Dark Edge Village

Knowing what would transpire tonight, Udo went to the shrine to offer his prayers for blessings for the Unicorn tonight.

He sat before the shrine, and offered any words he could.

Dismounting Ti-Lu, Mei approaches the shrine and bows in reverence. She offers a quick prayer and then turns to the Dragon.

"Evening, Togashi-san. Are you lost in thought?"

"Good evening." He looks at the newcomer. "I find it much more likely to be lost in the world than in my head."

"Well, what seems to have you lost tonight?"

Mei sits seiza a distance away to not appear threatening and draws Meng and begins to ceremoniously clean it

"Where to be later, but it is no bother... How about you? I do not believe I've seen you here earlier, are you recently arrived?"

Mei gives Udo a puzzled look at his answer.

"I arrived late, yesterday. My horse had suffered a sprain on my travels here and I had to wait for him to heal."

Mei pours a clear oil on thr blade and begins to polish it.

"Where to be later? The night grows late. Are you not headed to bed after this?"

"Only time will tell." Udo looks back toward the shrine, most of his face disappearing under his hat.

"I'm sorry to hear about your horse, but glad it has healed. At least you made it in time to still make a good impression."

"Do you think your problem to be something Kakita would be able to help, or are you simply praying here to be away from the commotion of the village?"

"I'm afraid you misunderstand, Miya-sama. I have no problems, only questions."

He looks back over at his companion. "How about you, do you have a problem a Togashi could help with?"

"You know what I meant, Togashi-san, don't be coy. Questions are alike to problems. And with that in mind, yes, I do, and yes, you can. "

She wipes the blade and takes out a black stone to run along the edge.

"My problem is I am wondering your question."

Udo spreads his hands out before him.

"That is a difficult problem to have. All problems that involve another are tricky. I shall tell you a question I have: if another has a question they want answered, but one thinks its not a question that should be answered... how far should the one go to dissuade the asking of the question?"

Mei lets a small smile show for a moment before putting her On back in place.

"That depends on many things, Togashi-san, an ever tricky scale to measure and balance. You making the statement you just did has put more weight on my curiosity however, and will make me in turn push my curiosity more against you."

Udo genuinely smiles back.

"Your curiosity is a river and my answer is the rain." Udo takes off his hat and turns it upside down. "Perhaps I shall need a boat?"

"Even the greatest boats are lost when the river turns to an ocean that is raging."

Mei slides the stone alobg the edge of her blade a few more times before oiling and polishing it again.

"Perhaps the answer is to quiet the storm, to quell the ocean, to save the boat. If the wind," Udo gestures forth from his mouth, "ceases to blow, the storm shall calm."