Dark Edge Village

After her encounter with the vicious rodents of the Western Field, Hotaru decided that she was going to remain closer to civilization for the rest of the day. She could still feel her legs ache from all of the running she did earlier, while clutching to her basket of eggs like it was a valued treasure. Who knew that weasels could be so vicious? Nasty and sneaky little rodents! Now she had to keep an eye on them if they ever showed their furry little heads around the shrine or the temple at home. The little houses of the village were rather rustic but provided some security.

"Now, all we need is a shop...One that sells fancy rice paper, and haori..." She murmured out loud in thought in wishful thinking as she meandered the district.

Back from her own successes against the vile weasels, Yuki looked like she had been out for a long stroll, but looked none the worse for ware as she approached, smiling. "Good afternoon, Bayushi-san." She said, "This one is Asako Yuki."

She put a pause to her wishful daydreaming when the taller Phoenix woman approached her, putting on her best smile to greet her with a bow in return. "And a very good afternoon to you, Asako-san! I'm pleased to meet you, this one is Bayushi Hotaru, honoured shrine maiden of the Shining Retreat. I hope you've had a pleasant day so far? We've been blessed with a rainless day so far, even if that promises to change later."

"I am honored to be in the presence of a shrine maiden." Yuki responded, bowing a bit lower than necessary to the woman. "It has been an excellent day, if a little taxing with the event today. Did you compete?" Yuki looked up past the Bayushi, to the clouds on the horizon that were already sweeping in, dark with the promise of a heavy rain.

"Maybe with the rain we'll get some sort of pond, enough to have at least something that resembles a proper bath, neh?"

"That's good to hear, Asako-san. I merely hope the blessing of the Setsuban would spell a wonderful renewal to all. It seems we're all already destined for renewal, one way or another through marriage. Perhaps, some of that good spirit has found its way to you already?" She chuckled softly.

"Hai. I did, in fact, compete in the event too," she said carefully after a moment's reluctance, not wanting to recall the furry terrors she had to endure. "It was an enjoyable walk through the fields and all the better our hosts set up a playful event to accompany it. I found some eggs, not a lot. That's fine, the refreshing walk was enough of a reward." I guess the rabid furry terrors would qualify as a punishment?

"I really like your thinking! I'm not unused to washing myself with buckets of water, but I think I could really go for a proper soak. Even lukewarm or cool waters would do at this point," she said with a content sigh.

Yuki blushed a little. "Hai, though I do not have the standings that you enjoy at the moment, I will come away from this married. The only question left is if I will be joining the Unicorn." She shrugged slightly, not seeming to mind the notion.

Noting the woman's hesitation, and her state, Yuki decided to take the hint, smile, nod, and let that piece of the conversation go. "Hai. I didn't get any baths on the road here, I was hoping there might be something here, maybe built by the Lion, since the Unicorn have not been here long." She sighed a little. "I know it's wrong to ask of such things of the kami but sometimes I wish the Shugenjas could simply conjure something up."

"Well, I think everything is still an open possibility when it comes to foreseeable outcomes in the miai. Even my potential future. We're not even halfway through it yet! Anyone could find themselves in the Unicorn or with a Unicorn spouse. I think we'll just have take the next few days as a quick lesson, as we will have to find a comfortable understanding of our spouses-to-be at the very least. I can say that I've acquainted myself with a few interesting personalities in the last few days."

Just conjure something up, like really? Hotaru tilted her head a few times, as if she was taking the time to consider such a possibility. "That's quite a wish! I don't know if it's something I could do with my power, as my relationship with the water kami isn't as close as I would like. Heavens! A time like this, now I wish I gave them more attention during my studies!"

"Hai, myself as well." Yuki smiled. "Though, I admit, one has stood out." She blushed slightly and tried to wave the thoughts off. "I would be happy to join the Unicorn, though by the points so far it doesn't look like I will." She shrugged some at that.

"Ah, happy thoughts is all that is I suppose." She sighed, perhaps being a Phoenix gave her absurd expectations of what shugenja could achieve. "It would probably take several shugenja to do something like that." She sighed. "Well, maybe we'll get lucky and some sort of pond will form. Maybe a prayer to Osano-Wo would do the trick?"

