Hato had moved her meager positions into an empty room within the Dragon embassy. Of course, given the reality ascetic nature of the Dragon, one did have to check to make sure a room was truly vacant and not just possessing a very ascetic resident.

Hato didn't have many things either, though in her case, it was a case of poverty because of her surroundings, not some high minded detachment from material possessions. She still had her unsigned Susumu Yakumo poster, and the truly ridiculous hat that Koroshi had given her. She'd thought of leaving the hat someone dramatic...perhaps on the head of the Watanabe statue. Still, while she would be leaving behind this life for a new one among the Dragon, she wanted to remember the old one. And perhaps think of what could have been.

She strolled onto the deck to look out over the water. Dragon eyes were on her, of course. Not that they didn't trust her, oh Heavens no! They just wanted to make sure their incipient member had someone on hand to answer any questions. That it kept her from running off to go live in sin some more was completely coincidental

Hato was a new face around the embassy, even though Shigure was always kind of lost in the giant boat he can be friendly to strangers. He approached the ronin. "Good morning..." He had a small toy flute with him and a toy bow as well. He was going to do something odd but that is another story to be told. "Ummm... I think I have seen you about the city... I am Mirumoto Shigure."

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 2:55 pm

Hato was a new face around the embassy, even though Shigure was always kind of lost in the giant boat he can be friendly to strangers. He approached the ronin. "Good morning..." He had a small toy flute with him and a toy bow as well. He was going to do something odd but that is another story to be told. "Ummm... I think I have seen you about the city... I am Mirumoto Shigure."

Hato bowed deeply.

"This one remembers you Lord Dragon. We had a brief talk at the sanctuary as you tested out your new flute nearly a week ago." she said. "For the time being, this one is Hato, but not for too much longer."

"This one hopes that Lord Dragon's flute practice has led him to audiences more appreciative than fish with no ears." she offered sincerely.

"And I told you not to call me lord. I now remember. I am no lord, Hato san." The Dragon chuckled. "My audiences have not improved. I continue to play to audiences that have no ears, like the walls of my room." He smiled.

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 5:13 pm

"And I told you not to call me lord. I now remember. I am no lord, Hato san." The Dragon chuckled. "My audiences have not improved. I continue to play to audiences that have no ears, like the walls of my room." He smiled.

Hato bows apologetically for the slip.

"Ah, my apologies, Mirumoto-san. That detail had escaped this one. Much has happened since that night. And while this one is supposed to be leaving behind this life, this should not mean this one should forget what has transpired here." she offered.

She looked out across the water.

"This one wonders if Mirumoto-san shares the ambassador's...distaste for this world." she inquired.

The Mirumoto sighed. "I..." He looked at the horizon. "I have been oddly alone... I came here for some answers...I found some but many formed." He looked at the ronin woman. "I do not dislike this place yet I don't find it likable either. The odd feeling of the spirits around and many deaths of many poor souls." Shigure turned back to the horizon. "Do you know how to write Hato san?" May sound like an odd question in this modern times but sometimes ronin may not have the option of such education.

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sat May 07, 2022 11:43 pm

The Mirumoto sighed. "I..." He looked at the horizon. "I have been oddly alone... I came here for some answers...I found some but many formed." He looked at the ronin woman. "I do not dislike this place yet I don't find it likable either. The odd feeling of the spirits around and many deaths of many poor souls." Shigure turned back to the horizon. "Do you know how to write Hato san?" May sound like an odd question in this modern times but sometimes ronin may not have the option of such education.

Hato didn't take offense at the question, though she did wonder about the lonely Dragon. Perhaps in his mind ronin was little better than a bandit, perhaps he had run into some literate thugs on the rougher part of town. But she'd have a difficult time functioning as an information broker were she illiterate.

"This one does know how to write, Mirumoto-san, though this one cannot compare her calligraphy to Kitsuki Miyuki's. She truly is quite the remarkable samurai, a master of summer and winter." she remarked. "Why do you ask, Mirumoto-san?"

"Would you write down what you are leaving behind. I shall write down what I am also leaving behind." He took out the toy bow. "Let's shoot that into the horizon. And hope that it is still left behind." The Dragon nodded. "My calligraphy is not the best either but it is legible." He chuckled.

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 12:27 am

"Would you write down what you are leaving behind. I shall write down what I am also leaving behind." He took out the toy bow. "Let's shoot that into the horizon. And hope that it is still left behind." The Dragon nodded. "My calligraphy is not the best either but it is legible." He chuckled.

