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Yumi had not slept. Instead, she made origami - boxes, frogs, cranes, stars, butterflies, and flowers. Laying in bed, she made shape after shape following the instructional book she had.
The reason for her sleeplessness was simply that she was still coming to terms with the fact that she had told him. She had told him the thing that she never told anyone. Kurokawa had always told her not to tell it. Gaara being a Kage meant she probably was really not supposed to tell him! Yumi had told him. And, he was ok with it - a little stupid in suggesting her sleeping with him, but seemed ok... Still, after him escorting her back to her bed, she found out very quickly that she could not sleep...
The sun was slowly creeping its way up. Many other groups of people had been up the last couple of hours, setting up large tents and stands. They were all preparing. Today was the first day the Chunin exam participants and visitors would arrive!
He would be busy today. That's what he told her last night after the dinner with Kankuro. He would be needed to host and that there were many representatives from multiple villages coming. Hopefully Sakura and Ino were coming as well! However, if they did come, they would probably be busy too. While she, on the other hand, was unemployed, jobless, and possessing far-far-far too much free time.
Getting up, she stretched and decided that 5:30am was finally a good time to 'start the day', although technically she never ended the night. Yumi sighed - staying up all night unnecessarily was a bad trait. Body guards needed to sleep when they could! Still, there was nothing she could do about it, now that it was morning.. Picking up the new origami, she decided to finally leave her room and go add them to her tables. Maybe with all the visitors to the village, even more would sell...
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...
Gaara was already at his office. He knew Yumi was probably getting ready to train. Even with the festivities, he couldn't see her not getting in a few exercises if not more. If she could take chakra... then maybe she could take some of his to help get her back to strength. He wouldn't mind it, especially since it was his fault she lost hers...
His mind paused momentarily. Had the chakra she entered the village with, dodged his sand so gracefully with, actually belong to her originally, or was it just someone else's? Had she come off another job prior to Suna, and that was chakra from another person?
He didn't know. He had never met someone with such an ability before. But he could not ask others. It was good he was the Kage, he could protect her then if they did end up finding out. He knew exactly why her Kurokawa had instructed her so thoroughly to not tell others.
If she could take chakra... she could be very useful... Gaara did not want to see her used. He only wanted her to smile and hopefully stay in Suna with him.
Maybe it would be better to not offer his chakra to her. While she could walk, with such low levels of chakra, she would continue to stay and hopefully she would not leave once she stayed so long. She could find other jobs. She was not without multiple skill sets...
Gaara knew his thinking was unfair. He knew she was proud of being a Jieti-erito... He just didn't know what to do.
Closing his eyes, he cleared away the thoughts of her from his head. Guests, other ninjas, and chunin-hopefuls, would be here soon, along with the Hokage, Naruto, Kakashi, and the others who were arriving today. He needed to prepare. After the chunin exam, he'd talk to her. They would figure it out then.
...
...
Yumi was alone again, training. Rikuto had bailed - again. Though this time, she couldn't find fault with him. Instead, she was glad for him.
"My sister and her children will be coming today. We are going to be enjoying the chunin exams together. They couldn't afford a ticket, so my old teammates bought us all one. I can't turn it down."
He needed to get out more. She too, but training came first. Still, no matter how much she was training, Yumi knew just how pathetically sluggishly slow and embarrassingly fragile she was. Not even 1% of her previous strength. This was starting to give her a never ending dissatisfaction!
Today the training grounds were quiet, everyone else was setting up. She did not have such a luxuries with her current state. She knew there was something looming, that feeling had not gone away. She could only hope it was the anticipation for the chunin exam and not something precarious.
Exhaling sharply she continued through her exercises.
"Now presenting Lord Reizei." The ninja to his left stated. The lord walked forward slowly, his advisors and assigned ninja behind. Gaara noticed on his left and right were two men who wore neither ninja headbands nor any identifying clothing. He wondered if they were in the Jieti. Although now that he knew Yumi, he found himself wondering if every guard was a part of the Jieti even after seeing a headband or clan amour.
He greeted the Lord, offering stay and hospitality, and thanking him for his journey. The elder Lord moved slowly on and Gaara looked at the line of people. At least this would give him a chance to personally greet people and hopefully form new alliances. They would need them if the intelligence Kankuro had was right...
"Ninja from the Hidden village of the Snow." Came the next announcement with names being listed as they walked up to be greeted and thank him for hosting.
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"GAARA!" Naruto yelled running up to greet the Kage.
"How you doing!?" He asked excitedly. Gaara's entire mood lightened, though Naruto had butted in front of a number Lords and ninjas.
"Naruto." He stated in greeting, holding out his hand. Naruto grasped it tightly and Gaara returned the grip. The blonde was his friend.
