It wasn't the best weather for a picnic under the stars but it was at least weather a Dragon and Phoenix should be used to. Haru had set a blanket out under a tree, had food and sake at the ready and a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The bulk of the day had gone terrible, would this go any better? Haru pulled out his koto and began to play a mournful tune.

Shinko huffs over to the spot, her still slightly wet. "Sorry. It's been a hell of a..." she blinks, parking herself next to Haru"I don't think I've slept for close to a day now, but I wasn't going to miss this."

She leans her head over on Haru's shoulder. "What's that you are playing?"

Oh thank the Kami this wasn't a prank.

Haru smiled warmly at his companions arrival.

"So glad you made it Shinko-san, this is just a little something inspired by the weather. It reminds me of home a bit. But what has left you so sleepless, and don't you think it's a bit premature for you to be soaking wet?" He said raising a playful eyebrow at her.

"Opium." She says bluntly, then holds out her palms. "Not using it. Remember that ronin that died here? It seems that someone has been sneaking it into the village. Jun and a few friends tried to catch them in the act and get the proof we would need. Well, the others mostly. I was there to kick people's teeth in if they needed it and to round out the eye candy with 'Sumi-chan. You know her, right?"

"I do. So were you successful? You don't look like you took any hits if you did which doesn't surprise me given our bout last night."

He took her hands in his gently and used his sleeve to clean them.

"No" Shinko sighs "There was no epic fight. Just years upon years of chores reminding me that no one enjoys dragging anything heavy, and being quick enough to run away with some records. As to how effective we were...well, we are going to see. But if you're playing some music for me? I know know the lyrics, maybe I'll make up some"

She tilts her head back.

"~What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears, then I'll sing you a song
I will try not to sing out of key~"

She shakes her head. "Not very catchy, I know, but we'll get there"

Haru poured some sake for the two of them and resumed playing.

"No please continue, you have a lovely voice. Are you a student of the art or is this natural talent?"

Haru played a tune he thought would match the feel of her words.

[D6,EE]Playing the koto for Shinko in the garden | TN: 1 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1

"Formal training?" Shinko chuckles. "No. The monasteries aren't a place for a lot of singing, and neither are the Mirumoto dojos. But patrons rarely object to a bit of free entertainment, so I got plenty of practice. How about you? Do the Phoenix have a more" she pauses "structured program for the arts"

"Oh yes, my brother is an example of that. Phoenix training and schooling is a lot like the Crane's, just with more prayer I imagine. In my case most of my artistic talent comes from copying Jiro when I wasn't in the dojo, which was most of the time. Playing the koto is the only thing I really took lessons in that is artistic unless you count dueling.

So you've lived in a temple and a dojo, do you prefer one over the other? You seem the worldly sort, much to my good fortune."

Shinko nudges her companion with the ribs with her elbow. "Worldly? Is that a comment on my virtue?" In spite of her words, the tone is playful and teasing.

"Well, if you're asking me between the two, I'm going to say the dojo. But to be perfectly honest, I would rather be out in the world" Shinko pauses. "The Togashi seek out those who were Dragon in their past lives, and those who have Clan blood in the veins but no immediate family to raise them. Some... Like me... We get found later than most. So I saw the world a spell before my training officially began. "

"How could I comment on your virtue, I haven't seen the full extent of it yet." he said teasingly.

Haru stopped playing and leaned back with his arms behind him, one arm rested on her back helping support her and bringing them closer.

"So do you know what your duty will be after this? I hope it allows you to see more of the empire. The lands of the Phoenix could certainly stand to have more connection with our Dragon neighbors."

"Well, they certainly will not mind me being elsewhere" Shinko seems to think on it. "Are you inviting me to visit you Shiba-san? I am not spoken for, if you are worried about such things"

"Shinko-san your confidence is so refreshing. Yes I would be delighted if in your travels you came to Phoenix lands and I would be happy to show you the sights. So let me ask, why does a beautiful and sharp-minded bushi seek this one out? You could have your run of this place if you wanted it."

Haru pulled a strawberry out of the bundle of food before them and offered it to her.

"One should never question a gift but you are a surprise that has appeared at just the right time I think."

Shinko looks at the Phoenix as if he's grown a second head.

"You do yourself a disservice Shiba-san. I came to a dueling tournament and found it awash with courtiers, shugenja and artisans...no offense to them, they're important but I wanted to cross blades with the best in my generation.I might not have been going all out, but you're good Haru-san. And, you know... " She gestures around. "Musically gifted and easy on the eyes"

She studies the boy. "Would it surprise you to hear that you are the only one to express any interest in me to my face. You know, in that way."

Haru did look surprised.

"Well then I am surrounded by fools. I've managed to spend most of my time with the bushi here but none of them were so eager to cross swords."

He placed a hand on the small of her back, feeling the muscle below the wet clothes.

"So a yojimbo and a duelist, I did not think the Mirumoto trained people to specifically to be yojimbo. Do your yojimbo primarily protect shugenja like we do or just anyone who cannot wield a sword?

I pity anyone who decided to ambush us right now, they would be so confused as we kept moving to guard one another."

"Yeah, that was strange. I thought more people would have wanted to break out the swords" Shinko relaxes against Haru. "The Mirumoto are the ones that most likely venture out to the world. Our monks typically stay in seclusion, and our courtiers...well, they have a tendency to poke their nose into things. Mirumoto schools are about standing for them. How about you, a guard of the famed shugenja?"

"Normally yes but my situation is a bit different. Per our family tradition Jiro will inherit the family home and with him already being betrothed I imagine I will be relocating shortly after we return home from this event; maybe another year at the most. I've expected for a while now that I would be married into another clan but which one I couldn't tell you.

Probably a strong performance here would have an effect but if I don't even making it to the Iaijutsu tournament who knows. For now I'm just a leaf on the wind wondering which way I will be blown. Whichever clan does grab me up because they want a well trained yojimbo for someone is going to get a better duelist than I am likely to be able to show here though.

Unless the summer I spent training with the Akodo was foreshadowing my joining them, then I will probably be just another soldier. I wonder, do the Mirumoto teach bushi who join your clan through marriage the secrets of Niten? That would be fun."

"Well, things at home are a bit..." Shinko chews on her bottom lip. "Complicated. And if that was a proposal, then you are going to need to try harder than that."

She stares off into the distance for a while. "A leaf on the wind. That actually sounds nice to do for a bit." She turns to Haru, expression thoughtful. "Have you given any thought to a Musha Shugyo? Wandering for a spell, honing your craft by traveling out of your name?"