Settling Affairs [Day 6, LN]

[Kuni Koyuki]

Suspicion, there was something about the Kuni face-paint that made the micro-expressions which revealed it stand out a little more. That little shift in the eyes, at the edge of ones lips, and as the focal points of the makeup it was like broadcasting anytime Koyuki caught onto a thread of a mystery. However, as much as this mystery might have intrigued her to get to the source of. Why a woman could suddenly disappear with all that she possessed and not even leave a word to someone she seemed to care for. Ultimately, it was not her life but Hato's. Koyuki was never so crass as to involve herself in the personal life of another without good reason, or unless she was asked, and so she just sat with the thought for a moment and let it slip away.

"I think that is a good thing to take away from this, Hato-san. She would be right. I hope for her sake, and mine, you can make use of the opportunities you have in front of you," she says, and offers the briefest of smiles.

[Hato]

Suspicion, there was something about the Kuni face-paint that made the micro-expressions which revealed it stand out a little more. That little shift in the eyes, at the edge of ones lips, and as the focal points of the makeup it was like broadcasting anytime Koyuki caught onto a thread of a mystery. However, as much as this mystery might have intrigued her to get to the source of. Why a woman could suddenly disappear with all that she possessed and not even leave a word to someone she seemed to care for. Ultimately, it was not her life but Hato's. Koyuki was never so crass as to involve herself in the personal life of another without good reason, or unless she was asked, and so she just sat with the thought for a moment and let it slip away.

"I think that is a good thing to take away from this, Hato-san. She would be right. I hope for her sake, and mine, you can make use of the opportunities you have in front of you," she says, and offers the briefest of smiles.

Hato nodded.

"Lady Koiyuki is indeed correct. This one can see a bit of Yonaga's smile in Lady Koiyuki's" she offered.

She glanced at the door.

"This one would be interested in learning more about Lady Koiyuki, if Lady Koiyuki is willing to share."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Wonder what that meant for the woman who was Yonaga, she could only guess. Keen as she was to lean onto that dark thought a bit, Hato's request brought her back. After all, it continued to afford her the choice of what to say. Something that gave her a little extra courage to fight back the feeling which brought hairs to a stand on the back of her neck, a warmth just behind the ears.

"I.. should have died," she says, the weight of the words drop into the room with a gravity. "Five years ago, on task for the expeditionary forces of the Crab I was left behind on one of our target worlds. I had to spend years learning how to traverse the landscape, and find my way to one of the other landing sites in hope I might find some way to contact home. I did, eventually. I was recovered from that planet after three long years. After that.. everything was different. I recovered for a year, and then was placed into my current line of service."

"Part of it, I think, is that they were afraid of what stress it might place on me to send me back out there. Expeditionary forces didn't want to risk a breakdown of a samurai who could serve well enough elsewhere. So, now I am here. Doing what we have done together and keeping an eye out for the enemies of the Crab everywhere I go," she admits, her voice soft in not a method of warmth but conspiracy. This was not a topic she felt comfortable sharing lightly, but- her hopes for Hato helped convince her.

[Hato]

Wonder what that meant for the woman who was Yonaga, she could only guess. Keen as she was to lean onto that dark thought a bit, Hato's request brought her back. After all, it continued to afford her the choice of what to say. Something that gave her a little extra courage to fight back the feeling which brought hairs to a stand on the back of her neck, a warmth just behind the ears.

"I.. should have died," she says, the weight of the words drop into the room with a gravity. "Five years ago, on task for the expeditionary forces of the Crab I was left behind on one of our target worlds. I had to spend years learning how to traverse the landscape, and find my way to one of the other landing sites in hope I might find some way to contact home. I did, eventually. I was recovered from that planet after three long years. After that.. everything was different. I recovered for a year, and then was placed into my current line of service."

"Part of it, I think, is that they were afraid of what stress it might place on me to send me back out there. Expeditionary forces didn't want to risk a breakdown of a samurai who could serve well enough elsewhere. So, now I am here. Doing what we have done together and keeping an eye out for the enemies of the Crab everywhere I go," she admits, her voice soft in not a method of warmth but conspiracy. This was not a topic she felt comfortable sharing lightly, but- her hopes for Hato helped convince her.

Hato let the story hang quietly in the air for a moment for it's gravitas.

"Perhaps Lady Koiyuki. This one assumes that Lady Koiyuki's strength is not infinite. Three years of surviving in such a place would have drain most samurai beyond their limit, or at least to it. One can understand being wary of taking such a person into a unit, for like armor, it is it weakest point that causes the whole to fail." she said, even though she personally did not believe anything could stop Koiyuki.

"But perhaps not. Perhaps they felt if Lady Koiyuki could survive that for three years, that was the sort of strength needed to survive on the World of Dreams." she suggested.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Perhaps," she says, the distance of the thought apparent. Sitting with it a moment Koyuki leans forward, and places a finger along her own neckline. Following her torso up along her shoulder until her index held like a hook caught something. Pulling it up two coils were noticeable by the contrast against her skin even in the dim light. Bending her head down, assisted by the other hand, she pulls the two necklaces off of her neck. Held together by that long coil which caused each to hang around her shoulders and go deep enough they weren't noticeable under her shirt.

