[D1, LE] What a day, what a place (Open)

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I can't quite remember where Akari-sama said we were going tomorrow but if we end up at the cove and you did make something nasty appear then the testimony of three samurai could go a long way towards making people think that the cove isn't safe to hunt at anymore. I mean would have seen a monster, we don't have to tell anyone it was an illusion. That should keep all but the bravest fools away. Not a perfect plan to be sure but it could work."

[Shiba Yukari]

"I... think I could conjure something up."

She frowned.

"Although... what if that just makes more people try to hunt the monster?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Perhaps but we have to try something."

[Shiba Yukari]

"Maybe we simply conspire to make the practice unfashionable?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Do you have an idea how we could do that?"

[Shiba Yukari]

"We simply refuse to partake. I, for example, will be busy with a performance elsewhere if asked to perform at meals where salamander is served. Asako-sama's views on the subject will more than back me there. I would suggest that your puppet shows be similarly difficult to pencil in to such a meal."

She sipped her water again.

"With so few samurai here, pleasant company is at a premium. As for quality entertainment... even more so."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"That could work though I still think I will let Miya-sama know about my disagreement with the practice. With any luck we may find that the practice isn't widespread and we can stop the act quickly. You care quite a deal for animals don't you? I hope you don't look down on my practice as a hunter, the odd wild boar can be a huge boon to a heimin community."

[Shiba Yukari]

"I don't... look down on it, as an occasional thing. Those are the rules of the game."

She shrugged.

"And I eat seafood as much as anyone else. But until we understand better what we're dealing with, I would be very leery of simply... eating them."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I can't even imagine why someone would want to try it from a taste standpoint let alone all the other reasons not to do it."

[Shiba Yukari]

"Nor can I."

She sighed. Ate a bite of the food that had presumably shown up at some point during the conversation.

"And that bothers me. As an artist, imagination is supposed to be my strong suit."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Being unable to imagine something terrible you had never considered before isn't a failing as an artist it means you're a good person."

[Shiba Yukari]

"Yes, well, uhm, I... thank you."

She sighed.

"I just... worry."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Are you sure you won't have some sake? You look like you need to relax a little and honestly it tastes mostly like water so it shouldn't get you too silly. Is there something you want to get off your chest; about being here or leaving home perhaps?"

[Shiba Yukari]

"Oh, no, no thank you, sake is... a bit much. As far as getting things off my chest..."

She sighed. Shrugged.

"I don't really have any secrets. Well. Not as such. My concerns about what I'm doing here are my main... problems. I expect when there's a lapse in the mail service I'll start to fret about my family, but that hasn't really happened yet..."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Well" he said looking rather thoughtful. "If you were your lord why would you send yourself here? I've given you lots of reasons why I think they may have sent you but you seem unconvinced. Do you think you are being punished for something?"

[Shiba Yukari]

"Oh, no, no, I'd hardly say that, it's just..."

She shrugged selfconsciously.

"An Isawa could have been sent, or another Asako to reinforce Asako Qi-sama. Or a Shiba yojimbo. I'm just... uncertain what I can do that none of them could have done better in terms of either representing the Phoenix r assisting the expedition."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Well if none of my thoughts have clicked with you there is one last option. Stop caring about it." His words may have seemed harsh or blunt but there was a genuine caring behind them. "Whatever the reason you are here now, dwelling on the reason will only distract you from what is here. You will miss the beauty,, the friendships and possibly the thing that wants to hurt you. Then I will have to carry you back here and say I told you so. Focus on the now and do you best, everything else will work itself out. I promise."

[Shiba Yukari]

"I'll do what I can, Kenzo-san. But if you have to carry me, I have it on good authority that I don't weigh much."

She gave a wry smile.

"Mother is always after me to eat more."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

The devilish grin on his face let show that not all of his youthful spirit was dead as he fought to bit his tongue. Instead he just said. "Mother knows best."

[Shiba Yukari]

Her tone in reply was teasing.

"You sound just like her. Are we perhaps related, Kenzo-san?"