Where Else? [Day 2, LA]

[Yoko]

After the gathering at the end of the parade Yoko found herself back into her clothes. Wasn't often she had a place to leave her things somewhere she could trust they would be when she returned and so she made the most of it. Even leaving behind the sake this time, although the water still dangled against her leg. Walking far enough out that she could find herself an empty part of the beach she kicked off her footwear. Walking out toward the water so it could reach up just below her knee at the highest point of the tide.

Here she pulled her blade free and focused inwardly. Following the motions in her memory, hearing the voice of the woman she called mom. Each strike, each follow through, she wanted every one to be perfect and kept working at any mistakes until she made it so.

[Doji Yuma]

Having escaped the festival crowd, Yuma returned to the seashore to offer proper thanks to the spirits of the ocean for their support in their endeavor. He removed his shoes, rolled up his kimono, knelt in the dying waves, and whispered a long string of prayers.

The muffled chant over, he stood and looked around. A warrior was training nearby. A face he had seen around a lot but without being able to put a name, or any piece of information actually, on it.

Not wishing to interrupt her in he middle of her training, he sat at a safe distance from her blade, waiting for her to be done, using the opportunity and the quiet to attune himself with the spirits around him. Unsurprisingly, every element but fire was strong here, the wind in his hair, the sand under his buttocks, the crashing waves near, all bursting with spiritual energy.

[Yoko]

Yoko took her time, focused and sure. Each strike was elegant and beautifully done, even the failures up to a certain level of quality. At some point it seemed like she noticed Yuma watching but she remained focused. Continuing until she felt the efforts draining her. With one last decisive strike into the air she held the blade out breathing heavily.

Nodding out toward the water she brought the blade in, holding it low and centered. "Next time I will do better," she intoned quietly. Sheathing her blade in a quick motion she leaned down, splashed her face with some of the cool saltwater, and turned to find the one watching.

Giving a little wave, first, to see if being noticed was their intent.

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma raised one hand in answer and stoop up only to bow:

"Hello miss. This one is Doji Yuma of the Crane. May I ask who I am speaking to?"

[Yoko]

"Yoko, ronin," she regarded him for a moment with a quirked brow. Returning the bow given the second.

[Doji Yuma]

Though she did bear no mon Yuma was slightly surprised by that answer:

"Weren't you part of the Mantis team not long ago? And I vaguely remember seeing you at the Crab party yesterday."

[Yoko]

"Mantis prove themselves to be generous toward ronin just as the rumors say, eh?" she said, hooking a hand on her hip as they spoke. Glancing over a shoulder out over the water. "Came in with them, hired on as an extra set of hands. They've seen fit to give me more coin and keep me on a bit longer, so," she shrugged. "Making the most of it while I can, eh?"

[Doji Yuma]

That only triggered Yuma's curiosity further:

"Not sure I get the whole story. You were in the Mantis islands and they specifically recruited you to accompany them here? Do you have experience with that region or something?"

[Yoko]

"Not with the islands, no. They made port up the ways, about the time they picked up the Imperials," she gave a quick jab of a point in the direction they came from, far as she could remember. "When I was there I found myself in their company, got myself hired on. Didn't quite care where I was going so.. here I am, eh? They needed another pair of hands, or wanted another pair of hands. Maybe to make the guests more comfortable? I didn't really care to ask, coin is coin, and as little as it was it also offered food and a bed so I didn't deliberate long without any prospects up there."

[Doji Yuma]

"Oh your own decision is perfectly sound. I was mostly wondering aloud why the Mantis felt they needed yet another warrior when their delegation is already so big and when they're attending a wedding.

So this is your first time in Crab lands? If you were on the continental coast before I guess you've however traveled the lands of the Crane for a time?"

