note: takes place before iza joins habari

A lot had changed since Hattori had left Nippon but even now he recognised Izanami's scent when he smelled it. He couldn't see nor hear her but he sensed her presence nearby, no doubt concealing herself in the shadows cast by the trees that adorned the riverside. If nothing he was pleased she was putting her training to use, that despite no longer officially being part of the Iga clan she was still able to act the part. His ears flicked as his talons dug into the mug, smearing brown atop white as his brows furrowed in thought. Though his expression didn't reveal as much he was relieved that she had survived and managed to make her way to Boreas, following in his pawsteps perhaps?

He shifted his weight between his paws as he glanced around his surroundings once more. Her size and stature gave her a big advantage when it came down to being sneaky, and her pelt was as dark as night further adding to her impressive natural abilities.

"Izanami. Show yourself." He ordered, his speech far more sure and fluid in his native language. It was a nice change at least, the common tongue never sat well with him even though he spoke it well enough.



* italics means he's speaking in Japanese.*

The shadows presented a big advantage for her, and her dark coat and light steps made it look as if she was born for this, for being a shinobi. Deadly when needed. She maybe lacked the size of others from her clan but what she did have in size and strength she compensated it with her cleverly and ability to move with a lethal silence. Today she traveled through the vegetation like a shadow. Doing her best to don't make herself be heard nor seen. But to her surprise, it seemed someone detected her. And the Japanese dialect reached her ears. "Izanami. Show yourself." Hattori. With that, she walked out of the shadows from the trees. Eyes of silver landed on the larger wolf. "Hattori-Sama," She greeted with low tones in her chords, she didnt want to be too noisy in case this conversation needed privacy. OC- Sections in Italics are in Japanese "Speech"

As she emerged from the shadows Hattori's gaze roved over her form. Time had done little to change her, from the black of her pelt to the blood like smear across her forehead she looked as exactly as he remembered. As she should be. Her greeting was a low rumble, the honorific slipped fluently from her tongue, leaving Hattori feeling somewhat nostalgic for the days gone by. From anyone else he would have swatted away the title but with a wolf that was his it felt right, that a lot had changed but their relationship had not. It was comforting almost comforting, the closest he'd get to home for a long time. He dipped his head in acknowledgement, silently grateful for her words and presence. The fact she'd survived was a weight lifted from his shoulders, even if she was the only one it was better than none. And yet there was so much he needed to know, so many questions he intended to ask. He knew she wouldn't fault him for this and seemed willing enough to serve him still, in her own way.

"I am glad you are well." He stepped forward, closing the space between them as he raised his paw to pat her shoulder.  Then he was to business. "Report."

He needed to know everything. How she'd escaped the ambush, whether she knew if anyone else had followed suit and survived. Only upon knowing all she had to offer could he push forward and issue her next orders.



* italics means he's speaking in Japanese.*

"I am glad you are well." Her former leader told her to which she appreciated but didn’t allow any emotions to touch the surface of her face. She was trained to do so, to suppress her feelings, and even though she wasn't under a clan’s roof anymore she took those teachings back with her and she couldn’t feel anything. Or at least not expressing them in an open way. She nodded in response not speaking back as she wanted to know the true reason for him being here speaking to her. "Report." “I managed to kill some of the attackers but when I saw myself outnumbered i sneaked into the dark and managed to leave as I also hid my scent.” She spoke shortly without much effort to give her report. “And you? May ask how did you escape Hattori-Sama?” She looked up to his eyes, aiming to detect any expression. But none of their clan or as far as she knew reflected their thoughts. "Speech"

Hattori wasn't bothered by Izanami's lack of outward relief, her face remained a blank canvas just as he knew it would. She'd taken to the shinobi training more than most, that much was obvious. He shifted his weight between his paws, a subtle and smooth motion as she began her report and it was about what he'd expected.  The fact she'd managed to kill at all was impressive, but she'd been wise to flee and hide, surely she would have died if she'd stood her ground. He could only hope the other's had done the same, but till he knew for certain all he could do was wonder and speculate. At her question Hattori sighed, or rather exhaled sharply through his nose, as though the water of the river still burned his throat and made it hard to breathe. His expression remained deadpan as always.

"I jumped off a ravine into a river. I was wounded but managed to escape downstream." And that was the brunt of it really.  "Do you know for certain if anyone else survived?" And perhaps most importantly:  "Izanami will you serve me still?"



* italics means he's speaking in Japanese.*