Her Most Blessed Highness
Princess Yue sat in her lounge, atop piles of pelts and furs, ready to receive her guests. Of course, one does not simply keep royalty waiting, so it was only a few minutes before the door swung open and the guard ushered two people inside before allowing her privacy.
The man Yue guessed to be the priestess' guard immediately dropped into a bow without so much as looking at her.
(The priestess herself, a striking woman clad in a purple parka, sighed and offered a bow of her own.)
The black-haired guard wasted no time before speaking with an accent Yue couldn't quite place, "This Uchiha Madara greets her most blessed highness," it was here he finally looked up, "Princess- what the fuck?!'
Yue nearly choked, while the priestess kicked her guard.
The man shook himself, "Ah, forgive me, your highness. I meant no disrespect."
It was only thanks to her keen hearing that Yue heard what the man muttered next - "Of course. I travel to the kami-damned North Pole and the frosty bastard isn't even here. I swear when I find him-"
How incredibly interesting. Who did this man expect her to be?
The priestess sighed, "My deepest apologies, Princess. I am the High Priestess, Aruna. I beg you forgive my guard, as be does not often think before allowing his mouth to spew whatever. But regardless, I was told that you held an interest in foreign jewelry?"
Yue smiled. She liked this one. She liked this one quite a bit.
"Jewels, among other things. I wish to hear tales of the world. I'm certain that some Water Tribe finery is worth your...... cooperation?"
Priestess Aruna opened her mouth, but the guard that called himself Uchiha interrupted, "Your highness is very kind, but we will demand no such compensation. Instead, there is something I'd like to ask you."
Oh? How odd. How terribly odd. This man, supposedly a mere guard, shows almost no respect for the priestess. Aruna, in turn, seems utterly unphased. Quite unusual....
Ah, she understood now.
Yue smiled, perhaps just a bit too sharp, "Very well. I might have an answer for you."
The man that called himself Uchiha stood straight and met her gaze. As if he were her equal.
The priestess called Aruna opened her mouth, as if to scold him, but she was silenced before she could speak with simply the wave of a hand.
The man's odd black eyes narrowed, "I would like to know if you are aware of another person with white hair - a young man with red eyes."
Priestess Aruna seemed surprised by Uchiha's question. So his agenda was unknown to her as well, how curious.
Yue felt the urge to humor this strange man. Another with white hair? Fascinating.
"Why is it you are searching for one of Tui's blessed?"
Priestess Aruna looked between the two, an odd expression on her fierce face.
The strange man contemplated her question for but a moment - not as though he didn't think of it much, but rather he thought quickly.
"He's an old colleague of mine. I happen to need his assistance."
Priestess Aruna cast a strange look to her companion.
Yue pondered for a moment. There was something that this man was not telling her, but he was not deceitful.
She wanted to see where this went, "I have no knowledge of such an individual." The man that called himself Uchiha grit his teeth and furrowed his brows, "However, I know of a way to find this information. Though I will not provide it to you out of the goodness of my heart, there is no such thing in the world of business."
He smiled, "I'd expect nothing less, your highness. Please, take a look at our wares. It will take some time to write our tales of the world, but you can take whatever items from our stores that form a value equal to that of the information you will provide."
Yue was starting to like this man just a bit, "Of course. Tales for a question, treasures for information."
How lovely. This had gone better than Yue thought it would.
Yes, how extraordinarily lovely.
Aruna was at a loss - something that doesn't happen often. But no way in the name of Agni will she let it stay that way.
Fortunately, curiosity is a feeling known to all things, and to seek answers for it is the human nature - it's how humanity learned to bend, how the nations were formed, and how they continue to develop.
And Aruna is so, undeniably human - quite painfully so.
The entities known as Kali and Sang-je observed the girl that had to grow up too soon.
"But that is the way of the living." A spirit with coal-colored skin said.
"Cruelty brings life to the world, and kindness takes it." A spirit with eyes like the abyss added.
"But even when knowing this, they still strive for more. Such greedy creatures." A spirit shackled by gold continued.
"It is what makes them fascinating. Still, you can't help but pity them." A sporit robed in the sky concluded.
In the back of their store, Aruna confronted Madara.
"That's the reason you're here?" She demanded inquired with a furrowed brow, "You're looking for someone?"
Madara scowled at her, "I fail to see how this is relevant."
Aruna ground her teeth, "We're working together. If we want to get out of here with our heads after that stunt you pulled, we can't afford secrets."
Madara's eye twitched. Unfortunately for him, she had a point, "Fine. I'll tell you what you need to know. Nothing more."