[Yoko]

"You're right on that. Parted- parted ways from my traveling companion some ways west, managed my way toward the coast cause I've never seen the ocean. Didn't expect to find myself a boat, eh? But, here I am now and suddenly in Crab lands," she says with a chuckle but then looks to Yuma a touch more seriously. "Though.. I should inform you, most of the Mantis on that boat wouldn't quite qualify as warriors. They're a merchant vessel. So, couple Moshi.. few warriors among them. They've no need, I hope and they hope, but good to keep someone on hand, as they say, eh?"

[Doji Yuma]

"The Crane delegation is also very light on warriors but we're fully confident our Crab hosts will keep us safe from any danger.

Both the Crab and the Mantis have a reputation for taking under their wing ronin who caught their eyes and you're tied to both at the moment. Chance, luck or destiny?"

[Yoko]

"Don't need to go convincing me, eh?" she replies with a quick and easy grun. "Guess that'll depend on what I do, and what people will think of what I did down the line, eh?" she shrugged. "Though, beyond it all I like to think I wind up where I do for some kind of purpose. Something I gotta do, eh?"

[Doji Yuma]

"We all have a role to play in the great scheme of things indeed. Sadly I am no prophet and cannot help you determine the purpose the Celestial Order has for you. Dunno if anyone can really. Prophecies are often only decipherable after the fact.

I must ask, is that a feeling you had for a long time or was it triggered by something specific related to your arrival there?"

[Yoko]

"Just a truth of the world I hold," she smirked, shaking her head. "Not sure- I doubt-" she shakes her head again. "Everyone's gotta have a purpose in life. I still think that's true, end of the day. All that really matters, eh?"

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma nodded in agreement then switched the subject:

"As a well-traveled woman what's your impression of this village? I made the mistake of only looking at it as a Crane noble at first and missed how deeply it had been damaged by the long conflict we're here to help put an end to."

[Yoko]

"Not sure you're gonna get an answer you like from me, Doji-sama," she laughed, shaking her head. "Different, sure. But it's a village like any other, only the Crab are in charge so it's different in all the ways you expect, which means it's not really all that different, eh?"

Glancing from him out toward the water a bit, "It's got it's own unique things to appreciate though, eh? The little things."

[Doji Yuma]

The Doji allowed himself a half-smile:

"Are you referring to the ocean? Or to the fact they make us carry giant penis through the streets?"

[Yoko]

Yoko was about ready to answer when she burst out into a laugh, "I- I don't think anyone is making anyone carry that thing through the streets, Doji-sama," she said, chuckling as she settled a bit more. "But no- yes, the oceans one. There's the farmland too. The village itself. Moments to share, eh?" she said, a few last few little chuckles as she shook her head.

[Doji Yuma]

"I wouldn't be that surprised if they asked us to throw a thanks parade of that kind at some point... But as of now we're probably done with it yes.

What do the farmlands here have of so special? The rest I can understand but aren't there similar farms all over the empire?"

[Yoko]

"Can see the ocean from a good portion of the Empire too," she shook her head, crossed her arms a bit. "It's not that the farms or any of it's all that special, Doji-sama. They're just nice. Unique if you wanna find what's unique about 'em, and not in all the other ways you notice too, eh?"

[Doji Yuma]

"Seeking the nice things in even the most mundane things? That's an interesting way to tackle life. Did you develop that philosophy by yourself or is it inspired by the words of others?"

[Yoko]

"Mom taught me. Taught me a lot I didn't know before, how to fight and how to live, eh? Wouldn't be anywhere without her," she said with a light smile she didn't seem to know she was wearing.

[Doji Yuma]

"Your mother eh? If I may ask, who was she? Or maybe what was she like would be a better question?"

[Yoko]

"Compassionate," she said after a bit of thought. Turning to look over the water a little while. "Gave up everything she ever was for me, to keep me safe when I couldn't do it for myself. Taught me how to fight and make my way in this world as a ronin, enough to survive on my own. She was a harsh teacher when she needed to be but.. there was always a love there. Never felt a love like that anywhere else," she laughed and shook her head. "She's the best samurai I've ever known and I hope to scratch the surface of the woman she was, even if I'll never touch being anything like the woman she is."