[Nakajima Daigo]

    Castle of Black Ice; Daigo just squinted at it, rolling his eyes. Castle of Melted Ice, perhaps in time, but for now, he had a meeting to attend and could worry about being his own brand of dramatic later. Standing outside of a certain door for a certain Jounin Hancho, now within the castle walls, Daigo was looking over his clothes, fixing his hair, making sure he didn't have anything awkward hanging from his nose, and finally sighed. It had been a long time since he was the one knocking on someone else's door, and it had become so foreign that he almost brought someone with him just to do it for him. Everyone in the Nakajima these days within in the village came to him, those that worked in the diplomacy office came to him, those working outside the normal bounces of the village, they came to him. Even the office of the Lady herself was open to him to simply walk in when he needed, but here he was, standing outside waiting to be let in, and it made his skin crawl.

"Minamoto Mei."

    He spoke the name loud, trying to get her attention, as he was not going to physically knock on any doors if he could help it. His hands placed behind his back, then taking a step back realizing the door opened outward. This was either going to be a drawn out boring meeting, or a quick one to the point, but unfortunately it needed to addressed and dealt with all the same. He had no love for Taki, ally or not, but this was not the time to have diplomatic incidents over ridiculous and silly goings on.

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

Mei looked up from the largely diminished stack of paperwork that she had been working on at the sound of a semi-familiar voice, her ice-blue gaze cold and unflinching despite the severity of the coming conversation. Her office was, finally starting to look like the bastion of organization and efficiency that it had been when she had left this particular post almost six years earlier, the paperwork no longer piled up in stacks halfway to the ceiling, the reports filed and categorized, the incoming info sectioned off and the various responsibilities that had never belong to the Jounin Hanchou slowly handed out to those who ought to have been handling them this entire time. It had been (and was) a slow, difficult process, but she was an old hand at it by now, her first tenure giving the Yuki woman all the experience she needed to deal with most problems that arose while Lady Shuka was dealing with her health.

Most, but not all.

"The door is unlocked, Nakajima-san." She said, looking away from the door towards her paperwork as she spoke; despite this, her attention remained fully on the man who was to walk through that door, though without her gaze on him it would be difficult for him to know he was being scrutinized at all. Difficult, but not impossible, especially given who it was she was dealing with.

Nakajima Daigo. The Hanchou thought, her eyes dancing across the note’s she had taken from the man’s file, lips pursed together in a thin, thoughtful line. Current head of the Nakajima clan, formerly an ardent follower of Seika, before she killed a fellow Shinobi and defected. Supposedly survived an encounter with her in the field, leading to his ascension within the Nakajima. There was much to read in between the lines of his dossier, things that both alarmed and concerned her, but none of those issues were why she had called him to her office. No, today she had summoned hi to deal with a different, all too personal matter involving her dear wife- and the distinct mess she had made in helping out an allied Shinobi.

"Feel free to come in whenever you are finished primping."

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    His entrance was slow, deliberate, methodical, much like most of his actions, as he entered and shut the door behind him. Looking around the room he simply nodded with no other comment on anything inside, as he walked closer, arms locked behind his back and standing up straight. The look he gave Mei likely meant as little as the look she was giving him, not because neither cared in any negative way towards the other, but they weren't exactly friends, but colleagues. There was absolutely zero emotional attachment between them even tangentially.

"You called me at a bad time, so forgive my need to look presentable."

    There was no malice in his voice, but it was true, he was in the middle of something, though it wasn't in any way important and he was actually relieved not to have to listen to his cousin drone on about his schedule for the week. He had wanted to speak with her anyways, just not this exact moment, though he had certainly been procrastinating adding it to said schedule. Issues he was having with the mission office, Out-of-Date missions being transferred to the diplomats office, and who exactly was going to be the representative heading to the Chuunin Exams if the Lady decided not to travel yet again. Depending on how this particular conversation went, he'd either get it out of the way after she had said her peace, or he would be done with the conversation within the first few minutes and not bother.

