[Daigo]

    Without anyone within the village noticing, tendrils had spread through the smallest of cracks and the widest of open doors, from the office of the Lady Shuka into the whispered words of those walking down the cold streets. A lone green flame warming the roads with every step, his smile brightening the darkest of lights, yet casting a looming shadow no one could ever imagine. A double-edged sword trying to keep so informed on even things perhaps he shouldn't be, but equally dangerous for those that had their words picked apart all the same. Those within the Nakajima found their actions and their words the most scrutinized of all, and even within the confines of their homes, those tendrils reached, where even their whispers were paramount to screams, especially when it came to the clan members, current and particularly former.

    A young shinobi among the Nakajima was wild, aggressive, vocal, all things Daigo wasn't particularly fond of, yet she had a passion that he was. A walk that might have had a predetermined destination turned into an immediate one-way trip in a very different direction for the young Yui, as she found two shinobi she likely had seen a few times appear to her. One stood behind her, one stood in front of her, both dressed in white robes with red flames, denoting their rank yet dressed in a way that would seem as if they were living well above the means of a red flame. The woman standing in front of her spoke up with a calm tone, at no point looking hostile despite standing directly in her path.

"Green Flame Daigo wishes to speak with you. Kindly and quietly come with us, please."

    If she agreed, she would immediately be brought to Daigo's personal office in the opposite direction she had just left, back towards where the vast majority of Nakajima lived and spent time.

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

The small side street was unusually empty this time of day. It did not bother Yui much it meant that she did not have to deal with anyone walking by. The cold wind blew past making her red jacket flutter in the breeze. The air around her never bothered her being from the Nakajima clan. She strode down the street with a sense of pride holding her head high. If anyone did pass by she would never advert her gaze staring down those she thought lesser. Yui was a problem she had become more vocal lately about Nakajima superiority, she had been openly talking about Seika. After some time two shinobi appeared one behind her and one before her. Yui's instincts kicked in as she grabbed the handle of the long sword strapped to her back. It was not needed as she released her grip recognizing the two as red flames from her clan. She scoffed wondering what two lowly flames could want with her before she got her answer. Even she knew her place in the clan, she might be above the reds but she could not so easily disregard as summon from the current clan head. "Then lead the way ember." Ember was a personal slur she used for the red flames. The one behind her moved up to place a hand on her shoulder. "Do not touch me ember I care not who's feet you wash." She knew the way to her own clan heads building but followed the others all the same. This she knew was a meeting a long time coming, her outbursts had not only caused friction with all she met. However now she was on her last chance, a final genin team to see if she could be a useful member of Yukigakure.

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    Being a member of the Nakajima clan, Daigo already had a large portion of his attention on Yui, even if he wasn't planning on addressing her directly much before today. As the defacto clan head, even if he didn't necessarily intend to be, he watched out for the clan as best he could all the same, treating those younger and older like family. In truth, being treated like family by Daigo wasn't as glamorous as it might sound given what he had done to his own parents, but speaking out about Seika was tantamount to treason against the Lady Shuka for the rest of the village in his eyes.

    He was aware enough how Yui might act, how she might address those he was sending, being very direct in telling them how to act and react in the worse case. They had both assumed the worse as soon as the Genin put her hand to her weapon, but neither made any attempt to react, knowing it was better to take a cut from Yui than what might happen if they retaliated and what Daigo might do. Only the shinobi behind her fully caught the intent of her calling them embers as he had heard it before, curling his lip, but the one facing Yui hadn't heard it before, but the way she said it made it obvious enough.

    For all the comments she made, the one behind her kept his hand there, once more thinking how he'd prefer to do as he was told than whatever annoyance he might receive from Yui. He was told near exact orders of standing behind her, grab her shoulder, move her forward and towards his office calmly, and he would deal with her anger until he let Daigo deal with it once they arrived. Both were silent, and both only looked towards her a few times to ensure she was moving quickly enough, but never made further eye contact or addressed her until they arrived, motioning her towards the office then immediately leaving.

    The single hall leading towards Daigo's office was quiet, as was the rest of the front room, as it seemed everyone had been told to leave except the single guard stationed outside the building, who immediately closed the door as she entered, locking the building from the outside. Daigo's office door was open, and he could be seen standing in front of his desk with his arms behind his back, staring down the hallway towards her waiting, only motioning for her to close the door when she entered, and again motioning for her to sit in the single chair that wasn't his that was in the room.

