-Chapter 3-: Business as usual
The boat made port in Mizushima early the next morning, just in time for Raidan to set up shop in the best spot at the open air market. Kairi was helping Gin and Hayate unload the first barrels of fish on to the deck when Raidan called her over.
"Hey kiddo, go check on the house for me will ya? Don't forget to water the garden, although I'm sure Midori-san has kept an eye on it while we were gone." he said giving her the key.
"Sure Dad. Be back in a bit" she said with a smile. She let go of the barrel, leaving Gin and Hayate to carry the brunt of her weight.
"Oi! Come back. You made this easier! See? I'm weak!" Gin faked fatigue, straining his muscles to exaggerate.
Hayate rolled his eyes at Gin an purposefully let go ho his side of the barrel, leaving the object to crash onto Gin's foot.
"OUCH! TEME! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?"
"Oh shut up you big baby. You'll be fine" she snickered. Turning to walk the other way.
"Yeah. Things tend to get done faster when you cut the antics. Do that more often Gin-san, and you'll have all the time in the world you need to be a lazy ass" Hayate gave a sarcastic smile as he spoke, anger vein barely visible on his head. Gin rolled his eyes.
"fine…fine.." he said defensively "lets go".
Kairi leisurely navigated her way through the streets of Mizushima. It was an old, yet vibrant village, acquiring it's popularity in through the many different types of seafood one could find there. Since Raidan's fishing business had began to sell an increase in rare delicacies in the market, specialty chefs had been coming from all over to set up shop in town. Mizushima was now became a livelier than ever as a bustling hub for cuisine.
Kairi passed by a couple of familiar shops and restaurants before she turned onto her own quiet street. She and her father lived in a small one story house with a small garden in the front, though when they were on the sea the property was mostly looked after by their next door neighbor, and old woman by the name of Midori. She currently was watering the beautifully potted plants that dotted her own front porch when she turned to greet Kairi.
"Good afternoon, Kairi-chan" she said with a cute elderly smile
"Midori baa –san!" Kairi leaned down to hug her surrogate grandmother. After hearing about the girl's mother disappearing, she had practically taken her under her wing, teaching Kairi everything she would need to know as a young woman from the awkward stage of puberty to dealing with a broken heart.
"Ah that reminds me!" the old woman searched through her kimono sleeve to pull out a letter.
" Yoshitune-sama, wanted me to give this to you. Apparently he would like for you to preform tonight at a party for a some political-business type event being held tonight at his residence." Kairi gave a slight frown
"Eh? But I just got back…" Midori huffed as Midori passed the party invitation to her who looked it over.
"Hmph! That's what I said too, but apparently their source for entertainment quit at the last moment, he felt that you were the only who they could trust to fill in on such a short notice…after all you do have a beautiful singing voice…" the old woman sighed and rubbed her temples.
"…Making my grandchild work on her first day back from work…seriously" she grumbled. Kairi gave a short laugh
"It's fine baa-chan. Its not a big deal. I'll just leave after the performance. Besides I didn't have any plans tonight other than to help Dad close up shop, but he's got the boys for that. " She folded up the letter and placed it in her pocket. " I'll make sure to give Dad the letter as well."
"Well if you say so Kairi-chan…" Midori's eyes suddenly went wide with excitement
"Oh! That's right" the woman quickly shuffled into her house, Kairi following curious about what had made her baa-san so lively. The woman took a box from her hallway closet and pulled out of it a light blue kimono with pale lilies embroidered on it and a navy blue obi.
"I bought this the other day for you for the festival next month, but now seems you'll be wearing it a little early" Kairi held the fabric in her hands and smiled.
"Baa-san this is beautiful!" Midori smiled proudly
"Only the best for my grandchild" she claimed, folding the garment back into the box and handing it to Kairi "Now you make sure to tell your Father about this, you hear?"
"Yes baa-san! As soon as I finish my chores I'll go tell him" Kairi took the box and ran out the door, thoroughly excited about her performance tonight.
"This is gonna be AWESOME" she inwardly squealed to herself.
Two cloaked figures appeared in the shadows near the gates of Mizushima, watching as the two guards continued to chat, unaware of their presence.
"So who's this big shot coming tonight?" The guard stretched, putting his arms behind his head, and leaned against the wall.
"I don't know man, some high roller looking to get his stake in Mizushima's economy" the 2nd guard lit a cigarette. "Probably just another greedy bastard…"
"Hey, I bet the party at the chief's residence is gonna be sweet though" he gave his partner a wicked smile" All those rich, hot, babes…." He drooled; visions of finely dressed ladies with particularly large bosoms clouded his eyes, giggling softly as their slender fingers beckoned towards him. He was brought back to (a slightly painful) reality when his partner wacked him in the back of the head (Gibbs slap FTW).
"Keep your eyes on the road will ya? Like any of those women would even look at your raggedy ass! HA!" the guard laughed and continued smoking his cigarette. Kisame sweat dropped from his hiding spot. "Geez and I used to share the same hidden village with these guys…I geuss the governments' having to scrape the bottom of the barrel with the elite all still searching for me…" he smirked at the thought. As if they'd ever catch him. He turned towards Itachi.
"Gathered enough information yet?"
Itachi nodded
"It seems like the majority of the guests shall be of noble standing. I suggest we infiltrate the party disguised as members of an elite clan. We then isolate the target in one of the hallways on the grounds of making a 'business deal' and exterminate him on the spot."
"Understood. Sounds good to me" Kisame had been getting used to Itachi since their mission had started. Sure the guy was still a jerk, but a battle smart one at that, and that was really all that mattered. They didn't need to be best friends to get the job done. Too bad though. He was really looking forward to having an excuse to slit his throat.
"stop! who goes there!"
Kisame looked up to see a ornately decorated carriage at the gate. The carriage driver handed the guard a slip of paper before slowly driving the carriage into through to the villiage. Kisame smirked as he recognized the clan insignia on the back of the vehicle.
'Well,well,well..."he turned to his partner with a sly grin "I think I've just found our new identities".
Itachi nodded.
"Follow them. Find out where they are staying and signal me. We'll make our move at dusk."
itachi nodded once more before disappearing into the shadows. Kisame chuckled to himself.
This was going to be a piece of cake.
-END Chapter 3-
Me: R&-
Itachi: hn. *uses sharingan*
Me: Wah!*covers eyes*
Itachi: please R&R.
Me: Dammit! its my story why can't i say R&R!? *sulks in the corner*
Kairi: There there...*pats on the back*