[D0 EA] A Flock of Firebirds

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Kuroneko moved closer to his cousin taking out his fan as he whispered in his ear. "You are too stiff" He looked on his shoulder and nodded. Tori switched from Kuro's shoulder closer to Jiro's side. "Would you like to pet Tori?"

[Isawa Natsuko]

"A key mistake.." she muses quietly. "And then things don't exist." Rubbing at her arm through the sleeve, she nods. "That's where the unreality sets in."

Glancing to the pair of Shiba and pair of small creature, she simply watches a moment. When uncertain, stillness was almost always preferable to action, though not for too long. But none of the sensei are here to judge that, bark a reprimand, halt actions that were untoward.

[Isawa Kiriko]

"They probably exist for the versions of us that are experiencing them," she suggested. "I imagine we're just another possibility that didn't happen for them."

She noticed her gaze and a smile came to her face as she watched the interaction with the creature.

[Shiba Haru]

Shiba Haru wandered out of his room yawning slightly.

"Brother I think we have each others rooms, that bed is far too comfortable."

He paused seeing the others. "Apologies cousins."

He bowed respectfully. "I did not mean to interrupt your conversation, I am Shiba Haru and it is an honor to share this space with you."

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro looked to Kuroneko and leaned so he could speak quietly. "I know I am. There's no protocol, and I'm only just realizing."

He does reach to pet the sable, but he does so quite slowly.

With Haru entering, Jiro greeted and smiled while attempting to figure out what he might say to Natsuko. "They're all going to be that soft Haru. Best to enjoy a small luxury like that best you can."

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko looks at the new arrival, pauses and looks more intensely, then nods glancing once between him and Jiro. "You are not the same, though you were."

"Also, it is good to meet you. This one is Isawa Natsuko for now."

[Isawa Kiriko]

Kiriko bowed to the newcomer who was very similar to one already present. "I'm Isawa Kiriko. Pleased to meet you, Shiba-san."

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Tori purred and Kiba moved to hide like any cat would after a meal. Kuroneko shook his head as he saw Haru arrive. "I see..." He probably was waiting for his brother to be more at ease. Still, I should help to make this encounter less awkward. It is not my place... But we should all be friends right... even if this is a competition... a friendly one. How to make this less awkward... Neko kun think. Ah... He takes a seat on the ground. "Since we are here, may be we can sit down and try our best to know each other better."

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro nods at the idea. But rather than move next to his brother, he moves nearer to Natsuko.

"I... perhaps we should find an opportunity to sit and speak later? Perhaps tomorrow morning? Apologies if I am being awkward. The news was surprising to me."

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko nods first to Kuroneko, eyes tracking to one of the rooms low tables, then again at Jiro, with no sign of discomfort. "There will be many times to talk later." A thoughtful pause. "I think I do not know you well enough to discern awkward from not-awkward.'

She'll join the rest at whatever table is chosen, one sleeve thumping a bit on the floor as she sits, a moment before her satchel is slipped from her shoulder to do the same.

[Shiba Jiro]

"Of course," he replied. Clearly he was having a bit more difficulty with it than she was. Which made him curious about whether she had already learned more about him than she had of her. Or did she just not care?

His mind was a bit of a whirlwind. He had thought about this during the trip, but it was hitting him full on now that he came face to face with her for the first time.

He moved to the table and sat.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru moved to join the others, sliding past his brother he whispered. "Find your center brother, breath. It's her then?"

Once he has sat he turned to his Shiba cousin. "Is that a Stoat?"

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Kuroneko shook his head. "He is a marten. Even thought people think they are unlucky animals. He has been my companion for three years now. Do you wish to pet him?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"He is lovely," Jiro chimed in. "You said his name was Tori? Was that name chosen for a specific habit or mannerism he's shown?"

[Shiba Haru]

Kuroneko shook his head. "He is a marten. Even thought people think they are unlucky animals. He has been my companion for three years now. Do you wish to pet him?"

"I would love to." He reached out his hand so the animal could approach at it's own pace and waited for the answer to his brother's question.

[Shiba Kuroneko]

"I would love to." He reached out his hand so the animal could approach at it's own pace and waited for the answer to his brother's question.

Tori moved to the hand slowly and just like a cat placed his head on Haru's hand.

"He is lovely," Jiro chimed in. "You said his name was Tori? Was that name chosen for a specific habit or mannerism he's shown?"

Kuroneko smiled. "He likes to be on trees. He was just a small cub when I found him in the forests of the Kitsune. He is a free spirit like a bird."

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Bad luck may cling to a creature, but not all of them," Natsuko notes without inflection, quietly watching the animals' behavior. "Do they keep up when traveling? Or are they carried?"

[Shiba Haru]

Haru gingerly scratched and pet the little animal and his whole posture relaxed slightly. He flashed a questioning glance at Jiro before turning back to await Kuroneko's answer.

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro's returned look to Haru was surprisingly unreadable. But only because he really didn't know what he was feeling or thinking. He was paying attention and keeping up, but he was also just as lost inside his own head.

He nods at the explanation for Tori's name. "Well, plenty of trees nearby for him to enjoy. So I hope he has fun while we are here."

To calm his mind, he pulls out a piece of origami paper and begins slowly folding it. His eyes were kept on the group while his hands worked by touch.

"So, where are we all coming from?" he asks the group, expecting that Haru will answer for both of them.

[Shiba Kuroneko]

"Bad luck may cling to a creature, but not all of them," Natsuko notes without inflection, quietly watching the animals' behavior. "Do they keep up when traveling? Or are they carried?"

"They can travel short distances Tori kun likes to be up on my shoulder and sometime he sleeps in my sleeve. Kiba kun likes to get into my scroll satchel from time to time but I think he likes to follow me wherever I go. Very convenient that they have similar tastes." Kuro explained

Jiro's returned look to Haru was surprisingly unreadable. But only because he really didn't know what he was feeling or thinking. He was paying attention and keeping up, but he was also just as lost inside his own head.

He nods at the explanation for Tori's name. "Well, plenty of trees nearby for him to enjoy. So I hope he has fun while we are here."

To calm his mind, he pulls out a piece of origami paper and begins slowly folding it. His eyes were kept on the group while his hands worked by touch.

"So, where are we all coming from?" he asks the group, expecting that Haru will answer for both of them.

Kuroneko took the lead and shook his head. "Well cousin I was on Kyuden Isawa working for some papers to ask my sensei if I was allowed to travel. I want to travel again to Kyuden Kitsune and find some new friends. He handed me the invite to the Topaz."