Ch186-Political Date

Yet another polite cough from Lord Shibuki drew my eyes away from Mei across the booth. I caught a glimpse of her smile growing into a smirk but it vanished by the time I looked up with focus. The respirator wearing clan head seated by her side made no other indication that he'd been watching me intently enough to catch my boredom drift to lustful admiration, but he'd coughed one too many times for it all to be just a coincidence.

I squashed the blush of embarrassment at being caught down, smothering it beneath a veil of absolute professionalism and tuned back into what Lady Suikazan was lecturing me about.

"...but we've taken enough of your time, Lord Fourth, wouldn't want to bore you out of interest." Lady Suikazan said, rousing a chorus of polite chuckles from her peers and myself. "I just hope we have at least piqued your interest or at least drawn significant attention to the issues and the opportunities."

It was too late. I'd paid relatively enough attention to understand the gist of what they wanted, it was nearly identical to what Hidaki, Junko and the other main three wanted. With the singular difference that they had less to give immediately but also weren't demanding all the things they could demand.

Like I do with most meetings of this scale of importance, I had us go out for lunch and Masuka's Grill, the fine bar and grill Junichi had discovered sometime ago. He and by extension I had become a regular and was afforded my own booth based on brand loyalty rather than my title and power.

With this meeting though, I wasn't nearly as attentive as I should've been and it wasn't entirely my fault. Between being a clone, eating and having to listen to low caste socio-economic problems and cultural ostracization all while Mei sat there looking so…let's just say my attentions were split.

I put on my most diplomatic smile and nodded at the Lady Suikazan sat beside me, "You've pressed your case well," I turned to Lord Kozui and Shibuki who squeezed in beside Mei and added, "each of you have. Mei might have mentioned but I've always had intentions to change and improve the very conditions you've spoken about today."

Lord Shibuki spoke up, his voice a rasp behind that respirator, "Indeed she has, Lord Fourth, however, you can understand our eagerness considering recent changes in the village. A year of your reign is coming to pass and already, the Hozuki and Funato clans are swollen with new power."

Mei flashed me a sheepish smile as she nervously countered, "And we're taking it as a sign that there's room for the low caste to rise, Yagura-sama is the only one that can take us to where we see ourselves, isn't that right?"

The clan heads didn't answer but Lady Suikazan stood from my side, "We can only hope...but hope doesn't satisfy the disgruntled, abused and enslaved." She took a deep breath, wore a smile and bowed towards me as her fellows took the cue to start leaving, "Thank you for treating us to such a meal, Lord Fourth, and thank you for hearing us speak, I pray you listened."

She's even more passive aggressive than Mei. Lord Kozui and Shibuki bowed as well, thanking me for the meal and leaving Mei their farewells. I watched the orange-haired Suikazan lead them out of the scanty bar before turning my attention to Mei. She was grinning, her head held up by a pillar of hands tilted to the side as her eyes whispered something into mine.

"What?" I nearly stammered. What is wrong with me today?

"Just wondering what you're really thinking. You were very quiet." She said, her silver painted nails drew figures on the table. A kunai, shuriken and one I couldn't recognize, "Did you actually listen? And I mean listen."

I couldn't help the exasperated sigh as I slouched against the booth chair, "I did, up till a point. Mei, I understand what you're trying to do and I get that their issues can't be ignored."

Traces of mirth and amusement vanished, "But? Why is there a but?"

Rather than say the word I sat up, my fingers intertwined on the table, "Okay, tell me then. Lady Suikazan's hope for equal opportunities amongst clans, how do you imagine I bring that to life? At current, Genin and Chuunin with relevant skills towards assassination and infiltration will end up being interviewed and tested by a Hozuki, not because that department belongs solely to them, no, but because they-"

"They dominate the field, yes, ugh, you've said so. But why are they dominating it? It's because they've had years to apply and develop private techniques and Ninjutsu other clans are either banned from accessing or heavily restricted." Mei shot back, she leaned forward and my breath hitched as her chest bulged at me, "To begin with, do you think the Shibuki clan would do badly at assassination and infiltration?"

I rolled my eyes, partly out of tiredness but mostly to not have to look, "No, the Poison Mist would fair quite well in that field."

"Exactly!" she fell back and shook her head at me, "So why is it that only three of their shinobi are a part of the ANBU black ops? Why are so few working-"

"I understand, Mei, I do. But to get to the root of the problem we first need to take things gradually."

She eyed me intensely but softened considerably as she asked, "How gradually?"

I shrugged, "If I were to decide right now I'd say we start by giving more commercial assistance and funding. Kiri is about to empty out with the Funato and Hozuki moving, it'll be a good, cultural signal to everyone that the low caste is moving up as well. What's that saying again…a rising tide raises all boats or something?"

Mei didn't look satisfied, she released her bit lip with a huff and sighed, "I guess so, we also want more commercial rights and support."

"There's no rush, Mei, this is just my first year and I will have decades more."

She eyed me with a passionate thought behind those emerald eyes, but then they went half-lid, cast to the side as she muttered, "I heard what you did." I was confused for a moment but then those greens found me again, "In Konoha."

"Oh…Ao must've told you. That's classified information, I hope you haven't mentioned it to anyone else." I said, suddenly squirming.

She shook her head, "He told me because he was worried…or rather scared. You already almost died and for what?"

My eyes darted around the bar and found it still scantier than my patience after a long day. And it was really getting long. "Let's get out of here, okay? It's getting late out anyway, we'll talk as we walk?" I said, already out of my seat and inching towards the exit.

