The intended target would ultimately arrive. The Miroku clan and their famous or infamous standing depending on who is asked in this community at this very moment was the recipient of the attention of Sunagakure's most affluent citizens. One Miroku Akkuma arrived with a lovely creature on his arm, "creature" being an apt description of the succubus, but upon a peripheral glance Michi would have been unaware of that tidbit of information but she did not require specifics regarding Akkuma's escort. His display just now told her volumes about the demon. His union with Toraono Seika was far from a private or a trivial matter, not only was the link between the two great clans noteworthy but something of public record and essentially "common" knowledge even to to superficially interested.
Some might call Akkuma a cad for blatantly displaying his mistress in full view. However, even if Michi lacked more than a casual understanding of the demon, she would be able to glean from the mood of the room that this was not unusual. There were no stunned expressions, no statements of surprise expressed. This was not some scandal, this was merely a Monday night for the demon if she were to take stock in the reactions from the others in the room. Of course Akkuma had not been seen publicly with Seika in years, at least if there were any public outings she had not crossed that chunk of knowledge in her broad studies. Their, being Akkuma and Seika's, union might potentially be loveless and political. However, that would mean that Akkuma's heart belonged to the woman that had kissed the demon farewell and the oracle did not think so. The woman might have entered in the company of Akkuma but she had parted ways shortly after arrival. When you are with someone that you desire to be around for the sake of affection, concern or dare one say
love you actually want to spend time together. You seek reasons. You come to them first when you have a need. You create that need if necessary. This woman was content to find enjoyment elsewhere and Akkuma was content to allow her to leave. Akkuma's relationship with the woman could be entirely sexual in nature. Akkuma was the sort that was easy to label as a sexual deviant given the nature of his business and his heritage as a demon, but he never took any great measures to disprove these prejudices. It was possible that Akkuma's relationships were dictated by his penis, to be fair there was something about the woman that stirred something deep within even Michi. She stared perhaps a second longer than intended, her gaze resting on the hip and then breast before she willed herself to mind the matter at hand.
Maybe, but that was not the case at this very moment. If it was about sex, then they would still be tangled up in his sheets. It would be like taking your ox for a walk when there are fields that needed to be plowed -- plowing in her case would likely be relegated to Akkuma's estate, not a meeting being requested by a near stranger. No, one brings a pretty girl into the public as a bit of 'eye candy'. As a trophy. As a way to garner the attention of others. For the prestige of saying "this is mine."
Fascinating that he felt the need.
Her attention would deviate towards Kanmuri as the boy started to make a hasted exit. She already knew that the boy came here on his own, not at the behest of his father. Possibly this immediate departure was to avoid the disciplinarian's heavy hand, but if so it would prove too late as 'father-dearest' spied the Miroku heir. She had learned much from the assuredly youngest Miroku heir unless he had others younger still. She had learned that Akkuma was keeping secrets from the boy. It was a contradictory situation, having a child that bore his name and obviously possessed the pride of the clan but was wholly uneducated in the ways of the community in which he lived, his own family and the family business as a whole. There was such a thing as partitioning learning in such a way that what the boy needed to know was provided and taught, however this boy was leaving with a gaping hole in basic information a servant would be expected to have if they were expected to serve a community. The boy was not the intended heir, that much was certain. Taking the reins of a clan, the family business or even developing into a shinobi of Sunagakure would prove to be a life-long process that has been utterly neglected in this boy's case. So why have a child such as this?
She stood up when Akkuma made eye contract with her and finished addressing his son who seemed to almost slither off. On peripheral assessment Akkuma was a physically stunning creature, much his like guess before they parted company.
"Miroku akkuma I preseume," Michi announced in greeting as she extended her hand to shake. Yes, a bow was customary, a handshake was more common in foreign territories and she did not seem concerned as she confidently extended her hand forward. Of course nothing she did at the time was done without reason or on a whim. she wanted to touch him, not because he was beautiful, but rather to perform a tactile assessment of the kitsune. Warmth, girth, grip, grit, hygiene and scent. she was taking in everything she could about him and cataloging her findings internally. That was how you own them. That was how you break them.
Akkuma did not recognize her. She half-expected her transition to be documented and disseminated widely, however it would appear that the intelligence gathered would remain relegated to the inner circles of the uppermost shinobi echelon.
"My name is Michi, but you likely remember me better as Fuu," she replied before adding
"we met once before almost a decade ago" she reminded him.
"Your older son, Riyota was but a child back then..." she allowed her words to trail off. Apparently without knowing she has unwittingly divulged some of his secrets.
"Your younger son was strangely unaware of his elder brother," she continued, digging ever so slightly and carefully as she did. She had decided to shoot the elephant in the room before the demon could ask any questions.