"I hear you have a girlfriend!?" Naruto asked, straight to the point as always. Gaara managed to keep a straight face. Everyone could hear the blonde man and everyone was already looking their way since he had jumped the line.
"Shall we talk tonight? I wish to invite you, the Hokage, and other Konoha ninjas to dinner, in honor of our allegiance, and friendship. We can catch up there." Gaara's voice and eyes unwavering.
"Alright. But make sure there's ramen! And the old hag likes Sake!" Naruto grinned before looking back. If the Hokage caught him, he would be hit for sure - luckily he had raced ahead and they were still not in sight.
"I better go find them... I'll see you tonight!?" He stopped mid run to asked back to Gaara, making sure.
"Yes." Gaara replied managing the situation.
"Sweet! And remember the Ramen!" He yelled as he raced off.
Gaara's mood lightened. They were here. His friends, his village's allies, had made it.
The announcements and greetings re-began, but Gaara was half thinking about tonight.
.
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"Yumi." A familiar voice called to her as she was out walking around the festivities.
She knew this voice and she knew the daunting tone...
She paused, eyes looking for him.
Instantly Tomohisa appeared before her. Tomohisa's eyes narrowed, his body was tense.
"I'm glad you are here. I didn't think the tracker would find you." He informed her.
Yumi's eyes focused, reading every micro facial feature he let show. That looming feeling, back full force.
"Consider yourself summoned. We need to talk." With those words, he transported both of them to a small room with only a few chairs.
In the room, was Tomohisa, Ogawa, and the Jinkun!
Tomohisa and Ogawa made secure through multiple jutsus and seals.
Yumi found herself nervously wondered if this was about her and the Kazekage.
"Please, sit." Ogawa motioned everyone to the chairs. Yumi slowly inhaled through her nose. To be kicked out, would greatly suck.
Tomohisa, a Junshou, a commodore-like-type in the Jieti-erito sat to her left. Tomohisa looked not a day older than the last time she had seen him, about a year and three months ago. He was as massive as ever with multiple scars and dour eyes. Physically, they were probably equal - both a force to be reckoned with but speed-wise, she was superior and in terms of jutsus he was an unequaled master. His spiked purple hair and multiple earrings drew away from the fact he was easily in his fifties.
He was her senior in ranking of Jieti-erito and a cabinet member that assisted with decisions made regarding their society. Technically she was a cabinet member too. Since joining the Jieti at 11 (despite Kurokawa's anger) and the Jieti-erito at 13, she had participated in every two year tournament (total of 7 thus far). In her 10 year span of being a Jieti-erito, most of the cabinet meetings she was requested to be present for were those during the war. (The cabinet actually met 5 times a year, but she was always an optional attendee.)
Ogawa, a Jou, company officer - brought in special into the cabinet for his diplomatic skills even though he was not an Jieti-erito, sat on her right. He was someone she hadn't seen since the last membership tournament a year and a half ago. He was great with negotiations, political arrangements, and public speaking - he was not so great at dying for others or physically protecting someone. Technically the outcome of the last tournament put him pretty far down in the ranks, but she had long learned to value people for what they could do - not how they placed or where their weaknesses were.
She was curious to exactly what his job was going to be here in a ninja village, probably some sort of negotiation. It was long known that their group and ninjas did not exactly get along since in the past it usually was the ninjas they were guarding against. Ogawa was an elder, although his company officer Jieti position was a junior ranking. He had once been a diplomatic negotiator prior to entering their society in search of work and safety. He walked with a limp and used a cane at all times - something she knew to be hoax to purposely cause him to be underestimated. She wondered what he had planned; he always had a trick up his sleeve or an agreement or deal.
The person who sat across from her, who made her the most suspicious about this meeting was Shimizu Atsuhi, the Jouza Jinkun, the Chief Seat Benevolent Sovereign of their society. The Jouza Jinkun (Jinkun for short) was the elected Jieti and Jieti-erito leader, the absolute head and final judge.. Although Yumi's own rank from the tournament itself rivaled his authority, she never attempted claim of the leadership nor put her name in for voting (in fact she generally was on a job during that time of year).
Every year the Jinkun proved his worth both inside of the tournament and out by gaining a high rank and also receiving majority vote in the Cabinet, along with the separate vote of the Jieti-erito, and the third and more important vote of the entire Jieti society. He was similar to a Kage in their societal world, except instead of the Kage protecting his or her own people, this Kage volunteered his people up to give their lives for something or someone else. He also made sure negotiations between the society and others were up-to-date and that the society was maintaining its own checks and balances. The only time she had seen him take an extremely active role the Jieti society members jobs was during the great ninja war - all other times he simply worked through the cabinet. It was often things like trials for those who were accused of not performing properly, checks on members that were involved in specious activities, making sure the Senkou sect approved commodities were available for members, maintaining contracts, peace agreements, and understandings between the society and various countries and lands, and most importantly maintaining and defending their reputation.
