Dark Edge Village

The sun has set and a shadow creeps out to the fields where the horses are trained and exercised. The young lion is alone for a change, and he finds one of the nearby water troughs used for watering the unicorn horses during exercises, making sure noone is around he fills a bucket and draws an unmarked vial from his obi...

Samai was walking alone for a change.... tired, her mind frayed, she still couldn't sleep. She noticed a Lion near one of the through. Frowning slightly, she moved closer.

"Samurai-san?" She asked tentatively.

He freezes dead in his tracks, the bottle poised over the bucket, his entire body tense. "Ummm Unicorn sama?" he doesn't try hiding his voice at all.

She moved closer, not recognizing the man, nor identifying his mon..

"Samurai-san? What are you doing?" She asked tentatively.

He looks sheepish "Um nothing ... Important that is... Just ... Honoring my ancestors?"

That.... nope, didn't answer a thing. "Erm.... how?" Her voice was still confused. "This is a tradition I have not met yet."

He sighs looking like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. Slowly he steps forward and offers the bottle for her to inspect, letting her find her answer there.

She gently takes the bottle and starts looking at it. In the dark. "Hm, this is.... dye?" She asked, her confusion not ebbing.

"Hai, many Lion have hair like our founder, hair he inherited it is said from his mother. I " he sighs " the kami did not bless me with such naturally, and so like some of our clan, I choose to honor Akodo-no-kami by becoming more like him. Normally I would do such rituals in a bath house but..."

The dark hid her blush. "Ah, gomen Shimizu-san. I am sorry to interrupt you." she handed him the bottle back. "I am sorry for interrupting... I can understand the situation."

" You have nothing to apologize for, you were being diligent like a proper samurai, I am sure I looked somewhat suspicious"

Samai smiled, and nodded.

"Just a misunderstanding during the night. Ide Samai, well met." She felt tired as a Dahabi's servant, but she was still standing.

Realizing he had forgot his manners he bowed low "Ryori, Shimizu Ryori, Ide sama, " he smiles "Did I distract you from an important errand?"

"Ie, I was just..." What was I doing? "Taking a walk. I hope you are enjoying your time among us Shimizu-san?"

"I have, your contests have been both interesting and challenging different then we expected"