Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Hanatsuko sat on the sand, seems like the beach was getting to be her favored spot then again... The sea might call upon her if she was not to solve and lift the Jigoko ridden place.

I don't think sitting here will take you anywhere closer to your answer.

"I am trying to do something to ease my mind and help me focus. I may have done this yesterday but it doesn't matter."

Maybe you should think about something else. I am really bored of doing the same this we did yesterday.

Hanatsuko rolled her eyes. "So what do you suggest?"

I don't know... something else than just moping around. Something fun.

"Meditation can be fun." She closed her eyes and tried to focus. "Who am I kidding my mind will not be at peace. Not with you around telling me to have fun and those silly monkey laughing at me." She hit the sands in frustration. "Hrm"

//D4 MA Meditation Void TN 24 to recover 1VP: 4d10o10k3 17

A familiar bird had stalked down the beach again, this time coming across the Falcon just in time to hear "Meditation can be fun." Kakita Masao was on a similar mission, it sounded like, though his current frustration was being exiled from Blue Bird House again, this time to prevent him interfering too much in the timeline. He was outraged to be excluded, but the magistrate and the priest had made clear why he couldn't be there. And Masao knew they were right.

So it was back to the beach with his flute, and the good fortune of another meeting with Hanatsuko. In a different part of the beach. Wasn't it? Oh Fortunes, she must know about the loop. Right?

"Toritaka-san, good afternoon," he announces from an appropriate distance. "An afternoon not so different from yesterday's, yes?"

"Good afternoon... I am glad to see you... earlier than yesterday."

Does he know?

"I hope so..." She whispered. "So it seems... somethings seemed the same others... not so much... Seems that something happened to makes us here today... again."

Masao's face nearly explodes with relief that Hana remembers the previous day, and he immediately confirms that he does too: "Yes, it's another lovely day, but I think yesterday we sat just over there," he points a short distance closer to the tide line.

"I'm thankful to find you here, Toritaka-san. Yesterday was a rough day, although you helped make it better. How are you finding today?"

She shook her head. "Not really good... everything feel off. Kuma is really uneasy... Sari sometimes growls at what seems it is nothing but I know something is amuck." She looked down at the sand. "I am sorry." Seemed that it was his turn to lift the spirits of the Toritaka up.

Masao's concern shows on his face, and he sits close to Hanatsuko, facing her. There's a grumble inside his head, and he knows he's standing on the line of impropriety, but he goes only that far.

"Toritaka-san, you have no need of apologies with me. This strange day of... sort of repeating... would be hard enough if yesterday had gone well. I don't know all the details of your day, of course, but reliving yesterday is..." He decides understating it is more soothing than being honest. "Reliving yesterday isn't something that I want to do." He smiles awkwardly. "So we'll try to make today better" -- he sends a quick prayer for success to his kin who are taking lunch with Yushoko -- "and tomorrow will be even better."

His optimism probably seems out of place, against the despair he'd been showing the day before. But a repeating day was just the sort of advantage -- knowing the terrain, fellow soldiers would say -- that someone like Kakita Masao would want. With the danger predictable, the strategy for victory could be planned. And he was confident in people like Konohamaru and Hanatsuko to make that happen.

"I don't know what to do... this nagging feeling is disturbing." She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "I have been continuing the investigation and have so many theories. I wanted to meditate and organize my thoughts... but..." The woman growled.

Come on Hana chan you should know better. Don't try to tune me out... You are supposed to be trained for this. What happened? Day has you going mad. Kuma laughs

She placed both hands on her forehead. "It is like an overlap Kakita sama... Can you hear them?"

Masao is very concerned but really doesn't know what to do. In that moment, training as a nikutai kicks in.

"Hey, hey, Toritaka-san," the Crane slides forward and touches her knee with his fingertips. He hears a scream in his head but ignores it. "Toritaka-san, look at me. Right now, look at me." His voice is kind, but firm -- how he might talk to a soldier in danger of losing their nerve on the battlefield. "You're going to be fine, but the first thing you're going to do is look at me, and breathe just as I do..."

He sets a slow, steady rhythm, trying to keep her eyes on him until she controls her breath at least. His two fingers stay touching her knee, only pushing if he needs to draw her attention back, while his other hand tries to keep Sari from interfering.

At his touch Hanatsuko froze and took a deep breath. One breath, two breath, three breaths... Eyes met. He could see the frustration not being able to help. She looked back down. One breath, two breaths, three breaths... Her mind was at slowly returning to Ningen-do. "Level... the head... and tune them out..." It was the first time she had such panic attack. Again eyes met. "I am fine."

The Crane isn't so sure that she's fine, but he's said the same thing in a similar voice himself, so he knows to draw back and relax himself. He slides back a small amount, still close enough to show support, but respecting her space.

He takes a steadying breath. "It's ok to say you're not fine. Honesty is the most important tenet of bushido now, as we deal with this strangeness. Maybe none of us are fine, being in this strange world. But we'll figure it out." He ruffles Sari's ears. "Together." He looks at Hanatsuko warmly, projecting confidence.

