(D2, LE) Prelude to Evil

[Kakita Yuji]

Before Yuji's player could even check for exploding hedge mazes, Yuji found himself drawn back into the garden. There was a lot to reflect on...at least their would be once his player got Yuji up to speed.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Suddenly, a monkey crossed his path. The creature was soon followed by a Unicorn giving chase.

"Odoru-kun, come back here!. I told you not to run off!"

[Kakita Yuji]

Suddenly, a monkey crossed his path. The creature was soon followed by a Unicorn giving chase.

"Odoru-kun, come back here!. I told you not to run off!"

First a singing Mantis, and now a dashing monkey. Yuji briefly wondered if this was the curse of the runddown shrine starting to take effect.

He didn't really know anything about monkeys, but he did know something about hunting, moving to block the monkey's direct path, hoping to cause it to pause or turn to allow the Unicorn to gain some ground.

Otherwise, who knows what sort of damage would be done to the garden!

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Screeching excitedly, the monkey leaped up at the Crane. The Unicorn, however, was able to snatch it from the air, pulling the animal against her chest and holding it firmly.

"Alright, alright, I'll take you out to the forest more." She spoke soothingly to her captive, calming it.

A moment later, she looked up to Yuji, then bowed immediately. "My apologies, Crane-sama."

[Kakita Yuji]

Screeching excitedly, the monkey leaped up at the Crane. The Unicorn, however, was able to snatch it from the air, pulling the animal against her chest and holding it firmly.

"Alright, alright, I'll take you out to the forest more." She spoke soothingly to her captive, calming it.

A moment later, she looked up to Yuji, then bowed immediately. "My apologies, Crane-sama."

Yuji bowed in return.

"No damage done save a shattered tranquility, Unicorn-san." he said, perhaps not realizing how close he'd come to actual harm. "But just as a shattered piece of pottery is made more beautiful mended with Kintsugi, so could this be mended with some sparkling conversation."

"I am Kakita Yuji, at least for a while longer." he offered as introduction.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji bowed in return.

"No damage done save a shattered tranquility, Unicorn-san." he said, perhaps not realizing how close he'd come to actual harm. "But just as a shattered piece of pottery is made more beautiful mended with Kintsugi, so could this be mended with some sparkling conversation."

"I am Kakita Yuji, at least for a while longer." he offered as introduction.

"Shinjo Jingyi." She introduced herself, before patting the monkey on the head. "This one is Odoruhonō. He can be excitable, but he means no harm."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Shinjo Jingyi." She introduced herself, before patting the monkey on the head. "This one is Odoruhonō. He can be excitable, but he means no harm."

Yuji had no idea where one acquired a monkey.

"Ah a pleasure to meet you both. You are both rather far from home are you not?" he said seeing if he could guide the Unicorn's conversation a bit without just asking where you got a monkey.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"I am from Egami Mura." she nodded. "And, Odoru-kun found me in the western Seikitsu mountains."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I am from Egami Mura." she nodded. "And, Odoru-kun found me in the western Seikitsu mountains."

Yuji nodded.

"Interesting. I didn't even know there were monkeys in the Seiktisu mountains. But they are a bit far from my home, so that is not that surprising." he said, really knowing nothing of mokeys.

"Have the two of your enjoyed your trip to our lands?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"Oh yes, we all have." she nodded. "It is all very beautiful. It's fascinating how much the regions of the Empire can vary. Do you attend the academy?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"Oh yes, we all have." she nodded. "It is all very beautiful. It's fascinating how much the regions of the Empire can vary. Do you attend the academy?"

Yuji nodded.

"My family has deep connections to the Academy. I attended and so will my brothers after me." he said. "Might I ask about Shinjo-san's sensei?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"Utaku Takai-sensei has been responsible for much of my training." she answered. "I became his student once my affinity with animals was recognized."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Utaku Takai-sensei has been responsible for much of my training." she answered. "I became his student once my affinity with animals was recognized."

Yuji smiled a bit.

"Is there such a thing as a member of your clan who does not have an affinity for animals? I feel it would be like a Crane without an affinity for poetry, but with less biting criticism and more actual biting." he offered. "Do you care for many animals then, Shinjo-san?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji smiled a bit.

"Is there such a thing as a member of your clan who does not have an affinity for animals? I feel it would be like a Crane without an affinity for poetry, but with less biting criticism and more actual biting." he offered. "Do you care for many animals then, Shinjo-san?"

"I am sure poetry comes more naturally to some than others." she shrugged. "I tend to several animals in my duties, but there are five that I am particularly connected to. Odoruhonō here. My horse Hayakawa. A beautiful hawk, Jiyukaze. An adorable hound named Aiyama. And Unmei, a cute little cricket."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I am sure poetry comes more naturally to some than others." she shrugged. "I tend to several animals in my duties, but there are five that I am particularly connected to. Odoruhonō here. My horse Hayakawa. A beautiful hawk, Jiyukaze. An adorable hound named Aiyama. And Unmei, a cute little cricket."

Yujij was clearly impressed.

"That's quite the gathering, Shinjo-san, I'm imprsssed that you can care for that many while competing in the Topaz tournament." he says.

He looks thoughtful.

"Although, I don't truly believe that poetry comes more naturally to some clans than others. Indeed, I''m working on a sort of final project for my ays in the Academy, where I am seeking to gather two poems from each competitor in the tournament. One to reflect their initial impression of Tsuma and the tournament and one to reflect their final impression. A glimpse of the transition between childhood to adulthood through the eyes of different people united in being the best upcoming samurai of this generation. I would like to have you contribute to this project as well, Shinjo-san." he requestd.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"Although, I don't truly believe that poetry comes more naturally to some clans than others. Indeed, I''m working on a sort of final project for my ays in the Academy, where I am seeking to gather two poems from each competitor in the tournament. One to reflect their initial impression of Tsuma and the tournament and one to reflect their final impression. A glimpse of the transition between childhood to adulthood through the eyes of different people united in being the best upcoming samurai of this generation. I would like to have you contribute to this project as well, Shinjo-san." he requestd.

"I'm really not a poet." She seemed flustered, shaking her head. "I can try, but I doubt it will compare well to others."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I'm really not a poet." She seemed flustered, shaking her head. "I can try, but I doubt it will compare well to others."

Yuji smiled reassuringly.

"As long as it comes from your perspective, Shinjo-san, that is all that I ask. Only you can provide such and thus there is nothing to compare to." he offered.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

She fidgeted a bit, hugging the monkey tighter until he protested.

"Alright, Kakita-sama, I will do what I can." she agreed. "How should I give it to you?"

[Kakita Yuji]

She fidgeted a bit, hugging the monkey tighter until he protested.

"Alright, Kakita-sama, I will do what I can." she agreed. "How should I give it to you?"

Yuji nodded.

"Well, when the inspiration strikes you, Shinjo-san, you can contact me easily. I'm a student of the Academy and my family is local to Tsuma, so correspondence will find me quite easily." he assured her.

He looked at the protesting monkey.

"I am curious about your companion, Shinjo-san. What can you tell me beyond his original home? I really know very little about monkeys." he asked.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"I am curious about your companion, Shinjo-san. What can you tell me beyond his original home? I really know very little about monkeys." he asked.

"He's immensely curious and very playful." she explained. "Training him has been very difficult, even though I'm certain he's quite clever. He comes from a valley in the mountains that I explored with my father. He followed me back to camp."