"I'm here as soon as I was able. Please, let's begin, I'm sure we both have a lot to take care of given travel preparations for the Chuunin Exams."

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

"My apologies for interrupting your busy schedule." Mei replied, not lifting her gaze a single millimeter from the paperwork in front of her; her tone was cool but not hostile, a cold wind on an empty plain, the kind one might expect from two colleagues who had no real connection beyond the place they worked. That she could see the Nakajima’s every movement out of her periphery was something neither of them needed to state, nor note as unusual- she hadn’t earned her reputation through social manipulation and, for all his clan’s braggadocious behavior, neither had he. They were killers, monsters wearing mortal skin, and neither of them had any real need to hide this from the other, no matter what appearances said.

It wasn’t until she had finished reading the last page of a particularly long report, her signature flowing across the bottom, that the Hanchou deigned to raise her attention from the files on her desk towards Daigo, her ice-blue gaze flat but rimmed with an edge of frost that likely spoke volumes to a man as… talented at manipulation as he was.

"We have much to discuss, so I will make this quick." She said, her expression shifting from one of dulled, almost frigid boredom to something approximating formal politeness- though, again, her gaze held that edge, the tiniest chip in an otherwise perfect facade that she had crafted over thirty years of working with men and women just like the Nakajima before her. "I read your report on the incident involving Takigakure and I have… questions."

That said report had laid the blame for the situation squarely on the shoulders of the Taki Genin was of little consequence to her: what was important to her, however, was the way the man had unilaterally decided to handle the matter without seeking the word of Lady Shuka or herself, taking matters into his own hands rather than waiting for the proper authorizations. That he was ostensibly the head of the Diplomacy Corps was the only reason she hadn’t had him hauled in by his ankles and publicly reprimanded for his actions- that he was the head of the Nakajima clan and, therefore, someone who held a great deal of political power even outside of his rank was why she was doing this here, in her private office, rather than at the public mission building where anyone could overhear. But she was doing this, no matter the location.

"I would like you to explain to me why you went off to Takigakure without proper authorization, and why my office was not informed of the incident in question until three days after you had left to handle it."

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    His eyes didn't fall down to the same papers, he wasn't much of a fan of trying to read upside down anyways, and he assumed if he needed to know, she was about to tell him anyways. His stance didn't change, he gaze at her much like hers on the papers was firm, and as she finally lifted her head, he never for a second broke eye contact. There was almost nothing there, at least nothing worth reading, from his eyes, from his stare, it was simply a focused stare. He wasn't trying to garner anything from her because he didn't have anything in this moment to gain from doing all of the reading of body language or interpretation of all the bullshit that came with it, it was just the two of them in the room. Her stare wasn't quite as flat as his, and it didn't take much to read the look in her eyes.

"Please, ask what you need to. It's all still fresh in my mind."

    It wasn't surprising she'd be curious about some of his details, some of his actions, he had expected it even, though he was certainly expecting some of them from Shuka first. Unfortunately, as was becoming far too regular, Shuka was indisposed, and it had been far too long since she had called upon him for much of anything. Perhaps that was going to his head a bit as it certainly game him a lot of freedom.

    There it was, a question he had been expecting, and one that outside of this more professional setting he might have rolled his eyes at and simply walked away ignoring.

"I'll start by saying, as you are well aware, I am at this current time the head of the Diplomacy Corps, and the message from Taki was brought directly to my desk. Why it wasn't brought to Shuka or you first I can't say, but that's a different matter we need to discuss separately."

    Slowly his right hand raised, as he held up his thumb, showing he was going to be responding in multiple parts.

