The Cogs Marionette is the premiere Puppet shop in all of the Village of Merchants. Within are rows upon rows of puppets organized by make, model, and style. To the ordinary eye, it seems cluttered and disorganized, the smell of sawdust and wood permeates the air.

---

Oita stood in the puppet shop, prodding lightly at the scrolls around him. Nothing useful. Nothing he could use at least. He sighed and shook his head, rubbing his eyes under his glasses as he felt an overwhelming urge to yell.

A small and frail appearing old woman sauntered out from the back room of the shop. "Oh hello, dearie. Is there something I can help you with?" She asked Oita curiously. She set down her small box of parts on the counter and moved around the counter.

Oita shook his head wordlessly, running a slow finger over the arm of a small, highly detailed puppet. He was watching its face as he did it, as if waiting for it to react to his touch. After a long moment, he sighed and pulled away from the wooden body. He swayed through the shop, as if in a dream, stopping at another puppet and starting to caress it as he gazed into the immovable wooden face.

"Are you alright, dearie?" The older woman asked him gently as she approached slowly, she did not wish to startle him.

Oita shook his head again, giving a half shrug to the woman. He just couldn't speak right now, couldn't summon it up inside him. His voice was deep inside him somewhere, and he felt sick whenever he tried to reach inside to find it again.

"You just take your time, dearie. If you have any questions about my puppets' capabilities, just ask." She told him with a reassuring smile.

"The blade in this one's arm is out of alignment. It would cause it to hit the wood on the way out. It's not really an issue at first, but it might cause eventual dulling." Oita said as he squeezed the arm of a slim puppet. He sighed softly, running his finger tips across the wood slowly "I just... Thought you ought to know."

"Hmmm...You have quite an eye for that." The old lady stated and smiled warmly. She patted his hand softly and shook her head. "That is fine, though, especially here. I don't get many Ninja Puppet Masters here, you know. Generally, people buy my puppets as they are for simple shows. Should the puppet break, they usually just buy another." She shrugged and chuckled lightly. "But I know that won't do for you. Come with me, dearie. I've got the real ones in the back."

"I'm... afraid that, while your puppets might be exquisite, now would not be the time for me to purchase them." Oita said, even as he followed the woman into the back rooms "You see, I am one of the team members brought here to protect the special cargo heading out today. If I bought a puppet now, I would not have the skill with it to be effective. It would likely be destroyed in the battle, or I would be left vulnerable using it and... Well, we are facing dangerous foes..."

"Then perhaps a simpler one? One not for such glamorous motions as you may be used to. Sometimes the simple puppets can be the most effective." The shopkeeper told him with a shrug. "I have a few that may interest you."

"I could take a look." Oita said with a small shrug to the woman, letting her lead him along. He had a feeling that he would see lots he liked and none he could use. He sighed slightly, running his hands through his hair as he thought about what was probably going to happen in his close future. Maybe one? If he was lucky. Maybe he could take one out? But he doubted it.

"So you're one of those Coalition ninja the whole town is talking about?" She asked him as she moved through the puppet warehouse. She moved several out of the way without any care whatsoever for their welfare.

Oita reached out and caught at least two puppets as they almost hit the floor. He nodded, saying gently "Yes. I am one of the coalition forces tasked to look after... well, something. We haven't been told what." He sighed carefully, straightening another puppet in case it fell and injured its chassis, "Why do you ask?"

"Because, dearie, seeing as you are, I feel much better in offering you my prize puppet." She told him with a wide, gap-filled grin. "Mind you, He's rather old...I made him when I was probably...twice? your age." She moved swiftly through the clutter and brought out a small scroll sealed within golden rings. She turned around and presented it to him with shaky hands.

Oita blinked slightly, taking the puppet scroll and gazing down at it. "I don't think I could ever afford such a thing..." he said gently, scanning the summoning writing "Let alone... if I took such a treasure out into the field and managed to get it damaged in my own incompetence... I could never forgive myself."

The little old lady shook her head. "I can tell from the way you treat even my junk puppets in here, you are far from incompetent, child..." She gently folded his fingers over the scroll and smiled. "Trust me, you won't find a deal much like this here in this village."

