Koyuki avoided this place like it would infect one with a plague had you merely breathed the air radiating from it. It was too close, much too close. Walking among these trees it felt as if each one would reach out and grapple with her heart, piercing it with something vicious. How she wished to scream every step of the way. How she wished, and wished, and wished, and yet no wish was the same twice. Forgiveness, despair. Justice, despair. Taiki had reminded her of something truly poignant. Benten blessed as much as she cursed. What a truly divine being.

Heel of her boot dug into the turf, she sat on the ground with her back against a rock amid the grove. In her hands rested the statue of his preferred saint, Benten. "I wonder what you would have said, had you the chance Toma. You.." she laughed, an earnest and true laugh. "You were always such a little shit, you know?" she spoke to the statue. Thumb rubbing over it like the thing might be alive, with a gentle caress and touch. "I have met some you would have liked. One of the many, Soshi Kazumi, you would have liked them. They might have even liked you. Wonder if you would have found your promise in them, little brother."

Speak of an Oni and they appear was a popular saying at one time and one that, at least partially, applied to this situation as Kazumi strode through the Grove taking in the sights of the gnarled trees and possessions hanging from the twisted branches.

This wasn't their first time here but they hadn't been in a long time. Talking to Koyuki about it the other day had brought the place back to the front of Kazumi's mind.

Following a curve in the path between the trees Kazumi was a little surprised and then amused as they saw the Kuni in their thoughts sitting there talking to herself.

Kazuki approached with purposely audible foot steps to contrast their usually soft footfalls "I see you took one of my suggestions Kuni-sama."

Hearing the footsteps, a thumb deftly wiped each eye. Benten hit the dirt. Other free hand rested upon her thigh, near her sidearm. However, it was just another samurai and the hand slid away from it as to fall on the floor. Another and she processed the sight of who it was that was approaching her. Taking in a deep inhale she righted herself against the rock so that her shoulders held higher than the hunched form she'd had but a moment prior. Looking up to him, she bent one of her knees and used the now pronounced knee to rest one of her wrists upon.

"Suspicious timing, Kazumi-san," she says, her voice more solid than usual as if it was forced into place. "I don't tend to believe coincidence."

Kazumi Paused a but a hand coming to cup the chin of their mask "hmmm and what would the assumption be Koyuki-san? That the fortunes conspired to bring us together in this" They motioned around "happy setting." The voice sounded amused

"or that I am stalking you, our shared bond of horror movies convincing me I could not stray too far. Or perhaps something more sinister?" They asked raising an eyebrow

"If not a simple coincidence then I'm not sure what else it could be." They paused briefly again "in fact I've always found it odd when people are wary of coincidence if living in a place this big has taught me anything it's that the galaxy is full of coincidences."

Kazumi sounded a bit gentler "or perhaps we are just two people that recently talked about this place and happened to show up around the same time." The look betrayed the soft smile that was surely behind the mask.

"I do not care for being mocked," she said harshly. Toma would have liked Kazumi, it was true. Shifting she pushed herself up to her feet but not before reclaiming the small personal statue of Benten she had with her. Tucking it in neatly under hand as it rested beside her hip. Looking at Kazumi she narrowed her eyes, measured him, and started to walk back toward the House of Stone.

Kazumi sighed audibly shaking their head "Koyuki-san, wait." Kazuminsaid taking steps to stay in a conversational distance with the Kuni "I meant no offense and I certainly wasn't trying to mock you."

Their tone was strong and sincere hoping to catch up and give a bow of apology if she stop to allow it "It was an, apparently poor, attempt at levity." They chuckled, the sound part humor part self conscious "I seem to always say the wrong thing with you."

Koyuki's pace was casual, and when he moved to catch up to her she didn't speed up. However, she didn't slow down either. There was at least no added discomfort when he got nearer. In fact, she started speaking conversationally enough that he'd have to keep a close, conversational, distance if he wanted to hear her, "I am not a puzzle for you to figure out, Kazumi-san," she sounded harsh, but there was a grimace. She knew it sounded harsh. She didn't mean for it to come out so harsh.

There was a nearby tree and let out a low groan that almost made it sound like its weight was going to fold into itself...despite it being perfectly still. The dangling masks from its branches swayed slightly in the windless air.

However, that wasn't the only strange occurrence around the grove.

Day 3 - Early Afternoon: Stealth/Agility +2 Free Raises | 7k4+10 ⇒ 59 (TN: ?)

(Please roll Investigation (Notice)/Perception contested to detect.)

Kuni Koyuki wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 09, 2022 9:02 pm

-snip-

Kazumi missed maybe half a step from the harsh tone of her words but he kept moving "I.....never said you were. Nor was I trying to 'solve' you." There was another half sigh "I'm just, kicking myself for offending you, again."

Their voice was quiet for a moment "I'm usually better at this sort of thing." Kazumi was seemingly a bit lost on what to say here and their attention was far too focused on the Kuni to notice anything amiss in the Grove.

