Fox and the Fiddle (Maku)

"What is love? Baby don't hurt me, Baby don't hurt.....". His voice would wash over the restaurant. It quenched the ears thirst with its majesty. Honestly a couple people probably got pregnant. Including a buff dude with a wierd maybe Austrian accent???? Strong but it happened. No lie.

Maku had already worked his way through three talls, 7 shots, and about twelve songs. Honestly he wasn't completely sure on how many. He had visited this establishment several times, and on occasion he would be the entertainment. His fingers danced across the ivory keys, not leaving out the ebony ones. He would never discriminate, they deserved his fingers as well after all.

He had seen and sensed a familiar shinobi upon her entrance, yet he wasn't going to stop a song for anyone. Just wasn't his way, plus his jar was getting pretty full from tips. He would take note of where she sat, and then continue to sing. When he wrapped up his song he would cough once before taking another deep drink of his beer.

"This next one, is for a certain redhead, right there." He would say pointing at Kira. "I heard he spent 500 ryo on jeans, goes to the gym at least five times a week....". He would continue to sing while playing the piano. He had mentioned this meeting to both Kyson, so he was hoping both Kira and this unfamiliar man with an odd name showed.

He would finish his song as the red head sat down. His fingers would continue to play in the keyboard as her drink was sat down and she asked if there was anything he couldn't do. "I'm terrible at string instruments, and I have a hard time teleporting on the ground from time to time." He would say with a laugh as the rhythm of the keys seemed to math the sing song of his voice.

"This is business." He would say tapping the jar that was starting to get pretty full. "But alas I know of what you speak." He would say with a mock sadness that just seems to continue the impression this was all a game to him. "I'm not sure how much Kyson have spoken to you of, but I'll have certain needs soon. He is picking me a task force with my suggestions of course." Maku would say taking a break from the piano.

"The empire is getting rather large you see......need more eyes and need some unbiased opinions to go through the ranks." He would say with a large smile. He had already started to form this plan with Kyson, but he had wanted to meet with all the parties that would take place. They might not know it, but it was part of the interview process. "Maybe you'll even have a chance to show me what you can do...". He would say hitting a dramatic three keys.

"Not in so many words." He would say at her comment of joining the task force. There were a certain other pair he had in mind for storm, but having to many eggs in a single basket was unwise. While she may wish to usurp Kyson now, it wouldn't be hard for loyalty to bloom. Especially in a tight it group. Often the sergeant has more respect than the captain, best to keep it from ever having a chance to flower.

"As I said, an unbiased opinion. Kyson and his group will have their own missions, goals, and duties. You may time to time find yourself aligned with one or two of them, but ultimately well you will report to me." His fingers continued to dance across the keys, though his eyes looked into hers. He had long sense memorized the keys and strokes, and how to make the machine play. It was the same talents that had allowed him to finesse his jutsu to the levels they were known. Something he hoped Kyson would pick up on in due time.

"If you don't think it'll take you away from your children." He would say, competent missing her hints at flirting. Now Maku himself may be a flirt, but in no way does that mean he always picks up on it. He would say it in such confidence, in fact it would be hard to tell if he was serious or was making a joke back. In his head however, he was already moving on to the next goal, even if his mouth was still on this one.

"Scoping out the various villages, recruiting their former shinobi, buying allegiance, and selling some snake oil.........sound like something you can do?" He would say. He played four more cords and abruptly stopped to the chagrin of the patrons. He looked at her, all traces of alcohol gone from his eyes. He was only one man, and to constantly keep up the empire was impossible. It reached so much farther than a war here and there. It reached so much further than the crown that was destined to be bronzed by his golden hair, what it means had all to do with the words of a priest, as his foot stood on the precipice of death.

Maku complete whiffed the attempts at any kind of flirting. He was the flirt not the one that recognized flirtings. So, this was lost on him and he stared at Kira with a puzzled look.

Snapping back to the task at hand he finished his cup, and played a mournful tune for a second. "Iwagakure, that's the next true conquest outside these walls. I hope to meet with Konoha when I hear from them. So, to answer your question I'm not sure." He would say with a laugh.

There was still so much to do. He would need her to visit all the places, and that would take time and excessive travel. "Kysons Storm will likely follow me to Iwa when the troops move out. You will stick with them first, then I will receive report and your destination, well it will be determined then."

He would continue to play, thinking if there was anything else. "The party will be soon, it's gonna be one hell of a bang, don't miss it." As he hit the keys his form would look at her and seem to shimmer before dissipating. Almost like he had been an illusion all along. The space time clone was a byproduct of the trail of the trickster jutsu. He had a date, with an ugly son of a bitch, but he had the wagons, and he needed them to make their way out soon.


(Exit)

Approved