They can certainly ask.

Mmhmm.

...The girl mentioned - being able to resurrect people. 

If she can reach their soul.

Ani would like to bring Elesse back, Occlus assumes.

Yes.

Elesse should get to exist, somewhere, even if Ani never gets to see her again. 

They'll have to see if they can't perhaps do a little better than that.

She'd like that. A lot.

More snuggles. 

(...Will Occlus be okay with - Ani's feelings about Elesse suddenly becoming very relevant again? (That half-formed thought has an echo to it, a flavor like how Ani's thoughts had when their relationship was... Floundering in its first decade, as Ani's very shaky ability to have preferences had begun slowly eroding again. It's not quite as bad as it'd gotten then, but...))

She's had time to come to terms with her wife's wandering heart. As long as Ani knows whose feet she's coming home to kneel at.

Yes.

At the end of the day - she's Occlus's, always and forever. 

That's enough.

(Kiss.)

Kiss!

(...Ani now wants to go catch up to the other so they can get back to somewhere that contains chairs for Ani to kneel beside.)

If she's ready.

There's - an extent to which she isn't, but... That part won't become ready by sitting here.

Sometimes she needs to face her demons, as unpleasant as it is.

That's her girl.

Up then, and Occlus will signal the gate guards they're ready.

They get their escort into Kiri, then. Ani spends the walk leaning on Occlus mentally, but - moving helps. She recovers a good bit more and steels herself.

They're met at the lip of the village proper (the gates are placed along the nearest major road in, but it doesn't actually go directly to Kiri, instead to a separate caravansary).

The woman's familiar - she feels far more like Ani in the Force than Elaise feels like Occlus.

Also.

She is Very Fucking Powerful, both women's senses inform them. 

She smiles at their guard and says, "I'll take it from here, Nami."

The guard bows with a, "Yes, Asano-sama," and fades back into the fog.

The woman just looks fondly exasperated, but shakes her head. To their visitors: "I'm Asano Shinrei, one of the Mizukage's councilors. It's good to meet you."

"Likewise. I am Occlus. My wife, Ani."

She nods, peering at - her alt, she supposes.

Gentle smile.

"I can take you guys straight to the diplomatic suites - Mizukage-sama understands you've had a long journey, so you won't need to do any of the formal check ins until tomorrow."

"Thank you. Is Anakin already there?"

Nod. "Last I checked."

"Tobi's with her friends, currently, so Anakin's the only one in residence."

"Very well. Lead the way."

To the diplomatic suites set aside for Konoha's delegation, then.

And on the way, voice soft - "There's something a bit delicate I'd wanted to talk to at least Ani about. I'm unsure who else you'd want present."

"Occlus," she says immediately. "...Though maybe not Anakin."

"It depends on the nature of the delicacy. Though yes, maybe not Anakin."

"It's related to the delay you had coming in."