[Deleted]

a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Tea with a new friend. Well, who she hoped would be a friend. It was somewhat early for such a title, but the pinkette was looking forward to the occasion all the same. She'd risen early in order to clean the house and make arrangements. Her house was always spotless--constantly cleaning and reorganizing did seem to make her feel better--but going over her routines again eased her worries that everything would be in order before Yoshiko arrived.

From their previous conversation, they'd agreed on tea the following Thursday afternoon. 3 p.m. was to be the time. And by the time 2 p.m. hit her clock, Yoko was already waiting around with absolutely nothing more to do before her guest showed up. And so she chose to clean. Again. She took a break to read a magazine, but then it was back to pacing, and double-checking things, and triple-checking things. It was weird having someone over.

Dressed in a simple red thin-strapped dress and ivory ankle socks, Yoko killed time the best she could before the doorbell would ring. She made her way through the house and into the entry hallway, sliding the last couple feet with the momentum. She opened the door to greet her guest, a bright smile on her face. "Good afternoon. Please, come in." She stepped aside to allow Yoshiko in, paying mind that she might have brought luggage or supplies for the task she had intended to complete while sharing tea.

Yoko's home was, in addition to immaculate, somewhat large for someone who lived alone. It was minimalistic but not without smaller charms--custom trim, customized furniture, careful use of accents and decor. Perhaps the most notable item was the large mirror fastened to a wall in the entry hall, easily taller than both of them and decorated with various gems and hand-etched notes and sketches around the edges. Yoko drew attention away from it, though, gesturing her guest straight into the living room and acting as if the mirror wasn't even there.

"I've prepared simple black tea. Though if you have a taste for something else, let me know," she said, right as they would arrive at the entrance to the living room from the hall. This room matched the rest of the house in style--minimalist, use of lighter, neutral colors, accents of white, red, and pink here and there. The embroidery and craftsmanship on pretty much everything screamed "feminine and chic" in a way that Yoko managed to pull off perfectly while still ensuring the place was welcoming.

I'm horribly late, sorry!! ❤ HEX:#f93973 ❤ Nohime Yoshiko

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

Yoshiko didn't know what to expect of Yoko or her residence. She'd met her for a pleasant conversation at a bench along one of the villages more beaten paths. It was a good meeting one which lead to this one's happening. It was safe to say the Nohime had a positive opinion of this shinobi now, it'd likely be within her mind they were friends. The Nohime leader though sought positive relations with many shinobi in her village, as a means to better integrate with her fellow citizens.

She'd care about others opinions for two important reasons; her own image, as she wanted to be Tsuchikage one day. As well as for clans image, as she wanted to remove any animosity people might felt to the Nohime name. Her father was accused of a lot of crimes and she couldn't quite care about them. She'd do everything to atone for them, but she secretly justified so many of them. She wanted to believe her father, a patriot and loving parent figure to her, hadn't acted purely out of selfishness or villainy. Even if his village didn't totally agree with his actions, she'd be certain he'd done it for them.

On her way to the Tsukimi residence, the brunette would pick up the envelops she needed. Her path going from the post office to through the market and to Yoko's home. Knowing the pinkette offered to help Yoshiko with her task, she'd pick up a sharing size of pocky. The delicious pastry sticks covered in a thin coat of chocolate felt like a perfect treat to go with the tea they'd be drinking. She'd put one piece in her mouth before arriving, as she'd want something nibble while she looked around. She knew where Yoko lived, but she'd never been there, so it'd take her a minute to find the exact house.

Confident in the location, she'd walk up to the door and ring it's doorbell. She'd could hear the quick motion of the approaching special jounin. The door quickly opening as it'd suddenly stop a short distance away, it'd cause Yoshiko to jump a little with a smile. "Good afternoon Yoko!" Yoshiko would reply to the emerald eyed kunoichi, her head dipping as she'd quickly give the woman a bow in respect. They were the same rank, so it seemed somehow appropriate. Her hands together on the pocky box, as her thumbs held the package closed for when she dipped. She'd pop up as quickly as she'd gone into the gesture.

