In search of answers. (Kaji&Mika)

Kaji was already peering into the room. "Someone likes to smoke " kaji said, as the clouds of grey blew past them

a light flicked on inside the room " welcome to Kusa" came the raspy voice

Kaji led her into the room of Kuma "that black haired guy said we would wanna talk to you... as soon as he saw my friend"

" Anzai Mika ... yes I was expecting her to show up sooner or later " replied the voice which came from behind a tall black chair which faced the wall.

the room was adorned with book cases. the long desk of red wood was littered with papers and ashtrays. ivory white skulls were used as paper wights "please wont you sit down |"

Mika stiffened as the eerie voice from behind the desk uttered her name. She neared Kaji as she was suspicious of this man after all. Her hands clenched into fists and she sat down in a green velvet chair stoically. "And why were you expecting my arrival, Kuma-sama?" She inquired, burning a hole into the back of the chair where the man resided with her gaze.

Kaji sat in a chair to the left Mika

the voice chuckled darkly " Because every one comes looking for the truth sooner or later " Kuma said reaching his hand up slowly. it was bony a chalk white. the door closed with a slam " Curiosity is an horrible thing"

Kaji jumped slightly as the door slammed home " We are looking for someone " he said

" Anzai Nami ... the little demon child " Kuma rasped " Daughter of Anzai Ran, Tell me Anzai Mika how long has your father been missing "

Mika sat there emotionless. Her face had paled and the most lively feature were her eyes. They were usually a copper brown color, now they shined bright amber. As the man spoke of her father, Ran, and Nami, her fingers clawed the arms of the chair, practically about to tear the fabric right off. "My father, Anzai Reizo, has been away now for 6 years. Are you suggesting he had something to do with Ran and Nami?" She growled before adding, "And by the way, curiosity, isn't such a terrible thing because quite frankly, without it, a person wouldn't be able to grow. Their mind would just rot away without even a single thought as to why and how things happen. It motivates us to conquer and challenge new things."

Kuma chuckled again and his chair swiveled around to reveal a man with hair of pure white and scarlet eyes, he was thin nearly skeletal.

Kaji had bile rising in his throat but he swallowed it down with a gulp

Kuma picked up his pipe and filled it with tobacco. he lit it with his finger and sucked in the chemicals. " I had met Reizo on twice prior to Ran's Birth each time he told me to quit smoking because it would kill me... I chuckled and said it made me stronger " there was no wheeze no rasp "such a tragedy when your sister died "

Mika scrutinized the man up and down, disgustingly thin and crimson eyes that peered deep into her. Her breath got caught in her throat, impairing her speech for a minute. Once she regained composure she swallowed and looked at the man straight in the eye, "My...sister? Sir, are you telling me that Ran was my sister? But... what was the reason as to why my father has to abandon the village? This... this doesn't make any sense..." She trailed off, lost in her thoughts.

" Must I repeat myself foolish girl it was a tragedy your sisters fate ... you heard me your sister is dead why your father left Suna is not what I know" he said before taking another long hit from the pipe
" Now as is custom one or both of the godparents can claim the child Ran new much about her other family about you Mika ... she named you godmother... but this one " he said looking to Kaji " knows a great deal about the child's condition "

Kaji nodded " Hai... Raiden nami's father said I was to be the Godfather "

Kuma looked at each of them "I shall give you the paper work you both should think out your options " he said waving his hand which caused the door to creek open

All this information was coming way to fast for her to grasp it. She was completely bombarded and in a state of shock. Mika glared daggers at the man before rising from her seat and walking out of the door, not uttering a word. She waited for Kaji, tapping her foot and sighing. 'How could she have named me godmother to the child? I never even knew she existed. She must have really trusted me...' Mika thought, leaning up against the wall.

Kaji walked out with some papers in his hand " right lets get out of here, go back to th inn and sort through everything" he said putting his hand softly on her shoulder

"Alright." Mika mumbled, exhaling deeply. They walked out of the orphanage and back towards the Kusagakure inn. Opening the door to their room, she waited for him to enter before closing it once more. Mika walked to her bed and sat at its rim, her wavy hair cascading over her face. Her hands cupped her bare knees and she sighed again, "Alright, lets see that paper work."

