Sisterhood of the Heart

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:37 pm

phpBB [video] Rio stepped into the quaint tea house, the warm wooden entrance door creaking softly as she pushed it open. The moment she crossed the threshold, a serene atmosphere enveloped her. The interior was adorned with traditional decor, featuring delicate paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden glow upon the patrons.

The sound of gentle laughter and soothing melodies of traditional instruments filled the air, creating an ambiance that was both calming and enchanting. With Rio's limited knowledge of the Heart Empire and it's shogun, she made note of the intricate tapestries depicting scenes from she assumed were ancient folklore adorned the walls, showcasing a legendary hero surrounded amongst a flurry of swords; his blades piercing a man seemingly made of the elements themselves.

She had recently arrived in the Heart Empire following a particularly successful bounty payout where the client had asked her to stick around at the ready for more work. As far as she could tell, in a stark contrast to the mismanaged, ransacked Wind Country, Heart Empire was a land full of opportunities for someone like her—a traveling bounty hunter in search of lucrative contracts and new adventures. Hell- even establishments like this seemed to have the coin to keep their selves comfortable.

As her eyes adjusted to the subdued lighting, she noticed the meticulously arranged wooden tables and plush floor cushions scattered throughout the tea house. Each table boasted a carefully crafted ceramic tea set, delicately painted with vibrant patterns that mirrored the surrounding artwork. Not even particularly trying to smell the room, just by breathing, the fragrant aroma of freshly brewed tea, a delightful blend of jasmine and green tea, wafted from behind a beautiful lacquered counter where a skilled tea master attended to the customers. The tantalizing scent beckoned Rio forward, drawing her closer to the heart of the tea house's allure.

As she entered further into the establishment Rio's keen eyes fell upon a young woman sitting at a small table near the window. The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow upon her serene countenance. Mesmerized by her ethereal presence, Rio felt compelled to approach, eager to immerse herself in the captivating aura that surrounded this mysterious stranger.

And so she made her way through the tea house as the soft sound of her footsteps melded with the melodic movements of a traditional flute playing in the background. The delicate clinking of teacups and the faint rustle of kimono fabrics added to the symphony of tranquility.

With each step her anticipation grew, her heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and excitement. The tea house had revealed itself as a sanctuary, a haven where weary travelers and locals alike sought solace and respite from the bustling outside world. It was renowned for collecting some of the best of the Xincha academy nearby. As she reached the table where the young woman sat, Rio felt a gentle breeze drifting in through the open window, carrying with it the distant fragrance of cherry blossoms. The serene setting seemed to hold endless possibilities, whispering of stories waiting to unfold, and inviting Rio to partake in the enigmatic tale that was about to begin.

Her head on a pivot as she walked about the tea house, her eyes landed on a young woman sitting alone at a small table near the window. Her delicate features were framed by dark-brown, braided locks. A smattering of freckles crossed the bridge of her nose. Her lips were full and managed to contrast against her darker skin. She was instantly taken aback as her eyes scanned the woman up and down. She was large; making Rio who was a generally athletic build look small in height and... assets, and yet the woman was also skinny.

Intrigued, Rio approached the table and asked politely, "May I join you? It seems the tea house is quite crowded today."

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 2:37 am

Fuhen Iyashii was cool, Shiun guessed. I mean, of course he was cool around these parts, he had been the Grand Shogun! The tales of his exploits were many and well known, he was practically a folk hero or maybe a god to the people of Heart, their tales and recounting of his history bordering on reverence. Said to be a supremely skilled swordsman with a uh... froggish, disposition, his legend (as it was a legend at this point, to her at least, who had never so much as laid eyes on the man before he passed from this world) or rising up from nothing and forming a nation was certainly something to be respected if not worshiped!

Shiun... just kinda found him boring, and mildly offensive, really. Not in any way that particularly mattered, per say, but her first and most influential encounter with Fuhen Iyashii of any sort had been the news that he and his forces were absorbing Gold Country into their ranks now that their leader, Aimi Kaguya, was no longer alive to defend it. To Shiun, Fuhen was an opportunistic warlord who had done well by his people by all graces and measures, but had stolen a legacy from hers as she understood it. A colonialist at his finest, sweeping in and taking what he could with no one powerful enough to stop him anymore. That was her first impression of the man... except...

The painting on the wall held Shiun's gaze intently. She wasn't staring at the portrayal of Fuhen Iyashii, who had been given some artistic and stylistic license to appear larger than life, mighty, powerful, imposing, all that jazz. No, she was looking down at the writing mass of what was supposed to be a person beneath him on the mural - Yami Kasai, the man, thing, who had killed her idol, Aimi Kaguya. This painting, this one, solitary artistic rendition, was the only imagery she knew of the man who had murdered the Great Unifier, this writhing mass of elements that supposedly once mascaraeded as a man. This was the murderer of Aimi Kaguya... and he was dead now. Thanks to Fuhen Iyashii, who, supposedly, had known Aimi Kaguya and, in part, sought out Yami Kasai to avenge his fallen friend. That's how the legend went, anyways. So maybe he hadn't actually been all that bad?