"Before you speak, know that I didn't bring you here to scold you. You aren't a child anymore. You will however answer my questions fully and truthfully. If you have anything to say before I start, now would be the time."

    The usual Daigo those outside of the Nakajima saw was not in this room at the moment, not just more professional in demeanor, but clearly more serious. Walking around his desk, he sat down and stared at Yui, waiting for her to speak, or a sign that he could start his questions.

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

The walk was uneventful as the two red flames escorted Yui through the village. The one behind her never removed his hand from her shoulder. They either did not fear Yui which could be the case however she knew her fury better than anyone and eve two red flames would find their hands full. She was sure they had orders straight from Daigo to not let her stray from this path. As they approached the building used for the Nakajima council Yui only noticed one guard outside. When she entered she realized how quiet the building was. She could see the man already standing in front of his desk arms behind his back. The sight of the blonde man brought a frown to her face. This man was a lapdog to the Lady of Yukigakure taking sides against the White Flame Seika. He was a traitor given position as head of the council, at least that is who he was to Yui. The young woman walked into his office closing the door before crossing her arms across her chest as a mirror to Daigo. He motioned for her to take a seat but she chose to stand instead offering a half assed bow. "My Lord I know not what one of your standing could possibly think I know." Her voice was full on sarcasm as she stared straight into his eyes. "However if I am able to be candid then let me say one thing and one thing only. I recognize the position you have been given, taken, it does not matter. I see a man sitting before me where there should be a woman. A woman of power, who earned her spot at the head of this clan with the power she was birthed into. I see a traitor sitting here before me but I still stand here before you, waiting for the kunai to drop. I stand here knowing the power of our clan while you let Yukigakure keep us down." She could feel her shoulders begin to turn to sapphire flame knowing her ponytail had probably ignited already. She quit speaking trying to control her rage, she might have looked down on this man but he was still her superior at least for now.

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    A simple act to stay standing, a clear act of the lazy bowing, both acts that spoke volumes and both he knew if Seika was standing here in his place would have been treated extremely differently. It didn't take away from the momentary burning he felt in his chest, as regardless of the reason he was at the head of the clan currently, he demanded respect as he would have demanded it for anyone else in the position instead. Whatever frustrations he felt were well hidden, even in response to her initial greeting.

    For now, he gave her all the room she wanted to speak, as it was unlikely she would be able to speak quite as bluntly, or anywhere near as rudely once he started. It was clear she was feeling far too comfortable in this room, not to mention this building, with no one in it but the two of them. Perhaps this was his own fault in part given how he let others see him, being a bit too kind, too charismatic, far too lenient. For however long they would be in the room, she would see far less of it, and a side of Daigo few saw once, let alone twice.

    Her words registered enough, but they didn't elicit a response vocally or otherwise, as she would have had no way of knowing how much of it he agreed with. Seika most certainly should have been sitting where he was, and truthfully he had no ambition to lead the clan, only doing so as he trusted no one else to dare try. The more he listened, the more he finally started to show more than a glaring, serious face, and even cracked a slight smile by the end. When she finished finally, he stood up again, walked over to her, and put a firm if not painful grip on her shoulder as he looked at her.

"You'll sit down now, and you will show me respect. You've said more than enough, and now you'll do only two things; You'll listen while I speak, and you'll speak only when I question you until I say otherwise."

    It was clear his words left no room for anything but taking them literally, and his tone was as serious as she likely had ever heard it. Looking towards the chair then back to her, it was clear he was telling her to sit, gripping her shoulder tighter as he stared into her eyes, before letting go and walking back around his desk, and sitting back down.

"Now then, I hear you've been causing trouble as of late, trouble that you are perhaps unaware could get you more than a reprimand. Even going so far as to be heard openly talking about Seika on more than one occasion. Perhaps you are still to young to understand the severity of openly praising Seika publicly, and I've clearly witnessed first hand you doing so directed at me."

    His tone didn't quite match up to his words, not carrying the same serious tone he had just moments ago. There was no tone of accusing her, no tone of anger, surprisingly relaxed even. His palm suddenly and loudly slapped down onto his desk, as a barrier wall was formed all around them up to the ceiling, then cutting off the top, just inches taller than Daigo's height standing. A second barrier was audibly put up around the first, then a third around that. Even the slightest of sounds from outside the room were completely muted, and the same could be said from the barriers to outside of them.

