Settling Affairs [Day 6, LN]

[Kuni Koyuki]

It was late. Any other day of the week she would have been in bed but she couldn't sleep if she wanted to. Every reflection the sight of one of them, those three beautiful souls. Any misheard sound lay in her ear like Tats telling her to take it easy, or Rikako commending her keeping people together, or Toma telling her to enjoy life a little more. Sometimes they judged her. How was she any better than Moriko? Prove yourself, they'd call her to do, prove that you're not just being used by some Spider woman with a magnetic smile and eyes that saw through you in ways you didn't think you'd feel again.

Koyuki sent the message half an hour ago, and now she waited for Hato to arrive. One addition to that message, "Urgent." That was all she said, and on the bed behind her were two rather large satchels. They were left unattended for the moment as she looks at herself in the rooms bathroom mirror. Staring back at herself is those same eyes, but they weren't dead. A few hairs out of place, a very light smudge of her makeup by her chin, and the red lipstick wasn't perfectly covering the whole of her lip with just a little peering through at the corner, small details she hopes only she'll notice.

Tats puts his hand on her shoulder, Don't fuck it up. Looking at her from the other side through that reflection.

"Thanks," she says, with some distasteful vitriol.

[Hato]

It was late. Any other day of the week she would have been in bed but she couldn't sleep if she wanted to. Every reflection the sight of one of them, those three beautiful souls. Any misheard sound lay in her ear like Tats telling her to take it easy, or Rikako commending her keeping people together, or Toma telling her to enjoy life a little more. Sometimes they judged her. How was she any better than Moriko? Prove yourself, they'd call her to do, prove that you're not just being used by some Spider woman with a magnetic smile and eyes that saw through you in ways you didn't think you'd feel again.

Koyuki sent the message half an hour ago, and now she waited for Hato to arrive. One addition to that message, "Urgent." That was all she said, and on the bed behind her were two rather large satchels. They were left unattended for the moment as she looks at herself in the rooms bathroom mirror. Staring back at herself is those same eyes, but they weren't dead. A few hairs out of place, a very light smudge of her makeup by her chin, and the red lipstick wasn't perfectly covering the whole of her lip with just a little peering through at the corner, small details she hopes only she'll notice.

Tats puts his hand on her shoulder, Don't fuck it up. Looking at her from the other side through that reflection.

"Thanks," she says, with some distasteful vitriol.

Having just left the Spider Embassy, Hato was surprised to receive an urgent request meeting. Given it was at the hotel, Hato sincerely hoped it was not an urgent booty call from a drunken Kuni. It was dangerous to meet so soon after having left the embassy, and Hato had a very bad feeling about this, as if something that would be very bad for her health was just right around the corner.

But she couldn't afford NOT to show up. It was possible that the Kuni had run in to some trouble. Until the Kuni's money was in her hands, she had a very strong interest in the continue well being of the Kuni.

At least the hotel with it's mostly AI check-in staff was discrete. Hato didn't seem to be carrying anything unusual....but it's not like she had a safer place to carry the stolen data than on her person.

Despite her instincts warning her that trouble was just beyond that door, Hato knocked quietly on the Kuni's room.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Demeanor dire, in such a state that Hato has only seen once before with the shift at the arrival of Taiki when they first met. That was the condition in which the door opened, Koyuki stepped aside, and she bid Hato enter. Once Hato was through, she'd close the door behind her and lock it.

"Thank you for coming, Hato-san," she says, a hint of a rush in her voice that betrays the urgency and yet there was a reign on it trying to keep it controlled.

[Hato]

Demeanor dire, in such a state that Hato has only seen once before with the shift at the arrival of Taiki when they first met. That was the condition in which the door opened, Koyuki stepped aside, and she bid Hato enter. Once Hato was through, she'd close the door behind her and lock it.

"Thank you for coming, Hato-san," she says, a hint of a rush in her voice that betrays the urgency and yet there was a reign on it trying to keep it controlled.

Hato bowed deeply to the Kuni once she was inside.

The urgency in the Kuni's tone indicated this was not to be a fun meeting, or one for overly long small talk.

"Of course, Lady Crab. How can this one assist Lady Crab?" she asked, her tone serious.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I am going to need to ask for the information you've gathered, Hato-san. We need an idea on what the Spider might be doing, and soon," she says, setting herself up over by the bag. Opening up the satchels to reveal the currency within. Plenty of koku to go around for a while. Looking it over, Koyuki's eyes narrow as if she's double checking it's all there again. Seemingly satisfied she turns back to Hato.

"I am sorry for the rush, and the Crab will appreciate you and any information you bring to them in the future. I simply can't-" she halts, shakes her head. "I do not know if I will be able to collect later than tonight, Hato-san. There is something I must do, and so I must make sure my accounts are in order. On behalf of you, and the Crab both."

