It's Always Summer Under The Sea (D5, LE, Tomoe's)

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I would personally be more concerned with pulling myself off the horse in my attempt to try and pull someone up on it," she let out a girlish laugh. "Though if I were to make a guess, Moto Butaj-san probably would not mind you making the attempt, should you want to try it."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki smiled warmly. "Maybe. I haven't gotten to ask him." She then paused to wonder a bit. "Maybe tomorrow though, we're going riding." She grinned at that.

"If you expect you will be joining the Unicorn, it may not be a bad idea to get some lessons on riding. Maybe from Iuchi-san?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Iuchi-san already gave me a beginner's lesson, but it probably wouldn't hurt to practice a bit more," she nodded. The idea of living on horse back like she had heard the Unicorn did wasn't too appealing, but she would manage.

"But I'm sure you didn't come to keep only talk about boys, neh? What can I do for you, Asako-sama?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki smiled. "Hai, hai. Mostly I guess I didn't have anything particular. I'd just never met a Hare before, and I wanted to say that I quite enjoyed the lesson you gave." She paused. "I've never been south of the Spine, actually. What's it like in Hare lands?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Oh, I'm always honored to give my time to andre Asako." She added, making sure that Yuki wouldn't think she's unwelcome.

"It's very different from what I've seen of Phoenix lands. The nearby Seikitsu Mountains make the terrain rocky, but the Shinomen is close too, so there is a lot of trees there too*."

(*= player going entirely by memory)

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded. "I've heard stories of the Shinomen Mori. Is it true that strange creatures make their home there? Have you ever seen any?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"The Naga, you mean? I know they're there, at least so I've been told from others who've seen them, but I've never seen them myself," the Hare said with a small shrug. "I don't venture that far into the forest, to be honest... mostly to go on short scouting missions, or to forage for some of the medicinal herbs that grow there."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki shrugged a bit. "The Naga, I suppose, though we've had some dealings with them as well on the shore. I was talking of the stories of strange beasts and otherwordly happenings that there are stories of. Though maybe many of those were the Naga?" She paused and nodded at the explanation of Tomoe's forays into the woods.

"Isn't it near Ryoko Owari as well? It must be fun to visit such a cultural hub, neh?" She smiled. "New fashions, new plays, the latest books, I'm sure."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Ah, I've never been to Ryoko Owari myself," she smiled bashfully. "But those who go there usually pick up a book for me... I love to read, and I feel like I can never have enough books. I'd love to go there some day though, and maybe see a play or something."

She certainly hoped the place would've calmed down since what she read in Miya Chidori's book.

"But there are many cultural hubs still in Phoenix lands, neh? And you are closer to Otosan Uchi too."

[Asako Yuki]

"Hai, we do, but it's not the same as Ryoko Owari, that's nearly as important as Kyuden Kakita or Otosan Uchi." Nearly. "I've never been to Otosan Uchi though. This is truthfully my first time out of Phoenix lands. Well, except for a visit to Crane lands... during the war." She frowned slightly and shook her head a bit.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Oh... I didn't know you were a seasoned warrior?" she asked with some surprise, as she had assumed Yuki was as fresh out of gempukku as she was. Wait... which war?! "... Sorry, I probably misunderstood..."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki shook her head. "No, not that. I only reached my gempukku a few months ago. It was after the War of the Burned Wings, when Asako lands were under the control of the Lion." She paused. "Well, I guess they were only sort of Crane lands, they were gifted to us. Complicated politics, I don't know much about it."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Ah, I see," Tomoe nodded. "Yeah... politics are complicated. It really makes it hard for historians too down the line to try and make sense of all that has happened."

"Still, I've never been to Crane lands, even if they were only sort of Crane lands."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki smiled. "Thankfully, I don't have to worry too much about that, though some of my siblings try to talk about it, most of it goes over my head. Thankfully, most of them are more focused on studious endeavors."

She paused. "I got to go to the coast once. It was beautiful there, not like in Phoenix lands where it's mostly rocks. A real beach. Seeing it you can understand why the Crane are so inspired."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I hope to see the sea too someday," she gave a wistful sigh at that, "I've seen plenty of rivers, but never been to the coast. I will take your word for it..."

"It sounds like you have a rather big family, Asako-san... I admit I am a little envious of that. Would you wish for a large family with your future husband too?"