"So, tell me why you feel so strongly towards Seika to risk your freedom or your life. Is this devotion or is this the ignorance of youth? You may speak now, but choose your words carefully."

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

As Yui finished speaking Daigo got up walking around the table before placing a hand on her shoulder. The grip was firm almost painful but the look on his face said more than his words did. She sat down not saying a word, she was not afraid but rather unsettled by the act. She had seen him as a timid man, listening to the Lady Yuki's words without falter. He stood there now, to her, a green flame exerting his authority. As he returned to his seat Yui listened to his words letting none drift away without cause. He questioned her actions around the village, her beliefs in Seika. It seemed off to her, his tone did not match the words he spoke, the anger he should be feeling. The young woman jumped as the man slapped his desk creating three barriers around them. Her body stiffened as she reached for her blade on instinct remembering she had left it at home. She was sure the subtle motion was caught by Daigo none the less. Her breathing was jagged as he asked her the million ryo question she realized why she was here. "Seika is the white flame, by our traditions and beliefs she should be the one leading us." She stopped for a moment debating her next words. She did not know if they were true but knew what she felt. "Emiri betrayed Seika, tricked her into doing what she did. I might not know the details but I know what I feel. Seika should be the leader of Yukigakura, she should be the head of the clan and usher the village into a new era of power and peace." She had been speaking calmly until the end when her emotions got the best of her causing her to jump up.

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    What was said, it was simple enough yet incredibly difficult to walk carefully and speak on. Even if they agreed, and if what Daigo believed lined up near perfectly, he couldn't bluntly say it. The way he was seen by Yui was already quite different than the real Daigo, for obvious and intentional reasons, and he had to be careful not to completely break that masquerade just yet as well. He knew well enough that he could be charismatic, and that worked well with some of the lower rank shinobi, and it worked great with the village civilians, but he was certainly aware how he came off as he was essentially the right hand of the leader of Yuki. 

    The words Yui said, at least the initial words kept repeating in his mind, and while true to a degree, they were certainly a level of immature as well.

"What you say is true, but you are aware of all that happened with the other white flame I can only assume. It is rare to have more than one in such close proximity age wise, and they couldn't both lead the clan nor the village."

    He simply let his words hang, intentionally waiting to see how badly Yui wanted to respond, or if she would in fact go against what he had said earlier about only speaking when prompted. This was now turning into more than just a simple query and potential reprimand for show, and questioning for very different reasons. Her words certainly reminded him of his own thoughts not all that long ago, and the passion behind them, but as far as he was aware she thankfully hadn't acted on them in the way that he had. Nothing he had done was regretted, but it was much easier to do them in the position he was and now held compared to her own standing in the village and the clan. What he got away with would be impossible for her without a doubt, at least not with the right help.

    Daigo stood up, slowly, calmly, looking at Yui who was still standing, but didn't address the fact she had at all, even turning away from her completely. Pacing slowly behind his chair he took a deep breath, still contemplating his next words carefully.

"There is a lot to be said for your beliefs and your words, some truth, but I will say, you are thinking too small."

    A bright green glowing flame engulfed is right hand, trailing his fingers along the wall as he spoke, walking the entirety of the room.

"She is so much more than the White Flame, and she was in fact betrayed by Emiri, that much is true. You said before that I sit where another should sit, you call me a traitor, you assume no doubt I'm nothing more than a lapdog to the Lady Shuka."

    It was getting hard to hide his grin, his words sounding as if he was fighting not to smile the more he spoke. The more he paced, trailing his hands along the barrier, it started to leave burn marks with how hot his hand was becoming, but still he paced.

"What if I told you, in a sense so many more would consider me a traitor for very different reasons, for following a different lady? What if there was another who had my loyalty, whose hand guides me even now?"

    Stopping behind Yui, he walked up to her, reaching for her face, the fire going out but the still hot hand grabbing her chin and forcing her to look him in the eyes. That green flame might have gone out from his hand, but it looked as if it were burning in the eyes staring at her intensely now.

"What would you do with that information, hm? Would it scare you to know Seika is watching, plotting? Would you be too scared to speak her name as loudly as you have been? Or perhaps you'd be intrigued, curious, be willing to prove you are in fact loyal and your words aren't just that of a loud barking pup. Answer."

