Teach a Crane (D3, Early Evening)

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil let them walk a full lap around the field in silence, before finally speaking to her again. "Alright. Now you just need to pull back gently at this speed to stop him."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nodded, and tugged back gently on the reigns.

[Shinjo Akil]

Setem came to a slow stop as bidden. Once he was firmly stopped, Akil nodded. "Alright, now to get off, take the saddle in both hands and bring a leg over the horse, keeping the other on the foothold. Don't worry about falling, I'm here and I won't let you get hurt."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nodded. She followed the steps in order....and found herself back on the ground! It was not a graceful, easy dismount, but she had gotten off at least as well as a Unicorn baby.

Horsemanship: 12

Fukawa bowed to the pair again.

"Thank you very much. That was....quite an experience. Perhaps with such friends at my side, I may come to enjoy riding." she offers.

[Shinjo Akil]

"You are always welcome to take more lessons," he smiled, "Do you have time to walk around some more with Setem and I? I do not wish to be a bother..."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nods.

"I would be happy indeed to walk some more with the pair of you..." she says. "But, I also wish to give you something."

She takes her fan from her obi, and spreads it out showing a flying Crane silhouetted with a golden sunburst.

"I would like to offer you this fan, as a symbol of appreciation, Shinjo-san."

[Shinjo Akil]

THAT caused him to visibly blink in surprise.

"Oh, thank you, that's very kind o-" WAIT. Remember what the Ide said. He took a breath. "That is very kind of you, but I cannot take such a lovely thing from such a lovely person. Surely it would look nicer keeping you cool than it would in my hand?"

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa smiles.

"You are kind to say so, Shinjo-san. Fortunately, I have brought more than one fan for that purpose. This fan's purpose, I believe, is to be gifted to you." she offers a second time.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Ah, but surely there is a more deserving recipient? It would do very well with Moto Butaj-san's... particular fashion sense." He let out a small chuckle as he thought of just how ridiculous Butaj with a fan would be.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa shakes her head.

"I rather get the impression that Moto-san dislikes my fans. As if I am using them to deceive him." she says.

She makes eye contact with the Shinjo.

"No, if I am to entrust one of my dear possessions to another, for them to keep close, I would rather it be you, Shinjo-san." she offers, the third time.

[Shinjo Akil]

He blushed heavily at that. He hadn't thought of the weight of the fan as a prized possession until just then. "You are kind, Doji-san, and I am greatly honored that you would trust me with one of your dear possessions." He held out his fan to accept the gift.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa hands over the fan.

"And, if you were to call me by my chosen name, rather than my family name, in private, Shinjo-san, I would take that as a sign that we were a bit closer." she adds.

[Shinjo Akil]

He took the fan, using it on himself briefly before folding it and nodding. "Fukawa-san, then. And you may use my given name as well."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa offers a polite bow.

"Akil-san, then." she says, as they continue the walk.

She briefly looks up to the Heavens.

Thank you Kakita. she offers as a quick prayer.

"So...what is your family like, Akil-san?" she asks, since he didn't really have much to go on as far as a home to describe, or the latest plays.

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil took Setem's reins and began leading him as they walked. "Ah, er well..." he frowned, "they were warriors. More dedicated to the task than I, certainly. But they were kind and understanding. They wanted me to continue their traditions, but encouraged me to excel in the flute as we." He offered her a smile regardless of the clear implications of the past tense.