Smiles of Plated Gold

[Amy]

Kiyo was sitting on the floor in front of her couch, elbow propped on the coffee table with her head nestled in her hand. There was a stack of papers to her side and two more on the table, one on each end. A large binder was open in the middle of the table and she was carefully detailing data from one stack of paper into the binder before adding it to the other stack. A rather unpleasant look had settled onto her face as she worked, the natural light in the room fading quickly. She and Kota had been planning on going out that night. Not for any particular reason but just because they could. Kiyo had been looking forward to it. But one inventory mishap and two unscheduled meetings later she was stuck at home filling out the paperwork that should have been done earlier. Kiyo knew that there was technically still time to go out to dinner but it was so easy to lose track of time with him when they were out that she knew it wasn’t the best choice.

A knock on the door helped to ease the look of annoyance on her face and she stopped writing long enough to call out. “It’s open!”

When Kota walked around the entryway he would see Kiyo still sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. Her hair was bundled up in a bun on the top of her head. When she had gotten home from work a couple hours prior she had only taken the time to change out of her work clothes and throw on some sweats and an over-sized t-shirt. If one could discount the sour disposition hovering about her she might have looked comfortable.

“Sorry again about this,” she said, leaning back and gesturing at all the paperwork in front of her. “This is the second time Okino’s orders have been messed up. The first was before I was here but they didn’t fix it right the first time, or tell me, so of course it happened again.” She smiled with little joy behind it. “I spent half the day apologizing and sucking up and explaining how it was fixed in fifteen different ways twice over to keep him from making an official complaint.” Kiyo was so frustrated she didn’t even realize that she hadn’t stopped talking since Kota walked in the door.

“And it couldn’t happen to a worse client. He’s already been trying to get me to meet up with his associates who don’t currently do business with us but I’ve turned him down every time. But now he says I owe him one,” she groaned, leaning back on the couch, covering her face with her arms. “Which, he’s wrong, I don’t owe him anything. But if I keep putting it off he’ll just invite me through my father and that’s going to be an even bigger headache.”

Kiyo paused for a second, moving her arms enough so that she could see Kota, a tired but amused look on her face. “Do you feel sorry for me yet? I could keep going.”

[Kao]

Kotaru had a feeling he and Kiyo would be spending the night in. When he had checked on her a few hours before finishing his own work he somehow wasn't surprised that his girlfriend was completely swamped. Even after promises that she'd finish as quickly as she could Kotaru figured it wouldn't hurt to have a plan B. After a boring afternoon of lurking near the newest Jousai recruits to gauge their progress, the bannin stopped by one of the many markets in the village Underground. With a bag in each hand he made his way to Kiyo's home, the evening lights already turning on to signal the sun had nearly completed its descent below the horizon.

He wasn't sure why he still knocked. They were beyond the point of knocking. It had taken him months for him to invite her to his home for the first time, sure, but mere days after that initial visit Kotaru had adjusted the security fuuinjutsu on his home so that it recognized her. There would be no questioning whether or not she was welcome there. When it came to Kiyo's house he could have just used the key she had given him. But still he knocked to announce his arrival, and like many times before she had left the door open for him - even though he had told her more than once to keep it locked.

Kotaru left his shoes in the entryway and followed the sound of her voice and the softer sound of pen against paper. By the time he reached the living room she was groaning and lifting her arms to cover her face, and he used the chance to shuffle past her and set the bags on the table behind her, out of her line of sight. "You poor dear, having to fix everything and do all this extra work," he cooed as he turned and walked back toward her with his hands in his pockets. Kotaru stopped to squat next to her and place a kiss onto her forehead. But then his attention quickly turned to the stacks and stacks of forms and documents, and he tilted his head as he fully appreciated how busy she had been. The bannin blinked slowly as a memory resurfaced and drained even the tiniest hint of amusement from his expression. "Who is this guy that's giving you so much trouble? It better not be the one who was handsy with you in Kiri. I haven't forgotten."

[Amy]

Her eyes closed again briefly as she basked in everything that was Kota. The way he sauntered across her living room like he belonged there. Which, of course, he did. The feel of his lips against her forehead, leaving behind a warmth that slowly sunk into her spine and spread throughout her body. The sound of his voice as it caressed her ears, pulling her out of the chaos that she had been drowning in all day. It always seemed like no matter how bad things were or horrible they seemed, all it took to feel better was a few moments with the man she loved. When he spoke again, her eyes popped open and she sat back up, frowning slightly.

“Who?” Her brow dropped even lower as she tried to think of who Kota was talking about. When the memory hit her, her entire face relaxed as laughter bubbled up from deep in her chest. “No, no it’s not that guy. That was, uh, Mr. Agawa. My father doesn’t do business with him anymore.” A healthy shade of pink brightened her face as vivid memories of that day crossed behind her eyes. “I told you I would make sure it was taken care of.” Her father had broken the contract immediately after finding out how that meeting had gone. He had seemed like an unfair, harsh man when Kiyo was younger but the older she got the more she respected the way he handed things. “Unfortunately, he still has both of his hands. At least as far as I know.”

