Quietly from where she knelt to the left side of the grand throne room of the Tai-Shogun, she listened carefully to as much as she could around her. To those that came and went, she also tried to pay attention to who they were in particular, although a great many of them remains little known to her for many reasons. None the less, she did her best to observe, listen, and attempt to remember.
When she over heard the not so subtle whisper that the Kiretsu leader, Zetsumai, had been seen in the hanger bay, and on a Blue Lotus ship no less, she frowned only slightly, but smoothed that from her face least she give away her feelings about her. She almost snaps her head around when in that same conversation, it was mentioned that Zetsumai had even apperently brought a Sorta Class Destroyer of the Shadow Outcast Brigade, it was all she could do to control that reaction and try to remain impassive. That a Destroyer was brought here to Kyoto was almost an insult to the Dragons, almost as if their own ability to protect those they allow on Kyoto was not enough nor that they were capable of defending their home.
She considers for a few moments going back to her ship and retrieve the old but still very effective rifle and take care of what she deems the problem represented by the Kiretsu leader. She runs through her mind what she'd need to do, where possible places to make a long shot even inside the vast cavern of Kyoto, and how best to elude possible reprisal, no, deffinate reprisal from either Zetsumai if she did not succeed or one of her blood relations. Then there would be the Dragon Security to account for as well, though some attitudes and flaws in the security system could possibly be exploited given a bit more time to plan and set up. She shakes her head dismissing the notion for now, but still it remained an idea for her, for now though, to hear what the Kiretsu leader was here for and had to say may be valuable enough to the GC Elders, even if it were known that Zetsumai would bring down the Elders given even the slightest chance.
When Rika walked up and knelt before the Tai-shogun, she sharpens her focus on the Chrysanthemum representive and listens very carefully. When Rika introduced herself as an Elder, Aki's eyes widen slightly, for that certainly was the first she'd heard of the young pilots elevation to the status of Elder. Even for all the time that Aki herself has served, its never been considered for her, so that Rika has been so means that Rika must have done something of extrodinary proportions as far as Aki can think of during the time she'd been away on deep covert operations.
Still, she listens and waits about as patiently as she can given the events seem to be getting a bit stranger with the passing hours. The statement that Rika makes she nods slightly to, some of it in agreement though not all of it to her. She does not take Cardimine, a very very little known fact to any in the Sisterhood, if only because her missions demand it of her, so she remains indifferent to the comment about the drug making the Sisterhood who they were. When Rika finished speaking, Aki tries to consider at this point how best to be helpful, though the Court, and for that matter any kind of politics, is something she has little skill for at this time.
When the doors opened again, and in walked Zetsumai, Aki bristles slightly, if only to herself, though wether its outwardly noticeable or not at that moment she does not consider. She sits back after a moment of intense dislike for the other woman, some for unfortunate personal reasons. That the Kiretsu leader seems to also place herself as equal to the Tai-shogun is a displeasing thing, especially in his own Court in front of his people. The murmurs of slight discontent and displeasure wash over her from those that sit near to her. Her own thought some what mirror theirs, but she gives no voice, prefering not to be even slightly noticed by Zetsumai at this time, although the likely hood was that it would be inevitable that she will be noticed by some one important and she is questioned about something that would be difficult to answer. She thinks to herself it would possibly be easier to simply shoot the other woman than deal with overly curious Dragons, to with a slight wistful smile is seen.
Listening to the speech being made by the other woman she takes several deep calming breaths. There were some small parts that she honestly did not disagree with, and others that just smacked of the manipulations that she believed Zetsumai would do if only to make herself look better or create situations that the Kiretsu leader would take advantage of. Her own experiences with the Consortium do not quiet match what she feels they are being made out to be, while she thinks back to the few experiences she can remember about the Kiretsu, and none of those truely good or making a lasting positive impression as far as she can remember. When the woman is finally done speaking, she takes another deep breath and waits to see if anyone else will speak, perhapes she may be forced to step from the shadows of her profession to speak, but she certainly hopes not. She prefers the more one on one or much smaller sort of thing.
