Chapter two: Disguised
She knew the time was coming near when it started to get dark and heard a lot of commotion coming from within the gates around the tsuchikage's tower. She was easily able to blend in with the crowd as they headed through the gate that leads to the entrance. She was shocked to see how amazing everything looked. Overlooking a balcony, there was a huge garden that Ayame had failed to see due to the gate around the tower. It was kind of ironic that they would have one in a village like this; she expected something like this to be in the leaf village. All around were tables filled with many different types of food and beautiful music playing. What intrigued ayame the most was the beautiful Sakura trees that surrounded the beautiful white painted gazebo that stood very tall. People dressed in formal and casual evening attire were seated in it socializing with a glass of wine in each hand. The entire scenery of outstanding but Ayame knew she had no time to enjoy herself because she had to find a way to get into that tower and gather as much information as possible. Still transformed as an old lady, she grabbed a glass a wine from a tray that a passing by servant girl was carrying and hurried around the corner of the building. She casually sipped it as she contemplated how her plan was going to work out. Could she sneak in through a window? No, that would be too risky because she detected the presence of people still inside. Closing her eyes, she activated her mind's eye a kagura jutsu and tried to get an exact reading of who was inside. Judging from the chakra signature, it appeared to be only a view servant girls plus one more individual; she guess this one was a shinobi because he/she had a stronger chakra signature. But there was something missing. Where was the tsuchikage? Wasn't this supposed to be his celebration?
"How odd?" She mumbled to herself. Then, looking down at her wine glass, then up at the servant girls passing by, she got an idea. Sneak in as a servant! Duh! She observed the girls around her and they all appeared in the same attire; a bright pink Yukata with flower print and a large white sash arranged in a bow. Most of them wore their hair tied back in a bun with the exception of a few who wore theirs in simple braids. But she had to get her hands on a uniform and the most likely place to find one would be inside of course.
Getting Up from her sitting position she strolled down further through the crowd of people. She felt eyes fall on her but she didn't make much of it. She did appear out of place as the only old person present. She knew very well that people her age would always be polite to the elderly and it was no surprise to her that the servant girls were so kind toward her elderly form when she asked the location of the bathroom. One of the servants who possessed Violent colored hair was more than happy to direct her to it. On the outside she was smiling a warm smile but on the inside she was smirking. Her plan was going more smoothly than she expected. She hoped her luck would stay with her for a while because she needed to her get hands on that uniform and she had the perfect plan to do it.
"Right this way." The woman directed. She led Ayame down a hallway and slid open a door for her that led a smaller hallway. Ayame was sure that she walked slowly and the woman didn't even notice when she jammed her sandal into the bottom of the door to prevent it from being opening. The purple haired woman slid open another door revealing the wash and bathroom. "Here you go miss."
"Why thank you young lady! I hope I wasn't a bother to you! I could have found it by myself but you know us old folk. We all are known for bad directions!" She said, chuckling.
"Oh no! It's no trouble at all! My job to help out! So it there anything else I can assist you with? She smiled sweetly.
"Oh no I fine from here- Oh. Oh my! Young lady you got a little food stuck under those pretty lips of yours!"
"Huh? Really?" Her hands moved over her face trying to search for the unwanted scrap of food. "Did I get it?!"
"Nope, Lower."
"How about now? Still there?"
"Yes. Here, allow me to assist. I always carry a handkerchief. I've got a couple of messy grandkids. But you're not messy or anything." She giggled. She reached into the pocket of her robe and her fingers curled around a sharp Kunai.
"Oh thank you!" She replied blushing, "Gosh I feel so embarrassed now. The last time someone whipped my face was when I was five. Here, just give me it." Ayame ever so slowly moved closer.
"Alright. Here you go sweetie!" Before she could ever respond, Ayame whipped out the Kunai and sliced it at her. Much to her surprise the woman dodged the blow and fell sideways.
"What the hell?!" She cried. Ayame formed the tiger seal and returned to her youthful self.
"Sorry dear, I missed. Here, let me try again!" Clutching the kunai, she lunged at the woman. She let out a scream and rolled to the side, barley dodging the blow.
"Who are you?!" She screamed. Ayame ignored her and lunged at her again. The woman tried to take advantage of their height difference and push her smaller attacker backward but it was futile as ayame grabbed her by the hair and tossed her against the wall. Ayame was about to make her next move before the kunai was knocked out her hand and she was shoved to the ground with the taller woman on top of her. There was a struggle and ayame was soon able to throw her off her and grab the discarded weapon. But in that brief moment that the green haired woman was caught off guard, the maid managed to grab ayame by the hair and was able to slam her head into the mirror. A loud crack filled the room as her head came in contact with the glass and ayame snarled as blood ran down her face. "Fuck you bitch!" She screamed at her. Ayame gathered chakra in her fist and punched her across the face. Blood splattered on the wall as she fell backwards clutching her cheek.