"I will say after that, I did go to the Lady Shuka's office and made an attempt to speak with her, but I was denied, despite, as you are also aware, being her highest ranking Bodyguard, which was strange to me as it's happened several times as of late with myself and her other bodyguard. I then proceeded to handle the matter. As my report states, a representative from Taki had requested to speak to someone in a diplomatic fashion, so I went in a diplomatic fashion, as is my responsibility to do as the head of the Diplomacy Corps as no others were available to be sent or accompany me. It was clearly a serious and sensitive matter, and as I was receiving no word from Shuka or her office, I left within a few days."

    His voice stayed at the same even tone, not quite monotone, but simply explaining the situation from his perspective as factually as he could.

"As far as why I didn't come to you or directly inform you, my answer is simple, though perhaps not one you'll like to hear; I in no way answer to you in these matters. As both the head of the Diplomacy Corps and as the right hand to our lady, I answer to her and only to her in all official matters. Though given the state of things as of late, I'm willing to discuss that with you."

    Stopping momentarily, he dropped his hands back down behind his back, despite still speaking. He had caught himself in a moment of frustration and was using this comforting act to calm himself, before continuing.

"Shuka's office was informed, just as it has been with other issues I've had to deal with, so the failure or breakdown in communication is from her office I'm afraid, as much as I hate to point fingers, a fact is a fact. Which is, I will reiterate, a matter to discuss that is becoming an increasing issue for many parts of our village as of late. I'm sure you've noticed even more than I have. Yours and mine are two of the few office any information is properly flowing from."

    It was subtle, but it was clear he was starting to feel annoyed about what he was saying now, but not towards Mei. It had been an issue he was truthfully getting tired of dealing with, and this was far from the first issue with proper information flow causing confusions and potential misunderstandings, or worse.

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

Mei listened to Daigo’s reply with a calm, flat expression, her ice-blue gaze focused on a point just below the man’s eyes, between the bottom of his nose and his upper lip; it was a trick she’d picked up from Raimaa, a simple way to make it look like you were looking into a person’s eyes without actually doing so. An odd precaution to take against a Nakajima not known for his Genjutsu usage, but one she unconsciously took regardless. He was simply that dangerous and, therefore, worth the respect, no matter how unlikely it was that they would come to blows.

"I see." The Yuki woman said, folding her hands together beneath her nose as she looked down, away from her compatriots face for a brief moment, lips tugging to form a slight but noticeable frown. She had expected the man to say as much and would have likely handled the situation in much the same way had their roles been reversed… but, unfortunately for the Nakajima, their roles were what they were, and she was far and away past the point of caring about political power to play any kind of games about what and was not under her purview.

"Allow me to be clear then, Nakajima-san." Mei began, looking up once more as she laid her hands flat on the desk and stood, nearly eye to eye with the man now, her voice calm but firm in a way that brooked no room for debate or discussion. "I am aware of the communication issues between Lady Shuka’s office and the rest of the village, as well as her current health predicament. This is not an excuse for you to go off and do as you please. The fact that you are the Head Diplomat is the only reason I did not have you publicly reprimanded for your actions, regardless of their impact on our alliance with Takigakure."

She paused then, allowing Daigo a moment to process what she had said- but only a moment.

"In the future, you will run all such travel requests through my office as well as Lady Shuka’s, nor will you head off to a foreign nation, even an allied one, without a GOKA escort. Is that understood?"

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    The tension between them was as thick as any barrier he could create, but outside of their shared words, it was hard to tell if either of them was feeling it at all. Neither broke their fairly calm demeanor even in their moments of frustration. Younger shinobi would no doubt have broke down into arguments in the short time, taking the words from one to the other as veiled threats or attempts at posturing, but they both knew well enough they didn't didn't need to threaten or posture with one another, and what was left was the blunt truth. Neither was likely to be too fond of what they other said, both not liking being told what to do, having an expectation held over them from the other let alone anyone but the Lady Shuka herself, but both said what needed to be said.

    Listening with a soft nod, he took a step closer to that he was only inches from her desk as she stood up, keeping eye contact, and unlike her he was staring directly at her eyes.