Kiyo turned to the side, shifting through the pile of papers there. “This wasn’t one of my accounts when I was in Kiri. His name’s uh,” Kiyo shifted through a few more papers before pulling one out and setting it out on the table. “Okino Ieki. He exports from Ikata which I think is right outside the village?” She stared at the harmless piece of paper with mild disgust before shoving it to the side towards Kota. It held a brief overview of information such as what merchandise he transported and how often he made use of the company. The sound of pen on paper picked up again as Kiyo forced herself to work and talk.

“His business has really been picking up since I took over which is what seems to have sparked his overzealousness.” Kiyo rolled her eyes, glancing over at Kota. “He used to send one of his employees with the shipments but lately he’s been the one supervising them. Hence all of the trouble. He has no problem with how the shipments arrive but still manages to have a problem with how we handle it.” An edge of bitterness worked its way into Kiyo’s voice as her writing increased slightly in speed. “But despite all of his apparent issues he still always has something new to invite me to. This time it’s a ball.”

Kiyo paused her writing only long enough to shuffle through the stack of papers on the ground again. She pulled out a still sealed envelope, her name handwritten on the front. Clearly, an invitation she hadn’t bothered to open. And with the way her writing resumed she seemed to have no intention to open it at all.

[Kao]

Kotaru’s lips twisted to one side as if pulled by some invisible string of disappointment. He hadn’t thought of this Agawa bastard since the day he visited Kiyo in Kiri, and now that the incident was at the forefront of his mind again part of him had hoped he could finally make good on his threat. With a huff he stood up and settled on the couch behind Kiyo. He laid down so his head was against the couch’s arm, and then crossed his ankles and shimmied to get more comfortable. They were both the type to sit and listen while the other ranted about their work woes, so he prepared himself to listen to Kiyo talk for a while before bringing up their dinner plans that still hung precariously in the air. But as soon as she said a certain name the bannin sat straight up.

’What?’ In a flash he snatched up the sheet and looked over the information on it, brief though it was. With slightly wrinkled brows he glanced over to Kiyo as she described a man he was all too familiar with. He knew a lot about Okino’s business habits – after all, he’d been surveilling the merchant for months. He knew the man also liked to party but that didn’t seem important until now. Kotaru took the envelope, eyeing it suspiciously as he used one fingernail to pry it open.

His lips curled at the printed invitation, sparkling with gilded lettering. You are cordially invited, blah blah. It was a masquerade ball, a semi-annual event that Okino held to publically stroke his ego and show off how well his business had fared in the months prior. At the bottom of the invitation was a handwritten message that was unmistakably from Okino himself: Kiyo, I do hope to uncover more than what’s underneath your mask.

Oh, he’s dead.

He tossed the letter onto the opposite end of the couch and made a conscious effort to keep the fire of his irritation from settling in his eyes. With his sultriest, most Kiyo-metlting smirk he slid off the couch, serpentlike, and onto the floor next to her. "Kiyo, darling." He placed a hand on her thigh, letting his fingers rest dangerously close to her center. "How would you feel about actually accepting the invitation to the ball? I'll be your plus one."

[Amy]

Kota’s antics didn’t stop Kiyo from working, her eyes darting back and forth from paper to binder as she made endless notations. That is, not until his hand settled on her thigh, high enough to force her breath to hitch. It only lasted for a moment but it was enough to pull her attention from the documents. When she turned towards Kota, her eyes narrowed. While he didn’t hate parties as much as clubs, she couldn’t remember a single time when he had suggested going to a party. Let alone a work party full of stuck-up businessmen who thought they were better than everyone else. Where they all showed off their wealth and their possessions and their attractive wives. She might have assumed it was a casual suggestion like maybe he thought she was declining the invitations for his sake, if not for the look he was giving her.

“Kota, darling,” she repeated back to him, dropping her hand on top of his, her fingertips brushing the top of his wrist. “If I look at that invitation is it going to have a plus one listed on it?”

She already knew the answer without having to look. Okino had thus far been treading the fine line between being obvious and inappropriate with his advances. Everything he said and did was innocent enough at face value that complaining about it or filing a report would do no good. It was a large part of why he had been such an annoyance as of late - it was like he knew. Like he knew he was toeing the line but never crossing it and how frustrating that was for her. It was much easier for Kiyo when they acted like Agawa did and she could just get rid of them.

“Why do you want to go to the ball?” She didn’t try to hide how much she disliked the idea. “If you want an excuse to dress up surely there are more fun places we could go.” A sigh fell from her lips as she pushed against the couch, sliding further from it and consequently nudging Kota’s hand slightly further up her thigh. “It’s going to be awful,” she said, knowing that they would go. Even if Kota didn’t give her a good reason, even if he skirted the question completely, she wouldn’t deny him something he wanted that she could give him. Especially not something that she could give him so easily, the cost being only a few hours of suffering.

