Among the digital flowers (D5ME expecting)

[Susumu Sumiko]

"It felt..."

Sumiko trailed off, thinking back.

"It was a mix really. Painful and wonderful. Lonely and complete. Happy and sad. Life was sometimes brighter, and at other times it was darker. We only crossed paths briefly in very carefully arranged accidental meetings, and it was harder in the times between because there was no guarantee when a next meet would be. However, I think the biggest feeling was content, because we knew that even in the furthest parts of the galaxy there was someone who loved you."

She looked back at Senshuken.

"There was a story I was told once when I was little about a couple who loved each other dearly. They were married, but duty brought them far apart as the husband had to go to war while the wife remained home to raise their children. At night, they both found themselves looking out of the window, up at the stars, and for a brief moment they could feel each other looking back at them. The monk that told me the story said that's why at night we're drawn to look up at the sky. It's Benten pulling our attention towards the one we love, or have loved in a previous life. To remind us that we're not alone, even in the darkest times."

She smiled.

"It's a nice thought, neh?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"No." The girl replies. "It's not a bad thought if you're already screwed and have fallen for the one you can't be with, but it's not... fulfilling. Hope can get people far, but there are other sentiments that can get us even further."

She pauses for a moment to think. "I don't believe that I wish to ever fall in love if I cannot wake up in the middle of the night and hug the person I love tightly. If I cannot see them being more than content, being passionate about life and about being with me. Be passionate together and live life and love to the fullest." She shrugs. "Stolen moments are for hurried courtly affairs that only last for a season, for eyes that are quick to fill with tears upon departure and sacrifice what they feel in the name of duty. Those are the eyes that look at the stars hoping that their once lover does the same." She shrugs. "But duty, court, hope and the stars do exist and there are only a handful of samurai that find love within the boundaries of a nakodo's ability to search for the perfect match for them, so," a second shrug, "all in all, I don't want to fall in love."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I can understand that feeling, and I could also imagine thinking that way once also. I suppose it's different after Benten has touched your heart, as it's difficult to go back to a time where you've not felt it."

Sumiko shook her head and looked back to Senshuken.

"However I must challenge the stolen moments comment. While we may have only seen each other in fleeting moments, and the parts where we were apart were hard, I wouldn't have changed them. It helped me understand myself, my feelings, my...choices. It helped me reach out beyond my simple window of my simple room, because I knew out there was something more. It was more than just stolen moments, it was something more."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Forgive me. I had no intention of judging or reducing your experience. It is exactly the way you felt it, I don't doubt that. I was talking about the usual season long loves. Courtiers that are quick to love and even quicker to forget." She stops herself before saying more this time.

"Let's go back to passion, shall we?" She suggests and grins. A less dangerous matter for a discussion between lovers, for sure. "To whom should I pray to if I wished to be more enthusiastic about a specific endeavor of mine?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko nodded and smiled.

"No apology needed, and I do understand what you mean Senshu-chan. Onto the subject of passion, if you wish to pray to be more enthusiastic it would depend what you want to be enthusiastic in. Kyoso is a good one for passion as we've mentioned. If it's within something academic Kinuye the Dark Fortune of Knowledge may be suitable. Uzuki, the Dark Fortune of Perfection, may guide you to finding the perfect moment. Then you have other Fortunes - Natsu-togumara for example is a lesser remembered Fortune of Travel and Experience. Agashiko, Fortune of Simplicity and Reflection."

There was a pause, then a chuckle.

"I feel like this is a test of my knowledge on Fortunism."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken chuckles, as well. "Nothing like that, I promise. It's not easy to admit it, but I get terribly bored with... court." Another chuckle, more bitter this time. "I have heard rumors that this is not good for a courtier. This entire season while mingling and supposedly doing my jon, I only had half a conversation that could be defined as interesting and that was about a card game. You should give my regards to Susumu Yuji sama by the way. He knows how to play court. That's the kind of a man that I could contest for an entire season and never get bored."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Hmm, is that so?"

Sumiko looked thoughtful.

"I suppose someone who lives an exciting life would find the court life rather dull as it's just talking and one-upping another a lot of the time. Not as exciting a bike race" she grinned at Senshuken "I can understand that, even as a courtier by training myself. While I can enjoy the court life, I'd much rather be exploring this universe and unravelling the mysteries it hides. Susumu Yuji-sama is very nice though, hai. His wife is lovely too."

With a grin she added "does that mean I'm not fun to talk to then?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Does that mean I'm not fun to talk to then?" She repeats teasingly and sticks her tongue out playfully. "You are not an assignment I got, but the person I choose to spend my time with." She smirks and continues. "If you weren't fun, I would either leave or try to unravel all the juicy Spider secrets that you know of and I haven't done either of those things." She concludes and winks.

