It's a Cutthroat World [Open]

[Gushiken Yama]

Yama listened too her plans intently. As they started really getting down on the food, he would talk in between a few minutes of eating and would get their teapot refilled three times throughout the meal. "You say he isn't a part of the main branch. Does that mean he is a shinobi liaison for his particular clan or perhaps he is in a different branch entirely? Perhaps that could play into your favor in some small way." It was a funny thing that Yama had noticed. He wasn't even a member of the ANBU yet and he was already hunting down assassins and thinking of the best way to ruin a man's reputation with subterfuge. He was too young for this life... But what could he do? At least it made everything really interesting. "I don't really know much about anything relating to spy work and public defamation. But I imagine that I could ask the Nara clan about him and seek their advice. They have a strict policy on not getting involved in other clan's politics and most of them are too busy playing shogi to really care anyways." He grinned and thought back to his shogi lessons for a few seconds.

"I also could always talk to my mentor Kaji. He is a very strong ninja in this village and has been responsible for most of my other training that I have been undertaking. I don't really understand his morals all too well yet but he does have a lot more knowledge about this sort of thing. He might be willing to give me sound advice if I just ask." He couldn't think of anything else that was incredibly pressing that came to his mind so he resumed eating and would wait to see what Gumi would say about his ideas.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Taking a break from her explanation. Megumi would take a few bite of her food, as to let Yama digest all of the information that she had told him. Yama would look as if he was thinking over her words. Questing her on that fact that he was not part of the main branch, he would ask if he was only affiliated with them. “ No the clan is separated into different factions and roles within the clan. He is just part of a lesser branch of the family, like a cousin not one of the head of the clans sons”.

Continuing to eat and enjoy the food and tea. Megumi would try just to enjoy the time with Yama, it was her problem to deal with and she was simply repaying him for the gift and involving him into her affaires. Yama would talk about how he was not knowledgeable in subterfuge and the cloak and dagger world. Megumi would smile at him as to say that he does not have to be as it would be if someone of their age was proficient in that world of shadows. Mentioning that he could ask the Nara clan for knowledge in the field, noting that they would not help directly. However she doubted that they would give him hints even if he was one of them, as that would be involving themselves with other clans. “ Joking about their odd obsession with shogi aside Yama. I doubt they would help you as they would want to no why you wished to learn, and you are not the greatest when i comes to lying. They would find out why and refuse”. As Megumi explained to him that his mixed blood could only get him so far as they would not help someone just because they are related.

His last idea would interest he more so due to a few other past things that the words that slipped out of his mouth. Talking about a man named Kaji that was teaching him. While mentoring is not at all uncommon for a student if you added his other remarks it would create an interesting tale. A mentor with questionable morals, someone who is willing to do what needed to be done and has knowledge on subtlety. A secret offer after he became a full fledged ninja, that comes with even more danger than normal for a ninja. Sounds to Megumi like Yama was offered to join the leaf’s secret service otherwise known as the Anbu. Not changing her smile and expression as she thought about what Yama did at night than her own issue as she had to wait for an opportunity to present itself. “ You could ask as it would make sense that you would be thought to exploit an enemy's weakness, would be a good lesson for you not just for helping me”. Finishing her food Megumi would ask the waitress for an a few extra orders to go for her grandfather. As Megumi would wait for Yama to finish, she never understood where men put all of the food they ate. Looking into her tea she would put Yama’s mind at ease “ As for dealing with that man, i will simply have to wait for him to make a mistake and capitalize on it. No one is perfect and he will forget or misplace an action on of these days. For now we are at a standstill, this is a battle of mental endurance. Whoever make the first mistake loses”. Looking at him with a calm smile. “ Don’t worry he is arrogant and thinks he has already won, i’ll show him that he is wrong”.

 

[Gushiken Yama]

Hmmm, there was much to think on as the boy finished his food at the same time as the girl. When the waitress came back over and Gumi ordered a few extra things to go for her grandfather. Yama realized that tomorrow was shogi with his original mentor Gamasu Nara. Gamasu served as a Chuunin and one of the village's chief strategists during conflicts and had taken the boy under his wing after being the first one to discover the unusual nature of Yama's blood. Gamasu was also the only one in the village who knew in depth that Yama had been a child born out of a swing with his mother and another Nara from the village that had renounced his ties a long time ago. Anyways, the young boy realized that Gamasu really enjoyed one of the chicken dishes that they served here and so he looked at another table and saw that someone had left an exact order on another table. He asked the waitress nicely if he could take it and she looked around hurriedly before grabbing it and bagging it up quickly for him. Free food was never a bad thing, especially when used for the benefit of others. He helped the waitress clean up the table as best as he could and he thanked her again for her wonderful service. Once everything was said and done, he looked at Gumi and asked, "Well I guess I should walk you home then huh?"

