Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

After the training and interesting meeting with a Crane at the Beach, the badger went for a quick bath and then back to the Inn. He was still undecided on whether he'd go to that celebration at the Hole... but if we would, he'd need some time to think and rest.

But before that... he thought he'd seen some other representatives of Minor Clans in the city. Maybe they were staying at the Inn as well? He wondered if he could find them here for a quick conversation. The Badger were not in the alliance, of course... but a chance to strengthen ties sounded good.

A money slowly crawled into the main room of the inn and sat down In the center of the floor. It looked around, eyes filled with curiosity, then suddenly covered its eyes.

"There you are." an exasperated Monkey samurai walked up to the creature. "I've told you Dango, you can't go off on your own. Not here."

Hanatsuko entered the inn perked a brow at the monkey. She looked at her dog beside her looking at the monkey like prey. "Leave it." Sari lowered her guard. "That is not the monkey we are looking for." She over to take a seat calling her dog over to seat beside her.

The large Badger turned his eyes from his table to the monkey, then the Monkey, then the dog and the Falcon with a puzzled look, then a smile, then a chuckle.

Those were the others he had seen, right? That was a fortuitous occasion! And... weird, but such is life.

Standing up slowly lest he might startle the newly arrived fauna of the Inn, a smile on his lips, he spoke in a deep, good-natured voice as he bowed to them.

"Monkey-san, Toritaka-san. It's a pleasure to meet fellow representatives from the Minor Clans here in Fire Shrimp Village. I see your companions are taking the chance to get acquainted too!"

Hanatsuko shook her head. "Ichiro sama not all our companions are here. I doubt they would allow Kuma in here." She shrugged. "This one is Toritaka Hanatsuko. My four legged friend here Sari. And my two legged friend who is not here Kuma, the falcon. He is probably perched on a tree outside."

"Dango is in one of his mischievous moods." the Monkdy shook her head before turning to bow to the others. "Good afternoon, mina-san. I am Fuzake Hifumi."

He bows respectfully to them as well before introducing himself as well.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Toritaka-san, Fuzake-san. This is Ichiro Taiki"

As the Ichiro relaxes after his initial words in a more formal language, the northern accent returns to his words as he nods towards the monkey and Dog.

"An' it's a pleasure tae meet dango an' sari. A'll be happy tae meet kuma later as weel. Sae... 's it minna-san's first time in Crab lands?"

"Actually no... close neighbors to the Toritaka and escorted my sister to Shiro Kuni for her training." She chuckled. "She is about to finish her gempukku I hope she excels the rigorous training in the Crab lands."

"Hai." she nodded after thinking about it. "This is the first time my travels have brought me so far south."

He nods to the Toritaka with a smile.

"Och, o''course, the Falcon's lands are just neighbouring, yeah, Ah should 've remembered. An' sae, yer sister's a shugenja! 's quite the blessing! An' the Kuni! Frae wha' A've 'eard they're fierce teachers, nuh?"

Then, turning to the Fuzake, he nods and says

"Sae... how d'ye find it sae far, Fuzake-san?"

"The border was not as welcoming as some clans, but I can understand the wariness." she answered. "I haven't had much of an opportunity to explore much of the village yet.

The badger nods at Hifumi.

"Yeah... th' Crab arenae th' most open when it comes tae security, bu' generally fur guid reason. Bu'... everythin' went weel in th' end, A hope?"

He then smiled a bit, then speaks to both of them.

"As fer explorin' - weel, i've bin aroond afair, sae A coods join if ye're plannin' oan daein' 'at in th' comin' days"

"I may sound like a shugenja but I just follow the voices of the spirits that get me into...interesting situations." As the inflexion in the word implied that there was more to it that what is told.

The Monkey nodded. "There are many forces that may guide our fates, that may have brought us here."

The Badger nods as well. "Yeah... s'pose there are. Bu'... A 'sume ye baith haur fer th' weddin', reit? Or is thaur somethin' else ye're heer fue? Ur... woriad abit?"

Hanatsuko sighed. "Hunting for spirits. It is what lead me to this place. I think there many restless spirits around. Specially around the beach."

Taiki's face keeps mostly unchanged, but his eyes squint a bit.

"Sae... spirits, eh? 'at's..."

That's... worrying. Maybe. But also.... perhaps normal?

"Anie idea whit kin' ay spirit 'at wid be, Toritaka-san? A' hope... no' ... evil spirits, then?"

"I doubt they are good. By the story I've heard they are not friendly. Toshigoku or Gaki-do come to mind." She sighed. "I will investigate as it is my duty."

Toshigoku. Gaki-do.

He remembered the words. Probably heard them at some point in training? Or somewhere he had served. Maybe a Kitsu had mentioned them while he was in Lion lands?

Spirit Realms, probably. But which ones?

He shrugged. Not good. That was the important bit.

"Aw... sae it's really a trip o' duty yers, yeah, Toritaka-san?"

He thinks for a moment.

"'ve the Crab asked yer help tae deal wi' them spirits, then? Fer the weddin'?"

"My visions brought me here." Hifumi said.

"A see. Didnae expect ye'd hae more bis'ness 'en jus' th' weddin'! Bu' 'en way or the other, 's good tae see others frae the Minor Clans around", he says, with a slightly serious, but friendly tone.

"A' think A should be mostly free i' me time heer - unless..." he shakes his head, smiling again. "Nah... Shouldnae happen', no' during the celebration, eh? Sae... if ye feel ye could use en' extra pair o' eyes or hands fer something, the Badger are aways 'appy tae stand by our comrades i' th'other Minor Clans, eh?"

"There is always more things to do than just the one." Hanatsuko patted Sari's head. "So what will be happening in this wedding thing?"

You know what happens in weddings. Celebrations and the like you remember Kaze's wedding it was nice and pretty.

"We are talking a great clan wedding. Not a simple Minor Clan wedding so... I just want to know the difference."

"It isn't very clear, but there may be some danger." the Monkey said.

"Spirits tend to linger where war once was." Hanatsuko nodded to the Fukaze. "Danger will follow."

Their words made Taiki quite a bit worried, and it showed... But he tried to shrug it off, at least for now.

"Well.. A s'pose we should keep 'en eye out, yeah? Bu' 's s'posed tae be a fine, merry time! Let's hope fer tha', nuh? Though... as A said, ye fowks dae count on me if ye need a hand wi' something. We should support one another, yeah?"