Cherry Tree. [Subj. Takeda @testyoursight]

Hotaru was still unfamiliar with the grounds of the Shirai Ryu temple. He had been here for a night so far, discussing with the Grandmaster how Raiden was concerned about the activities of Chaosrealm and had asked for Seido’s help in this matter. Seido had been dealing with its own issues for about two decades and had sequestered itself from other realms, turning its back to even the clergy of Chaosrealm. Havik had come close to ruining everything in that short period of time, but Earthrealm managed to take care of itself in no small part because of Grandmaster Hasashi, both the cause and the cure to the cleric’s troublemaking.

Hotaru had, however, already somewhat figured out the patterns of the temple grounds’ layout, and believed he was able to discern the exact location he was directed to despite its vague description. There were hills on the north, south, east and west sides of the temple, upon the summit of which stood a straight cherry tree - yes, there were cherry trees everywhere, but these were special. 

Why Hanzo’s Chujin wanted to meet in the middle of the night, Hotaru did not know. Was it a trick? Possibly. Hotaru had not spoken at length with Takeda. But the Shirai Ryu had been so intimately connected to Havik’s last plot that Hotaru also wouldn’t be surprised if Takeda thought Chaosrealm had eyes and ears everywhere.

Glowing gray irises, normally shielded by milky white membranes, were laid bare to the dead of night so that darkness did not obscure his vision. He wore his armor, but it was retracted inside the golden spine on the back of his black underarmor. Should he need to activate it, he would.

A Seidan did not arrive to a location late, nor did they arrive to a location too early. Exact timing was expected. And that was when he arrived at the top cherry tree on the east hill, exactly where and when requested. 

Well General Hotaru, you say that yet Havik has yet to be captured and goes into Seido under your nose.

“What am I going to do with Havik if I capture him? Keep him in Orderrealm? No thank you. Believe it or not, Havik is not my first priority. We successfully run our water extraction operation in Chaosrealm despite his and his clergy’s best efforts to stop us, and he rarely personally goes into Seido. It doesn’t usually work out for him when he has.”