Haru sat at the edge of the river in a lotus position, his eyes stared at the water but his vision was unfocused. Before him rested a scrap of paper, it's ends pinned down by small rocks.

Kasumi was taking a run to clear her head.

Since her dreams of late had been... well. Pleasant. Very pleasant.

But distracting.

"Smoky quartz looking,
Amber returning the gaze,
Finding each other."

DAMN.

Then of course, the things she'd whispered to Jiro, well... they were HORRIBLY improper. And she'd never done any of them herself.

But.

She absolutely wanted to do them.

To him. For him. With him.

Until one or both of us passes out from exhaustion.

She ran faster, trying to flare off some of the energy involved.

Maybe a swim in the river? Can't hurt.

She headed for the shoreline- and slowed.

Oh shit.

Is that him?

...

Maybe stripping down and jumping into the water's not such a great idea...

Haru's warrior training ripped him out of his meditation at the sound of someone running towards him. He whirled to face the sound and his eyes grew wide and he visibly gulped.

"Oh, good morning Mantis-san, I hope this day finds you well and Inari has blessed you."

Mantis-san?

Not him.

His brother.

...

What the hell was his name?

"Er... mornin', Shiba-san. I've, ah... had breakfast."

Twins. Imagine the possibilities.

NO.

DO NOT DO THAT.

"Was just takin' a run t' get the blood pumpin'. Was thinkin'a maybe takin' a swim..."

How the hell do Mantis names even work?

Swimming oh please yes.

"The water is quite chilly this early but the current here is gentle so you picked a good spot.:

He rolled up the scrap of paper and tucked it into a sleeve before standing and bowing properly.

Remember your meditations, calm.

"A little chill's no bother."

Manners, fool!

"Er... Yukikaze no Kasumi. I've met your brother, I think. Shiba Jiro-san? Which would make you...?"

"My apologies, I am Shiba Haru. We met at the feast the first night but my brother monopolized your time. He said with a smile.

The ass.

"If you require some privacy so you can enter the water.."

He made to turn and offer her some privacy.

"Though a swim could do me some good if you don't mind my joining you. I should probably follow your example and get the heart pumping a bit before whatever hunt they have planned for us today."

Sure, get naked with the guy who looks like the guy you're hung up on.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?!

"Er... might not be, ah... proper, Shiba-san. Swimmin'. At th'same time, I mean. Ah... yeah. Uhm. Anyway. Uh... your borther says you're a bushi?"

YAY for small talk. You're so GOOD at it.

Damn

He turned back to face the Mantis.

"Ah yes I am, I am a student of the Shiba Guardian School trained as a yojimbo and duelist. You as well are a bushi I believe?" he smiled pleasantly.

Why does every female here know my brother so well? Is he spending any time with Natsuko?

"Sailor with th' Storm Fleets. Well. Trainin' t'be, anyhow. S'why I found th' little cruise we took on the Winter Wind so relaxin'."

"Well whatever your training it seems to be serving you well so far at this event, you move like cat on land and sea and you look at home on both. The voyage was an interesting time I wish I had enjoyed allowed myself to enjoy it more."

He looked again at the river to stop his staring.

"I wonder when the last time was that a minor clan won the Topaz Championship as you seem well on your way to it."

She laughed aloud at that.

"Placin' second in one event's hardly a substantial lead. I completely failed at yesterday's event, I was near th'back of th'pack on th'first. Hell, Hirame-san, Suzumue-san, an' Shiba Kuroneko-san all have a bit of an' advantage on me!"

She paused.

Two of them were Minor Clanners, it was true...

"An' anyhow, we ain't done the courtly crud yet. Figure that'll sink me for sure."

"Well your performance is an inspiration to me, I'm struggling even at the things I know and we will be in the same boat when it gets to the courtly tests."

I could learn to like boats I guess.

"Are you enjoying your visit to Tsuma? My brother seems to have a high opinion of you from what I can tell and everyone I talk to seems to feel the same."

Ah.

Shit.

He... has no idea. At least, no solid idea.

"Tsuma's all right. Kinda fancy for me, but can't fault Crane hospitality. An' your brother's pretty good at what he does too."

Too vague, but how much more to let slip if he hasn't...

"Good with that origami paper."

"He better be as much as he has practiced." he said with a chuckle. "Full of surprises he is, rotten with a weapon but his hands are nimble enough."

Let's see if the Mantis spots the hook that the Crab missed.

Off somewhere else in the forest, not seeing and being unseen by the two, Jiro was collecting what he would need for a gift for their host.

D4, EM, Harvest resources for gift | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2

Success

Shiba Haru wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 9:52 am

"He better be as much as he has practiced." he said with a chuckle. "Full of surprises he is, rotten with a weapon but his hands are nimble enough."

Let's see if the Mantis spots the hook that the Crab missed.

Kasumi arched an eyebrow.

And tacked toward a change of subject.

"You sayin' you're not capable of the odd surprise? Find that hard t'believe. What do y'do while he's makin' a paper menagerie?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:08 pm

Kasumi arched an eyebrow.

And tacked toward a change of subject.

"You sayin' you're not capable of the odd surprise? Find that hard t'believe. What do y'do while he's makin' a paper menagerie?"

"Well...I hunt and ride and play music, I love to read especially our history. I was just talking to Jiro that I need more hobbies and based on our little voyage I need to work on my sea legs. I didn't get sick or anything I just felt dizzy the whole time, something I'm sure would go away with time. What about yourself?"

Shiba Haru wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:57 am

"Well...I hunt and ride and play music, I love to read especially our history. I was just talking to Jiro that I need more hobbies and based on our little voyage I need to work on my sea legs. I didn't get sick or anything I just felt dizzy the whole time, something I'm sure would go away with time. What about yourself?"

"I like a tune. Singin', mostly. I read, but, uh... not history. Well. Not much. An' I'm tryin' t'get good at stuff like bonsai. An' I like Go, an' Shogi, although I wouldn't say I'm too good at either one..."

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:50 am

"I like a tune. Singin', mostly. I read, but, uh... not history. Well. Not much. An' I'm tryin' t'get good at stuff like bonsai. An' I like Go, an' Shogi, although I wouldn't say I'm too good at either one..."

"Oh neither am I, I have never beaten Jiro or our mother at Go and I lost a game rather badly to Kakita Yuji-san a few nights ago. Though to be fare I was also drinking sake for the first time. Do you drink?"

Sailors drink all the time right? Bet she could drink me under the table.

Wonder what goes o...

NO, STOP.