Aya Kiho
The night had been a strange one, full of intriguing developments few of which Kiho understood. Something had nearly hit the leading lady of the show, and while it had narrowly avoided crushing her smallish head-and large hair- it had left the theatre in an uproar, causing a most wondrous occurrence. Haruka had stepped in, seemingly from nowhere, and stolen the stage, mollifying all the outraged patrons, and striking all the investors as a hidden gem. He knew that he'd been captivated. In any case, the woman had all but disappeared after that. She'd made one quiet farewell, but he knew she would not contact him, and that was why he had asked for this meeting. That was why he found himself tromping up the ill used stares of a small apartment which reportedly belonged to the Ambassador. Such a small home, so dim, was not something Kiho would expect from the fiery woman, but what did he know? Of her, or Haruka... He knocked on the door thrice and waited, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly, momentarily dethroned from his place as noble businessman, and placed in the shoes of a simple man, remembering with fondness, a boyhood love.
Tanaka Hikari
The raps on her front door disturbed Hikari. She'd been... not sleeping, but not exactly awake. Drowning in paperwork is more like it. Also drowning in supplications for support- from the theatre, from others. She was weary of the promises and pleading, and most significantly, weary of the threats. Petty things. "Ruin your career", "Vital to your continued standing..." Yadda yadda. She'd been sifting through the mail, wishing for the thousandth time, Raiden knows, that she could take an assistant who could do his job, when she started back to reality. Before she even knew it, she was on her feet, blood roaring about who knows what. She sucked in a breath and ran a hand through her hair, wincing at the tangles. "A moment!" She called, trotting to her sink, and wetting her face, then hair. "Better."
She then hitched her hammer on her hip and went to answer the door. "Aya-san." She said, surprised. "I hadn't realized we had an appointment."
"I'm sorry, we don't. I just... that is to say, I wanted to know if you had any information you could share about Shima-san."
Hikari frowned, immediately both concerned and irritated. "I could not in good conscience, share any information about lady Shima without her consent, regardless of who was asking or the propriety of said inquirer." She leaned against the door. "It would be a violation of confidence and a security risk. Now, who gave you my home address?"
"You are well known. A word about your hair is all the description needed to find the location."
She raised a brow.
"Coin also helped."
"Mmm. Of course it did." She grumbled, "Perhaps you would like to come inside rather than stand in my doorway?"
"No... I should be off. I apologize for the impropriety."
"Are you alone?" Hikari asked, frowning. The idea of a noble in the streets alone at this time of night, especially whilst there was such hostility in the air, made Hikari question the reality of her visitor. Also his sanity. Aya Kiho was not, however a man unknown for his eccentricities.
"Ah... yes, but worry not, I'm not without my own sort of protection." He flashed a pretty iron dagger. The sort that was generally considered a fop's weapon, and too pretty to dirty with blood. Now she was at the very least obliged to make certain he had company for the walk toward his townhouse in Susukino.
"Two is much more daunting than one, Aya-san. Please allow me to escort you home."
"I do not plan to return home. I'm meeting someone in a restaurant nearby. Besides that, you're obviously busy... As I said, worry not, I am perfectly capable of strolling in the daylight."
Hikari's lips tightened, "Of course, sir. If you should need assistance-"
"Yours will be the first name on my lips. I promise." At this, the man turned about and left. His footsteps growing more distant until they disappeared with the creak of a door.
The old lady across the hall then peaked her head out and winked, "Quite a looker that one." Then quickly ducked back in, before Hikari could retort. The old woman might well know as much as she did about the affairs of the wealthy in Kumogakure, due to her nosiness. Perhaps Hikari should employ her as a secretary...
The Phantom
Unseen, he crept into a house, not so different from the one in which he had been born- the hellhole- and delivered his note. The kunoichi should do well as a pawn to draw Shima to him. His lovely Shima-chan. He crept through the window, and into her bedroom. The place was messy, but smelled strongly of spices and baked things. There were pieces of art adorning the walls that, while poorly lit, were surely worth quite a lot. Some books on display, he noted, were first editions, and very hard to come by. It seemed that while the Ambassador was living in a place few would consider glamorous, she was doing well for herself. Above all an air of ready-if weary- contentedness permeated. He had better take care to keep light and quiet, or else he'd be caught, and likely killed. As he reached the head of her wooden framed bed- pricy- he too heard the raps at the door. The resulting conversation was disdainfully eavesdropped upon, and filed away for future reference. There was not a hint of jealousy in him, because he knew quite well that his Shima's heart belonged only, at present, to herself. Not even he, her 'Angel of music' could sway her more than she wished to be swayed. (Such moods came and went with the proverbial tide though, at times, the Phantom would seethe, green eyed and angry at the thought of his beloved in another's arms...) In any case, he set the note upon her pillow, and with it, a rose. His calling card.
Tanaka Hikari
Upon her return, she noted a draft. Hikari pursed her lips at the offending window. As she did so, the breeze stilled, the sky cleared. With the light now coming into her bedroom, Hikari could see the faintest hint of something which had certainly not been there before. A rose, and a note. "It appears I have had a visitor."
She pulled her hammer and went to secure her home. She needn't have been so cautious, however, as there was no one but her, now inside. When she read the note, she cursed the knowledge that Haruka was traveling, not to be expected home for quite a while. "Angel of music eh?" She snarked ironically, "Seems legit."