D1LA- Blue Birds Bathe Beautifully (Crane and Invitees)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Having taken a bit of time to arrive so as to allow for all to be made ready before she does so, Kakita Yuuwaku puts in at the Blue Bird House. Knowing that there will be a meeting to come, she takes the opportunity to refresh herself from the road, changing out of the one traveling kimono and putting servants to work cleaning it as she slips on a bathrobe and makes her way to the baths. There, she scrubs herself thoroughly, noting the coarseness of the soaps but accepting it as part of the adventure.

The baths themselves are nice enough, though, and she lets out a contented almost-moan as she eases herself into the water. Putting a hot towel over her face--with another for modesty nearby--she relaxes at last.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao is eager to take shelter from his earlier conversations and cleanse himself in preparation for meeting the rest of the delegation. Indeed he is perhaps too eager, as his footsteps take him nearly on top of a Crane already in the bath.

He freezes for a moment, trying to preempt a conversation in his head with two calming breaths. Ideal it isn't, but access to a bath after being stuck at sea for days is a powerful motivator. Everything is fine. The athletic young man swiftly steps to the far side of the bath, drops his towel within reach, and slips into the bath with the least possible disturbance. Once in, he sighs with the relaxation of the heat, the security of the water, and the blissful silence in his head.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku hears the entry, feels the motion in the water--however subtly done, displacement has effects--and she lifts the towel from her face after a few moments. Propriety, you know.

She looks across the water to Masao and smiles sweetly. "It's not quite like home, but still quite welcome, neh?"

[Kakita Masao]

Already smiling, Masao hears the pleasant voice and opens his eyes to see Yuuwaku for the first time. "After a time at sea, this is pleasant enough one might consider making it home," he jokes. "My family would probably call it inadequate, but for a student of the Daidoji school, it is luxurious enough."

He starts to close his eyes again, then remembers himself. "Ah, Kakita Masao, Nikita of the 12th Iron Warrior legion and son of Kakita Haruka, governor Cold Wind City," he introduces himself properly but hurriedly.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Kakita Yuuwaku, of the Academy at Tsuma, and as the first of us said, it's the company that matters.

"Thank you, of course, for your service, Kakita-nikutai. It sounds like the journey here did not agree with you."

The small, small woman shifts a bit in the water, eyes alert. "Is there some way I might aid you?"

[Kakita Masao]

The soldier smiles at the artisan. "The comfort of good Crane company is indeed a blessing, Kakita-san. The journey was fine." A bit of quirk to his lips suggests there is much more to that topic, but he moves to one more interesting: "Of what art are you a student? My honored grandmother said that the truly noble samurai are strong in war and strong in art: a valued servant in all seasons."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"The wisdom of our elders is to be treasured, of course. I have some small training with a sword, though I am far from the exquisite performances of bushi in that regard."

She sighs a bit, leans back again, and the motion of the water suggests that her shoulders shimmy beneath it, though the flesh itself is covered by the water. "No, my primary study has been dance. I am flattered to note that my sensei see great potential in me with that art; I could scarcely do otherwise than to develop it to the greatest extent given me."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's wary, warrior's eyes take some notice of the hint of movement, though he's careful not to look too long.

"I think grandmother also believed in those with the greatest talent refining it to the greatest degree possible. We are not all born to the sword, thank the Fortunes, and even those that are should have other skills. It is always a season for art, but thankfully not always a season for war." He smiles, but perhaps gloomily, and under the water, Masao's hand might be seen to drift toward where his daisho would rest in other settings.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I might ask, cousin, what arts you practice. Sword and spear, of course, and nobly without doubt, but it is as you say; the hand longs to hold other things, and the arm cannot always swing away."

So sad, she thinks. What could sorrow him so?

[Dapper Dog]

A servant comes in and said, "Samurai-sama, we have a guest that wishes to bathe with you... I mean she."

[Hida Kitusuchi]

She tries to finish and they hear the sound of feet following her and a gruff woman’s voice, “I don’t think I need permission to use my own damn baths. But I appreciate your concern.”

“Welcome children of Doji, I hope this palace is to your liking.” Kitusuchi removed her robe and eased herself into the baths, “This is a good bath, I apologize if this is a bit sudden but I wanted to see how the Crane enjoyed the fruits of our labor.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku sketches a bow to the extent that the water, her small frame, and propriety allow.

