D9MA, On the Road Again (Expecting)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Her affairs concluded in Fire Shrimp Village, Yuuwaku is on her way back home again. Knowing she is traveling, she dresses simply enough; the road is not a place for finery and frippery, although her forehead jewel continues to glisten in the sunlight.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Beside her walks a Dragon samurai, a taller woman with a horned hat who walks with a sort of grace to her languid steps. Her hands are behind her back and she sticks close to the Crane woman, but not crowding her or such. She seems in high spirits, the grace mixed with a playful sort or dance to her steps... as much as one could with her slow pace.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I'm glad to have you with me, you know," Yuuwaku says. "It's always better to travel with someone than alone."

A thought occurs to her, and she laughs. "And it seems the kind of thing that starts a story, a Crane and a Dragon on the road together! Maybe that could be part of your book?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Hm?"

Naida looked over curiously before smiling; She'd been kind of lost in the sounds of nature for a bit, but the sound of the Crane woman's voice was as sweet as any bird's to her.

"Well, as long as I am already exploring that whole thing about an atypical story of a Kakita and Mirumoto, it would fit right in I think. Perhaps they can meet on a pilgrimage to a temple and find common ground in something."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Let me guess," Yuuwaku replies, "a fertility temple? One devoted to the sacred feminine, perhaps?

"Although one wonders how the statuary for that would work!" She laughs again, delighted to be under the open sky and in good company.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida blushes under her hat.

"Is there such a place? I'd heard of the Kanamara shrines in Crab and Phoenix lands, but... I'd like to visit one to the sacred feminine too one day, if there is one. I suppose I could make one up for my book. A shrine with a statue to a goddess with a jewel on her forehead..."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku blushes in turn.

"Or shining earrings," she replies.

"I don't know why there wouldn't be one," Yuuwaku goes on. "Though where it would be, I'm not sure. There are enough Families that would sponsor it, I think, and maybe Orders--but I'm not up enough on those to say anything to it."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Well, they say if there at least one shrine to a Fortune, you will find one of them somewhere in Phoenix lands, excepting the Fortune of Morning Dew, which is lost. Or so I heard. Even though I've been all over the northern Empire from Unicorn lands to Otosan Uchi, I've never been to Phoenix lands. They've seemed rather... isolated lately. I don't think there was a single one at the wedding here, even."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Or a Unicorn," Yuuwaku replies, somewhat darkly. "But one would think that the Phoenix would be interested in seeing a peace concluded. I hope all is well in the northeast.

"But Fortune of Morning Dew?" she continues. "I don't recall hearing of such a thing, though I do not doubt you in the least. What can you tell me of it?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Little. Just another one of those tales I picked up on the road, a tale of a Fortune that no one can find because they evaporate like the morning dew when you look for them, despite once being as great as the Seven. So the only way to get their blessings is to seek without looking, know without knowing, pray without praying, be without being."

She mulls it over a moment.

"...honestly, I can never tell with the Togashi whether something is apocryphal or not, but their stories are at least interesting, neh?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"How..." Yuuwaku starts to ask, a look of confusion furrowing her brow. "How would a person even do that, though? I mean, uh..."

She trails off, as seems to happen with many people when they try to understand the Togashi.

"Is there a jester tradition among the Dragon? Because it seems like the kind of thing a jester might do."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Almost a snort of laughter, but a smile nevertheless, "Some Togashi would be offended to hear you say that about their philosophies. Just as many would laugh or agree though. That's the problem in the end though, isn't it? As far as how?"

A shrug, "How does one find Enlightenment? If such paths could be easily explained, we wouldn't have the Dragon constantly seeking I think."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Is that what you seek, Naida-chan?" Yuuwaku asks. "Enlightenment?"

She is not smiling, simply curious. "I mean, is it a thing that can be sought, or does it just happen, or what?"

She catches herself amid the rush of questions and adds, perhaps a bit sheepishly, "I...am woefully undereducated about such things, I think."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I wouldn't consider myself knowledgeable about that sort of stuff either, and no need to apologize. Honestly though, with our Founder's legacy, I am not surprised all Dragon schools besides the more worldly Kitsuki teach that there are truths to the universe that one can find by following certain Paths. Enlightenment is one word for it. Karma another. I suppose I find the concept interesting, but how can I seek something I don't understand in the slightest? No no... me, I just seek to broaden my horizons, live my life to its fullest, make some mark. A bit cliche, perhaps, but I didn't want to stay sequestered away on the mountaintops, sitting under waterfalls and just thinking about things. Not when I could try to understand and know things first hand, neh? Perhaps it's too worldly a Path and is leading me away from some spiritual awakening, but I'm willing to postpone such things or going to Yomi to more fully explore the life I already have."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku comes closer to Naida, looks up at her.

"I'm glad you did," she says. "I've enjoyed getting to know your hands. And the rest of you."

She smiles. "I wouldn't be here without you, after all, and I'd not have...learned as much, either. I'm clearly better off for knowing you."

It may be verging towards fangirlishness, but it is not the less sincere for it.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Is that so? Do you think the Crane would accept a Dragon girl as your yojimbo perhaps then? I clearly have a good track record with keeping you safe."

Not that she personally counted the one incident as proof of that. But it wasn't as if she hadn't represented a Crane as a yojimbo or champion in the past few years on her adventures.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"That would be an interesting argument to make," Yuuwaku admits. "Although it would make for good relations," she adds with a wink, "and I'm decidedly interested in maintaining good relations with at least one Dragon.

"But I remain curious about your other journeys. You seem to have had such an exciting life, and there are certainly parts of it I envy you."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Exciting, hm? I suppose so, in some ways. Not in others; Most of being a wandering yojimbo involves lonely days walking the roads between events, followed by sitting and watching courts and art exhibitions and negotiations play out. There are sights to see and people to meet and conflicts to step in on though."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Seeing so much of the country, meeting new people," Yuuwaku adds, looking at Naida with a smile on her face. "Learning more about them."

She sighs.

"I don't know how long I'll get to do such things, myself. But I am glad to have the opportunity to travel slowly for a bit, and in such company. I think it stands to be a fun trip."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Well... I suppose that's all the more reason for me to write you letters; I can keep you up to date on my travels. Maybe I should learn to draw so I can send that too."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oooh! Would you!" Yuuwaku exclaims, then clears her throat a bit. "And I might be able to write back, keep you informed of how things are going where I am. Wherever that ends up being."

She huffs a breath. "I don't know how it will compare to this last visit, though."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Well that depends I suppose; Would you rather have a safe but uneventful situation, or an exciting but dangerous one?"

Even asking that made her protective instincts towards the Crane woman fire up a bit, and she found her palm resting on the hilt of her peace-knotted katana at her hip as she walked.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"You know," Yuuwaku says, "I don't know. I expect it's too much to ask for only one kind of excitement, really."

She sees the hand move to the hilt and stops. She's a Kakita; she knows the significance of the gesture. In a quiet voice, she asks "Is something wrong, Naida-chan?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida realized what she was doing and relaxed lightly, with a small sigh. "I... No, everything is fine. I suppose I just worry that I won't be there next time you need me. I don't want anything or anyone to ever hurt you. You... are far too precious to me."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku flushes bright, bright red.

"I..." she trails off. "I didn't realize you felt so."