Invited inside she'd stroll into the other woman's house, her steps were taken with confident strides. And despite Yoko attempting to sort of gesture her through quickly, Yoshiko wasn't that much in a rush to the task. The smell of tea would be more luring than anything. So without hesitation her head would turn to the mirror, but as a Nohime she'd sort of notice herself more than the outer lining notes and drawings. She'd glance over at them, but her mind couldn't read them before she had to continue you on. She couldn't with hold all of this woman's time.

"Black tea is fine, I'm no connoisseur of tea. Pocky?" Yoshiko would then counter offer with her treat, as she'd hold out the box to Yoko. Her thumbs pushing up the top to make the treats an easy grab, as the Nohime both held it out and up. A prime presentation. After the special jounin took or denied the pocky, Yoshiko would pull the box back and once again close it. Only holding it in one hand though, as she'd adjust a bag slung over her shoulder. It had the box of envelops in it, as well as all the letters she'd needed to mail out.

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a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Yoko greeted her guest with a smile, though she wasn't certain that the bow was necessary. Polite, but not necessary. She was technically a different rank but it wasn't by much. In fact, given Yoshiko's demeanor, she thought of the young woman as an equal, really. Yoko eyed the other woman's bag before allowing her in and guiding them through the entry hall and into the living room. She noted that Yoshiko was surprisingly comfortable even though this was her first time here. Probably less to do with her home and more to do with her personality.

Her choice in tea had been sound. Yoko breathed an internal sigh of relief. Thank the heavens Yoshiko wasn't super picky with her tea. Or, that's what she claimed. There was no way to prove otherwise, but it did erase the concern she'd been heaving around the house as the hours had ticked by before her arrival.

Yoshiko raised a box of...pocky? A snack that Yoko was familiar with but not one she ate all too often. Still, it would go nicely with tea with how light it was. "Sure," she responded, taking one of the coated sticks and flashing a quick smile. "Thanks." Yoko gestured to the square table near the left side of the living room--the room itself was spacious and the table was situated with several cushions upon the floor, with enough space so that any of the four spaces occupied had ample room for bags, purses, or other possessions.

Upon the white table was a pink decorative cloth, a rectangle of fabric that hung extra long over two opposite edges. It added a bit of flair while still being subtle. The tea was already prepared and arranged on the table--with porcelain ware arranged at the center so that both women could choose which seats they wanted and then pour at their leisure. The porcelain teacups and teapot were adorned with hand-painted rose bushes, complete with noticeable thorns. Yoko had picked it up at a specialty craft market long ago, enjoying how uncharacteristically damaging the blossoms looked when compared to the usual illustrations in books. There were cloth napkins--also tinted pink--near the center of the table, as well.

Yoko went to the table and stood near it, waiting for her guest to choose her place first. "Please, sit," she invited, snipping a few more bites from the pocky stick. After a pause, she said, "I hope you didn't have any issues finding the place."

No notes~! ❤ HEX:#f93973 ❤ Nohime Yoshiko

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

"It's the least I could offer in exchange for this beautiful setup." The Nohime replied quickly and with a bright smile to her superiors thanks. She was after all getting tea, a quiet place to work and supposedly a helping hand. She didn't want to push the jounin to help her, so she'd likely not bring up the chore until the pinkette asked about it. Her reference of beauty wasn't just at the kindness of the gesture though, as she'd be quite pleased by the aesthetics of Yoko's home. It was closely modeled to want the girl would want of her home, but she lived in a complex shared with her family.

Even as clan head she didn't feel it was her say to standardize the home into pink. She knew it wasn't everyone's favorite color and there were certainly a fair few uninterested in floral designs. Yoshiko quite enjoyed it though and almost felt more at home in this strangers home. Though the feeling wasn't strong enough to instinctively take a seat, she'd also know that deep down she would want more people around. Too used to the hustle of others in her abode, she couldn't really imagine a day to day being so quiet. Though for this one day it'd be simply a treat. Even more so than the pocky.

