I've been looking at my slow updating and rest assured I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. I will be working hard to finish my stories from now on...because I have others who are waiting to be written.
Disclaimer: Even the minor characters don't belong to me. Siiiiighhh.
It's a girl thing
Mankiku Ochaya
Tenten tried to look like she came to an Ochaya everyday, but everything so was beautiful she knew she was failing miserably. She was sitting at a table with a few select guests enjoying a meal that cost more than she wanted to think about. Toma-sama was sitting beside an old man who seemed more interested in engaging Ino in conversation than in acknowledging Toma-sama's attempts to discuss the state of the nation's defense.
The door was slid open and everyone turned to look. The Geisha bowed politely, stepped through and slid the door shut behind her.
"Good evening my Lords, my Ladies." She said softly; "I am honoured to be here tonight."
Tenten narrowed her eyes. So this was the famous Masako, wearer of the yellow fan kimono.
Ino nudged Toma-sama who remembered his manners and welcomed Masako inviting her to enter and play a piece of music to entertain them.
"Toma." The old man said with a pleased smile. "How did you get the charming Masako to attend tonight? She's booked solid for the next three months!"
Tenten grimaced ever so slightly. She knew exactly how they'd gotten Masako to come tonight, and it'd taken money, lots and lots of money.
"Toya-sama!" Ino twittered. "Dai-sama wouldn't take no for an answer! He can be very persuasive."
"Hmmm, a persuasive young man is always welcome at the palace." Toya-sama said giving Ino a special smile.
Toma-sama preened slightly and nodded regally to Masako who was busy fine-tuning her shamishen.
Ino lowered her eyelashes and sipped her tea as she ran her mind over the plan. Masako would entertain Toma's guests, impressing them because she was one of the most populaire Geisha's in the Capital thereby raising his profile with some of the more important functionaires in the government. Just before Masako would leave for another engagement, Tenten would slip out, and hijack Masako in the hallway, Ino would join them and presto, they would have their lead.
Ino blinked as Masako finished and everyone applauded. Masako bowed slightly to show her gratitude and hurried to place her instrument in a corner before moving to serve tea to the people seated at the head of the table. After serving the tea, she entertained the guests with a funny story that had others also offering bits of gossip they'd heard. Talk continued and finally as Masako stood up to perform a fan danse at Toma-sama's request, Tenten was dissapointed to see Ino give her sign that meant it was time to leave. Leaving the room she checked the position of the guards, and satisfied that Toma-sama would not be left unprotected Tenten shuffled down the hall. Impossible to do otherwise in the outfit she was wearing.
Smiling in memory of the story, Tenten excused herself as two Maiko hurried past from one room to another. Scuffling casually, Tenten found a fairly secluded corner and waited. Paitence paid off as Tenten heard a burst of noise laced with Ino's high pitched laugh. Shortly afterwards Masako passed and Tenten easily slipped a drugged cloth over the face of the smaller woman and carried her away.
Hidden on the rooftop Tenten waited impaitently for Ino arrive. She rechecked the bindings on Masako and adjusted the blindfold. Masako stirred and gave a start as she woke and found herself tied and blindfolded.
Tenten didn't give her the chance to scream, pressing a hand against her throat even as she lowered her voice to her best imitation male voice.
"Don't make a noise, we only want you to answer some questions." Tenten growled trying to sound reassuring.
Masako stilled and Tenten slowly lifted her hand away.
The first scream gave away their position to Ino who arrived running along a neighbouring rooftop.
"Silence!" Ino commanded.
Her chakra laden order was quickly obeyed and Masako's mouth snapped shut. Tenten gave Masako an exsaperated look.
She promised to be quiet. Tenten signed in apology.
Ino rolled her eyes.
Let's move her. Ino signed taking a grip on Masako.
Don't break a nail doll. Tenten signed, loading the small woman onto her shoulder. Besides the heaviest thing on her is her kimono.
The jutsu won't last forever, let's take her to the river. Ino signed leading the way.
Under West Flame Bridge
Hidden by the bridge, Ino formed the seals for one of her interrogation jutsus. They were pressed for time, moving Masako had taken longer than planned and they risked having their absence noticed by one of the party if they didn't hurry.
Tenten scratched at the beard her henged face wore, henge's were always uncomfortable for her, the extra chakra layers made her itch. Ino's henge was also bearded and wore the same dark non descript clothes.
Masako eyes were uncovered as eye contact was necessary for Ino's mind control to work.
Masako's eyes grew dreamy and Ino lowered her hands.
"Masako, what do you know about the kidnapping of Lady Nori?" Ino's masked voice grated out.
Masako frowned and shook her head.
"I have never met the Lady Nori." Masako said calmly. "I don't know anything about her kidnapping."
She's lying. Tenten signed impaitently.
"Masako, are you lying?" Ino asked, looking carefully at Masako's body movements and chakra flows.
"No." Masako replied calmly.
She's not lying. Ino signed back nonplussed.
So what the hell was she doing outside the theatre last week? Tenten signed.
"Masako, what were you doing outside of the North Theatre last week?" Ino asked pushing her jutsu's strength up a notch.
"I was not in the north district last week. I never leave west district without permission, I am much too busy." Masako replied politely.
"Doing what?" Tenten snorted.
Ino frowned at Tenten for the interruption who scowled back. Masako answered the question all the same.
"I have dance and music lessons every morning, in the afternoon I prepare for my appointments, in the early evening I..."
