Konoha Chat with your host, Ibiki! [& special guest, Hizashiko!]
Ibiki's footsteps echoed quietly in the concrete corridor. The flickering fluorescent lights provided just enough gray-blue illumination to see just how stark and bare the walls and floor really were. Further down a pipe dripped artfully, the soft plunking of moisture almost musical in contrast to the quiet buzzing overhead. The doors lining the walls bore neither numbers nor knobs. The cells this far below ground housed only the most special guests. Guests like the living dead.
Despite efforts to remain calm, Hyuuga Hizashiko showed clear signs of strain. Ibiki had maintained vigil via hidden cameras since the return to Konoha while copies of Hizashiko's medical records became available. Haruhi, the Hyuuga medic kept for ANBU's exclusive use as the clan vowed to kill her on sight if they ever saw her again, had examined Hizashiko with the same brisk, cool efficiency she showed all her patients. A copy of the handwritten notes lay in Ibiki's file, awaiting the accompanying dictated report. Ibiki had read the notes thoroughly, paying most attention to Haruhi's mention that the keirakukei around the woman's eyes matched those attributed to adult members of the Hyuuga clan.
Hizashiko's behaviour during the physical examination garnered Ibiki's full attention. The other Hyuuga clearly disliked the cell and mistrusted the medic, whom she knew not. Terrified of her, Ibiki mused as she recalled the video. Yet to allow Haruhi to do her job regardless spoke much for the amount of trust Hizashiko chose to extend. Ibiki understood how much trauma Hizashiko's body and psyche had underwent; the extended and emphatic discussion with Chiriku-sama and Takanobu-san had made it perfectly clear. Ibiki allowed herself some sympathy as a fellow torturee--this sympathy could aid in bridging whatever gaps might impede conversation.
The challenge for the upcoming conversation lay in that Ibiki needed every detail she could delicately wring out of Hizashiko without surrendering too much herself. Until told otherwise by the Hokage, Hizashiko needed handling with exquisite care. Just in case that, despite plenty of physical evidence and numerous matchpoints, the person proclaiming herself as Hyuuga Hizashiko proved in fact someone else. Only after Ibiki's report appeared on the Hokage's desk might the situation change. For now, Ibiki extended a minimal benefit of a doubt and had the cell furnished with a few basic amenities denied actual prisoners. A good, firm futon, a comfortable pillow, several blankets of different thicknesses to ward off the slight but omnipresent chill found in the cells this far down, books and a two-chaired card table to read them at, a privacy screen around the commode (not that it impeded the hidden cameras), and a battery-operated lamp with three brightness levels. One of Ibiki's people, Tae, who had accompanied her to pick up Hizashiko from the temple, brought a tray of food three times a day. She afforded Hizashiko the privacy of dining alone, waiting outside the room for the Hyuuga to finish. No conversation passed between them--not for Hizashiko's lack of trying. Tae only smiled with quiet understanding as she maintained that her orders forbade her to discuss anything except to find out if Hizashiko needed anything. Hizashiko grew more agitated from this but she accepted the explanation with frustrated reluctance.
But the terror continued to manifest in Hizashiko's movements, growing every hour, and Ibiki worried the woman might crack. Almost fifteen years in a cell of the enemy, only to claw to freedom and end up in another cell no matter how comfortably made... Lesser women had broken under less.
Ibiki stopped outside Hizashiko's cell and lifted a glove to knock genteelly on the door. A few seconds to perform the proper handseals before placing her hand on the metal plate, her chakra disengaging the tumblers locking the door. Hizashiko could probably pick the lock if she liked; the Hyuuga clan's ability with chakra manipulation rendered this sort of lock useless if not Jyuuken'd into lethargy first. But Hizashiko chose not to challenge the door. This, too, showed much. Given the opportunity Ibiki would reward her faith. Pending the Hokage's decision of course.