“If I look at more numbers right now my eyes are going to melt,” she said, giving him an out in case he didn’t feel like telling her why he wanted to go to the ball. “What should we do about dinner?”

[Kao]

“Not unless you hand me your pen and let me scribble one down.” His smile faltered for just a moment to mirror her displeasure. The idea of attending the ball was just as distasteful to him as it was to Kiyo. But Kotaru had suspicions about Okino’s misdeeds, and unfortunately mere suspicion hadn’t been enough grounds for a full-blown investigation. He had been surveilling the merchant at his leisure, only employing help when he was too busy to follow up on Okino’s whereabouts. The party gave him an excuse to casually get near the man and observe him. Showing Okino that Kiyo was unequivocally unavailable was an added bonus.

He tilted his head as Kiyo’s slight movement caused the position of his hand to shift farther upwards. With a slow blink the bannin did his best to focus on the conversation at hand. ”It’ll be fine.” He punctuated the promise with a quick kiss and then stood to walk towards the kitchen. “Take a break, I’ll start on dinner.”

From the kitchen he explained, somewhat vaguely, why he wanted to go to the ball. Simply put, Okino was a piece of shit and was likely involved in shady business deals that stretched beyond Rock Country’s expanded borders. “It’s better if you don’t know all the details just yet,” Kotaru added as he finished the final flourishes on dinner – spicy curry and rice with a side of vegetables.

Truthfully he couldn’t tell her everything. Some of the investigation fell under the Honmaru division of Jousai, which was tasked with handling security outside of Iwagakure and throughout Rock Country and its territories. Publically, he was a member of Honmaru. But most of his work, the most sensitive missions, he couldn’t readily disclose, not even to Kiyo. Part of him hoped that he wouldn’t have to act as the head of Chigatana and draw the bloody blade of Jousai just yet. Kiyo’s involvement, no matter how small, wouldn’t – couldn’t – make him hesitate.

When he served dinner, sultry heat had already returned to his eyes. “So what should we wear? Just know that whatever you pick, you won’t be wearing it for long”

[Amy]

Following Kota with her eyes only, Kiyo yanked one of the pillows off of the couch and cradled it against her chest, resting her chin on it. She had been about to throw out a few more complaints about how there was no food in the house and they would have to go to the store but it seemed that he had arrived prepared. With a small sigh of relief, she hugged the pillow tighter to her chest and listened as Kota offered her what information he could regarding his interest in the ball. It had never bothered her that certain things regarding his work he had to keep secret from her. She had never even put much thought into it. But this time, for the first time, a small thread of unease wound its way through her mind. She had never imagined there would be any overlap between his work and hers and why would she? It should never have happened. But still, it had happened. It’ll be fine, he had promised with such confidence but Kiyo found that she wasn’t so sure. Mixing personal and professional business was unchartered territory for them.

Before the thread of worry could root itself too deeply, Kota returned with dinner in hand, dissolving every trace of worry instantly. Kiyo could have laughed at herself for even pretending to entertain the idea that something like this could cause a rift between them. Their relationship was strong because they trusted each other and always put each other first. As long as that didn’t change, nothing could come between them.

Kiyo discarded the pillow to her side and grinned up at Kota. A matching heat blazed in her own eyes, accentuated by a mischievous glint. “I have the perfect outfit in mind.”

---

---

An elegant black carriage trimmed in white and pulled by two pure white horses approached the golden gates of the Okino manor. With a groan that suggested the gold was merely for show and plated something much sturdier, the gates swung open automatically for the carriage to pass through. It had been a short trip from hotel to manor, one that would have been easily walkable. When the agent at the hotel had found out where they were going to, though, he had insisted they make use of one of the hotel’s carriages. Despite initialing declining the offer, the man had been insistent. Though he offered no good reasoning, the couple had relented and taken him up on his offer. Now that they had entered the grounds, it was easy to see why the insistence had been made.

“Oh good,” Kiyo said sarcastically. “Here I was, worried it would be pretentious.”

At the far end of the drive stood what could only be called a mansion, crafted of stone. The exterior was even better managed than the gardens, small trimmings and decor highlighting the craftsmanship that must have gone into building it. Money practically dripped from the building, ensuring that no one who visited could doubt the wealth of those who inhabited the home. Kiyo grimaced as the carriage pulled to a stop at the front walkway, the driver opening the door and holding his hand out. “You so owe me for this.”

Kiyo placed her hand in that offered by the driver and stepped down, pausing long enough for Kota to join her. The short walkway to the front door was well lit with intricately crafted lanterns lining both sides. She reached into her black coat and retrieved two masks, passing one to Kota before affixing her own to her face as they walked towards the front door. “I hope he tries to turn you away for not being invited,” Kiyo grumbled as she rang the doorbell, trying to sound grumpy. Despite her best attempt, she was unable to hide the amusement in her tone.