----------------------
D3 Who creepin investigation/per tn 59 unskilled | 2k2 ⇒ 6 (TN: 59)

"You're-" her frustration hitched in her voice, she turned and raised her hand, not at him but in the air over her shoulder. Looking him in the eye she groaned, and settled herself. Blowing air out in that huff from her nostrils.

"You're fine.. Kazumi-san. Just- it's just," she sighs, "don't worry about it."

[Can't pass without void, not using void. Stealthy thing is stealthy!]

As it seems, nothing was out of the ordinary here and everything would continue to remain ordinary for the duration of this scene.

The sound akin to wood contorting in an old home at night could be heard nearby from one of the trees. Perhaps it was a warning but it was a normal sound from here all things considered.

Kuni Koyuki wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 10, 2022 12:39 am

"You're-" her frustration hitched in her voice, she turned and raised her hand, not at him but in the air over her shoulder. Looking him in the eye she groaned, and settled herself. Blowing air out in that huff from her nostrils.

"You're fine.. Kazumi-san. Just- it's just," she sighs, "don't worry about it."

[Can't pass without void, not using void. Stealthy thing is stealthy!]

Kazumi took a breath centering his feelings of unease. His voice was gentle but not soft direct but not demanding "could you talk to me about it Koyuki-san? There seems to be something about me that bothers you but only sometimes. We seemed to get along great the other day minus one hiccup."

Koyuki's eyes darted over toward the tree that made the low groan, suggesting a near collapse, or perhaps simply the lamenting soul of the dead. Delayed in her reaction as the pounding in her head and chest settled to a stop. Eyes narrowed, lip quirked, it was nothing. That sound had long faded, of course it was nothing. You're jumping at phantoms Koyuki. Watching the masks for a few seconds before finally turning her gaze back on Kazumi. With that distraction handled, although it wasn't really, she'd had some time to settle down.

"It's- it's just a bad time," she says, her tone elevated still but it was coming down. Sighing, "It was just a bad time, that's all. I'm heading back to the embassy," she glances, but doesn't turn her head toward over her shoulder in that direction. "You can walk with me back, if you want to."

Kazumi nods curiosity in their eyes but left unspoken for now as they fall in step with the Kuni and the pair begin the process of leaving the grove. The moaning and twisting branches gave Kazumi no pause as they were noises the Scorpion was used to hearing in this place, for better or worse.

"So what did motivate you to choose such a pleasant location for and afternoon walk?" Kazumi asked after a moment.

"I thought it would be a place I could be alone," she says, her tone touching into that harshness. Eyes cast down, she was guilty. That stupid temper just seeped in without cause, without intent. Softer now, a touch defeated, "But, it is evident that this was not the case. Apparently, this Grove is quite the attraction."

Without another word shared, she also indicated a patch of dirt clearly disturbed by a fair deal of foot traffic. Recent, to a trackers eye. And even the layman's, honestly. Clearly you should have chosen somewhere else to mope over yourself. Can't even get that right. When are you gonna learn?

"A dark place to be alone, only suited for dark thoughts." They replied outwardly unaffected by her harsh words at this point, having accepted her bristly mood.

"The Grove is a surprisingly popular place for tourists. For most it is morbid curiosity." He gives her a look "but something tells me morbidity isn't such a draw for you."

He looked around and backnto her "what do you think of it Koyuki-san?"

"It is clearly a testament to your clans adherence to Loyalty. Though, I do wonder how-" she shakes her head. No, there's nowhere that line of conversation goes that doesn't end in agreement or argument where neither leads to any different outcome. A clear shift in gear, albeit slight, "I find it.. a good reminder, of who the Scorpion are. Something that an ally is sure to be able to respect," she says, glancing to him. Eyes not betraying too much, just the focus on the topic at hand with intent upon that focus. Pushing out the other thoughts which might distract her.

Kazumi nodded "That it does and that we do. I'd wager just about every Scorpion on the planet knows where this is and most have seen it. We have to remember that everything we do is for the betterment of the clan and also ultimately the Empire. Our greatest failures in history are when we forgot that."

They take a breath "but yet even with such powerful a reminder, many still tend to forget. Ironically enough here in this very province. I do sometimes wonder if we have been cursed to be our own worst enemy." Kazumi says with a tone that suggests a sardonic smile of jaded amuesment.

Kazumi cleared their throat "sorry if that was a lot, this place gets me in a weird space."

Eyes narrowing on him, Koyuki wouldn't speak right away. Simply letting that thought sit while she examines him briefly, "You speak of something you have experience with, Kazumi-san?" she tests. Though her own rebuke of him has barely worn away there was that unmistakable quality of the words as if there was something he wanted to talk about, but perhaps it would amount to little more than she could manage herself.

A bit of the jaded nature left their expression as Kazumi looked to the Kuni, softening a little "Ah, well, sort of." They looked around and chuckled a little "this is usually the part where I say it's a long story for a different setting but" They motioned around "it's almost the perfect setting."

Kazumi shook their head "Instead I'll just say I won't burden you with my past Koyuki-san. Suffice it say yes I have suffered by way of Scorpion greed and selfishness."