Day 0, Mid-afternoon: Hot Lunch (Open)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Kakita Yuuwaku makes her way to one of the tables in the Sleepy Willow. Ordering a light lunch and a fragrant tea--Purple Needle, in the event--she sits back to consider the hanging clouds and smiling faces.

(Come on in, friends!)

[Daidoji Yushoko]

Weary and tired from all the traveling, was this what all the fuss was about, traveling in a litter for hours on end only to wake up and do it again? She couldn't even fathom the idea of living out of a tent like a soldier, that would be the death of her. Still she endured and now that they had arrived at the last bastion of culture before the insufferable Crab provinces she would enjoy this moment.

The Crane bride took a moment to adjust her niece’s obi and then led them into the room with a thankful nod to her lesser preparing tea for them. This would be a welcome respite from all the traveling. The sound of the light drizzle on the roof was relaxing as well especially as she remained dry and comfortable indoors.

[Daidoji Kio]

Kio frowned at the obi adjustment and then entered after her aunt with a loud “Ohayo! Auntie what kind of tea did you make?”

She found a place to sit and frowned as she looked outside at the light rain. Wishing she could be outside playing in the rain but her Aunties would fuss that she was dirtying her kimono. Instead she sat and moped looking out at what could be.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku rises as the two Daidoji enter, looking like nothing so much as a young shoot breaking free from its earthly restraint and unfolding into the open air. She bows gracefully to each in turn, gesturing to the table where tea service is just now being laid out and light refreshments are being set out. There is even a small--small, Kio!--tray of sweets being placed on the table.

"Daidoji-sama, it is always good to see you and your niece. There is room, here, if you would wish it.

"Will any others be joining?"

[Togashi Keigo]

"Is there room for one more?" A tall young man seemed to nearly appear at the side of the table. Even without obvious mons - a result of the lack of chest and shoulder covering - the distinctive tattoos made his Clan and family clearly apparent. Even if one hadn't met a Togashi before, stories go around.

"I'm Togashi Keigo. It's an honor to meet all three of you."

[Daidoji Yushoko]

Yushoko took a seat next to her niece and said, “I am sure that Doji Kintaro will join us shortly. He is never one to miss such a finely prepared tea.”

“You have our thanks for going to such trouble.”

And then there was a Dragon.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

A bit of light glints off of the jewel that hangs over Yuuwaku's forehead, suspended by a fine silk line, as she nods to the bride-to-be and a servant hastily approaches to set another place. And when the Dragon arrives, the Kakita's eyes show a similar shine as they flicker up and down the tattooed flesh. She works her lips for a moment before bowing and saying, "Togashi-san, this one is Kakita Yuuwaku, and she has the inestimable honor of accompanying the young Daidoji Kio and the adept Daidoji Yushoko.

"And it is always a pleasure to meet new people in such circumstances as these."

It certainly improves the view, she thinks as she seats herself.

"Whither is Togashi-san bound?"

[Daidoji Kio]

"Is there room for one more?" A tall young man seemed to nearly appear at the side of the table. Even without obvious mons - a result of the lack of chest and shoulder covering - the distinctive tattoos made his Clan and family clearly apparent. Even if one hadn't met a Togashi before, stories go around.

"I'm Togashi Keigo. It's an honor to meet all three of you."

“Whoa… a tattoo man, it’s a tattoo man,” Kio said with excitement.

“That’s… the Dragon, you live in the mountains.” She was quite proud she had remembered the education of the court sage. “Tattoo man you have so many tattoos!”

A quick glance from her aunt and she added with a knowing smile, “I am Daidoji Kio, nice to meet you.”

[Doji Kintaro]

Coming in from a quick assessment of the Inn, Kintaro removed his wide brim hat and straw coat. Once suitably presentable, allowing the servants to deliver them to his room he approached the table with the others and said, “Kakita Yuuwaku, you have outdone yourself. Yushoko-san, Kio-san, you both look lovely today.”

The Dragon received a greeting, “Greetings, this one Is Doji Kintaro, retainer of minor import. It is honor to speak with a student of the Dragon.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

The servants swiftly return with two additional place settings, and Yuuwaku rises and bows deeply once again.

"Doji-sama flatters. May this one present Togashi Keigo, who was to tell us whither he is going? And, if our young Daidoji prevails, of his decorations."

[Togashi Keigo]

"Kakita Yuuwaku-sama, Daidoji Yushoko-sama, Daidoji Kio-san, it is my pleasure," he replied with a bow before he joined them. "I have been looking forward to meeting many new people on this trip. I am accompanying my clanmate Kitsuki Tanaka on her way to a wedding farther south."

He turned his attention to the young girl with a smile, shifting how he was sitting so Kio can see the tattoos better. "I do live in the mountains... It's a very beautiful place. I do, but I'm looking forward to getting even more tattoos someday. Something for earth and air, I think."

When Kintaro arrived, he rose and bowed to him after Yuuwaku did the introduction. "Doji-sama, it is an honor to meet you."

