To end a painful evening (D5 LE Closed - Amaya's)

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo knew Amaya would be upset; to have kin die at a miai at all things would be hard to deal with after all those who had died just getting to Rokugan. He could understand that, a miai was a time for beginnings, not endings. It wasn't the way he'd prefer his evenings with the girl to go, but he walked her back to her yurt in polite silence.

As they reached her yurt, he turned to her and said quietly "I can allow you time to contemplate the day if you wish?" allowing her to send him away if she wanted - even if he hoped she wouldn't.

[Ide Amaya]

She reaches forward and her fingertips just brush his hand, a tiny contact, easily missed. "Won't you have tea?" she asks mechanically, her voice flat and lacking in the musical quality it usually carries. It's hard to tell if she's saying it to be polite, because she genuinely wants him to stay, or because she's operating purely on instinct.

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo noted the contact, and the tone. "Of course, I would be honoured to share tea with you" he gave her a smile "please, after you."

[Ide Amaya]

She lifts the flap of the yurt. and it is cold and dark inside. She enters, slipping off her sandals as she does. "Come in," she invites, "I'll start the firepot."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo does indeed enter, closing the tent and slipping the sandals off. He then moved over to Amaya, saying "in a moment" as he slipped his arms round the girl, hugging her to him now they were in private to comfort her.

[Ide Amaya]

She carefully holds her right arm close to her side as the Imperial takes her into his arms. She sighs deeply, her breath shuddering in her throat.

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo placed a gentle kiss on the girls forehead before letting her go. "Sit down, allow me to prepare the tea for you...or I have sake if you want something stronger."

[Ide Amaya]

Distantly, "at least let me light a fire," she indicates to the small iron cauldron on its squat legs, laid and ready to be lit. She pauses and slowly adds, "sake would be nice."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo nodded. "That's a good idea. You light the fire, I'll pour drinks."

It seems he had prepared for the worst, as a new bottle was brought out as well as his cup, which he placed on the table while he waited for Amaya to join him with an arm open to welcome her to him.

[Ide Amaya]

She carefully lights the kindling in the firepot, urging the little flame to life. When she is happy that it has caught, she places a small grille, blackened from use, on top of the pot. It is becoming increasingly obvious as she moves that she has been taking considerable care to keep her right arm close to her body.

"I should, uh," she indicted vaguely to the corner where her bedding has been neatly rolled and set aside.

[Seppun Hideo]

There was a frown. "Are you injured Amaya-chan?" He reached out to rest his hand on her arm, concerned.

[Ide Amaya]

Her fingertips lightly brush over his, "no, it's nothing like that. It's..." there's a hint of her usual emotion as her gaze falls to the Imperial's chest, then rise to meet his eyes once more. "Did you have a medic look over your wounds this morning?"

[Seppun Hideo]

"Most of the wounds have recovered from my overnight rest" Hideo assured her with a smile "the wounds will be gone by tomorrow. Thank you for your concern Amaya-chan, but...why are you holding your arm like that?"

[Ide Amaya]

Although she was solemn and weary, the musical note in her voice was definitely present now. "I beg that you not be cross, though I well understand if you are anxious; but while it rained last night, I had a visitor, bedraggled and small in stature, seeking refuge."

She reaches into the sleeve and withdraws what appears to be a rather young weasel. She cradles it tenderly in her small hands and it yawns massively, inadvertently showing off a jaw full of needle-sharp teeth. The weasel gazes about sleepily before curling up in a ball.

[Seppun Hideo]

There was a look of surprise at that. "You...found a pet" he commented warily "this one appears to be less violent than his friends. Will he be as dangerous though?"