Matter of Heart [Day 7, EN]

[Yoko]

Come the night there was the little itch she hated, but resting her arm over her side helped make it feel a little more comfortable. With the little well-made netsuke of a small samurai holding a flower in her hand. Which was how she waited for the opportunity to speak with Ishi. Having arrived with the pre-thought that the woman would be retiring from one busy day into the next she didn't have much time but the amount of time didn't matter to Yoko, certainly not when it came to moments like this. All that really mattered was that there was another chance, maybe more.

Thumbing over the netsuke as the moment of seeing Ishi again drew a little closer.

[Ikeda Ishi]

Ishi was in her chambers going through her nightly process of inspecting her blade.

[Yoko]

Pausing, thumbing the netsuke once more and taking the moment for a breath, Yoko came around the corner into the entrance. "Ikeda-sama, can I- can I come in?" she leaned in a little from the entrance. Smiled a little, lopsided as it was, "Wanted to get the chance to talk to you. Quickly, eh? You've been.. uh, pretty busy," she chuckles, awkwardly.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"It will only get more so with each coming day," she said in response.

"As it should be, an Empress at the start of her reign should never be idle."

[Yoko]

"Yea-" she shook her head, taking the step in as she thumbed the netsuke again. "See, I expected that, and though.. well," she laughed, the nerves getting to her a little. Pausing a moment she took one more breath, propped up her shoulders.

"I wanted to give you this," she said, raising up her hand with the netsuke of a samurai holding a flower. "I was-" she shook her head, "I was preparing myself to leave it all behind me, move on, but.." she waved her hand that wasn't the important part. Not right now at least, what was known was known. Returning with her confidence, "You've important duties to attend to, a worthy Empress to serve. I'm not going to be playing a part in your story for some time, eh? But, maybe in the future we will have another chance to speak more again. I'd like that, eh? Hoping you'd like that too. With that hope.." she raised up the netsuke a little, bringing reference back to it.

[Ikeda Ishi]

She nodded and then looked at the netsuke and said, "I cannot accept such a thing Yoko-san, it is far too fine a thing for me."

[Yoko]

"Few samurai in your position, with what you've experienced, will have responded and grown as well as you have, way I figure. Strong, dutiful, and kind. You're one of the finest samurai I know," she said, stepping once more and offering it up again.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"I can point you in the direction of finer samurai, I am but a humble guardswoman, surely they deserve it more," she replied with a graceful rejection.

[Yoko]

"Only with a mirror," she said, giving a small smirk. "You're humble despite birth, which is more than can be said for many. I have spent eighteen summers in this Empire, half of which have been spent traveling. From Ryoko Owari west, across many Crane lands and more," she pauses, a breath. "Your like is rare, and it has been an honor for having known you. With this gift you might have a small physical reminder of the part you played in my own life. How you inspired it by presence toward something better. It would continue to be my honor for you to accept this small burden," she says, referencing the gift, "and carry it with you, wherever life brings you."

Yoko offers her brief smile, and then lowers her head and extends the gift.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"I shall do so, though this one feels unworthy," she said in reply.

"Thank you."

[Yoko]

"Trust me, you are," she said, a soft-warn smile as she handed it over. Stepping back a bit, awkward, she put her thumb in her obi.

"Anyway- I.. oh, the netsuke," she said, giving a little point to indicate it. "Samurai has a little flower, And- well, I wasn't gonna find anything that went with Yoko but my name, well, my name before all this when I was little" -she put her hand down to about the height she was at, at the age- "was Hana, so.. you know, neat, eh?"

"I- if that's not strange, I don't think it is. Hope it's not," she chuckled, finding that half-awkward note.

[Ikeda Ishi]

She nodded and said, “That was a good name.”

“You seem nervous, I assure you I have no ill will towards your person Yoko-san. You have been a kind and good friend more so than this one deserves. To carry our lady’s standard means she too sees there is worth in you.”

[Yoko]

Yoko looked down at the thought on the old name, frowned a little but broke that with a little smirk. Looking back up to Ishi she smiled a little, warmly.

