[D4, Late Afternoon] Watching the Heat (open)

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho gave a small nod. "I am moderately skilled at the art of the duel myself Asahina-sama, but there is much more to it all than that. I did not attend the primary Mirumoto academy however, so perhaps my sensei merely instilled different priorities in my head."

[Asahina Narumi]

"Of course Mirumoto-sama. I had not assumed that's all there was to the Mirumoto, but one would have a difficult time thinking otherwise if they only ever heard of the Mirumoto from Kakita duelists," Narumi replied with a small smile.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko wandered over, giving a bow to Itsuho and Narumi. She did not join the pair, but she positioned herself nearby so that they could easily invite her into their conversation if they wished.

Her eyes watched the shore, seeing if anything of interest would appear.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho gave a small nod again. She returned the bow to the Kaiu woman as she moved to lean onto the railing, but her eyes looked over to Narumi once more. "If you mean the family, hai, there are many types of Mirumoto. Many are swordsmen, and many practice the art of the duel, just as many of the Kakita do. My own... branch of the family spends much time with the sword, but just as much with the Tao of Shinsei."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

(( As Narumi has left, I'm redoing this to make some sense since she didn't even have time for an out ))

Itsuho watched Narumi sail off into the sunset. She turned then to look at Seiko, nodding a little to the Kaiu woman. "It is quite the sight, is it not Kaiu-sama? I am not sure if I am supposed to be impressed or not, but it does at the very least inspire thoughtfulness and anticipation."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko nodded as the Dragon graciously included her in conversation. One-on-one conversation instead of a small discussion amongst three, as she had first hoped, but things did not always turn out the way they are planned. Still, she had no reason to complain about the company.

"I... find myself wondering mostly about their boats, how they are different from our own, if maybe these gaijin might have stumbled across some secret to get a little more out of their boats than without." She looked out over the harbor, studying the various vessel in silence for a bit. "I do not believe that their vessels could compare to ours, of course, as they are only gaijin, but it is always possible that we could learn something from them."

Something small and insignificant, I don't doubt.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

She stared at the boats as well at the Kaiu's comments. Clearly she knew nothing of boats, which would hardly have come as a surprise from growing up in the mountains. Still, she spoke thoughtfully when she finally did. "I have heard very little instances of vessels from this kingdom making it to Rokugan. They look worthy enough to float, but not much beyond that."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko paused in thought at the Mirumoto's comment.

"I would want to ask the Mantis how far the gaijin ships can travel. Especially in rough waters." She sighed, a slightly troubled thought obviously plaguing her. "The Empire has been plagued enough by invasions from gaijin."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

She gives a small nod. "Hai, one is too many in that. The yobanjin attacking in our lifetime... that is all I know personally, but it was enough."

Itsuho paused, looking over at Seiko. "Still, I am somewhat surprised at your interest in the matter, Kaiu-sama. I have not met many Crab so drawn to the sea, and the ships upon it. Well... I have not met many Crab at all, so that is hardly saying much."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko gave Itsubo an easy smile.

"The crab is a marine creature. Why shouldn't my Clan be likewise drawn to the sea from time to time? Do you think the threats end at the Kaiu Wall?"

Given the fact that they had gone through the Sea of Shadows not that long ago, the question was obviously rhetorical.

"But, no, most Crabs are more intent on doing things by land. There is little need for the Crab Clan to have a large naval culture. But some Crabs... like me... do find that the sea..."

She finished with a shrug, and then turned back to look back at the harbor.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho let the statement drift off a moment, turning to look out at the harbor as well. Finally she spoke softly. "Has a beauty all its own Kaiu-sama? Hai, it does, much like the beauty of the mountains can be lost on many. I am not as aquainted with the sea as you are, I am quite certain of that. I doubt I ever will be, just as I doubt I could ever love it as much as the home I have always known."

She shrugged softly and turned around, elbows leaning onto the railing. "Still... the breeze on the ocean is like no where else. The view is always long, and the sky never ceases to go on forever. Even so new to it, I can see why the ocean would captivate."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko was quiet in reply for a while. Then she nodded, giving the Mirumoto her point before verbally expressing herself about it.

"As I can understand about mountains. While it is true that the mountains do not hold my interest as the ocean does, they... can be majestic and awe-inspiring in their own way."

She lapsed back into silence, content to look out over the harbor again.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

It seemed that the Kaiu appreciated silence as much as the Mirumoto by how long the quiet stretched on once again. Finally Itsuho spoke softly. "Hai, the mountains have a much different feel. I spoke to you before of an unchanging stability, but there is more. They are varied, no two the same. From the bottom to the top is as different as north and south are in the empire. You will find things in the mountain tops and valleys you will find no where else, even on other mountains..."

She trails off slowly, closing her eyes and facing up toward the hot sun.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko could not help but let a small smile grace her lips as she noticed how Itsuho revered the mountains such that even the memory of them gave a hint of happiness. Carefully, she controlled her expression so that the smile disappeared.

"Perhaps someday I will spend some time on a mountain and discover this for myself. I have heard stories of islands that come out of the sea so sudden and so high that they are little more than mountains themselves in the middle of nowhere."

She paused, thinking about that sight, picturing that in her head for a bit.

"Wouldn't that be something to see, neh?"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The Dragon girl's eyes opened a little and she glanced over at Seiko. "Mountains rising out of the ocean? Hai, that would be quite the sight to see indeed. The valley's would all be under the water, the peaks testaments that the earth and water can live in harmony."

She sat up, wiping her brow with the back of a sleeve. "I have heard of Mantis islands like that. I wonder how long we will be in such strange gaijin lands."

[Kaiu Seiko]

The reminder of their presence in foreign lands (and foreign waters) did not sit well with Seiko.

"Hai. The limits of the Imperial Legion, to this strange place. I look forward to the return journey home." Even if the gaijin lands had mountains rising out of the ocean... far better to go to the islands of the Mantis to search for such wonders there instead.

Seiko lapsed back into silence again as she gazed out across the harbor.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The Dragon gave a soft nod and straightened. She took the wooden daisho from her obi, giving a few small test swings. "Hai... the sooner we return to Rokugan, the better. That is why I choose to remain on the ship where so many have gone ashore. Whatever business we are here for, I wish it over and done with."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko nodded in complete agreement.

"I have no wish to go ashore, save to take a bath in the embassy. This land is not fit for me."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

It was Itsuho's turn to look slightly puzzled. "A bath at the embassy, Kaiu-sama? I have not really spoken to anyone from the shore, so I must confess I know as much of our embassy here as I do the town itself. I am even a little surprised any samurai would stay in such a place as an ambassador."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko frowned a moment.

"I... believe I heard that they had a bath in the embassy." Her voice got a little quiet. "I hope so, at any rate. It is the one comfort of land I miss."