The pair sat on the futon, the wall as back support as they watched a holo. The remnants of a meal shared sat not far away on the small table, cleaning it a task for another time. Kazumi was at their most relaxed mask hanging by the door and dressed in a casual yukata their face plain and unadorned by and make up or jewelry.

The Scorpion sat next to their guest, the steadfast and all consuming ronin. The two made an unlikely yet extremely well matched pair. Both incredibly similar and yet decidedly distinct.

The holo played but was more background noise than anything else for Kazumi, their attention was mostly focused on Yurei as they wound down from dinner.

"You know, I fought a Gaki yesterday." Kazumi said simply not knowing any lighter or fancier way to put the, in their mind, neigh unbelievable fact.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 5:39 am

Snip

Yūrei, who had one eye on the holo and a second on the remnants of the food blinks twice and glances over at them, her jaw dropping slightly

"Wait-what? A gaki? A whole big angry ghost thing?" She gives Kazumi a nudge with her shoulder "You waited all through dinner, which was delicious, and dessert, which was fantastic, to tell me halfway through Die Very Hard 3?"
She starts poking the other samurai, as if Kazumi was just holding in all the bleeding from a gaki bite.

"Are you alright? Did you win? Are you even cooler and more mysterious than I thought?"

Kazumi chuckles at all the poking and waves the hands away dismissively "yes yes I'm fine. It never touched me, frankly I'm not sure if it ever knew I was there."

"You heard about the attack on the Spine Drake enclosure at the wildlife sanctuary? It was caused by a big nasty Gaki spirit, lots of teeth and eyes and bones and stuff. Definitely burned into my mind that." They explained with a small shiver "I just happened to be there when I heard screaming and rushed in. I stuck to the shadows and some other samurai did the heavy lifting, especially this crazy ronin Dai who charged the thing."

Kazumi paused shaking their head "It was certainly nothing I ever expected to do. I mean fighting spirits and shit, that's for like priests and stuff."

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 5:54 am

Snip

"I bet you were far too sneaky for it. I did the same thing to some pirates a couple nights back, so many have trouble with the shadows."
She listens attentively as the Holo behind them shows a samurai driving recklessly across the world of dreams as a bomb counts down on an ominous timer.

"I had no idea that was all a gaki, it sounds...unpleasant. Good thing there was a ronin there to put his life on the line."
She chuckles
"And hey, that's what priests are for. But good deeds, rushing in to help people and maybe fighting an evil spirit when you do. That's what good people are for. It would have been terrible if the animals were all wiped out by a demon, so you got some points in my book."

Now Kazumi's eyebrows rose a bit "you got into a fight with some pirates!? When? Why?" They had sat halfway up before settling back down shaking their head with an amused smile on their lips.

"I guess we both have been getting up to crazy stuff." They paused and a warmth entered their gaze and a small kiss on her forehead "I'm glad you're OK though."

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 6:17 am

Snip

She chuckles, wiggling happily at the kiss
"Oh you know...two days back now. They were causing trouble with an illegal weapons lab in the Desolation and I was called in to assist some other samurai in putting a stop to it. I did the Kazumi special, stayed hidden and did my part without them noticing."

With a smile
"Sounds like we're going to have to agree we did some mutual life risking. And thanks for checking, I'm fine."
Her gaze turns back to the holo as a deranged former Lion samurai threatens to blow up the city unless the hard boiled Scorpion magistrate does as he says.

"Well, while we're doing this."
Unable to stop her smile turning into a smirk.
"I should proooobably let you know I'm founding an Otokodate. So...that's uh, happening."

Kazumi chuckled again "we most certainly don't have to call murdering things from the shadows "the Kazumi special" people that don't know me might get the impression I'm much more dangerous than I really am."