"I will state here, with genuine respect towards you; I do not answer to you, at least not at this current time. Now, with that respect once more taken into consideration, I would be willing to show further respect and make sure we have a more direct line of communication going forward from my physical office and my metaphorical office with regards to the diplomatic goings on. Please do keep in mind this is a courtesy, not an obligation."

    He knew well enough who answered to who, but as far as he was concerned, he answered to only one powerful female in the village, and it was certainly not the one standing in front of him right now. That didn't mean he was going to be disrespectful, and he had no reason to ignore her, and he wasn't intentionally leaving her out of the loop. It was certainly easy to look that way given the circumstances, but it didn't change the way he was thinking in the moment.

"In the future, you will refrain from making demands of me unless they come from the Lady Shuka herself. I will state once more, I do not answer to you. As I've said, I'm willing to run things by you out of respect, but again, as a courtesy, not to gain your permission. I'm not a fresh faced Jounin, so please save your attempt to pull rank on those you hold it over. You have absolutely no current authority over my office, without Shuka herself telling me that has changed. I will now repeat, again, that I am happy to work with you, but don't mistake that for me working for you."

    In a move that few would have noticed otherwise, Daigo reached into a side pocket and dropped something on Mei's desk. It looked like a coin, but not one used for any sort of currency, at least not in the usual sense. It had the Nakajima clan symbol on both sides, and what looked like a simple green thumb print on one side, perhaps some sort of paint. Gently, he pushed it over towards her, then stood back up and took a step back away from her desk. There was no explanation of what it was, and he made no attempts to explain it, but clearly whatever it was meant something to Daigo.

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

Mei listened to Daigo’s response with a keen ear, her gaze at last lifting from the spot she had been focusing on to meet his gaze full on while he spoke. She had expected a response like this, had anticipated it from the moment she had decided to have this discussion now rather than later, when Shuka recovered- but knowing that it was coming and hearing it come out of the Nakajima’s mouth were two very different things.

God, he truly has been allowed to run about as he pleases, hasn’t he? The Yuki woman thought as she weighed what she wanted to say, what she wanted to do versus the potential consequences of those actions. A part of her, the cold killer who lurked beneath the politely formal facade, wanted to tear the pompous fop’s head off immediately, but the rest of her knew that simply wasn’t feasible; not because she couldn’t do the deed, but because to do so would be tantamount to starting a civil war over a relatively minor squabble, no matter how annoying it might be.

"Nakajima-san, perhaps I was not clear before." She began after a long moment, her voice as flat and unyielding as before, but now with an added edge to it that he most certainly would have noticed- not a threat, but rather the potential of one, should things escalate. "You are a Jounin of this village, not to mention the head of a prominent clan and our leading Diplomat. As the Hanchou, it is my duty to see to your well-being and continued service, no matter how much you may dislike that. I do not care if you disagree with my assessment of the situation. You are under my authority and you will comply with the order I have given."

Do not push me on this, Nakajima. You will not like how this ends.

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    Looking down as she started to speak, he adjusted his shirt, pressing out what he thought was a wrinkle, then adjusting it once more, as he put his hands back behind his back. Their back and forth had turned not necessarily more heated, but the friendly and professional tone was cracking just enough to let shine their true selves, though it was just as quickly filled with self control. When she stopped her first comment, he let out a sigh and smiled towards her, meeting her eyes again, specifically when he could hear and feel the change in tone. It wasn't any sort of malicious look, or a cocky look, or some shift grin, but simple a genuine smile, he head even tilting to the left just a little.

    This was likely to be a conversation back and forth until the rest of her face turned as blue as her eyes, and for all the patience he could carry in that Nakajima body of his, he didn't have much for this kind of back and forth.

"Your clarity was certainly on point, I assure you."

