Taking the horse out [day 7, late morning]

[Shinjo Akil]

"Better the attention on me and my horse, hm?" He teased in return.

[Doji Fukawa]

'I'm pretty satisfied with that view, I must admit." she says. "It's hard to go wrong with a handsome hero on a gallant steed."

[Shinjo Akil]

His face reddened again, barely refraining from burying it in Setem's fur. "And what will happen when that great hero puts away his sword in favor of his flute, do you think?"

[Doji Fukawa]

"Hopefully he'll stop getting stabbed, but I suppose it will depend on how skillful he is with the flute." she quips.

It really was nice, this moment of walking with her beloved.

[Shinjo Akil]

"I'll make sure to send him the memo to remind him to keep practicing," he smirked, "maybe he can learn how to write a pretty poem for his beloved while he is at it."

[Doji Fukawa]

"I dunno....I like your flute playing a lot, A-kun." she reveals. "I think it reveals a lot about you without trying to force it into words."

[Shinjo Akil]

His head tilted in curiosity. "Oh? What does my flute playing say about me?"

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa smiles a bit.


"I might need another reminder, A-kun, just so my memory is fresh." she teases.

[Shinjo Akil]

"You mean right now?" Both he and Setem stopped as he considered what he might play.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa smiled.


"Is Setem a harsher critic than I am of your playing?" she asked.

[Shinjo Akil]

"He has very refined musical tastes, you see," he smirked as he pulled his flute out of his obi. The music that followed was a pretty piece, faster pace than the last one he played for Fukawa.. His head bobbed with the melody he played, leaning on a grazing Setem for support.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa smiled.

"You have such a free spirit, A-kun. I feel it in the music, soaring, charging forth. So powerful, yet gentle when need be."

Kakita has truly blessed me with such a perfect match. she thought.

[Shinjo Akil]

"I don't know about powerful," he laughed as the flute left his lips. "But otherwise, I suppose I can accept your assessment. Do you think my play is good enough to study with your clan's artisans?"

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nods.

"I think you have the potential." she agrees. "If that is what you wish. The instructors at the Academy are very very demanding. But if you are to reach for perfection, you cannot simply hope for it to happen."

[Shinjo Akil]

"Is that what I should be aiming for as a Crane?" His head tilted, "it is something we have not discussed much, I realize. What will be expected of me?"