"Oooh?" She quipped curiously with a tilt of her head. "Asako-san is lucky to be hit with inspiration and admiration so soon! I'm still pondering over the choices myself, I guess that leaves in the back while everyone had made up their minds already. Some people are very inclined to repeat the romantic love of their parents with their prospects, which is very sweet! So much promise and yearning! I'm figuring things out, see if Benten's blessing lurks in one of the Unicorn here."

"Maybe!" She giggled at that thought. Bad idea. "It is said that it really depends on the mindset of the Fortune at the time. Osano-Wo can be as turbulent as the storms he commands. You could just get thunder, lots of rain...or lightning. Do we really want to push our luck with his majesty?"

"I hope Benten sees fit to bless both of us then." She smiled. "As things stand though, you will get your choice, rather than the other way around. That is for the better, neh?"

Yuki paused at that and nodded a bit. "Hai, hai. Good point. Who would you suggest we pray to then?" Yuki asked, looking to the person with more expertise than herself.

Hai, with all of the milk the Unicorn seem to love drinking and eating on a daily basis! Hotaru smiled optimistically. "We shall see! At the moment, I'm still trying to familiarize myself with many aspects of being Unicorn. My time is to be treasured here, especially on my first excursion outside of the Scorpion lands. Also, my husband will be Unicorn and I want to close the difference if I'm to spend the rest of my life with him."

She pursed her lip in thought for a quick moment and brought up her point with a raised finger of knowledge. "While Osano-Wo has command over storms and lightning, I don't think the rain is solely his domain...it can be considered shared by each Fortune of the Winds, namely Zocho, Tamon, Komoku, Jikoju and most importantly Kaze-no-kami. The winds are responsible for blowing the dark clouds that have much rain in them our direction, ne? Indirectly, I would say that even Inari has a hand in commanding the rain, if for a different purpose. Good grain is only possible and we do find ourselves in one of the months of harvest, so Inari can surely make rain happen so that corps are fruitful! I would put my stake on Inari and Jikoju, Fortune of the East Winds, both whom farmer pray to for rain."

"Hai, I even studied some before coming here and I'm still unfamiliar with many of the Unicorn traditions. Learning everything will probably take a lifetime. But we won't have much choice but to learn." Yuki responded, likewise smiling optimistically.

She considered the shrine maiden's words. "I think the fortune of the East wind would be best. As Inari focuses on crops and I would not want to take from the prayers of the farmers."

"I shouldn't be surprised that perhaps it is the Phoenix who might be prepared the most when it comes to the Unicorn, reading and studying their culture ever since their arrival. I wish I was so prepared, but I'm only learning about them for the first time with so few rumours to go on. Perhaps there's some benefit to being surprised every time I meet them?" Well, except that nasty milk surprised.

"That might be wise, perhaps I may devote some of my evening prayers to the same Fortune to better our chances," she nodded with Yuki's decision. "I wonder...do the Phoenix have shugenja in attendance at the miai?"

Yuki shrugged. "It has not been a complete help. The Unicorn maintained their Rokugani traditions quite well, as is to be expected, though there has been some drift, they experienced so many different cultures that may have influenced them that picking just one would not be able to fill in the entire picture." She smiled. "I didn't have that much time to study them anyway, so I've had a few surprises."

She paused at the question and nodded. "Hai, Isawa Nonin. We traveled from Phoenix lands together. Why do you ask, Bayushi-san?"

"Surprises would only mean that things here have also been interesting too, at least, neh?" She looked to Yuki with a small smirk on her lips.

"Isawa Nonin-san...I think I've heard that name is passing, but I haven't met him myself. I only ask, because I wonder if there are other Phoenix here too who wished to engage in talks of theology or religious practice. I understand everyone here is busy and likely tending to appointments with their suitors...but a miko such as myself are few in the Scorpion lands, especially compared to yours. Most Scorpion shugenja tend to flock to the courts and tend to other pursuits." And Yogo are lousy, cursed, company. "I was just thinking if I could trade notes, so to speak. In more tangible matters, the shrine and its monks could use a hand too. It would also be nice to make it a more welcoming place to pray, too."