Mei didn't argue, she rose from her seat and elegantly walked past me, not even waiting for me to hold the door open for her. I waved the grill owner goodnight and promised I'd send someone with the bill; I had my wallet with me but all the money was replicated from the original and would cease to exist as soon as I did.

"Mei! Wait up will you?" I called out to her, feeling the heat of her silence radiate already. Groaning, I said, "I had to do that, everything Ao told you about…what he shouldn't have, I had to do it."

"Why?"

"Because some things can't be avoided but you have to try anyway. I tried and I didn't do as well as I hoped but what I did there was necessary for the future of Kirigakure, no, for the shinobi world."

"But it's Konoha, I know you've been trying to fix an alliance with-"

"Mei," I stressed, grabbing her arm so she stops walking and listens. "Trust that I am working for Kirigakure's interests, its best interests. There are many things you'd be better off not knowing and what I did for Konoha is one of them."

She didn't like it, her lip pinched and eyes darted to the side. Still she nodded, "Understood, it's classified."

"And…do you trust me?"

She shrugged, "You haven't shown much to trust, Yagura-sama, but I have to, don't I?"

I caught the sliver of mirth in her words and latched onto it. I smiled and rolled my eyes, slyly slipping her hand into mine, "How about I start small, walking a fine lady home for one."

"You'd have to anyway so no points for that, but if you'd just say what you've been thinking all night…" her fingers slid loosely against mine and I noticed she hadn't pulled away.

"Uh…why do you think I've been thinking? No, I mean, I've been thinking but not what…you…I…" I half considered poofing out of existence to escape the glaring heat rising against my cheeks and the increased sweatiness of the palm she just happened to be holding.

She giggled at my reaction, her cute snorts turning to barely restrained cackles as we continued our stroll away from the Masuka's Grill. The streets could fit a cart of goods but were narrow and sparsely lit that our walk into the residential could be mistaken as romantic.

The sound and sight of her laughter made me think differently. Her head, thrown back in the hysterics of my very poor cover up and her soft, small hands still rested in mine. "I'm sorry. Our meeting today was set up quite formally, didn't get informal until later and you could argue it still isn't." I doubted Lady Suikazan brightened up at the thought of having grilled meat and sake with me.

"But, now that it's over and just us?" She prodded, fluttering her eyes wickedly at me.

I took the pangs of emotion to my heart and let them intoxicate me, "You are stunning and I don't want to stop looking at you."

Her mouth fell open and half a second later so did mine. Her hand slipped away from mine as I gulped and stammered out, "I mean, the dress just does wonders for your shape and the make up, you got it right. Yeah, that's what I meant."

She made a sound and we continued walking in a deepening awkward silence. I didn't mean to get that intoxicated. What was I even thinking right now? Nothing. There was nothing in my head, I had no plans to make this less bad than it was or stop it from becoming worse. The silence was eating me and my head continued to be empty as a barrel lost in a bar. 

Guided by memory and pattern, our feet set us down the path into Kiri's lower class district. It wasn't called that officially and it didn't even fit the description of the true lower class districts, but the neighbourhood was less spacious than the environs I'd been privileged to grow up in. There were more apartment style buildings rather than clan compounds and even clan compounds were shy copies of the illustrious luxury the main clans enjoyed in the central district.

I studied every cornershop, drugstore and dark alleyway we strolled past. Examined the faces of the few still moving about this time of night and counted the electric poles staked beside the sidewalks. Anything but look at her.

"We're here," Mei announced suddenly, stopping in front of an old stone house nestled neatly among its neighbors. Vines crept along its walls, weaving through the cracks like nature's own embellishments, while potted plants lined the short stairway leading to the entrance. A small iron gate, slightly ajar, framed the pathway, and a canopy of ivy draped over the porch, casting dappled shadows against the aged stone. The house, though weathered, felt alive—its greenery breathing warmth into the structure.

I've been here before. The memories of covert missions, picking Mei up for them and dropping her off. I looked up to the house's roof and felt a pull of comfort from it. I spent too many hours sitting there waiting for Mei but also…I always came an hour early.

"How's your grandmother?"

"Grand-aunt, and she's fine, or as fine as she can be aging to death. But she might be happy to see you."

I winced, "It mustn't be easy, watching her grow old, watching her die."

Mei shook her head, "That's the easy part, I don't have to do anything but she keeps nagging me about the next generation of Terumi and getting married before something kills me."

"I guess that's good news then? You were sick of her chasing your boyfriends away—not that I approved of any either," I said, stepping forward to lean against the cobbled granite fence that truly enclosed the home. The rough stone was cool beneath my touch, its top adorned with pots overflowing with vibrant flowers, ripening peppers, and clusters of berries. Their mingling scents perfumed the air, a subtle blend of floral sweetness and earthy spice that softened the weight of the conversation.

Mei shrugged, "I guess, sometimes we don't know what we really want. I think she'll take anyone right now, even you."

"Even me? How dare you! I'm your Kage," I declared, placing a hand over my chest in mock offense. "And, technically, the most eligible bachelor in the entire Land of Water." I straightened my posture, chin lifting as if the very idea added inches to my height. A smirk played on my lips. "I'm as good as it gets, honey."

Mei gasped, snapping her fingers as if struck by sudden inspiration. A playful glint sparked in her emerald eyes as she declared, "That's all true! Alright then—let's make it official. A date."

I blinked, "A date?"

Mei leaned in, her smirk growing larger as my eyes batted frantically at all the beauty coming up against my face. In the end she pecked my cheek and giggled, "A date."