#in jutsu

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Task Six] If You Are Not Granted Glory, Be Content With Fame | Open

And so another falls.

It’s become so commonplace that it’s hard to even pretend to be surprised. The victim too, unsurprising. This silly fellow had even taken it upon himself to personally show off how weak he was in the trial. It probably would’ve barely taken a real blow to end him. Jinsei Yuuhara... she’d never ended up speaking to him much. He shared that in common with most of the other victims. Rinko took a breath and then prepared herself for what was fast becoming the grind around these parts though it was an odd thing to get used to. She glances at the information found on the file and tilts her head. This time it’s a broken neck... well it seems this body isn’t as gory as the others. That’s at least something. Or maybe it isn’t. It’s mostly likely too early to tell such a thing, anyway.

"Yuuhara-shi did not deserve this.” Rinko frowns. She always does these little speeches, doesn’t she? Well, it’s deserved, she wagers. Those who have passed on deserve respect. “We should all be better than this. Dark secrets can make people do dark things, this is true, but it is inexcusable all the same. We will fight for Yuuhara-shi’s justice and the culprit will pay for their crimes.”

She glances around, wondering who exactly would be willing to tag along before just striding on ahead. Maybe someone would help out later on. “You are always free to help me find this justice.” she adds, as if to make that part clear.

Her first move is to glance around the library. It made sense to start with the scene of the crime, after all and besides, exploring the entire area on one’s own power seemed commendable but unwise in nature. It would take a frightful amount of time to say the very least.

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Event] Don't Speak of Secrets in Fields Full of Little Hills | Open

So that's what it's come to, has it?

Secrets.  A low blow, but she's come to expect such cowardly maneuvers from the bear. Still, it is a point of concern, how can it not be? It's not just the secrets in boxes bothering her it's that photo of Yua Kaneshiro too. That girl really is dangerous...

The polite thing to do, the righteous thing, is to leave all the boxes alone and not play this game at all but the smart thing to do is to keep informed and as such... the kunoichi takes one and reads over her new found information. She quirks an eyebrow, keeping her feelings on the written vague before deciding perhaps there is something to be done here.

She clears her throat for attention before speaking in her usual crisp voice, confident and without any sign of distress.

"If you want to exchange information you can find me in the Meeting Room."

And that's as simple as it is in her mind.

The kunoichi leaves with a sweep of her cape and heads back the familiar set of passageways that guide her back to the meeting room. Perhaps this is a bit of a risk, formally inviting anyone to bash her head in but she's more capable than some of them might realise. Besides, they'd have to be really stupid to try and ambush her in a place she'd chosen. Well, it was too early to guess who might come and what might come of it. Better to just wait for a bit and see what'd happen. It's not like she's entirely bored here, she'd taken one of those fairy tomes from the library and was now casually flicking through it, her eyes never straying too far from the door.

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Task 5] Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard | Open

Mika Tsukiko's demise was an odd thing she had trouble putting into words. In a sense, a sick one, she understood it well enough. But on the other hand it bothered her. Someone who put themself ahead of anyone... their desires, their friends, their revenge... that sort of path had no appeal. There was no honour in the search of such selfish gains.

Three deaths and what had been achieved? Nothing. Although one death was not the fault of Mika herself. That wasn't the only thing weighing on her mind. There was also the matter of Yua Kaneshiro. Were they really going to let her just walk around here freely after she was outed as a traitor? Perhaps she'd try to work some charisma and get the girl locked up somehow. That's what you did with those who broke the law and those who tarnished the honour of the group. It made sense in her mind but if it came down to a vote that was. Difficult. Perhaps it wouldn't go in her favour. Especially not with Chiyoko fighting with her every step of the way. What a nightmare.

Well, there's no use dwelling in the past. Well wishes weren't going to bring back Masumi Hirai, Katsuie Hagane, Risa Koezukuri and Mika Tsukiko. Or even Reiji Eguchi. Nor even Shizue Ariga and Kaho Tsukuda. God, how many of them were dead now? Were people so easily corrupted? Obviously, but she didn't expect it to happen... so quickly. And perhaps for once, that puts an emotion on her face that isn't composed smugness. Apprehension.

As the new area opens she is only too glad to have something new to waste her time with. It's as she's exploring that she lets loose a low whistle in realisation of just how dangerous this area can become what with the lack of rails and other such fun things. She'll have to keep that in mind. All the rooms have points of interest but it's the potion storage that fascinates her the most. What exactly is this area about? She wastes no time in nosing around only stopping (and even then only somewhat) when she hears something. Or rather, someone.

"Fascinating, isn't it." she states in a rhetoric fashion as someone enters. How did she always know when someone entered? Maybe that was due to being someone who specialised in stealth. Or perhaps it was just a way to keep people at bay regardless of whether they were there or not, just on the off-chance. It was always rather hard to tell what was on her mind.