Hato tilted her head.

"An interesting notion, Mirsumoto-san. This one assumes that we can acquire the writing implements here at the embassy. If Mirumoto-san would be so kind to show this one where such can be had, this one would join him in this exercise. This one's familiarity with the embassy is rather limited." she admitted.

One materials were secured, she began to write.

'170 koku, 8 zeni.'

Probably not the deep contemplative thought the Dragon was looking for, but when you have away nearly sixty times the amount of money you'd ever had previously, it left an impression.

This was swiftly followed by:

'Any goodwill with the locals for having donated 170 koku, 8 zeni to the Shrine of Passion.'
'The chance to serve Miya Nishida.'

But these things were already gone, or soon would be, so Hato tried to write of some of the things that were about to be left behind.

'The Garden of Mists'
'Tsukune no Saisei no Kibou Wildlife Sanctuary'
'The beaches of the artificial islands'

These places led her to thing of the people she had met. Would they ever meet again? If they did, she would not be Hato.

'Otomo Koroshi's radiance.'
'Miya Nishida's business acumen.'
'Kaiu Setsu's smile.'
'Kuni Koyuki's peppermint scent.'
'Kitsune Koiyushi and the Detective.'
'Dai's derring-do.'
'Doctor Badass'

Hato pondered the list. it seemed like such a short list of names.

'The skeevy store clerk.'
'The fat thug at the store.'

Frowning a bit, Hato struck on why the list was so short.

'Okuri's grave marker'
'Hitoko's grave marker'
'My mother's grave marker.'
'My sisters' grave markers.'

This led her to more somber thoughts of what she was leaving behind.

'Needless Scorpion cruelty.'
'The threat of starvation.'
'The revenge of the blind.'

Taking the list on balance, she finished with two more items.

'Loneliness'
'Aimlessness.'

She blew on the ink (Seriously, what kind of ascetic, cat-possed madman was the ambassador to keep paper and ink in the embassy?). Allowing it to dry, before rolling it up so it wouldn't smudge, before handing it to the erstwhile archer.

"This one believes their list is complete, Mirumoto-san. This one found the exercise rather cathartic, thank you."

The Mirumoto wrote 3 things.
Doubt
War within
Glory

He tied his small scroll to one of the arrows and shot it.He took Hato's paper and tied it to another arrow. "Are you ready." As Hato assented the Mirumoto strung the bow and let the arrow fly... sadly it is a toy bow and neither would fly far. Shigure chuckled as the arrows flopped because of the weight. He looked next to him not to where Hato is. "Yeah I know... I should get a better bow... but I just need my rifle for now... my Lord would provide me with what I need." The Sharpshooter turned to Hato. "Sorry... I tried." He put away the bow.

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 2:02 am

The Mirumoto wrote 3 things.
Doubt
War within
Glory

He tied his small scroll to one of the arrows and shot it.He took Hato's paper and tied it to another arrow. "Are you ready." As Hato assented the Mirumoto strung the bow and let the arrow fly... sadly it is a toy bow and neither would fly far. Shigure chuckled as the arrows flopped because of the weight. He looked next to him not to where Hato is. "Yeah I know... I should get a better bow... but I just need my rifle for now... my Lord would provide me with what I need." The Sharpshooter turned to Hato. "Sorry... I tried." He put away the bow.

Hato looked on at the...well...expected results of trying to use a toy bow for such a task. Cryptic though the Dragon may be, it apparently did not give them the power to shoot ridiculously far with toy bows.

"Ah, there are many lessons one could see in this, Mirumoto-san. 'That strength of will alone cannot overcome reality.' 'That one can never truly leave behind that which they are.'" she mused.

She shook her head.

"However, this one would suggest different lessons 'If at first you don't succeed, find another way.' and 'there are few problems that cannot be solved with fire.' We should burn these scrolls and let the smoke drift away into the sky and vanish.'" she added.

"Yeah... probably better. It's the same symbolic gesture." He smiled

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 3:49 am

"Yeah... probably better. It's the same symbolic gesture." He smiled

It took a little more time to gather the necessary implements for the impromptu ceremony. The scrolls being the easiest acquisition as they went a very short distance indeed. A simple stone bowl from the kitchen. A battered lighter from one of the cooks who still indulged the smoking habit. The scrutiny of the guards who had to be assured that the ronin wasn't planning some sort of mad arson scheme.