This mural was, to Shiun, a crucial part of the mostly empty puzzle that was Aimi Kaguya to her - the final piece in his story, his end. She stared and she studied, her hand wrapped around her ceramic cup of steaming hot tea as she silently contemplated the frankly frightening image. A force of nature had been the end of Aimi Kaguya, the man she and her people admired the most, and the Grand Shogun had been his end before he, too, passed. All three of these once great men were gone now, leaving behind only legends. Legends, and mystery to a girl as young as Shiun, who was only just beginning to put together that, despite idolizing this Great Unifier that she had heard so much about since she was small but had not heard of anything for a long, long time, she really didn't know much about him at all...

Lost in thought like this was how Shiun would be approached by the older young lady who spoke up to try and ask her to sit. Shiun didn't hear her over the hypnotic sounds of the flute and her own thoughts at first, the purple-capped Akibushi simply staring off ahead with what must have been a thousand yard stare for an instant before her ears caught up with her brain with a subtle 'hey, someone's talking to you' sort of signal that got Shiun to turn her head and look up at the ashen-haired young woman who, funnily enough, actually looked younger than her!

"Oh! Dear me, my deepest apologies! I didn't see you there! You should speak up next time!" she said, the words coming out of her mouth before she even knew what she said, her head bowing forward and face instantly becoming hidden by the speckled mushroom cap that grew out of the crown of her head. She lifted her head up, gave the mural one last glance before devoting her full attention to this young girl. Had she said something about a crowd? The dark skinned samurai looked around and noticed that, yeah, the tea house had gotten busy alright! "Uh, please, have a seat," she said, removing her hand from her cup and gesturing over to the empty space across the low table from her. She smiled pleasantly but was sort of panicking inside, wondering if she'd been formal enough to come off as a samurai or if this complete stranger would immediately notice that she was a fraud and not very good at her so called job at all!

"Uh, who might you be?" she asked, hoping to distract the young girl before she could go off on how terribly rude Shiun herself was and how much of an embarrassment to the name of samurai she was!

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:50 am

In the aftermath of her father's untimely demise, Rio found herself navigating the harsh realities of life, growing up amidst the gritty streets and impoverished slums. Her existence had hardened her, molding her into a tenacious and resilient individual. Thus, when Shiun responded with a somewhat rude yet innocent demeanor, Rio was unfazed. It was clear to her that Shiun was immersed in her own thoughts, lost in a world of introspection.

Acknowledging Shiun's offer of a seat with a nod of gratitude, the lady in full armor inclined her head politely, expressing her appreciation. She delicately removed her helmet, placing it beside her, and Rio's warm, light-brown eyes met Shiun's, locking onto them. Her response to the samurai's query carried a certain poise and confidence.

"Allow me to introduce myself," Rio began, a smile dancing on her lips. "I am Rio, a member of the esteemed bounty hunters guild in the Heart Country." She leaned back comfortably in her chair, taking a deep breath, while her finger pointed towards a captivating mural adorning the tea house walls. "Do you happen to know the tale behind that painting? As an outsider, it remains a mystery to me," she confessed, her words hanging in the air. At that moment, a gracious waitress materialized, expertly pouring Rio a refreshing cup of water and a steaming cup of the establishment's finest Matcha tea.

Taking a brief respite to study Shiun, Rio couldn't help but be captivated by the depths within the samurai's gaze and the aura of strength that enveloped her. There was an intriguing blend of mystery and determination in Shiun's demeanor, like a silent tale waiting to be told. Of course, Rio was entirely unaware how young Shiun was and that she was not in fact a powerful Samurai lord.

"Now, if I may be so bold as to inquire about your identity, as you have inquired about mine," Rio asked politely, her playful nature peeking through. Her words carried genuine curiosity, an authentic desire to unravel the story that lay behind Shiun's enigmatic presence. Leaning forward ever so slightly, her expression open and inviting, Rio's eyes sparkled with anticipation, eagerly awaiting Shiun's response. The tea house seemed to overflow with more than just the fragrant scent of jasmine and green tea—it held the promise of forging a profound connection with this mysterious individual.

"Perhaps you are one of the legendary samurai from Xincha—or perhaps, just maybe, you're the next bounty on my list," Rio quipped, her laughter permeating the air as she leaned back into her chair, savoring a sip of the aromatic tea.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:55 pm

Oh, a member of the bounty hunter's guild here in Heart! That was exciting!

... Except Shiun had never heard of such a guild. It wasn't as if knowing about a guild of bounty hunters was essential knowledge to freshly minted Akibushi samurai, after all. That sort of information was typically given out to more seasoned samurai who had probably finished at least one contract. Meanwhile Shiun was due to leave with the pilot program in about a week and so was blissfully unaware of the existence of any such bounty hunters. The concept seemed cool, though!

The pale eyes samurai opened her mouth to speak but snapped it closed as the waitress arrived. She might have been excitable, but the Kinoko had just enough decorum to not go spouting off loudly in a quiet establishment when an employee came to service a fully armored guest - something which Shiun, who was wearing no armor, personally took as a sign of seriousness and commitment to the profession of samurai. If she had to make a guess, she would have assumed that Rio was likely at least one rank above herself.

