Meet Again [Kozai, Arcanis, NK]

Kozai got up from where he was sitting in the alleyway. He went out to a main road and stretched his arms. Now... it was time to find Arcanis. He stretched forth his mind's eye and scanned the surroundings. He found the chakra signature he was looking for, and created a disk of water. He stood on said disk, and flew at top speed to his location. As soon as he got there, he checked the address with the one that Arcanis had given him in his letter; it was a match.

Kozai walked into the flat after unlocking the door with water. He inserted water into the lock, and turned the tumblers that way. He walked into the flat, flaring his power to let Arcanis know he was there. Just in case Arcanis didn't notice, Kozai raised his voice slightly and said, "Arcanis... are you there? I've finally arrived. What was the project you were working on, and what are we doing here in Ame?" He would wait for Arcanis to come out and reply before giving him the missive from Near. He wondered what reaction Arcanis would have. 

Kozai closed the door behind him, leaving his sphere of water outside. He looked around the room for his partner.

[TWC 210]

Arcanis walked out of his room into the common area.  Spinning a ring around his finger absentmindedly.  He had felt Kozai come in but he didn't know why he didn't knock.  Not because he didn't want him here but because he might have been dressing or engaged in some other private activity.  As he wasn't he didn't make a big deal about it.  "Welcome.  How are things on the home front?  I have been working on a project to fund our future venture.  Currently waiting on a meeting with the kage to set up a legitimate shop in the city."  Arcanis offer kozai a drink on a seat.

Twc: 108

Kozai sighed deeply and sat down. Whoof! It had been quite a trip. "Well, Arcanis, I'm sorry for just letting myself in, but this message is somewhat urgent. That is, a message from Lord Near. He grants us some time to finish up here in Amegakure, but requires our presence at home in Iwa as soon as humanly possible in order to prepare for... war. War against Shimagakure, apparently. As of now, I've already gotten in contact with Demetri Kori, the leader of Yukiagkure, who Lord Near has asked me to contact. We could use his aid, you know. At any rate, that's what I've been doing, so it's pretty damn intense on the home front. What's this project you're working on? I would love to know." Kozai really did want to know, the more he knew, the better. Also, if this was a business venture, he would be sure to get as involved as he could. He took a sip of his drink. So, Arcanis was working on getting a meeting with the local kage, huh? Kozai didn't say so, but he planned to as well.... perhaps a separate meeting. He would have to subtly suggest something of this sort to Arcanis, but now was not the time. Kozai created a small marble-sized sphere of water from thin air and passed it around and over and under his fingers. As he did so, he would smile slightly and wait for Arcanis' response.

[TWC 453]

Arcanis was surprised at the statement Kozai had just made.  War.  This was interesting.  Arcanis would finally be able to sate his inner bloodlust.  He would be able to kill with honor.  But the battlefield was always a risk.  A risk he would take in the pursuit of knowledge and most of all power.  Arcanis kept a cool composure.  Know need to give Kozai something to over analyze.  "A war you say.  hmmm.  I mean all the villages are all in a state of perpetual conflict but I didn't think I would see one at least not this soon.  What is the purpose of going to war against Shima?"  Arcanis podered this for a moment before continueing.  "However to respond to your question I am setting up a shop that charges for the service that I provided you.  In return for money I transport people from village to village.  The money I earn will go to the promotion of the expansion of our organization."  Arcanis stood pondering the matter.  This information was useful but vastly incomplete.  "Kozai what do you intend to do?"  Arcanis to spite of everything he had against Kozai decided to try to connect with him legitimately.  "Will you fight this war? and This organization... You realize that we will have to leave the village?"  Arcanis knew this was a key moment in their friendship.  He was about to try to earn Kozai's loyalty.  He would much rather trust him then worry about keeping him happy while never trusting him.  "Do you trust me?  Truthfully I have had reservations because you have proven to be a loose cannon.  I want to be able to trust you and know that you have my back.  If this group comes together we need to be like brothers to run the Organization well.  Can I trust you?"  Arcanis knew that this was a huge point.  He prepared himself for Kozai's response.

TWC :428

Kozai kicked back and relaxed as he listened to Arcanis' questions. They were well-formed questions, a sign of a well-formed mind.  He expected no less of his friend and partner. That was a good sign, a sign that Kozai had been paired as a ninja with the right person. Now, to address those questions that were being asked of him.

