[D2, ME] Fresh aire (expecting)

[Moshi Meiko]

Masao closes his eyes and smiles, enjoying her voice as well as the fact that his plan had worked.

As the pleasant tune calms him -- and, truth be told, makes him feel ready to fall asleep immediately -- Masao opens his eyes and begins to drink the tea gingerly.

As the song concludes: "The tea and the song both really hit the mark, Moshi-san, thank you." Masao says sincerely. "I am fortunate to have had someone so kind by my side just now. I am feeling better, and I'm sure I'll be all better with a good night's sleep. You won't be too worried about me will you?" He asks, genuinely concerned about her.

Very solemn
"No Kakita-sama! Not if you promise to take care of yourself and get some rest tonight. I think it was a long day for everyone, I probably need a sleep too!"
Relaxing a little now that Masao seemed to be on the mend.
"Besides, there are so many of your Clan here, I'm sure they will make sure you're right as rain. Everyone knows the Crane stick together!"

[Kakita Masao]

"Yes, I promise, and I'll let one of my clanmates know if I need anything," Masao says indulgently. "It's been so nice meeting you, and I really do hope we get to meet again, to share more stories and more music," he says, patting the flute tucked in his obi.

"Oh, Moshi-san? Could I ask a small favor, before you have to go?"

[Moshi Meiko]

"Yes, I promise, and I'll let one of my clanmates know if I need anything," Masao says indulgently. "It's been so nice meeting you, and I really do hope we get to meet again, to share more stories and more music," he says, patting the flute tucked in his obi.

"Oh, Moshi-san? Could I ask a small favor, before you have to go?"

"Of course! What do you need Kakita-sama."
Meiko hovers excitedly, jumping from foot to foot.

[Kakita Masao]

"Just, if you would please keep my exhaustion to yourself, I would appreciate it. I don't want anyone worrying over nothing, especially when they should be happy for the wedding, right?" The Kakita suspects that the bouncy Moshi is truly awful at keeping secrets, but maybe, given her incredible will to help people--It's worth a shot.

[Moshi Meiko]

"Just, if you would please keep my exhaustion to yourself, I would appreciate it. I don't want anyone worrying over nothing, especially when they should be happy for the wedding, right?" The Kakita suspects that the bouncy Moshi is truly awful at keeping secrets, but maybe, given her incredible will to help people--It's worth a shot.

Meiko puts her hand over her heart, so Masao knows she's serious
"I promise it will be a complete secret! If anyone asks I will say I listened to you play flute, and then later I left! It's the truth! I hope you get better soon for the big wedding party."
She beams at the Crane, as if hoping her good spirits could somehow invest themselves into him

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's heart beats a little quicker at Meiko's promise, her smile, and maybe the spirits too-- If anyone can move the earth without consciously trying, it's this one.

"Thank you, Moshi-san. You are a good friend, and I so look forward to seeing you again. But for now, I think, I will retire to my room." Masao takes one more drink of tea, then rises. He does feel less steady than expected, though, and actually closes his eyes for a moment as he wobbles.

[Moshi Meiko]

Masao's heart beats a little quicker at Meiko's promise, her smile, and maybe the spirits too-- If anyone can move the earth without consciously trying, it's this one.

"Thank you, Moshi-san. You are a good friend, and I so look forward to seeing you again. But for now, I think, I will retire to my room." Masao takes one more drink of tea, then rises. He does feel less steady than expected, though, and actually closes his eyes for a moment as he wobbles.

Meiko makes a little sound of concern, but a promise was a promise. He'd said he would be fine and his room couldn't be that far away, right?
"Okay Kakita-sama! Can I stay here for a few moments while you go to your room? I'll straighten everything back up like I was never here."
And more importantly she could at least supervise him heading off under his own power.

[Kakita Masao]

As the Crane finds his center and steadies himself, he opens one eye to look at Meiko. "You want to... clean?"

With the strain of the day really catching up to him, Masao lets his confusion be plain on his face. "I... I'm sorry, Moshi-san, I think I must misunderstand," he says, returning tio both eyes closed as he tries to understand.

[Moshi Meiko]

As the Crane finds his center and steadies himself, he opens one eye to look at Meiko. "You want to... clean?"

With the strain of the day really catching up to him, Masao lets his confusion be plain on his face. "I... I'm sorry, Moshi-san, I think I must misunderstand," he says, returning tio both eyes closed as he tries to understand.

"I'll stay here for a bit, you go to your room."
Beaming
"Simple! Now of you go Kakita-sama, you promised you would get some rest tonight."

[Kakita Masao]

"I'll stay here for a bit, you go to your room."
Beaming
"Simple! Now of you go Kakita-sama, you promised you would get some rest tonight."

The Crane still feels confused. And tired. He shakes it off as best he can.

"Moshi-san, I assure you, I will go and rest immediately after I see you out. But I cannot be the host who abandons a guest, especially one who's been so much more than kind tonight. Please, leave this to the servants, and worry not about anything in this house for the rest of the night."

[Moshi Meiko]

The Crane still feels confused. And tired. He shakes it off as best he can.

"Moshi-san, I assure you, I will go and rest immediately after I see you out. But I cannot be the host who abandons a guest, especially one who's been so much more than kind tonight. Please, leave this to the servants, and worry not about anything in this house for the rest of the night."

"hmmmm Okay! I'm trusting you Kakita-sama, since I know you're an honourable samurai! I'll see you later, okay! Keep drinking tea and sleeping and playing the flute!"
She bows and then runs off down the hallway and back to the garden, turning only on the threshold to smile and wave again before disappearing off into the night.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao, relieved but also sad for the experience to be over, makes his way to his room as promised. He smiles to think of this strange adventure with Meiko, and then of the slightly ghost-like meeting with Hanatsuko the previous night. And after another moment of thought, I do encounter some of the most fascinating women when I play my flute.

Yes, such fascinating women, grandson. You have managed to spend a great deal of time and effort not finding the mother of my future great-grandchildren. Do you have any intention of correcting this error soon? Grandson?

The voice in Masao's head fades as he passes into unconsciousness for the night.

/scene