Fox-tailed Espionage (Reserved for Macha alone)

"I dont exist. That is the answer to your question. You answer me truthfully I will answer you truthfully." I said with a nod. "What is your mission?"

I glanced towards Braid before pulling the girls knife out of the ground where my men had left it. I tossed it over her to him where he caught it. He stared at it for a few seconds before leaning towards the girl. "Is this yours?" His voice rumbled out.

Junko
She quickly took the knife from the large man's hand and brushed off the dirt. "That's isn't your concern. I didn't finish it, so you have no reason to ask that question." She explained, sheathing her knife and looked him in the eyes. "Next?"

She glanced to the vial and then back to the boy. Every moment increased her curiosity to know what the liquid was. Should she ask? Would she really get an answer? Doubtful...

Kohl

I watched wordlessly as Braid drew a wetstone and some oil from a pouch and dropped it in front of her. "Sharpen it." He said, his voice leaving no room for her to do otherwise. "If you don't take care of something you don't deserve to have it."

I turned my gaze to her eyes, trying to read her. I could guess her mission, and send her on her way. But getting information first hand was always better than guess work. The real question was, why did I continue to waste my time waiting on this girl.

Junko
She took up the oil and whetstone and looked at both of the men before unsheathing her dagger. "Thank you..." The fox said. Her fingers clenched tight around the hilt of her dagger and she began to use the borrowed stone to sharpen it. "Anymore questions then? Can I leave?" 

Her eyes wandered to find the masked one staring at her. Junko raised an eyebrow. "And... perhaps would you tell me about that vial?"

Kohl

I kept silent as I watched her still. I was waiting for Braid to speak, as he no doubt had something he wanted to say. When nothing came out, I finally answered. "It matters what your mission is. Tell me and I will tell you about the vial."

Junko
"Then I suppose we will both be leaving with no information." She growled. "I don't plan on telling you because it is none of your concern. I told you what I know. You don't need anymore information." The fox stood up from her seat and looked to all of the men who crowded around them. "Now, I think you have enough. Let me take my leave."

Kohl

"If you take another step, a bone will break. Two steps, and you lose blood. Three and we spend our time digging a grave." I said, my eyes never leaving the spot she had just left. All traces of niceness, or playing were gone from my voice. And even as I spoke, the three men who had started the fire slowly drew weapons. Braid himself didn't draw any, as she was still in reach for him to grab.

"You have stepped out of your safe little world. You are now a piece in a game that goes above your business as a spy. How this game ends, depends on how happy you make me. So far, you are doing nothing but making me annoyed." I continued my voice soft, but a note of warning entered it.

Junko
Fox girl slowly sat down and glared at the boy who sat across from her. "Then make this easier for both of us. Tell me why I seem so damn important. If you didn't want information getting out, my death would have come before I even got out of the tree. Tell me why in the name you want to know when you could slit my throat and be done with me." She growled, challenging him.

"At this point, I don't if I die because I know nothing as it is and I am not going to risk telling you and dying anyway. I would rather die with my secrets." A rare grin came to her face. "I would rather keep you guessing forever with my death than giving you satisfaction."

"We both are at a standstill. One of us has to break before the other will move. Give me a better reason than my life or pain and I might break down and give you the information. Or tell me why you want to know."

Kohl

"Fine, your stubbornness has spared your life." I announced after a long moment of watching her. "You get your life and your freedom."

I got to my feet slowly, a motion of my fingers and the trio slid their weapons home and started working on dousing the fire. I didn't look at the girl, instead I watched the men. It was braid who broke the silence, "It is unlike you Kohl to give up..."

I cut him off, speaking sharply. "Give up? She has failed. I don't deal with failures. She will learn her lesson, or she wont." I turned to look at Braid. "Take the others home, I will deal with the consequences myself."

Junko
Failed? Didn't... "Excuse me, my mission failed when you found me out, yet you dealt with trying to work with me." Her eyes narrowed and she stood from her seat. "Either you are a complete idiot, or you don't like to admit your own failures."