"Thank you." Yoshiko would reply to Yoko proposing she sit, it was like the phrase at ease, but with more hospitality. The brunette wasn't a very picky person, especially when it came to hospitality. So without a moment of hesitation the younger woman would plop down into the closest seat. Her bag place down upon the spot next to her, as she'd pull out the box of envelops, then grab a handful of letters. She'd place both neatly at a corner of the table, so they wouldn't interfere with the tea drinking. She'd try not to jump straight to responsibility out of respect, but she'd be ready when the opportunity was clearly present.

"Oh, it wasn't hard at all, I've gotten a birds eye view of the whole village. I just choose to walk, so I wouldn't forget how it's done." Yoshiko would of course be joking, as her words came with a playful boast. Her smile widening as she'd clearly hold back an internal chuckle. It obviously wasn't a very funny joke, so she'd try not to embellish it. It wasn't like Yoko was familiar enough with the Special Jounin to know she usually flew to get around most places. Though Yoshiko did it enough she wouldn't be surprised the pinkette saw it in passing. "You've got quite the nice place Yoko, I really do love the look, it's all so clean and neat too." She'd resist making a pun about dust, as it'd once again be humor that'd at best provoke her own amusement. Probably confuse the emerald eyed woman into kicking her out.

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[Deleted]

a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Yoshiko's kindness didn't go unnoticed. She was so very polite about everything, from the first step inside to taking a place at the table to arranging her possessions for the errand she was hoping to complete while visiting. These observations only reaffirmed that the woman had been taught well. And that she had a base level of respect for Yoko and her home, which was so very appreciated.

The pinkette eyed the letters and envelopes, smirking at the other's joke. Yoko was only somewhat familiar with the woman's abilities. The topic of flight, though, did ring a sentimental chime in her. How nice it would be, to have the option of simply flying where she needed to go without any regard to terrain or troubles below. Free, like a hawk... If she had the same ability to use a jutsu and take to the sky, would she, too, fly most places instead of walk? Or would "flying" become the new walking and get dull after a time?

Perking up at Yoshiko's compliment to her home, Yoko smiled. "Thank you," she said, beaming. The other woman might as well have complimented Yoko herself with how proud she was. The pinkette's home was an extension of herself, her deeper self, with its orderly, hyper-organized, pristine state reflecting a piece of herself that she put quite a bit of time and effort into. "Would you believe it looks this way all the time, without guests around?" she said, chuckling a little. Yoshiko was free to interpret it as a joke, but she was being truthful. There was never anything out of place. There just...couldn't be. Ever.

Her green eyes fell to the envelopes. "If you'd like to get started, please do. I'd be happy to split the stack with you; just let me know what I can do."

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

Yoko returned the Nohime's politeness and all seemed to be going quite well. To her a miniature victory as more and more she felt welcome in her village, it'd been years since the civil war. She'd day by day try to alleviate the negative image made to some by her father, but she also had met those who still aligned with his old ideals. The village so well woven together, but yet so easily torn apart. Things would be different the turmoil created seemed to pass quickly. Proof of their effectiveness or desire preservation.

Her everlasting smile gleaming as she'd pull up her cup of tea with one hand, her nose slightly flaring over to absorb the brews order. She'd need the caffeine for this task ahead of her, it'd be quite tedious after all. Yoko would then exclaim in what seemed like a joking manner, her home was always this nice and neat. A surprised reaction would be drawn, but she'd crease her grin a little more in reaction. As to join in the joke, as she'd quickly take a sip of the warm tea. Surprise was unnecessary a place like this reminded her of her room. A house was a lot harder to keep straight, but when you were the only one making messes it was easier to manage.

She'd think of her home and the fact it was a shared estate with her family, it was almost always a little disjointed. Someone always had to leave a scroll out and some of the younger members forgot to take their shoes off when they came inside. A mess was normal enough and other's homes were much worst, but this thought suggested something rude. She'd choose not to remark simply enjoy her tea and company, as she'd place the cup back down again. Focusing upon the real task at hand.

Thankfully to her memory Yoko was interested in helping out and agreed to do a full half the stack. "Wow, that's super generous of you Yoko! Thank you so much!" Yoshiko would state giving a couple bows of her head toward her host. She'd be making it very clear this was a very serious and maybe even a little flustered reply. A show to prove she really appreciated the offer and assistance, as well as the tea and scene it was involved with. "The task is super simple; read the header of the document or letter, write the addressed upon an envelop and fold the paper and put it in the envelop."

