Day 0 - EN - Finding a Spot (open)

[Dapper Dog]

"Sure... whatever," she said stumbling to the bed and laid down with a thump.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida spooned herself some of the porridge.

"...you do realize you're living with a spirit, yes? I do not think they are dangerous since they only wish to make you porridge, but one never knows when dealing with such things."

[Dapper Dog]

She raised her head and said, "Like a ghost?"

"Are my parents haunting me?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

A shrug. "If the old man and his dog was your father, then yes; Something like that. I've dealt with spirits before. Call it a Dragon land thing, though I'd heard there was an area down south here that has even more... I didn't think it was Sparrow lands though."

[Dapper Dog]

"Well just what I need, ghosts," she said burying her head in her bed.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida chuckled softly; It's not like she blamed the girl. She wouldn't want to be haunted by her father either after he died.

"I'm sure they just want to try to help you. Trying to make porridge and get strangers to help you is hardly the most malicious spirit you could have in your life. Who knows? Maybe they'll move on if you shape up."

[Dapper Dog]

"Shape up..." she sat up, "well, maybe I have let things get a little rough around here. And you are right, making me porridge is not the worst thing in the world. Did... did he say anything?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Apparently he thought I was you. Wanted me to be less sad, drink less, eat more, find a nice husband; All the sort of thing one might expect from a parent."

She looked back to where the old man was praying, squinting to try to get a better look at the shrine in the firelight.

"Said he had some savings somewhere to buy a wedding kimono too, if that wasn't just a figment as well."

[Dapper Dog]

"I bet he did, just... been hard with both of them gone, thank you for your kindness samurai-sama," she responded.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida grunted as she took a bite of the porridge; It was plain, just millet and yam. But it was warm and well made, whoever had actually made it.

"The heimin in Dragon lands have taught us to be kind; It is hard enough to raise food in the mountains without people treating you cruelly. Especially during times of war, which we have certainly seen enough of lately."

[Dapper Dog]

"You have been at war?" she said to the Dragon.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Myself? Not as such? I have fought in duels and skirmishes, but nothing like a full battle or war. I was certainly too young to serve in the wars of last decade. Dragon lands were simply hit harder than most, for various reasons."

It was probably not in great taste to talk about those wars in too great of detail, as divisive as they were. Nor to go on about how rebuilding the Empire after the War of the Last Hantei had meant little to no aid for Dragon lands that usually ran a food deficit anyways. After all, she was no peasant herself. And Sparrow lands had a reputation for hardly being any better.

[Dapper Dog]

"Well thank you for helping my father and me, I guess," she said before laying back down.

"I don't think I will get much sleeping done."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Setting down the half empty bowl, she looked over at the young woman, "Not feeling well, or the thought of a friendly ghost being around occasionally that unsettling for you?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Ghosts are in stories not happening to people like me," she said honestly.

[Kitsuki Naida]

A slight nod.

"If it's any comfort, they're not here right now. I think they're more than happy to have me taking over watching over you."

[Dapper Dog]

"Thank you, samurai-sama," she said with genuine warmth.

Then light snoring.

[Kitsuki Naida]

A slight smirk; The young woman had clearly been having a rough evening. Still, she wondered to herself if she should report this, see if there was something the Sparrow wanted to do to help spirits in their land move on.

Eh... what could be the point in that; A harmless old ancestor of sorts, watching over one's child? It was hardly a matter for samurai attention. At least she hoped so. Naida contemplated thinking about it some more as she finished her porridge and put the lid on the pot, but decided not to overcomplicate things; Tomorrow she would be back on the road first thing in the morning, and this would all be behind her. Hopefully what little she'd done would be enough to inspire the peasant girl to move on with her life, and the spirit in turn.


Finding a spot to lie down, Naida took off her hat and laid her head on her blanket. Her last thought before she went to sleep was wondering why the dog was a ghost too.

/scene