    He looked back down to the coin in front of her, tracing his eyes over its detail, and the smile grew, even nodding to something, though not her, as he was on the verge of tuning her out completely. For the third time now he was meeting her eyes, but his stare barely matched his smile, and his eyes were very clearly narrowing after every word. Behind his back, he gripped his hands together to keep his tone that same even tempo, tone, and volume, no matter the words he was saying. There was no need to outright antagonize her, but she had to have expected him not to simply bow and say yes ma'am with a reprimand and leave.

"Did you really bring me here for nothing more than this lecture?"

    Behind his back, he gripped his hands together to keep his tone that same even tempo, tone, and volume, no matter the words he was saying. There was no need to outright antagonize her, but she had to have expected him not to simply bow, say Yes ma'am and leave, especially now.

"I had assumed I was being brought here to discuss the details of the incident, mission, and my travels, not this bruised ego reprimand. I put actual work on hold to come and deal with this under apparent false pretenses, and if this was your intention you could have saved it for a strongly worded letter and saved us both the time. If you otherwise have a personal issue with me, do say it and be done with it or take it to Lady Shuka, otherwise I'd prefer getting back to my professional matters, as I have a long day ahead of me still and this short exchange has been draining."
    

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

"Despite what you may think, no. I did not." Mei replied, her shoulders loosening slightly the moment the man acquiesced. It hadn’t been the clear cut acceptance she had been hoping for, but it would do for now. There was no need to intentionally antagonize the man anymore than she needed to, particularly given his prominent role within the village itself; the last thing she needed was to have to fight against him as well as the tangled bureaucracy that was Yukigaure’s paperwork system.

"As you mentioned before, this lack of communication between Lady Shuka’s office and the rest of the village has been an increasing issue as of late." The Yuki woman paused then, the slightest hint of hesitation entering into her gaze as she stared at Daigo, wondering. She had called him over to deal with the Takigakure incident, true, but the man had hit upon a larger problem that needed addressing, one that she wasn’t entirely certain she trusted him to handle. And yet, they were the only two who could do what needed doing.

"I am… concerned that the Lady’s health issues are negatively affecting the village." She said, her voice tinged with an air of caution, as if she were probing the minefield that this conversation would open up, should it go the direction she thought it would. "If they do not improve, something will have to change. I would prefer it if our offices were on the same page regarding what that change will be."

Again Mei paused, leaning forward slightly as she spoke, pressing her fingers down onto the desk, almost as if she were willing the man to understand what she was saying, what she was implying. The man wasn’t a fool, however much he pretended- he could see the writing on the wall as well as she could, could read the political currents of the village to a degree she likely would have envied had she cared about such things, which meant he knew the way opinion was beginning to swing. What she didn’t know, what she needed to know, however, was where he sat in regards to that line, and what that meant when it came to her duties to the village… and to herself.

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    His shoulders dropped much the same, but not much more than they usually were, given his posture. They had both pulled back some, and as she changed subjects, he shifted his weight to one leg, and his tilted head moved back to a straightened position, indicating his renewed interest in the conversation.

"Your concerns are founded. There are only two others in the village that likely have the same access to Lady Shuka as we do; her other bodyguard to a much lesser degree seemingly voluntarily, and her attendant. If even we are having issues speaking with her with any regularity, that itself is a cause for concern I believe."

    There was no other way to take his words here, for all she might not have trusted him, she had to know what he was saying was true. Once more, there wasn't much to study here, and she was as good at conveying the message without speaking it as he was at finding it. This was a frustrating but equally delicate situation, and it wasn't as if either actually wanted the burden of dealing with it, but there was no link further up the metaphorical chain to pass it off to.

"I don't think we need to stand on ceremony and polite maneuvering with just the two of us here, so let's speak plainly. Shuka is in poor health, and she isn't getting younger, nor stronger, and there's no way it isn't seen as it's already being felt by the entire village. Other village leaders see the lack of her presence with her absence likely at yet another Chuunin exams, other forces outside our walls and country borders see it. It isn't just our offices and our information that needs to be on the same page. Hiding it might be difficult, as we can't produce a fake Shuka to walk around shaking hands and giving speeches, but perhaps we can obfuscate it by finding a way to get things in line and stop this village from stagnating."