Leading her outside back into the village, he stretched up high and praised the sun for all it's blessings. Letting out a satisfied groan, eating could be such a hassle. He still had a few hours left of warm sunlight, there was a park nearby that had the perfect grassy field for taking a nap. That would be a good idea before going home and getting super deep into the scrolls and books he had to study for classes that were upcoming in the week. He held the bag of food in his left hand, and with his right hand he would use it as a sun visor. Checking out the village and the people that inhabited it. As he started to walk the girl home, he would resume talking about the previous subject at hand. "It seems to me like such a man is not the one to make those kinds of mistakes, he sounds like he has been doing this kind of thing for a looonngg time. One can only imagine what kind of resources and shinobi he has under his folds." Taking a deep breath, and letting out a soft sigh he continued, "Whatever the case may be. There is never anything wrong with asking for help Gumi-chan. I have to make sure you become the next Hokage remember?" He giggled, taking them back to their last meeting together.

"I will start finding out about this man, you don't have to worry about that. Whatever I can find out I will make sure to let you know first and foremost."

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Seeing Yama ask for the left over from another table to go. Megumi wanted to speak up and simply get him a fresh order. While she was told to not waste food, she did not want to add anymore embarrassment to Yama as she was also paying for the meal. With his beaten body and dirty clothes on top of him asking for the left overs as well as her paying for the food. Rumors might spread about him and his clan she did not want to cause a misinterpretation as if she was trying to shame his family by showing up one of their own. Before she could chime in Yama had already gotten the Nira to pack up the leftovers and help her as well. As Yama and Nira packed the leftovers up for him, Megumi laid her head on the table as she thought about the talk she might have with the Gushiken. They were stubborn, proud and boned headed. The meet would just be demand and shouting from them. When they finished packing. Megumi would Raising her head and acting normal to not show that she was concerned about the headache she meet have to deal with.

Yama seemed to be finished and asked a seemly rhetorical question to her. “ Well i’m sure i know a few people who would prefer if you did not”. Thanking Nira for the wonderful service and paying for the food and giving a nice tip for the extra effort she had to go through from the two of them. Nira would thank them for their patronage and showed a short but judging gaze at Yama as they left.

Exiting the restaurant Yama would stretch out his arms towards the sun as if he was a plant reaching for substance. As he goan, Megumi looked towards the park as she held her onto the bag for her grandfather. As they walked she taught about about how casual he was being about all of this and his behavior. She knows that manners and etiquette were not a high point of the Gushiken, but you would think they would at least understand that they have to hold up at least an acceptable appearance.

As they walked through the busy streets of their village. Yama would go back to the main topic of the afternoon. Talking about something that was already known, he would bring up his plan to have her become the next Hokage. Looking at him with a blank expression as they walked, “ Your still going on about that, how about we make it to Genin first”. Giggling about his comment, Megumi doubted that he actually means that she would become the next Hokage. Proclaiming that he will find out more about this man, Megumi would simply nod. Though she was concerned about his methods.

From behind the two of them would hear an older and refined man speak. “ Interesting looking into someone Tanigawa-san”? Megumi would turn around to meet the very man that has been the focus of most of their conversation, meeting Hijikata’s gaze. He was an older man of his early twenties and fairly handsome even to those that would rather not see his face. He wore a long open black coat with a white dress shirt and black slacks. His medium raven hair danced in the breeze interrupting his gaze at the two children. His demeanor was calm and collected, but his indigo eyes could not hide his desire from power and status when he looked to Megumi. Giving a small polite bow to Megumi. “ I won’t pry if you do not wish to discuss the more darker parts of our world with me Tanigawa-san. Please know that if their is anything you would require i am at your beck and call”.

Turning his gaze to Yama, you could feel the displeasure and overconfidence exuding off of him as he looked at his competition. “ Tanigawa-san, you are already working on the main piece for the leaf’s art auction towards rebuilding our great village. Yet you still have time to help the unfortunate and even offer employment to those in these hard times, you our truly a goddess of kindness”. Looking back towards her not giving the boy anymore attention than what Hijiaka thought he was worth. “ You have been working on the piece for almost a year now, I'm sure the collectors will be chomping on the bit to acquire such an item”.


