[D0 EA] Murder of Wolves

[Kaeru Kaori]

Kaori sat down at one of the tables, after bowing to the ronin guard. She smiled and sat down at one of the tables, but not ordering yet, waiting for her guest.

It was curious, to have two ronin, both with Miya sponsors at the tournament. Perhaps it was auspicious. Perhaps it wasn't. She did not feel it mattered either way.

[Chiaki]

It took not too long for the other ronin to appear at the tea house.

Chiaki bowed to the bouncer ronin with the elegance and respect, a display of etiquette not so far from what was expected from a Doji or any other Crane. Unlike most ronin, or the stereotypical image of a ronin, she was very well clothed, indeed, her apparel was of very high quality manufacture. Her fan, which also was of great quality, was already on her left hand.

She approached where the other Miya sponsored ronin was, and bowed to her with the same respect that she had shown with everyone around.

'' I had heard that i was not the only one honored by the Miya family.'' She commented as she bowed to her low. '' It is an honor to met you, Kaeru-san.'' She added. '' As you might already known, i'm Chiaki. It is a pleasure.This one hopes that you had already been blessed by Inari-no-kami?'' She asked politely.

It was barely noticeable, but Chiaki did had a bit of a 'southern' accent to her voice.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Kaori stood and bowed towards the other ronin. "Chiaki-san, well met. I am Kaori of the Kaeru." She smiled and sat down in seiza, glancing up and down at the woman in front of her. Soon to be woman, probably?

"Hai, I have been blessed by Inari-no-kami as well as Miya-sama, honoring me with his support here."

She glanced around. "What kind of tea would you care for?"

[Chiaki]

'' Ten Thousand Temples blend should suffice...'' Chiaki nods after purposefully naming the most expensive, or at least one of the most expensive ones, tea blends on the whole empire. Refering to the Seppun grown tea blend.

She giggled behind her fan. '' Just joking. Whatever you might fancy Kaeru-san i would be honored to share with you.'' She added, seriously this time.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Kaori smirked. "I wouldn't wish to spend my monthly stipend on a single meeting, so gomen Chiaki-san." Her eyes lit up. "Or...Chiaki-chan?"

She requested something black from the servers. Presumably something local.

"I must admit, I am both glad and surprised to see a fellow ronin among the contestants. May I ask how you got the honor?"

[Ender]

A server bowed deeply to the two ronin, before quickly retreating to boil the water for the tea.

Striding across the room used for tea, Lady Washu, her hair vibrantly crimson, kept narrowed eyes on those gathered. Her smile was almost knowing, before she moved to speak with the ronin known as "Big Shinji".

[Chiaki]

Kaori smirked. "I wouldn't wish to spend my monthly stipend on a single meeting, so gomen Chiaki-san." Her eyes lit up. "Or...Chiaki-chan?"

Chiaki giggles behind her fan. '' Nor would i wish to force you to do so, Kaeru-san. And you can call me hovewer you wish to, Chiaki-chan is fine.'' Although she was a courtier, she was still a ronin so, forcing continous protocol to another ronin was not in her style.

She requested something black from the servers. Presumably something local.

"I must admit, I am both glad and surprised to see a fellow ronin among the contestants. May I ask how you got the honor?"

'' Well, it is a rather strange story, but i guess not so strange for people like us?'' She wondered. '' I was serving a local Otokodate, which was under contract by the Miya family. This one made a good impression to them, and they sponsored me.'' She said.

'' I guess that my skillset proved to be useful to them? I'm no bushi, but i had to learn out of necessity, but i also have more artistic approach which is my main purpose in life.''

[Kaeru Kaori]

Chiaki giggles behind her fan. '' Nor would i wish to force you to do so, Kaeru-san. And you can call me hovewer you wish to, Chiaki-chan is fine.'' Although she was a courtier, she was still a ronin so, forcing continous protocol to another ronin was not in her style.

'' Well, it is a rather strange story, but i guess not so strange for people like us?'' She wondered. '' I was serving a local Otokodate, which was under contract by the Miya family. This one made a good impression to them, and they sponsored me.'' She said.

'' I guess that my skillset proved to be useful to them? I'm no bushi, but i had to learn out of necessity, but i also have more artistic approach which is my main purpose in life.''

Kaori smiled and listened, her eyes glancing towards the lady talking to the ronin. Innteresting.

"Chiaki-chan, feel free to call me Kaori-san. We are in a similar boat, after all, as the saying goes." She smiled.

"A more artistic approach?" She raised an eyebrow. "I was trained in the classic arts of a bushi and yoriki, with some scholarly subjects on law and governance...but the arts are not something I have dealt much with." She placed her hand downwards, glancing nervously around. "Perhaps we could...tutor each other? I am happy to spar with you, and in return, perhaps you could teach me about...the arts?" What ARE the arts?