Yumi was now suspicious and tense. If her relationship with the Kazekage was something they disapproved of, she could have her membership, elite status, and Jieichou (captain) title all revoked. She cared more about her general membership than she did about the elite status and Jieichou title, but still a debarment was a cross-the-board debarment. Her eyes instantly became as serious as Tomohisa's were.
"Yumi, we had received word over half a year ago that you were on your deathbed. I was glad when no notification of death came, again. That makes it 15 official near-death notifications now... Your tenacity has become the reason we had to revise the near-death notification response and paperwork..." Shimizu-sama's voice was respectful. He used the word tenacity to describe her special talent, something they believed was a blood line trait...
"Hn, Normally you do not stay very long in one place and have a tradition of being on vacation after near-deaths..." Tomohisa's voice showed amusement, but his eyes were curious. It was true, since Kurokawa's death, she never stayed one place particularly long, a few months at most.
Yumi's eyes remained fixed and she did not answer his unasked question of why was she still here. If they were toying with her before debarring her, she was going to be pissed. Shimizu, Tomohisa, and Ogawa all noticed the girl's unusually rigid demeanor.
"It would probably be best we get to the matter at hand..." Ogawa charily suggested. For a reason they did not know, the normally jovial Yumi was on edge.
Jieti official discussions were difficult to navigate. Generally the members didn't normally interact so discussions were not predictable. Most were use to putting on one mask or another, causing miscommunications. Often there were some that were extremely passionate while others very lethargic, creating more discord. The worst was the chance of verbal discussions becoming physical ones (fights). While this did not happen often, among the Jieti-erito, Owaga was at an extreme disadvantage if it did occur this time and preferred to avoid that occurrence.
"We were going to send a tracker to summon you after the meeting, but since you are already here, I believe it would be best for you to join now." The Jinkun set an instantly formal atmosphere. His eyes fixated on her, watching her every movement and micro-expressions. The meeting was beginning and with a nod, he instructed Tomohisa to continue.
"As you probably do not know, a Jieti repetitive party from the cabinet attends the Chunin exams. This supports an unspoken understanding between our society and their ninjas. It also has allowed us to study the next generation of up-and-coming ninjas and let them know if any ex-nin or repenting criminals have joined us. As you do know, there are multiple members of the Jieti who serve the upper classes within the nations and end up apart of the escorts to the Chunin exams, so it's been an easy place to meet when needed." Tomohisa explained the back story. Yumi's eyes lightened as she listened. So far, they were not mentioning her and the Kazekage, meaning this was about something else.
"This year we have placed high ranking, powerful jieti-erito in with the normal guard for escorting Lords and high ranking officials. Also we, as the specific Jieti-erito cabinet members" Ogawa continued referring to himself, Tomohisa, and most importantly the Jinkun, "have decided to see the exams along with the Kages. There will be multiple meetings, the topic of which cannot be discussed outside of it even in this room - regarding alliances and a threat that has come to our attention..."
"We need you to see this not as a normal chunin exam guard situation. You are to consider this job similar to the situation of the great ninja war. You will be a Jieichou." Jinkun's authoritative tone was foreboding.
Something grave was lingering underneath their words. Something that could only be talked about in a meeting of the Kages and the elite most respected members of the Jieti. Yumi's body tensed, for he had stated those exact same words 'You will be a Jieichou' when the ninja war finally fully erupted. Even at that time she had the ranking of a Jieichou, but for the war, she was an acting captain a job far greater than one person protecting one family or individual. Yumi sat in the heavy silence.
"What say you?" Her Jouza Jinkun asked. No longer on edge, the girl's eyes showed intensity understanding the significant gravity of what they were speaking of. Her mind was weighing various possibilities and remembering what it was like the last time she was to 'be a Jieichou'. They all waited, giving time for the words to full seep in.
"Will you take the job?" He went on to ask; his voice was clear. Shimizu always knew her answer to this question - yes, which was precisely why he asked it in such a manner.
" I am inapplicable for it..." Yumi found herself admitting, stomach turning. She was letting them down...
Surprise could not be hidden on their faces at her comment. They knew her to never be inapplicable, to rarely turn down a job of extreme importance.
"What do you mean inapplicable?" Tomohisa feared the worst, that her last near death experience had left her crippled with no chance of recovery. Normally, the younger girl was like a cat, always coming and going as she pleased unless specifically summoned and equipped with nine/infinite lives, but her wandering made it difficult to know her exact status or mood.