Oita blushed bashfully. "I... I'll take it..." he said softly, giving her a small smile as he gazed at the scroll "Thank you. I will care for it. I am not much of a collector, more a crafter, but I'm sure your puppet will be of great help to this mission and myself. Thank you."

"He will, dearie. You shall see. Never a finer puppet have I made. I simply wish I could still use him myself." She explained sadly, though she was pleased that Oita had accepted the gift.

"If the battle is close... you will no doubt see the puppet in action." Oita said with a small nod "My own ones were... rather broken in a previous mission." He didn't want to really talk about it... If she knew what it was like to have a prized puppet, she must know what it is like to have a broken one.

"A sad misfortune." She replied with a nod of her own. "When you finish your mission, you come back here, dearie." She smiled and patted his arm gently. "You come back here, and you can have any parts you need to make your show complete. A good boy like you shouldn't need to worry so much."

"They... well, I have the parts, it's just the build time. I couldn't get them fixed before... they asked us to come out here." Oita said with a small shrug, sighing and running his fingers slowly over the scroll. "Are you certain I can have this?" he asked again.

"I would not have given it to you, if I had thought otherwise." She looked at him curiously and thought for a moment. "Do you have the parts with you?"

"No, and the scrolls containing the puppets that require work are unfortunately left behind. I could not spare any space in my pack." Oita said with a little half shrug "Thank you though... for the offer."

"Oh. What a shame, would have given me great joy to work on fighting puppets again. It seems as though no one wants them these days." She said with a sigh. "Tell you what, dearie." She fished around behind the counter for a bit, then hauled out a small rolled scroll. "Since you're such a nice boy. I'll give you this as well. It's not a puppet, before you go and start that good natured complaining of yours."

"What is it?" Oita asked, carefully reaching out a hand towards the woman, not snatching it, just letting her place it in his hand when she was ready. This woman... why was she being so kind? Perhaps he reminded her of a relative? Perhaps he was the first person to show interest in her shop in quite some time...

"It is a very special summoning scroll. With it, you can communicate and transport items across great distances." She explained as she placed it in his hands. She fumbled under the counter again and pulled out an additional scroll. She unfurled it across the counter and revealed the seals painted on it. "You perform the hand signs, just like any other summoning. Then place your hands in the circles here." She demonstrated and placed her lightly shaking hands in the circles. The scroll glowed and the center seal illuminated. Simultaneously, the scroll she handed Oita began to chime.

Oita carefully looked at the scroll, laying it flat and placing his hands on the circles, as if answering the ringing. He gazed down at it, blinking a few times before saying "This is a wonderful invention. I might have to see if I can create more... For personal use... you understand. I would never make money off a wonderful gift like this."

"They work in pairs dearie. I'll keep this one and if you ever need a part or any advice, anything, you just give me a ring." She told him with a smile and rolled her scroll back up. "So long as you don't dismantle that one, the connection will remain. I never could figure out how to make them work on more than a one on one basis, but maybe you could. Who knows?"

"More than one on one would be difficult." Oita admitted, carefully rolling the scroll up again and letting out a soft sigh "But perhaps... different scrolls... different connections..." They might work, different people contacting one another in different ways... He smiled, then offered his hand out to the woman "Thank you... very much."

"There is no need to thank me, dearie. The People of the Cogs have long since been allies the People of the Hidden Entrance." She smiled and shook his hand lightly. "It has been a long time since I have seen a ninja of the Hidden Entrance. I am glad I can be of service."

"Ah... yes, I believe my cousins decided to go over and work with some promising designers over at the Cog village." Oita said with a small nod, bowing to her respectfully "I am glad to have met you. My name is Oita Watanabe, and I am in your debt."

Akane walked into the shop with a stick of cotton candy and Kami behind her. Not seeing Oita immediately, she glanced around at some of the puppets as they headed into the store more.

"Hime Hotogaki, it is a pleasure to meet you Oita." She replied with a smile. She bowed in return and perked her head up when she heard the door open out front. "Oh. Today is certainly a busy day..."

Oita looked around as well. "Is someone in your store?" he asked, carefully tucking the scrolls he'd been given into his backpack "Should we head back to see what they want?"

