[Sora Minami]

Yuki no Kuni was far, far colder than Sora had thought it would be.

Letting loose a long, slow breath, the Jounin stepped off of the boat she had taken and onto dry land, for once unable to focus on the queasiness in her stomach due to the sheer, biting cold that gripped the port city of Shisenno. Her breath frosted in the air about her as she strode down the dock, one of several dozen "tourists” who had come to visit the famed hotsprings of Byakuya, or tour the frozen wasteland on something called a train, whatever that was, though much like herself many of them were realizing just how truly cold it was up here in the far northern reaches of the world.

Still, even with the cold Sora couldn’t help but feel excited; it had been years since she’d had a proper vacation, a chance to simply relax without worrying over Genin or paperwork or training or missions. Wrapping a long, thick cloak over her body, Sora made her way down the dock and into the crowded streets, following the directions that had been given to her. The wooden dock and boardwalk eventually gave way to cobbled stone streets, swept of snow but still bitterly cold, and those in turn twisted and turned this way and that, forming a maze of connections that would have been easy to get lost in if you didn’t know where to go.

Tightening her grip on her cloak, Sora made her way towards the station where she was to catch her train, a massive building of steel and glass and stone that stuck out like a sore thumb even from the water. I probably look like a civilian, gaping at that. She thought, her mouth open slightly as she approached the structure. She wasn’t entirely inconspicuous, of course; her headband still hung about her neck, Samidare fit snug against her hip, and she was certain an ANBU had been following her from afar the moment she’d stepped off the boat, but even so. It was an impressive building.

Sora approached the entrance of the train station as any normal visitor might, stepping through the heavy glass doors and into the surprisingly warm interior with a deep sigh of relief. Her sky-blue gaze lingered for a moment on the architecture, surprised at how the simple practicality of the place could impart a form of elegance, as if it needed no ornamentation so long as it did its job. Kiri’s architects could learn a few things from these people… Eventually, the Jounin moved from the entryway and towards the counter, a long bank of windows to her left that had several lines of people waiting to be attended. Getting in one of the shorter ones, Sora held the hem of her cloak loose, allowing some of her qipao to peek through as she stood, waiting for the line to move.

Now if only she knew why everyone was waiting in line.

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

The Train platform was out front, clear of snow and solidly built. And at it, waited ... a beast. It certainly looked like that. Made of metal, it seemed to breathe, and release vapors, and make funny, growling noises. The Locomotive. Many wagons were attached to it, each looked like a small house, with a roof and many small windows.

"Powered by the soul of a Forsaken Child, you know" One of the attendants exclaimed, stepping up to Sora. The woman certainly stood out in a crowd; vibrant pink hair down to her waist, a cute white hat matching a blouse and miniskirt. Black stockings and pink heels completed the ensemble and certainly made her turned heads, man and woman.

Though the most notable thing about her were the eyes. Glowing the same pink as her hair. No trick of the light, no mere reflection from a nearby lamp. Explicit, outright, glowing. And staring at Sora with an intensity that could bore through steel.

[Sora Minami]

Sora stared at the "train” with a look of sheer, utter confusion. It was a massive thing, a beast of steel and steam and gears, at least two hundred meters long, situated atop two slats of metal that stretched out of the station and into the expansive snow beyond. She had no idea how it worked, what it was supposed to do beyond, apparently, hold an exceptional amount of people in a small amount of space. And then someone spoke, right next to her, and the confusion was snapped in half, replaced with surprise. I really shouldn’t space out like that…

"O-oh." The Jounin said, glancing towards the attendant who had walked up to her- and froze, unable to keep herself from drinking in the sheer perfection of a woman that stood before her. She was tall, taller than Sora herself, with luscious curves and long hair that hung down past her waist. There was a litheness to her that bespoke athleticism, and by the way she stood she knew the woman to be a Kunoichi; no one could stand so relaxed while simultaneously looking so thoroughly ready to move in heels without combat training. A lot of combat training.

"T-That’s very interesting." Sora said, nodding along to the woman’s explanation as she tried, desperately, to keep her composure. What the woman had said was clearly a joke- Yukigakure was known for its cruelty, yes, but to power… whatever a train was with the soul of a child seemed excessive, even for the frozen wasteland village. "What does it actually do, though?"

That, more than anything (besides perhaps what the attendant was doing later) was what intrigued her the most.

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

Well, no immediate murder. It was hilarious to think that Kusa was that competent. The guy who did those letters hadn't come to see her or do anything, but it did show they knew where she was and just didn't bother. Did they know where Umieko was as well?

"It's basically a horseless wagon. You buy a ticket from the ticket woman there, and then you get on board and it takes you were you have paid to go in style and comfort. A little limited compared to a Wagon because it doesn't have freedom of movement, but much faster and much better covered from the elements"

With a shift of her weight and movement of her hips, Raimaa would change her stance to be far more sultry and suggestive.