    Letting her go, he stood right next to her, staring with a look that was deadly serious, his voice turning deeper and more serious to match.

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

Yui stood a little embarrassed by her sudden emotional outburst. Ironically it was a reason she was here in the first place. She waited as he spoke to her about the white flame. She wanted to respond but followed the orders given to her like a good soldier. He stood turning away from her, was he looking down on her that much that he could just turn his back on her? She almost shouted for him to turn and face her when he told her she was thinking to small. Quickly her fire burnt out as confusion set upon her face. The man paced back and forth as if uneasy, she could not see his face as his hand ignited into emerald flame. He walked the room his fingertips dragging along the barrier wall leaving traces of green fire in his wake. He spoke as he walked his path unwavering talking of Seika and the betrayal she suffered. His words reminded her of her comments earlier. She did not feel he was mocking her but almost reassuring her of her stance. As he walked past her she could see glimpses of a smile but she heard the difference in his voice more over. The trail he was leaving with his fingers began to actually burn the wall leaving a trail of five small scorch marks as he walked. His words only began to confuse her more until it clicked in her mind what he had been implying. She had thought the man a traitor but she could see him now, as he paced around her. Could see his true nature trying to break free. Daigo stopped behind her reaching forward taking her face in his hand. The hot hand touched her chin, the temperature causing her to flinch. Her face is turned to look eye to eye with Daigo. Her emerald orbs gazing directly into his sapphire eyes. His dominance over her in this moment made her feel weak. His power and standing made her feel smaller than her stature showed. She felt something inside her flare as she fell under thumb of the green flame. He spoke again testing her loyalty, questioning if she would stay the course her loud mouth had put her on. Or wondering is she would change, renounce her beliefs. He commanded her to speak and she struggled to do so at first. "I... I never change my stance." She took a step back bumping into the desk, Daigo's close proximity to her had made her mind fuzzy. "I still believe Seika is the one who should rule Yukigaure. I am loyal to the Nakajima and wish to see us powerful again."

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    The air had grown heavy, perhaps it was a lack of proper ventilation, and the fire from the two snuffing out the oxygen more than it would have been otherwise. The heat trapped by the barrier making it warm even to the two Nakajima, but Daigo showed no signs of it bothering him, as he was clearly focused on this conversation and its potential implications. Yui was seeing a side of Daigo he had no intentions of ever showing her prior to this conversation, but now she's see behind the curtain more than she could likely have ever imagined.

    She certainly had a passion towards Seika, a belief in her proper place at the head of the clan and the village, but there was a world behind the world she had been staring right at all this time. One that very few knew of, and the only ones in the village that were aware only knew small parts of as they were under Daigo's leadership for other reasons.

    Walking away, letting her own words hang in the air, echo off the walls, and settle, Daigo gave a sight. Reaching for his desk he opened a drawer and pulled out a scroll, rolling it out across the desk and showing it was empty. It was followed by what looked like a writing utensil, but it held a strange marking that was impossible for Yui to have ever seen before. Dropping it on the scroll, it rolled and came to a stop at the very edge of the desk, threatening to roll off onto the floor as Daigo walked back around and stood in front of Yui, grabbing eye contact once more.

"You are willing to keep this stance of yours, and that's certainly a start, but it's certainly not enough. You say you are loyal to the Nakajima, and clearly I am as well, but you must know the Nakajima are not all loyal to Seika, and some never were. I've brought a level of stability, but for how long?"

    Raising a single finger into the air, pointing it skyward, it caught fire.

"Seika is much more than a ruler of a clan, more than a ruler of a village. She is the White Flame, the Shinnyoha"

    Reaching past Yui, he burned that marking that was on the pencil onto the very center of the scroll with his finger, branding it in a sense. Every word now sounded as if it was coming from stranger, certainly not the same tone Daigo usually used. He sounded somehow more cold yet more assertive, more confident.

"Do you know of the Nisshoku, founded by the Nakajima clan? It's okay if you haven't."

