[D1, LE: Expecting] Mistaken for a Nice Guy

[Bayushi Shitoru]

Shitoru sat outside the inn, as the air was quite nice. He had a small bottle of sake and a plate of gyoza set next to him where he sat beneath the exterior awning. He could see across the way, several heimin bringing supplies toward The Hole. The night promised to be a good one, he thought.

Truth be told, this was all a bit exciting to him. Having never traveled really, and being out from underneath the eyes of his superiors, the village truly was his to have the run of. He could do anything...of course, he would train. That was important...but what else would he do?

He ate another gyoza, thinking it over.

[Amika]

After preparing herself for the party that the groom was offering to those that had come to the wedding, the painter ronin, had a few moments to offer her sincere thanks to the nice scorpion samurai that had offered help to her early during this day.

She travelled through the inn, expecting that the Scorpion was also going to the groom's event. She finally found him outside the inn. She slowly and gracefully approached towards the masked man.

'' Forgive the intrusion, Bayushi Shitoru-sama...'' A soft voice could be heard. The ronin was bowing very low. '' This one is Amika, the ronin that you offered help early on. This one had not had the oportunity to give her most sincere thanks for what you did earlier today and to present herself in a more formal way. I'm truly grateful and honored of what you did. Please accept my thanks for it. '' She continued to have her head low as a sign of respect.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

Shitoru rose at her greeting and bowed in return. "Your thanks is well taken, Amika-san." Calling a woman by her name was often an oddity, made all the more awkward by this one's lack of family name. "Join me here, you are welcome to some fare if it please you. This one finds gyoza agreeable with drink in one's future."

[Amika]

'' Arigatou, Bayushi Shitoru-sama.'' She said respectfully as she bowed even lower as the Scorpion man bowed towards her, showing gracefully that she was of lower status of course. The ronin woman then looked for a place where to sit, but, she looked for a place where she will be lower in elevation in comparison to the Scorpion samurai, once again, keeping the difference in status as subtle and gracefully as she could. She waits for the Scorpion samurai to sit first.

'' Might this one ask a question, Bayushi Shitoru-sama?'' She said politely

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"For certain, in the asking there is no harm", he put the plate between them and poured a cup after sitting with her. "What would Amika-san wish to know?"

[Amika]

'' Bayushi Shitoru-sama is currently here for the wedding, or this one is wrong?'' She asked. It was actually quite a harmless question but Amika thought that it was proper to ask first instead of assuming why this scorpion samurai had travelled all the way south to these lands.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"The end of hostilities between these two houses is of interest to the Scorpion, hai", he answered simply. He seemed expectant, as he was certain she had more to say.

[Amika]

'' I see. '' She thought for a moment. '' This one had mostly lived with her mother in the towns surrounding the imperial capital and had heard some news about such things, but as a ronin, this one never really put emphasis on what the Clan samurai think of each other, nor it was her place to make such assumptions, after all...'' She adds.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Surely a girl thinks for herself", Shitoru countered, then offered her the cup, placing it next to her. He drained his own and placed the empty next to the bottle. "And yet still, had you not considered, you are here now and my answer given. Does Amika-san have a mind to share on the matter?"

[Amika]

Amika accepted gracefully, making a slight bow where she was sitting, she took the cup and sipped from it, slowly and keeping all the decorum of what is expected. '' To be sincere, Bayushi Shitoru-sama, this one has not a particular point of view in the relations between the Great Clans, i must say.'' She said sincerely. '' As a painter, this one's only focus is to portray the ephemeral beauty of the world as it was created and tended by the Kami.'' She adds.

'' While certainly, in her youth, this one was sort of affected by the relations between the clans, since my blessed mother would move from town to town and castle to castle as she navigated the waves and seas of our status inside the Celestial Order, this one now, as a grown woman, has not thought beyond of what I can see and perceive with my own eyes, Bayushi Shitoru-sama.'' She said.

'' Also this one is quite inexperienced with the realities of the world, so formulating a definitive answer to such questions, i think is not prudent, nor wise.''

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Realization of the self is key in making matters better for one's self", Shitoru agreed. "It would be wise to be a thing one can consider. Allowing me to patron you with your painting can create relationships you are unaware of. The Scorpion are an old clan, but in many ways our relationship with the rest of the Empire is rather new, and there are those who will not too quickly trust our intentions...and so here I am, making friends with a ronin, and helping her create good will with our neighbor the Crab."