She'd nod before pulling out a large ink well with two pen handles sticking out of it. Grabbing one of the handles she'd start to go to work, before quickly stopping with a slight shiver almost. An almost embarrassed look on her face, as she'd ask one more possibly silly favor. "If you don't mind, I - I also dot my i's with a heart. My nindo is love conquers all, so if you could do the same for these envelops, I'd greatly appreciate it." She'd grin with a slight twitch of her cheek, as she'd feel like an idiot to ask such a thing, but it felt thematically correct to her. It was dumb and childish, but she hardly had a childhood.

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a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Yoko took a small sip of her tea as Yoshiko explained the details of what they'd be doing. She acted as if taking half of the task was somehow unexpected. Was it truly not? There were two of them, that should have been fifty percent, out of courtesy. But she didn't comment on it, giving a nod to the explanation instead. "Simple enough," she agreed. They'd have the errand finished in no time at all.

Yoko took one of the pens after her guest had selected her own and readied the tip with ink, only to pause with her own envelope in front of her when Yoshiko added on to her explanation. Dotting the i's with...hearts? It took some degree of willpower not to smirk at the request. Instead, she gave a gentle nod. "Of course, I can do that." She really didn't like it. Yoko didn't like love or the mistakes and pain that it tended to cause, so the concept of love conquering anything only clashed with her ideals in a way that made her mildly uncomfortable. So she chose not to think about it.

Yoko set to work, etching in silken black ink each of the addresses listed on the documents to be enclosed. The text upon the envelopes were centered, penned with care and precision. She took extra time with the little hearts above the i's, given it was a special request for this project. The pinkette's handwriting was as close to perfect as one could get without being an actual machine--a byproduct of wanting to ensure that her image was flawless. The little things counted, too. The subsequent folds on each of the letters were uniformly done and placed gently yet systematically into each envelope. Work of this type came naturally to her with how much she used her hands for work and how often she needed exact control of delicate procedures.

She had gotten a few envelopes in when she paused to take another drink of tea. "What made you decide on your nindo?" she asked. "If you do not mind my curiosity, that is." It wasn't something she would have considered surprising for someone with Yoshiko's personality. But each person's logic behind their goals or motivations often shed a lot of light on where they were headed--or what they were trying to get away from.

No notes~! ❤ HEX:#f93973 ❤ Nohime Yoshiko

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

Yoshiko was too confident in her writing to knock out each letter so methodically. Her cursive text a good bit slanted, as it was clear the weight of her motion shift each letter. She'd sort of do her writing like a swipe attack, at the end of each any eyes would be followed through with a scripted small heart shape. The motion of her hand was quick at the task, she'd clearly done it many of times in her life. More so recently than her past, but enough to have experience and almost instinctive motions. Speed wasn't quite accuracy though.

A question would be posed as the task went on, it was more than a fair question. Given the Nohime's explanation to her request, it was really the natural question. Still it'd catch the brunette off guard or at least seem to strike a nerve, her writing suddenly stopping. Staining an envelop with a solid ink drop, her mind drifted to the past, a place she tried to avoid a good bit. All of it was happy to an extent, but it was the strong emotion attached that made it an always raw one. Thoughts of her father and the words he'd speak to her.

She'd push a bang back, her eyes focusing upon the lettering at hand. She'd speed through it's end, as to not further botch the envelop. She'd spin the pen in hand so the point was no longer over paper but her wrist, she'd tap the back end of the pen with a wiggle of her fingers. Slow enough to not drip ink, but fast enough to show she was thinking. Discard this envelop or not, but more importantly how to answer the question. "Family." Yoshiko would decide upon, as she'd look to Yoko with a solid nod and quaint smile.

The word summed it all up quite well, as it wasn't a direct reference to the one who taught her. Kouen showed her the ropes and gave her the starting for a sound sense of nationalism. The village didn't trust him, but he loved it and would of done anything for it. That willpower and purpose always accomplished great things. "Love is an endless resource and with it allows limitless drive potential. It's love which has pushed me to be the person I am today and it's love which tells me to help better the people of tomorrow." Yoshiko would explain the power of love, as to further explain her nindo. She couldn't speak directly of what actually made her pick the nindo.