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

Yui stood there breathing heavily in the growing heat. She was not sure if her shortness of breath was from the two of them heating up the room to uncomfortable temperatures. Or if it was from the pounding of her heart in her chest, She had never seen this side of the man before. She held back a smile as she watched him move back to the other side of the desk. If this was the true Daigo she had underestimated him and it brought a feeling in her gut she could not deny. He retrieved a scroll rolling it open before tossing a pen onto the desk. She watched the writing utensil roll almost falling off the desk before stopping. Daigo had begun talking again and she listened hanging on every word that left his lips. He moved back to her his soft blue eyes lit by the fire in his voice. She wanted to step back, he was to close to her, she wanted to reach out. The young woman watched his finger ignite into a green flame as he pressed it to the scroll causing it to form the same symbol as on the pen. She had not spoken yet, he had not commanded her to and she felt the urge to follow his every word in this moment. She could feel a few strands on hair begin to hang down in front of her eyes. She wanted to brush it aside behind her ear but could not move as she stared at him her cheeks flushed. He asked her a simple question but it took a few moments before she realized she could speak. "No sir.. I have not heard of the Nisshoku."

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    It was to be expected to a degree that she hadn't heard of any iteration of the Nisshoku, but he would be careful, at least to a small degree, what he shared. For now, she was going to get a short history lesson that she would need to know for the future.

"Cult of the White Flame."

    Holding out his hand, he watched as a green flame was produced in his own hand, and for a second, maybe two, it lightened in color, becoming brighter as it did, but deepened back to more of a green. There was a sight somewhere between frustrated and disappointed as if he expected something different to happen, before he closed his palm into a fist and the fire went out. Looking to Yui once more, his right eye seemed to twitch, showing a thought trapped behind his lips, but he regained his composure before he continued.

"An organization created after the first ever White Flame, by one Nakajima Shiro. It's goal was to gain more control over this very village, though the green flame at the time, in their limitless stupidity, stomped it out as Shiro, and those that followed passed."

    He kept watch, trying to read her face, her eyes, if she looked to try and respond even, but in short order he spoke again before she would have a chance.

"Today, it's a name you should not speak in polite company."

    His lip curled, as if his own words burned him from the inside, swallowing back whatever annoyance he was clearly feeling in that moment. Even he couldn't hide the fact that having to keep it and Seika herself such a secret was necessary, but once more, he regained his composure.

"This...cult, today, it is lead by another Nakajima, one White Flame at the head of this group above all others. I've no doubt you could guess the name, so quietly, speak it to me."

    He waited for as long as it took her to say what she had to say, watching carefully, but not moving any further from her during this conversation. If anything, as she spoke, he would lean closer, and as he spoke his voice was more quiet.

"We follow the name of the woman you've been openly speaking of, but you must understand to speak her name is to bring attention to yourself, and luckily that attention came from me today. In this village, I am the head of this clan, not for myself, not for my gains, but for her. In this organization I'm what is referred to as Yogensha, or a prophet for her, for Seika. My official title is Yoru Yogensha, or the Prophet of Night."

    His words hung in the air as he stopped there, more to say, but letting her absorb what he had shared. It was heavy no doubt, and he was not only giving her an explanation but a choice she didn't quite know of yet. From this moment forward he would be giving her the choice to take this information, assimilate it, and come closer to their side, or there was a real chance she may not walk out of this room with the ability to ever repeat this information for one reason or another.  The choice, for now at least, wouldn't be so obvious as to extend his hand and invite her in, but how she reacted and how she responded would be answer enough for now.

"My role is firstly to keep this clan in check, keep my eyes open, which is why I'm also at the right hand of the Lady of Yuki. Who is closer to her than I am? No one in truth. I am also the senior member of the Diplomatic Squad, I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this. At the top of the group within the village that deals with information from other villages, in a position of trust with the leader of our village, and at the head of our clan within the village."

    Holding his up hand, he held up two fingers.

"Secondly, I recruit for the Nisshoku and I train others in spy craft within the group, so they can return to our or other villages to gather information, live out their lives as usual, and they themselves quietly spread our influence for Seika. The goals of the Nisshoku, well that's something I simply won't discuss, not now at least. Feel free, for now, to speak your mind."

    Now he fell silent, completely, leaning back and against the edge of his desk. By now the room was uncomfortable, and the air was thinning, but he didn't seem to care; It was intentional, after all.

