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"Lord Jiosa, I brought Ayame," Shina says as she peeks into the Jiosa's tent.

A soft grunt is heard from within, followed by a low, "Enter."

Shina glances at Ayame before motioning the woman into the tent. Ayame gives her a slight smile as she passes, ducking through the flap and into the dim light. The Jiosa is leaning over a map of the terrain, dressed in full battle armor, though he still wears the customary hat and sash marking him for who he is.

Ayame bows. "You wished to see me, Lord Jiosa?"

The Jiosa glances up at her shrewdly from beneath the brim of his formal kasa, a frown tilting his lips downward. “That I did. I find it interesting, Miss Ayame, that you’re here, though your clan claims that you have gone rogue on us. In light of your sudden disappearance from the village, I’m inclined to believe them and can have you killed right now.” The shinobi in the corners of the tent shift, as if ready to act upon even the slightest indication of such an order. “However,” the Jiosa continues, returning his eyes to the map, “I’m feeling generous and will give you the chance to explain yourself.”

“Do you really think I would go rogue, sir?” Ayame asks flatly, her gaze unwavering.

“No, nor do I believe you have it in you to kill your own cousin,” the Jiosa replies, looking back up at her, “but my beliefs are beside the point. Why did you leave the village without permission?”

“I did not have the chance to ask, sir,” the kunoichi states. “Events took place too quickly to consult you, Lord Jiosa. There was something I had to do, and I can assure you that I only acted in Chishita’s best interest.” [And I still do, in a way, depending on how you look at it,] she adds inwardly.

The Jiosa studies her. “What was it that you had to do?”

“That’s classified, sir. I’m sorry, but I’d rather not have Kurosao after my neck for disclosing classified information when I was expressly ordered -- and sworn -- not to.” She is not sure she should say too much about Kurosao, but she figures it will do no harm to dangle the term in front of the Jiosa. Maybe it will help things along.

The man’s eyebrows shoot up. “Kurosao?” he repeats. “Well, that would explain it.” His eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t happen to have been involved in that mass assassination that took place recently, would you?”

“Mass assassination? You mean that stuff that’s been all over the news?” Ayame asks innocently. “Was that Kurosao? I wouldn’t know, sir. They released me after they had no more need of my services.”

The Jiosa watches her for another minute before grunting and returning his gaze to the map. “Hn. Very well. For the time being, I’m naming you an honorary General. If Kurosao saw you fit to work with them -- even for a short time -- then I could use your knowledge in this.” He waves his hand over the map. “I want you close at all times. Is that understood, Maiko?”

Ayame bows, “Understood, Lord Jiosa.” She smiles inwardly, sharing briefly in Mary’s sick glee. [You just made my job a lot easier, my Lord.]

After the interview, Isa recieves a call on her cell phone from a friend. Hateshi walks her out the building, "(Isa) Oh yeah I'm about to go out to dinner. You want to come? (Girl friend) I thought no one was allowed near you around this time of year?" Isa smiles asking Hateshi, "Well? (Hateshi) Well... There's nothing in the mission statement about that. (Isa excited) So are you coming? (Friend) Yeah sure." On their way there Hateshi's phone vibrates, "Yeah? (Tahei) Habacha? (Hateshi) I really should be on the front lines na. Why..?"

"(Tahei) You nearly died trying to take Ouja out. I figured you needed some kind of break. Also, Isa's never had a bodyguard before. The Jiosa's daughter is in the pageant. Who do you think is hiring those assassins? I'm sure you've already been attacked by now. (Hateshi) I see. (Tahei) The pageant may be held in a neighboring country that's not going to war, but that's not going to keep them from trying to kill the competition. Be careful. I figure your vampire healing is going away by now. (Hateshi) Yeah I know." They hang up. Isa leans next to him asking, "Who was that? (Hateshi) The guy who made me be your bodyguard. (Isa) Awe you didn't give me a chance to thank him." Hateshi laughs then they meet her friend at the restaurant, "Hey Isa!"

They hug and her friend asks, "Who's this? (Isa) Hateshi, my bodyguard." She hugs him, "Ahhh thanks to you I can see Isa during the holidays!" Isa pulls her off of him, "Okay okay that's enough."

