Michi arrived at the garden carrying a small basket of snacks and a tea bamboo. It was not the spring they were all hoping for, cherry blossoms were on their way, however.

If they were present, she'd have brought sake.

Still, she was pleased. Kasumi was a relatively safe friend. She had little chance of doing battle with her in the future, and would have an equally rare chance of being commander of a force allied with her, she would not give orders to her in any future she could see. She would not be responsible for her death in any but the most outlandish of possibilities.

That was something. If not the only thing, she has gained from Tsuma.

Taking a seat on a bench and feeling the breeze, the Lion waited, wondering if Kasumi would have calmed some, or if this was going to be a trial in itself.

The Mantis weren't renowned for their serenity.

But Kasumi had taken the time to get changed into her second-best kimono after the business at the temple, and carried a small bundle that... seemed to be steaming a bit.

"Hello, Akodo-san. Hope y'haven't been waitin' long?"

"No, Yukikaze no Kasumi-san, I have not", she answered with a short bow. "Come sit, I see you have had a similar mind to mine and brought refreshment."

"Just a few steamed buns. Seemed a fine thing t'share."

"The weather agrees", she said simply to the slight chilly breeze. "Come sit did you spend your time well after the...", her face quirked slightly. "...trial?"

"In a manner'a speakin'. Hirame-san browbeat me into chippin' in at th'shrine. So I sang a bit."

A shrug.

"Better'n mopin' or pickin' a fight."

"So you sing, then?" she asked and poured some tea for them. "Songs of the sea for celebrations or are did you learn the way?"

"Oh, mostly just works songs, an' plenty'a them not, er, polite. But I stuck t'a few 'bout Osano-Wo and Suitengu for th'shrine. Seemed th' thing for me t'do."

She passed the tea to Kasumi. "I should hear one such song before we are parted", she asserted with a nod. "Tomorrow however, we face the test of the Warrior, have you been keeping up with your training?"

In stolen moments, here and there.

"I'd say my skill level's improved. Mostly been practicin' in m'berth- fewer distractions that way."

She sighed.

"Not where I should be, not yet, but... somethin' t'work on."

"If any of us ever are where we should be with our skills", she said, then took a sip of tea. She let out a breath as the warmth flowed through her. "Then, we are likely at the end of our life, one way or the other. So I would be pleased with progress."

Kasumi handed over one of the buns.

"Startin' t'look like iaijutsu will be somethin' I work at after Tsuma, ratrher'n showin' it off in Tsuma, though."

She chuckled. "Yes, while a pacifist shugenja stands to be involved in the tournament."

"Sorta wonderin' what they're playin' at with these tests, t'be honest. I mean, I didn' mind a chance t'show off that I know m'way 'round a ship, but I know that test was an odd'un, and plenty'a th'others aren't much more... sensible."

The slightest of shrugs.

"This is simply a poorly put together game", she said. "My complaints are meaningless, however, as I am still playing it."

"Ah, well. May as well make th'best of it, yeah?"

"That is what we are accomplishing in this moment", she agreed. "What will you do hen we have finished with Tsuma?"

"Return to th'fleet, an' find out where I'm headed."

She shrugged.

"Think there's a plan for a junior officer postin' on another ship, but they were sittin' on it in case I somehow won the whole thing here, an' they weren't 'bout to tip their hand t'me. You?"

"Topaz Champion or no, my future lies on the fields before Kyuden Kyotei. Sad that I will return to the Crane so soon, but I must retake the castle to avenge the Damasu family, Then I will take Tsume Retsu's head", she said and sipped her tea again.

"Well. Time was, I woulda wished y'luck on a personal level, but atfer alla this?"

She chuckled.

"Might be I wish y'luck on a more, uhm, militant level."