[Hato]

For the first time in their brief acquaintence, Hato sat down at the room's small table, considering the Kuni and her bag of money.

"That is.....an unfortunate state of affairs, Lady Crab." she said finally. "This one must admit to some foolishness. This one had envisioned tossing the data to Lady Crab as the shuttle door closed and she travelled far away from this place."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Even wolves can dream, but all dreams come to an end and the dawn waits for no one, regardless of one's wishes." she mused.

She laid three data chips out on the table, one at a time.

"This one is the information collected from Shadeworks HQ. It's quite a lot of financial data. One should be able to follow said information to some very interesting places." she said putting down the first chip.

"This one is the information just gleaned from the Spider Embassy. The monitor isn't even cool yet. Still, from what this one was able to scan as the data was transferred, it is a rather nice cache of data meant for Spider diplomat eyes only." she said laying the second chip beside the first.

"Finally, this one is this one's own private research. This one is quite a skilled conversationalist, and has been gathering some intel upon the streets. Tiny compared to the other two, and not as focused as they other two, but still may provide useful in Lady Crab's endeavors."

She waved her hand over the three chips.

"Three bullets for Lady Crab. May they be worth every zeni and strike down all who oppose Lady Crab." she concluded.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Stepping forward Koyuki looks over each of the chips. Feeling the gravity of the things that must be contained within she lays a hand down on one of them, almost caressing it like it was the answer to all of her problems. Rikako's voice chimed in her ear, that satisfied grunt when she'd done a good job. Still not certain herself if it was the actual woman or just some manifestation of her psyche yet driving her. Still, for whatever it was, suddenly she could breathe a little easier once more.

"Koyuki, in private. If you would be so kind, Hato-san," she says, and then half turns back toward the bags. Raising an arm to indicate them, "150 Koku as to finish our agreement, and.." she slips her hand inside the kimono-shirt she wore, a pocket sewn into the inside. Retrieving the writ of travel to Green Carp, holding it close to herself but seeming to suggest Hato rise and take it from her. "Your ticket away from this place when you're ready."

[Hato]

Hato nodded.

"Lady Koiyuki then." Hato agreed. "It seems unlikely this one will be able to say those words many more times once that door is unlocked." she said with a nod to the room's locked door.

She rose to collect the wrt and the money.

"Would this one be unreasonable in asking for a few more minutes of Lady Koiyuki's time? Not for business, just to treasure this moment for a little while longer." she asked, wanting to push back the future just a little bit more.

[Kuni Koyuki]

There was something else hanging on Koyuki's tongue, and yet the request came from Hato. Hand fiddling absently with the edge of her sleeve. Looking the other woman over in that appreciation she contained for her. Without any cause or need to leave right away, her answer was simple. Now she was just curious what might be on Hato's mind to have asked, it was a curiosity one could note in the look of her eye and nothing more.

What she had to say could wait, and with a brief smile she nods, "Of course Hato-san. I would happily spend the time."

[Hato]

There was something else hanging on Koyuki's tongue, and yet the request came from Hato. Hand fiddling absently with the edge of her sleeve. Looking the other woman over in that appreciation she contained for her. Without any cause or need to leave right away, her answer was simple. Now she was just curious what might be on Hato's mind to have asked, it was a curiosity one could note in the look of her eye and nothing more.

What she had to say could wait, and with a brief smile she nods, "Of course Hato-san. I would happily spend the time."

Hato nods

"This one would like to know more about Lady Koiyuki. It does not matter what Lady Koiyuki wishes to share. This one just wants to add a little more substance to her memory of Lady Koiyuki." she requested.

It was clear Hato didn't have any really pressing questions. She just wanted to spend time with Koiyuki.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Taking a seat on the bed, Koyuki glances about the room while she considers what to say. Never was she all that great about speaking of herself. Thing wound up just coming up incidentally more often than not, and it was never quite the topic in question. Now it, she, was. It was a strange sort of thing that after everything of the past 24 or so hours she simply couldn't ignore the willingness to say something.

"As I said when we first met, my mother used to sing to me. When I was little it was the only thing that could calm me. When I grew older, I still found it had the same effect. Few things have ever given me the peace that listening to a woman sing has given me. That was what gave me the desire to hire you initially, Hato-san. When we first met that song you were singing spoke to me in that way. A ronin has no use for such a voice but.. a Clan Samurai might find quite a deal of respect for it. So, it is my hope that you find your way to make the most of all you can with what you've received here today. That some day you might have the life a woman like you deserves to be able to have."

Koyuki looks toward the wall beside the door, thinking for a moment. Then, finally, turns her head to Hato. "Does that suffice, Hato-san?"

