Dark Edge Village

So this is it, the scene of battle in which Chi-pu perished, now a (un)natural feature of landscape with water carrying unknown health jeopardy. After the bombardment with rumors Butaj sent word to Misa that it was better to meet somewhere farther from peeping toms and eavesdroppers. And so he waits, trying to fight back anger and gloom. Huludai dances on the verge of the crater back and forth, but Butaj forbade him to drink from it.

A crater wasn't the easiest thing for a woman like Misa to navigate, but thankfully all she needed to do was make her way to the lip of it, guided by Sanmi. As she approached where she knew Butaj was by the sounds of his horse, she smiled and gave a bow, but said nothing immediately. Instead, she was guided to the top of the lip and prostrated herself, murmuring some soft prayers of appeasement and passage. The world would move on, but prayer would always make things better.

Butaj observes this act of spirituality with benign befuddlement, and waits. He knows better than disturbing enlightened people when they do enlightened things. He looks to the endless blue sky and remembers Chi-pu. His thoughts are troubled, however, and her lack of cheer when seeing him and not approaching him outright do not bode well. He manages it but he is anxious.

It takes a few moments for Misa to finish her prayers before she stood finally, clapping her hands twice in finishing her offerings. Finally she walked over to Butaj, her smile warm and genuine. "Butaj-san, arigato. For inviting me here, as well as giving me the time to offer my prayers. Otaku-san's spirit will go on to its next life with or without my prayers, but every word we can give will help its passage all the same. This one can not tell, are you well today?"

Her smile banishes a caravan-worth of his worries down some western cliff. "Seeing you smile so beautifully has just made me a lot better. But there are things that worry Butaj. Our night together has been widely spoken about my some bad people who either don't want to or cannot keep their tongues in their mouth." His gaze moves to Sanmi and smile is substituted with frown. "Butaj is now deeply worried. About Misa's good name and feelings, and about the reputation of the Unicorn. There is talk now that the Children of Shinjo are loose in intimate matters."

Sanmi flushed, but didn't look away. She didn't like Butaj certainly, but she hadn't spread rumors. For Misa's part, her smile remained just as it was. "Rumors will always be what they will, but I understand your concern. If we wish to maintain more open relations, we will both need to be more open. I think Butaj will have to wait for another night." She gave a soft smirk.

"Butaj can wait, and certainly will if it can help Misa remain respectable since he knows you care about it, like with Tonbo-sama. But Butaj doesn't understand what Misa means by open relations. Is Misa considering other suitors too?" He is curious, there is no reproof in his voice, or complaint. Little has changed in his heart since they made love, however.

She gave a soft giggle into a sleeve. "No, I mean between the Unicorn and Dragon. I don't wish rumors and such to harm relations at all between our two clans."

Butaj exhales, then smirks. "Do nights together are the only things people gossip about? Or gifts too? If Butaj wanted to give something to Misa, would it be spoken about not at all, in a good way or in a bad way?"

"A gift?" Her head tilted a bit curiously before she shook it softly. "No, there's nothing at all inappropriate about a gift if given thoughtfully and appropriately. What has Butaj-san brought me?"

"Butaj has a pendant he wants to give Misa. He wants Misa to have something beautiful from Butaj. Something to keep over her heart if Misa feels having something from Butaj over her heart is a good idea." He clears his throat. Was it a bad gift-giving start? He doesn't know. He takes her hand, however, and puts something in it.

Misa let Inger's trace over the pendant as she smiled softly, recognizing the shape generally. She hoped Butaj understood. "Arigato Butaj-san. I can't accept such a thoughtful gift for having given nothing in return."

One.

Butaj knows how to play the game. Thank you, Fukawa! "Misa has given Butaj her trust and affection. This means more to Butaj than any riches, so this is just a token of how Butaj feels in return. Butaj will be very happy if you have something from him. Butaj knows the game and will keep offering, no worries."

Well, at least he knew! Though she almost giggled at him mentioning it outright. "Is that so? Well then I must refuse a second time to do this right, hai?"

Butaj smirks. "Of course! Is that it, the second refusal? If so, then for this third time of giving Butaj wants to tell you that he thinks that this horse will look pretty on you. Because Misa is beautiful and graceful and could share a bit of that with the little horse from Butaj if she chooses to carry it." He closes her hand over the pendant with his fingers.