After a Duet (Day 7, LE, Yuki's Yurt)

[Asako Yuki]

"The Lion, less so now." Yuki added with a small frown. "But hai, we do need to finally retake our home again, and close that portal."

[Asako Hirase]

"Perhaps the Unicorn will know a way." It was a faint hope, yet hope all the same. "Who knows what wonders they may have learned in their travels?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki thought about that. "The Iuchi are probably the best to go to for that, since they are their shugenja."

[Asako Hirase]

"A shame that I've had no time to talk with any of them..." Curious, he looked to Yuki. "How about you?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki shook her head. "Not that there are many here, though I suppose that is to be expected from a Shugenja family."

[Asako Hirase]

"There's the young man who is so popular...and a woman or two, though I"m not sure one of them is a practitioner." He smirked. "I'm sure our superiors will be ired if they learn we didn't even try to secure such a secret-bearer to bring home. Hopefully Nonin or Kaizen have done better in that regard."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded and smiled a bit. "Hai, they probably would. Though I'm still not sure how many of us will bee going back home."

[Asako Hirase]

"Many of us have done very well so far." A wry smile drew his mouth up. "Except me. But, still, you and Kaizen have done well enough to have a choice. That means you will be taking your chosen home, unless of course Kaizen does win Imane. I'm not certain what will happen then, Otaku being as they are."

[Asako Yuki]

"A choice, hai." yuki bit her bottom lip and looked out the tent flap. "Hopefully enough of one to get the one I want."

[Asako Hirase]

With that, Hirase got up, sat beside her, and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. It appeared that he was starting to go native in that regard.

"I know you gave him your fan. Do you want to borrow mine that day? I won't have any major reactions to hide, I think, but you likely will. For good or ill. Know that I've been praying for you two to Benten every day. Ichiro, too."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki blushed. "Hirase-san is too kind. I... yes, I think that would be good. Just in case." A thought came to mind and Yuki laughed a bit. "I will be praying too. And to think that a few days ago I had thought..." She shook her head and laughed again.

[Asako Hirase]

"Thought...?" Patiently, the older Asako waited, curious what she found so funny.

[Asako Yuki]

"About children, and prayers for blessings of that nature." Yuki seems to have either gotten over her embarrassment, or is still not sober enough to care and thinks most things are funny.

[Asako Hirase]

"Ah, yes. That." Hirase chuckled, mostly because she was. "Don't worry. Butaj will be a good teacher for you in such matters. I made certain that he knew how important talking you through things along the way would be."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki blushed. "Hirase-san!" She tried to find something to throw at him in her embarrassment, settling on one of the smaller furs. "It's embarrassing!"