[Hato]

Taking a seat on the bed, Koyuki glances about the room while she considers what to say. Never was she all that great about speaking of herself. Thing wound up just coming up incidentally more often than not, and it was never quite the topic in question. Now it, she, was. It was a strange sort of thing that after everything of the past 24 or so hours she simply couldn't ignore the willingness to say something.

"As I said when we first met, my mother used to sing to me. When I was little it was the only thing that could calm me. When I grew older, I still found it had the same effect. Few things have ever given me the peace that listening to a woman sing has given me. That was what gave me the desire to hire you initially, Hato-san. When we first met that song you were singing spoke to me in that way. A ronin has no use for such a voice but.. a Clan Samurai might find quite a deal of respect for it. So, it is my hope that you find your way to make the most of all you can with what you've received here today. That some day you might have the life a woman like you deserves to be able to have."

Koyuki looks toward the wall beside the door, thinking for a moment. Then, finally, turns her head to Hato. "Does that suffice, Hato-san?"

Hato nodded.

The chances of her being a clan samurai renowned for her singing was laughable.....but this is not the time for such laughter.

"Would Lady Koiyuki care for one more song before this one departs? Were this one to sit closely and sing quietly, this one thinks we could avoid too much notice. This one feels like Lady Koiyuki might need some calm before the storm." she offered.

She paused a moment.

"And this one would like to sing for Lady Koiyuki one more time." she said, taking care to not make that 'one last time'

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I-" Koyuki stammers. Eyes narrowing slightly like something was amiss. Of course, there wasn't, she merely hadn't expected such an offer suddenly. It was beyond her read of the woman, perhaps it was the nature in the setup and how she had considered the details to some length. That bit of confidence, the stated desire for it. Yet, she couldn't deny that she would appreciate it. One last chance to hear the woman sing before.. well, she hoped she would find herself something better.

"I would like that," she says. Expression something of a twisting awkwardness that was hard to place under the face paint. Yet it was accompanied by the slight movements that came with making oneself prepared for the suggested closeness.

[Hato]

"I-" Koyuki stammers. Eyes narrowing slightly like something was amiss. Of course, there wasn't, she merely hadn't expected such an offer suddenly. It was beyond her read of the woman, perhaps it was the nature in the setup and how she had considered the details to some length. That bit of confidence, the stated desire for it. Yet, she couldn't deny that she would appreciate it. One last chance to hear the woman sing before.. well, she hoped she would find herself something better.

"I would like that," she says. Expression something of a twisting awkwardness that was hard to place under the face paint. Yet it was accompanied by the slight movements that came with making oneself prepared for the suggested closeness.

Hato closed the distance, though was careful not to touch. And she sang quietly, for Koiyuki and Koiyuki alone.

"I lost something important over something small
My cold ring sparkled at me
“So long as it’s now,“ I said, but it wasn’t that
The door to you has disappeared without a sound

The more I wish for your happiness, the more selfish I become
And yet I’d like to hold you back always, it’s true
When someone else’s wish comes true, she’ll be crying
That way the door won’t make a sound

I endured a little too much wanting to be the one person
Who could heal you, someone needed by everyone else

It’s not selfish to wish for your own happiness, right?
If not, I’d like to hold you as tightly as I can
When my tears dry up, she’ll be crying
That way the ground beneath us won’t dry up

The more I wish for your happiness, the more selfish I become
And yet I’d like to hold you back always, it’s true
When someone else’s wish comes true, she’ll be crying
Our wishes won’t all be granted at the same time

The more this small globe turns, the kinder we become
I’d like to hold you one more time, as softly as I can."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Listening intently, Koyuki sits fairly still throughout. Near the halfway point she pulls her legs up so that she might rest her head upon her knees a moment. Careful to rest one knee underneath her chin as not to disturb her face paint accidentally against the rough material of the pant leg. Closing her eyes to focus on the sound of Hato's voice until she was finally done. Staying like that for a moment following, and then finally shifting her position once more to a sit.

"Where did you learn it?" she asks, her voice a touch softer than normal. Calmer.

[Hato]

Listening intently, Koyuki sits fairly still throughout. Near the halfway point she pulls her legs up so that she might rest her head upon her knees a moment. Careful to rest one knee underneath her chin as not to disturb her face paint accidentally against the rough material of the pant leg. Closing her eyes to focus on the sound of Hato's voice until she was finally done. Staying like that for a moment following, and then finally shifting her position once more to a sit.

"Where did you learn it?" she asks, her voice a touch softer than normal. Calmer.

Hato offered the Kuni a gentle smile.