As the waitress moved to fill Shiun's cup she would place her fingers over it, causing the waitress to how her head and back aware from the pair. Shiun lightly cleared her throat and said, "My name is Shiun Kinoko, Akibushi samurai fresh out of the Xincha academy! Pleasure to meet you, Rio!" Lifting her cup in salute she would take a sip of her tea and let out a sigh as the hot liquid slid down her throat. Then she gestured with a casual flick of her fingers towards the mural.

"That's a depiction of the former Grand Shogun, Fuhen Iyashi, battling against the former Mizukage Yami Kasai," she said somewhat casually, nonchalantly stating it as a matter of fact. She knew that much from the passing down if the legendary battle at least, but of course the juicy details were kept from lowly Akibushi samurai like her. Probably on account of her being young, and it wasn't like there had been someone there taking notes of a play by play if the battle... That she was aware of, anyway. "I don't really know too much more about it than that, though. Apologies," she said with a slight incline of her head.

Shiun laughed off the part about being a 'legendary samurai's, as she had literally done nothing of note in her career at all in the slightest! It hadn't even started yet, technically! The Pilot Program would be the initiation of that particular chapter of her life, until then though she was just Shiun! Now the part about her being a bounty made her sweat profusely internally. Had she done something to earn a bounty already!? Was she that terrible of a samurai!?!?

"You jest, you jest!" she replied, waving her hand dismissively, putting on a brave, comical face to cover up the fact that she was currently screaming at herself to make a run for the exit now while she still had the chance! She didn't know how many Kinoko had traveled to Tea to become samurai or how many of those had purple mushrooms on their head but if the answer was anything more than 'zero' it meant there was a distinct possibility that she had been mistaken for someone with a bounty and that was scary!!

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Jun 18, 2023 4:21 am

With a gentle grace, Rio brought the rim of her teacup to her lips, never breaking her unwavering gaze fixed upon Shiun's own eyes. However, upon closer inspection, Rio couldn't help but notice a peculiar sight—a mushroom perched atop the girl's head. It was an uncommon sight for Rio, who had never encountered anything quite like it, especially on a samurai. As she took a sip of her tea, the cup returned to the table with a resounding sigh of relief, punctuated by Rio's gentle laughter. The lighthearted banter had not only stirred a reaction from Shiun but also sparked within Rio a profound realization that the girl's last name, "Kinoko," literally meant "mushroom" in what could be described no better than a "naruhodo" moment.

"Komuko Shunya... no Kinoko... Kinoko? Where have I heard that name... Kinoko.... Kinoko Shouta? No Shiori? No this is Kinoko Shiun..." she playfully continued to teas, before finally shaking her head, and with a chuckle proclaiming "That name isn't on my list, so you're safe... for now!". Done with her light teasing, Rio would shift the conversation back to the mural. [color=#999"Ah, the context makes much more sense now, thank you, Akibushi-san,"[/color] she expressed, her fingers gently stroking her chin as she pondered. With her gaze momentarily diverted to the artwork, as if seeking confirmation of the story she had heard, Rio's eyes then returned to Shiun, reestablishing their connection.

""The Guild is relatively new here, you see. The wars and the rampant crimes committed during and after have created quite the lucrative opportunities for people like us," Rio mused, her tone tinged with a touch of sorrow for the state of the world. "Just because an armistice is reached doesn't mean that people's crimes vanish. And then there are those despicable types who exploit the aftermath of the war..." Rio's words began to pour out faster, her passion for justice and her fervent quest becoming increasingly apparent. She abruptly halted herself, realizing she needed to regain control.

Deciding to ease Shiun's apprehension, Rio made the conscious choice to provide a bit more insight. And perhaps, knowing Shiun was a Xincha samurai, she could even be of assistance.

"The truth is, I'm in town to learn more about the Heart Empire and glean a thing or two from these here samurai. I aim to bolster myself, ya'know?" Rio raised her arm, flexing her bicep playfully, patting it, even though nothing was visible beneath her sturdy armor.

More and more her hunts had put her into bouts of hand-to-hand combat and even against shinobi and she could not rely on her armor and her uncanny ability to throw things well forever. Some day, as her father did, she would meet her match if she didn't stay sharp like the edge of a samurai sword.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:33 pm

Oh, thank goodness! Shiun wasn't on Rio's list, she hadn't somehow accidentally disgraced herself into getting a bounty without knowing it! Phew! What a relief! The Kinoko would tilt her head down just enough so that the rather large, hat-like purple speckled mushroom cap growing out of her head would obscure her face as she lightly stored her tea, giving her a brief moment to physically relax without losing face in front of this new acquaintance, a nifty trick.

She looked back up at the armored bounty hunter as she began to speak of war criminals. Ah, war crimes. There had been a class on that, namely, don't do them. They'd been given a list of things which were internationally recognized as criminal acts in times of war, but somehow Shiun got the feeling that there was more than what had been said though she scarcely had the faintest idea what they could be and it showed on her face with a lack of a serious expression. Shiun had never experienced war - she hadn't even experienced real combat yet! Such things were foreign concepts to her, let alone any crimes associated.

