Benten, For All Her Glory [Day 3, EA]

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Do not use me to refuse speaking on a subject, Kazumi-san. You act unfairly. I am not your scapegoat because you do not wish to speak of something," she says, but without as much bite as before. If anything, her tone is a bit more sympathetic than he might have otherwise expected. Koyuki sighs, lightly.

"Simply speak earnestly."

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi nodded "One who grows up among the Scorpion finds speaking earnestly more difficult, for a number of reasons." Kazumi took a breath "but you are right, though it was partially earnest, I am not a fan of unloading my problems onto others."

They thought for a moment "But yes it is a painful memory and not so distant as I wish it was."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"You do you clan a disservice, but- I relent. Do not worry for others sakes, Kazumi-san. They will make a judgement on whether or not to accept from you any burden. You cannot claim to disallow them that choice and call it a service for their betterment," she says, it's a touch sharp but with that edge of earnest care for the younger man.

"So, where does that leave us?" she asks, the slightly horrible sound of the surrounding grove starting to drift away as they exit the immediate perimeter and continue their walk toward the Crab embassy.

"What is there that we speak on, Kazumi-san?"

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi processed what she said thinking on it for a moment not entirely agreeing in a broad sense but they got the feeling arguing about it would be a fruitless endeavor and also that Koyuki was likely at least right when it came to herself.

Kazumi chuckled slightly "Well you certainly embody Crab directness that I hear so much about Koyuki-san. It is hard to adjust to but it is refreshing."

Kazumi looked out to their surroundings for a moment "I lost a close friend a few months ago. Someone I've known since I was in school. It was a wrong place wrong time situation turf dispute between gangs." Kazumi shrugged the pain they felt thinking about it hidden from their voice but still in their eyes.

"Just showed me how much some only care about themselves and don't think about, or don't care about the collateral damage."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki stops in her stride, calling for Kazumi to join her with the action alone. Facing them she asks but one simple question as directly as possible, "Do they have a name, Kazumi-san?"

[Soshi Kazumi]

"Kenji" kazumi replied equally directly, not fully able to cover the feeling that was slowly blooming from their chest from bleeding into the words.

The near black eyes looked to hers firmly pain shadowed behind them but also a searching wondering what was going on behind her own mask.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I will drink to Kenji," she says, her voice as solid as steel.

Letting that sit in the air for a moment, she gives Kazumi the time they might need. Finding what composure they need to summon up for themselves, or to simply allow them to feel. Regardless of what they chose to do Koyuki remained silent long enough to give them the time for it. It was only right.

Finally, "Life is cruel, but we fight and sacrifice to make it better. Best to keep fighting, Kazumi-san, however you might. So that we stop the next Kenji from happening. You have my most solemn condolences," she says with that same steely demeanor. Darkened eyes that betrayed little else.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi nodded the emotions beginning to fade as quickly as they had bloomed "Thank you Koyuki-san." They said simply after a few moments reining it all in.

Kazumi took a deep breath "It would be nice if I could figure that out. How to fight that is, how to make sure things like that don't happen but for many its simply a fact of life here. He wasn't the first person I've lost to this city but with time I'm sure I'll figure it out."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I can only hope for the best for you, Kazumi-san," she says, offering as much of a sympathetic look as she can manage.

After a moment, "Shall we head back?"

[/fade to walk and talk?]

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi gave her a look that showed an appreciation for her words and hinted to the smile hidden by the mask "Thank you Koyuki-san."

"But let's find happier topics to discuss, leave the dark thoughts for the dark places." Kazuni said, their mood turning up as they accompanied the Kuni back to her embassy.

----------------------
(Fade to chatting indeed! Thank you much)

[Boogiepop]

...A figure watched from the shadows as the Soshi and Kuni departed from the grove after their conversation.



The attached cartridges of her mask heated up with a bright red and emitted a slow stream of mint-flavour vapour from the vents. As she rose from her hiding spot, the tree beside her let out an agonizing groan that was hard to mistake as mere wood stress. She flicked a glare at the tree and quickly departed from the scene.

/scene