Festival Evanesce [Kaito]

Once a strict gambling locale, Tanzaku Town, transformed into a popular tourist attraction. Its rough "edges" smoothed out into presentable profit. Spas, tour guides, and resorts displayed in pamphlets, along with the reformed gambling dens, now catering towards family activities and picturesque fun. These changes, although significant, paved the way for more subtle illegal enterprising. Forcing the darker half of the town in Hi no Kuni to hide in plain sight. Tasked with routing out this corruption, Yuna, often visited to gather intelligence. Today, however, she was spending time with her daughter and elected to stay at a resort where she knew the owner personally. They shared a room on the first floor, down the far hallway past the front desk, directly across from the baths and the steam rooms.

"Is this your daughter, Yuna?" Nari Oyama asked.

"Natsuki," Yuna replied. "I'm sure I've written to you about her."

Nari nodded. "Since this is your first stay," she smiled at the younger Uchiha." I've set both of you up across from the baths. Why don't you take your belongings to the room while your mother and I catch up?" She passed on a key-card to Natsuki and gestured to the left of the desk. "Room 117, sweetie."

"Eh, sure, I'll leave you to talk! I want to check out the steam-room anyways." Ecstatic, the Genin departed at all speeds ahead, carrying two duffel bags, one that belonged to her, and the other she snagged from her mother's side. Tossing them into the room would be a simple matter. In her hurry, however, she failed to notice the severe exchange of facial expressions between the two old friends. I believe they went to the Academy together. I bet it's been a while since they've spoken face-to-face. No need to intrude.

Yuna and Nari watched her leave, vanishing down one hall and around the corner before speaking further. "What's the matter, Nari?" Yuna cut to the chase. "If you think I didn't notice your desire for Natsuki's quick departure, you're losing your touch. Is business slowing again?" The Elder Uchiha asked, knowing that wasn't the case - something grave lurked in her former classmate's eyes; Nari was afraid.

A few residents lingered in the lobby, lost in their own activities: a couple browsing items in the gift shop, another local reading news on a tablet, and by the fire pit, a person wrote in swift flourishes of the pen onto a scroll. With the Autumn Festival underway, the resort seemed to have plenty of patrons. Kids could be heard playing games, dressed in various outfits. Yuna smiled while a little girl in a kitsune costume rushed by the desk - probably all ready for the parade later tonight. A group of fellows trailed behind her with rubber katanas in their hands, wearing masks tied together with white lace in the back.

"One of our guests disappeared last night," Nari said in a hushed tone. "Before you bombard me with questions, yes, we looked into the usual possibilities. Though we didn't need to."

"What does that mean?"

"A visitor from Sunagakure, in town for the festival this week, checked in and swiped his key-card at 6 pm last night. When he failed to leave his residence even once by noon today, we thought he may require medical assistance. I sent housekeeping to look into his room."

Yuna sighed. "I'll finish the story: he unpacked, but otherwise, there's no sign of him."

"Well, not exactly. A fair amount of the furniture is in disarray, suggesting an intruder, but there's no external access to the room. It's facing in, with no balcony or windows. Until my staff entered, the only other entry was his own last night, tracked by his key-card. And he's not a Shinobi as far as I could gather."

"You want me to look into it?"

"No, no Yunnie, of course not. You're on vacation. I just knew there wouldn't be a point in lying to you. You can read me so easily. I also didn't desire to worry about your child. As a new Kunoichi, I am sure she has more stress than she knows how to handle. Our resort is supposed to be relaxing this time of year. Not a place for fear." With a bit of effort, she smiled at Yuna and then handed her a key-card. "She's beautiful, you know. It's been years since I've seen her."

"She doesn't remember that," Yuna explained. "Natsuki is at times too clever for her own good. I'm sure she's already figured out we attended the Academy together, but please keep the details of why you resigned our way of life from her. The experiences of one Kunochi shouldn't cloud her own judgment." Glancing by the fire pit, she whiffed up the aroma of ember and ash and decided to remain for a while and relax by its warmth. "I think I'll stay in the lobby and read for a spell. You'll find me there if anything comes up. Keep me appraised, Nari."

"Yes, I shall. Having a resident Anbu does have its perks, doesn't it? I can't imagine anyone wishing to cross blades (so to speak) with you."

When her mother didn't arrive within ten or so minutes, Natsuki, took it upon herself to unpack and store what Genin equipment she brought in one of the several drawers. Although she found herself unwilling to change entirely. Having gone on a few missions alone at this point, she felt partially naked while not wearing her Kunochi attire. The freedom of movement and light protection comforted her and reinforced the idea that she was ultimately safe outside the village - even if that wasn't reality.

I wonder why I've never been here before. This resort appears lovely. Natsuki sighed and relaxed on the bed, both firm and yet supple soft at the same time. The miles that they traveled today weighed heavily on her. She felt a slight fatigue setting in, and her eyes fluttered opened and shut. The thought of peeking at the baths and steam room vanished, and soon she found herself drifting off to sleep. Although unusual for her to feel so tired in the middle of the day, Natsuki wouldn't awaken for several hours, just in time for sunset to eclipse the horizon in blazing oranges and reds, and for howling winds to cause autumn leaves to fall.