The feelings some had towards her father were quite negative, she knew talking about him, especially in a positive light could have it's consequences. Though something clearly played at the special jounin, as she'd drop her pen to lift her tea with both hands. She'd take a deep sip starring into the cup at her reflection, as it'd be an almost dead gaze, her mind letting the reflection of herself distort to others. Kouen, Sanosuke, Akira and all the other connections she made. Where she'd lost one she could lose them all, it was reason enough to strive to be better. These tasks seemed to stack up and limit that time though, it was as though her dreams were less obtainable than once thought.

Could her hopes of truly been childish? No, this was simply a different type of training. A lesson in itself and equally as important as the art of ninjutsu. She'd put the cup back down with a sigh of enjoyment, she enjoyed the simple warm beverage and even her thoughts to an extent. A storm of emotion as both a hot front of happiness collide with a cold front of sorrow. A more normal smile coming to her lips, as she'd be satisfied with her answer and go back to the task at hand again.

Yoshiko didn't know where or where she wanted to push the conversation, so she hoped there was another follow up question. Her mind readied for another curve ball, as she'd sort of dedicate more conscious thought to writing. She wasn't much for silence though, so she'd likely ask something in the wake of silence.

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a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Though it was clear that her question had been distracting or perhaps jarring, the other woman answered it nonetheless. Family? Yoko continued with her writing, not staring the brunette down during her answer but listening intently even so. Love... Yoko felt her stomach churn uneasily with the discussion. Yoshiko's elaboration and very romanticized view on the topic was, well, exactly the opposite of how Yoko felt. The last person she'd loved with any depth had betrayed her. As far as family went, she had a distanced relationship with her father. And her mother had long since died.

"Your motives are admirable," Yoko would tell her after a brief lull. The silence had not been discomforting to her. Mostly because she was used to quiet. But that feeling in her stomach was there, the nervousness as various memories flashed idly through her mind, interrupting her thoughts. The worst one was longing... Despite trying to focus entirely on the play and prettiness of her words, the longing clung to her mind like tar, dragging down her mood despite the small smile she tossed at the other woman.

"I don't empathize. But I see your logic. I prefer to give back to the world what it's given to me. I like balance." She was more or less sugar-coating the decisively morbid approach she took toward others in a general sense. She didn't avoid pain, she sought it out--both for herself and others. And because she'd been through hell, she tried giving it back ten fold. It felt right. Fair. Good.

"If you were given the chance to show mercy to someone who had opted to kill you...would you do it--show mercy? Do you know for sure you could reign in any anger or need for vengeance...just to help someone down the line?" She looked over at her, taking a moment to sip her tea, before adding on heavily, almost darkly: "I wouldn't."

Yoko's version of bonding with someone was sharing information. And while the information she shared was probably disturbing compared to tips on hair care and gossip, the effort was made. It'd been some time since she'd spoken at length with someone she trusted. Maybe it showed. Maybe it didn't. What was obvious, though, was that her projected self didn't quite line up with what was inside.

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

There was a part of the Nohime's mind processing the words spoken, but another more focused on the task. She didn't want to seem rude, so there'd be no tuning out, but there'd also not be an immediate retort to any word or words chosen. The things spoken weren't as depressing to the brunette as the earlier question though, so she could ponder them quietly with still a very real look of joy. The statement of her thought process being admirable made the girl quite happy after all. However the follow up of not empathizing with it kind of confused her.

She didn't know if Yoko simply didn't mean the first line or if she lived in a mind set where something could be admired but unobtainable by others. Everyone was possible of everything, at least that was the way Yoshiko looked at things. Ninjutsu had limitless potential and thus nothing was truly impossible nor even improbable to her. Thankfully more was said to give the clan head room to make a more solid verdict on the pinkette's meaning. To which the conclusion seemed almost clear to the younger kunoichi, it'd seem the world wasn't very giving to Yoko. Perhaps love betrayed her or maybe she'd been raised with this belief of balance.