Then something Rio said made a piece of knowledge click in her mind. She was here in Xincha to learn about the Heart Empire and it's samurai? So did that mean... "Are you not from Heart? I had assumed so, given your armor," Shiun naively stated, betraying the fact that she not only associated a samurai with Heart itself but that she scarcely considered the reality of other samurai from other nations showing up here, bounty hunter or no. "I'm afraid I can't be too terribly much help. As I said, I am Akibushi - my rank doesn't exactly afford me a lot of knowledge."

She brought her cup up to her lips and took a sip of her tea, her expression once again calm and collected if not a bit distant. She'd been more friendly when she assumed Rio was of Heart like herself, but now that she realized the pale girl across from her likely wasn't she was erring on the side of caution. Not that she'd lied or anything, she just didn't want to accidentally slip up and give away state secrets or something! What if one of her teachers was a war criminal!?

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 10:44 am

Rio's sharp gaze locked onto the girl standing before her, scanning her every movement and expression. As she observed, an intriguing realization dawned upon Rio, causing her to reassess her initial assumptions. Despite her confident demeanor, the girl emitted an aura of youthful innocence. Taking a moment to savor this revelation, Rio let the silence linger before responding to Shiun.

A sly grin curved on Rio's lips as she replied, a playful glint in her eyes. "Ah, but not all of us shinobi are blessed with silver spoons and armor. Some of us thrive in the shadows, relying on wit and cunning rather than flashy displays." Her laughter resonated through the air, accompanied by a flicker of mischief.

With calculated finesse, Rio drew her sword from its resting place on her back, emphasizing the non-confrontational intent of her draw. The weapon, not your typical samurai sword, exuded an aura of mystery, hailing from distant lands beyond the empire's borders. "This beauty here," she said, her voice filled with reverence, "hails from the southern expanse, the Wind Country. It possesses a story as elusive as the wind itself." she said as she cradled it gently in her hands.

Rio's expression turned pensive, a touch of regret softening her features. "Though my prowess lies in the art of throwing, I confess that my swordplay leaves much to be desired," she admitted, a tinge of disappointment lacing her words. Returning the sword to its sheath with a sigh, she secured it once more on her back, a silent reminder of her unfulfilled aspirations.

She leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on Shiun, brimming with an earnest hope. "And that's precisely why I am in Xincha. A place where the dance of steel is taught with grace and precision. I yearn to grasp the essence of the blade, to wield it as an extension of my spirit," she whispered, her voice filled with a blend of longing and determination.

A mischievous spark danced in her eyes as she posed her final question. "So, dear Akibushi, were you at least awarded the secrets of the bladed? It has to be fate I was drawn to you…" Her voice resonated with a subtle challenge, eager to ignite the flames of curiosity and adventure within Shiun's heart while also still joking.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Mon Jun 26, 2023 11:02 pm

As the silence hung between them, Shiun took the chance to drink more of her tea. Blowing on the hot liquid, she raised the cup to her lips and then stopped abruptly as Rio spoke once more. At first it was out of politeness so that she could hear what her drinking companion was saying, but there was a certain glint in the purple headed Kinoko as the magic word was spoken - shinobi! No way... did that mean that Rio was a Kunoichi!?!

A sparkle shined in Shiun's eyes at the possibilities and she found herself staring rather intently at Rio as she drew her sword and began talking about it. She lowered her ceramic cup slowly and sat it on the table, all the while her expression growing more and more energetic. She took in a long, slow breath as she processed what she was hearing; a kunoichi turned bounty hunter wearing samurai armor, here in Xincha of all places, with a mystic sword, looking to study Iaido (which she unfortunately knew nothing about, she'd be ashamed to break to her), and her main focus was apparently in projectile weaponry!? Shiun agreed, this HAD to be fate!

Shiun's inward breath had slowly grown louder as Rio spoke as the Akibushi tried in vain to contain her excitement. When the armored young woman finished her cool little speech, Shiun's hands slapped down on the table and she sat up on her knees, the light of excitement exploding out of her eyes as she smiled from ear to ear! "No. Way! You're a kunoichi!? Or I guess a former one!? That's cool, that's so cool! You've gotta tell me all about it! What it's like being a ninja! And you've got a cool weapon! I've got one too!" she volunteered, her words spilling out of her mouth rapidly after each other. She demonstrated her lack of a capacity to think in the presence of a friendly ninja by holding up her left hand with her hand spread open. It would probably be a bit difficult to notice the transformation from golden ring to golden spear, considering how small the former form was compared to the latter. As Shiun channeled a small bit of chakra, Musū would manifest itself in a brief flash of light, the almost 3 meter long golden alloy spear thumping down on the floor and shimmering in the dull tea house light.