At her news a single eyebrow raised and Kazumi smirked "Putting all that Scorpion coin to good use eh? Bayushi-sama mentioned you charged high rates, I assured her you were worth it." They teased a little

"So what will these Manly Fellows specialize in?" They joked playing with the archaic meaning for the term.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 7:02 am

Snip

"Right, we can call it 'the Yūrei special', I'm not above the free advertising."
She pokes out her tongue.

"And yes, the Scorpion did make their contribution, but I like to think I'm worth every zeni. Thanks for confirming that with her."
Yūrei laughs at the joke, covering her mouth with her hand

"Well we'll be the most manly samurai around, no skipping leg day, lots of animal steroids, the works."
Her expression softening
"But mainly it will be about acting as middlemen between the clans and ronin to the benefit of both. Protecting each from abuse by the other and matching the needs of clients with the skills of wave samurai. I think there's a niche there for a better and more organised underworld."

Kazumi smiled with a mixture of warmth and humor "you're certainly priceless Yurei-chan." They said while wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a cuddle.

"It sounds like a worthy cause though, you certainly seem like you're using that money to make the World a better place. That's very admirable. While I'm sure it'll also be fairly profitable for you as well." They said smirking knowing that while Yurei had a good heart she wasn't a paragon of altruism.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 7:43 pm

Snip

She snuggles into them happily, hugging the Scorpion and resting a head on their shoulder.
"Well, that's what Bayushi-sama told you at least. But I do offer mate's rates."
She exhales happily, clearly very comfortable

"I hope I can improve things, even a little. Just make it so that ronin are a little more protected, a little more able to predict their jobs. And uhh, well...earning lots of money doesn't hurt. With everything I earned this court I'm already apartment hunting."
Clearly very proud
"I'm going to find somewhere with an en-suite!"

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 9:36 pm

Snip

"OOOO look at ms.fancy pants over here, really moving up in the world. I'm sure that'll be a nice change of pace from the one room place you have now. You deserve it, you work hard and you're good at what you do." Kazumi gave her a little wink "Just try not to spend it all on food neh?"

another light chuckle escaped Kazumi's lips as the ronin snuggled in "Well looking to make profit and make the world a better place. Just part of the reason I love you I guess." The words are delivered sincerely and while the tone is light there is a weight of truth to them.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Mon May 09, 2022 5:48 am

Snip

"I can only promise to try, there's so much food out there."
She smiles but pauses a little at Kazumi's declaration.

"Wait, like 'you brought pizza, I love you!' or 'I love you'?"
She looks into their eyes, her head tilted slightly with a soft smile.

Kazumi reached up with the hand that wasnt around her shoulders and ran it through her hair a soft smile on their lips the light in their eyes warm and their voice was soft "Which one do you think I mean?" Kazumi asked before leaning into her and bring full lips to meet hers in a kiss both passionate and slow, hot but soft, not the raging inferno or flash in the pan but a slow and steady smoldering heat.

breaking away after some time and lightly pressing their forehead to Yurei's gently and taking a breath before moving away just enough to look deeply into her eyes.

Soshi Kazumi wrote: ↑

Mon May 09, 2022 6:06 am

Kazumi reached up with the hand that wasnt around her shoulders and ran it through her hair a soft smile on their lips the light in their eyes warm and their voice was soft "Which one do you think I mean?" Kazumi asked before leaning into her and bring full lips to meet hers in a kiss both passionate and slow, hot but soft, not the raging inferno or flash in the pan but a slow and steady smoldering heat.

breaking away after some time and lightly pressing their forehead to Yurei's gently and taking a breath before moving away just enough to look deeply into her eyes.

Yurei melts into the embrace, her perception narrowly slowly into a kernel of warmth. When the two finally break she sits back for a moment, face flushed bright red.

“Okay. So there’s no pizza.”
And before Kazumi can respond she jumps on them. Indicating that the final third of Die Very Hard 3. Where Nakatomi finds out it’s all about the money, won’t be getting watched much today.

((Good to fade there? thanks so much for the scene!))

/FTB

((thank you as well! A pleasure as always!))