[Open] He decided to turn this into a visit while he was in town.

[silverterror]

Where: Konoha
When: November 2nd-4th
Notes: He was sent to pick up a merchant and drop off some paperwork that needed a ranking nin to protect it. Of course that left him with a couple days of lag time to account for.

He'd dropped off the paperwork just hours before, and in the process made sure that the Hokage was aware of his presence. That meant that he had a group of watchers following him around, he could practically feel their eyes burning into him, but he didn't mind. So long as he was permitted to do as he liked within allowed areas, then he saw no issue with being watched so closely.

Primarily checking on the two Konoha shinobi that actually had even the remotest hint of importance to him, actually, but he was in no particular hurry to get there. He had until the morning after next before he had to leave again after all.

Comments

[abileunaspada]

Hey, was that --

Adela blinked, staring at the silvery-haired man before her as she was heading to the Hokage's office. It was another paperwork day, but seeing him there made her want to call in -- if only because...

"Sephiroth?" She called out before she could stop herself, not bothering to hide her surprise. She didn't think it'd be as soon as a month...

[silverterror]

He halted and looked over as he heard his name, inclining his head a fraction to her. At least that would save him some searching.

Good. "Adela."

[abileunaspada]

"I didn't know you were coming here," She started, smiling softly for him as she approached. It'd been a while since she had written him, so seeing him there was a surprise -- an oddly pleasant one.

"You've been okay since we talked last?"

[silverterror]

He held still, patiently waiting for her to reach him instead of even attempting to meet her halfway. "I have. I am between missions presently and as the next begins here, I will be in town for this evening and tomorrow."

[abileunaspada]

"Is that right? I guess you already have a place to stay?" In stark contrast to their last meeting she felt completely relaxed, happy to hear him instead of confused and shocked. It was nice to think that he was there because he respected her letter, even if it likely really was just a mission assigned to him.

"I guess it's nice to have the warmer temperatures though. I remember being surprised by the warmer winter here."

[silverterror]

"We've had icy rain starting up already at home." It was an agreement, and he inclined his head as he studied her thoughtfully. "And no, I hadn't gotten that far."

[abileunaspada]

"... I could try and ask, but I'm not sure uncle would appreciate it," She sighed, frowning a bit before shaking it off and beckoning Sephiroth closer, "I know where the guest apartments and some of the nicer inns are though. There are even some with private baths around."

... Obito'd forgive her for being a little late to help house Sephiroth while he stayed, right?

[silverterror]

"I'll be satisfied enough with the guest apartments." He lifted a hand, waving it off with a single sharp flick of his fingers before his hand dropped back to his side. "You have nowhere to be?"

[abileunaspada]

"I have to do paperwork around the missions' office, but I'm not due there for around twenty minutes. We have enough time to go and get you booked into one of the guest apartments so you can set your stuff down at least."

[silverterror]

He gave her a sidelong stare at that. "I hardly carry much Adela."

[abileunaspada]

"... Can you let me try to be a good host please, Seph?" She gave him a flat look, holding it for a few seconds before she smiled and laughed, "I know we can't carry a whole ton as a necessity, but it'll still be nice if you don't leave it to the last second."

[notveryspecial]

She was...not as busy as she'd been recently, in fairness. Maybe she'd just gotten better at managing her time between the extra training her senseis had dropped on her to prepare her for the eventual Jounin exams. Or, more likely, their own schedules had freed up slightly more time for her.

Regardless. Rather than at a training field, she was still in town at the moment. Which explained why she happened to be near wherever this foreign shinobi was walking. She wasn't immediately certain which village he was from...but she would have recognized him if he were from Konoha. He was very memorable looking.

It was in the interest of figuring out just which village he must have been from (and what he was then doing here) that she decided to follow after him, a fair distance away but not particularly attempting to hide herself. It was her village, after all, not his. She had no reason to hide.

[silverterror]

He gave her a sidelong stare. "If you insist."

[abileunaspada]

"I do insist, thanks," Her smile turned into a bratty grin before she led the way, glancing around every so often to see if Sephiroth took interest in any of the market stalls they happened to pass. Yes, Adela was taking the most direct route to get there, but there were still quite a few shops along the way.

[silverterror]

The fact that she was following amused him enough that he slowed his steps. He wanted to see if she would realize what he was doing before she was suddenly catching up to him.

[notveryspecial]

Whether or not she realized he was intentionally slowing down, once she began to gain on him, she slowed down as well, only allowing the gap to be slightly smaller than it started out. She could go up next to him too, technically...but that would be provoking a conversation. She was merely interested in observation at the moment.

[silverterror]

"I almost get the sense you're taking me on a tour." It was a thoughtfully phrased statement, and he kept up easily.

[silverterror]

When she slowed, he eased his meander to near a standstill, entertained by his game.

[notveryspecial]

Now it was obvious he was adjusting his pace to track if she were following him, more subtly than speeding up would be. She could have engaged him then, true. She did not, however. Nor did she crawl along, because that would simply be absurd.

Instead, she sat down on a crate, crossed her legs, and watched. If he would barely move, she had no need to 'follow' him to observe him.

[silverterror]

If she was going to do that, then he was simply going to turn and head past her away from her line of sight at a normal pace. It was no fun if she wasn't playing.

[notveryspecial]

She'd play, but not like that. She had more dignity than to obviously crawl through a street. Once he moved normally again, she hopped off other crate and followed after at a pace that prevented him from ever completely leaving her line of sight. Ideally.

Not that she couldn't find him if he vanished on her--no matter how skilled he was, she knew her home village better than any foreigner, especially if he had restricted access as most tended to--but it would be a pain to have to.

[abileunaspada]

"Not on purpose, believe it or not. This actually is the most direct route to the guest apartments," In spite of the words she was still smiling, relaxed as she glanced to him on occasion. Was he interested in any of them? Who knew... But maybe she should take him to the Yamanaka flower shop sometime, show him some of the things that he likely wouldn't see often in Kiri. He was welcome there after all, as far as she knew -- she doubted she'd be able to walk with him like this otherwise.

[thelittleprincess]

"Sephiroth!" Ami was not an emotive child by nature, but when she felt something strongly enough to drop her usual mask of composure, she broadcasted it. And at the moment, she was broadcasting eager delight as she darted through the scattered crowds milling about in order to catch up with his long strides. She slowed to a stop and tilted her head back to look at him, not quite smiling.

Her eyes were practically sparkling, however, so maybe she didn't need to smile. "You didn't say you were coming to Konoha in your last letter. It must be a mission, right?"

[silverterror]

He had no idea what she could possibly want, so he decided to turn it into a better game, casually picking up speed.

[silverterror]

He inclined his head with a hum of understanding, memorizing the path as he had... cause to actually use the apartments now.