Looking at the movie billboard for the day, Koyuki stopped dead in her tracks while walking through the mall. It had been quite a long time since she'd stopped to watch a movie. Years, years upon years actually. Perhaps the last time she did was before she passed her gempukku, which was wild to think about. All those years ago, she must have looked like such a runt back then. It would have brought a smile to her face reminiscing on the past like that, it should have, but it didn't. Instead the world outside her head was treated to a Kuni staring at a sign posting with a rather vacant expression.

Kazumi was light on their feet and made little to no sound as they moved through the bodies in the mall. it helped that the Soshi's slender frame disturbed little space as they moved walking through the mall to kill time. Usually Kazumi would be at work but with everything going on they were given time off so through the crowded press they moved subtle, graceful shifts of the body kept from any collisions.

Kazumi wandered passed the movie theater and had to stop, carefully backing up and double taking the frozen Kuni staring at the sign. Kazumi looked at the offering and back to the Kuni.

"Not a terrible selection if you're a fan of horror." the voice was unique not low but also not quite high pitched either and a touch of rasp to it.

"Have you watched it before, Samurai-sama?" she asks, not turning her head from the billboard.

Rolling her shoulders, she continued with a distant melancholy, "I watched this a few times with my mother when I was younger. We would stay up late eating snacks. She would put the movie in, whichever one I chose. Afterwards, we would laugh about all of the foolish choices that were made. They were fine times."

"Soshi, Kazumi. Kuni-sama." Kazumi replied as they walked up to stand with the Kuni, looking at the sign watching horror movies with your kids? Certainly tracks for Kuni. Kazumi thought with some amusement.

"I have, I happen to be a bit of a horror movie fan. This one's on the older side but good work for the time." Kazumi paused a moment "That does sound nice. My parents never really understood my interests, though they tried. It sounds nice to bond over something you like."

"My mother was an only child too, once. I think she wanted to be there for the little girl that didn't have anyone. I grew to love the movies because of my mother, still sticks with me," she says, an unaffected voice. Looking to Kazumi now properly she would bow to him, "A pleasure, Soshi-sama. I am Kuni Koyuki, attached to the embassy here."

"I was considering going inside to watch. Would you be interested in joining me?" she asks, arms coming down to cross over her midsection. "I have a few hours to spare before I should finish off my day."

Kazumi's eyes showed a touch of the smile they wore under the mask "That's a nice thing."

Kazumi returned they bow "The pleasure is mine Kuni-sama." they replied looking back to the sign and giving a small shrug "I usually get to know someone a little more before a first date but I am a horror fan." they said with a slight teasing in their tone. Kazumi interlocked their fingers behind their head "Why not, I have a few hours to kill before my set at the Wasp."

"It is not a date, Soshi-sama," she says. Looking to him, and then the door, she lead the way into the establishment. Once just inside the doors she looks back to him, "Wait here." Proceeding to go alone to purchase the required tickets for entry, or arrange it, or figure out in general whatever she was doing. It wasn't long, regardless, Koyuki was always good at figuring things out on the fly like that. When she returned to him she looked him in the eye for a moment, "We're just going to see this movie as two horror fans," and glanced away.

The Kuni was gone before they could reply, Kazumi's almost black eyes had a shine of amusement to them as she looked into them and the voice from the mask echoed it "and it was a joke Kuni-sama. I am happy to share the movie with another fan of the classics." the smile behind the mask could be heard if not seen.

"But let's not delay then" Kazumi said carefully plucking a ticket from her grasp as they walked passed turning and walking backwards "I'd hate for our not date to start with us missing the opening."

Koyuki laughed, rather easily actually- it betrayed everything he could have gathered about the woman to now. Yet it was there as she nodded and directed them both onward, so as not to miss the opening. Walking in together she picked a few seats, somewhere in the middle of what was available and took up one next to one of the other patrons. She wasn't shy about it in the least, and it offered Kazumi the more comfortable space of the two. Settling into her seat she looked toward the screen, the commercials before the screening playing out in the background.

Sitting she seemed slightly pensive with a thought by then, leaning back and head tilting as if away from the present moment. Memories of Toma flooded back to her, it wasn't easy to quench the knot in her stomach.

They laugh brought more smile to Kazumi's eyes, the mask shifting a little from the facial movement. The Soshi followed Koyuki in, the Kuni was very assertive and confident, which wasn't very surprising given Crab reputation but Kazumi appreciated it in action.

Kazumi took their seat gracefully, slender body flowing into the chair making almost no noise. They were quiet for a bit as the commercials played and Kazumi shifted closer so their voice could be pitched low "zeni for your thoughts Kuni-sama?" They asked as a trailer for the next big Bayushi Chan movie played.