The fox crossed to the boy, her eyes still mere slits. "What were you planning to get out of me that you could have solved by killing me? Stubbornness with soldiers would have gotten me killed. I took a chance and got no consequences." Her arms were removed from her chest to her sides. "You aren't a soldier, are you? Your men are since they are ready to kill me, but you are hesitant.

"Do you wish me to go further, or will you at least fight to keep your pride?" She didn't care either way, but now he was getting on her nerves.

Kohl

"I gave up pride a long time ago." I said getting to my feet slowly. I brushed off my pants before turning my gaze to meet hers. "For your arrogance, anger, and refusal to communicate you brought deaths upon yourself."

I gave a shrug of my shoulders, "I had hoped to end this with out bloodshed. But apparently a lesson must be taught. I think twelve people will do."

Junko
"... what?" She whispered. "What are you talking about?" The girl growled low and clenched her fists. "You little..." she unsheathed her blades and stopped midswing before she realized her mistake. She sheathed her blades and moved away.

"A mission of scoping out the area and waiting for my comrades was all I was given. If I found information, I got a bonus. Now keep your blades away from the throat's of others unless done in defense. You have you pathetic information. May I be on my way?"

The curiosity of the stupid vial still rang in her ears, but she couldn't ask now. All she should do is walk.

Kohl

I watched her walk away, shaking my head slowly before I turned and followed after my men. Under my breath I muttered quietly, "You failed your test, a shame too. You were cute and good at dodging a question. But nothing should get in the way of the mission." I closed my eyes to steady myself.

When I opened them again I pulled out the vial from its sleeve and inspected it. I uncapped it and brought it to my lips, tipping it back without any ceremony and draining the entire thing. A small blossom of warmth came to my stomach. It was simple alcohol, a test to see what she might do over the chance to drink. I smacked my lips at the apple taste in my mouth from said vial before I stoppered it up again and put it into its sleeve.

Kohl

I was in my civilian clothes, walking through the woods, feeling rather relaxed. My sleeves were rolled up enough that my hands were free. And I was using my hands to use a knife to cut bites of cheese off a block. I hummed softly as I worked, glad for a chance to relax. Yesterday I had kept good to my promise and twelve people had been killed. The people themselves had been criminals. But it was still a promise.

I cut another piece off and put it into my mouth. I wasn't really focusing on where I was going, and it was nice to relax a little I felt.

Junko
Footsteps brought the fox girl back to reality and she looked around to find a lean boy walking around the woods. Junko quickly got to her feet and climbed a tree to get out of sight. Who was to say a man of the umbra faction wouldn't fight her on sight for being a Lux?

She jumped to a new tree and watched him for a moment as he ate pieces of cheese. As he walked towards her tree, her heart sped up and his eyes looked up for a brief moment. Stormy grey... the fox's eyes widened and she jumped down from her tree on the other side to stay unseen by the boy. 

That... The masked boy! It was him! Her face grew a tint of pink. Why... why was it his eyes that made her notice his identity? No no! Must be because... he was in all black! How else could she recognize him? 

The fox step out from behind the tree and put on her best straight face. "Hello." She spoke softly. "What are you doing here?"

Kohl

I was mid bite when she stepped out of the tree's and I simply blinked at her for several seconds, the piece of cheese halfway to my mouth. "Hi." I responded with before actually bringing the cheese to my mouth.

I chewed slowly before finishing it and answering her question. "I'm out for a walk. It is a nice day out after all." I gestured to the landscape around us before smiling at her. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before, but then again I spend a lot of time indoors so I really don't see much of anyone."

Junko
"Huh...?" She trailed off, a bit confused by his reaction. "What do you..." She narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to him, examining his face. Sure enough, his eyes held the same grey with the golden rings that circled his iris. "You... but you..." the poor girl couldn't understand what she was hearing compared to her vision. 

"You are the boy who was masked the other day. I know it!" She stood up from her current position and tilted her head to the side. "You were the one who wanted informa-" 

The fox stopped herself and shook her head. "Never mind... I am mostly new I suppose... sorry about my babbling..." She apologized, staring at his eyes, wondering if she stared at them enough if they would give her answers.

