Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Kaneko approached the room where Kio and Kintaro were holed up this evening. She needed to talk with them about what had happened that afternoon, and try to ascertain anything that she could so they could coordinate a strategy going forward.

The need for Yushoko's well-being to be prioritized at the luncheon had made any such conversation earlier impossible... But with her still clinging to life, the time for insight... even from a child... was now.

Kio sat by her auntie's side as she rested, but the woman's pallor was poor and her eyes had dark circles around her. She was not looking well but at least she was alive.

Kintaro stood by the sliding door that lead to the inner courtyard.

Kaneko entered and bowed to Kintaro, "Good evening... I am sorry to disturb Yushoko-sama. I feel there were some things we could not say this afternoon that needed to be talked about..."

She smiled softly at Kio, "If possible, I wondered if we could discuss Hitomi-chan, Kio.... We need to gather all our minds together to help your auntie in the best way possible."

Kio said, "Alright."

"I think we could all do with some illumination," Kintaro agreed.

Kaneko nodded, "In the luncheon this afternoon I saw what appeared to be a small child... I tried to make mention of it, but it seemed as if no one else was aware of her presence. She was... wet... and appeared to perhaps be an apparition of some sort, but I was not sure whether it was some personal malady or... what it was. The child emitted some kind of insect from her mouth, which then flew about and entered Yushoko-sama's mouth right when she drank her tea..."

She paused, "Kio mentioned that she too knew this child... but in front of our hosts and without any knowledge of what happened it seemed best to expedite aid for Yushoko-sama rather than discussing some... bewildering phenomenon in front of a woman who very obviously has little patience for such discussion."

She came to sit near Kio, "So, did you see Hitomi-chan at the luncheon too?"

“I told her to wait outside the lunch, but I think I can only see her when she wants me to,” Kio admitted.

“Like I don’t see her now, but she has never been mean to me. She wants to find her family, but if she did that then… then she is a bad person. I have not seen her all day.”

Kintaro for his part just nodded and listened.

"When did you first meet her?" She asked. "Was it here in the village?"

"Yesterday," she said thinking on it.

"She said she was lost and looking for her parents and asked if she could stay with me, so I said sure. She just wanted to find her parents. She said they were samurai, but she does not remember them."

She added grimly, "I bet they are dead."

"I see..." She paused and tried to think for a moment.

"I'm no expert on spiritual beings... Sounds more like ghost stories people tell than anything I have run into in my own life."

"Why did she hurt my auntie?" she asked.

"I don't know Kio... The stories I hear often are of children who were mistreated or wronged in life. Who then take their anger out on the living... But these are just stories. I don't know of the real reasons for these things."

"Well then, time to fight the ghost. Hey ghost bitch, you hear me, I am going to beat you up!" Kio shouted.

Kintaro frowned at the language but he did admit that if the ghost was responsible then her anger was in the right place.

“Unfortunately Kio... if it is a ghost it is impossible to beat them up with our arms. Perhaps a priest could help resolve the issue... There must be someone familiar with pacification rituals.”

"I am going to find a way, nothing is impossible I am going to save my auntie," she said defiantly.

“Let us work together then.” She said with an affirmative nod.

“We need you to be safe Kio. Only you can help us save your auntie. So going off on your own... puts us all in danger. You get what I’m saying?”

"Fine..." she said reluctantly.

"Do I get my own sword? A real one," she said with a grin.

“Doji-sama is the boss around here. We all have to listen to him and do what he says. What he says, goes.”

"No, but if you aid us I will be sure to tell your future sensei of your Courage and glory," he responded flatly.

Kio narrowed her eyes and then said, "Fine, for now."