Isa and her friend start talking. After the waiter takes their orders, Hateshi flashes behind her friend with a kunai to her neck, "Don't move. (Isa) What are you doing?!" Hateshi strikes her in the neck knocking her out, "I traced the mind controller. Come on." He grabs Isa's hand and they run outside, "(Isa) Wait..! (Hateshi) Your friend was being controlled. It took me until after we ordered our food to find who was controlling her." An enemy ninja was taking off from roof top to roof top, "Damn it he's getting away. (Isa) Well he's gone. There's no use in chasing after him. (Hateshi) He could have information..." Isa grabs him by the shoulders, "Your mission is to protect me, not hunt them down. (Hateshi) If I don't hunt them down they will become a future threat. (Isa) What if... (Hateshi) I'm not going to die. (Isa) Do you even care if you die?? (Hateshi frankly) Why should I? I'm just a piece of equipment." The waiter finds them outside, "Do you guys want your food or what? If not you still have to pay."

resshi meets up with hateshi silently. resshi nods into space following hateshi bit, then moves on following stranger for some reason

reverend49 srry guys gtg off my computer now later tht y post short

Ayame scowls as she looks out over the battlefield -- this time from a higher viewpoint near the Jiosa’s tents. Somewhere below, Mary's bloody antics claim the lives of five soldiers. Sighing, Ayame kneels and presses her palm to the dirt. When she draws up her hand, a cylinder of metal -- its shape reminiscent of a scroll -- rises in her grasp. Balancing this on her knee, she bites her thumb, makes a few quick hand signs, and slaps the ground once more.

When the smoke of her summoning clears, Senka shakes himself and grins up at her. "Whatcha need?" He glances over his shoulder at the field and gives a low whistle. "Nice. Please tell me I get a piece of that action."

"Not quite," Ayame grunts, offering him the cylinder. "I need you to take this to my Head."

Anyone nearby hearing her words assumes she means the Head of her clan. What other Head would there be for the Kinzoku? Senka, however, reads her meaningful look and understands -- it's for Tahei. He nods and smirks. "Sheesh. Now I'm just your messenger? Sure, whatever." The small demon cat takes the cylinder in his mouth.

“He knows the deal,” Ayame states, though she knows Tahei probably in fact does not. “Just press the seal on the outside and it opens on its own.”

Senka nods and vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving Ayame to return to gazing darkly at the battle taking place. From the looks of things, Chishita has the upper hand. Her eyes narrow slightly. [Not for long.]

Reappearing on the other side of the fighting, Senka bounds over to Tahei and rubs against his leg. Tahei looks down and then takes the cylinder from the cat’s mouth. “From Ayame?”

Senka bobs his head, repeating Ayame’s earlier words. “Just press the seal on the outside and it opens on its own.”

After locating the odd symbol on the outside of the metal scroll, Tahei presses two fingers to it. The cylinder glows for a brief moment before unrolling to a thin sheet of metal. A message is etched into the surface.

"Our Lord fears that the northern flank is weakening. With the right nudge, it might just crumble and fall. Reinforcements are requested. Be careful.
--General Kinzoku Ayame"

Driving his car down. Kichiro park it and got a hotel room. "Man its nice being a ninja". Then decide yeah i need to get back on the stuff im putting on me acid grenades,flash grenades,spike grenades,knifes,bombs check and paper armor check. He was watching the tv on news. We got reports of people with guns taking over the Bridge Inn. Question we don't know why would they hold up in a hotel. Then Kichiro was looking at it cause there a building behind that hotel and two since the cops are looking at a distraction they really don't know what is really going on.

Kichiro decide to gear up putting on his scientist suit with his paper armor. Seeing the cops were at the front and back of the building. Looks like there got to be a better way in. "Oh well ill just make a entry on in". Kichiro did a replacement and was in the hotel. He Notice one of the guy with a sub machine gun shut up or ill kill you.

Then Kichiro decide looks like its time to see if my sleeping pills actually work. Running up towards the guy with the gun. The men shot towards him but after wards notice he wasn't there. Where you at ill kill her you hear me. "Kichiro said I hear you but your already dead". Then the men fell to the ground. The other guy wondering what the hell. "I'm right behind you". Big Explosion every where around the hotel Kichiro garbing all the hostages and knocking them out.

Kichiro going to his hotel room get some sleep. "Men that was kinda rough". Watching the News Channel saying where did this big explosion came from also who save the hostages. Also Cops arresting 2 men down the street stealing money. Basically Kichiro went to bed "i got to talk to Hateshi tomorrow man".

URA flashes surrounding Ayame. They encase her in earth up to her neck, then the Jiosa walks in, "So, you *are* a traitor," Ayame struggles but can't move, "You should've been more... careful in your random attacks against our own troops. I *can* recognize the aftermath of a Kinzoku attack." Mary rolls her eyes, [Guess mission's failed.] "(Jiosa) Before I kill you though, I'm going to need the shield back." Mary cackles, "I'm not supposed to give it to anyone remember?" She sinks into the ground then URA jumps in after her. The Jiosa places his hand on the ground, feeling Ayame getting farther away, "That idiot double of mine couldn't keep her here for a little longer?" He glares at the dead body, then heads back to Kaigakure with URA following him, "Worthless." He radios, "Don't bother chasing her. Get back here."

