bury the light

Hattori made it his business to know things, to keep his ears open for whispers and rumours carried on the wind. Talk of expansive empires and kingdoms tended to travel far, so he wasn't all that surprised when he felt a twinge of recognition at the mention of the Ashen Empire. The same couldn't be said of her last name though, he knew all about the great families and clans of his homeland but beyond the borders of Nippon his knowledge was fairly limited. Practically nonexistent. Not that it really mattered, regardless of how he wore his surname like a badge of honour it was, in the end, just a name. And without firm and decisive action it would fade into obscurity like the rest. There was a lot he needed to do to leave his mark on the world and perhaps serving the Ashen Empire- or rather Venom- would be a wise place to start. If nothing else it would give him the time and reason to recuperate without having to defile his sense of honour and dignity, it was true he'd stumbled a little but he was far from falling from grace just yet.

Her next question was a reasonable one, necessary even. It ruined the whole cloak and dagger nature of their conversation a little but Hattori had never been a theatrical sort, getting right down to the nitty-gritty details had always served him well and if nothing it just went to prove how serious he was. That despite the fact his loyalty had to be bought he was still a man to be trusted and valued, that each and every word he uttered was the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"Not working...is a poor reflection of me." He wasn't sure whether he'd worded that right. The saying he was referring to didn't translate very well into the common tongue, it seemed. Any frustration he felt was held down beneath the surface, his grip unwavering, as his expression remained as neutral as ever. He shifted his weight, had he been a more casual and laid back man he would have sat. If only to take the weight off his throbbing leg. "The only time a shinobi does not work is when they are dead, serving you suits my interests just as well as yours. However, I would request that my subordinates receive the same courtesy you have offered me. I am not sure of their current whereabouts but it is possible they will join me soon."

He was rather in the dark about this matter and it frustrated him, more than anything else did. For all he knew they could have forsaken him or died trying to uphold his honour. More than that he didn't even know where his companions were or if they'd managed to keep his belongings safe. It was all a bit of a mess, if he was being frank.