A finished blade

Okane stood behind his desk. His apartment was finished with white leather furniture and nearly transparent glass tables. One in the kitchen with stools next to it and one as a living room coffee table. Both on spiraling ebony legs. The outer design of the corners a soft grey steel. Flowers were spread through out it with a jeweled look. The gas fireplace was cold at the moment but the room was a steady seventy degree's. His bedroom was sealed off behind a wall up some stairs now and out of sight. There was a spot next to the door for shoes. A chandelier hung in each room with a slow rotating set of fan blades above each. The floor was redwood in the kitchen area and a soft white carpet in the living room. The walls a very dark blue. Windows surrounded the entirety of the floor letting in a lot of light and showing off the view over the entire village. The kitchen kept with the theme and had white cabinets with brass handles and all new stainless steel kitchen appliances. A blue marble counter top sat in the center of the kitchen while the table was closer to the windows. There was a bathroom upstairs in his room and a second one down by the living room with a walk in shower in both and brass sinks.

Okane himself was relatively comfortable at the moment. His redwood desk had the seat behind it for himself it had before but for now the other seat had been put in a closet. There were only the two. One large leather seat on his side of the desk he wasn't using and another more simple chair on the other. The big one was a tall backed red leather chair while the one across from it was more like your average black office chair. On the redwood desk was some rather simple things. A computer off to the side. On the left. On the right side of the desk was a series of gears all turning and perpetually turning each other. Somehow not being powered by anything but as a work of engineering keeping the objects in motion with their own weight and force. In the center was the piece of the day. Something of decent length under a purple sheet of satin. Simply draped over it for the time being.

Okane was wearing a white button up with the top two buttons undone and the cuff links undone and rolled halfway up his arms carefully. Tucked into a black pair of slacks with the corners still pressed and both his belts holding it tight to him. One silver buckle with the stag symbol on it and one gold buckle with his family symbol on it. Crisscrossed belts with the gold over the silver. He valued his name highly. Still he had sent a summons to his head of security. Asking him to come promptly to the office. At the moment he was waiting for the elevator to ding. His green eyes watching out the window onto the balcony as he poured himself a glass of bourbon. It was a celebration after all.

Okane likely expected a ding from the elevator, or maybe the man to have simply taken the stairs. The Grand Merchant must not have been too used to his Head of Security yet, if he figured the man to take such a...pedestrian mode of vertical travel. No, no, no. None of that. Luckily the Businessman--Blacksmith--Armorer--Engineer--and whatever else Okane may have been in his free time, the absolute mad lad, had been looking out towards his balcony. Because Okane's balcony would quickly become Azuma's entrance. Almost casually the man suddenly popped up from below, leaping over the railing and landing gracefully in a knelled position just outside of Okane's top floor penthouse. He'd only came from his own apartment a number of floors down.

Azuma stood to his full height, the man's outfit noticably nicer then any of his previous ones. It still had the same style to it, but his Yukata was now replaced with a Kimono, his standard issue pants and shoes replaced with silky Hakama in black, with matching Geta, giving the man another 2 inches on his overall height with them included. Azuma's mismatched gaze peered through the glass about the man's balcony, as he slowly stepped over to the door, opening it. Surely entering from outside to inside would bring a temprature difference, no way a man like Okane wouldn't have the finest AC pumping chilled air throughout the building, especially his own Penthouse Suite. For a moment, Azuma glanced around once stepping in, easily read to be taking in the full finished view of what Okane dreamed of as his home. Azuma nodded, it wasn't bad.

He's turn back towards Okane, and begin approaching, finally addressing him. "You requested me, Okane-san?" he'd say, stopping about 5 meters away from the wealthy businessman. It wouldn't be a moment later he broke eyeline with Okane, and his eyes settled on a satin sheet, purple in color, upon Okane's redwood desk, among a computer and a small bit of engineering wonder. The length, the shape, of what was under it...it was all Azuma needed to know--but for now--his multi-colored gaze returned to try to meet Okane's green hues.