    His arms changed from resting behind his back to moving and crossing across his chest. Such a basic action, but for one so precise in every stance and expression he portrayed, it was a loosening of his facade that was profound.

"It won't be long until people become scared and worried, as there is no clear current candidate to take over, not if but when Shuka steps down voluntarily or otherwise. Not every village is our friend, and our waters are surrounded by outright enemies. We can't afford to show this level of weakness. Neither of us are so naive as to think someone wouldn't attempt to take advantage of it."

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

...Was I too indirect? Mei thought as the Nakajima man spoke, lips quirking down in the smallest movement possible as she listened, ice-blue gaze unchanged despite the sense of annoyance that had settled over her. She had never been a political creature, her ascent through the ranks falling squarely on the back of battlefield prowess and the necessity for loyal commanders; her lack of subtlety was one of the few personal failings she could reliably trust to come up at least once every few days, so it was somewhat surprising to see that a far more social creature such as Daigo fail to pick up on her precise meaning.

"One moment, Nakajima-san." The Yuki woman said once the man was finished, her breath coming slowly as she formed her hands together, pulsing chakra through a single hand seal, which sent branching lines of ink across the room, the door shutting itself and the windows going dark as she activated the office’s privacy seal, effectively locking the pair of the inside until she released it- as well as making it all but impossible for anyone outside the room to hear anything that was being said. "Apologies for my rudeness, but I believe it prudent that the rest of our conversation be held between us."

She paused then, lowering her arms with deliberate slowness, showing that she had no intention of using this isolation to attack him. Once she was certain that sentiment was clear, the Hanchou spoke again, her voice as calm and unfeeling as before, the only hint of her feelings on the matter being the slightly clipped pace with which she uttered her words, as if she were pushing to get them out.

"You are correct in your assumption that Lady’s Shuka’s health has already begun to negatively affect the morale of the village. There are murmurings of discontent across all the ranks, and the Daimyo has sent a total of seventeen letters demanding her presence in his court to explain her establishment of the Diplomacy Corps." When Shuka had been healthy, the man had been as pliable as fresh clay, bending and listening to her words with the kind of ease that most of the other nations leaders would have salivated to have, but now… Now he was belligerent, disrespectful, and demanding in a way that spoke of a predator that smelled blood in the water.

"I have no doubt he intends to have the organization disbanded if he can manage it, if not outright place Yukigakure under his direct control, as they do in Nohara no Kuni." Mei paused again, her tone unchanged despite the severity of what she had just relayed. It would mean an end to the way of life both of them had known, a return to an isolationist Yuki no Kuni that slowly but surely bleed out from its sheer lack of resources… and, inevitably, another war that would stain the snows red with blood.

"If Lady Shuka’s health does not improve, and there is no indication that it will any time soon, someone will have to be elected to take her place." She took a breath then, her shoulders tensing once more as she looked into Daigo’s eyes, all emotion falling away from her voice as she said what the both of them likely knew, but had never quite said out loud. "Given the state of things in the village, you and I are the only candidates with any real chance of being given the responsibility. And if that is the case…"

Well. He could understand the rest, right?

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    It seemed she was worried about what he had said, or was worried about what she thought he was about to say, but he wasn't near as concerned. So far he hadn't said anything he wouldn't say publicly, purposefully trying to show a stance of trying to be blunt and direct with what someone else might find a bit surprising to say, but truthfully this was barely registering a two in in mind on a scale of worrisome topics. If he thought for a moment any of his words would have been an issue, he would have had the area swept and guards posted, barriers put up, and far more precautions before he entered the room.

    Her next words did add something to the conversation he would speak on that was in fact, not great to say out loud, and wouldn't leave this room unless Shuka herself brought it up.

