silver lining
{ arc I ; the remembrance of tomorrow }
002 ; remnants of misery

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Mission Status: Pending

Urgency: Standby

Forward in Reference of: MN Special Unit Elite #A0782

1708 hours within the twenty fourth week, the next course of action is still not explicit; approximately, circa nineteenth week and three days in, Gatō has acquired the support of Kiri's official Labor Union: National Marinal Province and Farm Workers. Official fund information is withheld in accordance to several of confidential key element regulations founded in Gatō Transport's numerous contract agreements with the various shipping companies in Kirigakure.

Illicit trade and activities are usually overshadowed due to the given benefits in Kiri's favor – among such is the 30% profits that transfer to nearly 1/3rd of the village's population. Citizens and Laborers alike are keeping the benefits at bay and smuggling their way through with the profits made. Gatō's influence has already been made prosperous in The Land of Waves; the isolated country near the southern border of Konohagakure. Numerous attempts have been made in halting Gatō's monopolizing business; but in overseeing the illicit and forbidden trades that has gained the Union's support, it's highly approximate that the company is to be made more than welcome. If Gatō succeeds in drawing in Kirigakure's Council and Law's (Genji) vote, then there's unspeakable consequences that will rise against Kirigakure, and inevitably by extension, our bare alliance to the other nations.

Careful measures are being taken in this moment in time to appease the Union and Gatō; however, the evidence realistically lies in the village's vote, both as a nation and people. Until then, it is to be made completely understood that all measures will be taken to prove the economic rock slide Kiri will suffer if legal action is not taken, and if Gatō's Transport is not disbanded immediately. The mission will continue as seen fit, and status reports are to be sent out bi monthly.

End of Mission Status

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Mei Terumi is not pleased. So then, the bastard is worming his way in the village as we speak.

There's a hint of a sneer, barely made evident the tilt of her head at the scroll in her hands. Lowering the paper, she mindlessly smooths out the material over her desk. Her fingernail taps the wooden surface of her desk as her stare hardens. None of this would do – this is the exact opposite of the results she expected. The Mizukage hadn't taken into consideration – at all – that Gatō would have actually managed to gain the Labor Union's vote, but knowing the implication, she suspects it was more of blackmail than it had with gaining their vote. More likely, lives were taken – the man is a threat to the village's stability. The problem, however, doesn't lie with the fact that she is the official appointed, and current voice of Kirigakure – it has to do with their reputation as a whole. Their stamp rested on the disaster title Village of the Bloody Mist had been a permanent scar on their nation's pride – she knew very well the weight she had settled on her own shoulders the second she decided to make being Mizukage her goal in life.

But this is something she cannot fix on the sole power of being the Mizukage.

Ideally and in a more distinct ideal world, a monopoly trade business dealing with drugs would quickly be banished and disbanded by any other Kage – but The Land of Water has not, and even still isn't, a unified nation. The profits and shinobi that fight to guard Gatō's business could sever the ties Mei had just begun to form with the other nations. If Gatō isolated the Land of Water from the other nations, the village would lose their small not-even-guaranteed support as allies and its' power to rule over the people. Ultimately, the decision did lie in the village, in the citizens of Kiri. Gatō would gain the favor of more Unions, more citizens, despite the unspeakable trades and objects of those trades. More votes, however, also meant more people against Gatō's agenda, and as rightful as they would be, it would lead to a major discourse in the country. It would lead to civil war all over again; the land would be split in two, and their ally agreements to the other nations are worn thin as it is. There would be no support, and she would have no choice but to disband the village immediately. It's exactly what the man wants.

But this… boy. This boy is causing me conflict. Without a doubt, Mei can see the blatant disregard towards her orders all over the mission report. His defiance, she thinks, is most likely a reason for hindering the progress of the mission – he's a sharp one, but his incompetence is a major defect towards the goal in getting Gatō out of commission. Most likely, she thinks, there is some personal feelings getting mixed up. He's taking his role too seriously, as a double agent.

This will not do.