For the third time she made a lunge for her and this time the plume haired woman made a brake for the door. "Help me! Please somebody! A spy-!" But she could not finish her sentence as ayame jumped on her from behind and stabbed her right in the neck. She cried out in pain and much to ayames surprise was still able to struggle. The kunai went into her neck about 12 more times before she finally bled to death and the room was quiet. Ayame let out a breath and stood up and observed around her. The Bathroom walls were covered in the blood from the struggle and there was blood splattered under the shattered bathroom mirror. But that was nothing compared to the blood coming from the lifeless corpse of the maid who was practically decapitated and was bleeding out really fast. Ayame then realized that she couldn't hang around here for long because someone was bound to have heard the struggle and come in here. She quickly pulled the woman's pink robe off her body leaving her completely nude on the floor. The robe was drenched in blood.
"Crap..." Ayame whispered to herself. She walked over to the sink and ran water over it. The blood came out really fast but not all the way and the robe had faded from bright pink to a dark shade of magenta. Carefully concentrating a little bit of flaming chakra to her palm, she was able to dry it.
"Good as new!" She sealed her fan into a scroll and slipped the robe over her black over and tied the sash around her waist. She pulled her hair up into a high elaborate bun while annoying her bangs to cover the gash on the side of her face. She smirked at herself while looking in the mirror then looked down once again at the dead body at her feet. "I look better than you in this rode" She said giving her a good hard kick before exciting the bathroom.
It appeared that nobody had heard the fight actually because everyone was acting normal as she came out of the tower and walked down the steps. She actually blended in better than she thought and her height or makeup less face didn't matter. She grabbed a tray and walked around, following the other maids around as they walked around carrying trays. It was just her luck when another maid requested that someone go inside and gather more trays. She willingly volunteered and no one even paid attention as she walked up the stairs and into the entrance of the tower once again; it was still fairly big but less fancy on the inside than she imagined. Everyone who was inside was heading down the same large hallway were she was led when she requested to use the bathroom. She turned and looked at the stair case in front of her. It seemed to be off limits from everyone else. She quickly made her way up the large staircase without making a sound. She was greeted by a hallway at the top of the stairs. She tensed when she suddenly detected someone close. Panicking, she ran and hiding behind a large pillar.
"I am ready to get this over this so I can enjoy myself!" said a cheerful voice. Ayame peered out and to her horror saw an all too familiar red head. It was that Saiko woman; she was dressed in an evening gown and her red hair was flowing down her waist. Next to her was a very tall unknown individual who was wearing a hooded cloak. From her angle, she could not see his face. "Come on! Must you look so un interested?" She asked the man.
"I am uninterested." Spoke a calm deep, masculine voice.
"Whatever, be glad I'm doing all the speaking. All you have to do is stand there and look like you care." She smirked.
"Fine, Let us just go." His cloaked figured brushed past saiko and started down the hallway, taking long strides as he went.
"H-Hey! Wait up you! She said running after him. Ayame observed as the red head walked down the hallway alongside the man who dwarfed her by a lot. They had gotten a good distance away so she was unable to hear what they were saying.
"Saiko, did you…?"
"Yes I sensed them as well, lord muu." She whispered to him, looking back to make sure they were far enough away. "Who was it?"
"I don't have the slightest idea. I don't see any cause for alarm at this moment but be on guard for spies. Watch all the servants carefully and do not let any of them out of your line of sight. "
"Right sir."
Ayame stayed hidden in one spot for a few minutes to make sure that they were completely gone. When she was sure they were gone, she was about to let out a breath of relief when a hand grabbed her from behind. She let out a scream and whirled around to face a tall blond woman who was dressed just like her.
"What the hell are you doing up here? We are not allowed up here! You're supposed to be in the kitchen or out there serving food." She hissed down at her. Ayame was silent for a moment unable to say anything. They stared at each other for a few seconds before ayame whispered, "My apologies, I'm knew here…" The lady let out a sigh and grabbed her wrist leading her down the stairs. "Hey kid I didn't mean to scare you, I understand that this is your first day of the job and you don't your way around. Well, let me tell you something. We servant girls look out for each other and I don't want you getting in trouble. That hallway leads to lord Muu's office and this tower also functions as the home for him and his clan. This mansion is a big place and we are only allowed in the kitchen, so there is nothing for us to do up those stairs. Alright Hun?" the woman said raising an eye brow to make sure she got the picture. She didn't say anything but opted to nod her head. "Alright! Ha-ha you're sure a shy one." She chuckled, running her hands through her platinum blond hair. "So what's your name?" There was a pause, Name? What was her name? Currently she was not supposed to be ayame but someone else. So she was going to have to make something up, didn't matter how random.
