Dark Edge Village

Mei walked to her Yurt and went inside, coming back out a few moments later with a tea set and a cooking pot. She sat down in the community fire ring and lights a fire after a few moments using a flint and steel. Once the fire is good and hot, she begins to boil water in the pot and prepares to set down rice.

Kemuri made his way through the yurts of the northern section. It a bit different when he wasn't hungover. It definitely made it easier to find who he was looking for. Approaching the Imperial with a smile, he bowed deeply.

"Good evening, Miya-sama. I am pleased I could see you again."

Mei stands from the fire and returns the bow.

"And I you. Are you hungry? The rice will be ready soon."

She gives a smile to the man and quickly looks away, seeming somewhat flustered without her fan.

"I am very hungry." he nodded. "I am grateful for the rice and for your company."

"And I yours. It was quite the day. I suspect many throughout the Empire will hear tales of this Miai."

Mei goes to check on the rice. Satisfied with its level of doneness, she dishes out a bowl.

"This is a dish called Kanji. It is still rice, but it is cooked with much more water."

She offers the bowl to Kemuri.

"Oh? For what purpose?" he asked as he accepted the bowl.

"It gives the rice a different texture. Where normal rice is firm with a bit of chewiness, this is a lot more...smooth. You won't be able to really pick out any individual grain of rice, as it all blends together. It is thick, like the milk your clan drinks. Typically we eat it as a morning or late night meal as it is easy on the stomach and sits well with a person."

Mei gets herself a bowl and sits down next to the fire with her knees underneath her.

"Ah, this should be enlightening then." he smiled. "Another lesson of the Empire."

After a few moments to cool, he withdrew his chopsticks. After testing the thickness of the kanji, however, he simply drank it directly from the bowl.

"Mmm... like porridge." he said.

"Do you like it? I only added a small bit of herbs and spices, since it is so late in the day I did not want a large meal. Some find without a lot of additives or side dishes, by itself kanji is boring or bland"

Mei covers her mouth with one hand and takes a bite.

"It's good." he assured her. "I usually add spices to my food, so it is a little bland compared to me usual tastes. It is good though."

"I am glad. I will remember next time to add a bit more. When you eat, which meal is usually the largest? I typically eat the most during the middle of the day."

Mei takes another bite, again covering her mouth.

"It depends on my duties." he answered. "As a scout, I simply eat what I can when I can. Otherwise, it is usually at the end of the day, once I return to camp."

Mei nods.

"Have you given much thought to what you will do now that you are here? I don't imagine your days will require scouting very often. We are all relatively at peace and safe within the borders of the Empire."

Mei sets her bowl down for now and looks into Kemuri's eyes as they speak.

"I am not certain of that." he said after swallowing another portion. "I have been told that the yobanjin have been attacking the Badger, on giant lizards. It is not unreasonable to think that they might strike at us."

"But, I'd like to see more of the Empire." he added with a smile. "There is so much of it I know so little about. There is much I'd like to no more of."

His eyes met hers.

Mei quickly looks away, her cheeks reddening a little in the firelight.

"Well, the duty of the Miya is to travel the Empire and spread news. Were you to pick me, you would become a member of my family. We could travel easily. As far as the gaijin..."

Mei thinks.

"Have you heard of the Imperial Legions?"