"Ao," she says to herself; veteran commander of the ANBU unit – he most likely would know what to do with the boy, what to do with this situation as a whole. Tap tap tap. "I need to get in touch with Ao…" she muses, the tapping of her sharp nail becoming louder the more agitated and impatient she becomes. Don't frown, she chastises herself, you'll get wrinkles and end up as glum and humdrum as the 'legendary' Hokage herself. You're too pretty to be mad. Her internal scolding is interrupted, however, and the air gathers thick in front of her, and in the form of three men. Her gaze travels to their forms – like statues, they refuse to move unless she tells them otherwise. This causes the slightest upturn of her lips. "Ah – good timing, boys," she purrs in approval as she leans forward, resting her chin on her interlocked arms – facial expression seemingly charming and pleasant. However, the ANBU know better. " — what do you have for me? Give me some good news." Her voice is daring them to contradict her.

Knowing the Mizukage's temper, the leader of the group keeps his head and body bowed to her. It doesn't seem if she is in a mood for pleasantries. The two flanking him make no noise or indication that they are about to speak; as the leader, the burden of bad news falls on his shoulders. A moment of silence passes before he stands fully, hands forming together in proper salute to their village leader. "Lady Mizukage, a foreigner has been detained."

At this, she raises a slim brow, lips slightly pouted in confusion and mild curiosity. "Oh? How does that go?"

Behind the mask, he licks his lips, trying to decipher and analyze the information he is about to relay to his leader. "In part of Zabuza, Mizukage-sama." He pretends to oversee the tense atmosphere that engulfs the room as Mei leans back into her chair, expression very blank and neutrally pensive.

After a moment, her voice is heavy with the processed implications of his message. "… I see." Tap tap tap. More agitation, more frustration and several more factors come into play whenever there's a situation concerning The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. "I'm assuming this… foreigner has come in between the mission, then? You know, the actual reason why I sent you three specifically? Or that they have significance regarding the whereabouts of Zabuza or Gatō? Seeing as, well, you clearly don't have either of them in confinement." Her harsh inquiries are met with silence.; as a response her lip thins,. After a moment: "In what location?"

"Just outside the border of the village, ma'm. Westbound."

"Don't call me ma'm – that's rude. I am not irrelevant nor am I going senile."

"….err… Yes, Mizukage."

"Good. You two, subordinates – continue to survey the area that you last spotted Zabuza and continue on the path. I want him detained, is that understood?"

"Yes, Mizukage-sama." say the two voices, distinct in their lower, more calm voices. Content, she waves them off with the grace of any natural leader should, and they disappear in individual puffs of smoke.

"Now," her voice is eerily calm, but patient. Mei is the leader, and she cannot be forgiving, but she is also human, not a dictator. "Care to explain why you have come in empty handed with nothing but a pile of croc of an explanation? You have a mission, and when I appoint my ANBU their positions, regardless if they are team members or captains – but especially captains – I expect absolute and full cooperation. What is your reasoning behind this exactly?"Yet another beat of silence which, naturally, doesn't please her at all.

"She was in trouble."

For the second time today, her brow raises. "A she..?" she says, slight yet tentative amusement seeps through her tone, and she has to fight the urge to smirk. Now is not the time for trivialities, but she can't help the jibe, anyway. "All this time, I didn't peg you as the heroic type."

He barely moves, but it's enough for her to know that he's gotten uncomfortable. "She's a child – she's on the brink of death thanks to the needles struck in her back." He informs her.

"Indeed. Regardless – so you see a pretty face and then derail from Zabuza?" Mei doesn't know why he's hesitating this much – though not a man of many words, she knows, his actions are much more explicit and see through than his mouth will ever be. But she's also a patient woman, so she's not unused to nearly interrogating him like this. "Is that the reasoning? Or…?" She prompts him to continue, making a motion with her slim fingers for him to keep going.

"She was attacked by his subordinate."

At this makes her pause, and her gaze hardens. That is indeed some information, but it doesn't fully convince her, and by extension, it shouldn't to him either. "Alright. That's something worthy to note. However, what significance does this have to the situation as a whole? What is your… professional opinion?"

"It is to my knowledge and awareness that outside affairs of the Seven Swordmen are not irrelevant to Gatō. Anything concerning them concerns him, surely – thereby, it concerns us."

"Meaning…?"

"If this girl was attacked, I'll go so far as to say even targeted by Zabuza's merry little helper, shouldn't that information be, at least, taken into consideration?"

"A means of distraction, surely. An evasion tactic to catch you off guard." She challenges.

"It may be, but it also may be not. She was being chased and attained specifically by a four man group of bandits, Mizukage-sama. And even before the situation escalated, she seems to be withholding vital information that makes her nefariously targeted."