Okane would spot some rather sudden movement and have to steady himself from any sort of jolt of surprise. IF he spilled his drink he would be unhappy. Still some part of his mind had known this would happen and had expected it. Though he had been caught off guard easily by it his mind reacted to it in a more comfortable way. Less of an Oh shit and more of an ohhh right. After all this man never left this place in the way others did. He was unique in his own way. Okane would let his jade gaze match the mismatched eyes of the other man. He could feel the energy in the air again now. Now that the man was on the same floor as his own. As head of security his apartment was one of the four corners of the building one floor below so arguably for him this was the easiest route. Still Okane was growing accustomed to the sensation of being statically charged just from Azuma entering the room. Maybe he should employ that tactic eventually with some negotiations. Bring in a man that radiated power to hold the negotiations in his favor. A good plan.

Five would take a sip of his drink as the door opened. The difference in pressure was noticeable as cold air rushed out. At least cold in comparison to the hundred degree's outside. Still the door would close itself behind Azuma. The man taking in the room as Okane smiled and actually found himself preferring the view looking out. He was gaining ground on his success and well, with that men like Azuma and Ken were very valuable to him. As such he paid them somewhat handsomely for just remaining a part of the company. They would defend him as a citizen of the village as was but likely the mere knowledge of them as members of his staff would be enough of a deterrent for most would be rough necks. Still he would notice Azuma glance at the item on the desk and know what it was. Okane was fairly proud of it himself but for now he kept his cool. Instead he would reply to Azuma with a friendly smile. The man seemed cold to him but perhaps that would change after today. As for the honorific he chose. It was interesting. Placing himself on the same level as Okane. Perhaps it should be something Okane should be honored by. A powerful warrior considering him his equal. For now Okane would avoid returning the compliment in his own way.

"Azuma please, surely we are passed honorifics by now. At least in private. Tell me, Do you partake?" Okane would ask will swishing his drink up in front of him.

Azuma seen the dark haired man having himself a glass when he'd entered, and after The Desert Rogue had greeted The Grand Merchant--he'd find himself offered a drink. This wasn't the first time Okane had offered the man a drink, no--Okane had offered Azuma a drink before that day they met back in Okane's basement--a home forge. How times have changed, from the humble basement, to the top floor of the biggest building in Sunagakure. In such a short time too, it could only feel like weeks ago to Azuma, but honestly more time then that had passed since meeting Okane

But that aside, Azuma nodded, this time accepting the offer, instead of declining it. If Okane was fine with him drinking 'on the job' then hey, so be it. Azuma stepped closer, giving Okane a small smile as he did. "Alright, Okane. If you insist...I just try to be respectful of others, my apologies." he'd say in his signature smooth deep tone. The man's voice could travel far if he projected it enough, but he spoke fairly softly and politely at almost all times. Not once had he not been polite with Okane...well, at least he was never intentionally impolite with the man. Truth was Azuma likely pushed some of the man's buttons, but probably never enough to drive any wedge between them.

The Raiton warrior glanced back to the cover on the desk. "I have a feeling I know why you summoned me." he'd say, still a smile on the Jounin's face. Frankly the man had been excited to have a new, finely crafted sword from Okane. The kunai, the arm guards--they was okay. The glaive originally made for Kai? Not bad. But this sword...it would potentually be the nicest thing Azuma ever owned. Hope so, considering paying for it could've been used to pay off a rather nice house...but provided the new Penthouse in the tower, Azuma need not worry of such things.

Okane would see him nod and smile. Setting his own glass down before using a pair of metal clamps to pick two ice cubes out of a small ice box. Placing two cubes into the second glass to match the two in his own. Enough to cool it but not enough to water it down. He would place the clamp back and pick up a crystal jar filled with the honeyed liquid. Popping off the circular jeweled top he would idly pour it into the second cup to about half full. Then he would cork it and set it back down. Picking up both cups he would hand the freshest one to his head of security without a worry in the world. One drink would hardly perturb the man from any duties he might have. If anything Okane was fairly relaxed when it came to day drinking. After all he spent the majority of his nights in the black smith. So drinking during the day was to be expected. He would hold up his glass to a cheers.