"The Daimyo is puffed up and impatient."

    What the Daimyo thought about his choice of underwear let alone village affairs was of such little importance, because he hated someone so ignorant on matters trying to get involved in them. When he mentioned wanting outright control, his eye twitched.

"That won't happen."

    No threats, no caveats, just a frank statement left hanging. If such an attempt was even threatened, he'd stand in front of the group to march across the country and put it under control that very day. That specific fact, he'd keep to himself, of course.

"The issue is, who will be doing said voting? If it falls at the feet of the council, it's not as if they are in any position to be expected to do anything more than they are doing now. And as you say, we are likely the only candidates, at least the only ones I would have any faith in, and if that's the case..."

    They both trailed off, quietly staring at one another with knowing looks.

[Minamoto-Yuki Mei]

And so, at last, they had come to the heart of the matter.

Mei stared at Daigo with a calm, even gaze, her face impassive despite the twinge of nervousness that ran through her chest. She had made many mistakes in the past, had crossed lines when it came to how she handled seeing the woman she idolized be revealed as less than the image of perfection she had thought she was, had lost her hands in the aftermath and been stitched back together only to walk away form the village and retire with Raimaa. But all of those things, all those mistakes, had led her somewhere and helped her to become the woman she was today.

This was different. If she made a mistake here, if she put her trust in the wrong person or made a move before it was time… It won’t be just me who goes down. She thought, blinking once as she took in a slow, steady breath- and released it, shoulders relaxing as she lowered her gaze away from the Nakajima. Not for long- just a moment, a single breath, but it would be enough for him to understand. Hopefully.

"The best outcome would be that Lady Shuka appoints her own successor, but in the event she cannot…" The Yuki woman replied, trailing off, her gaze returning to Daigo’s as she began to drum her fingers along the top of her desk, the pitter-pat of flesh on paper helping her think. They both know the protocols, the procedures and rules regarding how a new Lord or Lady was chosen, but what she did not know was which way the Nakajima man would go should the worst become necessary. And she needed to know, before she made her decision.

"...In the event she cannot, the best choice would be for one of us to support the other in taking her place." Mei said, picking up her sentence after a long silence, the edge returning to her voice as she leaned forwards ever so slightly, not pushing into Daigo’s space but not letting him remain quite so distanced, either. "Is that something you are willing to do, Nakajima-san?"

Nakajima Daigo

[Nakajima Daigo]

    For as cold and calm as Mei was, she didn't have the greatest poker face at times. It was likely, much like himself right now, she wasn't trying to hide behind anything or bullshit anymore than necessary. The way she leaned, the way she looked him over, those not so subtle breaths, they made him a bit uneasy at just what she was thinking. The point about Shuka was obvious, and he didn't immediately respond, as it was almost as if she was saying it to herself, so he kept watching and waiting for what was about to follow.

    What followed, drew a nod, as he finally looked away from her and looked at the wall above her. This wasn't a matter of thinking of the right think to say as much as trying to figure out what he actually thought. His words would come by the time he came to grips with them, finally looking back to her as he chewed on the inside of his cheek, then finally spoke up.

"I would be lying to you if I said I didn't have future aspirations of becoming a Lord of Yuki, but I can't imagine you'd find that too surprising. The Nakajima however would likely find it hard to understand if I were to put my support behind you even if we were the only two candidates. That being said, I would support you if you were to be put in the position over me, and the Nakajima would in time do the same."

    Walking around the side of her desk, he stood next to her, looking over her face, a bit more in her space, confidently so. He spoke quietly, as if now he was the one a bit nervous about being heard. There were still a few feet between them, but now the desk wasn't between them.

"What about you? I've never gotten the sense you outright trust me. Is that something I can change? How can I prove that I'm trustworthy? I'm not so naive as to think you'd raise the Nakajima Daigo banner so easily, let alone stand behind it. Am I wrong?"