Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

In the depths of the night, Konohamaru was fully geared as he walked back into the room where he had been called.

He didn't remember what happened at the beach, but there was a lingering need to help...someone? Something?

He did ask if they could speak later, and so he returned. With all of his gear, some candy, and a lantern.

He sat in the same chair he was previously, placed the lantern a little distance from himself (but still within arms reach) and waited.

"I am here."

The Toritaka watched from the sidelines to waiting to see what would happen this night. "Do you want me to check if there are spirits around?" She asked

There is a chill in the air.

"Please do - there should be. The spirit one of youngest is seeing asked me 'why did you kill me daddy' earlier in this room, in this spot. Hitomi, she said the name was."

As he waited for signs of life, he cracked a rare joke.

"I hope the staff weren't too difficult with you coming in this late?"

"What staff?... my dog and my falcon?" The bird perched on her arm as the dog sat beside her. Then the cold chill came in.

"I don't need my training to notice that... She seems to be here."

"I meant the inn staff, but don't worry about it. Let us greet our guest."

He produced a bag of candy.

"Good evening, Hitomi-san. Does the evening find you well?"

OOC: Going to need a Fear roll at 2 TN 15.

OOC: 19 - always void fear

It would be rude to interrupt his guest, and so he waited for her to speak.

Hanatsuko's experience from the previous night had made her know what was coming. She smiled at the the girl. The falcon moved to somewhere it could perch.

//D3 LN Fear 1 VP TN 15: 3d10o10k3+5 34

The room goes dark besides a spot across the room where a little girl stands with her back to the samurai, her long greasy wet hair matted against her stained simple clothes.

Kono looks to the Torikata.
"Let's do this."

He turns to his guest. It seemed like she wanted him to speak first, and so he did,

"I said we could talk later tonight, and here I am. Would you like to join us, young Hitomi?"

"First night, curse begins,
Second night, I eat your sins,
third night, curse reborn,
Fourth night, a child you mourn."

She then giggled still back turned.

Hmm. She appeared to view him as an outsider, something

...Hold on, what was he doing before he arrived here?

Hold on hold on again - Aji said that people forgot what happened.

Had he... Had she tried to kill him?

"May I ask you some questions? Would you like them in a rhyme?"

It vanished but the room was still chill in the darkness.

"I think we can do something better." She looked at the Crane then around the room. "Can we play a game, Hitomi san?" As she tried to discern where the child was.

//LN 3 Toritaka Tech R2: 4d10o10k3 24

There's a strong and sudden urge to growl at the girl as she seems to vanish, but he calms himself. She could likely still hear, but there was so may damn questions and - what the hell did she want?!

Nevertheless. Persistence or anger, he wanted to press on.

However, as the Torikata acted, he waited patiently.

A small wet ball rolls out of the darkness and pumps into Hanatsuko's foot.

OOC: The spirit is still nearby.

A game - that's genius! Of course children don't want to hear boring adult questions, but a game with questions could maybe be fun for her?

"I could play a game. Shall we play together?"

"You like to play catch, huh?" She smiled as she was reminded of her siblings back in Toritaka lands. "Let's play then..." Hanatsuko picked the ball and looked at the Crane. "Think fast Kakita sama." She tossed the ball to the Kakita.

Wh-

Konohamaru catches the ball as it almost collides with his face. It wouldn't give answers yet, but it might convince her to stay.

He then lined up his shot visibly and dramatically, to make the ghost aware of exactly where we was throwing it, and threw a light, high arc ball.

"Hitomi-san, your ball."

The ball bounced into the darkness. They hear it roll away.

Then they feel little things scurry across their skin.

This child was taking the piss.

And piss on that, as the elder Hida would say.

He looked at his hands.

He could see things crawling over his skin and clothes.

The Toritaka took a breath as goosebumps furled her skin. "We need to see you so we know where you are? Or are we playing hide and see?" Hanatsuko nodded to the Kakita. "If you want us to find your parents and bring them to justice you must help us while we play." Maybe that would bring her out.

Kono nodded, but it was clear that his patience with the child was waning.

He had put himself under worse tortures than this - this little game of creepy crawlies was nothing.

Wait a minute. They were all over him. And he called her daddy. So maybe...

"Do you want a hug? Because of all of these bugs are getting hugs and you aren't."

He refused to let his inner malice reflect in his voice.