Balance was a nice thing, but Yoshiko simply couldn't agree. She'd hold her tongue initially though, as she felt there was more to be said. Instead she'd break from her writing again for another sip of tea. "Ah~" She'd sigh happily enjoying the beverage and it's soothing effect on her mind and soul. She'd go back to work for only a minute before Yoko had another question for Yoshiko, but this question strangely brought more amusement to the jinton user. She couldn't help finding it to be a 'fun' question and the added retort only made things more lighthearted to the special jounin.

"That's a great question, but a strange one to answer..." Yoshiko would state pausing to finish up writing someone's name. "You see I wouldn't be here if someone hadn't shown me that mercy." That'd be how the Nohime started with a strange shrug, as she brought it up so haphazardly there'd be more reason to bring it up than to disagree. No she brought it up purely as a fact to show a means to sway an opinion, to say there's a benefit to mercy, but was it exactly that? No it was a situation to show how complicated the topic could of been.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure it was either of our goals to kill each other, it was the civil war this happened during after all, but as a shinobi... I'd say in combat and general practice that's the goal. If I hadn't been shown that mercy, then I'd not be here nor would I have learned the lesson I did." Mercy certainly had it's merits, but this wasn't the answer to the question. Taking another sip of her tea, she'd look to Yoko with a slight giggle. As the true answer was completely countered to her point, as she'd reveal the truth of her inner nature.

"I however would never show mercy, as all is fair in war and love. I'd however like to not act upon this purely in anger or vengeance, it's to me simply about holding and setting precedence. If I believe in what I'm doing, then there's no reason to go back on it. Especially at such a pivotal point." Grinning at her response, she'd feel confident in her words. However not trying to drowned her host in her beliefs, she'd add in conjecture to her own words, perhaps purely for validation sake. "Wouldn't you agree Yoko?" Her head drifting back to the task, as to make it clear Yoko had all the time in the world to think of her response.

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a nightmare dressed like a daydream

Further script was added to another few envelopes as Yoshiko gave her response. She'd gone into some level of detail, specifically mentioning that she wouldn't be sitting here if it hadn't been for someone else's show of mercy. Yet the context of that story wasn't quite clear. Had the person she'd faced truly been an enemy, war or not? Yoko could only speculate, but it seemed the brunette was concretely sold on the notion that all was fair "in love and war."

Yoko would look up and hold her stare for a bit, trying to decide how her fairness comment lined up with the need to act on belief. She was assured but it seemed situational, with the way Yoshiko phrased things. And then the follow up, would she not agree?

Yoko moved her focus back down her writing again, giving the smallest nod. "I agree that acting on what you believe in is absolutely correct, where it concerns morality, conscience. Laws are fickle. But you seem very devoted to aligning your actions with your heart, and while I think that's lovely, I also think it poses its share of hardships. It takes a different kind of strength, to live that way..." A strength that Yoko didn't have. Not yet.

Another two envelopes added to the completed stack. Yoko twirled the pen--much the same way she did her needles--around a few fingers. Her tone was quieter, now. More solemn. She wasn't sure why, but she felt at ease enough to regale the thoughts that'd pushed themselves to the forefront of her mind. Maybe it was this setting--here, doing something mundane, sipping tea in her own home. Maybe it was the kindness of her guest... She didn't know. She just...let the words come naturally. Without the flowery prose-like shell that she usually delivered them in.

"I let love blind me for a long time. Years. And I have the scars to show for it. It was because I tossed mercy aside that I was set free. And I'd do it again, in half a heartbeat. My decision was based on anger and vengeance--the two things you believe not worth placing weight upon. But I... I don't regret it. I'd be dead now, if I did." She ceased twirling the pen and set it down, moving to take a slow drink of her tea.

Yoko found herself as a loss for words, then. She wanted to say more, but a part of her, the part based in self preservation, thought better of giving more information on what had happened. She had, after all, never been charged with the murder of her ex. And while any human being with a fiber of common sense and sympathy would have agreed with a claim of self-defense, the paranoia that plagued her urged her to hold her tongue. Incriminating herself, even with justice on her side, would only tarnish her image. She wouldn't be known as a brutal killer. Not to a new friend. Or, what she hoped was becoming one...