Koyuki's brow knitted at the question, her eyes narrowed toward the screen, and she said, "What do you think the mental calculation is behind playing a trailer for the Bayushi Chan movie before this movie is? I cannot imagine it would appeal to the same audience. Feels as if they are selling alcohol to recovered alcoholics. What if a horror movie trailer was played prior to Bayushi Chan? It is a strange decision," she said, her voice equally lowered as to not disturb others. There was a calm appraisal in the way her tone proceeded.

Kazumi shrugged "big blockbuster film probably just cast a wide net. Assume if they reach as many eyes as possible there's a chance some people will go see it." They explained their perspective as best they could think.

"Not a fan of martial arts movies eh?"

"No, they're too much pomp. All overblown dramatic action. I understand many Hida have sung the praises of such shows, but I find my time in the field has enured me to the entertainment value of it. Or, maybe, I was just never one to care for it much myself in the first place. Mainstream attractions don't tend to pique my interest, never has enough heart or passion in it to be worth caring over," she says, leaning back into her seat to relax. Looking across for the moment at them to give an appraisal of their appearance in the dark.

"I imagine you likely do not have similar experience?"

Between the dark and the mask obscuring the lower half of their face it was hard to get much appraisal of Kazumi's appearance, Dark nearly black eyes that reflected the light from the screen and black hair that hung passed their jaw color shifting from a Raven black to a Scorpion crimson at the tips.

The dark eyes shifted to the Kuni as she leaned back possibly catching her eyes "quite an assumption Kuni-sama." They said almost teasingly "though not inaccurate. I've seen action before but never on the battlefield. Well traditional battlefield, some would say the streets of the undercity are their own type of battlefield." Kazumi explained calmly as the final commercials rolled and the film began proper.

Opening on a group of young samurai in a house who quickly get picked off by an unseen assailant to set the mood before the title popped up.

"Though I agree with your assessment regardless." Kazumi said leaning a touch closer to keep quiet.

"They are completely different things," she said with no malice, no aggression, but a barely quieted voice that would broker no argument. Meeting his eyes when she had said it to make sure it settled. With a hand, she revealed a palm as to assuage any concern that he might have offended her. Only leaving it raised long enough that her message was understood, then relaxed back properly for the movie. Turning her eyes to the screen she settled in as the movie's intro really started, the characters first talking, and silence overcame the conversation.

___

Back out into the light, most of the way through the end of the afternoon. Koyuki turned to look back to Kazumi catching up behind her, "Thank you, Soshi-sama, for seeing the movie with me," she'd say, before granting him the opportunity to speak first.

Kazumi heard the words and visible regret wash over their features, Kazumi looked as if they were about to say something but merely dipped their head in apology and settled into their own seat to watch the film.

---------------------------------------------

Kazumi squinted slightly against the light of the day "I don't know what it is about movie but my body always expects it to be night time when I come out of one." They joke lightly.

Kazumi, finally adjusted to the light turns to Koyuki "Thank you Kuni-sama, it was nice to appreciate a classic with a fellow fan and I am glad my carelessness did not ruin the experience."

"My favorite part is always the bit with the piano. It's quite odd," she says, arms crossing over her midsection as she gazes over Kazumi. Marking what of their expression she could see. It was good of them, best not to waste your opportunity. "You are fine, Soshi-sama. You were trying to connect, that is all. I will not hold it against you until the day either of us dies," she says in jest, and though it's muted somewhat.

She would see pieces of remorse, though dulled by time from the transgression brought back to the fore by bringing it up again. Then relief at the absolution given. Scorpion were very communicative with their eyes, when they wanted to be.

Kazumi bowed "you show me a grace I do not deserve Kuni-sama." They said sincerely at first then a sliver of humor crept into their tone "and a relief as well, you strike me as the kind one would not like to have a grudge with."

Kazumi looked about as they straightened "do you have pressing matters to attend Kuni-sama? Or would you have time to walk and talk a bit? I could buy you a drink, a small token of appreciation."

"Soshi-sama, I am a Kuni. You must do far worse to earn a grudge, we do not levy grudges lightly. Anger, is useful and should be better spent on enemies. You are a friendly sort, and your Clan is a friend. I do not have any need nor reason to find myself caring enough to deliver any sort of retribution," she said, there was an even calmness to the way she delivered it. Taking toward walking first she allowed for them to catch up to her side.

"I do not," she called back quick, in case he thought she was abandoning her. "However, I would like it best if we didn't call it a token of appreciation because I have not given you anything, Soshi-sama. We will share a drink together."

Kazumi nodded in the face of her even paced explanation and request "I would be happy to share a drink with you." Kazumi said as they started moving toward a place selling tea and other drinks.

"And you can call me Kazumi, no need for such formality on my end." They said happily as they walked "so, how long have you been on World of Dreams?"