He had promised to look after the salamanders and Kenzo intended to keep his word. Returning to venue of the previous days antics he made his way over to the cave where the creatures lived looking to get a count of their numbers and search for any signs of recent mischief from other villagers.

"I should take down that lean-to from yesterday before that storm hits."

She is here to document places and she probably should get to work early. She already painted the beach so now it is the covers turn. It will be interesting to see these animals be painted and document their appearance. "Morning Kenzo san."

"Good morning Hanatsuko-san, I hope the day finds you well. Come to do some painting?"

"Yes Kenzo san. Creating the island log. I already painted the beach." She opened her book and showed the picture to the Daidoji. It was quite vivid and almost realistic well as realistic you can get with water colors. "It is not that bad. I know it is missing some soul."

He moved closer to get a good look at it. "You sell yourself short that's fantastic!" He exclaimed as it looked at it from multiple angles. "If you sent that back to the mainland the next boat to arrive here would be packed with people; in certain of it."

"Ah... I would have to make a copy book." She sighed. "I am not sure people would like to come for just the beach. I should do the docks next."

"Well you picked the perfect time to paint the salamanders, from what I've seen they mostly keep to the cave but it's still cool enough that they are actually out. Let me stand back and out of the way so you have a clear scene." he stepped back and to the side of the Doji, occasionally he made a mark on his forearm with a piece of charcoal taken from the burnt out fire near the lean-to behind them.

"Oh, I should take that thing down so it doesn't ruin your view."

"It is fine Kenzo san. I won't paint things that seem unnatural to the scene." The Doji nodded. "I will seat down and find the right angle to paint"

"I need to take it down before that storm on the horizon picks it up and throws it into the village, Kyo-sama would kill me if that happened."

He chuckled but there was a hint of worry in the laugh.

"But I will wait until you are done to do that, if you can paint around it I won't make anything easier by walking around in your view and I can do my counting from here. Do you mind if I watch you work?"

"I don't mind..." The Doji nodded. "I met with your cousin" Hana started to paint.

"Oh, and how bad did he make the family look? He probably wouldn't have been my first pick for delegation head but we're trying to claim this island for the clan so he must be here for a reason."

She sighed. "He reminded me of why I am so bad at my interactions with the Clan." The Doji started to mix colors of hues of blue and grey. "We are just unwarranted and tossed here to see our worth. We are not favored by our Clan... you and your marriage, your cousin and his lust for fire, and me a disappointment to my family for not having the gift. We are quite the crew, right?"

"We are not unwanted failures Hana-san, you may not like the clan but you should at least like yourself. Forget about Kasai, have you met anyone here you enjoy the company of?"

"I never said we are failures... we are just not the normal kind." She sighed. "I enjoy Miya Akari's company... and well the Unicorn wasn't that desfavorable." The Doji nodded as the frame of the cove started to take shape. "That will be until the fortunes decide that I am not worthy of such friends... I don't want to mess up with Yukari san who seems a good person."

"Why would you say such a thing? Of course you are worthy of friends and much more."

Frustrated he layed back on the sand and watched the clouds overhead.

"Here I am having the time of my life while others like you and Komyo seem miserable."

"Because something always happens that tends to destroy what has been earned. It happens to me so frequently that I..." The Doji placed down the pillow book and the brush. "I just let it happen... I am not miserable Kenzo san I am just tired." Hana looked at the Daidoji laying on the sand. "If I were miserable I would not be here painting these logs. It brings me solace and well, makes me feel useful." The Crane girl smiled.

He had to turned his head to see her face but was glad he did. "You have a great smile by the way, I'm happy to see it and would like to see it more. Some find it annoying but I am always trying to fix problems and make people happy, I don't do well being idle so if there is something I can do that will help you please let me know. I thrive on the happiness of others."

The Doji shook her head. "Perhaps, tomorrow we can go and gather flowers. I could show you my real talent. That way if winds come to take them away violently I would have save some." She resumed her painting.

"Your real talent? You've already show great skill with paint and storytelling and plants what more could you be hiding?" he said playfully. "I'm going to need to develop some new skills, everyone here is so talented. I wonder if it's too late to become a sculptor."

"My specialty in Kakita school is Ikebana Kenzo san." She chuckled "You probably have other types of talents. Your show the other evening was quite nice. You as well are talented." Hanatsuko nodded again. "I am not a storyteller but my voice seem to aid in such skill."