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

Yoshiko would of already been pretty deep in her own thoughts. Her aim wasn't to stick to those thoughts, but her host wasn't giving her much choice. The praise given with it's warnings wouldn't be something new to Nohime. She understood hardship fairly well, but it'd of been different hardships. A story she was hinting at, but not one she'd told with clarity or depth. Detail purposely left out and for a second felt almost worth speaking upon, as though she had to explain more about what she said. Instead the pause was followed by more to be said.

Yoko had her own reasons to not show mercy, as well as her own reasons to disbelief in Yoshiko's strength. To see a flaw in what the special jounin saw as her ninja way. It'd be another story not told in deep explanation, but instead a mesh of hints towards a tale untold. A thing the brunette could respect, as she'd merely done the same moments ago. A hand picking up the tea once more, as she'd swallow down the last of it's contents. The heat completely lost in the sudden thoughts haunting her. She simply couldn't continue thinking one thing and not speaking upon it.

Her father raised her to believe in the village, as well as to care for those within it. If she felt so strongly in her beliefs, then what was holding her back from being honest in her passions. The cup in hand shaking slightly as instinct fought desire and finally she'd place the empty cup down. "Anger and vengeance can blind us too, it's what my father told me, it's not that I'm incapable of those emotion and it's definitely not that I've acted upon them. However, they're not emotions I want to drive me, it's not what he'd of wanted to drive me. If those two things got the better of me, then we'd be enemies not friends, because there's a grey area of fault during usurpation."

She'd think back to Kaito the man her heart held a certain hate to at one point, a man who hadn't deserved it, but that was how anger worked sometimes. The heroes you saw turn your back on you often turned into the villains. "Father loved this village though, he didn't always show it, but he loved the people of it too. Love can blind us and it did so for me of him, but I've learned from that experience. I wield love as a driving force, it's every hardship becomes a weight to train me into a stronger person." She didn't speak of her father outside of her clan, because it was basically a taboo subject. There were still supports of him, but they were chastised for it by those who didn't support him. The victors got to write the history books and in their pen strokes Kouen would be a villain.

The monster of a man would however always be the man who raised her, a person who'd always shown her love and caring support. Someone who taught her to be a good person, as well as to be strong enough to carry those intentions with a force that couldn't be stopped. She'd move back to the task, her eyes glittering with the moisture of held back tears. "To me love is a force of creation and hate a force of destruction. As a Nohime thought I'm also a force of destruction, so there's no need to have hate and an necessity for love. Where my father ruled with people fearing him, I want to rule one day with people loving me. So, if I screw up, then they'll have the heart to tell me." She'd say these words sniffle as a few tears dropped from her eyes to envelop she wrote upon. Her arm raising quickly to wipe them away, she couldn't help feeling her father's death was avoidable.

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Warmth of a Friend

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@tsukimiyoko

[Deleted]

a nightmare dressed like a daydream

She was correct, about anger and vengeance being just as blinding as love. The way she spoke of love, though, was something deeper than what Yoko could quite wrap her head around. Yoko had a distanced relationship with her own father. The man was getting up there in age and truthfully she didn't have the best connection with him. But Yoshiko had had the opposite with hers, it sounded like, taking core principles from his teachings and embedding them into her own moral code. Love to create, hate to destroy...

Yoko couldn't speak on the other woman's family, though, as much as she wanted to console her. She didn't hail from some grand clan, she didn't have prominant blood, or relatives in positions of authority. She didn't know what she might have said, or how she might have phrased it, to best relate to the point Yoshiko was trying to make. But that last part was clear as crystal. People having the heart to tell her when she screwed up? That one stung...

And...oh gosh. Was she crying? Yoko might not have noticed the tears if she'd been looking at her next envelope. But she hadn't, she'd been watching the brunette, and the sniffling caught her attention, too. The pinkette felt her heart sink. What kind of host spoke on topics that made their guest cry?

Yoko slowly, gently, reached out toward her, placing her hand on the table next to her, but not touching her hand as another might have, because she didn't want to potentially push some invisible boundary in their budding friendship. She smiled, trying to be encouraging, though she wasn't sure if her words would remedy anything.

