(D4 MM) Poems in the Memory - Open/Expecting

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida, for her part, does take a seat, watching the Asahina as they perform the divination of the leaves interestedly. She really was hungry, but was a bit distracted from that feeling by the whole ruckus, what she was wearing under her yukata, and the niggling feeling of a day already done.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku folds her hands into her lap and considers. Again, she blushes a bit.

Have I been such a fool, thinking where I was?

"You were speaking of a Scorpion earlier--not today, but before--Asahina-kohai. Do you think she has something to do with it? Or is this a more artistic, symbolic scorpion reference?"

She sees Naida hesitate and adds "Please, Kitsuki-san, do eat. I think you will like the fruit very much."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Ah, this probably has seldom to do with any Scorpion literal. There are many basic shapes on tea-reading, and at least one for each Great Clan. Crane reads as "the wings spread apart, but the feathers shine glory" if I do remember well. Of course, the position and density of leaves stray the meaning somewhat, but I am not that skilled as a diviner. I can only say with safety that this is one that welcomes adversity and hardship."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida did start eating with a nod as she listened; She knew nothing about tea leaf reading herself, or its symbolism, so this was very novel and interesting to her.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well, that fits," Yuuwaku agrees.

But she has no additional insights to offer, and she knows it. Her head droops slightly. "We are either besieged by spirits, or something else is happening entirely. I think the first would have set our hosts off, would not you? This does seem to be their area of expertise entirely, yet there is nothing happening that I see, and I do not think they would be subtle about their work in their own lands."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I will visit the Bronze Castle later and seek a shugenja of the Crab there to share their insights on the situation, maybe ward the place." He replies with a nod. "The other alternatives, if we were not besieged by spirits, would be that we are being attacked by extremely skilled humans on replacing items or on another spiritual realm entirely."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"There have been... spirits, around. Certainly. Of various sorts since I've come here. It may be related, if you think so."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Please, Kitsuki-san, say on."

The reply is earnest, sincere. Any lead, anything to help, would be welcome at this point.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Well... I can tell what I saw, but I'm afraid I have little insight on what I've seen. First, there was the spirit of an old man, long dead, worried for his daughter. Next there was a gaki hungry for those in the bathhouse in the village here. I also saw the spirit of a little girl who called me it's mother before disappearing."

She thought a moment, "...I also recall some sort of monster dog last night, something I fought with a Hiruma and an Ichiro that was obviously not of this Realm. I am at a loss if they are all connected or just drawn to me because of my bloodline."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku shudders at the thought of the gaki in the bathhouse.

We bathed in there, she recalls.

"A monster...dog? Your bloodline?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida rubs the back of her head, "Like I said, I can't be of much help in details. Yeah, some sort of dog thing covered in hundreds of eyes, and it had these two tentacles coming out of it or something. The Hiruma said it was not tainted, but that doesn't really help me much, with my limited knowledge of the spirit realms. I usually just play things by ear when I'm visiting them, avoid anything that looks dangerous."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods, committing the details to memory as best she can.

What else can she say at present?

Perhaps one of her fellow Crane has some insight?

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He hears everything, dead silent. "Definetively spirits. So there are evil ones and the good ones, like the man and his daughter?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Perhaps. Spirits are complex creatures sometimes. Some can seem good but are truly just a masque, and some can seem evil but have no ill intent. I believe it is a mix here though, yes, and something is simply stirring things up. Some... I don't even know. Spiritual imbalance? I don't even know how I would qualify such a thing though."

[Kakita Masao]

The nikutai just listens, completely out of his depth. But at one point he interjects, "Kitsuki-san, forgive a soldier his blunt question, but what about your... bloodline... is so important here? I have not heard of the Kitsuki being a particularly spiritual family." His voice isn't mocking or dismissive, just confused.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I never said it was important. I just have some sort of lineage that makes me in tune with spirits. My mother said it was some sort of Togashi blood, but that story has been different things over time. It simply is what it is to me, no matter where it comes from."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao looks at the Dragon with increased curiosity, but doesn't pursue the matter, at least for now.