"Certainly, -sama, this one has had nothing of which to complain here, and much to enjoy. To whom has she the honor of speaking?"

Always better to be polite, especially with so formidable a figure, she thinks.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao gives a quick look of alarm to his fellow Kakita, but his on is in place before he turns to face the Crab woman. Not yet realizing who she is, he stands in the water and gives a respectable bow -- another moment to organize his thoughts -- and then introduces, "Ah, Hida-dono," Play the odds. "This one is Kakita Masao, nikutai of the 12th Iron Warrior legion and son of the honored governor of Samui Kaze Toshi, Kakita Haruka. And if I may present the talented Kakita Yuuwaku, of the famed Kakita Academy. We were just commenting on the pleasing nature of the baths that our hosts have provided." He smiles, half Crane civility and half soldierly patience.

[Hida Kitusuchi]

“Sorry for the intrusion, I do apologize if this was a private affair but I felt it was a candid time to relax with new future friends. Yes, I am Hida Kitusuchi, and I am pleased to have the Crane here. Please both of you be at ease,” she said warmly.

“I am excited to see my brother wed into the Crane, the end of one life and the beginning of another. Pleasure and good tidings to both of you.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"It is no intrusion, certainly. This place is Hida-sama's, and we are humbled to be in her care.

"And we share her enthusiasm at the upcoming nuptials, as well, and appreciate the reception we have been given."

[Hida Kitusuchi]

“Oh you are to kind but I am just using my privilege as Lord of the Castle to bull over any propriety, my apologies that it was you that I inflicted my boorishness on. But then again, I do love surprises, but I am glad that you are here,” she said kindly.

“My family was honored that were selected to be apart of this match and my younger brother is eager to do his duty.”

[Kakita Masao]

"If I may, Hida-dono, no apologies are necessary. It is possible that you have been over-prepared for the Crane to take offense to things, but a great many of us are more practical samurai than we are given credit for. Certainly the honorable tradition of Iron Warriors training with Crab bushi is a testament to our priorities not being so different as some might claim, hm?"

The young man smiles again, finding the Crab lord much more interesting than he had expected. Uh, grandson, what are you thinking?

[Hida Kitusuchi]

She relaxed in the water, “I have fought alongside the Iron Warriors on occasion, and I have great respect for their skill. Oh and before I get too ahead of myself I wanted to be the first in saying that the village will be holding our annual Earthy Pepper Festival and I would be honored to have a team of Crane to help me carry one of the offerings to the shrine.”

“We carry it from the village all the way up to the shrine summit.”

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's curiosity is high, but his soldierly wariness makes his eyes narrow for a moment before he corrects.

"Hida-dono will forgive this humble soldier's ignorance of your festival. You say it takes a team to carry one of the offerings? How large of a team and how great a distance?" Like any good nikutai, the option of refusing a mission never entered Masao's mind: it was only a question of how the task would be accomplished.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku listens attentively, allowing Kakita-nikutai to take the lead.

Being small makes being unobtrusive easy.

[Hida Kitusuchi]

"No more than probably four of us and the distance is perhaps a mile or so but we will be walking and the peasants and samurai will be cheering us on and there will be other offerings being carried up," she said with with excitement.

"But ours will be the biggest!"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao can visualize a stone offering so large it takes four Crab to carry, for a mile, and his heart sinks into his stomach.

"Interesting. Of course we would help, in honor of my cousin, your brother, Hida-dono, and the great future before our clans. Are the offerings something we might see before the festival? Or could you tell us more of what the offerings have been in other years?"

He glances to Yuuwaku for just a moment, for her to see his eyes grow large in concern, but they are back to normal when he continues his smile at the Crab lord.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods in line with the question.

"For this one, the Crab lands are new, and familiarity with our to-be-cousin's ways would help to make a welcoming place for him. Please teach us, Hida-sama."

[Hida Kitusuchi]

“The offering is not so heavy that it will crush you, but it is large and requires many hands. We bring an offering to the shrine and if you have not been you should and that will tell you all you need to know about the offering,” she said with a laugh.

“We travel light in fundoshi, and chant songs to the fortunes for fertility and good life. It is a good time as crowds bless the offering carriers with dried rice. Then we get to the shrines and burn the offering in a massive pyre. It’s a rather raucous party.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

I don't know if I should trust that laugh, Yuuwaku thinks, but she holds her peace and keeps her face steady. I'll have to ask around a bit.