[Daidoji Kio]

The older man found a seat as the younger Daidoji spoke, “So can you see what is above the clouds living so high up in the mountains? Is it cold? My mom says that Dragon eat something called a mountain carp or fish? How did you get so many tattoos? Did it hurt? What makes it so beautiful up there?”

“Oh a wedding! My auntie is getting married soon to a big a Crab man, Dad says the Crab are big smelly jerks but they are tough and fight monsters all day. Do they have monsters in the mountains?”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Out comes the fan--an elegant thing, with cypress ribs and the image of a crane in flight at sunrise overlooking the sea--and flutters in front of Yuuwaku's face for a moment, forming a social barrier. Children are children, of course, and to be indulged and corrected (by their teachers), but it is still not seemly to hear such things. Even if they might be true.

[Hiruma Ōguri]

You wouldn't find a Crab this side of Crab-Crane border, now would you? Of course you would! All it took was being en route from the capital, with Miya-issued travel papers in hand! But what would it take to be such a Crab? Among some other options, a professional sumai wrestler! And there you go, there was one! Young, strong, virile... let's not get ahead of ourselves in this narrative... full of energy and ambition, as big as a mountain... let's not get ahead of ourselves on that account either... hungry! Oh, how hungry was he! But not for anything. Oh no, this Crab had the fortune or misfortune to have developed his palate well north of the Wall and so he craved for... the good stuff. A Crane inn held such promise, and hence he stopped by, looking around, sniffing, making his presence apparent to whoever was inside as an afterthought. Such was the manner of rikishi in this world, being visible, being loud without speaking, being seismic without hopping, being a threat to the pantry without opening their mouths, being the peril for furniture without even taking a seat!

"I am Hiruma Ōguri, a maehashira of the Raikuto stable! Is this a good place to have a meal in?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

The fan had been about to lower, but with the thundering from the door, it remains steadfastly in place. But it is angled such that Yuuwaku's senior in the school, the bride-to-be, can see a brief look of sympathy from the small woman.

Drawing a breath, holding it for a heartbeat, and releasing it, Yuuwaku lowers her fan and remarks "We are certainly some way away from the Academy here."

[Doji Kintaro]

Doji Kintaro rose to greet the man, out of caution and respect. It seemed the Crab were not content to stay across the border and instead besiege them. He said in a respectful voice, "There is no better place to have a filling meal than here, Hiruma-san."

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"Excellent! Then you must be familiar with this place, Doji-sama! As a patron or as a guest?" The Crab clapped his mighty hands in approval, and rubbed them in expectation.

[Doji Kintaro]

"By reputation," he responded.

"If it pleases Kakita-san, I would be honored if you joined us for lunch. Though I do not wish to inflict our company upon you needlessly."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku takes her cue from the Doji and rises again, again doing so with the grace of someone accustomed to controlling her limbs and digits to great effect. She bows, almost languidly, and says "It would be a pleasure to sit with our neighbor and promising competitor, did he care to join." Servants again scramble, a bit more frenetically this time, adding another seat--indeed, more table space.

I had heard that Crab men were larger. I guess that means in more than just the physical. Although I wonder how far it extends, she thinks, and it may be that a touch of color would show, were her fan not still held demurely.

[Daidoji Kio]

The sumai got Kio’s attention and she got to her feet and made her best representation of a sumai stance, “You can eat with us only if you defeat me in battle!”

She gave her best growling battle cry, which sounded more like a shrill purr but she felt fierce. A real tattoo man and now a real Crab sumai!

Yushoko’s eyes went large as she struggled to find a peaceful resolution to this debacle.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Hiruma-maehashira, please excuse her" Yuuwaku says. "A child, she has yet to enter training, where her enthusiasm will find more fitting outlets--perhaps even a dohyo, neh?

"You are welcome, of course, without the challenge."

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"I would be honoured accordingly!" The Crab expressed himself through a proper bow and a confident nod, his gaze resting on a fan briefly, knowing too well that there wouldn't be one raised so high if there was no need for it. That invited a small smirk to the corner of his lips that would expand into a full grin once a challenge was issued.

"So be it, brave young one! It's quite brave to stand between a Crab and his meal, I credit you for it. Let's settle on battling... on who blinks first!" Nothing in the man's attitude showed that he'd take any offence, quite the contrary, he seemed to accept fully that children were doing children things and adults had to abide to let their spirit grow. He nodded to the Kakita in acknowledgement, but continued to address the girl. "It's only fair! You cannot have my muscles yet, but in iron will and fighting spirit we might be equally matched! Isn't it so, mina-sama?"

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Another Crane entered into the room for the noon-time meal and gave a warm look towards the Crab and Child's interaction as she found a place to sit. Kio had proven to be quite the handful on their trip so far, but she tended to bring the kind of complications which brought a feeling of ease rather than consternation.

[Daidoji Kio]

The young girl narrowed her eyes but it seemed a sensible option and so she strived to not blink... it would be the hardest battle anyone has ever fought.

Or it would have been...

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku gives Kaneko a nod as she enters, setting her forehead jewel glittering again. A more formal welcome would follow, of course, but Crane of all stripes know a challenge in progress--and know well not to interfere.