An early walk, an early prayer (D1 EM, Expecting but Open)

[Ikoma Aya]

Aya had woken up unexpectedly early today. She'd thought of going straight to the training grounds again - it's where she expected to spend most of her time here, after all. But she noticed she had barely seen anything else in the city so far.

That... and she felt she needed some peace of mind. Well, to search for some peace of mind, at least. Finding it was much harder, of course.

So she strolled through the garden park at a leisurely pace, silent, eyes taking in the scenes of the early dawn around her. Her mouth moved silently, as if she were muttering a prayer.

Perhaps she was?

[Shosuro Kaoru]

The Shiba had advised her to come to the garden for inspiration, and since today's weather agreed with him, Kaoru did just that.

She was sat at one of the outside checkered table that could be used for go, though the other seat was empty and no black or white stone was in sight. Instead, she had set up paper, ink and brushes, and was, very slowly writing.

Her ears caught the arrival of the Lion and she raised her head from her work, and saluted:

"Good morning... Ikoma Aya-sama is that it?

We were sat at the same table yesterday, though so far apart I only caught your name because the noise of conversation decided to drop at that very moment."

And also because Koaru always kept attentive for such windows of opportunities.

"As for myself, I am Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. Nice to properly meet you."

[Ikoma Aya]

The Shiba had advised her to come to the garden for inspiration, and since today's weather agreed with him, Kaoru did just that.

She was sat at one of the outside checkered table that could be used for go, though the other seat was empty and no black or white stone was in sight. Instead, she had set up paper, ink and brushes, and was, very slowly writing.

Her ears caught the arrival of the Lion and she raised her head from her work, and saluted:

"Good morning... Ikoma Aya-sama is that it?

We were sat at the same table yesterday, though so far apart I only caught your name because the noise of conversation decided to drop at that very moment."

And also because Koaru always kept attentive for such windows of opportunities.

"As for myself, I am Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. Nice to properly meet you."

The girl turned quickly when she heard her name, as in a practiced reflex. Seeing the other woman, she seemed to relax... if only sligthly.

"Ah. I think I remember you there, Shoruso-san. Nice to properly meet you too", she said, bowing deeply. "Also coming for some air and prayers before the tournament starts in earnest?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"The Phoenix praised the meditative qualities of this garden, so I thought it'll give it a try.

So far I would say it's nicer than being inside but if there's a magic here that'll help my mind finds the right words for my letter, I have yet to experience it.

Doing your warm-up exercises yourself?"

[Ikoma Aya]

"The Phoenix praised the meditative qualities of this garden, so I thought it'll give it a try.

So far I would say it's nicer than being inside but if there's a magic here that'll help my mind finds the right words for my letter, I have yet to experience it.

Doing your warm-up exercises yourself?"

"Oh, I didn't know that", she said, looking around. "But... it does seem like a pleasant place to seek some..." She can't quite seem to find the right word. For a moment it looks as if some got into her eyes and she had to rub them to get it out. "Some... peace. Or... calm. Centre. Ne?"

She then slowly shakes her head. "I hadn't started my morning routine, in fact. I... probably should soon. For now... I was looking forward to a calm place to... think, I suppose. And say a few quiet prayers."

Then, looking at the implements the Shosuro had in her hands "I hope I'm not interrupting your work, Shosuro-san? I don't want to be a nuisance"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Not really. I was trying to put my first impression of Tsuma into words, but by how blank my page has been so far, it appears to be a fruitless endeavor. I probably haven't seen enough of the city for the pieces to click together yet.

As of now, all I have is a bunch of contradictions like shining educational center and rampant opium traffic.

Not to say they're mutually exclusive in absolute. But usually every effort is put into tackling down the later before it can cast shadows on the former."

[Ikoma Aya]

The girl's face is... confused, to say the least. There seems to be a tiny bit of doubt on her face, but her eyes burn with... something at the same time.

"... contradictions indeed", she says after a while. "I... "

She shakes her head slightly, looks around. "This... doesn't sound right. May I ask Shosuro-san what brought your eyes to the latter?"

It's clear that's not something the girl expected to deal with here. Maybe not even hear about... but heard it she had.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"It's hardly a secret. Late night, a bunch of Topaz contenders, like easily half a dozen of us, who were taking their time to go back to the inn after dinner simply stumbled upon a dead junkie and the clearly overworked city official in charge of the issue.

The corpse did not literary drop before us, but close enough. Before the eyes of many non-samurai in top of that.

It was a stange welcoming gift to say the least."

[Ikoma Aya]

"It's hardly a secret. Late night, a bunch of Topaz contenders, like easily half a dozen of us, who were taking their time to go back to the inn after dinner simply stumbled upon a dead junkie and the clearly overworked city official in charge of the issue.

The corpse did not literary drop before us, but close enough. Before the eyes of many non-samurai in top of that.

It was a stange welcoming gift to say the least."

The girl's eyes show she is clearly surprised - and displeased - by that, but her face keeps set. It's almost as if she doesn't quite understand how that could happen to someone.

"I... hadn't heard of anything like that. It's... ah, you are sure it wasn't just a... one-case thing? A... wandering individual who brought their vices with them, or something like that?"

Her voice suggests she doesn't quite believe that, but the sheer contrast between that and... well, herself, and Tsuma, makes her seem to have a hard time dealing with what she's hearing.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"The official bluntly told us this wasn't the first incident of that kind. But even if he wouldn't have, the expression on the witnesses' faces was telling.

It is however apparently a relatively recent issue, not a dark secret Tusma has been holding for centuries or something like that. Likely yet another indirect consequences of the tsunami."