"But yes, tell me about Susumu sama's wife. Is she more lovely than you? Should I change targets and make a move on her? Tell me everything!" Her tone is rather playful and it is obvious that she is joking.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I wasn't the one that said they didn't enjoy this" Sumiko said with a chuckle "but hai, you are very fun to talk to. I like your viewpoint, and I also like the view here" she winked "I quite enjoy discussions in court. I could talk for hours on theories, or research, or...well, most things."

"As for Susumu-samas wife? She is more lovely than I, but I don't think I'm all that lovely. I don't think she would be a good target though, she loves Susumu Yuji-sama and her children very much. They're a cute couple."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Are you kidding me?" She asks and laughs for a moment. "You are like the loveliest person on this planet. Since I cannot say that for my own self and not be heavily criticized." She winks.

"Do tell me, loveliest, what kind of theories, research or things would you like to discuss with me while enjoying the view here?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"How can I be the loveliest when you're here Senshu-chan?" Sumiko replied with a grin "I think you should be honest and acknowledge your own loveliness!"

Sumiko moved slightly so she could sit next to Senshu instead of in front of.

"What to talk about? Hm...well, what about this park? I've never though of someone creating a virtual park, what do you think?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The Bayushi also moves closer so that their knees touch each other. "Yes! Isn't it a fantastic idea? I absolutely love the VR environments and this in particular is so lively. I do most of my training in one and gaming.. Gah! Gaming in VR is absolutely nuts! Do you play?" She turns to look at the other girl straight into the eyes as if asking the most important question that can be answered. "Do you play games?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko rests her legs against Senshukens as they brush together, looking thoughtful at the question.

"Hmm...I've never tried VR environments, and I'm not very good at games if I'm honest. I do enjoy them though, but you'll have to go easy on me. Or teach me how to play properly, one of the two! If you teach me though I will win, so your choice" she grinned "I don't usually have access or ability to play games though, there isn't many where I'm from. Those kinds of activities are not too popular on Whispers."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She got challenged? By a noob nevertheless? Ok, that's it. It is love at first challenge!

"Oh my sweet sweet summer child, that was a grave mistake." She looks at the other girl and smirks. "You left me with little choice but to plan a unique gaming experience just for the two of us." She inclines her head. "I, Bayushi Senshuken, officially accept your challenge, Sumiko of the Susumu, and I invite you at a no-pants day at my place. Just you, me, pizza, beers and gaming!" She comments nothing about the awful way of living on Whispers for now.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko didn't really understand the no-pants comment, but she chuckled at the confidence of the woman.

"I accept both your invitation. I do warn you though, I am a very fast learner, although it sounds like you just want to get me drink" she grinned "it sounds like a lot of fun though. I'll study up on current games to prepare myself for anything."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Yes," she nods. "You do that and I will show a few things, as well."

"But!" Se raises her index to emphasize her next words. "Do talk to me about Whispers and life there. It sounds tough and I want to know everything there is to know about your life." She pauses for a moment. "It's not professional curiosity, I have to be clear. I don't want your family's secrets or anything. I just want to know you."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Whispers?"

Sumiko looked thoughtful.

"It's a small world, and while I do not like speaking ill of my home it's a bleak world. I think I told you before about the planet not revolving? That means only half of it is really liveable, so cutting an already small world even smaller. The light-bound side has a large amount of solar farms but that's about it. The darker side, or at least along the twilight line, is where most people live. There's a lot of factories, and small settlements dotted around. My family lived near the dojo on Whispers where the Susumu trained their diplomats, and the little library I work at is attached to it. So best way to describe it is dark, not very clean and extremely small. Only the Mantis and Unicorn even have embassies there, which isn't surprising."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She nods. "Do you miss your home? Your parents and day to day activities?" She pauses for a moment. "Are you in good terms with them? Your parents, I mean."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"My parents? Hai we're on good terms, well we talk at least. I don't think they really wanted a child, but are thankful their child turned out to be better at what she does than they are at what they do" Sumiko shrugged "I can't say I miss them though. They were always focused on their jobs, and I was focused on my studies. They taught me well enough though. As for my home?"

Sumiko thought on it for a moment before shaking her head.

"I miss the library, but if I never had to go back to Whispers again I wouldn't be sad about it. There's much more in the universe to see."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"I was an afterthought for my parents, as well. The last out of four children. My eldest sister is 25 years older than me. Imagine that!"

"Do you like it here, Sumi chan? In this planet?" She asks.