The stadium was packed, it was standing room only. Some scuffles have broken out between some of the spectators, apparently all was not well with the viewers. The previous two matches, that you may or may not have watched from your private locker room was an interesting one to say the least. Your match was likely to have a combatant just as skilled, if not better than the four fighters you just witnessed. How did that make you feel -- excited or terrified? They did a better job than one would have expected cleaning up the arena, you saw what they did out there but there was not a drop of blood on the ground. Huh. Neat. You would never have known that there was a fight here a day earlier. The crowd was riled, they were still cheering and recounting the previous match when you emerged through the pair of steel doors and now their roar was deafening. Sex and violence were mankind's most primal and basic instincts and it would appear that the people were in a frenzy. It should not surprise anyone that a competition that pitted the world's strongest against each other would attract so much attention or that they would get so excited. Violence was contagious. There was certainly a need for the security Kurosawa provided, you had passed four samurais in a single hall and in the crowd you could see at least three dozen standing in the aisles, with a dozen of them breaking up a fight in the nosebleed section.
The people of Kurosawa seemed accommodating enough, you were given comfortable living arrangements for the weeks you would spend in Tea Country and meals were delivered to your door promptly at 0600, 1200 and 1800 each day if you ate them or not. They were pretty good even if the fare was primarily fish and vegetables. The people of Kurosawa even seemed excited, even if it was a bit over the top at times. Both of you would have been approached for an autograph several times, hopefully you obliged at least a few. They would scream and carry on that you touched their pen and that they would treasure it forever. Awk-ward... Your face was even printed on a few T-shirts being worn by middle aged men, these people seemed to be very much into fighting.
Perhaps this was what it was like to be a celebrity. The flash of cameras wherever you went and the sudden need for complete strangers to share your personal space. Rest might not have been particularly 'restful' for some, last night a really cute guy would knock on Amaya and Kasumi's door, claiming he was sent to 'show you a good time before the big day.' If you let him in, you would have a good time ...for the rest of the night. You might have an extra spring in your step, but you would be a bit tired. Apparently Vibrating Sound Drill was still a technique. He would also be gone by the time you awoke, your wallet would also be missing. Damn... he was still worth every penny.
Regardless of how you spent the evening before -- be it sleeping or the night of your life, the big day has finally come. It was the day of the tournament and the air was abuzz! Someone was waiting for you when you opened the hotel room door. "Hiya!" A spunky girlish voice would call out to you. "Like wow... I am... uh like totally here to like bring you to the tourney place n'some junk." The voice belonged to an incredibly cute girl. She was thin and tall, well tall for a girl. She was about five foot nine with long dark hair that was in pigtails. "Just leave everything to me!" The energetic girl claimed as she pointed to herself. "I already know who you are, you're like famous." Weird, did you consider yourself famous. Maybe these matches really do get you noticed. "I am Chino Chika, but everyone calls me ChiChi. You can call me ChiChi too, okay!"
If she was sent to kill you, your enemies have sent the most chipper of all assassins.
If you were not ready to leave, she would follow you back into your room and wait for you there. The whole time she would be talking to you. About her favorite meat on a stick, it was a glazed pork that was grilled. About how mean the dumpling vendor is. About how when she was eight a boy cut off her ponytail as a prank. How boys are jerks.
She also would not take 'no' for an answer if you did decide to ditch her. She was deceptively fast, agile and astute. She would simply giggle and call you 'silly' as she kept pace and continued her conversation, even if it was one-sided. If she was asked a question, she would start to answer it but it would involve several tangents, all of them not particularly important before the point of her answer was lost entirely. If asked why she was there, she would say it was for your protection and then she would start to elaborate on how people get stolen and hurt but you should not worry because you have her. She was totally one of the 'good ones' but then she would remember that her claim had no substance so she would then debate an imagined debate on the matter of her trustworthiness and goodness. She apparently loves kittens, how could a kitten-lover be a monster. Or someone who makes cupcakes. Or protects you.
If her ability to protect you was put into question, she would verbally assure you that she was super-strong. She is able to open jars with one-hand. Then she would flex her noodle arms. They were not impressive. It would be unlikely that you were impressed. All the same she seemed rather confident and dedicated to her job. She would give you the 'ten-cent tour' as she called it. She gave very little history but she pointed out the best places to meet cute boys. The best places to get smoothies. Where the cutest stuffed animals could be bought. Every once in awhile she would check her watch and occasionally she would stop, attempting to grab your wrist as she did so before she would point at a random cute dog and scream "PUPPY!" She would carry on for a short time but never approach the dog or its owner, just carry on about the animal's inherent cuteness.
She would do a good job keeping you 'safe'. The people seemed to give you a wide breadth as you and your escort loudly made your way through town. Some dove out of the way seemingly panicked but your escort would never lose stride. If asked about them, she would reply "they're not cute." She would then smile wide and continue skipping along. As for the villagers, they were not coming near you. You would have to create an international incident, risking your seat by accosting them to know why they fled the way that they did. There was something weird going on, but she was taking you to where you needed to be without injury, assault or even insult.
