An Invitation amist the darkness (Komekage)

Four drafts lie crumpled on the floor close to where Emi had thought the door was.

Two were discarded for poor phrasing.

Two because her nerves affected her handwriting.

This was a scary thing for her, the first truly international thing she had done. At least, the first truly international thing that would bear fruits in the near future. Other things had too much uncertainty around them.

Esteemed Chikage

Thank you for the invite. As an introduction, I am Emi Tanaka, the one currently entrusted with the operation of The Village Hidden In Rice Fields. Thank you for reaching out, and no insult is taken from this being a lesser known land. We are small, oft considered irrelevant, and, for a time, that has served us well. It is an honor to be considered for such a prestigious event. Despite this past, I see a future of cooperation, and a bright path towards that future. I am most excited to attend the Ball and the following Summit.

Forwards to the future,

Emi Tanaka

Emi hurriedly rushed the letter. Kuruoshiki had seemed less perturbed by the happenings, but Emi was. Maybe it was her understanding about her own position. That she was worse off, weak. Frankly Kuruoshiki could likely easily beat her in a fight. She had spent so much time recently working on "running away" that... maybe she needed to have focused on "engaging."

Perhaps this all left her paranoid, but still..


Esteemed Chikage

I send this message as a sort of warning. One by the name of Hiko Shimada recently came to my village. I send this tale as closely as my trusted gate guard has told it to me.

There was said to be a deal between this Hiko and the previous Kage. While I can find no mention of this, it is certainly not impossible. It was in attempting to enact this deal, as he claims, that brought this Hiko to Tanbogakure.

While conversing with the gate guard, Hiko said the following. I am directly quoting what my guard has told to me, though I cannot be certain his memory is infallible.

This is rather urgent business so the next in line will do. If there’s none currently, or if they’d be open to sharing the role, consider this my application. To quiet any concerns of what I could bring to the table: anonymous but powerful allies. Do me this favor, and I’ll see to it you be rewarded for not only this moment, but also the clear hard work you’re putting in.

The guard did not take this as as much of a threat that I have. Perhaps I am overthinking it. I hope I am. Even still, this is a warning to you, and to the other Kage of the summit. If Hiko Shimada is in attendance for Tanbogakure,  rather than myself, something likely awful has happened.

I am not asking you to come, simply letting you know. I would not wish to become indebted to a major village.

Thank you,

Emi Tanaka

And so off the bird would fly, carrying its message to the Chikage.

Emi took heed of the letter, reading it through. Once, twice, thrice.

She hoped the Chikage was right, that Emi was simply too inexperienced and placing too much importance on a threat of that sort.

Even so...

There was a part of her that was at least somewhat experienced.

She gathered up the materials she had used to pen the message, and the materials she had penned it with, and on. Anything that could have potentially leaked the contents of either message, besides her herself.

She burnt them in a dumpster, making sure they were all reduced to pointless ash before leaving them.

The ribbon was placed in a random drawer of her desk. Along with plenty of other supplies. It had no markings, nothing of the sort.

And it was a backup Emi would be a fool not to keep.

But quite possibly also a fool to use.

A true sign of her victory would be returning it, in person, at the onset of the summit.

[Exit]