Dark Edge Village

The flap of Amaya's yurt has been rolled up and tied off, anyone who walks near enough can see in fairly well. Easily visible against the back wall is a kimono rack, Her usual kimono is hanging there to dry after the rough weather of the previous night, and she instead wears a more formal black kimono with a gold obi. The yurt is sparse and tidy, a pair of tatami mats making up the floor.

There is a chabudai in the center of the yurt, with a tea set upon it, ready to make tea for her guest. There is a small platter of pillowy triangular bite-sized pieces of something that appears to be a Unicorn food.



A small, young weasel sits on her sleeve, accepting tiny pieces of something to eat while she waits.

The guest of the hour appears, wearing a kimono of deep blue, with brown horses running along the edges. She bows at the entrance, and requests "May this one enter?"

"Welcome, Seppun-Sama, please do enter. Have you had rice today?"

Removing her sandals, Hitako enters, partly bowing, but it also allows her to get under the entrance flap at the same time. "This one has, yes. Ide-san has also had rice, yes? This one was grateful for the invitation, though mildly surprised by it."

"Please won't you sit? You honour this one by your presence, please allow me to serve tea." She gives the little weasel a nudge and it moves to her shoulder, black eyes alert and curious.

Hitako's eyes follow the weasel carefully. "Ah, is that, ah, pet? Domesticated? There have been, ah, problems with weasels lately."

"I think he's a pet, he certainly behaves like one. He came crawling into my yurt looking to escape the rain last night." She began to prepare the tea, "I had a chance to see, first-hand," and she blushes a little at the memory, "just what his brethren were capable of. It is strange, because I saw the weasels when I was hunting eggs, but they paid me no mind. Not everyone was so fortunate."

"So it seemed. I had one jump at me, but a few steps allowed me to dodge it." She looked around. This was her first time in a yurt that one of the Unicorn had chosen to decorate, and she was curious how they did so. Once she had finished a quick look, she focused on her host. "Might I ask how elaborate of a tea ceremony you are thinking of?"

"I can conduct a formal ceremony, if you desire, but I have some sweets here I developed a taste for as a child, and hoped that we may talk, as friends."

Hitako smiled at the other, and took the seat that seemed the proper place. "That is fine. Some I've met always want it to be elaborate. Others, like yourself, are more relaxed. I'm fine with either."

She sits as well, offering a small smile. Amaya is small and dainty. And nervous. "I'm truly honoured that you could join me today, I'm sure that my Clan-brothers have placed considerable demands on your time. I realise that any meeting without one of them present is taking time away from the purpose of the ma-ai."

"To some extent, that is true. However, we are also here to welcome you back to the Empire, are we not? I cannot welcome you back, if I don't spend at least a little time with you, can I?" Hitako smiled at the other, trying to be reassuring.

While the tea steeped, "I hope the men have treated you well. Do you suppose any might yet have your interest?"

"Iuchi Dong Ha was an interesting sort. I enjoyed conversing with him. And I met a, ah, Butaj, earlier this morning. He is quite a character. Also, a couple days ago, a very young man at the dojo. Sadly, his name flew by too quickly for me to remember." She also waited. Patience was something trained into her from the youngest of ages, being in her family.

Laughing softly, "Butaj is an experience all his own. For all his bluster, he is a protective man. I think he will do well out of this ma-ai if there is a gentle lady with understanding and patience. He is a willing student, the rough edges could be smoothed."

"The boy, I believe is Moto Baatar-San. I know him not, only that he seems awfully young." She refrains from commenting on Dong-Ha, and instead waits to see if the Imperial woman has anything to add or ask.