[D5, EA] Bustle and blow (Expecting/Open)

[Shiba Haru]

"Well I hope you will join us, just a smallish get together or friends one last time before we leave. I figured that work all the stress everyone is feeling here a night of drunken revelry before we fully become adults would be fun. Less chance we get into serious trouble if we are still considered children.

A night of bending the rules so to speak, do you think you would be interested?

I know we've only just met, forgive me if this seems rather sudden; I just get a good feeling about you."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Um!" Sakura chirped awkwardly and looked back at the Phoenix, "-it sounds, um, fun? It'd be a good way to say goodbye to the other competitors?"

[Shiba Haru]

"I think so, a chance to let our hair and guard down before we become full samurai. I will probably bring my koto there...though I need to practice a bit more before playing it in front of that many people. We should have tea together some time soon and I could play for you. Hopefully my bad playing doesn't scare you off coming later." he said with an embarrassed smile.

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded, giving a reassuring smile, "I'm sure you're better than you think. And if you truly enjoy playing, then the technical prowess will come eventually. Isn't music about evoking emotion, not perfection? As difficult as that may be to swallow for the likes of you and I... And yes, I'd very much enjoy meeting you again for tea."

[Shiba Haru]

"Wonderful! It will give us a chance to get to know each other when we aren't struggling to hear each other over the wind. If it gets any windier out here it's going to rip our kimonos." he said moving slightly to block the shifting wind from battering the Asahina.

"I would love to hear more about your home, I have heard that the cliffs of the Asahina are beautiful, I hope to see them some day for myself."

[Asahina Sakura]

"I look forward to sharing more with you!" she chirped, bracing against said wind, and giving Haru a thankful nod.

[Shiba Haru]

He gestured to a nearby tree. "That tree looks like it would provide some shelter if you would like to continue talking or drawing without the distraction of the wind."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Are you getting tired of being my shelter, Haru-san?" she asked with an uncharacteristically wry smirk before nodding and gathering her things to stand.

[Shiba Haru]

"Not at all Sakura-san, I have been trained to protect others but I am a bit too small the defeat Kaze-no-kami." He said playfully. "If you wish to remain here I will endure, for you."

This would be easier if I could just open my kimono and use it to block the wind but that is certainly improper

"So tell me, how do perform your shadow puppetry? There are some within my clan who have tried to mix artistry with prayers to the kami, is you work similar?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"I'm sure it would be a valiant effort, and worthy of stories being told for generations," she walked casually over with him to the suggested tree.
"I um, yes? Something like that. The Artificers speak directly to the spirit of objects, to summon or augment said object, or to create illusions as a whole? I um, enjoy doing something a bit different, than my peers?" Which is perhaps amusing, given how painfully traditional her art style seen in her sketchbook is - saving the colourful representations of spiritual activities, of course.

[Shiba Haru]

"That sounds amazing, I didn't think I could be more interested in seeing you perform but it seems I was wrong. Standing our from the crowd is what got all of us here so your art must be beautiful, I don't imagine the Sensei of the Kakita to be easily impressed."

Once she was seated and comfortable Haru took a seat, not quite next to her as that would be improper but not across from her either as he wanted to keep the wind out of his face.

[Asahina Sakura]

"Your words are too kind!" she smiled and looked at him as he took his spot, appreciating his sense of decorum. "You um, you saw? Some of my skill? I gained the acclaim to be here, I think, from several pieces of mixed media art- all portraying various spiritual activity in different settings." she explained shyly.
"And you? What gained you your invitation here? What stood out to the Sensei?"

[Shiba Haru]

"I am not entirely sure at this point perhaps it was just the novelty of twins, Jiro has been much more successful so far. I trained as a yojimbo and have dedicated myself to the art of Iaijutsu though I hardly consider myself a standout duelist considering where we are. I am still surprised that I am the only bushi my clan sent to compete here. I can say that I greatly enjoy riding, playing the koto and insulting my brother though I doubt there will be a test that lets me display that particular talent."

[Asahina Sakura]

"I hope you're blessed in the iaijitsu competition, Haru-san, though I suspect your skill will do you well," she offered a friendly smile, and then it grew, "Ha! I could say the same of my brother as well, but it would probably look incredibly poorly on me to go after him here, in this setting. If there's a sadane test, though? I don't think there would be, but stranger things have happened in Topaz Championships before," she grinned at the idea.

[Shiba Haru]

"I thank you for your support, hopefully I do not disappoint you but I need to make it into the Iaijutsu event first which is proving much more difficult than I expected. A Sadane test would be amusing, I'm not sure everyone here could handle it though. Some people don't have the sense of humor needed to brush off an insult."

[Asahina Sakura]

Her nose wrinkled a little. "No?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Well, some have had more rigid upbringing; their schooling is more like indoctrination. Then again there are just some people with no sense of humor like my brother, such a bore." He smiled to show he was joking. "But not you, you seem like quite a bit of fun."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Oh! I can um, I guess that's uh, well we can't expect everyone to ve exactly the same? The Emperor needs all manner of samurai..."
Sakura tilted her head slightly toward the Phoenix, "I enjoy your company as well!"

[Shiba Haru]

"So tell me a bit about your home, what are Asahina lands like?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Oh! Right!" Her brow furrowed a little. "Most of the land consisted of plains or beaches, I'm, uh, originally from the Asahina province of Anshin, you've the right of it! It's um, situated between the Wall Above the Ocean mountains- and the village we're from is located just west of the foothills of- and the ocean Yakamo's Heart.
In a feat of unprecedented individuality, assuredly, my home village is called- wait for it- The Wall Above the Ocean Village... I know." Sakura gave another uncharacteristically wry smirk. "It's full of shrines and temples, as well as inns and taverns, dedicated to comfort and peace? Um. But I didn't spend a lot of time there? So it's just, um, vague memories?
Like I said, I spent a lot of childhood winters in the Asako province... And we've been in Tsuma as long as Tenshin's been Emerald Magistrate, so...
I'd like to go back to visit Cranelands, but I don't know when I could? It depends, of course, um, on what happens? from here? and where my lord sends me? or where my future husband is told to be? I, uh, I'm not really sure where I'll end up. What did you say before... A child of the wind?"
She gave a thoughtful smile. "I like that a lot, Haru-san. Very fitting."

...It's without a doubt the most Sakura has spoken to anyone in one go during the time of the Competition.