Yumi paused. It wasn't like her relationship with Gaara was hidden. The Suna council had more than enough to say about it (against it), and there had been rumors even before she had woke up from the illness. So, they were going to find out about it anyway.
Oh Kami, it would suck if they disbarred her after her informing them about it herself!
"I may be seeing the Kazekage. And, I may still be in recovery, maybe not even up to 1% strength..." She informed them.
"What do you mean seeing?" Ogawa questioned focusing on the Kazekage part of her statement, although they all knew what exactly she meant by 'seeing'. Her 'seeing' a political and ninja village figurehead could add major complications as well as possible strong allegiances and usefulness.
"What do you mean 'MAY'?" The annoyance in Tomohisa's voice was blatant. She was notorious for using 'May' when she wasn't sure how others would take the news. Last time she said 'may' she had gotten a caretaker job in a small rebel group and 'may' have become a member. The time before that it was saving a food tester from a new poison that she 'may' have eaten first 'accidentally'.
"This may explain why you were on edge meeting with us."Shimizu-sama kept a straight face while Yumi instantly grinned at his small joke.
"May be" She stated back finding it rather humorous.
"This is not a laughing matter." Tomohisa growled.
"Actually we can use this relationship in our favor." Ogawa gave a nod thinking. A relationship between a Jieti-erito, specifically Yumi, and a Kage could prove to be extremely beneficial. Yumi's eyes sparked and her temper flashed.
"You attempt to use him and we are done." Her eyes shot him a biting look, her tone sharp; this was a line to not be crossed. She had no fear nor sense of just following orders when it came to her own code.
The Jinkun chuckled quietly to himself as Ogawa was thrown back by her snap. This was why she was a great Jieichou. Her code was more ethical than their own, and she rarely swayed from it.
"No. Endangerment and involuntary use of personal relationships breaks our bylaws - you all know that." Shimizu-sama reminded everyone. Yumi's aggression died down but her lips were still taunt, not smiling.
The Jinkun knew Tomohisa often referred to her as a cat, randomly vicious one moment and pleasant the next, and he could see why...
"Any relationship you have with someone is yours, assuming it is not illegal or with a current client. We will not interfere or use it, that's not our way." His eyes did not back down against her half glare. Their ties were not like ninjas and villagers. The society was not a daily community, it was a group that assist with resources, organizing jobs, and giving a standard code of conduct. They were not friend, nor family, thus personal relationships were valued and respected - and everything was treated like a job offer and choice.
"We have no issue with any relationship of yours, and we'll find a way to work around your strength. Also, I can sign the notice stating you are allowed to inform those you are in a relationship with of your status and role that way they can understand too. I can also give you the paperwork to formalize the relationship. Actually I'll do that now, you can talk to them about it. We are going to need you." Shimizu-sama shocked Ogawa.
Ogawa knew the Jinkun would not so willingly let sensitive information be spoken about, but unlike Tomohisa, he did not know this was the best route - If you gave the girl and inch, she'd take a mile. However, she always got the job done and everyone home safe.
"Alright, and I want cued in on all the details. With 1% strength, I'm not going to accidentally put anyone at risk..." She stated clearly, all aggression dissipated.
"Good. You will notice the other members of the top 10, are present here. "Jinkun replied and informed her.
"At this time, we are all simple guards -and you, well, you can just be you. No one is to know of anything other than normal. The Jinkun will give us further instruction later. Understood?" Ogawa stated seriously.
"Got it." Yumi repeated.
The outside world was much brighter than the small sealed room Tomohisa had taken her to. Inside her pocket, folded carefully, was the treasured paperwork. One was a notification to Gaara, and the other she needed to fill out to list him as her contact and home. A relationship... a person they'd contact... someone beside herself... after the form she had filled out listing Kurokawa, back when she was 11 - her first certification and tournament, she had never filled out another prior to this.
Her hand kept checking to see if they were still there. Her eyes scanned the crowd. Walking she kept watch. Her eyes jumped person to person, item to item, thing to thing. Yumi was on guard, taking in everything she could see.
She spotted two of the elite, both guarding different Lords. They too saw her, and each other. No motion, no word, no signal was given and yet it was known. The preparations being made before knowing there would be an attack. Pretending as if everything was normal, naturally relaxing the body, the persona, the atmosphere around them, and yet, getting ready, being ready.
Yumi's hands went into her pocket. Her shoulders relaxed, a spring formed in her (still extremely slow) step. A smirk on her face appeared and with confident eyes she greeted those around her with a nod. Be ready - she was ready. Hired, on the job. Be relaxed, and wait for them to come - watch for them to come.
"It's a beautiful day for the start of the exams - isn't it?" She found herself stating with a grin out loud...
A beautiful day, indeed.