"Utakata," she cuts in sharply, having enough of his words and speculations. "We are in the middle of a possible oncoming discourse within our very own nation. And Gatō seems to be at the absolute pinnacle of the very fact. You know this; we do not have time for conspiracy theories or helping outside strays that have absolutely nothing to do with our business. The only matter of concern from this whole affair is that she was attacked by Zabuza's errand boy – and even then, nothing is guaranteed." After a moment, she sighs, rubbing her temples by the oncoming wave of a headache. "When I appointed you as captain, I did it because I know that you are more than capable. Harusame made it very clear that you were more than prepared; You have a sharp mind, a very unfiltered wit that gets the bets of even Ao and your senses are more than outstanding. What I did not appoint you for was to be distracted by every single insignificant detail. Am I understood?"

"The girl saw something that she shouldn't have."

The answer, both so vague and to the point, that makes it seem like he literally did not pay attention to her whole speech disregarding him as a capable captain and excellent shinobi leaves her dumbfounded, for a second. Mei blinks, and she takes in the implication, the weight of his words. "—Ah, so that's the detail, then is it?"

He stays silent.

"I see..." she continues. "And as such, you wanted to save the possible, inevitable, consequences of such a slip up. Tsk tsk." She clicks her tongue and closes her eyes, leaning in once again to recollect herself. She had expected him to be wary and cautious. These are pure amateur mannerisms. Don't get mad, you'll get wrinkles; don't get mad, don't get— "I send you on a mission that holds nothing but urgency, and your… your repayment is this?" Her voice isn't fuming quite yet, but certain words are grit through her pearl white teeth, and she's trying to not nurture yet another headache, yet how can she when everything is going down to absolute shit and now she has to worry about this too and—

Despite his vulnerable position, he holds her gaze through the slits of his mask. Tentatively, he speaks. "Mizukage-sama, if I may be so to bold as to ask… to gain permission," he clarifies, "to make sure the girl isn't current on the… situation at hand." He doesn't exactly know what's going on in the edge of his mind as he speaks – but he can't deny the weight of responsibility. But he isn't a child or someone who's just starting their job. He's a twenty-six year old nin who, officially starting tomorrow, had been appointed in one of the Mizukage's elite ANBU forces for a little over four years now. Frankly, he deserves a semblance of benefit of the doubt – but he also knows Mei, he knows how she works and how her mind works. Her heart is in the right place, but she is also a Kiri native – the people of Kiri are, naturally, people of action. They are not as soft as those in Konoha, or neighboring countries and villages. It is one of the many aspects that further isolates them from the rest of the world. It's also an aspect that further differentiates him from the rest of Kiri as well – as if there isn't enough already. "And despite the circumstances I've caused," there's a pause to his words, there's the slightest bit of – shame? Uncertainty? Thought? - hesitation, but it passes quickly. "This could be more beneficial to us as a whole."

Her piercing eyes don't dart an inch as he speaks – watching him like prey. She is not amused or in a generous mood, but she is willing to listen. "How do you figure?"

"To gain more information. This is a trail; stale breadcrumbs, but we have something here. We can gain some information, Mizukage. She must know something, or at the very least, have heard something. Especially if she was running towards this direction."

Her attention perks up, and she thinks it over. "So then… this girl was not only attacked by our target; she was headed towards this direction to begin with. She's withholding something, as it seems, and she seems to be a target – specifically and enough to capture Zabuza's attention, and deemed worthy enough to destroy?" Laying out the facts as they are, Mei is reluctant to admit, it is all rather odd. As a shinobi, she would understand her faithful captain's hesitation; he is on to something. But as the Mizukage, she has to be much more cautious and suspicious. The safety of this village is to come first, and a foreigner – young girl or old man on his deathbed – is a jeopardy regardless of the circumstances. As Mei looks up, it strikes her to see the absolute persistence in his face – he bears a mask, but being as their relationship stood, as superior and family, she can't help but falter the slightest when she doesn't comply. She's known the boy for years, and it's always been odd – he's always been an odd one. "I grant an initiation."

"Mizukage…?"

"Do not twist my words, or take me in the wrong direction, Utakata. I don't know this captive of ours that you brought. But despite everything, it is clear that you want to take responsibility; I am not without sympathy. I will allow you to keep an eye on her – I will consider, consider on what to do with her. Beyond that, it's not like we are eager to take in more citizens. Kiri is guarded and heavily isolated for many reasons, and you know that. Until then, just… watch her. Maybe she can prove to be useful."

