[D5 EE] Final Rites (OPEN)

[Moto Butaj]

"They speak now and they will forget later. We will always remember. The evening wind is Chi-Pu. The star in the west is Chi-Pu. Tianma's first foal when it will neigh is Chi-Pu. We will remember." Butaj says quietly. "Sayyeda Khulun knows how to remember. This is the greatest gift."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Hiroji nods sadly. "You have heard correct Tomonaga-sama. There is nothing that makes a friendship quite like battle." He sips his sake.

Tomonaga grunted. If he ever ended up fighting in a battle, it probably meant that someone, possibly him, had made a terrible mistake. It was a strange thing, to think that he'd probably never experience that.

"Who else was there?" Tomonaga asked. "I'd heard it was battle maidens, but..." Tomonaga gestured towards Hiroji, "-obviously not entirely."

[Miya Mei]

Yurio thanked the Otaku for the sake and perhaps was about to say more when the Miya appeared.

He bows.

"Miya-sama. I am not sure I understand all of the details but one of the Otaku fell in battle against a Dragon of some sort last night. The . . . well I'm not really sure why it attacked, but the Otaku defended the camp, and now we mourn the one that fell."

The Miya pulls out a fan and covers her face.

"Oh my, that is quite the story. It does make one wonder what ire beset this village to beset it with such a foe though."

She takes a small sip from her cup.

"At any rate, it is good to see the Unicorn still have familiar customs. I was speaking with one earlier today that had me worried."

She looks around, trying to spot single Ponys

"They say that a funeral is a good place to meet people. Shall we try a game? Point out someone for each of us to talk with?"

[Matsu Yurio]

Fortunately Yurio knew a few of the men about for the Miya to pick from.

"Well . . . the lead priest is Iuchi Dong-ha over there. And that is Moto Butaj a warrior of the Unicorn and a skilled wrestler."

[Moto Khulun]

"They speak now and they will forget later. We will always remember. The evening wind is Chi-Pu. The star in the west is Chi-Pu. Tianma's first foal when it will neigh is Chi-Pu. We will remember." Butaj says quietly. "Sayyeda Khulun knows how to remember. This is the greatest gift."

“We will sing her songs, though I am sure others will want to put her name in a book and then put it away somewhere to be forgotten. We tell songs of Chi-Pu, we sing of her strength, her sacrifice, her leadership out of the Dark,” she replies.

“As long as there are Unicorn, she will not be forgotten along with all the ten thousand heroes of the Unicorn.”

“I am still sad, but better knowing this.”

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Mizuki wondered if it was her comrade on the pyre or other things.

"That's understandable. If you need me, I'm here." Mizuki wasn't really sure what else she could say. At least, what else she say with all these people around.

Maybe it was a mistake to approach her. Maybe I shouldn't have ever come to her...

Yue tried to imagine the face that she had fallen for behind that mask. However, memory was a cruel thing that failed miserably from time to time. "I should not disturb you any longer, Yogo-san." However, she stood there, giving Mizuki a chance to stop her if so desired.

After all, Mizuki had stopped her from leaving before.

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Tomonaga grunted. If he ever ended up fighting in a battle, it probably meant that someone, possibly him, had made a terrible mistake. It was a strange thing, to think that he'd probably never experience that.

"Who else was there?" Tomonaga asked. "I'd heard it was battle maidens, but..." Tomonaga gestured towards Hiroji, "-obviously not entirely."

"There was the One armed Shinjo, Togashi Udo, the scorpion doctor and the Mantis." Hiroji said as he sipped the sake.

[Yogo Mizuki]

Mizuki wondered if it was her comrade on the pyre or other things.

"That's understandable. If you need me, I'm here." Mizuki wasn't really sure what else she could say. At least, what else she say with all these people around.

Maybe it was a mistake to approach her. Maybe I shouldn't have ever come to her...

Yue tried to imagine the face that she had fallen for behind that mask. However, memory was a cruel thing that failed miserably from time to time. "I should not disturb you any longer, Yogo-san." However, she stood there, giving Mizuki a chance to stop her if so desired.

After all, Mizuki had stopped her from leaving before.

Mizuki already hurt one person she cared about today. She couldn't return Yue's feelings, but she still cared for the woman. She didn't want to hurt her again.

"You are not disturbing me. I just..." She looks back to the pyre. "I'm just lost for words. I came here... I did not know Otaku-san. I honor her sacrifice. But... I came here to support my friend."

[Miya Mei]

Fortunately Yurio knew a few of the men about for the Miya to pick from.

"Well . . . the lead priest is Iuchi Dong-ha over there. And that is Moto Butaj a warrior of the Unicorn and a skilled wrestler."

Mei watches as the Matsu picks them out.

"I see. I do not know any women, but..."

She looks around again.

Pointing with her fan, she motions toward Otaku Imane

"What of her, on the horse? She has been silent thus far."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Mizuki already hurt one person she cared about today. She couldn't return Yue's feelings, but she still cared for the woman. She didn't want to hurt her again.

"You are not disturbing me. I just..." She looks back to the pyre. "I'm just lost for words. I came here... I did not know Otaku-san. I honor her sacrifice. But... I came here to support my friend."

And like a fish on a line, Yue was reeled back in. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Yogo-san." She inched closer and set her tetsubo's tip on the ground with her hand still on the hilt. Hikazume, for her part, stayed idly by.

"What do you think of me, Mizuki?" she whispered when she found an opportunity.

Why am I even asking this? Why am I being so direct?

[Yogo Mizuki]

And like a fish on a line, Yue was reeled back in. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Yogo-san." She inched closer and set her tetsubo's tip on the ground with her hand still on the hilt. Hikazume, for her part, stayed idly by.

"What do you think of me, Mizuki?" she whispered when she found an opportunity.

Why am I even asking this? Why am I being so direct?

"Like I said last night. I think you're an amazing woman. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj nods. "Along Shiko, Naoko, Kunami, Rumaru, Fujiko and all others. Chi-Pu, who wrestled a wyrm." His gaze goes to busy Kitakuhime. "Now, let's help with drinks."

[Moto Khulun]

Butaj nods. "Along Shiko, Naoko, Kunami, Rumaru, Fujiko and all others. Chi-Pu, who wrestled a wyrm." His gaze goes to busy Kitakuhime. "Now, let's help with drinks."

She smiles at the names and says, “Kunami… hai.”

“Onward,” she says and heads towards Kitakuhime.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"There was the One armed Shinjo, Togashi Udo, the scorpion doctor and the Mantis." Hiroji said as he sipped the sake.

"What? Really?" Tomonaga sounded shocked. "I think I know all of those. Assuming it's the same Scorpion doctor. In fact, I shared drink with most of them, except for Shinjo Liu Yue-san." He continued to look a little dumbstruck, the tragedy suddenly seeming more real.

He cast his gaze to the burning pyre. "Well... all but one." He looked away before the smoke could sting his eyes further.

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Like I said last night. I think you're an amazing woman. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"I am worried if I hurt you," she retorted. She stood there, watching the others drink. "I do not have any sake nor kumis. DId you want any, Mizuki?"