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

The Cult of the White Flame, no she had not heard of it but the name carried implications of their own. She watched as again he brought forth his brilliant green flame. The color of it brightened as her eyes widened, what was he attempting to do, her thought silent but apparent on her face. The name he had spoken, Shiro, was one she had heard before making her fall deeper into the well of lies that was Yukigakure. He asked her a question to speak the name of the leader of the cult. "Seika..." Her words were a whisper but in the enclosed room she knew he heard her. He leaned closer to her making her cower in her chair, he was more imposing than ever right now. She looked up once again falling into the brilliant blue eyes of the man. She felt embarrassed as he called her out, the stupidity of her actions when she only wanted to bring pride to her clans name. Quickly she turned away tearing her gaze away before she spoke out of line. As he continued to speak her head shot up but still did not turn to look back at him. He was a spy, not for the village but for Seika, all of her ideas and opinions on the man had shattered. A whirlpool of emotions flooded her mind, panic, fear, confusion. Turning back to look at him as he finished speaking she opened her lips. Her emotions now mixed with attraction at the power he had displayed, curiosity on what he was implying and finally acceptance at the small role she occupied in this chess game. "My Lord I'd like to..." Her words caught in her throat. "I want to apologize for the slander I've spread about you. I had not known, how could I have known you had the same ideals as myself." She was staring at the table now as the choices and paths played out before her. Knowing this secret now put her in danger, Daigo if he pleased could end her right here and now. She had no answer for him now, the surprising revelation making her gasp. If it had been anyone else just a few days before she would have jumped at the chance. Now she had met Nashida and they had at least to her started a good friendship. She looked back to Daigo standing from her seat kneeling before him her head down. "I... I serve the Nakajima, my family and clan. Blood is thicker than bonds and I offer myself to the greater ideals of the true leader of our clan." She could feel her heart being pulled in two directions, one to stay and grow stronger and be by Nashida's side. The other following her clan, following Seika and, she looked up, being by his side.

--

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    What he had shared, what he had shown of himself, what he had said out loud, he was confident enough in it now, and in the way she would respond that her snapped his fingers, loudly echoing. As he did the barrier walls he had created threatened to fall into the room, but seemed to completely dissipate instead. Immediately the room began to cool, the thickness in the air rushed away, and the oxygen that was getting dangerously low was now returning once more to normal levels. In his office there was only a single window, one that might not have been obvious before, to the right of the room when facing the door, but outside the building and the window stood two visible guards. It might have seemed strange out of context, but it was likely by now those walking by were either Nakajima who didn't bother to question, or those who came by enough to notice at least a single guard by that window, signalling Daigo was inside and having a meeting he was not to be disturbed in the middle of. Two guards meant that it was a good idea to keep your head down and not even enter the building without a serious reason.

    Finally breaking away from looking at her, Daigo turned to look out said window as one of the two woman standing guard outside said window responded to a nod Daigo gave her, turning around and standing more stiff and guarding the window.

"I know the truth, now you know the truth, there is nothing to apologize for. As I'm sure you can figure out on your own, those outside of this building assuming whatever they want outside of the truth is exactly what I need. You've spread your views and I've had my own voices throughout the village with their own rumors here and there, crafting my image the way it needs to be crafted."

    Rubbing his face where a beard might have been, but not as much as a hair to be found, as smooth hands rubbed against a smooth face. When he was finally turning to look back, he wasn't surprised to see her moving, but what she did after the fact caught him off guard. Without a word, he reached out and gently put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a light tug, trying to get her to stand back up.

"I'm sure I've given you a lot to think about. If you wish to join the Nisshoku with us, you are welcomed, even more so with our shared blood. I won't however, allow you to see or meet with Seika if you choose not to. That's not a risk I'll take, for your sake, as Seika is not one to be dealt with lightly. If you choose not to join us, just know that if you speak of anything we talked about today, I will undoubtedly find out, and it won't end pleasantly. I'm sure you have questions, and now would be the time to ask them."

    He looked back at the scroll that was on his desk, and though there was no time that Daigo had been writing on it or etching words onto it, yet there seemed to be words burned onto the scroll all the same.

"I can see it on your face, that doubt. Speak it now, because once you walk out that door, we won't have this conversation a second time unless it's to pledge yourself to the White Flame."

