D2EA, Waterfowl (Open)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Looking for a bit of a change of pace, Yuuwaku makes her way to the village baths after her meal. After she scrubs, she makes her way into the heated bath, sighing in relief as she eases her small body into it.

There is more noise, of course, given the more public nature of the place, but there is always inspiration to be taken from the world.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Yay baths~!

Kakita Naida hummed happily to herself as she walked from the changing and washing area to the larger hot bath. Seeing someone already in the samurai baths she gives a bow, linen towel unwrapping from herself before she starts folding it up.

"Good afternoon, samurai-sama. How is the water today?"

An apocryphal question, perhaps, but it felt like the sort of thing people asked to make smalltalk. Better than that usual line about rice.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Relaxing and refreshing, friend," she replies as she watches her new companion. Pretty, she thinks. Very much so. "Come and enjoy it!"

As much as it shows and as the water allows, the diminutive Crane offers a bow. "Kakita Yuuwaku, of the Academy at Tsuma. With whom have I the honor today?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Kitsuki Naida of the Iron Mountain Dojo."

Naida slipped into the water, noting the other woman seemed to be a decent amount shorter than herself. Then again, she was used to being slightly on the taller side of things; Her mother was still a head shorter than her, after all.

"Ahh... you're right, quite wonderful. Such a luxury..."

Sitting down, the Dragon let out a content sigh.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"So, Kitsuki-san, how was the journey getting here?" Yuuwaku asks.

It's innocent conversation. Good to open with. Good to continue with. And getting to know another beautiful woman won't hurt, she thinks.

Her hands rub just above her knees under the water. A bit of lingering soreness from the morning's exertions, perhaps.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"The journey?"

A slight smile, almost mirthful like she was holding in a laugh, "Very very long, Kakita-san. I left the mountains three years ago to end up here, in a way. I've worn through five pairs of sandals in that time. More to the point though? The trip from Sparrow lands was quite pleasant, I thought. Met some interesting people, and the weather was perfect for hiking."

Having become suitably relaxed, she looked over at Yuuwaku again and thought about what the woman had said; Didn't Mirumoto-sensei say that the academy at Tsuma was where the Kakita trained their duelists? Having faced one or two Crane in duels, the woman certainly had the right poise and grace, and Naida found herself staring more, trying to unlock the woman's secrets with a squint

She also noticed the half-hidden movements of massaging away soreness, "Are you okay, Kakita-san? Sleep on something wrong?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Wrong?" Yuuwaku takes a second to take Naida's meaning. Why is she squinting?

"Oh, no. A bit of vigorous exercise this morning, is all. Evidently somewhat more vigorous than I'd realized; maybe I need to work on my form when I squat a bit more." She nods. "That would explain some of it, certainly.

"But you say you traveled through Sparrow lands. I'd heard there was something of an issue with weasels there; did you hear anything about it, or see anything, while you were there?"

Maybe I should ask who she traveled with.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Weasels? I'm afraid not. Just some ghosts. It was a lovely little village really. Good yams."

She then thought about the other part of what the Kakita had said as she stopped squinting and relaxed a little, "Vigorous exercise, hm? Best kind, best kind indeed. I'll admit, I've been lazy since I came here in that regard. But then, I've been kind of treating this wedding like a vacation so far. And I'm sure carrying that shrine later will be plenty of a workout for me. And another excuse for a bath, neh?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"You'll be carrying one of the offerings, then?"

Yuuwaku looks at the Kitsuki, recalls seeing her make her way into the water, and she can feel herself flushing just a bit.

Good thing the water covers so much of me.

"I'll look forward to seeing you in the procession. For my part, I'll be waiting at the end with spare clothes for my Clan-mates, so I'll have a good chance to see--everybody, really."

And won't that be something!

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Well, perhaps for the best if you overexerted yourself this morning, neh? And I'll try my best, anyways. Probably lead the chanting, if the others I got paired up is to say anything. Even brought my stuff with me to change into after this. Am... I supposed to have someone waiting for me with spare clothes then?"