It was only a beat of time before the front door opened, a well dressed butler greeting them. “Good evening. May I please see your invi-”

“No need for that. I almost can’t believe my own eyes. Please, come in.”

With great self control, Kiyo stopped herself from rolling her eyes as the door was pulled open all the way, revealing none other than the host of the party, Okino Ieki. “Thank you, Mr. Okino. You have a beautiful home,” Kiyo said as sincerely as she could manage as she stepped inside, undoing the buttons of her coat.

“Now, Kiyo,” he chided. “How many times am I going to have to insist you call me Ieki? There is no need for such-” His voice faltered as his eyes continued past Kiyo and landed on Kota. “Such formality between friends. I’m sorry, who are you? This party is invitation only.”

“Oh, he’s with me,” Kiyo said as finished unbuttoning her coat, noting the frustrated look forming on the man’s face already. “Don’t tell me he wasn’t invited?” Kiyo groaned lightly, as though she were just realizing a mistake she made. “I just assumed, since I’ve mentioned him in several of our conversations.” She reached out, her fingertips brushing Ieki’s forearm gently as she looked up at him and smiled. “You don’t mind, do you, Ieki?”

[Kao]

Kotaru snorted at Kiyo's wry comment, glancing at her before craning his neck out of the open carriage to get a better view of the manor. Everything about the evening so far had been ridiculous and extravagant, and he could only imagine what awaited them inside the ostentatious estate. He squeezed her hand slightly, a promise that he would certainly make it up to her for indulging him. Just before the driver opened the carriage door, Kotaru slipped on a pair of black gloves and made sure the cuff of his jacket prevented them from slipping downward. He took a moment to admire the custom made horned masquerade mask, turning it over in his hands to appreciate the delicate craftsmanship. The mask was mostly black, its gold trim sparkling in the low light of the evening. It took some time for Kotaru to adjust the mask so that the large, curved horns sat perfectly on top of his much smaller ones.

The heels of his boots clicked against the stone walkway as he made a conscious effort to make noise as he walked. "No need to wish for trouble before we even make it through the door, Kiyo dear," he murmured, voice velvety smooth. It took mere seconds for Kiyo's knock to be answered, and seemingly in the next instant Ieki himself slithered up to the doorway.

Slimy. That was the first word Kotaru could think of when he saw the man up close for the first time. The man had used so much hair gel in an attempt to look perfect that he looked borderline greasy. Ieki was broad with large arms and an unfortunately swollen gut, suggesting he had once been in great shape before he let wealth and indulgence soften his physique. His mask was, unsurprisingly, white and gold. Kotaru bristled at the contrast between them. Instead of displaying his displeasure the bannin smiled slightly. Almost genuinely. "I'm sure the esteemed Okino Ieki has room for one more. My darling Kiyo hasn't mentioned you much, but she doesn't have to. Who within the Realm of Rock Country hasn't heard about your triumphs and exploits?" He lowered his head and bent over at the waist, far deeper than he would normally bow to anyone, but not so deeply that the gesture would seem disingenuous. "We've been eager to see your home for days now. May we?" Without waiting for a response Kotaru took Kiyo's hand and stepped forward with such confidence and authority that both Ieki and his butler unconsciously stepped to the side.

The couple brushed past them, the end of Kotaru's high ponytail sweeping the side of Ieki's face. With a slight sneer Kotaru turned his head and looked around the foyer. It was just as flamboyant as the exterior, erring precariously on the side of taste. But when he turned around to face Ieki again, there was no sign of disdain. There was only skillfully feigned awe and admiration. He turned to Kiyo, taking a moment to make a show of gazing at her before adding wistfully, "Stunning."

[Amy]

They didn’t exactly have a plan, per se. There had been attempts to craft one, but with the limited information that Kota could provide, and the lack of information Kiyo held, it was difficult to get very far. The only task that she knew for certain that fell into her hands was to keep them both on Ieki’s good side so that they could stay. That was easy. The persistent man’s attention easily slid from Kota back to her as she shrugged her coat off of her shoulders and dropped it into the waiting arm’s of the butler.

The day that Kota had given her the dress was burned brightly into her memory forever. She had been struck nearly speechless when she pulled the dress out of the box. Men usually loved the way she dressed when they encountered her in bars but hated the way she dressed when they went out together. They loved to accuse her of vying for everyone’s attention, showing off too much skin, disrespecting them with her own body. But it was Kota himself who had given her a dress with a neckline that dipped below her breasts, showing off an ample amount of her cleavage that he loved so much. A backless dress where the fabric brushed against her hipbones, displaying the dimples he often pressed his lips against. A black, silky dress, with a slit that ran nearly all the way up her thigh. He had chosen it for her, knowing she would love it. Knowing the confidence she would feel in it. He had clasped the golden necklace around her neck, brushed his fingers against the matching earring that hung from her ears, and his breath had caught in his throat. Because on that day, like every other day, he was obsessed with her. Not the her he wished she was. Not the her he wanted her to change into. Just her. Just who she already was.