"I ... I just need to focus on what is real and what is just trickery. You know..." Hanatsuko looked at her obi and her flute was still there. "You said something yesterday about music helping. Maybe I should play."

"I don't know if it works for everyone, but it can't hurt to try. Try to focus just on playing. Or even, if there's a song that you know by heart, try to just let your fingers find the notes while your clears..."

The Crane silently recites a simple prayer of serenity, hoping that either music or the prayer or both will help his friend.

The Falcon took out her flute and started to play Her notes showed promise. It wasn't a masterful piece but it was well played.

There you go something you can do better than learning about the spirits in this beach.

She lowered her flute. She was still a bit off but was more centered.

//D4 MA Fluff perform flute TN+4: 5d10o10k3 22

"That sounded good," the Crane encouraged. "It helps push some of the distractions from the mind. Often it takes a couple of songs, especially if something is really troubling you."

"If you think it would help, I could play while you relax. It does seem like the act of playing helped you, though, and I am very happy to listen as long as you'd like." He smiles at her, like simply a helpful friend.

Hanatsuko nodded. "That would be helpful, Kakita sama." She moved her braid forward. Perhaps was instinct or just fidgeting.

Masao hardly needs to be asked twice to play, and whether it's just the right time, just the right song, or just the right motivation for him as a player, the Crane plays a lovely, uplifting tune that makes the on-shore breeze feel like a comforting embrace.

When he finishes he looks slightly out of breath, clearly having played as well as he could for Hanatsuko. He looks to see how she responds.

She let the tune carry in her mind. The woman smiled and relaxed. "Much better than yesterday Kakita sama." She gave a light chuckle. "Do you wonder Kakita sama? How simple life could be if we just had to worry about taxes for our lord?"

The Crane smiles at the compliment, stares as she asks about taxes, and in the end can't help but laugh at a volume that certainly isn't proper.

"Toritaka-san," he says, still shaking from the laugh, "that is a fine thought. You must have concluded, though," he says, smiling kindly, "that there is nothing simple in my life right now." He continues to smile, but there's a touch of sadness creeping back in around his eyes.

The Toritaka chuckled. "Made you laugh... I think I am on roll." She smiled. "Right... The life of a samurai is not simple." She lowered her head. "Our training takes us to where our lord see us fit. Right now... I feel lost... I am glad to have found a friend." She looked at the Kakita then at Sari. "That is human just like me." She patted the dog's head.

You should kiss him...

The girl froze and blushed.

You touched his shoulder and he touched your knee...

She continued to flush red.

Masao, hearing only the spoken words but then seeing the blush, is at a loss. What did you do? You must have said something. You -- Ok, you're probably right. But if it's something else...

The Kakita slides closer, moving so he's still seated, facing her right side. "Ah, Toritaka-san?" He leans in, questioning and concerned. "Toritaka-san?" He hesitates for a moment, but she still seems frozen. Scared and not knowing anything else to do, he reaches out slowly, and gently grips her shoulder. "Toritaka-san, I'm right here." He squeezes her shoulder, gently but firmly. "I'm right here. Just tell me what I can do." His voice had lowered so he wouldn't seem to be yelling in her face, but it inadvertently makes the moment even more intense.

He now touched your shoulder. Come on... I really like this guy... Kiss him.

"Ka... Ka...Kakita sama... what.. what if I told you...thataspiritisaskingmetodosomethingimproper?"

Masao is relieved she's speaking, but mention of a spirit puts him on guard. His eyes flash around her -- wary soldier, of course -- but all he can see is the anxiety in her face. "Toritaka-san, if you believe this spirit is trustworthy..." With everything that's happened, can you trust some strange spirit? Well, the Toritaka would know.

He lets go of her shoulder, but his fingertips just brush the top of her arm as he brings his hand down in front of him. *I trust you, Toritaka-san. And I want to help."

Kuma started pushing the girl. "Stop it..." She lowered her head to think about what to do. Kuma said kiss him but didn't specify where. She picked his hands and kissed them. "Thank you for you support, Kakita sama." Still her cheeks were flushed red.

What... Huh. Ok.

The Crane didn't resist her taking his hands, or kissing them, although his face probably flashed white, then red, had she been looking.

Grandmother, I don't understand... What's going on? Oh, grandson, I don't know any better than you. The Toritaka... perhaps have some strange customs.

"I am happy to support you, Toritaka-san. This is..." Masao struggles for words. "This is a strange time, and I think it's important that we stay close." He reaches out, taking one of her hands and squeezing gently. He doesn't hang on, but he does keep leaning in toward her, still not certain that she's all right.

That was disappointing.

"Please..."

At least give him a hug... Benten doesn't bless anyone like this.

"Why..." The bird kept pushing Hana. Sari looking at the falcon, followed his lead and pushed the Toritaka. She fell on the Kakita's arm. Her arms reflexively hugged the man.