Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Being a ronin is not easy. Having no money is certainly the most difficult part. No money, no food. No food, you starve, that is the life of lordless samurai.

Amika was currently passing through that face of existence. Her last coins were used for this trip, and now, she literally had no money to buy food. Fortunately she had some rations left for the journey and a few more days, but she will have to search for a source of income or she will starve in the Crab lands.

Not wanting to disturb the inn patrons with her presence and having no money to pay for additional food, she looks for a quiet corner where she can eat some of her rations while continuing to observe the beauty of the Crane lands. She was getting some inspiration out of the well tended gardens around the inn and maybe she could gift some sort of paint depicting such scenery to the groom and wife when she arrives to the south.

For now, she quietly eats and observes....

The shadow watched from the roof, hand hovering over the blade of judgment.

The Shadow considered the world below... When you were partying, I studied the blade. When you were having sinful thoughts, I mastered the single draw. While you wasted your days at the salon in pursuit of vanity, I cultivated inner strength. And now that the world is on fire and the gaijin are at the gate you have the audacity to come to me for help?

No, burn with the rest.

Certainly it was a fine evening, nothing strange was happening. The Crane lands where indeed a very beautiful place, quiet and peaceful, nothing like the strange stories that she had heard about the dangers of the Crab lands, certainly no weird creatures, or shadows.

It was a calm, harmonious evening. At least from Amika's point of view and perspective.

The hooded shadow dropped down from the perch and approached and then...

"Kio-chan! What are you doing?" Yushoko chastised sternly from the balcony.

Kio had her wooden sword in hand, more a replica than training weapon and a dark hooded cloak haphazardly draped over her shoulders. She frowned and then said, "I think I found a ronin, she looked dangerous."

She narrowed her eyes and said, "But no she looks okay."

The ronin woman snap from her peaceful mind exercise while she was eating as soon as she heard the yelling from the woman at the balcony, she looked towards the direction of the sound, but always trying to keep the contact at minimum.

She didn't want to give the impression that she was minding and intruding into the lives of her social betters. She bowed very low to the dark hooded figure and stayed like that.

"Wolf Girl, what are you doing here," Kio commanded.

'' Travelling through waves
Waiting for its destiny
Wolf like the poppy ''

The ronin recited a brief haiku in response to the shadowy samurai girl, always bowing lowly.

'' This one is just passing through these lands and this inn, Samurai-sama. This one is currently travelling to the south as this one heard that there will be a wedding, and perhaps someone could find some use to the skills that this one can offer, Samurai-sama.'' The wolf adds this time speaking normally to the shadowy girl, never raising her head, always bowing with utmost respect.

“A wedding?” she responded.

“Hrrrm, that is interesting, or is that what you want me to think and you are really an evil witch! No, you don’t seem old enough to be a witch. Okay, so what skills do you have.”

“I have not ruled out witch,” she added.

The older Crane woman approached.

"Kio-chan, my word. Why are you bothering this wave-girl, ignore her politely like a good samurai," she said but the girl was not listening.

'' I'm just a artist, Samurai-sama. I know something about painting and calligraphy...'' Amika simply replied to the question, without entering in a debate if she was a evil witch or not.

As the older crane woman approached, Amika bowed again, very low, showing respect to the Crane woman, which due to her clothing and demenour, Amika thought that she probably was a kuge.

Kio responded, "An artist? Really? What do you paint?"

She folded her arms across her chest and waited for a response.

The older Crane regained her composure and focused her eyes on Kio, the girl was strong willed indeed.

'' Villages, castles, scenery, anything Crane-sama.'' The ronin said. ''...but mostly this one has been focusing on sumi-e style, Crane-sama.'' She replied, always respectfully and keeping her lower than the two other female samurai.

"What's a sumi-e style?" she asked looking at the ronin. "Oh yeah, uh, you can get up as long as you're not a witch."

The ronin rose her head, though she still keep a slightly bowed stance, showing deference towards the two Crane females. '' It's a style of realistic painting using ink to portray the beauty of the world, Crane-sama.'' She explained. '' Developed by your estemeed clan ancestors' is one of the high arts, Crane-sama.''

"Of course it was, I knew that, just testing you! Probably one of my many ancestors," she said proudly.

"What's your name wolf-lady? I am Daidoji Kio, this is my auntie, Daidoji Yushoko. My dad is Daidoji-dono, he's kind of important."

'' It is an honor to meet you, Daidoji Kio-sama '' She bowed low, once again, after the crane had presented herself. '' This one name is Amika.'' The ronin presented herself. Then she turned towards the woman and bowed to her as well, very very low.

'' It is an honor to meet you Daidoji Yushoko-sama.'' She said to her recognizing that she was going to be the bride to be. '' Congratulations on your betrothal Daidoji-sama. May Amaterasu-no-kami bless your lineage so that they continue to serve dutifully your lords and the Daughter of Heavens.'' She said politely as expected.

Yushoko nodded and said, "Those are kind words, Amika-san. Thank you, may your ancestors rest well knowing you are a samurai of Compassion and Sincerity."

"Can we keep her, she works for money right? I got a koku wolf-lady, you work for me now," Kio commanded.

'' I-uh...'' Amika was short of words right now, she raised her head a bit to give a look towards Yushoko, trying to gauge if she was horrified or approved of such behavior.

'' This one is honored that such honorable samurai as yourself, Daidoji Kio-sama, would consider such one as myself to be worthy to serve a person like you...'' She bowed very low trying to be respectful and amicable to the samurai child. '' -If- your lords deem such arrangement appropriate of course...'' Amika tries to give the child, and especially Yushoko, an 'escape route' in order to not embarrass or cause shame to the child-samurai for such minor breach of etiquette, should the older crane woman deem that such behavior could be considered a breach of etiquette, which probably was as the mention of koku and hiring, let alone speaking with a lowly ronin like herself.

Yushoko added, "Kio-chan it is rude to discuss such things openly and directly. You know this. We should be on our way and leave this... person be."

Kio frowned and then said, "Fine... sorry wolf-lady, but I am watching you if you are a witch."

She gestured at her eyes and then towards Amika.

"Night Samurai defeated the evil witch and was away!" the little child said then made a whooshing sound and ran back inside waving her wooden sword.

Amika bowed towards the child '' It has been an honor Daidoji Kio-sama.'' She said as the night samurai started running away. Then the ronin turned towards the older crane woman and bowed towards her as well, much lower.

'' May your ancestors watch over you and your family, Daidoji Yushoko-sama.'' The wolf woman said to the bride to be. She kept her head low.