The dark skinned samurai held the spear out in front of her over the table horizontally, explaining frantically, "This is my spear Musū! It's totally mysterious like your sword and I kind of don't know the first thing about it but it appeared outside one morning and I picked it up and no one had ever heard of it so I kept it and I really have no idea where it came from but it's mine and it's cool, right? I throw it! Like you! Well, not like you, you don't own Musū, but I mean I use it as a projectile in combat as well so we kinda do the same thing! I don't use swords though, not my thing, never liked how they felt, you'll have to find someone else to teach you about Iaido but don't worry there's no shortage of them around Xincha - anyways you said you were a kunoichi? What village are you from? Can you do cool ninja stuff!? Do you know who Aimi Kaguya is? I -"

Shiun had, unfortunately, been progressively getting louder and louder as she spoke in run on sentences, lowering her ornate spear down and setting it with a loud thump on the table that made their tea jostle. Most unfortunately, her antics did not go without notice from the establishment, who sent a waitress over who spoke up sharply to cut through Shiun's ramblings. "Miss! We do not allow drawn weapons in this establishment! You must relinquish that at once!" she said, her voice a bit shrill from the effort of keeping it low for the sake of the atmosphere. Shiun broke eye contact with Rio with a blink and looked over at the waitress. It was only then that she noticed how quiet things had gotten. People were looking at her, some with annoyance, some with a bit of fear, most just bewildered.

Immediately and thoroughly humbled by the looks of her peers and overwhelmed with embarrassment, Shiun felt her entire face and neck growing hot as she sat back down properly and with another brief channeling of chakra reverted Musū back to a ring on her finger, seemingly making it vanish without a trace. "I'm terribly sorry ma'am, it won't happen again," she said sheepishly, her capped head bowed forward. The apology and removal of her weapon was apparently enough to have the waitress leave them be once more. Shiun looked back up at Rio with pursed lips, once again having put her foot into her mouth by getting overly excited and forgetting what her societal position was supposed to be. "Sorry... I just... get really excited when I meet ninja is all..." she admitted quietly. Was Rio even going to stick around after all that...?

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Jul 07, 2023 11:17 am

As Shiun's excitement bubbled forth, Rio couldn't help but be swept up in the infectious energy. The spark in Shiun's eyes and her animated gestures spoke volumes about her genuine fascination with all things ninja. Rio's own smile widened as she listened to Shiun's enthusiastic outpouring of questions and experiences. There was just one issue- though Rio had been "adopted" so to speak by a shinobi she had never been trained by him. Overwhelmed with the sheer excitement of Shiun for the first time in the conversation Rio was put on the backfoot completely unsure of how to proceed.

"Wow, you're really into this ninja stuff, huh?" Rio chuckled, thoroughly amused by Shiun's genuine curiosity. "I uh- well, I'm not a shinobi yet. When my adopted father is healthy enough he uh, teaches me some stuff but..." she scratched the back of her head at a complete loss for further words. "I guess you could call me a kunoichi" she said as she put her hands together and made something that vaguely resembled hand seals; she hadn't really mastered all the seals Sega-san had told her to yet... and if Shiun knew even a tiny fraction about the ninja arts she'd be able to tell. "I'm more of a Taijutsu specialist- crack shot with a throwing knife." Rio said as she folded her hands in the air and watched Shiun produce her own weapon.

At the side of Musu, Rio's eyes widened in genuine intrigue. The transformation from a small golden ring to a magnificent spear left Rio momentarily speechless. She watched in awe as Shiun explained the mysterious origins of her weapon, highlighting its versatility as a projectile in combat. "What an enigma of a weapon" she said as she put her hand out pushing the spear to the side slightly as it came uncomfortably close to her.

However, their lively conversation came to an abrupt halt as the establishment's strict rules were enforced by an assertive waitress. Shiun's exuberance had unwittingly violated the tranquil ambiance, drawing unwanted attention from the patrons. Watching just as incredulously as the spear formed, she watched it shrink down into a ring. That kind of legendary weaponry was something she hoped to acquire.

She took the final sips of her tea.

"I'd be happy to learn swords or just general CQC combat from you even- I could show you a thing or two about throwing real well- how to even turn rocks into deadlier weapons than kunai." she said as she reached for her helmet- putting it back on quickly now that there was no reason to have it off. It was an uncomfortable, naked feeling after all.

No one respected a teenage girl. They did respect a Bounty Hunter though.

"Why don't you show me a little bit of your favourite spots in this town known as Xincha? When we're done, we can maybe visit a training ground and exchange the lessons we've learned. I'm sure this Kaguya person you speak of has taught you incredible things!" she said as she motioned her hand to point beside the table, awaiting whether or not the girl would join her.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Fri Jul 07, 2023 1:46 pm

In the excitement of the moment, Shiun hadn't really caught in to what Rio said about not being an actual kunoichi. Thanks to her own training at the Xincha academy, she had been able to identify the handseals that Rio was attempting to make, though, and it really should have been a dead give away then and there that the bounty hunter across from her wasn't a ninja at all. Still, the realization didn't hit until after Rio mentioned the 'Kaguya person' who had 'taught' her things that, no, Rio couldn't have been a kunoichi all along.

"Aimi Kaguya didn't teach me anything, he just inspired me to learn I guess..." she clarifies, her tone much more somber now that she'd accidentally embarrassed herself in front of this entire establishment of manufactured bliss. She put in a weak smile as Rio put on her helmet and suggested the two walk around for a while before going to train. "That sounds good," she agreed, picking up and finishing her tea before setting the cup down, quietly, and standing up from the table. "C'mon, I'll show you around!" she said, giving the mural on the wall one last glance before stepping outside and facing the tea shop while she waited on Rio to follow. Once there, she'd point up to the shop's sign.

