Percussion, Strings, Winds, Words (D8LA)(Expecting)

[Funegao no Hirame]

For once, Hirame was not wearing his jacket.

The Mantis house had, probably to suit the tastes of their guests, not just been placed by the water, but also given a dock. It was here that Hirame waited for his guest, dressed in his more casual sailor clothing. He'd suggested that she dress similarly: comfortable, warm, easy to move in.

He stood at the front of the dock, his little floating tub farther along, as of yet uninvestigated.

[Kakita Ahiru]

Being one to follow direction, Ahiru had dressed in the sensible clothes she had used for the more physical tests of the tournament, with an additional haori over for extra warmth.

"Good afternoon, Hirame-san," she called out as she saw him on her approach. Proper and keeping decorum as always, as if the scene earlier that morning hadn't happened at all.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Good afternoon, Ahiru-san." Hirame returned. "It's good to see you. Again." By that particular wording, and the playful quirk in his smile, he wasn't nearly so good at pretending that morning hadn't happened.

Especially as he lead the way to his boat. Where another creepy doll was found, staring over the rim.

Hirame grimaced, then laughed, shaking his head. "Another one? Really?" He grinned, shaking his head again. "Was this yours, or Kasumi-sans?"

[Kakita Ahiru]

Seeing his reaction, Ahiru raised a sleeve (though the gesture didn't look quite as elegant with such plain clothing) to giggle behind it. "My idea, but Kasumi-san placed it there."

As she lowered the sleeve Hirame could see her excited grin. "This morning's little display was also my idea, though she started it first. I just... embellished it further."

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame blinked. "This was your idea?" He said, pointing at the latest creepy doll. His lips twitched as he struggled to avoid laughing again.

He looked at her, eyebrows going up. "So, which of you actually set up the little display this morning?" His eyebrows went up a little further. "Some of the dolls were quite... close to me." He gave her a significant look, still smiling.

[Kakita Ahiru]

At least he seemed to be in a good mood after the prank. She had been a little uncertain how he would feel about it after having time to think about it, though he had been laughing this morning too...

"Uh," she blushed a little bit, "both of us, I guess, being a team effort. I did most? I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do - based on a story I heard once, as there was a scene where a man woke up from a nap and lots of tiny people were tying him down."

[Funegao no Hirame]

As always, that smile of his turned a little bit more playful when Hirame spotted Ahiru's blush. "How daring." He murmured teasingly. "It was certainly an effective implementation of your artistic vision." And somehow made her even hotter! What was up with that?

Reaching down, Hirame picked up the doll. Turning it around, he stuck it into a slot on the side of the boat, intended to hold a torch. "There. It can be our look-out."

With casual ease, he stepped into the little round boat, the gentle rocking from the current not troubling him in the least. It was only six feet in diameter; two people was its comfortable capacity. "Shall we?" Hirame said invitingly. He held out his hand, just a little, an offer easily refused. But Hirame knew that people that didn't spend most of their time on ships had trouble with that first step especially, so he was there if she needed.

[Kakita Ahiru]

"... I guess it was a little daring, yes," she murmured a bit shyly, feeling suddenly very put on the spot for what she had done. But it seemed to have been a good prank to play after all. "You could've woken up or rolled over and it would've ruined everything, so it was a gamble!"

Turning her eyes to the sky, they had good weather today... it would be safe to go out in a boat, right? She tucked some of her hair behind her ears and looked back to Hirame. "Right... this is a bit smaller than the Winter Wind." Gingerly, she accepted the helping hand to get into the boat, deciding that the brief moment of holding hands like this was better than risk falling into the waters... at the docks of all places in calm waters!

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Sometimes you have to take risks." Hirame murmured. "For the right cause." His hand was just as warm as before as he gripped hers, his arm flexing to provide steady support.

"It's very safe." Hirame said confidently. "The current is slow, and the breeze is light. Trust me." A quick flash of a smile as he helped her to sit. After a brief squeeze, he released her hand, grabbing his oar from the dock, and slotting it through the side, so it stood almost vertically. Hirame gripped it with both hands, facing out over the edge.

"You ready?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at Ahiru.

[Kakita Ahiru]

She took a moment to look over the edge of the little boat, making sure to not lean too much in one direction as she did so. "I... think I am as ready as I can be." With that being said, she did take a deep breath to steel herself.

It was kind of hard not to worry about falling overboard and drowning. Or becoming lost at sea... she wondered if her sister had been scared going on that kobune.

"I trust you."

[Funegao no Hirame]

That got one more look back over Hirame's shoulder, and another smile, no longer playful, but definitely warm. Wordlessly, he began to paddle, turning his gaze out over the water again. It was almost silly to watch; Hirame was wiggling the oar back and forth. And yet, somehow, the little boat did leave the dock, floating out towards the middle of the river. The paddling was a tangible thing, the boat rocking with a slow, steady rhythm, and never in any danger of tipping.

The water was clear and deep. Ripples from the passage of the boat, and from Hirame's paddling, disturbed the surface a bit. But the slow current was otherwise nearly invisible, unless a stick floated near.

Still paddling, Hirame sighed pleasantly. "I always like getting out on the water. It feels so alive, you know? Rocking underneath you... how are you doing back there?" A quick glance back at his passenger.