He knows well enough to not question when she has reached a resolution. He gives off a single nod. "Yes, Mizukage. Understood." However, he can't help the upturn of his lips – and almost as if Mei can literally see right through his mask, her eyes narrow – worthy to note, however, is that there is a glint of amusement behind her gaze, as well.

"Very well then. Now, get out of my sight. You're tainting the air in my office."

When she wakes, she is none too happy to find that she cannot move. Disheartened and stumped by this revelation, her first bodily instinct is to jerk – but she finds herself too heavy for even a lift of a finger. A tinge of paranoia settles in the pit of her stomach, and frustratingly enough everything is pushing her to the edge. The silence, the blankets as they scratch her body uncomfortably, but most of all, it was the stark brightness of the room. Everything is too white, and her eyes just can't adjust. Like an influx of a day's migraine, she forces herself to move her head off the side and when she spots a door, of all things, the gears start to turn. She needs to leave, she needs to leave right now, and eugh why does my head hurt so bad?! What did I miss and where am I?! An onslaught of emotion overtakes her once more and distinctly travels to the base of her throat, and almost immediately, she lurches forward from the force of the involuntary movement. It never comes, so instead not a second after, she is left sitting half haphazardly up from the thin, stiff mattress as the sheets pool to the floor. She has been stripped from her clothes, but she is not indecent; instead, she sports white wrappings that reach down to her navel, no doubt covering a wound or two that currently pulses in pain, and some loose mint-green pants. Her dirty blonde hair is in disarray and in need of a desperate wash. She also isn't pleased to find herself shaking as her hand reaches up to her forehead. This wouldn't do. She needs to speak to the Kage and-

Hotaru's eyes widen; no no no no no no NO not the Kage, and oh god I have to talk someone before it's too late! What if he's gotten to them already?! I can't do this, what was I thinking?! I have to go and I'm just here wasting my time and—

As if a star far off in the universe hears her internal outburst and senses her oncoming panic attack, the door -that she didn't even notice, how long has that been there, anyway?!- opens and she can't help but jerk back in surprise. The nurse, oblivious to the rising pandemonium ticking like a bomb that is Hotaru, blinks a couple of times before rushing forward. "Oh goodness! Child please, you must lay down – you are in absolute no condition to-"

"I… no wait, please! I need help," she isn't listening to me! As it stands, the nurse has none of the her badgering; treating her like a nuisance, she forcibly sits her patient back down, gripping the back of her shoulder blade and the front end near her chest.

"Hush now! If you move anymore the bandages will become loose and you'll lose even more blood! Stop your squirming, already. I don't want to take care of you for another two days!" After the girl's small -eep, and a final disapproving frown that would kill her on the spot if it could, she stalks to the door, all but slamming it with mutters of ' — these damn foreigners! Weak and whiners the lot of them! Bet she's a Leaf, too.'

Two days. She's been out of it for two days? Once again she is stuck back to a helpless situation, but this time, Hotaru tries her best to not panic, despite the thundering boom of her heart. The sheets shuffle under her arms, and she settles to lean her back against the small hard pillows – confrontation like that easily drains the energy out of her system, and she can't help but think almost all over again-

—am I really this pathetic?

The touch of her own digits on her forearm are alien; she's cold and the texture of her finger pads are hardly recognizable. Her breath shudders as her eyes scan the room – it's no more obvious that she's in a clinic, or maybe a hospital? Never having been in a legitimate medical ward, the girl is simultaneous clueless and horrified at the ambiance surrounding her person. There is a stark chill that sets her off and once again almost manages to send her bolting over the brink. Nothing is making sense, and the more seconds pass by, the more she wants to just hurl herself out the window and be her on her way. Anything to go – she had fled her isolated home on Mount Katsuragi to precisely free herself the burden of being so lost, so to find herself in nearly the same situation, if not the exact same situation, seeps utter frustration through her veins. A blatant growl captures her attention, and her gaze travels down to her stomach. With an exasperated sigh, she hits her head back, if only to know herself out of this nightmare, and closes her eyes.

… did I make the right choice?