"Yes I suspected you would quickly pick up on that my friend. I am sure you are very excited. I am. Cheers to achieving our goals"

Okane would touch his glass to Azuma's if allowed before taking a sip. With his right hand he pinched the cloth and expertly whipped it away. Idly tucking it into his back pocket as he smiled. There it was. The single item that had brought about a partnership between the two. One singular request worth more than most in the village. Worth more than the building they were standing in. One sword. And yet this sword was superior to almost every sword out there. It would end anything it touched other than the ones soon to be made like it. An Okane original. Everything he had asked for in the design. Okane would smile and watch. Taking a small step back. "Feel free to pick it up. It's yours. As promised I guarantee that there is nothing in your inventory that can compare. Nothing in the whole village even for the time being. Feel free to test it if you have another weapon on you."

The Desert Rogue watched as Okane prepared a glass, and once offered to him he's kindly accept--"Thank you." he'd say, going ahead and clanking his glass with Okane's when the businessman raised his glass for a cheers. Azuma and the man would both take sips of their alcohol at the same time, and like the showman he was--Okane would rip away the satin cloth and reveal the weapon. Finely crafted, a work of perfection and specification. An Okane original, crafted just for Azuma--made of his experimental, or now successful, metal ore.

Azuma seen the man step back, telling him to feel free to check out the weapon. One to hold his opinion, Azuma stepped closer to the desk, gently setting down the glass now half drank, and would carefully pick up the blade. The weight, the quality, even with just looking at it in its sheath...he knew this was something special. It was worth well more then his home, that was for sure. He slowly examined it, face expressionless, quiet--stoic as he did. With a movement smooth but quick, he would slide out the blade, the sound of it unsheathing echoing throughout the office. Azuma examined the blade...the signature tone of the Midnight Ore blade shimmering in Azuma's mismatched eyes.

He'd slowly slide it back into the sheath, the click of it closing solid, reassuring, perfect. Azuma smiled. "A beautiful piece of craftsmanship, as expected from the man being called The Grand Merchant..." he'd say, gently placing the weapon back on the table. He'd reach around his back and slide his current sword from his lower back, a simple market bought Chokuto...Azuma would slip a scroll from his sleeve, and with some quick movements--likely all a blur to Okane--the man would seal away his sword and replaced the scroll back in his sleeve.

"Its an amazing sword, worthy of its name...Sabaku no Kaminari." he'd say, casting a subtle smile to Okane, before picking the glass back up, and raising it back up to offer Okane another cheers. "I thank you for allowing me to possess one of your masterpieces." he said as he offered the cheers--regardless of if the man obliged or not, Azuma would swig back the drink and finish it off, placing the glass back down on the table. He'd again pick up the weapon, and for a moment fiddle with the spool of wire, checking it--smirking before letting it retract in. Exactly as ordered.

Azuma's ear burned, the sound of a bird chirping outside, the man looking back out to the balcony of Okane's penthouse. Sitting upon the railing was a messenger bird. Azuma figured it was for Okane, and would step over to the door and open it, expecting the bird to fly in over to Okane. But no. It flew right up to Azuma...they did live in the same building after all, and this message was for him. The man blinked, and would lift his arm up. The bird landed on his arm--and Azuma would unhook a message from its leg, opening the tiny scroll and quickly reading it. He'd shut his eyes and sigh, slipping the tiny scroll into his top and letting the bird go, the man turning back to Okane.

"I've been summoned for a Mission...I appreciate the drink and hospitality Okane, I'm sorry to have to cut this short. But I feel a lot better now, knowing I have one of the best blades in the land by my side." he said, giving Okane a smile towards his great work. Azuma slipped the blade in behind himself, into where his old sword once was, flat across his lower back--fixed up with his hip pouches. With that--the man gave a wave to Okane, and quickly slipped out the door and off the balcony, gone in a literal blur of speed for Okane.

--Exit Post