mountain on the island of Moon. ”Those mountains actually catch the chill wind and funnel it into the warm wind coming up from the south. The climate of Moon is actually quite close to that of Kirigakure, but there are some rather awe inspiring storms that happen out at sea where these winds meet. I would not bring harm upon any of my people.” Just what was this man worried about? He begins to roll the map up, thinking it would no longer be needed.

”I assure you, the coming war will make that appear to be a skirmish. Your village, by itself, managed to come out for the better I would assume. What is coming is not one village, or even two. It will be every village, a battle royale between the great powers of the world. You cannot choose to sit it out if it happens, they will find you instead, and they will come for you out of fear if nothing else.” The map vanishes back into the folds of his robes as he once more leaves his staff freely standing on the ground.

”You may not have a Kazekage, but you stand in for them from my understanding. The people of this city look to you for leadership and guidance. If we want to stop this coming battle we must do so sooner, not later. And the more voices heard, the better. If you sit out, when you could have stopped the bloodbath, what kind of leader would you be? When an army of millions descends upon this land like locusts, thinking you have some weapon so great you don't even need to leave your village, and scared to death you might use it on them, then what would you do?”

Once more his golden eyes look directly into those of the man before him. A mere man with a broken spirit. ”I have lost my home already. I am doing my best to keep this same agony from reaching any others that I can. I ask only that you aid me in this endeavor, if not for myself then for your own home.”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

There was something slightly off. The Steward didn't quite like how the Mizukage worded his way of gathering the mist nin for a meeting. It seemed to him like leading lambs to a slaughter. "Yes. I was told you made quite a show. A bellowing sandworm I think you were described as?"</B><i></i> Sousuke spoke pausing for a moment. He heart the snort coming from Hoshi. As expected this man did not understand the lineage or the history of the Steward line. He did not understand expectations or the motto of the Takahashi Household.

The two next spoke of Tesuyama and Sousuke thought back to the neutral ground of Moon Country. "Speaking of Leaf. I have heard that they are in a civil war my father has told me. Have they fallen into ruin, or has a victor come out from that? Do you expect a representative from Leaf? I am merely curious given that I would suspect them to send two representatives one for each faction. You would then be subjected to choosing a side on that field. Not exactly ... something fitting for neutral lands." Sousuke listened to how Hoshikata had wished to have had this meeting sooner, but he was all over the place. A true wanderer it would seem.

<B>"Some people do not adjust well to new settings. We had to of course. I don't recollect seeing the sun as a small child... or its natural warmth. I am used to the light given to us by the chakra crystals."<i></i> The Steward stroked his chin as the map rolled itself up. The Mizukage next spoke of how his absence would not be for the best. He spoke of how this coming war would over shadow the founding of Suna. "Clearly you don't know the history of Ancients if you're comparing men to them. Primus did best both Fuujin and Homura in combat, but the One King was no ordinary man. We are of a younger history, but do not take our history lightly. Do not take lightly the war with the Ancients or the landscape. Men can be devoured by land, should the earth beneath their feet fail."<i></i> Sousuke warned, "History sometimes holds a lesson to be taught. Some fail to catch it."<i></i>

Sousuke listened to what Hoshitaka told him. He seemed more or less quite needy of the Steward's voice. Sousuke exhaled. "We are not a people for expansion. Even if we were, it would be to re-take the surface, or to integrate ourselves with something within Wind Country. We deal with threats to our land on our own. As my father was, and his father before him, I was tasked as Guardian Protectorate of the Realm to merely preserve it. With the destruction of your homeland I have merely given your people a place to rest their weary heads. Some wish to repay me through labour or barter. I told them I did not require such things."<i></i> Sousuke paused, "You speak of us gaining from this. Yes. A mutual peace is most accepted, but it does not remove the Diamond Storm above us. It will most certainly not give us a Sunahoshi to restore our surface living. Yet ... ... and yet I wonder... about the gains you speak of. I will indeed consider your invitation."<i></i> He paused again. "Who else is coming? There are no other Stewards or Guardian Protectorate of the Realms, I would be the only one? Are all Kages mystical sage beings where as I am a man of steel and iron? Or is it just you?"<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

He makes no comment on the statement describing him as a large, annoying, loud creature. Instead Hoshikata looks once more at Souske, then past him, into the spirit world. He was not above cheap tricks like this, looking at the man's very soul in an attempt to gain the upper hand in their talk. Hoshikata's parents raised him to do such, to twist words and hide truths, to use people and discard people and in general treat them as non-people. A born politician, he would find a way to get what he wanted here.