“Well, I just-” Ieki tried to speak, nearly stumbling over his own feet as Kota whisked her further into the home.

She squeezed his hand as she glanced at Kota, admiration glowing in her eyes. They spoke of their work often. Complained, really. The differences were vast but at the end of the day, if you wished to simplify things, you could say they did the same thing. Managed silly, annoying people. Filled out reports. Pretended to be someone they weren’t. They were both incredibly dramatic when describing their day to day job but never had they seen each other at work. Not before now. A sudden pressure pricked at Kiyo’s ego as she watched how easily Kota fell into the role he had chosen for the night. Kiyo didn’t want to be there and she didn’t want to suck up to Ieki but it was an undeniable fact that she did want to show off for Kota.

“I forgot your invitation at my office,” Kiyo said, grinning slightly at Ieki, remembering the personal note he had written for her. “But it was impossible to keep such an honorable invitation to myself. I’ve been quite rude, though.” Kiyo turned to Kota, her eyes sparkling beneath her mask. They matched beautifully. The horns of her own mask were thinner, not needing to cover any natural ones. And while Kota’s was black with gold accents her own was gold with black accents. “Kota,” she said, neglecting to use his title or full name. “This is Okino, Ieki, one of my most valuable clients. Friends. Ieki, this is Kota.”

It was painfully obvious, the look of pride that crossed Okino’s face at her introduction. Men were so easy to manipulate, Kiyo thought to herself, watching as Ieki took his time to appreciate the same view that Kota was taking in.

“Yes, of course,” Ieki said, finally finding his voice. “Any friend of Kiyo’s is a friend of mine.” His words were meant for Kota but his gaze never left Kiyo’s, except for when it was dropping to her chest. “Please, follow me to the ballroom.” His hand brushed against Kiyo’s bare shoulder as he walked by them. It was hardly a breath of time that he paused, glancing down at her, but it was long enough for her to mark it. Which meant it was definitely long enough for Kota to mark it. Kiyo had already known what kind of man Ieki was. The fact that he wasn’t attempting to be subtle even when her boyfriend’s hand was wrapped around her own said more than words ever could.

Actual scum.

“Good news, dear,” Kiyo said, turning her smile to Kota. “No trouble to be found here.”

It was undeniable. It had seemed unimportant. She had taken a leave from the life of a shinobi easily. It had been that or wind up dead. Dramatic, sure. But Kiyo had always been dramatic. She hadn’t missed it. The subterfuge. The threat of disaster. The taste of danger. She hadn’t missed it until she tasted it. With great self-control, Kiyo pulled her gaze from Kota’s and focused it forward. She had made her choice. Any regrets that licked at the corners of her mind were quelled by the reminder that everything in her life had led her to Kota. A merchant or a ninja, he loved her all the same.

The ballroom was even more extravagant than the foyer. It wasn’t an act, the way her breath caught in her throat. Soft light caressed every corner of the room. Fabric in light lavenders and blues draped the walls, offering depth and shadow to the large room, forcing it to appear smaller and more personable. Dozens of people milled around, all dressed to the nines. But still, their gazes all seemed to drift to the trio as they passed through the large double doors.

Ieki’s hand fell upon Kiyo’s shoulder once more. “If you’ll forgive me, I have a few matters to attend to,” he said, his eyes flickering up to meet that of a small group standing in the far corner. “But I would like to claim a dance or two with you tonight.”

“Of course,” Kiyo said easily, nodding her head as the man allowed his hand to slide down her arm as he walked away. Without letting the smile fade from her face, Kiyo looked up at Kota.

“Are you having fun yet, my love?”

[Kao]

Kotaru more than marked Ieki's gesture. The way the man dared to let his eyes wander to Kiyo's chest. The way he touched her not just once fleetingly, but deliberately. Brazenly. Kotaru followed every slick movement with burning eyes. All the while he somehow managed to maintain the tranquil, slight upturn of his lips. It had taken years of practice and diplomatic dealing with bastards like Ieki to nearly perfect such a mask. But the notoriously surly bannin still had a short fuse, and he reminded himself it was much too soon to let his temper get the better of him.

He glanced at Kiyo, deciding to hold in his comment about trouble, as they followed Ieki to the ballroom. He scanned the partygoers, noting that everyone's elaborate, gilded masks and flamboyant outfits did a decent job of making identifying them by sight alone harder. Kotaru very nearly missed Ieki's last shameless touch, and he very nearly grabbed the man's hand and squeezed until the bones cracked and split. "No, I'm not," he seethed as Ieki crossed the room, "because our friend doesn't value having intact hands enough."