The kunoichi turns a bottle around in between her fingers, her eyes narrowed as she tries to determine just how dangerous this is, exactly. It's not really her strong suit, arcane potions without labels, but does anyone specialise in it? It might be worth the effort looking into the effects regardless.

[shsl-kunoichi]

An Ant on the Move Does More Than a Dozing Ox | Himeko, Chiyoko

Being greeted with a dead body was not an everyday thing, not even for a less than everyday person such as Rinko Kirigakure. Let alone two dead bodies which was. Well. Grim.

Hm.

Taking a look at the files and collecting herself she frowns at the pertinent information. Well, well, well, there were already some interesting things to be seen. Risa had died first by quite some time... and... heart failure? As in, a heart attack? Perhaps that indicated a poison. That was something she had some familiarity on. Well looking at the information on its own would do her no good so she stretches her arms out and then prepares herself to move. It was time to get this underway.

"Koezukuri-shi and Hagane-shi, though I did not know them, deserve peace and justice. We would find more if we worked together. You two," she points vaguely to the pink-haired menace from before and her former roomie. Ex-roomie, that was an odd relationship to have with someone. Better than her current roommate though, who was dead. "you seem free. Shall we depart? There's a lot to do. Let's put aside petty contrivances to get this done."

And with that she takes a look around the treasure room, looking vaguely at the chests and floor for any signs of blood or damage. It's a starting place at the very least.

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Task Four] If You Fear Death, You're Already Dead | Open

Not with a bang but with a whimper, huh...

She was disappointed, that went without saying. Rinko Kirigakure, in her first moments here, had met with this Reiji Eguchi and now he was dead. There was something about that boy she liked - yes, bizarre and perhaps overconfident but she appreciated a flare of cockiness in a person. And now here he was, dead. Not even really murdered - punished by overstepping the boundaries. Mentally she sighs. That's why you always figure out the rules and make sure to stick to them. A little cheekiness here and there is fine so long as you find the loophole that makes it acceptable.

Well, no matter, it's not her concern, she supposes. People were going to die here anyway - especially now that this motive is in play. A two for one deal is it... isn't that something.

She isn't quite sure what to make of this motive. Can such real bonds be really made in such a place? Maybe she's being cynical. The temptation of getting out is temptation enough. Hell, given what happened to the taxidermist no motive is needed at all for the pieces to move. Which means she needs to begin her moving as well.

And move she does, around the new floor in search of anything that might be helpful. A plan, a route, a weapon... anything and everything. Suspicious? Maybe. But she's always been suspicious and she has no intention of letting herself be a victim here nor unguarded and unprepared for whatever may be. She has that snowglobe still, yes, but, it isn't the most useful of creations. Perhaps it'll be a good peace offering.

Regardless, Rinko finds herself in the Meeting Room, her eyes searching each bookshelf and each book in particular. There are apparently some pamphlets in here too... it's hard to know what any of this means. Well, in an overview sense anyway, the books were easy enough to grasp but why they were there... that was trickier. Nothing was immediately obvious but maybe there was some code she was missing here. She is glancing at one particular book written in some language she can't grasp, perhaps it's Italian, on an unfamiliar location when a noise behind her alerts her to another presence. A new one. She waits for a bit, playing dumb, before snapping the book shut without turning around. She does like that element of shock.

"I won't criticize you but for you to honestly think you can sneak up on a ninja, that's... quite something. Confident, let's say."

She sighs and then whirls around, a mischievous grin on her face. Rinko hardly seems fazed by any of the tragedies thus far. It's hard to say why. Does this sort of thing happen often to a student of ninjutsu? Or is it something else? Rinko is happy to keep such thoughts to herself. He who wears the strongest face may win a battle without drawing a sword.

"Unless you just wanted to talk. I imagined people tired of talk these days, though. If not... how can I help you? Kemurizome-shi does always say: 'An open ear and an open mind will always defeat an open mouth and open hands'. And thus I am here, with an open ear and mind."

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Task Three] | In Death, We Are Equal | Akira & Kaho

The sounds that ring out shatter her peace and she scowls because of it. Is there no such thing as decency in this place? Trekking to the place of the crime she stares in awe. Was this really what it looked like...? Before she has a moment to even process it the bear reappears piping up in the most annoying fashion once more.

"Forgetful? Don't make me laugh." she snarks under her breath. In all honesty she's having a hard time processing this. Oh, finding a picture or hearing a story, those could be graphic and disturbing in their own right but seeing something with your own eyes with little distraction... that was something else. The blood is unmistakable as is the body. Shizue Ariga, huh. Rinko briefly contemplated whether she ever saw it coming or not. That in itself is proof of the seriousness of this game.

She'd underestimated the situation. This could be worse than she thought. It'd become a bit of a show, with the annoying announcements and caveats. Much harder to get by safely and quietly as she was so used to. Rinko tried to skim over the bear's annoying words as they so grated on her nerves but it turned out listening was for the best.

He was up to something.