Both removed, she looks at each to make sure she has the right one. One is more well done, a bit of artistry involved in the making while the other pendant is as functional as they come. However, that functional one also clearly contained far more jade than the other. Collecting the functional up in her hand she holds it in a ball, and then lets the pendent drop from it as an anchor point when she offers to toward Hato.

"One last bit of payment, following a timely story Hato-san," she says, the touch of some warmth to her expression.

[Hato]

"Perhaps," she says, the distance of the thought apparent. Sitting with it a moment Koyuki leans forward, and places a finger along her own neckline. Following her torso up along her shoulder until her index held like a hook caught something. Pulling it up two coils were noticeable by the contrast against her skin even in the dim light. Bending her head down, assisted by the other hand, she pulls the two necklaces off of her neck. Held together by that long coil which caused each to hang around her shoulders and go deep enough they weren't noticeable under her shirt.

Both removed, she looks at each to make sure she has the right one. One is more well done, a bit of artistry involved in the making while the other pendant is as functional as they come. However, that functional one also clearly contained far more jade than the other. Collecting the functional up in her hand she holds it in a ball, and then lets the pendent drop from it as an anchor point when she offers to toward Hato.

"One last bit of payment, following a timely story Hato-san," she says, the touch of some warmth to her expression.

Given that the Crab had made clear it was a payment, not a gift, there was no need to refuse her. Which was for the best. This was not the time nor the place for such games.

Hato took the necklace and put it on.

"What do you think, Lady Koiyuki?" she asked.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Shifting, she gives herself a good position form which to observe her for a moment. Taking it in, both as a whole with the entirety of her appearance and how it fits in well one under a more focused gaze. Long than most, but not so long as to be awkward she regards and contemplates.

"It befits you, Hato-san. I hope you never need it's service," she offers, the briefest of smiles offered.

[Hato]

Shifting, she gives herself a good position form which to observe her for a moment. Taking it in, both as a whole with the entirety of her appearance and how it fits in well one under a more focused gaze. Long than most, but not so long as to be awkward she regards and contemplates.

"It befits you, Hato-san. I hope you never need it's service," she offers, the briefest of smiles offered.

Hato nods.

"While it may never provide that service, it serves as a reminder of our time together, Lady Koiyuki. Whether this is our last meeting or merely our fourth, it will always remind me of that." she offered, with a sad glance at the door.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Following that glance just enough to recognize where she was looking, Koyuki focuses back to Hato. Looking to the woman, picturing the possibility.

"I hope to see you again one day, on Green Carp or elsewhere. Perhaps even with a new name, Hato-san. However.." she says, hand coming up to rest over a small belt attachment which held her communicator. Patting her communicator twice as to call attention to it. "Should you need, Hato-san. Should you really need, do not hesitate to call for me. I will risk what I can," she says, voice touching on a softer note near the end.

[Hato]

Following that glance just enough to recognize where she was looking, Koyuki focuses back to Hato. Looking to the woman, picturing the possibility.

"I hope to see you again one day, on Green Carp or elsewhere. Perhaps even with a new name, Hato-san. However.." she says, hand coming up to rest over a small belt attachment which held her communicator. Patting her communicator twice as to call attention to it. "Should you need, Hato-san. Should you really need, do not hesitate to call for me. I will risk what I can," she says, voice touching on a softer note near the end.

Hato bowed deeply to the Crab.

"The same goes for you as well Lady Koiyuki. Call this one for any need you might have, and this one will rush to your side." she swore.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki rises, and returns the bow with the deference of a partner at the end of a tough assignment. Doing the bit of work of closing the satchels on Hato's behalf, and stepping away from them so that the woman might collect them. Meanwhile, she sees to her own collecting of the data that was laid out for and presented to her earlier. Ensuring that all is accounted for, and stored on her person properly

[Hato]

Koyuki rises, and returns the bow with the deference of a partner at the end of a tough assignment. Doing the bit of work of closing the satchels on Hato's behalf, and stepping away from them so that the woman might collect them. Meanwhile, she sees to her own collecting of the data that was laid out for and presented to her earlier. Ensuring that all is accounted for, and stored on her person properly

There wasn't really anything else to say. Hato tucked the necklace under her clothes. Hato collected her satchels, and walked towards the door. If she looked back, she might not be able to leave. And dawn waited for no one.

The latch slid unnaturally loud in the sill room.

The door slid open, and Hato walked into the night, bearing a heavy burden.

/exit

[Kuni Koyuki]

Click.

Door closing behind Hato the room found itself in a stillness. That twilight portion of the night that she usually settles in for to sleep in, the night long and quiet. Running a lone index along the edge of the surface that Hato had left the prize for the Crab on she closes her eyes and feels with intention the edge. How it presses into the center of her finger only so much as she presses back. Swinging her hand up around in front of herself, looking down at it and how it behaves so much like a normal human hand. Flexing her fingers in that dim lighting alone with only the taste of whispered history left in her mouth.

Crackling of the light fixture overhead, a little sputtering of a brighter lighting in the room for a moment. Koyuki lays her hand down along the back of the sidearm at her hip. Feeling the grooves and making of the device with intention she focuses on it for a moment. Shifting her gaze with closed eyes over toward where the mirror would be in a sightline from where she stood. Opening them, in that distant reflection she saw only herself standing there alone in that room. What would they have thought of her now? The woman she became? If she was even still a woman at all.

/scene