One Last, Real Bath [Day 6, Early Morning, Open]

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

As she often did, Yakusoku had gotten up early. She'd walked the embassy grounds and spent a bit of time exercising. Then she'd seen the notice bearing the mons of the Captain and the Maharaja. That had made her day. Grumbling to herself the Badger made her way from the Embassy gates, through the halls and into the scrubbing area of the baths. Undressing she cleans herself for several long minutes. About to get up and head into the soaking area she looks down at her bare, tattooed arms and goes back to scrubbing. Once they both looked and felt clean the Badger makes her way into the soaking area, carrying her towel beside her.

Stepping into the water she sighs a relaxed sigh. She may've been mildly annoyed but that water was still damn relaxing. However, that didn't change her mood all that much. After this bath she'd pack up, figure out a way to carry her armor, and return to the boat. Better to be somewhere where she was comfortable than having to choose between the confines of an Embassy on foreign soil, or walking the streets unarmored, amongst savages.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

In contrast, early mornings did not suit Nobuyoshi at all. Really, he was more of a sleep in till noon, run about at night kind of guy. But fate kept conspiring to get him up early, be it news of his special assignment, or the embassy staff bustling about because an envoy from the palace had appeared. Rather than curse, throw a sake bottle at the loud servant, and go back to sleep in his futon, returning to his dream about a harem of samurai-ko, he decided it would be best to be clean, lest he be called upon in his official capacity again.

Having gone through with the pre-bathing, which included a private washing of his mask and his face, he heads to the soaking area, mask back in place to find another member of the crew getting clean for the day.

He offers a bow to the badger and then slips into the soaking pool.

"Good Morning, Ichiro-san." he says in his normal flat voice. "I hope the morning finds you well."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Mornin' Rooster," Yakusoku cocks her head his way in greeting, "it finds me alright," the woman's lack of sincerity was more than a little obvious. Cupping some water into her hands she lets it drop onto her head, soaking her hair. Her dark eyes looked troubled, the Badger never having been very good at maintaining her on in moments of frustration. "Hope yers is goin' alright."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs, though if it's at the nickname, the lack of sincerity, or just in general, it's hard to tell.

"Far too early to tell." Nobuyoshi offers. "Yesterday's meeting with the local leadership went about as well as can be expected for the Captain, having never met with them before, and not really being a man of the court at any rate."

"Toritaka-san provided the first misstep with his over-eagerness, but we haven't been kicked out or roped in, so we're still on course." Nobuyoshi offers. "Then that storm came out of nowhere, and I had to spend the whole day at the Palace."

[Togashi Kazuma]

I rose early. It's not habit, but I slept poorly last night and I finally gave up on sleep. I ran around the complex, and I think I saw a Badger. I practiced kata, then slipped into the baths. I wash my hair first, it's growing a little longer. I doubt I'll find someone to cut it this far from home though. I scowl at the notice. Who is this arrogant gajin to dictate orders for us, and why does the embassy allow such blasphemy?

It appears that I'm not alone. I nod to the Scorpion and Badger. I've not been introduced to them properly, but they do look familiar. Probably I saw them in passing.

"It is early, Bayushi-san, Ichiro-san. Have you had rice today?" I say as I lower myself into the water.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

A respectful nod to the...Dragon? No proper introduction and no mons in the tub make for a slightly rough introduction, and rising to bow would certainly display the pride of the Bayushi.

"No, just hot water so far, Dragon-san." Nobuyoshi guessed based on the way the Dragon spoke. "We've not been properly introduced, as much as one can properly introduce in the tub, I am Bayushi Nobuyoshi."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Seems yer day went 'bout as well as mine," she offers. "We went out lookin' for Hoshi-san in the mornin' and got accosted by some Kasuga all yellin, screamin' and carryin' on stupid-like. Damn near punched the little bastard in the mouth for insultin' members of our crew and actin' like Hoshi-san was dead in a gutter somewhere," she exhales softly and slowly, staring up at the ceiling. "Then this mornin' I see the notice that we ain't allowed to be wearin' our armor and are priests ain't allowed to be prayin' unless the Capain or one of the Gunso tell'em its okay. Don't mean to be," she hesitates for a moment, "less than pleasant this mornin'. Just the whole deal doesn't sit well with me." The words carried a somewhat apologetic tone for her lack of sincerity. After all, Nobuyoshi had been nothing but polite to her.

The presence of the Dragon then catches her attention. Turning to regard the Togashi she shakes her head. "Nah. Gonna get in my meal after this here bath. Then I'm gonna see about gettin' a burlap sack to toss my armor in so I can carry it on over to the boat. How 'bout you? Ya eat yet?" she pauses then adds, "oh, Ichiro Yakusoku by the way. Pleased to meet ya."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Another elegant shrug from the Bayushi.

"Hoshi-san is as smooth as silk. A playwright would have her return to the embassy riding on an elephant having been declared Queen of the Jungle. Far too flashy a return for her, of course, but there's no accounting for taste in playwrights. However, your concern for her well-being is appreciated, Ichiro-san. I can think of a few samurai who would just be glad to see one less Scorpion in the world." Nobuyoshi offers.

"There's not a lot I can say about the notice. Gaijin aren't allowed to even set foot on Rokugani soil let alone pray on it. Agasha-san was very upset at witnessing some of their magic, though. They might feel similar unease at witnessing our shugenjas prayers answered."