[Amika]

'' That Bayushi Shitoru-sama considers this one as a friend is an honor that i could never repay. This one is truly honored by your courtesy and compassion '' She said repplying to the Scorpion's words with another sitting bow, this time lower. '' But, if this one can help to achieve the aims that Bayushi Shitoru-sama is trying to do, in order to help his estemeed clan in creating good relations with the estemeed Crab Clan, then this one will do whatever it takes and put all her effort and skills in such a painting, Bayushi Shitoru-sama'' Amika adds, and sips from her cup afterwards.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Then this painting for the innkeeper will be done well, by your sincere efforts I have no doubt", he said with a nod. "Amika-san compliments this one too much, I fear, though I would not bring shame on us by denying your words."

His head tilted slightly toward the sake bottle.

"Though I have a mind to grant you some courtesy that comes from my homeland. A Scorpion never pours their own drink, it is a matter of showing trust to one's company. I have filled yours as a host to you, will you fill mine as a friend?"

[Amika]

'' Oh, hai, where are my manners...'' She quickly snapped as she was forgetting her etiquette with the interesting conversation that the two were having. She quickly composed herself, picks the bottle and offered to refill the Scorpion's cup. '' Forgive me, Bayushi Shitoru-sama. Douzo''

[Bayushi Shitoru]

He took the cup and held it up, nodding in thanks. "Then now, as you have done for me as I have done for you, and we have come upon a friendly accord between us, this one has a favor to ask."

[Amika]

Amika nods. '' Hai, what is it that you wish, Bayushi Shitoru-sama?'' She asked politely.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"This one wishes your inspired skill to breathe life into a gift for the couple, soon to marry here in this village. Something that will make Hida-san remember well the home he leaves behind and can inform his future bride of what she gains in her groom. Yet to do this, perhaps Amika-san should seek this inspiration, the ladies of the inn perhaps can be of service, methinks. The elder would know much history and tale of this place, and despite her status as a peasant, the younger most like has a ken of the groom due to their age...and the smallness of villages."

[Amika]

'' Hmmm...'' She thinks for a moment. Indeed that was her original idea that she wanted to do so for herself, but if another one was asking, especially after helping her, perhaps it was destiny to instead create the gift for someone else.

Amika nods. '' Sure, it can be done, Bayushi Shitoru-sama. This one has not had the honor of meeting the groom, Hida Yoji-sama, but i have met with the bride to be Daidoji Yushoko-sama. Creating a gift for them in your name would be an honor.'' She said bowing to him.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Proper", he said. "Then let us drink on that, and you can tell me of your travels." He offered out his cup toward her again. "Kampai."

[Amika]

Amika raised the cup '' Kampai'' she said as well.

'' Hmmm, well what do you wish to know about my travels, Bayushi Shitoru-sama?'' She asked politely. '' I have travelled to many places, but most concentrated around the Imperial Capital.'' She adds.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

After they drank he considered her question. "They are your stories, and you seem sociable, does Amika-san not have a proper memory that comes to mind? I have heard only vague tales of the Empire's home and heart."

[Amika]

'' Well when this one was a little girl, my mother sometimes would left me in Mura Minami Chushin for several weeks at the time due to her job as a wave woman...'' She told to the Scorpion man. '' During my time alone this one usually spent her time listening to the stories and poems recited by the artists that fill that city...'' She adds. '' There this one picked her passion for the arts.''

'' When i was a bit older, i started accompanying my blessed mother when she was called by some samurai lord or clan. Although i never participated in battle, since i'm not quite good at the art of sword, i used my skills to help my mother and her companions with the more 'courtier-ish' scopes of their work. For example, reading contracts and other documents, since some wavemen don't know how to read nor write...''

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"A city of artisans?" He asked. "And near the capital? It must be quite colorful", the Scorpion observed. "Have you ever heard of The Painted City in Shosuro lands?"

[Amika]

'' Hai, it is. Very colorful location'' She replied with a nod. '' This one has not heard about Painted City i'm afraid, Bayushi Shitoru-sama. That is indeed an interesting name for a city, in this one's opinion. '' She adds.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"It is an experiment of art", Shitoru began explaining. "Actors come there and are given a role in the city. They play any role, the governor, a sentry, a servant, an eta. A script is made, events take place, all for the entertainment of visitors. Being invited to visit is a great honor, being cast for a role is a true mark of an artist's skill in performance."