It wasn't merely the fact that Ieki openly touched Kiyo that aggravated Kotaru. It was the way his actions clearly stated Ieki was a man used to getting what he wanted, no matter the obstacle. Kotaru adjusted the gold collar chain hanging below his neck and watched as Ieki greeted the small group and soon erupted into boisterous laughter. "He may seem like your run-of-the-mill narcissistic, rich businessman but I'm eighty...five percent sure he's running some sort of blackmail network that may or may not involve missing nin. There's definitely a little murder and kidnapping involved. Probably."

Kotaru took her hand and began walking in the opposite direction that Ieki had gone. The two slowly circled the crowd, making their way to a slightly less crowded part of the ballroom. He made note of the two other exits: doorless archways, lined with flowering vines, that were positioned on opposite sides of the room. A long balcony stretched above them, running along three of the four walls. Several guests were peering at the party below, chatting animatedly with glasses of amber liquid in their hands. Beyond each archway were dimly lit halls lined with portraits of Ieki's family members and other works of art.

"His businesses have been coming up more and more frequently in certain reports. I could have easily gotten in here while he was sleeping or away, but this way I can poke around and see what he's like when he's comfortable and who exactly in his circle he's most eager to impress. And," he stopped walking and gently led Kiyo just in front him, and he spun her in a smooth, fluid motion, her dress swirling around her, "it gives me an excuse to see you like this and show you off."

For a moment everything fell away. Kiyo was the most stunning woman in the room. Even in a black dress she was radiant, effortlessly outshining even the most brightly dressed guests. His outfit complimented hers purposefully. Perfectly. While her outfit highlighted her curves, Kotaru's allowed the strong angles of his shoulders and chest to be put proudly on display. His deep, inky black suit seemed to swallow much of the light around him while the silky fabric of Kiyo's dress shimmered subtly in contrast. Starlight and night. Kotaru had carefully coordinated their outfits - black with accents of gold, their sleek silhouettes each commanding attention in their own way.

He pulled her closer so his lips brushed against her ear. "Show me how you have fun, Kiyo darling."

[Amy]

For a moment, nothing else and no one else mattered. For a moment, time slowed and it was just the two of them in the undeniably beautiful ballroom. Soft music floated around them as Kota spun her before pulling her in close. “Lucky for you,” Kiyo murmured in response, leaning closer to him rather than pull away. “Showing off and having fun are two of my favorite things.” Her hands slid between them as she curved her body against his, hooking her fingers beneath the collar of his jacket. Kiyo allowed herself one more moment to pretend they were there only for pleasure. To eat and drink and dance and laugh at the pompous assholes they were surrounded by. A moment to appreciate the way his eyes reflected the gold of her mask, causing them to practically sparkle in the soft light provided by the chandeliers.

Unfortunately this moment, like all moments, eventually passed. Kiyo sighed pleasantly and stepped back from Kota slightly, letting her hands fall back to her sides. She cocked her head slightly towards the bar and began walking that way, speaking low enough that no one except Kota would be able to hear her.

“Other than the small amount of local business he does here, all of his shipments go through us. Even the ones that stay in country.” Kiyo’s eyes traveled along all of the extravagant dressings of the room as they walked. Ieki tastes were over the top, teetering on the edge of gaudy. “Because of taxes and tariffs it’s possible to estimate the worth of a business. Not exactly ethical but…” Kiyo shrugged and grinned. “He also loves to talk about how poorly run the business was before he took over. How the business and his family were nearly destroyed.”

She stopped talking long enough to pause at the bar and order a glass of wine and a sparkling mango juice for Kota. As soon as they drifted far enough away from the bar to not be overheard she resumed what she had been saying.

“All that to say, your definite, probable, suspicion about his…side business makes sense. I don’t see any way that he could afford all this, otherwise.” She motioned subtly around the room. The thought had entered her head as soon as they arrived at the manor. She had been expecting it to be nice, fancy even, precisely because she did have an idea of how rich he was. But the reality was so far beyond her expectations that it was immediately suspicious.

A soft smile with little emotion behind it slid over her face as she stared past Kota’s shoudler. “Now then,” she said, stepping forward until her shoulder was pressed against his. “I’m going to go find out if anyone interesting is here tonight. Try not to remove anyone’s hands while I’m gone, please.” After planting a quick and gentle kiss on his cheek, Kiyo continued walking towards the center of the room.

A small group of six or seven women stood in a circle, all seemingly waiting for Kiyo to reach them. Once she did she was quickly pulled into the circle, the women rushing through introductions.

“I thought you were never going to come over here!” One said.
“If your husband looked like that you wouldn’t want to leave his side either,” another shot back, craning her head around to try to get another look at Kota.
“Shut up!”
“Don’t pretend she’s wrong,” a different woman cut in. “I saw you staring when they walked in.”
“Lilia! I’m sorry, she doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut.”

Kiyo just laughed as the women bickered amongst themselves. There were a dozen ways to get information in a situation like this. But none, Kiyo knew, were as fast and reliable as making friends with the bored, gossipy wives of self-important businessmen.