"Our first stop! The Green Dragon! Best tea you can get in Xincha, and perfect atmosphere as... Long as no one ruins it... Ehehe... Uh, we were just here, but it's my favorite place to get tea and sit quietly for a while! Moving on!"

DOK!

They were stood now outside of a ramen shop. A quaint building with a sloped roof with a frog statue on top of it. Shiun pointed to the sign again. "Lilly Pad Ramen! Not the best in the city or anything, but they do this amazing thing with eggs and soy sauce I can't get enough of! I get some with every bowl! Plus they're pretty cheap, too, which is nice when your budget is super limited, heh!"

DOK!

Now Shiun had brought them to the front entrance of the Xincha academy, large and imposing yet humble in scale. She pointed up to it, saying, "This is the Xincha academy. I spend most of my time here! Or... Well I guess spent... I'm an Akibushi now, a fully fleshed samurai, so... I guess I won't be coming back here that much anymore... Huh..." She trailed off, the realization that her academy days were well and truly behind her suddenly hitting. She didn't dwell on it too long, though, turning away from the academy, the purple mushroom declared, "Moving on!"

DOK!

Now they were in front of a three story apartment complex not very far from the academy. Shiun was pointing in the vague direction of the ground floor. "This is the apartments where I stay at. Mine's in the ground floor because I stink!" She paused, her young mind taking a moment to process what she'd just said, realize that it had terrible implications, grew hot in the face with embarrassment and then dis some Olympic level back pedaling. "Uh, not like body odor or anything! It's the mushrooms! See, mushrooms and spores can give off a strong smell, and some people are sensitive to that sort of thing, so they put me on the ground floor so that my cap wouldn't make spores that drifted down on others to cause problems... Uh... HEYLET'SGOCHECKOUTTHEPALACENOW!"

DOK!

The two were stood outside of the gates to the Xincha palace, where all the important governmental big wigs went to, where the samurai of upper ranks guarded, visited for contracts and other political affairs, a grand fest of architectural beauty and prowess, even from this distance, which was as close as they were allowed to be. "This is the palace. Looks nice, yeah? I like walking past and looking at it, it reminds me of the floating pyramid back home in Southern Gold."

Shiun turned to the armored bounty hunter with a smile, holding her arms behind the small of her back. "Well that's everything! Everything I know about, anyways. We can go do some practice back at the academy now if you want, they're always happy to see kids training up so it's probably fine if we use the training grounds," she said nonchalantly. She hoped that the little tour she'd taken Rio on was satisfactory and not too much of a bore...

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 6:32 am

Aimi Kaguya, whoever that was, seemed to be some very inspiring individual. Rio made a mental note to learn more about him later... and just like that, Shiun whisked Rio off to show her every great place in Xincha- and also save face at the fact that she was not in fact the kunoichi that Shiun had just gushed over. In fact, she wasn't all that much older than Shiun in reality. In a lot of the developed world they were both just kids after all. As the pair trotted along, Shiun introduced the place the just were to Rio, as if she had rehearsed this before. Rio raised an eyebrow, her expression masked by her helmet. Making a conscious effort not to retort she merely nodded her head to Shiun at the thought of The Green Dragon having the best tea. And then they were off to the next place.

DOK!

Stood outside a ramen shop, the smell of tonkotsu broths flooded Rio's helmet and overwhelmed her nose. Hints of shoyu ramen even made their way into her nostrils. It must of been the egg one Shiun talked of- she'd make a mental note to try it, along with the legendary ramen shop in Konoha she had always heard of.

DOK!

Starting to feel a little hungry now with the scent-memory of Lilypad Ramen fresh in her head, the pair arrived before the entrance of the Xincha academy. It was humble in scale, but still large and imposing. Given that a decade ago it hadn't even existed, the shining new academy stood testament to not only the military might of the Heart Empire, but it's ability to construct infrastructure. Rio's eyes scanned past the gate and into the courtyard where young warriors took stances and swung wooden swords and spears training to become elite warriors who would ensure their countrymen would never again be displaced. This martial principle intrigued Rio- a young woman who had spent a life time encountering the evil, down-trodden parts of the world. She was sure these samurai were not only weapons of war, but weapons of peace within the Heart Empire. Protecting citizens and the like.

Though Rio wanted to linger here longer and soak in the art of war, she would nod back to Shiun and follow her to the next place.

DOK!

They were now in front of a nice three-story apartment complex. It was modest, and close to the academy. Before she could ponder it much more, the girl had called herself stinky, then began talking about mushrooms. Rio's eyes scrunched down- she didn't really get it or what Shiun was talking about and was left pondering what she meant by mushroom caps- not yet having put together that the purple thing on Shiun's head was, not in fact, a helmet, but a mushroom. As 1-1 came together to make 2, Rio was about to ask when the other girl seemed to want to move on, and dragged her to the nextplace.

DOK!

Finally, the two were outside the gates of Xincha palace. A little exhausted from the tour, Rio put her hands to her waist, then let out a gentle laugh which turned into a roaring one. "You fool- you fell for my plan and took me right to your leaders!" she said as she waved her finger towards the palace. It was just a joke of course, but Shiun seemed so easy to fool with Rio couldn't resist.