"Stop." Ino ordered before Masako could continue.
Masako obeyed instantly. Thinking for a moment Ino struck upon an idea.
"Masako do you have a kimono with yellow fans on it?" Ino asked.
"No." Masako answered.
Ino slumped as their lead seemed to die under the quiet but firm response.
"Do you know who does?" Tenten asked.
"Yes." Masako said simply.
A moment passed.
"Well who has it?" Tenten asked trying to keep her paitence.
Is she an idiot? Tenten signed.
No, it's a limitation of the jutsu, you have to ask precise questions. Ino signed back.
"My mother gifted the kimono to Risa-san, a young Maiko from our sister house Sakayu, but they sold it on to a dealer, who most disrespectfully sold it on to a troup of...of..." Masako stopped and turned her head.
Tenten nudged Ino who pushed her jutsu up another notch. Ino had said that if they pushed for information that Masako really didn't want to give they might have to fight her natural resistance.
"Sold it to who Masako?" Ino asked firmly.
"A troup of men, who disguise themselves as Geisha and perform a mockery of the Miyako Odori and other Geisha performances at various theatres around the capital." Masako finished quickly and hid her face in her hands.
Damn, wrong fish. Ino signed, forming the seals to let Masako slip into a reverie while they got her back to the Ochaya.
But at least we still have a lead. Tenten signed. Come on we're going to have to give a few too many explanations.
Ino concentrated for a second, laying a false scene in Masako's mind.
You were tired, so tired that you fell asleep in the taxi, you had a strange dream that you don't really remember, but everything is fine now. You feel fine and everything is normal.
Ino sat back on her heels and made a get going sign with her hands. Picking Masako up again Tenten prepared to leave when Ino stopped her with a signal.
Hey you know what? Your signing has improved. Ino signed.
Tenten snorted, secretly pleased
Get going doll, give me some cover with the old farts while I get her to her next appointment.
Ino nodded and left quickly.
Next Day, Toma-sama's rooms
I can't believe how well this is going!" Toma said delighted, flipping his fan open.
The fan had been a thank you gift from Lady Aikousha for the kimono. Toma had been delighted with the sign of favour and had taken to flashing it in everyone's faces. Toma smiled smugly at Ino.
"My uncle was congratulated this morning on having such an excellent nephew, and they were talking about me!"
Tenten ignored the happy chatter between Ino and Toma-sama. She knew Ino was dissapointed that the Geisha hadn't been the lead they'd wanted, and that meant they had to come up with another harebrained scheme to try and get further along in the case. But she thought she knew how.
"Dai-sama." Tenten said suddenly.
"Yes Kuma-chan." Toma said looking at the normally silent kunoichi with surprise, even his fan coming to a pause.
"I was thinking, you are concentrating too hard on the older members of the council." Tenten said flicking a look at Ino.
"But Kuma-chan, the older members are where the power is. And they are the colleges of my uncle." Toma said spreading out the fan to admire the design.
""But they won't always be in power, it may be seen badly that you are so actively seeking their favour, why not aim at their heirs as well?" Tenten said.
"In what way? If you're suggesting another Ochaya, I'll have to say no, uncle was quite clear that while he was happy I was taking such an interest in my political future further such expenditures were out of the question." Toma apologised, closing the fan with a neat click.
Ino frowned then seemed to catch on. Raising an eyebrow in surprise she decided to see Tenten could work Toma around to their idea.
"This wouldn't be very expensive." Tenten said, hoping it would be true. "There's a popular theater group in the capital, it might be useful to invite some of the young nobles to one of their performances."
Toma tapped his chin with his fan.
"I suppose I could pay for that out of my own pocket." Toma mused out loud the fan tip drawing circles in the air. "I don't know who to invite though."
"Your uncle must know of a few people your age who have good family connections." Ino piped in grabbing the end of the fan which refused to stop bobbing around.
Toma shrugged slightly at Ino's iron grip on his fan but obediently tucked it away in his belt where it could be easily seen.
"I'll ask him today, I think he's due to meet with his fellow ministers until lunchtime but I'm sure I can have a word with him later on." Toma said, his hand gesturing as if it still held the fan.
"Well I do enjoy our little meetings but I have many important duties waiting for me. Shall we meet up again tonight just after dinner?" Toma said, unexpectedly.
Ino looked up surprised. It wasn't the first time a client had tried to ditch their bodyguards, but it did surprise her coming from Toma.
"I..." Ino started not sure how to politely tell him they were ordered to follow him everywhere.
"Oh I suppose you're not aware of today's schedule." Toma said barely hiding his smile.
Ino and Tenten glanced at each other, last minute changes in schedules were hated by bodyguards and it looked bad that they didn't know about it already. Seeing that Toma was waiting for a reply Ino opened her mouth to reply.
Toma made a flapping motion with his hand dismissing Ino's attempt.
"To be truthful, I too was unaware of this amazing developement until just a few minutes ago."
Toma slipped the fan out again and opened it, caressing the pattern.
"Lady Aikousha has invited me to visit her this morning, it's quite the honour I can tell you and one I didn't expect at all. So I was hoping that you two could just..."
Toma flapped the fan pointlessly. Tenten and Ino smiled blandly.
"You see, it might seem impolite to turn up with guards..." Toma trailed off as neither girl's smiles changed a hair.
Ino reached forward and patted Toma's hand lightly.
"We'll be very discrete." Ino promised.
We're getting to the heart of the 'mystery' now. What will the Lady Aikousha have to say?