Daidoji Fuichi was a man on a mission. The sick bay had to be in perfect readiness for any of the many possible horrible things that could come from this situation. Consequently, he was spending his shift rolling bandages and preparing the piles of poultices for staunching bleeding, handling poisons, and dealing with burns.

As he worked, he sang one of the grim songs of the Iron Crane, mostly about camraderie and terrible gory death.

"Cheerful. Myself, I've always preferred the Unicorn's hymns to the Lords of Death...they've got an interesting lyric style and a really good rhythm."

O-washi, leaning against the doorjam, smiled at his shipmate.

"Are you going with them or staying here, then?"

A light set of steps comes down into the sick bay and a dark skinned man appeared in the door way. He pauses at the doorway and nods to both men. "Excuse me. Samurai. I simply wished to see the sick bay once again. In case I may find myself here again soon."

O-washi was, mildly, vexed by the arrival of the stranger but tried not to show it.

"Jayant...or is it Utpal? Your naming conventions flumux me a bit still. Either way, welcome back, good to see you coming in of your own power."

"Jayant, if you please." It was nearly unbelievable to see how quickly he had gone from not understanding the language to being able to speak it with only a slight accent. "Thank you, I suppose the last time you saw me I was still in rather poor condition. I have made a full recovery though, in no small part thanks to you and yours."

Fuichi offered a smile to the gaijin. "It was our pleasure. Will you be joining the away team?"

Jayant grinned, and there was something that promised his enemy's blood spilled in that smile. "Yes. Yes I will."

Fuichi smiled. "Then I shall entreat Bishamon to steel your arm and Kisada to steel your bones. Come back in one piece."

"There's much to be said for vengeance." O-washi's blue gaze hardened. "Do them an extra few blows for me, I've yet to have the chance to avenge the ones that took my home. A different force, of course, but invaders and defilers of every stripe deserve the same treatment."

Punchiru returns to the ship thoughtful.

Entering the sick bay, he greets the gunso, shugenja and his friend the envoy with separate bows, unwilling to interrupt conversation yet.

Fuichi smiles and bows in return to the Falcon he's probably talked to loads of times off-screen.

As the 'on-duty' gunso, O-washi was quick to address the new arrival in case it was official business. "Did you need something, Toritaka-san?"

Punchiru holds up some of the sample of produce he had purchased.

"I had minor questions about the long-term edibility of these beans I bought, and whether or not they are healthy for people as us to consume. It really isn't anything too important."

. . .

The headache the Isawa thought he'd rid himself of started to dance about his temples again. "If you haven't eaten them yet to know you enjoy them, why would you want to use up your personal gear space to lug them all the way home?"

Punchiru looks crestfallen.

"I've had some, I think they are just the thing for what we need. Vegetables that keep. I wasn't going to take them all the way home. I planned on serving them with the fish Yoritomo-san occasionally catches. He cooks too. If you think it is a bad idea..."

O-washi softened at the kicked puppy look. "Can you find them dried? Dried beans tend to keep rather well."

"Oh yes, I bought them dried. These were just fresh ones for your evaluation, Isawa-sama."

"In that case, Toritaka-san, I don't think there should be an issue. Dried beans keep for several months." Then he shrugged. "As for nutrition, most beans are good for you, though azuki's are questionable."

Jayant looked over at the mountain of a man. "It would be good to have a man of your strength with us. But I suppose you have duties here that must be taken care of." And in case things go horribly wrong.

Jayant looks over at the Toritaka as he enters. "As this is my home. I am certainly capable of examining those beans and telling you a bit about them. I'm no cook though."

O-washi cracked his knuckles, the sound loud. "I'm on duty to manage the ship, I'm afraid, otherwise I'd be with you. Instead, I will watch to make sure no sneaky bastards try to pull a counterattack."