"If it so pleases you; m'lady, I would like to be able to at the very least launder and refresh myself before I return home. My precious babies should be getting close to finishing with their cultivations, and the herbs in which they've gathered will need to be identified and cataloged."
"Oh, my- that's right!"
Before she went any further, she turned to face Kazumaru with a slightly apologetic and almost fun expression ; she’d nearly forgotten her previous promise in all of the excitement of her sudden and unexpected ascension to outlandish power. Her hands clapped together, this garnered the attention of servants of the palace who rushed to her side.
“Kazumaru is my dear friend, please see to it that he is provided with the finest room in my compound that is available. Send for the tailors to mend and wash any article of clothing that’s been damaged and utilize someone with talent make sure to consult him to ensure everything is as he’d prefer it. OH! And- You’re free to gather the herbs that have been harvested once they do return my friend!”
Her eyes then fell on the large white serpent that Kazumaru had been riding and tending to throughout the totality of their engagement. Ryu could tell that Shiro meant very much to him. It was only right that his level of devotion to his summon be honored as well.
“So long as this snake, Shiro, allows you and if Kazumaru is agreeable about it then see to it that she is bathed as well as pampered for her work this day and provide any additional aid that our guests require. Thank you for your help today, Shiro.”
In a semi-shocking display, the Mizukage attempted to communicate her hospitality to a mere snake. Animals, reptiles and the like were something that the woman considered divine and believed that they deserved the same amount of respect as a person. They were irreplaceable partners.
Plumes of apparently sentient mist traveled alongside every member of the exclusive party the entire journey to this once grand place. It was as if this phantom, this spirit’s very presence incurred the fog. It was perpetually there. Suddenly, as she explored further, to Ryu’s pleasure it seemed most of the area survived the most recent assault upon the land of water. Upon Kirigakure. She was pleased to see that statues which had been there since even before the past three or four kages still stood tall and prepared to protect the village that they oversaw and loved. As she floated by, one of her hands reached out gingerly yet affectionately drew the tips of her pointed nails against its enduring stone. The way that the woman before them who seemed to manifest from out of no particular place looked at every rock, tree and bit of architecture no longer held a hint of disgust. Instead, she gazed in wonder as if she had also not seen much of the surface world for a significant amount of time. On the same side of the same coin, her icy orbs radiated adoration of a time long since passed as well as the relief that some of it still existed.
Shortly after Yumaro crossed the threshold which would lead the group directly into the chambers of their late leader, and then bowed, Azuresato followed through and did not hesitate taking her designated seat before the lot of them. What she saw was not what she had seen before as Yumaro was not struggling to stand, on the contrary, she recognized a stance of reignited strength. This was not just pertaining to the King but also to those permitted to join in on their historically first meeting. It appeared to the Lady that the Hozuki who’d almost been swallowed up by his own despair was there too. He wanted what they all wanted, she could see that he was being driven by the hope shared by his people but most importantly…he had to complete himself. Very few knew how Azuresato could possibly understand the depth of his anguish. She could, she did. For as she passed Yumaro, whether he felt it or not, the needle cried out for it’s former master now knowing that she was still alive which disrupted the contract between blade and wielder. It wouldn’t have been more than a mild vibration and a feeling that something was off. These were delicate sensations very easily ignored by the common ninja; but Higetsu and Yumaro were not common ninja. Azuresato felt it too but said nothing, in her heart and in her hand where she clasped Nuibari and led a life of sending the enemies of the land of water to hell. It was not a hell that any mortal man could comprehend, as death did not come with this hell. Not immediately.
Suikotsu was by her side as he normally was, this was his place and the two of them knew it. In the past, there were very few instances that Azuresato had to actually lift a finger to do away with assassins, attacks and so on and so forth. Heads rolled around because the Kaguya was always there to remind them why that might not have been the best idea.
As she raised her eyes to meet those staring back at her, she analyzed what emotion and thoughts that she could. There was hope, there was doubt but that was easily forgiven by her for it was to be expected and most importantly fight. The people wanted to fight, even in the face of such a brutal attack that had left most of their land in ruins…they wanted to fight. It was as if the ocean itself crashing into the shores was still speaking to her, urging her to lead this fight. So, with one single word the beginning of the restoration of Kirigakure No Sato began.
“Report.”
Now, she meant for them to quietly determine who would step forth to debrief their new Mizukage of all pertinent information regarding the battle but also the status of anything deemed important. Such as the location of the tailed beasts and so on and so forth. It all fit so perfectly, it was just like she had been born to sit on this throne and came into it without an awkward uncertain phase. This woman knew what she wanted and they would ensure that she got every bit of it.
“And boys…please be sure to include the status of each of the sacred blades.”
Location: Mizukage Mansion
Posting Order: Suikotsu -> Azuresato Ryu -> Kazumaru -> Yumaro -> Higetsu -> Toshimi (dropped? kinda?)
Post Time Limit (PTI): 3 Days.
Skip Points: ll