The elements were assembled on the desk once more. Hato put her scroll on the bottom of the bowl, and laid the Dragon's scroll atop it, before handing the lighter over to the Dragon.

"It seems more fitting for the fire to come from the Dragon, this one would offer." she suggested.

Shigure nodded. "Very well..." He clapped his hands and said a small prayer. It seem fitting to thank the fire kami for eating their scrolls. He lighted the papers and watched the smoke rise. "So... what now?"

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 3:12 pm

Shigure nodded. "Very well..." He clapped his hands and said a small prayer. It seem fitting to thank the fire kami for eating their scrolls. He lighted the papers and watched the smoke rise. "So... what now?"

Hato watched the smoke rise, blending into the skies of the World of Dreams.

She paused for a moment thinking over the Dragon's question.

"We should discuss the future?" she suggested. "I'll admit, I know little enough about the Dragon. If I'm going to wear their colors in the near future, it would be good to know more about them."

Shigeru nodded. "Ah... well welcome... getting married or ... ah... my bad..." The man gave an apologetic bow. "Well there are a few things that you may find odd. I think you will see that the Togashi are very accepting of those who may be lost. The Kitsuki are very.... don't tell the Ambasador but they are a bit judging and sometimes very wary." Shigure chuckled. "The Mirumoto, we tend to be somewhat protective. Tamori... well... let just say they have their quirks." He chuckled. "Many of us were taught that material things may hinder the path of enlightment and that glory is just not something we should want as servants of our lords."

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 3:34 pm

Shigeru nodded. "Ah... well welcome... getting married or ... ah... my bad..." The man gave an apologetic bow. "Well there are a few things that you may find odd. I think you will see that the Togashi are very accepting of those who may be lost. The Kitsuki are very.... don't tell the Ambasador but they are a bit judging and sometimes very wary." Shigure chuckled. "The Mirumoto, we tend to be somewhat protective. Tamori... well... let just say they have their quirks." He chuckled. "Many of us were taught that material things may hinder the path of enlightment and that glory is just not something we should want as servants of our lords."

Hato nods.

"This one has had first hand experience with the judgmental eyes of the Kitsuki." she admits. "Although, this one would also admit that it is a very different type of judgmental eyes than most that have been on this one has experienced wandering about with a sword and and without a mon."

She leaned on the rail of the ship.

"Most that this one is familiar with make a singular judgement, and then no more. 'All ronin are dirty honorless dogs who've failed their lord and live only as a reminder of what happens when you fail.' They don't see the kind heart of Okuri, the adventurous spirit of Dai, the gentle nature of Yurei, all ronin are the same two-dimensional bad guy copy and pasted to fill space in their world."

She shrugged a bit.

"But while the ambassador certainly judges this world and it's denizens harshly, after all, he is not one to ignore what his eyes are telling him...he's also capable of evaluating without previous bias informing his opinion. He judges on a case by case basis, and fairly.....at least that is what this one assumes is why this one is now where they are." she offered.

She looked over at the Mirumoto, her gaze not all that different from a Kitsuki.

"This one would ask what Mirumoto-san is protecting." she inquired simply enough.

"I protect those who need protecting. Right now I feel I am protecting myself... but not actually myself." He looked at Hato. "We are fair and find that not all are alike... every one has a story and we are willing to listen. A path taken because one's belief is one contrary to a previous Lord. What is honor than the trust of one to sacrfice? One may believe that the failure of a person is the beginning of a new journey." He looked down to the water and shook his head. "My failure here will begin my journey."

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Sun May 08, 2022 4:49 pm

"I protect those who need protecting. Right now I feel I am protecting myself... but not actually myself." He looked at Hato. "We are fair and find that not all are alike... every one has a story and we are willing to listen. A path taken because one's belief is one contrary to a previous Lord. What is honor than the trust of one to sacrfice? One may believe that the failure of a person is the beginning of a new journey." He looked down to the water and shook his head. "My failure here will begin my journey."

Hato followed the Dragon's gaze to the water. He certain was a proper Dragon, very enigmatic.

"Where there's life, there is hope, ne?" she offered, not wanting to pry too deeply into the Dragon's personal affairs. "This one has little enough to offer to one such as you Mirumoto-san, but is happy to do so if it will help."

She shook her head.

"This one can not instruct you in the way of the flute, but could teach you a little about singing if it would please you."

His reflection on the water would remind him of who he is looking for and who he wants to protect. "No need for such lesson but I thank you any ways." He bowed.