Kaji handed over the file

"kuma also gave me the murder report" he said sitting down on a folding chair " ANBU found one Ran Anzai in front of her home with her severed head between her legs Nami was curled up in a ball in the window rocking back and forth "Kaji set the report down "your her family and you have more claim to her than i do but ... Raiden has a large house in kiri as well as land "

Mika read over the report, her fingers tracing over the printed text. For some reason a great deal of emotions washed over her and her eyes began to well up with tears threatening to spill out. 'Why are you being so weak! Are you really gonna cry? You didn't even know the woman!' She scolded herself inwardly, blinking away the moistness from her eyes. "What monsters..." She snarled before looking back up at Kaji, "Well, she is my niece and I intend on taking care of her but, I have no intentions of taking Raiden's house or land. That is her rightful property and might as well be the only remains of her parents that she has left. I ask of you one thing Kaji. Will you deal with those matters? Make sure that everything goes to her name?" She pleaded, rubbing at her eyes and running a hand through her hair.

Kajileaned forward " I will make sure Nami gets her legacy ...but I ... I had intended to adopt her before any of this " he mused "i wanted to bring her back to kiri but she could always visit you or you her " he said holding out some tissue " dry your eyes Mika"

"Oh, of course. I mean, it really makes more sense since you knew her parents more than I did. I will be sure to visit her without a doubt and thank-you." Mika replied with a heart-felt smile, taking the tissue graciously and wiping her eyes. The questions regarding her father were still unsolved but, at the moment she had oher matters to attend to.

Kaji glanced over the paper work and filled out the paper work.

" so what have we learned today" kaji said rubbing his chin "your father had another daughter who was 2-3 years older than yourself , he went missing shortly after Nami was born, Nami was four years old when her mother was killed before her eyes " he paused " and apparently your father knew the current leader of this village and the creepy guy from the orphanage "

"I believe that sums it all up. But, Why did my father have to leave the village? I guess I'll figure it out over lunch tomorrow with that Nariko fellow and his father." Mika sighed, taking the paperwork in her hand and signing it in the corresponding areas. "You will be accompanying me, right? To the lunch I mean."

" hai" kaji said fluffing his pillow " in a strange way you are my family now ... and I cant have you walking into a trap alone " he opened up the file on Ran " there was blood at the scene obviously not Ran's since her killer stopped the acidic bleeding...interesting "

Mika ran to the bathroom and changed from out of her short black kimono into some baggy sweats and a cut off mesh shirt. "Wait, The killer stopped the acidic bleeding? What do you mean by that..." She asked, plopping her toned frame into the goose-down bed and sinking in its mass of blankets and pillows. She sighed contently and snuggled up with the comforter, peeking her head out to look at Kaji.

when the head was removed there must have been an initial spray if the corpse was left leaking th blood wouldnt it have ate away at the dirt?" he asked. Kaji rubbed the bridge of his nose " but the report make no mention of it only how the body was found "

Mika had a sudden revelation, "This crime couldn't have been committed by just anyone. Let alone a gang of thugs, no matter how skilled they were. No one knows of the secret substance that can contain our blood thats known as, 'Uwagi' amongst our people. So, if the blood hadn't eroded the terrain then it had to have been contained. Only someone of our clan could have done this and... and... the only other person that knew of her existence was...my father." She uttered, curling up into a ball and burying her face deep into her hands.

But why would he ?" Kaji said shaking his head "things just keep getting more troublesome " he muttered getting up from the chair which he folded away " i say we get some rest and sleep on things "

"Alright." Mika spoke, practically a whisper. She tossed her body back onto the sheets and sank into the fluff, quickly falling fast asleep from exhaustion. All throughout the night she rolled and turned, bad omens and memories plaguing her dreams. Her eyes shot open from her nightmare and she broke out into a cold sweat. ' This is crazy. Mika get a hold of yourself.' She thought as she tried to slip back into slumber. Unable to, she just lay there in her bed staring at the ceiling, the moonlight pouring in through the open window.

" Cant Sleep" Kaji said from the floor. He had been woken by her mumbling in her sleep " I cant blame you alot has hit you today "

"Oh, I'm so sorry did I wake you?" Mika spoke regretfully, sitting up on her bed. "Yea, i guess thats true..." She hopped off the mattress and dug into her bag, pulling out a canteen of water and a container she had filled with noodles. She waddled back and sat lotus style on her bed, leaning her back against the wall and hungrily digging into the noodles with chopsticks. "Sorry, I'm a late night snacker and was terribly hungry. So, when do we go and pick up Nami?"

after this meeting " he sighed "we will need to stop searching for your father " kaji said sitting up "I dont want to endanger her "