Naida tilted her head, unaware of anything like that being provided for her.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I don't know about 'supposed to,' Kitsuki-san, but I could hold your kimono for you, if you'd like."

And not just that.

"I'm happy to be of some small service to a friend, after all." Yuuwaku smiles in the bath, still a bit flushed. "And it's always good to make more friends, isn't it?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida seemed a bit surprised, "Oh, you'd do that for me? If you're sure... I could ask one of my Clanmates, otherwise. I had already been assuming I'd just head back to the inn for my stuff, but if it's tradition to have a change of clothes ready..."

She seemed to think a bit.

"...only problem is I just had my clothes brought back to the inn for me by a servant. So you'd have to send someone for them. I can certainly give you a note of permission to have someone do so. Anyways, this is all assume you'd rather I not just ask a fellow Dragon; I would hate to be any trouble just because I didn't know everything about the procession."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Kitsuki-san," Yuuwaku replies, "it would be no trouble, of course. I wouldn't have offered if it were."

She pauses for a moment, perhaps three heartbeats, and adds "Is it so strange that someone would offer to help you?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

That does get a chuckle, "Not as such perhaps, no. It's just, we've only just met, and suddenly a beautiful Kakita is offering to help me, a Mirumoto trained duelist. It's like something out of a pillowbook, no? Or maybe that's just me."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

She thinks I'm beautiful! Yuuwaku thinks, and the flush spreads just a bit more.

"You're Mirumoto-trained? Then, yes, maybe it is something like out of the stories."

She dips her chin. It just barely clears the water.

"But those stories have to come from somewhere, don't they?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I suppose so. My wanderings have seen taken me to some strange places, and I've seen things unexpected certainly. What is something so mundane to be any less real just because of old rivalries?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Even that rivalry contained no small respect, if I recall the stories I've been told," Yuuwaku remarks. "But I'd love to hear about some of your adventures; I've been more about Tsuma than not, and the area is...settled."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Ah. Never been to Tsuma myself. Spent some time in Crane lands up north at a winter court last year, and an art festival in Doji lands once. But nothing so far that way. And I'd be more than happy to share, neh? But I'm no storyteller, I'll certainly admit that. I tend to ramble and forget points when I'm trying to remember my travels. Or maybe I just have a habit of telling those stories once I have a bit of sake in me, come to think about it..."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well, I could certainly share a bottle with you, if that'd help." Yuuwaku smiles, sharply. "I've enjoyed before sharing pouring with another lovely woman, and to have the chance for good talk besides--how could I resist?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

She thinks I'm lovely? Wow.

"Far be it from me to turn down an invitation for good food and conversation. That's one of those a traveler lives for, after all; Meeting new people, forging new connections, trying new things, and the way food and drink tastes all the sweeter after time on the road."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"We must try new things together, then!" Yuuwaku's voice is almost giddy. "I've had a chance to sample some of what is here already, and it's been so good that I can't help but think the next thing will be better!

"And everything's better with good company!"

[Kitsuki Naida]

A soft smile crossed the bushi's face, "Indeed. Though I'm surprised a Crab village would so impress a..."

The smile faded a moment, the Kitsuki seeming to think a moment before the smile returned and she shook her head, "No, I should not make assumptions and be surprised when they're not met. You must show me these places that you've tried that have so surprised you though. I will admit, I tried a small place yesterday that was quite good, and these baths are more than wonderful."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oh? What did you have?"

Yuuwaku's tone is chatty, interested, and she moves a bit closer to Naida. Her small form still makes waves in the bath, but even in the water, she moves smoothly and well.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Nothing fancy; A lunch with some fish, soup, tsukemono, nori salad, cut yam, boiled lotus root, roasted tea, and rice. I love that kind of stuff though; Simple dishes done well."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Have you had the shrimp? I had some last night, boiled in spiced broth; it was wonderful. And the Crab do the best fried tofu."