"I know," she laughs lightly, shaking her head a little. "Honest? I- I am nervous. You didn't read that wrong," she paused for thought, crossing her arms over her chest as she did so. Speaking as she let some of the stress float off, "What is important to say is that our lady seeing the worth in me means.." she chuckles, letting it out like an exhale. "So much.. considering what mom sacrificed in life when she raised me," she held up a hand, and shook her head a little because that wasn't the ultimate point here, she was stalling.

"But- you, I-" she inhales, collecting herself from broken thoughts. Looking to Ishi with a quick nod, she gives a little smile before exhaling. Finding comfort in putting one hand on her hip, and hooking her other thumb into her obi. Speaking now with a touch more confidence, nearing her normal, "Your friendship means more to me than I could ever put into words, eh? I wouldn't want to say anything that would- that would risk that, but as I stand here now I-" she paused, one last time. Mustering that little extra courage she needed.

"What I think I should explain- what I have to say is: I care for you, Ikeda-sama. As someone who has grown close through shared experience, a friend, sure, but maybe also more. More in the way they would say Benten brings people together," Yoko glanced away a moment furrowing her brow, but looked back determined to see it through. "I don't know if you want to, or if you can, feel in that way about me but I've felt it, eh? So.. so I said it," she stopped talking, looking to Ishi with the resignation of a woman who jumped from a short cliff and was waiting to see if she hit rocks or water.

[Ikeda Ishi]

Ishi is silent listening to the confession unsure of what to say and finally uttered an “Eto… I had no idea of such a thing. I do not think our friendship could be risked without great effort.”

She stopped and sheathed her sword before saying, “I admit that is not the words I expected, nor how to respond.”

[Yoko]

Yoko let out a huff of a laugh, at least the weight was gone. Shaking her head, "That makes two of us now, eh?" she laughed a little bit and exhaled deep blowing air out hard between her lips.

"Okay," she said, giving a nod. "For what it's worth? Hearing that first bit makes this easier on me. We could talk about it more, or you could take your time to think. I didn't say it to force a response just.. not saying it felt like I would be wasting what could possibly be my only chance. What matters to me is now you know, eh?" she gives a little shrug, and a smile as cocky as her usual nature.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"I am thankful for your company," she said in reply.

[Yoko]

Yoko smiled warmly at that, giving a nod as she leaned a little more on her left leg than her right, "That's good."

Yoko waited a while, glancing around the room real quick, thinking. Sighing she looks back up to Ishi, "Small part of me hopes I'm reading this wrong but," she shakes her head. "Don't think I am," she smirked, without the usual mirth. "Guess I always kinda knew that was coming, eh? Never thought.." she shook her head. "For what it's worth, I'll always be there when you want a friend or if you ever need me Ikeda-sama. Maybe even some times when you don't," she teased the thought, chuckling softly as shook her head.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"If you carry the standard, then I doubt this is goodbye," she responded.

[Yoko]

"Not goodbye, just.." she shook her head, "I'll be looking forward to the chance to speak again," she gave a little smile and walked a few steps and leaned against the wall right by the exit a moment.

"Not sure what comes next but.. I never really did, eh?" she gave a little shrug, smirked.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"What comes next is our service to the Throne," she said proudly.

[Yoko]

"Fine thing to rally yourself to, eh? Just- well, doesn't quite hold the specifics of what the morrow will be like, eh?" she shrugged, chuckling lightly.

[Ikeda Ishi]

"Do you not see the grand Honor you have been given?" she said with confusion.

[Yoko]

"I do-" she said, raising a hand in assurance of that. "Makes me, and it'll make mom proud.. I'm sure. Happy to play my part. I just don't know what I do when I wake up in the morning, eh? Figure someone'll tell me eventually."

[Ikeda Ishi]

"You do what a samurai does, their Duty and if unclear just ask me," she responded warmly.

[Yoko]

Yoko couldn't help but smile a little, a quick nod, "Yea, that's the part that's unclear, what I'm being expected to do," she gave another quick smile. "So, I leave myself in your hands?"