”In truth, I've not been to Leaf. I sent an associate, the former Main Branch Sennin of Mist, one Shoukyou Tatsuya, to speak to their leaders while I came here. If they are experiencing such trouble, I believe I should head there next to make sure he is well. If they're already embroiled in a war, I think it best they sit the meeting out. Such tempers will only boil over into such a conference, and if the rest of the world reaches a consensus and presents a united front, then the war won't spill over to the other countries.”

Golden eyes rise to appraise the other man as he speaks of the history of this land. ”I do not take it lightly, I believe you simply underestimate the coming storm. You speak of the land eating men, yet in my experience it is man who is devouring the world. Cities rise where forests one stood, mountains crumble to make roads for trade. Ecosystems are destroyed for a resort hotel or a shopping mall. Man is destroying this planet for their own purposes, and with each passing day we bring her closer to death. Imagine the damage that would be done by armies of shinobi, each one capable of the feats you know them to be.”

“I did not mean expansion, when I mentioned your gains. I meant a continuing peace. Expansion would require taking from another, that would result in a festering bitterness, and that would lead to hatred, then to war. I seek to bring an end to such things. What your land would stand to gain is more money from trade, as well as more minds looking into increasing the standard of living in these parts. You speak of the storm above not abating; who is to say, should the world come together as one, that a method of dispersing it could not be made?”

As Souske wraps up by agreeing to give it thought, Hoshikata realizes that the man was turning to a brick wall. He does not sigh, sighing would be a sign of weakness of sorts. He does smile at the words. ”I ask only for consideration. And so far, the Raikage has agreed to show. Tatsuya can be persuasive, if Leaf has one true leader yet, he should arrive. You give too much credit to the other Kages, however. They are men, the same as you and all those in your village. Hayata Shin, the Raikage, is a man of peace. I would be surprised if he knew which end of a sword did the killing, much less how to attack with ninjutsu.”

“My successor as Mizukage, Yojimbo, was a charismatic warrior who sundered political ties like they were nothing. Do not overestimate someone for a title. A man is just a man, nothing more. The title of Kage does not grant insight, or power, or even authority. Often, it inhibits them in people were more grand before taking the title.” Hoshikata lifts his hand, his staff gliding into his grip fluidly. ”It has been a pleasant conversation, but as I'm sure you've surmised, this is not the end of my journey. Do give thought, I ask, to attending the summit. Would you be willing to ask those refugees here to meet me at the gates? I wish to speak to my people to inform them of where their loved ones may have gone.”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

It seemed that Leaf's status was to be determined. One of the Mizukage's men was sent to figure out what was brewing there, and even Hoshitaka wanted to go to Leaf to check up on him. "Hmm..."<i></i> At the very least it seemed that Hoshitaka was going to keep a strong face about this. Secondly he would go over and assert that what Suna was to gain was peace, well not gain but to keep going that is. Trade would be welcome of course. There was always much to gain when it came to trade, and new resources were always welcome. The final thing that he spoke of being an end to the storms was something though that the Steward was pessimistic about. It was a problem though that needed an answer. The answer to it was a Sunahoshi. Technology comes and goes. Things grow complicated but a cure to the storm would be welcomed, or even at least a reprieve from it.

Sousuke was given a small description of the other Kages. The Raikage was a man of peace. He suspected that such a man was ... perhaps more pleasant that Hoshitaka was. Yet a man of peace could be full of surprises. It would seem that Hoshitaka underestimated this man. Even if he didn't know which end of the sword did the killing, the Raikage was perhaps a man of such a mastery of words that he didn't need a sword. Perhaps he spoke to his foes in such a way to have them commit suicide? Curious. Hoshitaka next spoke of his successor. The way he was described it would seem that Yojimbo was more of a blunt instrument, who ... had some minor gift with words perhaps?

A request came from the Mizukage to see his people, Sousuike nodded his head. "I will put the word out for them to join you for a gathering. Some of them may not be able to meet you as they are bed ridden, but word does travel fast."<i></i> Sousuke assured him. "Give me a date and time, and I will try my best to attend. I do not travel well, but I will put in a solid effort."<i></i> Sousuke added. "I wish you well in your travels, and may you succeed in your undertakings."<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

Hoshikata looks around one last time before turning to face Souske again, nodding at the words. ”We look forward to seeing you. I'll send notice as soon as we have finalized a time. It will be within the year, I assure you.” The golden man turns on heel, waving a farewell wave as his boots click on the floor, announcing his exit to the world as he heads for the same entrance he came in through. This had been a good trip, but he had business to attend yet.

Tatsuya would be fine on his own, he was sure, and Masa was no longer a factor. He had to go and settle some issues of his own, while also alerting Shin to the fact that he was no longer holding this little shindig.

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