[Kao]

She was intoxicating. If Kotaru had his way he would gather Kiyo in his arms and find an empty room. Unfortunately, no matter how much he craved the feel of her bare skin against his, it was neither the time nor place for their usual semi-public exploits. He watched her sashay away, swirling the drink in his hand, and pretended not to notice the tall, silver haired man slowly creeping towards him.

Meanwhile, Kiyo already had her hands full. One member of the group of wives who hadn’t spoken yet, a tall woman with long, silky blue-black hair, gently shoved the one name Lilia aside. “Don’t mind them. It’s just been a while since someone so….” She inhaled sharply, turning her head to shamelessly gawk at Kotaru. She looked him up and down, her gaze settling on his hips for a moment before turning back to Kiyo. “Intriguing came to one of these dreadfully uneventful parties.”

“Minako!” Lilia, scandalized, placed a hand over her chest and took a long drink from her cup.

“Oh, stop it, Lilia. He must be something special, no? What kind of business is he in? Hopefully something useful. My husband and Ieki spend hours every week lamenting over the lack of new business ventures.”

The low din of the dozens of conversations happening at once prevented Kotaru from overhearing anything the women said to one another. Even if he could have managed eavesdropping from across the room, he found it somewhat distracting that he was being approached by someone with roughly the subtlety of a neon green mountain lion with a bell tied around its neck.

“Pardon me,” the man said once he was at Kotaru’s side, “but I just had to meet the person that Miss Kiyo brought along. I’ve never seen Ieki’s feathers so thoroughly ruffled by jealousy.” When Kotaru looked over, his eyes flared with indignation. The silver-haired man frowned, taken aback, but the bannin’s infuriated expression disappeared in an instant when Kotaru suddenly smiled and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. The newcomer quickly recovered and chuckled to dispel the awkwardness.

Kotaru braced himself for mindless chitchat. The man’s name was Sazanami something-or-other, and it quickly became evident that he was there to size up Kiyo’s unwelcome date on Ieki’s behalf. The bannin tried not to roll his eyes as he endured the conversation, and he hoped he’d learn information that would make the interaction worthwhile.

[Amy]

“Pardon me,” Kiyo said, unapologetically interrupting the man who was still bothering Kota while he was mid-sentence. “I’m going to take him back now.” The man stuttered, clearly not used to being so rudely displaced from a conversation, attempting to find his train of thought. Kiyo gave him no chance to do so, wrapping her arm around Kota’s arm and leading him away with a saccharine smile on her face. “Deepest apologies,” she said, looking over her shoulder at the still flabbergasted man briefly, not sounding apologetic at all.

Once they were a healthy distance away, Kiyo deposited her empty glass on the tray of a nearby waiter and gave Kota her full attention. “I think I hate everyone here,” she said with a sigh, falling back against a silk-wrapped pillar. Her head leaned back, tilted slightly to look into Kota’s eyes. “Everyone except you, of course.” Kiyo hadn’t chosen the direction she led them in without cause. From his point of view, standing in front of her, Kota could look past the pillar to have a clear view of Ieki and the two men he was now talking to. They were standing just far enough away from everyone to suggest that they shouldn’t be bothered but not so far away that they looked out of place or like they were trying to hide.

“The shorter, stocky one is Oyama, Kyou. He’s Ieki’s accountant, officially. If Ieki is there, Kyou is pretty much always with him. The wives don’t like him very much, they say he creeps them out.” Kiyo couldn’t say she didn’t understand. There was something about the way he held himself, the way his eyes roamed the room, that was somehow unpleasant.

“None of them knew much about the other guy, just his name. Sugihara, Tomio. He only comes to big meetings or parties like this and doesn’t socialize much.” The other women may not have liked Kyou much but it was Tomio that she was wary of. He was much taller and slimmer than Kyou but his expression was practically unreadable. And that, she knew, was dangerous. Worried that staying in one place would draw too much attention to them, Kiyo pressed off of the pillar and pressed her body to Kota’s, wrapping an arm around his neck.

“One more thing,” she said as she tilted her head up towards his neck, lips brushing the exposed skin above his collar. “Their husbands told them to stay away from anyone wearing a full mask with gold horns and fangs. None would say why.” She hadn’t seen anyone like that yet but that didn’t mean he hadn’t slipped in while she had been working the women for information.

[Kao]

Kotaru could feel the tension ease out of his shoulders as Kiyo led him away from his unwelcome companion. As she settled against the pillar his hand slid down her arm until he took her hand in his, their fingers loosely intertwining. His gaze moved past her, darkening with consideration as Kiyo relayed the information she had obtained. “Gold horns and fangs, huh?” He suppressed a shiver as her lips just barely passed over his skin. “Almost sounds like he and I could be kin."