[Chiaki]

'' Alright, Kaori-san.'' She nods at her request of familiarity.

'' Sure, it would be an honor to be taught new ways and approaches to the way of the sword, Kaori-san.'' She accepted her proposition. '' And i could show you some of my artistic displays, although i'm no master to them, just a student.'' She added.

'' Well, everything could have an artistic approach to it. Even swordplay is an art on intelf, i would guess...'' She said to Kaori. '' As for me, mostly artistic performances like singing, dancing, musical performances, that kind of skills is what i'm focus on.'' Chiaki said. '' I also have been training myself in ikebana, which is something that i really like.''

[Kaeru Kaori]

"Ikebana...that is the thing with the flowers, neh?"

Recalling an earlier conversation. "Some instruction in poetry would be greatly appreciated. My grandfatther tried teaching me, but my brotherhood has always focused on the..needlessly practical elements of our education?" She shrugged.

"Our duties require focus, and our resources are only so limited to cover such topics. Still, my Ancestors must smile upon me for us to have found each other here."

[Chiaki]

'' Indeed, flower arragment.'' She nods.

'' Well i do know a bit of poetry composition, but not too much, or at least not as much as i would like to know about it.'' She said. '' Indeed, it is not easy to indulge in such things due to our nature. I pray and give my gratitude to the Fortunes for giving me the chance to practice them even in my position. It is a blessing that i can't deny.'' Chiaki nods.

'' And indeed the fact that we both, Kaori-san, now are here must be due to fate. Under similar circumstances, i don't believe in chances.'' She added to her comment.

[Kaeru Kaori]

'' Indeed, flower arragment.'' She nods.

'' Well i do know a bit of poetry composition, but not too much, or at least not as much as i would like to know about it.'' She said. '' Indeed, it is not easy to indulge in such things due to our nature. I pray and give my gratitude to the Fortunes for giving me the chance to practice them even in my position. It is a blessing that i can't deny.'' Chiaki nods.

'' And indeed the fact that we both, Kaori-san, now are here must be due to fate. Under similar circumstances, i don't believe in chances.'' She added to her comment.

Kaori nodded in understanding. "You surely have been blessed Chiaki-chan." She smiled a bit. "I..have not had opportunity for such, yet one of the Crane asked me today for some words of poetry." She cringed, internally. "I fear that my understanding of such matters, or at least the lack thereof, might cost me some points during this tournament. So the more I can strengthen myself, the beter."

She glanced towards her, and then back towards the servers. "I agree. It is rare for ronin to get invited, and for the two of us? The Fortunes and our Ancestors must be smiling upon us today."

[Chiaki]

'' It might, although, perhaps it will not.'' She replied to Kaori. '' From what i understand iaijutsu at the end is the most important part of the tournament and, it would seem that this tournament is also more martially inclined so, even if you feel that you lack in those areas, it is very likely that you have other skillsets that can compensate or even give you an advantage, Kaori-san.'' Chiaki added.

''But we will see, making predictions about how the tournament would unfold i guess is not that important, but improving oneself is.'' She said.

[Kaeru Kaori]

'' It might, although, perhaps it will not.'' She replied to Kaori. '' From what i understand iaijutsu at the end is the most important part of the tournament and, it would seem that this tournament is also more martially inclined so, even if you feel that you lack in those areas, it is very likely that you have other skillsets that can compensate or even give you an advantage, Kaori-san.'' Chiaki added.

''But we will see, making predictions about how the tournament would unfold i guess is not that important, but improving oneself is.'' She said.

"True. My grandfather and father did make sure I have the basics of iai down, at least." A smile crossed her face at the fond thoughts. "Still, I would like to be as diverse as possible. A samurai is more than just a thug, after all."

As it seemed that their tea was finally arriving, she smiled once again. "Certainly. We are all here to better our self. Or at least, I would like to think so." She fell silent for a moment. "Do you have thoughts on where you might go after the tournament?"

[Chiaki]

'' Not really. I mean, i think i will continue to serve with the Miya family if they continue to honor me. But, flowing through the waves of fate is what i am.'' She thought aloud while sipping from her tea.

'' It will all depend on fate. What about you Kaori-san? Have you thought what you will do afterwards?'' She asked.

[Kaeru Kaori]

'' Not really. I mean, i think i will continue to serve with the Miya family if they continue to honor me. But, flowing through the waves of fate is what i am.'' She thought aloud while sipping from her tea.

'' It will all depend on fate. What about you Kaori-san? Have you thought what you will do afterwards?'' She asked.

Kaori shrugged. "I expect I'll return to my city, to serve Miya-sama as a yoriki, or magistrate, in keeping the peace. There is always someone or something looking to disturb the peace." She smiled. "They think they know better."