"Lady Koiyuki's mother is not the only mother to sing to their child." she admitted. "I learned many songs from her. She is gone, but when I sing I can hear her voice behind them." Hato admitted.

Hato inched slightly away from the Kuni, but did not stand up. It was a compromise. Whomever had hurt her long ago inserted a pretty strong aversion to being touched, but simply being human meant craving company. And the ronin's life was a lonely one. She wanted to experience Koiyuki, her warmth, her voice, her pepperment tobac scent for just a little while longer.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Good that you carry her with you in that way, Hato-san. Truly she is always with you in a way you can feel," she remarks, remaining soft of voice. That calm befalling her and remaining. Looking to Hato, how she was positioned, she lay her hand down beside herself as a measure of support for her comfort in sitting but tucked it more under her leg rather than placing it near.

"Would you choose something to tell me about yourself?" she asks, the direction this could lead wells up a knot in her throat. That idea it might commit her to the same. Yet, she pushes forward anyway.

[Hato]

"Good that you carry her with you in that way, Hato-san. Truly she is always with you in a way you can feel," she remarks, remaining soft of voice. That calm befalling her and remaining. Looking to Hato, how she was positioned, she lay her hand down beside herself as a measure of support for her comfort in sitting but tucked it more under her leg rather than placing it near.

"Would you choose something to tell me about yourself?" she asks, the direction this could lead wells up a knot in her throat. That idea it might commit her to the same. Yet, she pushes forward anyway.

Hato considered that in a moment of silence.

"This one would like to share a bit with Lady Koiyuki....but this one does not wish to speak of the time before the wave struck the beach. " she said.

Another pause.

"So, this one will speak of the days after. This one...had no one to rely upon initially. A small handful of possessions, a daisho proclaiming me a samurai, a mostly loaded gun, and a rapidly depleting store of money was all this one had. This one wandered the streets bereft of purpose, and more than a little afraid of the dangers that lurked within the shadows." she explained.

She shook her head at the memory of those days.

"Then this one met Yonaga. A ronin whose sunny disposition matched her sun bleached hair and sun-kissed skin. She assessed this one needing the kind of aid that she could provide, and so she took this one in. She taught this one much that this one did not learn before she crashed upon the beach. Some lessons were from Yonaga's life before she crashed upon the beach, such as her mastery of coding. Others were the lessons that the streets had taught her long ago, lessons that are taught in no dojo or school. without Yonaga's aid, this one would have returned to the ocean long ago." she recalled, slightly smiled at the memory of Yonaga

[Kuni Koyuki]

Hato's story was greeted by the attention of the Kuni beside her, and the silence of the night. Save for some brief distant laughing between two male voices, a joyous night coming to an end as they found their room or left it. In here the lights were a touch dim, and to Koyuki's liking which allows for that softer more intimate nature to reign. Yet, the kind of intimacy taking place was likely not the one those who ran this hotel expected. It was perhaps one of the least expected types of intimacy if it had even been considered.

Yet, here they were. Koyuki let the weight of that story sit in the room for a little while, the focus on Hato one of the few things that proved she hadn't lacked attention or care. Just a moment to breathe following the telling of it.

"What became of Yonaga? If it is not inappropriate of me to ask, Hato-san."

[Hato]

Hato's story was greeted by the attention of the Kuni beside her, and the silence of the night. Save for some brief distant laughing between two male voices, a joyous night coming to an end as they found their room or left it. In here the lights were a touch dim, and to Koyuki's liking which allows for that softer more intimate nature to reign. Yet, the kind of intimacy taking place was likely not the one those who ran this hotel expected. It was perhaps one of the least expected types of intimacy if it had even been considered.

Yet, here they were. Koyuki let the weight of that story sit in the room for a little while, the focus on Hato one of the few things that proved she hadn't lacked attention or care. Just a moment to breathe following the telling of it.

"What became of Yonaga? If it is not inappropriate of me to ask, Hato-san."

Hato shook her head.

"Honestly, I am not sure, Lady Koiyuki. Yonaga was a member of the kestrels and she said that one day she would sponsor me into the organization so I always had at least some protection. But I went to her apartment one day, and there was no answer. I checked with the apartment manager and the unit was completely vacant. I asked around at the Temple to Shosuro, but no answers were forthcoming." she explained.

She shrugged a bit.

"Perhaps her past caught up to her, perhaps she crossed someone she shuldn't have in her present, or maybe she unexpectedly found a new future that necessitated her immediate departure. The wave returns to the ocean, and only the ocean remains." she mused.

A brief pause as the air conditioner kicked on.

"But were she here, she would encourage me to keep moving forward. She was...is a very pious woman, very devoute shinseist. I'm sure she'd have some wisdom of Shinsei about continuing to move forward." she guessed.