[Kakita Ahiru]

As the boat rocked rythmically across the water by Hirame's manipulation of the oar, Ahiru kept looking over the side to look at the water more closely. They were definitely closer to the water now than when they were aboard the Winter Wind. Only times she'd been this close to water (that she hadn't been bathing in) was the beautiful rivers and elegant garden-pools in the lands of the Crane.

So when Hirame asked her how she was doing, she settled back away from looking over the edge to look at him instead, swallowing dryly. "... It takes getting used to," she admitted with a little shakiness in her voice. "I know that the waves won't suddenly turn and become violent, I think, so I probably shouldn't worry about drowning. But, yes... would you believe that being aboard the Winter Wind was my first time aboard a ship?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Sorta." Hirame said. "I'm starting to realize that fewer people that I'd think from mainland Rokugan have been on the water. Two weeks ago, I figured most people would have been out on a lake or something, at least. But either way, you got out there, and that's the main thing."

But the shakiness in her voice drew a sharp look from him. "It's okay. You're doing great." He said, his tone soothing. "Here, just keep looking at me." He stayed turned a bit, arms still working the oar, his lean form otherwise relaxed. "Maybe you have a nice memory from when you were younger, visiting a lake or a river or something? You could tell me about it." Between looking at him instead of the water, and that, perhaps Ahiru would be able to relax.

[Kakita Ahiru]

"I've seen more rivers than lakes. Like in the painting I did the other day," she paused, giving him some time to recall. "As children we'd make paper-boats to race down the river. Back then, we didn't think twice about how dangerous it could've been... if one of us had fallen into the water. Not that we were alone, but still - I imagine the adults were watching more to make sure that didn't happen, and not watching the race like we thought they were doing." She smiled a bit wryly, as talking did put her at ease but not because of the memories.

She hadn't really been afraid of water before, and it wasn't something she actually considered herself to be scared of as such. After all, she was brave! But once you lose a family member at sea... perceptions change.

"... Your brother..." Ahiru began, then again paused before continuing. "Is, was, he the first one you knew to be lost at sea? Is it something that happens often?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame listened as he paddled out the last little bit, to where the boat could drift pleasantly. Just in time apparently. He let the oar sit in its slot as he turned, sitting across from Ahiru, knees pulled up towards his chest. Hirame's features, open and honest, couldn't hide the flicker of fading grief. He was silent a moment as the boat slowly drifted, gentle now, the sounds of the city distant.

Gently, Hirame shook his head. "He wasn't. It happens, from time to time. When someone's swept overboard in a storm, you can try your best to save them, but they can go under so fast..." Hirame's eyes closed briefly, and he shook his head. "There's nothing you can do. But a whole ship, that's the first time I've lost someone that way."

He looked at her. "Your sister was the first for you?" Hirame asked, as gently as could be.

[Kakita Ahiru]

A nod. "Yes."

A sigh followed, her eyes drawn to the water and the horizon across from it again. "... Not the first family member I've lost, but to the sea? Yes. Samurai die nobly in battle, or sometimes even they can get sick and succumb. But in battle, you know they died gloriously for their lord - to sickness, you know what happened to them and they're given the last rites too before being put to rest. But out there," Ahiru gestured vaguely to the great expanse of water that seemed to stretch out forever, "you just don't know. Did she suffer? Or was it over quickly? Or are they still out there somewhere?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame listened, as placid as the water that surrounded them. "Yeah. It's hard, not knowing for sure. It's dangerous work, even as we do everything we can to make it less dangerous. On land, Mantis can get a little rowdy, but at sea we're as disciplined as anyone. We have to be." His lips pressed together, considering her questions, so similar his own.

He took a deep breath, studying Ahiru as she studied the water. "If it helps, we never give up, not entirely. We don't expect to find much, but we keep looking. Maybe we'll find the mast, or pieces of the hull, and that's it. And once we do, we'll hold a ceremony." He sighed. "With how old it is, I don't know if any ships are actively looking anymore, but eyes are peeled."

[Kakita Ahiru]

"... It would put matters at rest, yes, to know a little bit." She nodded, hoping that something would be found some day by someone. Maybe not herself, although as a Crane she'd probably never get the chance to sail that far out to explore it, as the Crane ships were mostly for sailing along the coast of the mainland. Not travelling into the open sea.

"To change the subject a little," she shifted ever so slightly in her seat, obviously very mindful of her (rather meagre) weight and how it could matter to the delicate balance of the boat. "... It seems likely you'll get a chance to go to the finals in the tournament. Congratulations, Hirame. You might be winning our bet that way, as it seems unlikely for me to compete in the duels. Unless all the bushi get sick tomorrow." Ahiru snickered softly, knowing she'd have stiff competition from the warriors there, even if she was more fit than most courtiers.

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame smiled gently. "Stranger things have happened. But thank you, Ahiru." He tilted his head up, chin lifting. "When I came here, I wanted to prove myself worthy, as a samurai among the great clans." He took a deep breath, meeting her gaze. "And, after your story the other night, I wanted even more to prove myself worthy." Just as the prince had with Ahiru's long ago grandmother.

Another smile. "Well then. If I do indeed win... as I recall, the terms were that the winner of our bet chooses whose family we join, together. That's right, isn't it?" His tone was light, but not teasing; there was a significance to the question.

[Kakita Ahiru]

The smile was mirrored in her own expression. "Really? I didn't know my story had inspired you so. But knowing that, it makes me glad, since it is a story I particularly enjoy. And one I think grandmother Kaede enjoys too since she has told it to me many times."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, that is correct."