Megumi would keep her composure, but ignore his compliments and his words towards Yama. “ Yes I'm sure they will, i’ve just put the finishing touches on it a week ago”. Changing the topic towards him not her and Yama. “ I’ve heard that you clan will be in charge of security for the auctions, and that you will be at the head of it”. You could feel a smirk coming off of the man, “ You have heard correct i will be in charge of defending the people and the villages masterful art, I'll will make sure your hard work is not in vain”. His indigo eyes bore into Megumi, as he was so close to his golden goose. Hijiaka would excuse himself from the conversation and leave. As he left Megumi would look over to Yama to make sure he was alright.

 

[Gushiken Yama]

Megumi looked over at Yama as the devil himself had walked away, surely expecting him to show some sign of fear or a lack of courage in the face of a scary moment. However as she looked at him, his eyes faced towards the ground and the expression on his face was hidden by the shadows of the roofs that surrounded them. His body was shaking and his fist that did not hold the bag was clenched incredibly tight. Once the man had turned and paid his "respects" to the two. Yama continued to stare darkly at the ground, once he had turned the corner however Yama finally looked up. His face twisted with rage. It was an emotion that he never expressed. Surely it was shocking to see such a nice boy in the throes of such powerful emotions.

"I... I don't like him..."

He was biting his bottom lip so hard that tears were stinging his eyes. All he wanted to do was turn the corner and possess the man with his shadow and make him relive all the horrible things that radiated from his very being. But the most frustrating thing was that Yama knew he was completely powerless before this man. Yama turned away from Gumi. Wiping his eyes and taking a few steps away from her. He was displaying such weakness, why was he such a coward? He sighed, and allowed himself a few moments to calm down. Turning back towards Gumi his eyes were red and swollen but he had a makeshift grin planted in his face. "Sorry, being angry doesn't do any good for anybody. Let's get you home I'm sure you have a lot of work to do.

He escorted Gumi all the way back to her complex, and outside of it he reached into his bag once more. Feeling around for a second he found something in his bag and nodding he pulled it out. It was a necklace, and imbedded in the silver was the symbol for Konoha. He handed it over to Gumi and before leaving her to go inside he said, "If you wear this, the Will of Fire will always keep you safe. I've got a lot of studying to do, and it's always helped me on my exams so I think it's pretty lucky. As long as you keep this you can always know that the Village Hidden in the Leaves will be there with you always. My mom gave it to me for my eleventh birthday so it's pretty special, take good care of it."

As he started to walk away he got about fifteen paces before stopping, his hand in his pocket as he said, "Oh! Gumi." He started walking again and pulled it out and gave her a thumbs up sign that he held above his head, but he did not turn to face her and kept walking. That nap in the park was starting to sound a lot more lovely.

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[Megumi Tanigawa]

Looking at Yama as he was literal shaking with anger, however he still had his head about him as he did not damage the chicken in his hand. Meeting her concerned gaze, his eyes were filled with rage. While Megumi understood that he had a right to be angry after the stuff he had said to him, but getting mad about it only means that you let him get to you. Hearing his opinion of the man, Megumi smiled at him, “ Yea i have the same feeling as you do”.

Watching as Yama fought back the desire to give in to his emotions. It was a thing many people fall victim, for however he did not give in and let the man win.. He would turn to wipe the wetness from his eyes, but as he looked at her the redness in his eyes told anyone all they needed to know. Giving her a smile and saying that they should get on there way, made Megumi proud of him. Putting one arm around him and giving him a small squeeze as not to ruin the food. “ It’s okay, you did well. From your point of view i must make it seem easy, but know this did not come naturally. I lost so much and had to give up so much to get where my family is”. Looking into his eyes. “ You never have to worry about showing your feelings to me, i will never betray my friend and my fellow leaf”. Letting him go they would make their way back to her home.

Arriving at the her estate, Yama would go into his bag and rummage around and pull out a necklace with a embedded silver will of fire symbol. Yama would talk about how it was a good luck charm he used for exams. Megumi would think about all the studying she does and how she needs all the help she can get. Hearing about how it was a gift from his mother gave it to him made her think of her own. Megumi looked at Yama and with guilt. “ i can’t accept something like that precious to you”. Even though she protested, Yama would hand her the necklace. Megumi would look down at the necklace, taking in the emotions that were bound onto the item. “ I’ll be sure to take care of it, but one day i’m giving it back when you're in need of luck”. Megumi would give a teasing smile as she put the necklace around her head and tucked it under her kimono for safe keeping.

Yama would turn to leave and start walking away. Saying goodbye and thanking him for the gifts and spending time with her. As she was about to enter the door, she heard Yama call out to her. Looking over she would she the boy’s back and a thumbs up. Giving a thumbs up back to the boy, “Keep your chin up”. Entering the door and being met by all of the guardians of her home. “ Looking at Uncle Kaz and her parents, “ He’s just a friend”!


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