Today I got all my things together, and sealed them into a scroll. The guest room didn't look too empty, as it had already been very well furnished. I sigh. The time I've spent in the royal city has aged me, and it feels like it's been months here instead of only a few weeks. A part of me wants to leave some clue for Lady Sorano that Ruza will still be out there somewhere, but for my plan to work, I can't. I've kept Lady Sorano's mock treaty, and smile for a moment as I look at it. If mine and Yusei's dreams come true, then the Land of Fire has a very promising future.

I walk around the room, moving things a touch out of place here and there, trying to give the room a recently lived in look. There. And with that done, I sit at the desk again to think of what Raiko will be doing. There's a chance that no one has gotten any information on her supposed last name yet, but I'm certain that word will spread after I've left the royal city. It will be like sitting at the center of a spider web, waiting for bigger spiders to come along. And what would Obito and Sasuke think? I can't imagine either of them taking it particularly well, one of their clan suddenly resurfacing after several long years spent being quite dead- particularly Sasuke. Itachi did what he did to protect Konoha, and with his long lost relative suddenly appearing and putting Konoha and the Land of Fire in a very precarious situation, I think Sasuke would take that very personally. And Obito… well, the entire ninja world learned the hard way what it's like to have him as an enemy.

But what if some kind of good could come from Raiko if she stays active after leaving the royal city? An Uchiha watching from the shadows, one who set up a new daimyo and changed the course of history forever? Though at the moment it seems impossible to find a way, that would be useful. Hmm… perhaps I'll need to do some training with Sasuke, just in case-

"Miss Hirawa?" Taizo! What could he be doing here? I get up and walk towards the door.

"Come in!" The bags under Taizo's eyes have gotten heavier, and he looks a little worried. I step aside, but leave just enough of my foot in the way that Taizo trips over it. My attempt to catch him isn't exactly that, as my hand first goes to his Cycle Point with a very soft Gentle Fist strike before sliding across and actually catching him. "I'm so sorry, I should have moved more…"

"Nah, you're good. Miss Hirawa, do you have a minute? I'd like to talk."

"Yes, here…" I offer Taizo a seat at my desk, which he takes.

"Has…" He pauses, looking down at his feet. "My sister been asking you strange questions?"

"Her mind works very differently from the way a nor- ...the average person's does, if that's what you mean."

"Heh. Well, not that, but more like strange people."

"No, can't say that she has."

"She's- she's been asking me about someone called The Rainmaker, and I'm wondering if she's asked you, too."

"The Rainmaker? I, I think she's mentioned that person a couple times, she said they were a ninja. Have you met them, too?"

"Just once, when me and Sorano were out to get a drink. She walked in on us when we were in the private room at Mr. Taniguchi's, and she pretended like she knew me… and then later that evening, Mister Taniguchi was found dead with 'ask Taizo' carved into his chest. You're from the hidden village, right, Miss Hirawa? Do you know of anyone who calls themself The Rainmaker?"

"No," I say quickly, before I have time to be nervous. "In a hidden village there isn't much use for an alias; I've never heard of anyone who calls themself that. Maybe if you told me more about them I might know who it is."

Taizo clears his throat, and leans forwards a little. "She was tall slash above average height, and had black hair. She wasn't ugly, but something about her face reminded me of a shovel, and she had kind of a husky voice."

"Okay. Was she thin, or…?"

"No, she wasn't too big, but she had some muscle, like I guess most ninja do."

I pretend to think about this for a moment before speaking. "...Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I don't know anyone who looks like that exactly. I know a family that has long black hair, but none of them have a face like a shovel. And, Taizo… if you have this ninja woman following you, I think you should keep the royal guard close by when you're out of the palace." Taizo leans back in my chair and sighs angrily, folding his arms.

"Yeah… guess I should… but, it's more than that. You see, Mister Taniguchi was a friend of mine. Not too long ago, a friend from Tanzaku Quarters disappeared, and I think this Rainmaker was behind that, too. So someone is definitely out to get me, but I don't know who, or why!" Doesn't know why? I gulp, and calm down. Taizo looks up at me. "Did you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"It was like that day when we met in the garden, like someone was staring at the back of my neck."

"No, I didn't feel it," I say with a shrug. Completely true, unlike most of what I just said to Taizo. Well, unless… no. He couldn't feel that, could he?!

"Alright. Well, that's all I wanted to ask you. Thanks for your time, Miss Hirawa." Taizo stands and gives me a tired smile, then turns to leave.