"Well...", mused Kozai, starting from the top, "the reason for the war.... as a lowly chunin grunt, I was not provided with this tasty bit information, but I suppose we can speculate. A desire for more land? Perhaps. Or is it something more complex, something that perhaps even we cannot yet fathom? My guess, assuming that Near is the intelligent man that he is, is that he plans to use this as merely his grand introduction into the shinobi world. Who knows what he might do next? I, for one, hope that he does nothing reckless. His style of battle seems to be pretty haphazard, however, but who knows?" Kozai paused here to take a sip of water. The sphere of water that had formerly been moving  through his fingers suddenly moved over Kozai's left shoulder, and floated there. "Now, as to your transportation idea, I like it. It would make the travelling between villages much easier." He REALLY did like the idea. But he couldn't help but feel that something was behind that.... other than money, that is. Hm, he would have to divine this truth later.

"Ah, as to our organization in relation to current events and my actions. Well... I would like to see an evaluation of Shima's strength before we attack. Failing that, I would be much more cautious about our actions. Now, as to what I would actually do, if ordered to do so, I would participate in the war, as long as I have more backup than Near. That is, if the jonin and Yukigakure join in as well."

He drained his cup, and set it down. The sphere of water would promptly drop into the kitchen sink, and disappear. "As to the mucky business of detaching ourselves from all village influence.... well... that actually depends on how the war goes. If Iwa is victorious, so much the better for us."

He rubbed his thumb ruefully against his temple. "As to trusting me, well, I can't force you to. From an outside standpoint, I'm somewhat trustworthy, and even if I was a lying, conniving freak, I'm relatively harmless. Oh, speaking of the organization, have you managed to recruit anyone?" At this, he would grin slightly, and wait for Arcanis' answer. Whether affirmative or negatory, he would still be interested in the results.

[TWC 801]

Arcanis shook His head.  "no I haven't recruited anyone.  I have been working on this project to start the flow of money while I gather more muscle.  However I am not one to rush into a mission with no details.  I am not refusing to protect my village or follow my orders. I would just like to gather more information."  Arcanis would try to get more information from Kozai later as well.

twc :500

Kozai nodded slightly, pleased. "Well, then, it looks like if we survive the war I'll have to go to some of the more major villages to see if we can't pick up more people there. After all, bigger skins always slough off more cells, if you catch my drift. Anyways, I've been doing some research on the kage of Amegakure, this Worr Terumi.... and I didn't come up with much. A lot of information about him is redacted or antiquated, which makes gathering information very difficult. I would like to meet with this.... Worr.... and evaluate him for myself. Also, he may have some delinquent ninja for us to pick up and use for our own purposes." With this, he gave Arcanis a friendly wink, and crossed one leg over the other. 

[TWC 933]

Arcanis with as much as he could read Kozai, he was still a mystery.  "Yeah we should see who we can recruit from the villages.  But consider we need a strong governing Counsel.  You and I will need some help running a organization especially as it gets bigger.  Anyway I have a meeting with Worr.  I will try to figure him out.  however you'll have to meet him seperatly because when I spoke with him originally he was weary of ninja for Iwa.  so for the success of the shop I will meet him alone."  Arcanis hoped his logic made sense to Kozai.

twc :603

The opening would appear not to far from the flat the two were in. As near would walk out from it and look around. Sighing to himself he would begin to yell loudly. "Kozai!!!!!!!" As he looked in the boys direction. Waiting for him and whoever else to arrive, near would begin to put on his battle suit and get his weapons ready. They were goign to leave for the village soon.

The moment the portal of chakra appeared in the air, Kozai was able to sense Near's emergence. Noting the chakra signature as that of his leader, he immediately got up from his seat and bowed at the waist. So, by the time Near yelled his named, Kozai was already bowing in respect. He watched as Near got ready, and nodded to Arcanis to prepare to leave. Near was an impatient man who cared not for the designs of other  ninja. That was just part of his personality. Kozai got up and dusted himself off. "Lord Near.... how goes the plan? I hope things are proceeding smoothly." He would scan the area for intruders; hopefully, he would find none. 

[TWC 1051]