Day 5, LN - Growing Close

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida speaks quietly, "People outside, I thought, but they're not touching the ground. Some sort of spirits or ghosts. They seem to be ignoring us. I wish I could see better, but they seem to be moving towards the sea en masse. At least all the ones I can make out."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku looks, and she sees some of what Naida speaks about.

She shivers again. "I was almost one of them tonight, wasn't I?"

She is still having trouble processing it, really.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Hai... but you are not."

She keeps speaking quietly, watching.

"...are you sure there's nothing else I can do to help at the moment? I've rested a bit, so I could try to carry you back to the villagr if it would help."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku blushes again.

"I'm pretty sure I can walk, Naida-chan," she says. "But I would be comforted not to have to do it alone."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Hai, of course."

Naida thought about putting her armor back on, but realized how much it would be... unpleasant, without her layers on underneath padding her. She needed something if she was going back to town anyways.

"I'm going to need to take my clothes back then, if that's all right. If my lady needs them though, I would walk back with you like this on command. I have sandals regardless."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

My lady? Yuuwaku thinks, and heat rises to her cheeks that has nothing to do with the fire.

"Oh, no, no. I'd not keep your clothes from you like this, my rescuer." A somewhat shy smile curves her lips. "It would be a poor way to treat someone who has done so much for me."

Yuuwaku makes to rise, the many layers making it a bit less graceful than her accustomed motions.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida helped the Crane woman up, walking in front of her and providing a steadying hand. The clothes would be quite simple, since the Kitsuki had draped them on Yuuwaku like blankets or a shawl, rather than fitting them on. So it would just be a matter of pulling them off. That meant the long white linen strips of her fundoshi and chest wraps, the last (and driest) things that had come off, Naida carefully undraping the two lengths from over Yuuwaku's shoulders.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku is largely quiet as they proceed, getting her bearings back as they go.

I remember dancing, she thinks, but not how I got out there.

I think I need to go to the Shrine tomorrow. Today? She shakes her head. It's all so confusing.

[Kitsuki Naida]

The clothes slip on, Naida watching Yuuwaku's distant expression with concern. Soon she is dressed though.

"The armor will take me a bit longer. Pardon for the delay. It's not very practical to carry it though, I'm afraid."

She kneels down and starts putting on her shin guards first over her pants.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"It's alright."

Yuuwaku responds absently, then shakes her head again and says more intently "Is there something I can do to help?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

A small smile; Maybe helping would take Yuu-chan's minds off her troubles.

"If you want; I could definitely use some help tying things, especially with the breastplate. It's a tight fit, for reasons you're already aware of."

She picks up the two piece lacquered thing, holding it around her torso as she looked at the Crane.

"The ties are right under there."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Hai," she replies, and bends to the task. The dark and a few shivers make her less effective at the work than she might otherwise be, but Naida is right; having something to do gives Yuuwaku focus for a little bit.

"I'm not sure how you can breathe in that, really."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Lots of practice getting used to it. I also thank my time meditating; A big part of meditation is learning to control one's breathing. Oh! And growing up in Dragon lands; You lowlanders have so much more air down here; Even a shallow breath is more than enough for me."

The armor was soon fasted on and the helmet was placed on her head, hair tucked in. The effect made Naida look quite tomboyish compared to her usual, and somewhat striking thanks to the way the firelight caught the gold touches on the dark green lacquer.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"More...air?" Yuuwaku gives a confused look that may not show up well in the light. "I am not sure I understand you, Naida-chan."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"The air is thinner, up in the mountains. I am unsure why, but colder and thinner the higher you go. A lot of visitors prefer to stay in Kitsuki and Tonbo lands, because climbing into Mirumoto lands leaves them light headed, or out of breath. Though that's nothing compared to the Togashi lands, mountain tops covered in snow year round and reaching above the clouds..."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"That sounds beautiful. Cold, but beautiful," Yuuwaku remarks.

"I gather the food has to be brought in, then."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"In Togashi lands? Certainly. Mirumoto and Kitsuki lands have farmland, but not so much in any of the provinces atop the Wall itself."

Naida picked up the lantern she'd brought with, and used a twig from the fire to relight it.

"Suppose I'll let the campfire burn itself out; No harm in that out here. You ready to do some walking?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I am," Yuuwaku says and nods. "And I do thank you again."

[Kitsuki Naida]

A soft smile.

"Just be sure to tell me if you need to stop and rest. Or want to take me up on the carrying you offer."

She looks out from under their sheltered overhang, "...seems most of the spirits are off, so now is a good a time as any."

Leaving the camp fire to smolder out, Naida made her way out from under the rocky outcropping into the misty night.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku follows, staying close.

So this is what it's like to have such a companion, she thinks.

[Kitsuki Naida]

The walk back to town is dark, and the ground is damp with mist, making things less than ideal. Still, there is a path of sorts leading through the hills, and the bobbing lantern is enough light to see a bit ahead and behind.

Naida seems to stick to Yuuwaku like glue, looking to her often and trying to match pace with the shorter woman consistently.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

As they walk, Yuuwaku links her arm with the Dragon's. She does not lean against her, exactly, but she clings closer than any propriety would expect. Most any, anyway. And she tries not to take the small, mincing steps of court, although the way the still-wet kimono hangs makes that more of a challenge.

[Kitsuki Naida]

As soon as the arms link Naida seem so brighten a little. She tries to lean in but realizes she has a helmet on so leans her head back upright. As they emmerge from the hills that serva as a breaker to the beach, the lights of the village come into view in the distance; It's late, so it's hardly lit up brightly, but it's more than usual thanks to all the guests and the unusual night keeping up more than usual.

Trying to think of something, Naida remembers her fingers are free, and suddenly a hand finds one of Yuu's, long fingers lacing with delicate ones, "Let me warm up your hand, at least."

Truthfully, Naida's hand was quite chilly to the touch; Even if the cold didn't bother her much it wasn't as if it didn't effect her.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku clasps Naida's hand in both of her own.

"Being with you warms me, Naida-chan. I'm glad I met you," she says.

[Kitsuki Naida]

The bushi blushes a bit in the light of her lantern, her hand starting to warm quickly.

"And I'm glad you met me too."

Naida suddly scoops Yuu up in her arms, lantern hanging from her saiya. Yuu being held up shades Naida's face and helmet from the lantern light a bit, and the faint glow of the Naida's earrings making the inside of that helmet like a distant fire of its own.