A Sentence to be Carried Out #1 [kasumi & Momochi]

Despite being detained in Kiri's government building, Kasumi slept like a rock.  Last night was the first night in years where she actually got to sleep in a bed.  It was only a twin sized bed, and the mattress was must likely older than her, but it was comfortable all the same.  The Kage's men even supplied her with a blanket.  Many nights were spent sleeping on the ground with a root or two jabbing her in the back while she slept on the island.  If she had stayed in the Mist as a genin, she would have gained triple the ninja skills she currently possessed.  But being shipwrecked on that fateful island did teach her how to survive.  Being detained would be a breeze.  It wasn't like the Kage had thrown her in prison.  This arrangement would be temporary, or so the young teen hoped.  Kasumi rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat up.  She placed her feet on the floor and yawned.

On the floor near the door was a plate of food and a cup of water.  It would seem they would even be gracious enough to supply her with breakfast.  Kasumi wasn't the leased bit surprised when her taste buds discovered that the food was very bland, but young Hyuuga ate it anyway.  It was cold too, but she was starving and the meal supplied her with sufficient calories.  After she finished, Kasumi set the plate and cup back down where she found them and washed her face.  She sat back on the bed and wondered if someone would fetch for her today.

Kasumi couldn't help be repeat the Kage's words over her in her head:  "You'll be sentenced to hard labor as well as questioning and a psychiatric check in order to confirm that you are you and not some brainwashed puppet. There will be no negation on this, you can either take this or the alternative of the normal trial.”  Those words scared her and made her anxious at the same time.  

I'm not a brainwashed puppet... kasumi thought as she held her stomach.  I'm me...

But who exactly was Kasumi?  Three years ago the young Hyuuga had just graduated out of Kiri's ninja academy.  Three years ago she knew in her heart that she wanted to grow up and follow in her biological father's footstep and become a ninja even though she'd never gotten a chance to meet him.  But now?  Kasumi wasn't sure.  She wasn't sure who she was anymore, and the thought made her uneasy.  

Kasumi had just begun to close her eyes when a knock came from the solid metal door.  The bell-like sound nearly made her jump out of her own skin.

”Gyaaaaah!” Kasumi yelled as she stood to her feet.

”Eh-hmm, make yourself presentable.  You are to come with us,” a familiar voice grumbled from the other side of the door.

”Hurry up.  We're leaving imitatively,” the other said.

”Wait just a second.  I'll be right there!” Kasumi replied; it seemed that the two ninja who escorted her were back again.

Kasumi was tall for her age, standing tall for her age at around 1.79m, but the plain, dull-gray clothes she wore did not quite fit her – being a little too small in the sleeves and ankles.  They weren't clothing that any ninja or village folk would wear.  But it was the only outfit given to her.  Kasumi walked over and placed her hand on the door.  The seal was already broken and door swung freely.  Sure enough the familiar two nins where waiting on the other side.  They were somber as ever.  It seemed they would be her handlers for the entire ordeal.  

”Follow,” one of them said.

”Where are we going?” Kasumi asked, nervously.

”We'll be going into town.  It seems our lord Kage has found someone to administer your psychological check.  Stay close to us while we're in the city.  Its for your own protection,” said the first nin.

”And, as always, don't try to run from us.  We will find you, and you will be punished severely,” said the other nin.

I wasn't planning on running, Kasumi thought as she scowled.

The two Kiri chunin ninja lead the young Hyuuga down several winding hallways.  For a brief moment, Kasumi wondered if the Kage was still signing paperwork.  There had been a bunch piled high on his desk.  But those thoughts quickly evaporated as three made it to the front desk.  A girl who was about the same age as her escorts was reading a book as they walked by.  

”We'll be escorting this one to see someone for a psychological check,” one of Kasumi's escorting nins told the front clerk.

The lady nodded and went back to reading her book.  As they stepped outside, Kasumi was pleased to see that the rain had finally subsided.  It was still morning by the look of it.  A heavy fog now engulfed the village which muffled their footsteps.  It was probably for the best as Kasumi did not wish for Kiri's residents to see her in this state.  She definitely did not wish for her mother or her step father to see her like this.  They traveled down several streets and down several alleyways until they came upon a compound.  

It was a clan compound by the look of it.  A perimeter wall with a small gatehouse looped around the buildings; their roofs' peaked over the wall and spied on the approaching visitors.  Kasumi peer curiously at the traditional architecture.  It reminded the young teen of the stories her mother used to tell about the Hyuuga clan compound her late father used to belong to.  As they entered through the gate, kasumi could hear the sounds of running water.  A beautiful water garden flanked them as they walked into the complex.  It was simple by design, but had beauty to it that modern practices could not replicate.  Kasumi paused to look at an oddly shaped rock in the middle of the water, but on second look, it wasn't a rock at all!  It was a giant crocodile whose beady eyes stared back at the young girl with interest. Kasumi's eyes widened as her legs quickly made haste to catch back up to her chunin escorts.

That thing wants to eat me! Kasumi thought as her heart raced.

The three stood at the steps of one of the houses and waited for someone to emerge...

(WC = 1063)

Kasumi waited for an unusual amount of time before someone finally emerged from one of the buildings.  Perhaps it was because of the nerves, or because time was actually speeding along at a snail's pace.  The young Hyuuga could not tell.  Standing on a porch was an elderly woman, who had with long, wavy hair, and was wearing a traditional kimono.  She held a watering pail in her hands as she peered at the visitors with curious eyes.

”Welcome to the Yamanaka compound,” the woman said in a crackling voice.  ”How can I help you?”

”Good morning, Ma'am.  Sorry to bother you on this misty day,” one of Kasumi's escorts replied.  ”Do you know if Miss Momochi is in today?  Our Lord Kage should should have sent a messenger yesterday.”

The old woman paused for a moment, then suddenly, her eyes widened.

”Oh, Momochi!  She's such a sweet girl.  She'll make a fine kunoichi some day,” the old woman said with a slight twinkle in her eye.  But then her cast a look of sadness before she spoke again.  ”But I'm afraid I have some bad news.  It seems she's come down with an illness.  While its not life-threatening, the medical ninja that stopped by last night said she shouldn't see visitors or partake in any missions for a while.  She's currently resting right now.  I can relay a message for you if you'd like.”

Kasumi's escorts frowned, ”Sorry to hear that.  I hope she recovers soon.”  He then turned to Kasumi and his partner.  ”I suppose it cannot be helped.  We will escort you back to your room and call upon you when we find you a replacement.”

Kasumi blinked twice and nodded.  She did not know what to expect, and worse yet, the delay in her sentence only sought to fill the young teen with anxiety.  Without another word, her escorts began to walk back to kiri's government complex.  Kasumi did not dare to doddle as they reached the gatehouse, for she remembered the giant crocodile which lurked in the water gardens.  Luckily it was still early in the day and they did not encounter too many people on the streets.  Soon Kasumi found herself sitting back on her bed wondering when her chunin escorts would call for her again...

(WC = 376)
(Exit = due to other player's inactivity)
(TWC = 1063 + 376 = 1439)
(Claiming = +14 stats, 250 words towards Genjutsu Release, 1189 words towards Tako puppet)

Hey! Stats are earned at 1 per 100 words so you actually can claim 14 stats here :]

Oops! Must have been thinking about the old days, thanks for looking out for me~

Edited.

Approved