Kohl

"Masked boy? Sounds like something from a story." I said with a gentle smile. I cut a piece of the cheese off and took a bite before offering out the cut piece.

"Babbling can be cute anyway, so don't worry. I haven't lived here too long, but I am sorry if I intruded on your part of the woods." I continued without missing a beat to make her feel at ease.

I knew for a fact that she remembered me from yesterday. But what could I do? If it came down to it, I would fight but for now I wanted to relax today.

Junko
The girl took a step back and did what she could to hide the slight blush that was beginning to come to her face. "Only lived here a little while?" Her suspicions weren't fading. "This is my part of the woods... I hang out here every once in awhile to get my head on straight." She lied. It was plan as day to herself why she was there. Though she would blame it on loving the scenery.

Fox girl looked to the cheese and plucked it from his fingers gently. She sniffed at it absently before putting it into her mouth. It couldn't have been poisoned... considering he had been eating it previously. She doubted even the masked man would be able to easily predict her actions as to place a light poison in the cheese... 

Her face lit up slightly and she licked her lips before straightening her features once more. "Thank you for the food..." Was all she said before she crossed her arms and her ears turned a bit to see if she could pick up noises of heavily armed men. His plan could have been to be friendly to her while his group of men from yesterday snuck in for the kill... right?

I nodded with a bow to my head, "Of course. I am glad that you liked it." I leaned closer as if I was sharing a secret. "I managed to talk the seller of the cheese down because it had a bit of mold on it."

I leaned back, "Little did he know, that you can just cut that off easily and still enjoy a good amount of cheese." I gave her a teasing smile, making a mental note to actually find someone who sells cheese. I never really did much shopping, and I had just taken the cheese, as well as a few other things with me in a backpack straight from our stores.

Junko
The fox almost unsheathed her dagger from her waist when the boy had told her about the mold, but quickly felt a sigh of relief relax her body. "Thanks... I needed another reason to worry." She muttered and looked at his eyes again, still very sure he was the same boy from yesterday. Why was he so friendly? He didn't even seem to recognize her...

"Are you sure you know nothing about me? You look... very familiar..." She asked, hoping his pupils would dilate or something... just one lie... that's all she needed to get rid of her stupid curiosity and leave... No, of course not! I still want to know about that little vial... Junko sighed unexpectedly, feeling her stress levels go even further. Perhaps she should have left it alone... Maybe leaving this guy to be on his way was a better idea...

Kohl

I pursed me lips, looking her over. "Well, I can't say that I don't know anything about you. But where I am from, asking personal questions about a lady, or even a stranger is kind of frowned upon. But might I suggest if you wish to remain hidden, you watch for the sun." I said pointing with a finger to her shadow, something that was mostly hidden by the branches but with enough showing for a guess to be made.

I held up my hands apologetically, "I honestly mean no harm, and I'm sorry if I make you feel embarrassed by my guessing. But I think your a Kitsune...right?" I raised my voice and added the word at the end to form a question from my statement. As it was, I gazed at her with a mixture of curiosity as well as nervousness.

Junko
Her eyes widened and she looked to her shadow to see the shadow of a two tailed fox. Junko stepped further into the shadows, moving to his side. Her head turned back to him and her eyes became slits. "Yes... I am a Kitsune... Now... since you know what I am... might you simply tell me your name?" Her face softened and she gave a welcoming smile.

"My name it Kohl. And yours is?" He said, making Junko smile bigger. 

"Junko. A pleasure to meet you, Kohl." She charmed, immediately beginning her silvertongue. Her eyes grew bright silver and her eyes stayed glued to his. 

"Um..." The fox trailed, drawing a blank as to what she should ask him now. "What is your occupation, Kohl, and are you sure you didn't see me yesterday? Perhaps around a cozy fire with a few other men?"

Kohl

I considered her words, knowing what power she was using and knowing how it worked. "I am a storyteller. Though I am not sure what story it is I want to let out." My smile grew small as I continued, "I think I would remember someone with such a pretty smile. And I spend a lot of time around fires because of my job."

I gave a helpless shrug of my shoulders, "Did that help you at all?" I asked hopefully.