Promise in the Mist [Day 7, OPEN]

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

Now that she was on the ship, Yakusoku was back in her armor. Standing on the fog-shrouded deck, dressed in trousers and chest wraps, the Badger sets her ono aside and pulls her katana from its saya. She'd put it safely below deck once they set sail again but for now, she felt better with the weapon at her side. Inhaling slowly the woman starts in on a quick kata, more advanced than those she'd practiced in earlier days. Between each exercise she sheathes her blade, only to practice quickly drawing it and striking in a single motion.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Another figure stood further away on the deck, leaning to the railing, huddled in his cloak. He watched the Badger dance through her kata, not wishing to disturb her, simply enjoying the grace of her movements. Beauty, it seemed, could be found in most strangest of places.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

The Badger was by no means a master with her blade. However, she could easily dispel the stereotype that the Badger were only good with their ono and dai tsuchi. She went through the motions gracefully, darting forward with a series of powerful attacks before backing away from her invisible opponent, striking as if to put distance between them. If she noticed the Unicorn observing her she didn't show it, more caught up in her training than usual.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

The Unicorn, on his part, felt no need to disturb her as long as she was amidst practise. He was content on being lost in his own, less than cheerful thoughts.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

And Yakusoku felt no need to focus less on her practice due to the presence of another crewman. The woman continues her kata, training for several long minutes before slipping her blade back into its saya. "Iuchi-san," she murmurs between heavy breaths, making her way over to lean against the edge of the ship, "lovely day." Her sarcasm was obvious and the lack of her otherwise ever-present smile suggested her mood may even be in line with his own.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Better than the storm two days ago, I give you that." he nodded back at her. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything. The humidity and closed space below decks..." The sentence remained unfinished. He was rather sure she knew what he meant without actually voicing it.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

She nods. "Ya, I get that. No sense stayin' below deck when it's like that. And don't worry, yer not interruptin' nothin'."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"So, how have you found the Ivory Kingdoms?" the man asked her, curious. "Well, if we forget the miserable weather. And the cult willing to enslave all these people."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"'Bout how I expected it," she murmurs. "Let me tell ya, didn't mind it much of none until they felt they could be tellin' us we can't wear armor no and our priests can't pray. We ain't been nothin' but respectful and get insults for it. Ain't got no love for gaijin after what happened to my clan. The way they been actin' makes them beliefs stronger."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Maybe they had their reasons." he shrugged. "Maybe something happened. It's not like the higher-ups tell us everything." In a caravan, the master made sure that everyone knew what was going on. It kept things safe. Military seemed to have it's own rules.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Perhaps," she shrugs, speaking dryly, her tone suggesting she didn't want to get into it. "How 'bout you? What ya thinkin' of our time 'ere so far?"

[Bayushi Kichirou]

Kichirou had felt, off, since yesterday. Nothing seemed as bright for the Scorpion and so he himself was more blank. Hoping some practice or some other return to 'normalcy' might jog him back he had come to the deck with bokken in hand hoping for some time and space.

Bowing to the Badger and Unicorn silently he made his way a few paces off to their side and began to stretch. Each pop of a joint felt sharper, stung more, than the day before but he continued on anyway.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Perhaps," she shrugs, speaking dryly, her tone suggesting she didn't want to get into it. "How 'bout you? What ya thinkin' of our time 'ere so far?"

"Well, barring the aforementioned weather, nice. Really nice. You rarely get a chance to see a place like this." the man nodded eagerly. "New scents, styles... items... very interesting, yes."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Eh, the food's alright," she shrugs slightly. "I don't have your clan's love of that sort of stuff, I 'spose. Though'd probably help if this place wasn't a Fortune-damned powder keg."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Poweder... keg? What is that... a make-up or... flour?" Iuchi asked her, puzzled. The man didn't quite get the metaphor.

/OOC: If you want to edit, feel free to. Just drop me a PM so I know to edit my reply.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Like these barbarians use; barrel of gaijin pepper" she explains. Certainly it wasn't a common term but the Empire had had its fair share of run-ins with explosives. "Means its 'bout ready to explode."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

That raised an eyebrow. "Ichiro-san seem knowledgeable... about these things." It wasn't exactly a compliment. "And your assesment is rather accurate... I think." Iuchi nodded to her. "The city felt... nervous."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Hai," she nods at the Unicorn's assessment of the city, "even our people at the embassy were actin' all jumpy. Don' know what has'em so set off but there's definitely somethin' wrong 'ere."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Bayushi-san told me something about a cult wishing to overthrow the local daimyo... and to invade the mainland." Iuchi chuckled. "Sounds bit ridiculous... as what would random cult want from us? But here... the danger maybe real."