"Not to mention that we can't normally wear armor in various places in the Empire lest we offend a local lord who thinks that means we're saying he can't protect his guests. Fortunes know what the locals would think about a bunch of outsiders wearing it." Nobuyoshi says off-handedly, merely speculating on the situation.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"I don' know nothing 'bout what they think of it. But we know this place's boats 'ave been attacked, or somethin' to that nature. Ya can feel trouble in the air and when there's hostilities brewin' we're given leave to wear armor in other clan's lands for our own safety. Also, I spent the last couple years livin' and workin' 'mongst the Crab. Feel 'bout as naked as I am right now when I'm walkin' unfamiliar streets without my armor."

"And believe me," she adds, "Badger ain't all that trustworthy of magic ourselves. Never really 'ave been. Still, it ain't right. They ain't got no right stoppin' all a priest's prayers. That and it's leavin' our shugenja even less safe. They're now havin' to walk around with unarmored guards and worryin' that if they cast a spell these animals will string'em up or somethin'. And that's how the friendly locals are carryin' on."

Lifting her foot a bit higher in the water she curls the toes, feeling them crack and pop softly. "And I figured Hoshi-san would come back alright. But no matter yer clan, you guys are crew. I 'ave no problem defendin' and assistin' any of our crewmen. And anyone who would, well, if I found out 'bout it, we'd end up havin' words."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

A smile behind the mask.

"I get the feeling, Ichiro-san, that you go through many pairs of sandals a year. If you're ever a guest at one of the Scoprion courts, I'll let them know to have a fresh shipment ready for you." Nobuyoshi says, his body language suggesting it's a friendly comment.

" Technically though, it's not all priest's prayers. It's specifically calling upon the kami without the permission of the Captain or the gunsos. Though the notice does also mention doing it outside their presence. " Nobuyoshi says.

"Hrmmm, actually it was written with very odd loopholes in it. Technically, Isawa-gunso could tell you to bring the full wrath of the kami down on the counsel, and then you could go do that, and you'd be within the rights granted by the notice. You'd still be killed, of course, but not for disobeying the notice.... "

Nobuyoshi shrugs.

"My guess would be that one of our shugenja got into trouble yesterday with their praying, and the notice was a compromise between the Captain and the Leadership between no praying at all, and letting someone who's proven themselves untrustworthy with it free reign to strike again."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Could be," she shrugs, "though ya can probably understand where punishin' all of us for the acts of one man don' sit well. Sure, they don' understand our ways. But as far as I'm concerned, that's a strongly implied insult in any language."

Letting her foot once again rest as the base of the bath she lifts another cupped hand full of water and dumps it over her head. "And its enough of their prayers. The Capain and the Gunso can't be everywhere at once. Unless they're about to tell our priests to use their prayers whenever, the whole thing's a dangerous mess. And with the Capain agreein' to those terms, I don' see that happenin'." After pausing for a moment she adds, "I don' think the Capain did wrong, mind ya. I suspect, for whatever reason, he had to set them terms."

Resting her arms against the edge of the pool Yakusoku tapes her fingers softly. "Sounds to me like we're gonna be talkin in circles 'bout this. Getting trapped and all aside, how'd yer visit to see their leader go?"

[Togashi Kazuma]

I let them have thier conversation as my mind wanders back and forth, to the Bayushi's introduction, I groan a little. I'm not used to introducing myself. Perhaps I need to work on my courtier skills. 'I'm Togashi Kazuma, Bayushi Nobuyoshi-san, Ichiro Yakusoku-san. I have not eaten either, though I may go into town as well. Though I have less need for a burlap sack."

The way the Badger speaks is curious, almost infectious. I listen to the back and forth. "May I ask whom the one man is? I'm afraid I spent most of the day on the boat yesterday. The rain was unpleasant. "

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs, having no real interest in talking in circles.

"It went ok. Their leader is really young, but seems capable enough." Nobuyoshi offers. "It's interesting comparing the palace to the kyudens of home. Lots of tea rooms, meeting rooms, art galleries, at least four formal dining halls, a large kitchen, a vast library. And this is with their leader talking about needing to tidy up the place for foreign guests. "

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Hmm," the corner of her mouth twitches slightly, "young as in young for a leader? Or young as in a child?" the idea of it in no way seemed unnatural. After all, Rokugan had had it's child Emperors. "And fascinatin' to hear 'bout their castle. They're more cultured than some like to give'em credit for. Still, it ain't about what ya have, its 'bout what ya do with it."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

"As not in his teens yet, but he speaks Rokugani. He had a lot of advisers and guards, but he seemed to be in charge." Nobuyoshi offers.

Nobuyoshi turns to the Togashi.

"I'm sorry, Togashi-san. Who were you asking about?" he asks.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Hmm, probably someone advisin' him into this whole mess. If they were this scared of our armor and our prayin' at first, we woulda known 'bout it early on." As conversation shifts to the Togashi she glances his way. Askin' 'bout who got the shugenja in trouble?

[Togashi Kazuma]

"You spoke of the one making trouble for all." I say rubbing my chin. "I was just wondering who that one is."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs.

"Any of the shugenja aboard, I guess, excluding Isawa-gunso and Moshi-gunso." Nobuyoshi offers. "Agasha-san did commune with a pool at the palace, and then hurriedly ran off to tell the Captain something. Assuming nothing untoward happened to the fish after he did so, perhaps he might know more."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Hard to imagine any of our shugenja causin' such trouble," Yakusoku ponders for a moment, trying to remember all of the priests on board. "I mean, they got chosen for the Legion. Usually ya don't get that sort of appointment if yer a troublemaker. And I don' recall much in the way of trouble bein' caused on the boat."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs, taking in the bath.

"That would have been my assessment upon being offered the appointment." Nobuyoshi offers. "However, I've been told that at least one of our number was conscripted into this duty. I'm not certain what that would entail though, I thought only those in good standing were allowed such positions."