"... An... execution? He is adding rules now... well... this changes things, doesn't it...?" the kunochi places her head in one hand and frowns. Well as she'd said... this certainly did change this. She wasn't sure whether it was a change for the better or the worse just yet, however. Well, no matter, standing around here was an idiotic affair and she had never been one to look like a fool. Not so easily, anyhow.

Idiocy. Kemurizome was never one to stay in one place while things needed taking care of and neither was she. In one swift motion she turns on her heel and faces the pale faces of her fellow students. This gives her a moment to survey the general atmosphere too.

The next time she speaks it's in a clear and strong voice perhaps not befitting the situation.

"You all have two choices. Sitting on your hands and whining or grabbing some courage and following me. I won't lead my people astray. Kemurizome-shi once said: 'honour your brotherhood with justice or forever leave their ranks'. So? How about we get Ariga-shi some justice?" 

[shsl-kunoichi]

[Task Two] The Guest is Always Prisoner of the Host | Open

"Hm... a... creative game and usage of time. I'm affronted to say the least." she mumbles under her breath.

There are fewer things more dangerous than baiting a wolf into combat. The second the I.D. cards had become available she had picked up hers, eager to not have anyone pry. Next was the book and she wasted no time in getting to the corresponding coffin and scooping up the scarlet book, eyes darting from the left to the right - even skimming the view above and below at times. Whether she kept secrets or not, that was her business and goodness knows what was even on these things. It might have certain things she'd rather not see. And especially rather not share. She gets to work rummaging through the pages, a frown chiseled onto her face. The spy was being spied on now? That was infuriating. It was like a letter of challenge without the address. Just who did this person think they were? And who did they think they were messing with here? There was no way she was just going to lie around and take this mental warfare from an unknown target.

They'd made it personal.

Quite literally, given the contents of this book. Although the crude crayon-ing was another thing entirely. She presses tense fingers to her temple and takes a deep breath which ends up exiting as a stressed sigh. There were things she hated in this world and things she HATED. Not knowing all the facts... that was something that could keep her up for weeks.

That didn't leave her with many options - she had to consider her choices carefully at this point and consider everyone else's too. It was so early into this weird kidnapping game that she couldn't quite tell who was a threat to her yet or not. Maybe no one was. Maybe people could be sensible but this was the public and that... that was always a tricky kettle of fish. How to handle herself in the best and smartest way possible, huh... always a task. Still if there was anything she was confident in it was herself. She'd get out of this no problem, undetected, as always.

Rinko mades a move towards the door, uninterested in staying here any longer nor engaging in the subsequent panic. Anymore than she already had anyway. She was already coming up with a plan.

It's hardly instantaneous but Rinko finds it prudent to wait for someone to come out, stalking the door as she leans against a wall. She doesn't much like being in the torture room anyway. When a person does exit however, she, in her customary fashion springs out from the shaded part of the wall without warning and grabs onto their sleeve.

"You have good timing. Hear me out? I have a proposition."

[shsl-kunoichi]

TASK 1.2 || The Crow Doesn't Whiten Under Water [Open]

The situation had changed which meant she had to adapt.

Apparently there was now a new area to check out, something about a key. Hm. If she'd bothered to put in the effort into finding it prior maybe she could've helped. Well, she isn't the type to have regrets or live in the past like that so she brushes the thought from her head no sooner than it even popped in there and moves on. Both figuratively and literally, as she strides towards the now open metal barrier.

Alert rusted grey eyes search around the dungeon area. It's nice to know that the damp mouldy water smell is just as present over here as it was in the cells. Fun. Still, there's no need to be negative - Kemurizome was never so needy nor glum so she saw no reason for her to be. If one was to reach greatness then one needed to aim for it. That was just common sense. She first scans the desk nearest to the door, her entire body tilting to the right as she peeks over the area without getting too close. There could be traps, after all. One could never be too careful. Still, the desk seemed pretty deserted. It likely hadn't been used in a while. Didn't seem that interesting anyway. So she turns her attention to the path ahead and comes to a crossroads - literally. There are a set of stairs to traverse and two more separate paths beyond that. What's a girl to do, hm?

Usually Rinko would use a coin. Even a ninja could believe in fortune, after all. Not overly - of course not. Talent always beats luck. But a little luck... that could often help sifting through choices. In the end she has... a curious feeling, a sort of warmth not previously felt emanating from one particular path so it's that path she picks. Or, door, rather. There wasn't much walking to be done here.

The room was... interesting. The peasant-like decor was still in full fervor but it was, indeed, warmer in here than elsewhere. Several very hand-made (in her opinion) clumsy pieces of furniture. There's a thick stench of strong alcohol in the air too and the gentle ambiance of twigs crackling. That smell was gross. Sake was acceptable but this was just... cheap. Like some sort of pirate's hideaway.

"If this much effort has gone into the aesthetic one wonders why it still looks so poor." she mutters to herself, eyes still wandering. Rinko steps around the room, generally glancing from here and there in search of... well, anything.