"I'm kidding, of course." she said as she put her hand to her chin and studied the palace. Maybe it was places like these where that Suzuko girl was staying? The one Goro put her on retainer to look after and do his bidding. Turning to Shiun, she raised an eyebrow, again completely invisible to the other girl, and said inquisitively "floating pyramids?" What even was a pyramid? She'd motion to walk and talk, eager to both get her answer and make her way to the training grounds where she could watch the legendary akibushi of Xincha train.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:04 am

Shiun gave a nod of her head, turning and walking away from the palace gates as Rio motioned for her to do so. "Mhm, in the capital Ulvegrad... No, wait, that's wrong. It's the FORMER capital Ulvegrad, since Heart took over and everything... Anyway it's this city built on top of Lake Blomst which apparently turns pink in the summer! I've never gotten to see it, but I hear it's gorgeous! The pyramid is built in a floating platform like the rest of the city - wait, do you know what a pyramid is? My friend Suzuko didn't know either, it's like, a temple, sort of, in the shape of a triangle," she paused, holding her hands up into a triangular shape to help illustrate. As they walked and made their way back to the academy, Shiun would take the opportunity to info dump on Rio quite a lot about her home Gold Country. To her she was just continuing the conversation, but it would be fairly obvious to the masked bounty hunter that the reason she was able to talk so at length about the topic was because of a deep longing to see the things she was talking about again. The twin grass seas, the largest volcano in the world, her family...

And then they were back at the academy and Shiun was leading the way to the training grounds. Built not only as a school but a military institute, there were paths in and around the academy that allowed access to the areas where people could freely train, a design choice that reinforced the notion that you, as a samurai, are encouraged to train and grow stronger any time you please, especially when you were available. The training ground itself was basic but well ordered! There was an intense feeling of feng shue in the design of the places relatively small though it was, with not-quite symmetrical but still appealing trees which had small stone gardens at their bases, carefully raked when disturbed, soft green grass and a wall of equipment at the back. The area itself was actually surrounded by three walls, an interior courtyard within the academy itself that had only one way in or out that lead back to the entrance. Nothing was out of place or disorderly here.

"This is my favorite place to train up! It's a bit more private than the grounds in the back which suits me just fine since I can practice stuff like my Kinojutsu in peace," she remarked, recalling how, despite her good marks or perhaps because of them, some of the other academy students, especially boys, would tease and bulky her for her fungal capabilities. It wasn't her fault she was born like this... She never swelled on those boys, though, and turned to Rio with a smile on her face. "It's nice, right?"

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:19 am

Rio had meant to listen to everything Shiun had to say, but her brain just couldn't process it once she had heard a single line: ...My friend Suzuko.

Like tunnel-vision, Rio's brain looped back on that statement as her eyes narrowed, again, masked beneath her helmet. Suzuko was a name she had not heard in a long-time. Her heart racing she became ever-more assured that her meeting with Shiun had been fate. It had been at least two years since Rio had directly met Suzuko- and by now she was probably all grown up. She pondered for a moment if Suzuko had or was here in Xincha- it would make sense for her to receive some sort of formal education. Tilting her head slightly she looked about the castle yards for any chase of the very child she had sworn to protect. In fact, the truth of why Rio was in Heart Country had much to do with an exclusive contract that put her and her guild on retainer to a powerful and mysterious man who had seemed to have a great interest in Suzuko.

And while they hadn't met directly, Rio had been there the whole time, receiving cryptic vague messages about discreetly disposing of threats to the girl. Discreet contracts to hunt traitors to the state.

Snapping back to reality, Rio looked to Shiun.

"Shiun this place looks so nice" she said as she stepped into the training ground, the loose dirt creating small clouds at her feet but also showing that the ground was soft enough to not pose a threat to those who hit it in training. "What's kinojutsu?" she asked as she faced a wall and drew her sword clumsy, "shadow-dueling" into the air as if to practice.

It wasn't that she was bad or her moves wouldn't work- its just that it was clear she was untrained in swords. For all her expertise in throwing projectiles with extreme precision she was not one who usually used such long, awkward objects in combat.

I wonder if Suzuko ever walked here.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 3:47 am

Shiun was glad that Rio seemed to like the little training area. The thought made her smile. She'd been quiet for a while now, ever since she started talking about Ulvegrad. In her excitement she'd just kept info dumping things she knew about Gold but silently she'd been thinking the whole time that she was making a fool of herself and desperately needed to shut up or else her new friend Rio would hate her for being a loud mouth who couldn't shut up.

But Rio responded with positivity when they arrived so she was able to ignore her insecurities for a little bit longer. As Rio walked ahead and picked up a training sword, Shiun was suddenly struck with the whole reason they'd started talking in the first place. Right, Rio was looking for someone to teach her how to use the sword, wasn't she? Too bad kenjutsu never vibed with her. She would have happily taught the bounty hunter if she knew anything more than "hold the blade by the handle and make sure the sharp end hits your foe".

"Oh. Yeah I guess you wouldn't know what that is, would you?" Shiun asked rhetorically, her finger tapping the side of her chin. She was initially keen on telling the bounty hunter about the Kinoko clan and her people, but she was still getting over the big silence she'd received from the masked bounty hunter on the way there and didn't want to risk over sharing again. She also had the sudden realization that most ninja probably didn't go around telling people about their Kekkei Genkai, right? So as the rare samurai that had one, she'd better do the same right?

