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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 24, 2014 20:15:13 GMT
As soon as Kaigen was gone, Kasumi turned to her husband, while another servant took the children back inside. "I'm going to take a bath as well," she said, "we've been on the road for days without a proper bath. Care to join me?" The last was said with an impish grin. "I could do with a bath," Takeshi said, leading the way to their private bathhouse.
About an hour later, hair still wet, Kasumi sat down at the table in the main room, fighting to keep a grin from her face. She had sent a servant to get Kaigen for dinner. He should be ready by now, especially since she and her husband had taken more time in the bath.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 24, 2014 22:30:20 GMT
Kaigen had bathed quickly and methodically, then cursed himself for a fool and gone back for a second time with a more leisurely approach... meaning he still bathed with what most polite Rokugani would consider unseemly haste.
He had spent the remaining time in his room, carefully seeing to his equipment.
After all, it would not take care of him if he did not take care of it.
Thus, when the servant found him, the Phoenix was surrounded by weaponry, all of it gleaming from the tender care he taken with it.
"Hm?"
"Shiba-sama, the esteemed Tsuruchi-sama sent this one to inform you that dinner is ready..."
So soon?!
Kaigen took stock of the sun's position and nearly winced.
Time flies when you're having fun.
Hastily stowing his arsenal, Kaigen followed the servant out... then stopped, remembered he was still wearing his jingasa, turned, and made a hasty reversal.
Consequently, he arrived in his usual state of sartorial disarray, saved from utter ridiculousness by the simplicity of his kimono.
This is the one without that stain on it, right? Yes. Right.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 25, 2014 5:51:51 GMT
Kasumi had spent some time with Kaigen on the road, so she had grown accustomed to some of his little quirks. She motioned to him to take a seat and then Takeshi also arrived. As soon as everybody sat down, servants arrived with the food and some sake. "After a couple of days on the road, I'm sure we can have one, don't you think, Shiba-san," she said, as the servant filled the cups, "so, tell me, what do Phoenix lands look like? I've heard they are beautiful, although I haven't had the opportunity to visit myself. Maybe now that I'm Yasuki Hachi-sama's personal assistant for everything Kolat related I might find an excuse to visit. Maybe if I need information on genaeology from Asoka Chisato-sama."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 25, 2014 8:35:35 GMT
Kaigen gave a slight shrug.
"It has been many years since I was home, but I doubt things have changed all that much. The Phoenix lands are indeed beautiful- high mountains, deep forests. Lots of shrines."
Full of incredibly boring but well-intentioned priests.
He paused and sipped his sake.
"Cold in the winter, though. Bitterly so around Shiro Shiba. Dress arm if you find yourself heading north."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 25, 2014 14:31:13 GMT
"It can be very cold in the mountains here as well," Kasumi said, "so we're used to it. Which reminds me, I'm going to stay here tomorrow and only move on the day after. You're welcome to stay here or you can move on by yourself. It's up to you."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 25, 2014 17:03:07 GMT
Stay here in relative comfort for another day and retain that sweet, sweet Emerald Magistrate's chop to get across borders quickly... or strike out alone to sleep in the mud, have my travel papers scrutinized by half-literate border guards across a dozen provinces, all to reach a rendezvous with my family that I am less than interested in.
Whichever will I choose?
"I would be delighted to accept your gracious offer, Tsuruchi-san."
And besides... the food here is superb, and almost nobody knows who I am.
"I am sure you have many urgent family matters to attend to, so I will do what I can to stay discreet."
While you and your husband make up for lost time. Again.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 25, 2014 19:50:26 GMT
"Thank you,Shiba-san," Kasumi said. The rest of dinner they had some small talk and Kasumi also made some haiku's, including one or two about the events at Yasuki castle. "My apologies," she said at one point, "but if I'm home I always read the children a bed-time story as a way to start them off on the empire's history. If you would excuse me for a moment."
she left the dining room and went to the children's bedroom to read them a story, leaving Kaigen with Takeshi.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 25, 2014 20:31:19 GMT
Kaigen didn't ignore his host... but without anything in particular to say to the man, he settled into polite silence.
Truth be told, it had been an odd year thus far.
He'd witnessed a Bloodspeaker's intrusion into the Imperial Court, he'd been accosted by some masked lunatic in a truly wretched part of town, he'd marched down to the Crab Lands with the First Legion to prepare for renewed war on the Shadowlands, only to be recalled home, passing throug Yasuki Yashiki in time to be party to a series of utterly bizarre events involving the Kolat.
It used to be I'd have stories to tell that were a little less... earth-shaking.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 26, 2014 17:51:28 GMT
Takeshi tried to make some small talk, asking about the Crab lands Kaigen had just visited. Half an hour later Kasumi returned. "Children are quite adorable at that age I find," she said, "but they grow every time I see them."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 27, 2014 1:46:59 GMT
Kaigen allowed himself a chuckle.
"My sisters weren't! Tiny terrors, forever getting into things!"
Come to think of it, Sadako still does, just a little more... cautiously.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 27, 2014 15:35:38 GMT
"I never had that problem," Kasumi said, "I had a twin sister,so we were always together. Unit she died in a bandit attack that is. Some more sake, Shiba-san, or do you prefer some tea. I brought some excellent blends from the Yasuki lands."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 27, 2014 17:37:31 GMT
"Tea does a far better job of clearing my head than sake ever did..."
Especially where fights with masked killers going after ronin are concerned.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 27, 2014 20:33:45 GMT
"Off course," Kasumi said, giving a servant some orders. He arrived quickly with some hot water and some minutes later there cups of tea were standing in front of all three samoerai. "This is something I miss," Takeshi said after taking a sip, "the tea made in the Crab lands still is the best." "Which is why I brought some, husband dear," Kasumi said with a smile, "and if it's all gone I just have to find an excuse to go back to the Crab lands to get some more."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on May 28, 2014 4:01:28 GMT
Kaigen didn't know good tea from bad, so he simply smiled, nodded, and took a sip.
I miss that Yasuki. He could have kept things going without missing a beat.
Of course, if we were sitting around a campfire in the mud, I'd probably feel a bit less awkward...
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 28, 2014 15:56:39 GMT
Not long after their cup of tea, Kasumi and Takeshi went to bed. Kaigen was escorted back to his room. The following day Kasumi stayed in bed late while Takeshi went to his class at the dojo. Kaigen was brought breakfast when he requested it, but he was left to his own for most of the day. When she did get out of bed, Kasumi spent most of the day with her children, now she had the chance.
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