She pushed the door open slowly so as not to startle the skittish Hyuuga. "Good morning, Hyuuga-san," she began as she stepped in. Easing the door closed behind her, Ibiki chose to remain standing until (if) Hizashiko offered her a seat. True, Ibiki ruled here, but for now she played the well-mannered guest. Flies and honey and all that. "Did you sleep well?"
Despite efforts to remain calm, Hyuuga Hizashiko showed clear signs of strain. Ibiki had maintained vigil via hidden cameras since the return to Konoha while copies of Hizashiko's medical records became available. Haruhi, the Hyuuga medic kept for ANBU's exclusive use as the clan vowed to kill her on sight if they ever saw her again, had examined Hizashiko with the same brisk, cool efficiency she showed all her patients. A copy of the handwritten notes lay in Ibiki's file, awaiting the accompanying dictated report. Ibiki had read the notes thoroughly, paying most attention to Haruhi's mention that the keirakukei around the woman's eyes matched those attributed to adult members of the Hyuuga clan.
Hizashiko's behaviour during the physical examination garnered Ibiki's full attention. The other Hyuuga clearly disliked the cell and mistrusted the medic, whom she knew not. Terrified of her, Ibiki mused as she recalled the video. Yet to allow Haruhi to do her job regardless spoke much for the amount of trust Hizashiko chose to extend. Ibiki understood how much trauma Hizashiko's body and psyche had underwent; the extended and emphatic discussion with Chiriku-sama and Takanobu-san had made it perfectly clear. Ibiki allowed herself some sympathy as a fellow torturee--this sympathy could aid in bridging whatever gaps might impede conversation.
The challenge for the upcoming conversation lay in that Ibiki needed every detail she could delicately wring out of Hizashiko without surrendering too much herself. Until told otherwise by the Hokage, Hizashiko needed handling with exquisite care. Just in case that, despite plenty of physical evidence and numerous matchpoints, the person proclaiming herself as Hyuuga Hizashiko proved in fact someone else. Only after Ibiki's report appeared on the Hokage's desk might the situation change. For now, Ibiki extended a minimal benefit of a doubt and had the cell furnished with a few basic amenities denied actual prisoners. A good, firm futon, a comfortable pillow, several blankets of different thicknesses to ward off the slight but omnipresent chill found in the cells this far down, books and a two-chaired card table to read them at, a privacy screen around the commode (not that it impeded the hidden cameras), and a battery-operated lamp with three brightness levels. One of Ibiki's people, Tae, who had accompanied her to pick up Hizashiko from the temple, brought a tray of food three times a day. She afforded Hizashiko the privacy of dining alone, waiting outside the room for the Hyuuga to finish. No conversation passed between them--not for Hizashiko's lack of trying. Tae only smiled with quiet understanding as she maintained that her orders forbade her to discuss anything except to find out if Hizashiko needed anything. Hizashiko grew more agitated from this but she accepted the explanation with frustrated reluctance.
But the terror continued to manifest in Hizashiko's movements, growing every hour, and Ibiki worried the woman might crack. Almost fifteen years in a cell of the enemy, only to claw to freedom and end up in another cell no matter how comfortably made... Lesser women had broken under less.
Ibiki stopped outside Hizashiko's cell and lifted a glove to knock genteelly on the door. A few seconds to perform the proper handseals before placing her hand on the metal plate, her chakra disengaging the tumblers locking the door. Hizashiko could probably pick the lock if she liked; the Hyuuga clan's ability with chakra manipulation rendered this sort of lock useless if not Jyuuken'd into lethargy first. But Hizashiko chose not to challenge the door. This, too, showed much. Given the opportunity Ibiki would reward her faith. Pending the Hokage's decision of course.
She pushed the door open slowly so as not to startle the skittish Hyuuga. "Good morning, Hyuuga-san," she began as she stepped in. Easing the door closed behind her, Ibiki chose to remain standing until (if) Hizashiko offered her a seat. True, Ibiki ruled here, but for now she played the well-mannered guest. Flies and honey and all that. "Did you sleep well?"