"It's okay if you do, you know. Screw up. But grief and sadness can be just as blinding. Yet you don't seem to let those get to you, either. Sometimes, people fixate on them, and it makes them bitter. But you're not. You're so full of light and warmth. If you messed up, either in the past or now or in the future, I think it's less important that others have the heart to tell you, and more important that you have the heart to power through it anyway." She glanced over at the tea kettle, then back to the brunette. "And I think you do."

Yoko picked up the kettle and poured the other another cup, then topped off her own. Her words hadn't come from anywhere personal, really, but she'd meant them all the same.

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[Nohime Yoshiko]

Tea Time

Yoshiko had already been in the motion of wiping her tears away, so apart of her had hoped it'd went unnoticed. Though the tone words and stance Yoko seemed to take spoke otherwise. It'd slightly make the Nohime feel flustered, but the feeling would immediately provoke a sarcastic jab at yourself. 'You should know better than to think you can slip around an Iwagakure shinobi and not have them catch you.' A double meaning to be ever more vigilant of herself around others, as well as a thoughtful admiration to her fellow shinobi. She accepted her humanity and flaws for the most part.

Soaking in the woman's words, the younger kunoichi would easily find reasons to be happy. To draw the emotion that most often populated her expression. She was the smile of Iwagakure for a reason. Reaching out she'd take the offered hand, a light grasp on the other woman's fingers. A gesture to show she accepted the other's generosity, as she'd hone in on what was spoken. Her face awkwardly smiling at first, but the pleasant disposition quickly became natural. "Thank you, Yoko. I really do appreciate the sentiment. Especially coming from you!" Yoshiko would retort, her hand retreating from the other's as to display independence.

Despite genuinely speaking the words to the jounin, Yoshiko didn't want the other woman to think she needed the assistance. Her disposition was purely momentary, she was quick to drown out such emotion. Granted the pinkette's words truly did inspire a better mood in the brunette. She'd of certainly brought herself to a smile, but something more disingenuous. A default more than a reality. A thing which subtly would remind the clan leader she'd made the right move years ago after her father's arrest. She'd chosen to stick with the village and to prosper for her clan with it in mind.

She hoped he was proud in what she'd accomplished so far. She hoped the whole village would be proud of her one day, but she needed the opportunity to do something great for them. Though she was far less concerned with the chance arising and more her being prepared for it. She'd with that thought attempt to get back into the pace of completing this chore. She couldn't get back to training if she didn't, but she was a guest and probably shouldn't be trying to run from the person who'd already been so kind as to pick her spirit back up.

"Yoko... What do you think makes a great shinobi?" The special jounin would ask attempting to change the topic and be a little more on or down the positive path.

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Warmth of a Friend

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@tsukimiyoko

[Deleted]

a nightmare dressed like a daydream

What a relief it was that the other woman accepted her gesture. And her words. Yoshiko appeared to cheer up with what she'd said, either from Yoko's contribution, something internal, or a mixture of both. She knew her guest hadn't meant to drag down the mood. Sometimes it just happened. But she was happy to see her in better spirits. "I'm glad. Thanks." A light chuckle, and a smile.

Yoko's focus would return to their shared task after pouring more tea, and she'd gotten halfway through another address when the other asked what she thought made a great shinobi. It was an extremely open-ended question, and one could have answered in so many ways. Yoko's own perspective on what made a proper shinobi was likely harsher than most, but she'd also suffered a deep cut to her moral fiber many years back that made her world more black and white than most others'.

"At our core, we're tools to kill. Others live because we eliminate those that threaten them. So on the surface, that's the aspect with the most weight." She finished writing out the address and would continue prepping the envelope as she continued. "If you mean personality traits, I guess resilience and passion are equally weighted. Everyone's passionate about something--if it's actually killing, or protecting their home, or just earning enough money to eat. Pair that drive with the ability to keep getting back up when you fail and you have an enduring machine. Our nation has no place for defective tools." She spoke the last bit somewhat bitterly, dwelling in her own head on her lingering fear of failure.

"And you? What's a great shinobi look like in your eyes?" She glanced at the other before grabbing another envelope and readying her pen.

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