"And then you've people like me who can attend to your needs while you are onboard. Even got a lovely bedroom compartment for overnight travel~"

[Sora Minami]

It took Sora a second to process what the woman had said; her brain churned through the information, fitting it together with what she knew to try and make it all make sense, but understanding eluded her and, after a good few seconds she simply sighed. Science had never been her forte in the Academy; she had gravitated towards history and, of course, Bukijutsu, but she’d never thought any of those classes and theories would ever lead to something like this

"Oh?" The Jounin asked when the woman voiced her second point, lips quirking up in a subtle, knowing smile. It had been awhile since anyone had flirted with her, but she knew how to recognize the signs the pink-haired woman was putting out: the shift of the hips, the slight tilt of the neck, the squaring of the shoulders to display her impressive bust. Yes, she was definitely piling on the charm, though why a Kunoichi from Yuki would bother trying to seduce a visiting ally was beyond her- village policy was fairly clear about these sorts of things, after all. Not against any rules, but frowned upon. She can’t think I’ll actually give up anything important, can she?

"I didn’t know Yukigakure provided Kunoichi escort services for visiting ninja." Sora said, returning the taller woman’s smile with her own as she drew closer to the ticket window; people were staring at them now, clearly embarrassed by what they were saying, but she didn’t really care. This was her vacation, and she was going to enjoy it. "Do I get to keep you for my whole stay, or just the train ride?"

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

This one was cute. Picked up on the flirting and didn't even make any move to try and stop it. Hell, she even encouraged it, which might be a terrible choice later, but that was later. Right now was right now.

"They do not" Raimaa would exclaim, watching Sora go to the ticket window like a predator watches her prey. "But that's fine, because I am not a Yukigakure Kunoichi" she'd continue, with a light shrug.

"As for keeping me, well. That's a choice. Though one that should be made carefully, Miss. If you keep me now, you might never get rid of me. Might, never leave~" Raimaa cooed, a subtle lip bite and not unsubtle threat of keeping Sora in her basement.

[Sora Minami]

Oh, I like this one. Sora thought as she bought a pair of tickets to Byakuya at the window, surprised at both how cheap they were and how quickly this woman was worming her into her good graces. She was good at this, far too good to be a civilian, whatever her protests were. It made her dangerous, and yet… She hadn’t come to Yuki no Kuni to ignore a beautiful woman when she all but threw herself at her, even if it was an obvious honeypot move. She’d been trained by the Hunter-Nin to withstand all sorts of interrogation techniques, up to and including this one- so long as she didn’t give away any secrets, it should be fine. Right?

"I think I can handle it." She said as she turned to the woman, flashing both tickets with a smirk. This was where the attendant's words had to become more than that- if she was serious about her flirting, she’d take one of the tickets and come with her to Byakuya, come what may. And if she wasn’t? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d been disappointed by a flirtatious older woman’s inability to commit. "The question is, do you think you can handle me?"

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

Taking Sora's ticket, she'd rip the top half off and then hand it back. The conductor let out a yell for everyone to get on, and Raimaa would do just that, guiding her to her seat.

"Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. Not unlike being the Lord slash Lady of Kusagakure. So I shall not know if I can, until I have. Until then, enjoy the train. I shall be around if you need anything" Raimaa would reply. Another idea that this woman was not simply just a train attendant, was the way she subtly shifted when the train jolted to take off. Even in high heels, she moved with the flow of the train, seemingly without thought, to remain in a perfect stance.

[Sora Minami]

Sora followed the attendant onto the train and to her seat with a smile, her eyes sliding up and down the taller woman’s body without a hint of shame as they made their way to the compartment she’d bought. It wasn’t much larger than the sleeping quarters one might find aboard a transport ship, and the decoration was spartan to say the least, but it had two booth-like seats split by a collapsible table and a sliding door that held only a single, circular window, which was nice. More privacy for the two of them, when it came time to enjoy themselves.

"Going so soon?" She said, left hand grasping the taller woman's wrist as she turned to leave- only to be pushed forward by the sudden jerk of the train moving, which pushed her into the attendant in a manner that might have been seductive if it hadn’t been completely on accident. Still, Sora didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation, holding the other woman’s wrist in a loose grip as she wrapped her other arm around her waist, clearly not quite ready for her to leave.

"And here I thought we’d get to spend some time getting to know each other." The words came out soft, a sultry whisper in the other woman’s ear as she held onto her, light enough that she could break free if she really wanted to, yet with clear intent behind what she was doing. An offer, if the woman wanted to accept it. "You didn’t even give me your name."

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

Cold and hard, was the how the wrist felt. Too cold, and hard, to be flesh and blood wrist. Though it looked very believable, it's nature was revealed when you touched it. Raimaa would look at the woman with an imperceivable gaze, and take in a strong breath in, as if just submerged in an ice bath or something.

