A Single Step
A fair woman wrapped in layers of fine-looking blue and white robes — far too many for Konoha's weather — and a matching umbrella with which she shades herself. Along with the elaborate golden headdress that sits atop her carefully styled hair, she gives off the impression of someone who lives a comfortable life, to say the least. This fact makes all the stranger that she's standing in front of a building and pestering a man donning a headband marked with the symbol of the leaf at the entrance. To the uninformed observer, it might appear like the bored wife of some wealthy noble was seeking entertainment from the common people. That observation wouldn't be far off from the truth.
"Miss, I already told you..." Although his expression stays cold and unchanging, the exasperated tone in his voice couldn't make his annoyance more clear. It was understandable given that she'd been bothering him for some time. "You can't enter here."
Tsugumi stares blankly, her mirror-like eyes wide and unblinking. "Well, that's perfectly fine. I simply desire to know who made the puppets that reside here. The craftsmanship is exceptional."
The jonin pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a deep sigh. "As I explained before, I don't know what you're talking about. If you need help, then you should look into filing a request with the Assignments Desk."
"And I explained how absurd that sounds. They routinely move between here and the cemetery, and I know that you have been present for both their departure and arrival. Now, unless your memory is remarkably poor for your age, I find it unlikely that you could not have even the faintest clue what I am referring to." She continues to stare at the jonin with a hint of sternness on her face. It's clear that she has no intention of leaving until either her curiosity is satisfied or she is forcibly removed.
She could understand why she, a nosey visitor from afar, was not being given an answer to her inquiries about grave-defiling puppets. After all, she wouldn't easily allow some stranger into Grand Library's deep archives. This situation was still more than a little frustrating for her, in no small part because her conversation partner is such an awful liar. If he had just informed her that he was not free to provide her with an answer, she would have been satisfied. But of course, it could not be that simple. Being a great shinobi, it was important for him to deny that he even knew what she was speaking of despite the absurdity of the claim.
She shakes her head and retrieves an elaborately decorated tome from her sleeve. The Jonin eyes it curiously, drawn to it by the unfamiliar symbol on its cover and the undecipherable text on its spine. Tsugumi doesn't waste time flipping to an open page and producing a brush as she sits down to begin her work. Delicate characters fill the page at lighting speed, requiring regularly turning to a new page as she diligently records all that falls within her gaze. The resulting sound is a harmony of brush strokes and paper in the wind.
The area's recent past included hours of Tsugumi and the jonin conversing as well as multiple instances of the puppets coming and going. Further back is a scene of the jonin, whose name she learns is Kama, and an unfamiliar woman having what appears to be a lover's spat that ends in the woman storming off. Still further back she sees a girl whom she does recognize. An upset Kichōna repeatedly stamps her foot in frustration until another familiar face emerges from the building to soothe her. Osamu's presence seems to have an instant calming effect on the girl as she becomes too preoccupied with hugging him to death to continue with her tantrum. Tsugumi's movements slow to a halt as she basks in the sweetness of the moment. There was no point in attempting to record this in ink. As proud as she was of her writing, no amount of excruciating detail could hope to properly convey the feelings being experienced. At most, she could endeavor to draw her readers into the moment so that they might become swept up in emotion. Not an easy task, even for her.
Her vision of the past fades to give way to one conjured from memory. A certain Miss Yamamoto appears in her lap and squints at her diary. The girl is decades younger than the woman whose daughter she has been entrusted with, free of the pain and worry that now grips her. The diary itself takes a more modern form, its binding becoming more colorful and the characters within becoming less complicated. However, they are still a little advanced for the young girl. She points to one and looks to Tsugumi for clarification. Caught up in the moment, Tsugumi acts out her role in the memory until it too fades away.
Shaking her head, Tsugumi puts away her writing materials and takes out a crystal clear orb as she readies herself to depart. Although confused, Kama sighs in relief as she disappears into the distance. That is until she turns around and starts walking back toward him.
He groans and massages his temples as Tsugumi approaches. "Look lady, I can't do anything for you."
Tsugumi frowns and leans into him while thrusting her finger into his chest with surprising force. "You really ought to quit smoking. I don't know what that poor girl sees in you, but if you want to keep her then that's the absolute least you can do. And buy her flowers. You'll need them when you apologize for the way you've been treating her. Before you ask, it doesn't matter if you know why you're apologizing. I hope you're better at lying to her than you are to me."
She huffs and once again turns to leave while Kama is left even more confused than before.
"I really must say that your work is simply magnificent." Tsugumi raises a cup of tea to her lips and blows on it before taking a sip. "Mmm. Your choice of tea is also excellent."
Osamu, as always, smiles. Though, he seems particularly pleased with the current situation. "You flatter me. Those dolls aren't anything special — nothing you haven't seen before, I'm sure. I'm sure those eyes have witnessed far more impressive sights, after all."
Tsugumi hums as she considers his words. "There was this one young man..." She stops herself and shakes her head. "The past is the past, and this is present. I certainly don't expect any ghosts from the past to fulfill my request."
"No, I suppose they won't." Just a hint of disappointment seems to taint the inventor's ever-cheery demeanor, almost as if he desired for her to go off on one of her long-winded tangents. "Luckily for you, I am more than equipped to deal with such a trivial matter. I am quite a busy man, however. Even if payment won't be an issue, there's no telling when I'll be able to see to your request."
"I wouldn't want to trouble you, but it would be nice to have it done sooner rather than later." She produces a cheque from her sleeve and slides it across the table. "How much would be enough to make it your top priority."
Osamu chuckles and waves his hand dismissively. "I was thinking that we could take a different approach. I'm certain that someone such as yourself understands how noble the pursuit of knowledge is. If you were to assist me in my research then I'd be able to give this matter my full attention."
Tsugumi's eyes narrow. Getting involved in his research would more than likely mean further troubling herself with shinobi, even if indirectly. While she was currently acting as a teacher, that didn't mean she intended more than was necessary. Moreover, research that required her assistance was bound to have something to do with her eyes. She didn't need to peer into the future to glean Osamu's interest when he made not even the faintest effort to hide it.
"It seems that I'll be waiting then." She retrieves the slip of paper and finishes her tea, excusing herself from her seat. "As much as I've enjoyed our time together, I should start preparing tomorrow's lesson for my dears. Don't hesitate to invite me out again if you don't mind my chatter."
"Of course, of course. There's plenty more for us to discuss." He waves her off without missing a beat. If he feels in annoyance at her refusal, then he certainly doesn't show it.
Now, it truly was time for her to fulfill her role as a teacher. As reluctant as she was, the three genin she was to prepare seemed to be determined to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams. She'd done her best to dissuade them — especially Sen, who she hoped would be more reasonable — but they were unflinching. Therefore, she was left with no choice but to make them as prepared as possible for any obstacles they might face. Of course, she'd need to keep a certain Miss Yamamoto up-to-date on what exactly was being taught and how her daughter was fairing through it all.
This really was far too troublesome, but the process was not an entirely unenjoyable one. She was at least certain that she'd have adequate inspiration by the end of it.