"I apologize for the slip of tongue, i was unaware that the boy'd lineage was in any way a family secret given the casual nature of our previous meeting those years ago." She was of course playing a mind game with the demon that would not be apparent until after the meeting here was done and over with and they were both gone.
Michi would sit back down and gesture towards the untouched plate of steak and the corked bottle of wine.
"Sandworm steaks and a dry earthy red pair well," she reasoned, a veritable sommelier.
"Con't let it spoil." There was a vacant space where Kanmuri once was with an empty plate with a puddle of blood and a glass of either consumed or ignored chocolate milk that marked his abandoned space.
"How much demon does your youngest Miroky Kanmuri have in him?" She chose a 'bloody steak' for more reasons than just one. Such meats cooked in such ways were not popular among the juvenile youth and the boy hungered for it with an almost ravenous nature. Michi took a sip of her sparkling water and then speared a vegetable with the tines of her fork.
"Leaving such a youth in the dark in many matters will prove more harm than benefit Mister Miroku," she warned with a strange aloofness that was characteristic of the Oracle.
Insert leafy morsel and chew. Chew like a human would.
She was not here to lecture Akkuma's parenting skills.
"As for why i have requested an audience with you Mister Miroku," she wanted to get this conversation back on track before the demon grew impatient.
"I would like to rent your venue, the The Devil's Lair Casino." She was keeping her sentences short in case Kanmuri's dimwitted was genetic.
"I plan to marry Sennin Senju Kazuki in a few weeks and I wish to use your establishment to host his bachelor's party the night before the wedding." She explained the most basic aspect of her needs in a single sentance.
"Payment will be in cash, of course," she added despite the fact that payment was likely the furthest thing from his ming at the moment. Yhe choice statement would be notable to some, a potential red flag to others.
"I have already contacted Steward Takahashi Sousuke regarding this affair. I have asked him to take the reins in planning the bachelor's party and he is aware that I with the hold Sennin Senju's bachelor's party in your establishment." It was odd but true, Sousuke had already agreed to organize the blowout and he was already aware and amendable to where it would be held.
"I am well aware that Sousuke might not be the best choice regarding the social aspects of a bachelor's party, personal interaction has allegedly been a weakness of his for some time," she admitted as she planned for any potential point of refutement internally or verbally shared.
"Which is why I need someone with ...well your particular sensibilities," she conceded. A compliment to some and an underhanded comment to others. Of course the use of Sousuke in the first place was a calculated decision. Sousuke has been notoriously tolerance of known criminals and lacked the skill set necessary to be effectively duplicitous. Sousuke represented an aspect of 'trust' and a sense of 'reassurance' that would would wield like a weapon in these coming weeks. Afterall, the Steward would never intentionally harm the Toraono in-law. yes, she had done her homework, to excess.
She would empty the remainder of her glass of sparkling water down her throat. She was partial to the bubbly, not that she would admit such an inane preference. If Akkuma failed to pop the cork yet on the sealed bottle of wine, she would open the bottle herself and mention,
"if I was trying to hurt you, I would have chose a more private meeting place for this tête-à-tête." She would pour a small quantity, perhaps two ounces in her empty drinking glass and take a sip to demonstrate the safety of the wine. If he had started to drink, she would take none and say nothing regarding the bottle of wine.
"I do have a few questions. More specifically, concerns." she continued. This is where the bride turns into a bridezilla. She would reach into her bag she had already written out a list of questions she wanted to ask on her way to this establishment. The paper was not in her possession long enough to be used to track her so she would relinquish her possession of the sheet.
The Note said:
- Are you able to provide entertainment in the form of exotic dancers and prostitutes? Will you be able to provide this entertainment in both genders?
- Are your men and women routinely checked for venereal diseases? Can you submit to me medical clearance within the last 6 months for each of your men and women to corroborate this?
- Explain to me the security of your establishment?
- Are uninvited guests capable of entering your club, if so how and can this be prevented?
- Can guests within the party leave the party on their own or are they dependent on someone to provide them with a means of egress?
- Do you trust those with security clearance necessary for #4 and #5, if so, why?
- Can their permissions be temporarily revoked? If so would you be willing to revoke their permission, less your own for the duration of this bachelor's party?
- How will catering and ancillary staff be managed in terms of security?
- Can these entertainers be chakra capable men and women? I need about 50.
- Will you be present? Will you require anything for your personal protection and well-being?
- Can I have a means of reliable, direct contact with you so I can get in touch with you during the period of time leading up to the bachelor's party? If so, can you please provide me with this information?
<i></i>
Her handwriting was neat, perfectly straight on lineless paper in a simple, easy to read cursive script. She waited for the demon to digest everything that she shared.