Starring:
Date: February 24, 2011
Summary:
None given.
"Mao's Undeterred Meeting "
unKnown location
((A collaboration with Kuoroke, part one! Mao's side of the meeting))
Mao's arrival has been expected, though it has been on the books for
months. The Uzumaki are not known for moving swiftly on these matters,
after all. Everything had been planned out. Her first true project as a
Chuunin is underway; seven years in the planning. Go to Sunagakure. Offer
to join their ranks, share her knowledge in exchange for some of theirs.
This may be a match made only for a few scant years or decades, but it
should be long enough to let the Uzumaki elders make a decision about
whether these 'ninja village' things are going to be a permanent fixture
of the landscape.
Imagine her surprise and frustration, then, when, arriving at the gates
of Sunagakure, it had been explained to her that the man she was supposed
to see is very … indisposed. She had stayed calm, to her credit, but she
had also been rather unyielding. She was supposed to talk to Councilman
Kuroki Kuoroke in order to announce her arrival and deal with the exact
rules of her time in Sunagakure. She would not be denied!
So, eventually, she had been led to the Councilman's room. The attendant
medical ninja have made enough room for her, but there is a deathly
silence. Nobody needs to say that Kuoroke's condition is critical. It even
seems to have shaken Mao's usually indefatigable good cheer. She had never
met the man, but… her heart goes out to him, already.
"So you see, Uzumaki-chan, there really is no way you can talk to him
right now…" An assistant starts, only to be shut up by a fierce look
blazing in Mao's eyes.
"Just because he cannot reply, that does not mean I cannot talk to him! I
will not have the Councilman thinking we Uzumaki are not punctual!"
Mao makes herself comfortable, settling her hands on her lap, and taking
a deep breath. In an odd way, it is actually easier to talk to an
unconscious strange authority figure than a conscious one. After all; he
can't see how nervous she is. Now that she's been left alone, she closes
her eyes, and begins to speak.
"It is an honor to meet you, Kuoroke-san. I just wish it had been at a
better time. Nevertheless. I am Uzumaki Mao, I have come to your wonderful
village in order to help build relations between the Uzumaki and the ninja
of Sunagakure. But you know that already."
She laughs softly, "Ah, I hope I am not being too forward. I have already
seen that your people are much more strict than mine! I will do my best
not to be a nuisance. I should let you know my skills. I am considered a
gifted student of our Sealing arts, and I have some training in earth
Elemental ninjutsu. But I am very weak in Taijutsu and Genjutsu. I am
afraid if you were hoping I could assist with heavy lifting, you may be
disappointed!"
Another laugh, this time, it carries on a bit longer… and trails off
into the empty silence of the room.
Mao lets the silence hang for a few moments. Considering the body of the
injured man. Then, she sighs. "You know, when I was feeling sick, my
mother would sing to me." She says, scooting her chair forwards a little
bit. "It always made me feel better. Though, I don't remember the last
time I was incapacitated quite so fully… chakra draining seals are a
speciality of mine, and I spent a lot of time wishing I wasn't so tired.
Exhaustion is horrible."
The woman shakes her head slowly, "I don't know if it will help, but I
will sing it anyway."
"Sakura sakura
noyama mo sato mo
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
asahi ni niou
Sakura sakura
hanazakari
sakura sakura
yayoi no sorawa
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan."
((Part Two: Mao is still talking))
(Translated)
"Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
On Meadow-hills and mountains
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the Spring sky,
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come,
Lets look, at last!"
As the last refrains of her song die, Mao lets the uncomfortable silence
drag for a few seconds longer than is strictly necessary. Then, she gets
up. "Well. Thank you for taking the time to meet me, Kuoroke-san. I will
look forward to speaking with you again when you are in better health. For
now, I should go and arrange a place to stay."
The woman bows low, despite the fact that she can't be seen, and then
turns on her heel and leaves. Some of her good cheer does start to return;
after all, if every meeting she has with a superior here in Sunagakure
goes as smoothly for her as that one, her reports will be very easy to
write indeed! Whilst that oppressive silence settles back in over the
hospital room, Mao starts to whistle the tune to herself, as she heads off
to find herself a home.