"I suppose I must." Hime said with a nod. "Wouldn't be much of a shopkeeper if I didn't offer assistance to the customers, right?"

Oita merely gave a small nod, walking back towards the store with his new found friend. He gave her a little smile, pausing by the entrance to the shop, not looking inside, just letting Hime lead the way back in. She was the owner of the store after all.

Hime shuffled out before Oita and smiled when she saw the two young ladies in her shop. "Oh my! I don't often get young ladies in here. Greetings, greetings! Perhaps I can interest you lovely ladies in simple marionettes?"

"We're actually looking for him." Kami said, pointing to Oita.

"Oh? Friends of his, I hope?" Hime asked in return, looking the girls up and down. "You certainly aren't from around here and neither are you from his village. So, should I allow you to have him?" Her hand twitched slightly and as a result, every puppet in the store turned their heads to look at the girls.

Oita stuck his head around to look at them. He smiled, then quickly said "I am part of their team. We are from the Coalition after all, so while I am from the village of the Hidden Entrance, they are from different villages all together." He stepped out beside Hime and nodded to the two of them "Greetings."

Akane didn't hear a word Oita just said, she was too busy staring back at the puppets like a deer in the headlights. This. Was. Fucking. Creepy.

Satisfied, Hime flicked her hand and the puppets fell back to lifeless stance. She brushed her hands lightly on her apron and smiled at the girls. "I guess this isn't a shopping trip for you ladies then? Pity..."

"It is if Oita found something he can use." Kami said hopefully.

"She... gave me a puppet..." Oita said, indicating the backpack he was wearing, a little flush around his cheeks as he said it "To help defend myself in the coming battle." He was rather used to puppets moving, so he didn't get freaked out by the woman's display of power. But he did wonder, since she was a puppeteer, why she hadn't used the puppet she had given him.

"You're kidding!?" Kami asked. "El got a free guitar in the shop down the street!"

"Are you serious?!" Akane asked loudly, both pleased and upset. "Okay... that's it! I need to find me a weapon store or something. I could use some awesome free stuff too!"

"I believe you might come across difficulties..." Oita said, trying not to sound as if he believed her attitude would be an issue. He suddenly turned to Hime and said "My apologies, where are my manners. Madam Hotogaki, this is Akane and Kami, part of a ninja squad sent here to protect the items we are transporting. Akane, Kami, this is Madam Hime Hotogaki, who has kindly offered to be a consultant when I need a specialized eye in my work."

"Nice to meet you." Akane said with a polite bow. She was still a bit irritated with Oita, but that would have to wait til later.

Kami bowed also. "Are you certain you don't want compensation for your gift to Oita?" she asked.

Hime shook her head. "No, I am quite certain. I am pleased with just being of use." She placed a shaky hand on Oita's arm. "I trust you will find Shirudo easy enough to use and I am sure you will find his abilities will assist you greatly."

"I will do my best." Oita said with a small nod and a little bow of his head to her "I have worked with enough puppets to know that it is not usually a fault of the product, but of the wielder. Your puppet will not let me down, I hope I can say the same."

"Just keep in mind, dearie, Shirudo is a defensive puppet. He can do offense, but works best to defend." Hime cautioned him carefully. "If you need anything, just give me a call."

"I will do." Oita said, nodding again and giving a small smile before looking back at the girls "Did you need me for something?"

"We just wanted to see if you'd found anything." Kami said. "And you obviously have."

Akane let her eye wander around at the puppets, finding some charming, but most a bit eerie. She casually ate her cotton candy as she waited for the others.

Oita nodded slightly, then smiled slightly to Hime "I think I should go with my team mates... Our sensei will likely be looking for us at some point, and it would be easier if we were all together."

"Very well dearie. Just remember to call if you have any questions about Shirudo." Hime told him with a smile, giving him an affectionate pat on the arm. "He's a fairly simple puppet to control, and he works quite well with others."

"Thank you." Oita said with a deep bow of gratitude "I will care for him greatly. If I have any questions I shall call you. For now, farewell." And with that, he moved towards his team mates, a slight smile on his lips.

Akane noticed the smile, but said nothing. She ate her treat and walked out with the others, a bit curious as to which store around here she could get free shit from.