"I do have a job to do" Raimaa would reply, gently rolling her hard arm. "I am a train attendant"

Sliding her own hand around Sora, she'd lay it gently to rest on the woman's spine, beneath her cloak. And give a smile. "We will have plenty of time to get to know each other when I am not working. Unless you want me to skive off work to keep you company. Not something I am entirely opposed to, mind"

[Sora Minami]

"I understand that." Sora said, smiling as the woman turned around to face her. The fact that she had a prosthetic arm didn’t really bother her- she’d never been with anyone who had one, but that didn’t mean anything, not when she hadn’t been with anyone in nearly a decade. She wasn’t about to be picky (or, to be fair, rude) when it came to her first chance at some companionship. And besides. An artificial limb like that could have sorts of surprises waiting for her.

"But is it really skiving if you’re attending to my needs?" She asked, leaning in close as she tightened her embrace on the woman, sliding her free hand lower, down where touching was definitely more than merely friendly. Not yet sexual, but certainly intimate- and very, very forward. "I’ve a lot of those. Hours worth, in fact. Though, I’d still like that name, before we get to them. I’m Sora."

Her smile widened at that, becoming just a hair innocent before she slid back into a sultry smirk that met the taller woman’s lips in a quick brush, not at all worried if anyone saw. Oh man… it's been way too long.

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

Not immediately, it seemed. So Raimaa would exhale and cease continuation of the Rush. Not a usual trick, but she sat at the pinnacle of skill, so could play with her Hijutsu like that. Though, even stepping down from immediate tricks, Raimaa's hand didn't move from the woman's spine.

"Well, if it is needs you need, I will have to stay until you are fully and completely satisfied. As for my name, I am-" Raimaa would shift a little, her prosthetic fingers gently brushing against Sora's arm. "Raimaa Futago"

Then came the moment of truth....

[Sora Minami]

To say that Sora was surprised to hear the woman’s name would have been an understatement. Shocked was closer to the truth- there were few people alive in the world of Shinobi who hadn’t at least heard of Raimaa Futago, the one-time Lady of Kusagakure, the Pink Ghost, a legend of raw skill and speed, said to be capable of wielding any weapon as if it were a part of her. That she was here, in Yuki no Kuni of all places, serving as a… train attendant was perhaps the least surprising part of this whole thing, to be honest.

"Wow. Never thought I’d meet you of all people like this." She said, smiling as she stepped back into the compartment, pulling Raimaa with her. Her touch had lost none of its warmth, her smile none of its luster, but there was an edge to her that belied the tension within. She was in the presence of a very powerful Kunoichi, after all. It was wise to be ong guard, if only a little. It wouldn’t stop her from doing anything but… Well. You could never be too careful.

Sora stopped once she reached the nearest seat, slowly pulling the taller woman down with her as she sat down. If she complied, she’d be straddling her, legs split wide as the Kiri-nin pressed her lips against Raimaa’s neck, a gently brush meant to entice and draw out a reaction- her hands did the same, both sliding around to grab the taller woman by the thighs, pulling her close as she spoke, whispering softly against Raimaa’s skin.

"Not that I’m complaining…"

raimaa futago

[raimaa futago]

Flowing with the pulling, Raimaa would follow Sora into the room, and then end up on top of her. Quite the position, and certainly one that'd put a few people at ease. All the power, here. Though Raimaa herself, didn't quite so much ease. More...side-stepped. From murderous, so that was always a benefit, but still.

Pushing Sora into the chair with her prosthetic, Raimaa would give a cool and confident smirk.
"Glad to know I am famous" She cooed. "But I am also married. So if these are the needs you are wanting, then I am afraid there are a few hoops you are gonna need to jump through first. Hoops you may or may not enjoy jumping through, depending on the type of person you are"

[Sora Minami]

It took all of a single word for Sora’s mood to die.

"You’re married?" She said, suddenly bewildered as the taller woman pushed her down, cooing in a way that made her heart flutter. What the hell had she thought was happening that she’d gone along with everything until just now? What could she possibly… And then it hit her. Pink hair. Obvious swordswomen. Foreign Kunoichi who depressed instant interest in her, despite no real connection besides a seeming physical attraction. Oh for fucks sake.

Sora pushed back against the taller woman’s arm, sitting up fully as she slid out from beneath Raimaa, not in a threatening way but certainly forcefully, clearly upset. She backed away from the woman, taking several deep breaths as she tried to get her emotions in check and failed, miserably.

"Why did you- Why you fucking play along if you’re married?” She asked, looking up at the Futago as sat there, emotions swelling in a mix of horror, embarrassment, and frustration. "I thought- I just-" She tried to spit the words out- tried to salvage something out of the mess she’d suddenly found herself in, but they just wouldn’t come out, and the more she tried to talk, the harder it became to hold back the tears until…

"I just didn’t want to be alone." Just for a little while. A few minutes, an hour at most. To hold someone. To be held by them. To feel like she mattered, even if it wasn’t true.

raimaa futago