"….Izumi." She whispered timidly
"Izumi, what a pretty name that is; the names Karin. Well now, that we both have been fully introduced, I say let's get back down there so we can hear the little speech that Saiko-Sama is going to give; she's lord tsuchikage's assistant by the way." She said winking down at her. Ayame said nothing but still followed her down the long stair case. Ayame couldn't bring herself to say anything. She was currently caught and she couldn't do anything because this Karin woman would be watching her. She desperately wanted to follow the pair down the hall but that would have to be put on halt until she can slip away. When they came out the front entrance, they saw that everyone was crowding around under the balcony. "Ohh looks like she's about to give the speech! Hurry up and walk faster short stack!" she giggled. Ayame shot her a look of pure annoyance. The crowd of chatting people suddenly grew quiet as Saiko appeared at the top of the balcony, wearing her up most serious expression.
"Friends, acquaintances, fellow shinobi of the Iwagakure, it is of great joy to see you all here tonight on this wondering evening. It makes me happy to see that all of you continue to keep your hardy attitude and stay strong after what our village has lost." Saiko closed her eyes and clutched a hand over her heart. "As you all know, we lost a very special soul in one of the many attacks that have occurred within our village. He was an honorable, courageous man who was full of life. Our lord Shodi, the founder of our village and a legendary descendent of the kamizuru clan, shall live on in our hearts forever. Please, allow us to have a moment of silence." She bowed her head down and everyone, including Karin, did the same. Ayame didn't want to look out of place so she imitated everyone else. They stayed that way for about a minute but it felt way to long for her; it was difficult to bow down to a leader of a different village. She was relieved when everyone finally raised their head. "But, not is all lost. We are all gathered here today to honor and welcome a very special man into office. A man who protected us during the invasion of the hidden mist; if it wasn't for him and his leadership we would be no more. Old generations come and go and I would like you all to give praise toward the 2nd generation of tsuchikage. Give it up for lord Muu-Sama! The hero of Iwagakure!" Saiko stepped aside and Ayame observed as the cloaked figure she saw in the hallway stepped into view. The crowd roared and cheered, many were yelling praises up to their leader. Ayame tried to look cheerful because she stood out as the only one who wasn't overly excited. Sudden movement caught her eye and ayame watched as a pair of muscular, bandaged arms emerged from the cloak and pulled down the hood he was wearing and discarded the entire material to the side. She was shocked to see that his entire appearance wasn't less mysterious even with his cloak removed. The man wore his village's standard attire but his face and entire body was wrapped in bandages. The only physical features she could see on him were that he was very tall, slim yet well-toned, and had a pair of beady violet coloured eyes. His overall appearance was enough to make ayame shiver but at that moment she felt like all her breath was taken from her when she caught sight of those dark eyes of his. They were not just any pair of dark eyes, ayame could see deep within them the mind of a war hardened shinobi who could probably take her life in a matter of seconds if ever she was to be discovered.
"Izumi-Chan! You're not being very cheerful!" Karin exclaimed, her brown eyes sparkled. She felt that she couldn't be that cheerful; at this point in time. In fact, she just wanted to get this mission over with because a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach was telling her the odds were not in her favor. Seeing their new leader, the people around her, the strain was starting to get to her and she felt like she should just abort to the mission, go home and suck up to her family and hope they forgave her for the tantrum she threw. All of that sounded wonderful indeed, but it was not the way of the sand ninja. Sand ninja never gave up and would fight and fight until they succeeded because failure is not and will never be an option.
"OK. Calm yourself Ayame." She thought to herself, trying to steady her breathing. "Just relax; you don't lose your cool in such a dire situation." She excused herself from Karin's side and went to go sit down on a bench on the side of the stone wall. Nobody took notice to her because they were all busy cheering up at the balcony. She buried her face within her hands and tried to keep herself from having a panic attack.
"Hey sweetie you ok?" Ayame didn't even notice that her new blond friend had appeared next to her. "Shy and claustrophobic eh?" She asked raising an eyebrow. Ayame didn't respond with words, only with a nod of the head. "Well nothing that a few alcoholic drinks won't cure right? You are old enough to drink right?
"Yes."
"Well then it's about time you learn the joys and horrors of getting wasted!" with a tug to the wrist, the poor green haired young woman was pulled against her will through the crowd once more.
"Oh joy."