A Hashi gets stabbed in the back. She turns, grabs the guy's forearm, pulls him in, breaks his arm, takes the kunai out of her then stabs him in the neck dropping him. She falls to the ground, losing her breath because her lung was punctured. Someone helps her up, "Here I'll take you to a medic." Tahei sees that their forces are weakening from exhaustion, "Immediate evac!" All Hashi fall back and grab onto Joji, the huge cat. With the main force of their military retreating, the Kusane orders, "Commence evacuation to Kumojou! Soldiers! Cover fire!" Everyone heads for the trains while the soldiers lock and load, shooting at the Chishita chasing after them. Suddenly the Chishita Kinzoku platoon flashes in, manipulating the bullets and deflecting them. The soldiers slowly fall back, recognizing the Kinzoku, "(Kusane) Keep firing! Slow them down!" After a couple of minutes they were fighting within the capital city's limits, "(Kusane) Retreat!" The soldiers run for the trains. One of them takes off, fully loaded with passengers. Joji was standing atop a building, giving the Hashi and Tahei a clear vantage point to see the fight near the train station, "Joji, intercept." Joji leaps off from roof top to roof top then lands on top of the train station. The soldiers freak out at something landing on top of the building, then continue boarding the train. Tahei zooms in on the Kusane who was in the middle of the road far away, "(Kusane) Not yet."

Joji detects Kinzoku sneak into the train station. He jumps down then Hashi break through the windows, pushing them back so they can't stop the train. Tahei looks for the Kusane. He sees him flash into the middle of the Kinzoku platoon. Hundreds of grass blades shoot out, but all are blocked by walls of metal. Tahei sees that everyone else boarded the train, "Go! Go! (Soldier) What about Kusane? (Tahei) He's fine! Go!" The train takes off leaving them. The Kusane was surrounded by Chishita ninja. Tahei watches for a second, [The Kusane specializes in a combat that we Hashi have put up with for ages: Fighting a battle outnumbered.] The Kusane was killing squads at a time but was quickly getting exhausted. Tahei tells Joji, "Alright! Now!" Joji charges in. Hashi leap off, beating back those that surrounded the Kusane, who flashes onto Joji. They jump back onto Joji, "(Tahei) Catch that train!" Joji takes off, leaving the Chishita ninja in the dust. They shortly catch up to the train, then Joji jumps trying to land on top of it. While in mid air the Kusane yells, "Wait you're going to make it derail! (Tahei) Ichi, ni, san, shi, shi..." He connects Joji with all the Hashi's minds. They land perfectly so as not to make the train shake violently. Joji holds on tight with his claws, "(Kusane) Have you done this before? (Tahei) No."

Ayame stumbles to a halt, turning and looking back through the dark vein. No one's following her. Not anymore. She curses loudly, slamming a fist against the tunnel wall. "Why didn't I see?" she demanded of the darkness. "I should've known it was a double. Gah!" The woman leans against the wall, sliding down to sit on the dirt floor.

Mary draws her attention up to the ceiling, speaking calmly for the first time all day. {The battle still rages up there, and from the feel of things, we're losing. Despite it all, we're losing.} Her dry laugh holds none of her previous insanity. {Might I make a suggestion? He want's the shield. Let's give it to him, hey?}

Ayame snorts. "You are mad. We can't hand over the Muteki Shield to that man. Who knows what horrors he'll use it for?"

{I said give it to him, not give it to him. Honestly, girl. Do you not listen to me at all?}

Seeing images flash through her mind, Ayame chuckles and rises once more to her feet. "Perhaps, then, I'm just as mad as you," she states. "Well, let's do this, then."

Giggling, Mary summons the shield and presses it to the roof of the vein. The Muteki Shield flashes in the darkness. High above them the earth beneath the army turns to a massive pool of quicksilver. Soldiers watch with a mixture of amazement and horror as the liquid metal rises, twisting and forming into a monstrous shape. A dragon of pure quicksilver rears its head, eyes gleaming with an inner fire -- an inner rage.

Deep below the earth, Mary grins, lowering the shield and vanishing it away. "Make me proud, my dear my dear. Show them all who they must fear." The dragon roars, unleashing its fury upon the Chishita troops.

Ayame sighs, rubbing her eyes wearily. "Tahei. We need to find Tahei," she mumbles. Saying nothing, Mary transforms a nearby wall into a slick mirror, which Ayame steps through. She rises from the metal of the train roof behind Joji and falls to her knees, gripping the metal to steady herself. "D**n," Ayame sighs. "I really hate trains." She then promptly passes out.