Before he could comment further, a loud, reverberating bell sounded in the hall. The din of the crowd quickly faded as the guests turned to determine the source of the sound and found Ieki standing on a raised platform, arms outstretched. "My esteemed guests! Thank you for your attendance!" Kotaru rolled his eyes as the man began an uninspired, egotistic and rambling speech. Luckily it was brief, and as the crowd burst into applause the bannin lowered his lips to Kiyo's ear.

"How about we ruin his night a little?" he purred as he gently pulled her in Ieki's direction. Kotaru waved to get his attention, and he smirked when the man's shoulders tensed. "Wonderful speech," he lied, his tone nearly as slimy as Ieki's when he had been verbally stroking himself. "Kiyo was just telling me I should enter business with you." As he spoke he adjusted his collar, flashing the giant sapphire ring on his middle finger. "How about we have a chat somewhere quieter?"

[Amy]

Ieki was doing his best to hide his irritation, Kiyo knew, as they entered his office. He had partially gotten what he wanted - her, in his home. But she had brought Kota with her which had instantly spoiled what should have been a clear victory for him. Somehow, despite his inferior personality and inferior looks, he still seemed to think that he had a chance of winning her over. It was why she had neglected to introduce Kota in the way she normally would. If Ieki knew that the man at her side was Akari, Kota, right hand man to the Tsuchikage, all hope that he had would burn to ash and any leverage they had with him would be gone. Strong arming him wasn’t something that she was morally against but if it could be avoided then it needed to be. Her role in the night, in the plan, was confusing even to her. She wasn’t there as a ninja of Kiri or Iwa, merely the face of her father’s company. If things went south, if half stories started being spread, it could do more damage than she could even imagine.

“Though you seem to know plenty about my business,” Ieki said as he stood by the large chair behind his desk. “I’m afraid I know nothing of yours. Kiyo’s remarks about you, though frequent, have been superficial at best.”

Kiyo stood by one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk, resting her hand on the back of it. If he wasn’t going to sit then neither was she.

“Kota is a very private person,” she said, the soft smile on her face barely hiding the annoyance that was building behind her eyes. “His business isn’t mine to gossip about. Just as I would never gossip about yours.”

“Right,” Ieki said, coughing lightly, his eyes shifting down and to the side briefly. “I’m sure he appreciates such considerations. In that case, maybe you would like to tell me why I should consider a contract with you? As Kiyo here can attest to, my business is doing quite well already.”

His eyes flickered to Kota’s but didn’t stay for long. The door that they had entered through just moments ago opened again, just enough to allow Oyama, Kyou to slip through. Without looking at Kiyo or Kota he took his place at Ieki’s right-hand side, his mask still in place.

“Please,” Ieki said, his voice honey sweet. “Take a seat.”

[Kao]

The slight smile that Kotaru has carefully plastered in his lips slowly began to fade. They instead took on a downward cast, his head tilted with apparent curiosity when the newcomer sauntered into the room. Kiyo wasn’t exaggerating when she said Ieki’s accountant stuck to him like glue. Oyama’s presence didn’t overly concern him, but he briefly wondered if he was more than just Ieki’s accountant. A man like Ieki would certainly vote himself as important enough to have a bodyguard masquerading as a man of ledgers and spreadsheets.

“Certainly. Thank you.” Kotaru did as directed, taking a seat in the chair that Kiyo stood behind. He wanted to take her hand and rub in their relationship more, but decided against it. This was an opportunity he hadn’t fully expected, so he needed to play his cards carefully. “I hope you appreciate that I’ve done quite a bit of research on your and your business before coming to your impressive soirée.” He put on his best businessman voice, his cadence and tone painting him as a man of means and ambition rather than as a shinobi of cunning and malice.

“You’ve done very well for yourself in the past few years. Your trade business in Rock Country has been flourishing and you’ve started to make gains in Water. You’ve even been trying to gain traction in…certain countries to the southeast, though you haven’t been as successful there. Not for lack of trying, I’ve heard.” The bannin paused to observe Ieki’s reactions. He wasn’t disappointed. It was subtle, but Ieki’s jaw clenched.

“Your inquiries might get unwanted attention. But I could help you bypass that.”

“We’re not sure what you mean.” Surprisingly, it was Ieki’s right hand man who responded. His voice was deeper and rougher than expected, like stone scraping against stone. Oyama sat rigidly, nearly completely still. It was almost unsettling. “What are you implying?”

Kotaru turned to Kiyo, feigning an innocent expression of surprise. “You really don’t gossip, Kiyo. Even more reason to trust your judgement.” Kotaru then explained his “business.” He mined and moved raw minerals and precious stones, and his business ignored those tedious political lines drawn by samurai and shinobi. After all, every country has rich patrons who like things that shine. They could do business with one another and flourish: Ieki can move his products more easily into new markets that Rock Country businessmen didn’t traditionally have access to. And Kotaru could expand his clientele list to include Ieki’s suppliers and partners.

“What do you think, Ieki-san?”