"It's just the name for the type of jutsu related to my Kekkei Genkai, that's all!" she explained, believing that was enough. Yes, brevity was the essence of the soul or something smart sounding like that. Rio didn't seem like the type to talk too much anyways so the purple mushroom was sure she'd get it. "Anyway, you might be able to find someone who can help you practice with a sword here at the academy. Or if not they could probably turn you in the direction of a dojo here in Xincha that could," she said, sensing that their time together was coming to a close, for now.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:50 am

Rio listened attentively as Shiun spoke, her curiosity piqued by the mention of a Kekkei Genkai. The bounty hunter had encountered various shinobi and clans during her travels, but the world of ninja remained vast and mysterious. She respected Shiun's decision not to divulge too much about her Kekkei Genkai, understanding that some things were best kept private. At the same time though, the gears in Rio's head had begun to spin. Her mind raced amongst the kanji she knew as she put two-and-two together.

Spores, kino, kinoko, mushrooms- the purple hat- no that wasn't a hat it was a cap... a mushroom cap? Rio felt like banging her head against the wall for failing to process what had been in front of her the whole time. She had always prided herself on her abilities as a detective but she had missed the writing on the wall with this one. She shifted her weight. "Kekkei Genkai, huh? Sounds fascinating, Rio replied with a warm tone as she nodded her head- a non-verbal confirmation that leaving it there was fine.

The sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the city, and Rio realized that her time with Shiun was indeed coming to a close. But she was grateful for the encounter, knowing that she had made a friend in this enigmatic samurai. Their shared journey had not only provided Rio with valuable information but also a sense of camaraderie that she hadn't expected to find. There was one thing left she had to know, though.

Rio had come here to learn sword from the legends of Xin'cha, but she had found something else she had been searching. Someone else.

"You mentioned a name... Suzuko. You know her?" the armor-clad figured ask as she slammed the sword into the ground gently, but with enough force to bury it such that it stood erect. She leaned onto it, like an old man would a cane.

Golnax · Post by **Golnax** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:50 am

"Suzuko?" Shiun inquired, wondering what this was about. "Yeah, I know a Suzuko. Fukazawa Suzuko, she's like my best friend! "

The Kinoko gasped as a realization suddenly hit her! "Does Suzuko have a BOUNTY!? What did she do!?" Of course she didn't really believe that Suzuko had done anything to earn a bounty, but it was a fun question to ask none the less! "I'm sorry to say I can't help you to wrangle this bounty in, even if I wanted to! I don't know where she lives - her attendant Goro always made sure of that! I live in those apartments I showed you but those are for samurai who came to Xincha to become samurai. They're temporary housing, my real home is back in Gold! Suzuko actually lives here though, I think, buuut I don't know where, so, tough!"

The young samurai stuck her tongue out and crossed her arms over her chest, but she was smiling all the while. She really didn't think anything of this exchange other than being a bit of a joke. After all there was no way that Suzuko had a bounty... Right?

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:36 am

"Suzuko?" ... "Yeah, I know a Suzuko. Fukazawa Suzuko, she's like my best friend! "

Her eyes had turned to mere slits beneath her helm as everything else Shiun said seemed to fade out, her mind focused on only the details that called for the one known as Suzuko.

"...Suzuko actually lives here though..."

Waning in and out of attention, these were the final words that brought about an abrupt pause in the conversation. A lull as the words lingered in Rio's head, digging their way through the various neurons that were firing. Stood completely still, the ardent warriors armored figured glistened in the orange radiance of the brilliant setting sun without reply. For a brief moment, her hands gripped the hilt of the blade harder. It was the slightest of movements until her fingers surrendered unto themselves releasing the blade completely as her hands reached for her helmet- an autonomic response to her body desperately craving the air she had forgotten to breathe.

As they touched the rim of her ornate helmet, they faltered, only to find themselves falling back to the sword as the bounty hunter remembered once more how to breathe.

It had been a few years since the bounty hunter had found her way into the possession of a child- a child she had come to care for and protect. At first from the very direct meaning of such- and then from years of quiet service to Goro. An assassin in the shadows. A warrior in the bush. A guardian on the rooftop. In many ways, Rio felt a feeling of motherhood... or was it sisterhood... though she had nothing to compare it to or understand having grown up an orphan.

Collecting her self with a few more breathes, she spoke silently, for the first time with no airs upon her voice- no teasing.

"Fukazawa Suzuko- I don't know what she is to me. I'd assume I'm nothing to her- I haven't seen her since she was a tadpole." the woman said as she shifted her weight and pulled the sword up from the ground, walking by and returning it to it's pile. "I..." she wanted to spill it all but visions of Goro quickly appeared in her head.

"I believe it was fate we met today, Kinoko Shiun. But I'm afraid I must retire- I'm not feeling so well."

Is she well? Did they take good care of her at this academy?

Questions filled Rio's head to a point of forgetting why she had come here in the first place. With that, she would head off to her lodgings to rest her head for the day.

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