It was much nicer out today than yesterday. And he was excited to meet with Kasumi again. He waited for her arrival and wondered what the spices they were looking for would be like.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Because he looked great.

Even if he was favoring one of his feet a little.

Behave yourself.

But no amount of concern about propriety or appearance could keep her from lighting up with a bi gsmile and waving.

"Oi! Jiro-san!"

The arrival of Kasumi was met with bright eyes and a wide smile. He lit up. And indeed, when he stepped toward her the tenderness in his ankle was visible.

"Kasumi-san. I'm so pleased to see you."

He moved to a close enough distance that when he bowed, he could whisper.

"You are as beautiful as the sea is deep and the sky is wide."

Straightening... "I look forward to a bit of exploration with you."

"Keep talkin' like that an'we might have a scene..."

Ahem.

"Well, I'll do what I can t'be a good guide. Just be ready for some of my answers t'questions t'be, 'I got no idea.'"

She grinned.

Wanted to hold his hand. But even if he had been free, that would have been improper in the extreme.

"They certainly wouldn't want a scene at their shop," he replied, grinning at her. Moving to open the door for her, with specific intent, he allowed a brush of their hands as she passed in.

Such a small thing. But still so nice.

"Well, anything you don't know about you can probably just make something up about. I would not know any different."

"Indeed, you're at my mercy. An' y'might find I have none!"

The last was said in the tones of a kabuki villain Kasumi had seen once, years prior, in the Isles. The guy had been a ronin of somewhat mixed ability, but it was the only play she'd ever seen and it had stuck with her.

"At your mercy?!" he says with playfully feigned fear. "Please spare me, I've got so much I still want to do... together."

He looks at the different goods on display. "Like figure out what that is and how it works."

"Think that's from th'Sands. That stuff on th'side looks like th'writin' from there."

Which she had actually seen, once.

"Reckon if I could read it, I might know, but since I can't..."

She cocked her head at the merchant.

"Whazzat?"

The shopkeep explained that it was an object that one used to clean their teeth, scrubbing them in order to make them look clean and nice. It was a whole kit for the purpose, with some sort of powder that you put on the brush and then used water to scrub and rinse.

"Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Strange, but I imagine it's pretty handy when you get something stuck between your teeth?"

"I usually use a toothpick, but it seems... interestin'"

She nodded to the powder.

"Of course, you'd need t'keep buyin' that stuff t'keep usin' it."

"Maybe? I'm guessing you could find out what it's made of," he says with a shrug. "But no thanks. Like you said, a tooth pick and a swish of water does the trick too."

He peeks around the store and notices an area with clothing and bolts of cloth. "Oh, I did say I wanted to see some of that stuff no?"

"Y'did, an' it can be spectacular if y'find the right stuff... the Kingdoms have silk like we do, but they use it different."

She smiled and led the way.

"An' the color schemes ain't th'same either."

"Do they dye or embroider patterns i wonder. Or perhaps woven with dyed strands?" He doesn't seem to be limping, so much as just lightly favoring one foot as he moves to inspect the materials.

"You said they use it differently?"

"Well, they don't wear, y'know... kimono. An' they make it thinner sometimes. Very fine stuff."

She blinked.

"And, uh... not sure about th' way they do it. I just know it looks'n feels different."

"Thinner? Like is sometimes done for ribbons and details? There is the possibility of seeing through though, especially if it rains," he starts inspecting different fabrics, feeling them for thickness and seeing how smooth and comfortable it feels.

Then he looks at her and imagines very thin silks, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I... Though I would like that I think. It would be different, and interesting. Certainly the only two things I am considering."

"Like a spider's web, some of it. Some of it's t'do with the heat down there- sometiems less is more, y'know?"

"I see. I was imagining more, that you could use more layers of varying colors in cascading styles to allow for interesting patterns. The way that some kimono are worn in multiple layers, displaying complementary color schemes," he says with a smile. "I would think the different colors, lighter materials and different patterns allow for more depth of design and appearance."

"Oh, most likely, but I never see th'stuff where it comes from, only when it gets t'the Isles."

She made a bit of a face.

"I c'n see th'logic of not sending ships with students outta th'Empire, but it chafes, all th'same."

"Well, it's not a possibility for me at all," he says with a shrug. "So I will need to rely on you for descriptions and stories in the future. I'll need to find ways to return the favor though. Let me know if you can think of anything you would like me to do for you."

He knew what he said. His playful smile said as much. He turned his attention to one of the bolts of cloth.

"This blue, it's so lively. Not Crane, not Crab," he holds a corner up near Kasumi. "How does it look in comparison to the blue of the sea?"

"Let me know if you can think of anything you would like me to do for you."

You want the short list or the long one?

She blinked rapidly to refocus from some... possibilities and looked the fabric over.

"On th'right day, when th'sun hits it just so... reminds me of a lagoon near th' Isles, actually. Peaceful place."

And they'd been damned glad to find it, since the storm that had preceded the beautiful day had been a real bastard of a gale.