[Nakajima Yui]

The Raging Fire

She stood when his hand tugged at her jacket. His words washing over her like a cold wave. A chill ran down her spine with his not so subtle threat. The offer was almost to good to pass up, a chance to serve the White Flame. The thoughts of Nashida pushed the fearful shiver from her body. Would she have to leave and never see her friend again, never see Daigo. Why she was thinking of him like that was beyond her. But Daigo was still here, if he was as high in the order as he claimed would he not be gone. "My Lord forgive me but if you are apart of this, apart of the Nisshoku how are you here and not wanted by Yukigakure?" She could have gathered the answer herself piecing two and two together. However she was slightly deprived of oxygen and already not thinking straight thoughts about the man. Would she also be able to stay in Yuki, she could keep secrets, keep quiet about today and everything else. She looked at the scroll in confusion, words were there where none had been before. "My Lord my answer has not and will not change, questions may come but if you choose not to answer then by your Rank as Clan Leader i will abide by them. I serve the White Flame, the leader of the Nakajima and the betrayed of Yukigakure. I pledge myself to any goal and task she see's fit to place upon my shoulders." She knew what she was saying, what she was metaphorically "signing" up for. There would be no turning back for her and she was ready to follow the blonde man if it meant finally being able to meet Seika and prove herself. "All I've ever wanted was to prove that the Nakajima were the strongest clan in Yukigakure. To show everyone the truth behind the lies we've been told. The rumors of Seika's innocence how she was framed. If I can be apart of that I will glady."

Daigo --

LAIKA OF THQ

[Daigo]

    The grin curled his lip despite his effort to stop it, his head tilting up yet his eyes staring down at her. It was an understandable question but it amused him to no end, and every moment of ignorance she shared was a moment he could enlighten her, which was something he so enjoyed doing.

"Being a part of the Nisshoku isn't something you do openly, not in the village at least. That much I suppose you understand given your question, but being a part of the Nisshoku also doesn't mean giving up the life you have. I am still the bodyguard of the Lady of this village, and I am still the most senior member of our Diplomatic Corps. I am still the head of this family of ours. The blood running in my veins runs in your veins."

    His hand began to glow green as he held it out to her, the mark of the Nisshoku was the shape it took.

"I don't hate this village, and I certainly don't hate our clan. I want the best for both, it's just that what's best for both is Seika, and they happen to disagree with me. Most of them at least."

    Turning away again he knocked hard on the window until both of the woman turned, and the green flame was held out towards them both. They looked around to see if anyone was there before they both held up their palms towards the window as the same symbol in their own colored fire was shared, but only briefly, before he nodded and walked back in front of Yui.

"You see, there are some in our family still loyal to Seika, and in my position to me as well. You don't have to kill every part of yourself literally or figuratively as part of the Nisshoku. You will certainly have to make sacrifices, but leaving the village isn't necessarily one of them. If you speak as openly about Seika as you have been, that could change. If you were to even mention the Nisshoku, you'd have a problem with me firstly, but almost certainly you'd be branded as a member and either arrested if not killed and forced to flee."
    
    He could see by the look on her face she had more to say, and he wasn't going to keep interrupting her for now, as he took a step back to put some room between them and watched and listened. Her fear was impossible to miss, but so was her resolve, and in truth both were necessary. He rarely showed his fear, because it only served to cloud the judgement of others he dealt with as he often learned, but he certainly had an abundance of it where it was needed. 

"I'll choose to take you at your word. But it will certainly take more than that, as I'm sure you understand."

    He looked towards the window just as one of the woman was looking in, and he made a gesture to grab her attention. She stared for a moment before he made a motion for them both to come in, as they disappeared from view.

"Upon this scroll I've written a vow, or a pledge, however you wish to interpret it. It says that you will follow Seika and by proxy in her stead, me, until you've been told you are no longer need to do so. This is not a simple act, but a bond that if broken will end in blood."

    As he finished his words, the two walked in. One walked over and closed the blinds on the window, then both walked and stood on either side of Yui. 

"Show her"

    Nodding, they adjusted their clothes until their upper arm between their shoulder and collar bone showed a mark, or more specifically a seal, then as Daigo nodded they moved and stood on either side of the door.

"They have both taken this vow to serve Seika."

    As he spoke, he began to do hand signs, and it seemed as if he would never stop, ten, twenty, then finally ending at twenty-five. Turning around he touched his palm to the scroll behind him, branding it with a seal, as he turned and held up a pen, handing it to Yui.

"If you agree, sign here, and we'll continue"