You would be led around the Arena. From the outside the Arena was rather imposing, there were four statues with their backs towards you that appeared to be looking down into the arena. The walls were rather high, three hundred feet, perhaps more by your best estimation. The grey stone had something etched into it, into every single brick. If ChiChi is asked about the bricks, she would explain. "Words have power. Old power for Old Bricks." It was an ominous statement for certain. Also it was odd that a civilian city would have something like this. She would further explain if prodded. "The arena is new. the bricks are old you silly!" She would then attempt to drag you along, now you were apparently 'running late' despite the fact that your match does not start for another couple of hours. You would be led to an unmarked door that was flanked by a pair of guards, each wore the regalia of a samurai. They would look over at ChiChi, she would greet them with an energy only she was capable of, it was exhausting to watch her. Apparently this private hall was well-guarded, another pair of samurais would eye you cautiously as you entered the hall. The hall would be otherwise undecorated and plain. You could smell fresh plaster and a hint of smoke. She did say the arena was new, just the bricks were old.
You would be led to a private locker room, your name on the door. You might recognize a few of the other names as well, fellow compatriots from your village or some famed shinobi from abroad. You would be summoned a few hours later, in the mean time you would be left to your devices -- eat, sleep, watch TV, call your wife on a headset, pray... [Yes, pick whatever amenities you want in the room] The same girl would knock on your door, "it is time! It is time! Oh I am so excited and jealous of you and the masters... Oh!" She had just as much energy as ever. She would lead the way. She would lead you to a steel door painted white, it would be sealed shut. "The door will like open at like 2:00, 'kay?" She would point at a clock, you had a few more minutes left. The sound of the ticking clock was deafening and the time would seem to pass slowly despite it being only a few minutes but the doors would eventually unlock and with a trumpet fanfare as well as confetti you would be queued to make an entrance. Half the show was about the spectacle. The other half... let's call it 'fighting.'
Hayashi Kasumi
Moon Healer
Core Ability: Exalted
Kinjutsu: None
Status: Healer, Moon Country
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Silver
Alignment: Neutral Good
Moon Healer
Core Ability: Exalted
Kinjutsu: None
Status: Healer, Moon Country
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Silver
Alignment: Neutral Good
Appearance
Kasumi is of average height, though since she tries not to draw too much attention to herself, she often seems quite small to people. She wears her hair tied back in a very loose ponytail when working, though otherwise she prefers to have it loose. Often she seems to have a vague, dreamlike expression on her face. She tends to speak softly, though she is quite capable of making herself heard regardless. Because she knows how to fade so well, she can exude presence and draw focus when she desires to do that instead. Albeit, that is quite rarely.
Background
Born in Moon Country's main city of Tsukigakure, Kasumi grew up around the open secrets of her country's political divisions. When she was six, her beloved big brother was sent to assist the other branch of the Shiruko/Shoukyou clan that her own family served, living in Mist, and was not expected to return any time soon. This made her the eldest of the family, and while traditionally in her family this would have made her have to join the priestesses, Kasumi instead argued herself into Healer training. It was the first time she had ever stood up to her parents.
That did not mean she was exempted from their standards of propriety, however; the expectation was still that she would eventually make a good marriage into a good family, and as such should train to be a proper lady. Kasumi sometimes managed to beg off sessions on tea ceremonies, but much of the rest of the training she still desired herself and felt would make her a better healer, and so she went through with it dutifully.
She was correct in this assertion. A combination of her drive to healing and her upbringing, not to mention clandestine weaponry lessons from a few friends, enabled her to unlock the holy light that is the favoured skill tree of Moon ninja by the Shrine. Because of this, she was nudged further and faster in her healing training than she otherwise would have been.
By the time her brother returned from Mist (and for good, at that), Kasumi was one of several more senior, trusted Healers in Moon. Often when she wasn't tending patients she was enlisted in training up and coming Healers. Naturally, this left her with little free time, but as she enjoyed her work greatly the only time off she requested was to catch up with the brother she hadn't seen in years.
Of course, that could have brought attendant, more personal troubles with it--it wasn't as if her parents were any less determined to have her marry at some point. But Kasumi has given that matter no attention whatsoever, and intends to continue doing so.
Personality
Shy, modest, and demure are all words that accurately describe Kasumi. 'Polite' and 'quiet' could be added to underline the point. None of these are facades; she really is that kind and gentle. However, none of this should be mistaken for weakness. She is quite strong-willed, especially when dealing with patients in the infirmary. She is also quite capable of standing up for herself, and has long since mastered the art of not actually being rude, but nonetheless speaking in such a way that the person she is talking to feels badly all the same. Of course, she only does it when the other person is being rude or harmful, and always addresses them correctly.
Kasumi tends to feel as though people do not need to earn respect, but rather that some people unearn it. This does not stop her from treating everyone, including these people, politely, mind--she simply doesn't intervene or speak disapprovingly when others do. The way she is kind without being condescending to her charges in the infirmary tends to make her a favourite of those who stay there for long--especially children, whom she adores.
Notes:
- Amaya is fighting a Moon NPC run by Enzan. These NPCs are not intended to take a dive here, meaning that this will not be a particularly easy fight.
- Your NPC has shared information the others failed to.
- Please IC make your entrance post. Remember that you have 2 free travel event threads for this event. This will occupy one of your two. you do not need to lave your village to participate in this event, however if two is too few for you, then some actual travel is required.
- This time marks the receipt of your profile. It will be copied and given to your moderator as well as logged. Your moderator will be Junko. Your previously anticipated moderator is unable to access Discord and notified us that he is not capable of participating as a moderator since his altered access.
- Please send your actions to Junko. Remember to link everything. You have until January 10th to do so.