Hotaru had never been much of a girl who painted her own sunset and her dreams in bright watercolors; the dreams themselves were too utterly bleak to paint over, and the brushes would only end up broken in her hands. She is a girl of action; of being in the moment. It was never customary in her life to ask what she wanted, or what had been best suited for her. With a flutter of her eyelashes and stoic smile, she pressed forward to whatever the wishes of those around her. It was never in her place to complain; smile and look pretty. Smile and look pretty. Rinse and repeat until it became second nature. Rubbing the cuffs of her wrists, she heaves a sigh; That… that didn't go well with me, did it then? Not if it led me to where I am now. At this point, she is sure that Tonbee would have read her facial expression like a book – he would have asked if she'd wanted a cup of tea, or some of her favorite dishes. She would politely decline, but he would persist on the matter, proving to be restless until she spilled some semi-faux double entendre, sprinkled with some poetic nonsense she read in her small collection of antiquated poetry and-

—and now, I don't even have that. Her heart nearly jolts once more when she remembers exactly why she ran. But somehow, it sends a surge of new found determination, and her gaze ends up at the handle of the door.

"I heard you received quite the scolding, boy." An aged voice cuts through the air, and Utakata can't help but smile. Out of the various places to see his sensei, he hadn't expected him to meet up in the hospital. Mei had practically forbade him to step out onto another mission until this 'foreign girl problem' was tended to.

The storm is relentless; such drastic weather, however, is not unexpected in this country. Like the majority of Kiri's residents, he is not unused to it – but being who he is, he has to be one of the stranger ones; he had never been much for storms. Too much fuss, too catastrophic and too tragic. Despite his own ties to water, to bubbles of all things, he would avoid the worst of the storms whenever possible. Even as a child, he would so much as hurl himself into a tight ball to protect himself from the thunder; the raging storm does nothing to bring ease into his soul. It's always the calm afterward that he looks forward to – for someone like him, it had always been something he could cling on, it gave him hope. Even now, even as a twenty-six year old, it's the one thing he looks forward to regardless of the severity of the weather. The bigger the storm, the bigger the rainbow. Harusame had taught him that. He shuffles further along the bench to give his teacher room to sit. Out of habit and something near professionalism, he hasn't yet removed the mask that identifies him as ANBU. "A scolding? I'm not too sure of that. You may want to check up your resources."

Having none of his nonsense, Harusame sighs wearily and adjusts his glasses. "Utakata, please. Quiet down that personality – derailing from the instructions given, rummaging through a fight like a mad-man, and capturing the wrong target – have you no shame? What have I said about involving yourself in unnecessary predicaments? You gambled with your life for useless baggage, boy!" He has to resist the urge to raise his voice, however, Harusame catches on to his pupil quickly, already seeing the trail of annoyance on his young face. He's known the boy ever since he was seven – ever since he was nothing more than a wandering orphan with a haunted look in his sleepless eyes. He remembers distinctly the aged look on such a young face; how emaciated he was in the streets, and whenever he observed the boy, he would act no less like an abused animal. It took Harusame barely 3 months before the boy gave him some trust – namely, it was for food. Nineteen years. Nineteen years is too long to go without picking up nearly, if not all of his mannerisms. He can observe the most miniscule detail, down to a small smirk or a scrunch of his nose and know exactly what's going on through his mind. Harusame's gaze softens, and he turns away when he sees Utakata is not going to tear his gaze from the wall. The old man's gaze also wanders away. "Tell me, Utakata. What is really going on? This isn't like you." In truth, the boy has not been himself lately – something had happened in between the times where he hadn't been there to observe his behavior more frequently; something has changed.

Utakata neither shrinks from his teacher's words, nor does he falter; he lays perfectly still. And this, he realizes, is what breaks him. He can't stand that look, that tone, and part of him wants to stalk off, like when he was a teenage brat too busy brooding how 'nobody accepted him' or some nonsense. He thinks back on all the times when he'd been mistreated, pushed and shoved away like a parasite, and even now, despite his reputation, his duty and honor to the very village that continues to provide bloodshed and hatred, is it really any surprise that he still feels this way? What he won't give, one of these days, to grab his most comfortable article of clothing, his main and only needed weapon, and saunter off away from this horrid village. Why does he owe it anymore of his loyalty? Maybe in another life, he does – he's too cowardly and wretched with morality and honor bound to try anything remotely similar. His lips part, after moments of his mind wandering to places and possibilities that it really shouldn't, and he can feel it in his heart, his breath, that he's going to tell Harusame precisely that to just blatantly ask what is he working towards? – even though, deep down, he knows the answer. But he never gets the chance – because immediately, to his left, two staff members are knocked to the ground and various papers and folders are scattered onto the floor; someone is running.

And then, green collides with gold.