Koharu's office is the same as the first time I stepped foot in it. The months since my first visit haven't changed it one bit. I shuffle uncomfortably from one foot to another. This place was stirring some not-so-great feelings in me.
"Sayori-chan, I am so glad you've FINALLY decided to visit." Koharu says, and I can feel her smirk hidden under a blank mask of false disinterest. My fist curls tightly, my nails bite into my palms, and I feel irritation swells up in me. I just want to get this over with.
"Yes." I say and don't elaborate, letting the word hang out in the air between us. Koharu's eyebrows do a strange sort of dance, furrowing and unfurrowing. It takes a moment or two for her to look sure that she is interpreting the word right.
"I'm so glad you decided to take my offer." She says, unmistakably pleased. I recoil and reach into my pocket. A few notes were jotted down about the trip Choji is going on, and at what times, and a few random tidbits were added here or there so as not to look suspicious. The paper is crumbled like a forgotten doodle, but it contains my (maybe/not sure if it counts) betrayal. Choza has made it clear (without outright saying it) that Yataka, Natsumi, and Chojii do not know at this point in time, and he plans to keep it that way.
"That's what… what I've learned…." I whisper in a hushed voice putting the paper on the table. Koharu's hands reach for it, un-wrinkling it the best she can.
"In the future, do not write it down." Koharu instructs, and I swallow my nerves. It will be harder not to give things away verbally than a piece of paper I could rewrite again and again until satisfied.
"Yes, Koharu-sama." I bite out, but it tastes like acid.
"Still, good job." Koharu says and smiles at me in additional praise. She reaches into her drawer, and I can hear the shuffling of papers. She takes out a brown envelope, the type that holds the monthly allowances. "I was going to give this to you later today. However, since your here may as well." She says, pushing the envelope forward. I grab it opening it, and see quite a bit of Ryo. "Your reward for placing well." She states, and I look at it, something tells me it's a little too much. Perhaps the amount I've been missing these last few allowances has been added? I'm not sure how to feel about that.
"Thank you…" I whisper, still distinctly uncomfortable with everything that is happening. But something tells me that, like with the human cutouts, I will get used to it sooner than I would like.
She made a small nod, and I feel like I'm sure if I could leave or not. After a bit, I decide it is ok and leave, walking through the streets and heading back to the apartment.
That's one thing settled at least, well, sort of… I don't have to worry about giving more information until Chojii, and his family come back. I don't think that my allowance or electricity will be messed with anymore… still… what would I have done if Yataka hadn't been providing breakfast every day? What would I do without his prices if I had been limited like that? I need to find some way to make money on my own, away from Koharu or the Akimichi and anyone else…
My eyes dart around me, searching for inspiration. I can often pull ideas from my surroundings, ideas hidden beneath the surface of my mind. When someone says orange, I can interpret that as orange the fruit or orange the colour, so maybe I think about how so many things are distinctive colours, like bananas. Bananas make me think of boomerangs, and boomerangs make me think of kangaroos. Kangaroos are cool hopping around, but they also box and fight, which makes me think of taijutsu… another thing I need to work on… hey you know, I bet a taijutsu style with lots of incredible jumps would be pretty cool to learn… I shake my head. Yes, random things are the solutions to problems.
You have gained 1 CRE!
I'll note the taijutsu idea for later… either way, I look around, thinking of random things to try and find the solution to my problem. (Still, I can't help but wonder if other people think the same way.)
I end up in front of what looks to be some kind of yard sale. I smirk. I can probably get lower prices here then anywhere else right now. I browse through the items with a critical gaze trying to pick out anything of quality. By the looks of it, someone either is seriously downsizing, moving in with someone else, or died. Sadly the last option is most likely out of the three, given I spotted a very worn-out kunai pouch. Something I've been needing. I quickly grab it before anyone else can.
It's probably seen years of battle, or months depending on the skill of the shinobi. I can probably get it looking almost as good as new, though, with my maintenance skill… wait… that's it!
My maintenance skill! How could I be thinking so small this whole time? I have a skill that literally increases the quality of items just by me caring for them! I still don't even know the limits of the skill! If… if I take broken stuff and fix it, I can use or sell the fixed stuff to earn my own income! I mean, a fixed the clock, right? Besides, it would be completely self-reliant, so there's no employer or other person with power over me (because I don't think I can handle another person having any form of control over my life right now.) I look around fanatically. If I am going to do this… really do this…. I'm going to do it right.
With the pouch still in my hand and the envelope in my pocket, I grab anything I think could be a useful tool. (Kitchen knives as screwdrivers can't cut it forever) finally I find the perfect thing! An old wooden toolbox with only a few odd bits and ends inside, a hammer, two screwdrivers, and some pliers. I grab it and put the pouch in it, going to buy the items; it's not much, but it's a start.