[center][h2][b][color=ed1c24]Katsuko Moto[/color][/b][/h2][/center] Considering he was one of the last, if not [i]the[/i] last, to leave the ruined festival it was only natural that Katsuko was the last to arrive at the headquarters. There were a number of casualties, for sure, but it wasn't debatable that the Red Sages had inflicted much greater damage to the Confederation than the other way around. But still he could see that the number of shinobi present was smaller than he had hoped. They probably lost a dozen men, at least. Maybe even twenty. But he decided not to dwell on it. People died all the time. He's seen many faces come and go since he joined the Red Sages a few years ago. It was the nature of their war that they would have casualties. Rather than go directly to Seijo to report in, he decided to take a shower and change his clothes. By the time he was freshened up he was no longer wearing a red jacket and jeans but instead a black t-shirt and sweatpants. Still didn't put on any shoes as it was clear he was trying to relax. The burning sensation in his chakra system still persisted but it was dwindling down over time. Not that he was going to tell anyone about his problem anyways, so it was good that the effect wasn't permanent. Eventually Seijo called for a meeting, demanding everyone present to attend. He already had a good idea on what she wanted to talk about and what she was planning, but still showed up anyways. [color=ed1c24]"Yo,"[/color] he greeted, entering the room and taking a quick glance around. Anzai was here, surprisingly. The blind jounin didn't participate in the Festival raid, but Katsuko wasn't about to criticize him for it. It was handled just fine as it was. Katsuko sat down in a chair near Seijo, but before he could relax into it he decided to take up her offer on reporting things. [color=ed1c24]"I held off the shinobi before leaving, that's why I left late,"[/color] he explained. That much was already evident and Seijo could've guessed it. He lowered his voice for the next part though. [color=ed1c24]"By the way... you shouldn't try to fight Yakoul Kakariko in the future. Just fall back if he ever challenges you."[/color] With his message conveyed, Katsuko finally leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. This was not only a comfortable position but had the slight benefit of showing off his muscles. [color=ed1c24]"That's all."[/color] He glanced backwards briefly, to look at the pictures on the wall, before returning his gaze forward and closing his eyes. Not that he was going to try to sleep, but that he knew he could relax and listen at the same time. Odds are if he actually fell asleep Seijo would sucker-punch him or something, and he didn't want to test that theory either way. [hr] [center][h2][b][color=0072bc]Mirai Yumiya[/color][/b][/h2][/center] It seemed that it was finally over. Everyone, or at least everyone around the destroyed compound right now, was okay. Aside from the dead commander, of course. Miria was slightly bothered when Kanata clung to her after the danger passed, but she thought that perhaps the girl had some kind of anxiety attack. After all she could've died a moment ago and Mirai's robot arm wasn't exactly gentle. Mirai herself was definitely scared earlier but that came to pass with the end of the battle. However it wasn't smooth sailing just yet as Yakoul announced he would punish the two girls and then threw the commander's corpse at them. Rather than move out of the way and scream like Kanata, Mirai stood her ground and raised her robotic arm in defense. The body slammed into it, staggering Mirai a little bit before falling to the ground at the girls' feet. [color=0072bc]"That's sick..."[/color] Mirai was no stranger to death and she wasn't squeamish like Kanata was, but it was still unsettling to have a dead body thrown at her. But it was from their own general. What could they do about it? Complain? Who could they complain to? He stood at the top of the hierarchy, there was very few people above Yakoul and her words would never reach them. She just had to grit her teeth and bear it. [color=0072bc]"Yeah, I'll help you with the body."[/color] Mirai grabbed the dead commander by his shins and lifted him up in synch with the red-haired girl. [color=0072bc][i]I guess this is fair punishment. Just moving a body to pay for being useless...[/i][/color] [hr] [color=8dc73f]"Yeah, that bruise won't be going away for a while,"[/color] Aneko said, lowering Mirai's shirt now that she inspected the blue mark just beneath her ribs. The teenager and her servant were back in their hotel room now. The older woman had a bandage wrapped around her head but Mirai didn't need anything of the sort. [color=8dc73f]"We're lucky that he hit us low. A little higher and our ribs would've been pushed in our lungs."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Ew, please don't talk about it like that."[/color] The blue-haired teen adjusted her shirt once Aneko let go, moving towards the window to look out. [color=8dc73f]"We are lucky though, Mirai. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. If any of those rebels wanted they could've-"[/color] [color=0072bc]"Please! Stop."[/color] The servant lady let out a defeated sigh before flopping onto her bed, laying down to stare at the ceiling. [color=0072bc]"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. It's just that I feel terrible about it. We didn't do anything. I couldn't do anything. It was humiliating..."[/color] Aneko kept quiet, continuing to stare at the ceiling. [color=0072bc]"Maybe I'm not really cut out to be a shinobi. It took me so long to become chuunin and I barely got it. It was only because of father getting me this [i]fake[/i] arm that I even became [i]slightly[/i] competent. If I keep trying I'll probably just die like a dog."[/color] [color=8dc73f]"But didn't you save that one girl you met?"[/color] Mirai looked back at Aneko, confused. [color=0072bc]"I saved her?"[/color] [color=8dc73f]"Well yeah. If one of those rocks hit her she would've been a goner."[/color] The younger one pondered over this for a moment, looking back towards the window to look at the smoking village again. [color=8dc73f]"We should probably go to that meeting now, Mirai."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Yeah, let's go."[/color] [hr] The two girls entered the meeting room silently. They were fairly early, as the meeting had just began judging by how few people had arrived so far. Mirai was quick to spot the red hair of her new friend Kanata. She walked across the room quietly, taking a seat next to Kanata without making a sound. Aneko took the seat on Mirai's other side. Only after the two were situated that Mirai spoke up. [color=0072bc]"Hey, Kanata,"[/color] she greeted, in case the girl didn't detect the two sit down. [color=0072bc]"This is Aneko Toyama, a family friend of mine."[/color] At the mention of her name, Aneko gave a slight bow in Kanata's direction but otherwise said nothing. [color=0072bc]"By the way, I never caught your full name. I'm Mirai Yumiya, of Amegakure. Where are you from?"[/color] It seemed that Mirai was mostly ignoring Yakoul and the meeting itself, though one couldn't tell whether that was intentional or if she was just caught up in being friendly with her first [i]real[/i] friend.