[Day 4, pre-dawn, closed] Fishy fish

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Yawning, the shugenja rowed the boat away from the Half Moon, a less than neatly wrapped net laying behind him as he took pulled the oars with long and deliberate stokes, using his bodyweight to ease the process. Over his legion uniform the man wore a travelling coat, to ward of both the water and the chill, undoubtedly smart move, considering the weather.

"Bit chilly" he noted, smiling to his companion as the lanterns of the ship grew more and more distant.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

Bright and early, well at least early, Kiyo is stillrubbing the sleep from her eyes when she settles in the skiff, her fishing rod tucked neatly beside her. Her only concession to the night's chill is a light jacket, she yawns before she answers, "I think it's kinda nice right now. I don't think today will be a fun day to spend below decks, hopefully Lanka won't be too crowded."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Leaving the rudder to the Mantis, Iuchi focused on the oars, nodding as she spoke. "if they'll let us all of the ship." He murmured to her. "If there's trouble brewing... I'd assume the captain would want to keep the crew on board..."

"You think that'll do?" He shot a glance at her pole, remembering his own luck with similar device, the day before.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"From what I understand we're all getting shoreleave today, but I'm sure some will choose to stay with the ship. Not me though, I'm curious about these Ivory Kingdoms."

"It'll do, it hasn't failed me often and it's more likely to hook one of the bigger fish than a net," she nods towards his net, "You should take better care of yours, else it'll get tangled before you even get it in the water."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I doubt that they let us all go... But we'll see." The man replied, smiling. "And yes, if I get the chance to get off the ship, I will surely take." he chuckled. "I am quite curious to see what kind of place Lanka is. The new smells, foods, places..."

And magic... He had heard gaijin sold their charms and potions. They didn't venerate their ancestors, nor the kami, so themagics they used were also traded and bartered with. The idea both excited and reviled him. Xiao Hua was annoyed by the fact that he couldn't speak Rhuumal. Now he'd have to sneak out with someone who could. And that would be risky.

"Not mine, borrowed this from the ship. Wasn't in the perfect condition to begin with. Though yes, I will sort it out before I cast it." he gave the net a pitiful look. It was really in a bad shape.

"So, has Tsuruchi-san ever been this far beyond the borders of the Empire?"

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Hai it should be fun," she grins, "If they're not really at war anyway, but that should still make our stay interesting in other ways."

She looks the net over again and smirks, "You should have brought your rod. Nets are fine if you want to catch a lot of fish, but you'll be lucky if they don't swim right through that thing."

"Iie, not me," she shakes her head, "I heard stories from those who have but I haven't been this far from Isles and the Empire before."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, tired mine the other day. Didn't really work." he grimaced. "If there are no fish here, neither of us is going to get anything. If we managed to to lay the net properly, we might get some. And if you get really luck, you might as well." the man added, smiling. "We'll just have to wait and see, neh." Double entendre was accidental, the man speaking about the actual fish.

"Hee, new experience to you then. " he nodded to her. "I've been to Burning Sands once, with a trade caravan. Once. I think that Lanka won't be anything like that."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"There's always fish in the sea. It's just a matter of getting them to come to you," she says as she prepares her rod, "You said you knew how to find them so it shouldn't be a problem to find a spot to cast your net neh?"

"From what I've heard, Lanka's nothing like the Burning Sands at all. More trees for starters."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Didn't help me the other day." he chuckled. "Apparently the spirits of the sea have a bit different view of the world. Or fish. I'll try again today."

"Yeah... Didn't exactly expect to find a desert in the middle of an ocean." the man replied, smiling. "What ever it is, it is solid land... and they might even have bath houses."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Hai that it is, and some fresh water to bathe in will be nice. The rain yesterday was barely enough to freshen up a little," she baits her hook and casts it out, even as they are still looking for a place to cast the net, "What were the Burning Sands like? I've heard a little about it, but never from someone who's actually been there."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Dry... burning hot. Sun a plenty. The name is rather accurate." the man explained, lifting the oars up. "Dark-skinned people, most of their heimin seem to live in misery. Their nobles do not seem to care for them. But I guess that such things can happen when you do not follow the Celestial order..."

"Now, if you'd excuse me, I'll try to talk to the kami... I may seem absent for a while."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

The Mantis wrinkles her nose in disgust at his description of the Sands, "Bah, sounds terrible. I hope I'm never sent there."

"Hai of course," she replies and settles back, her bare feet propped up on the railing as she works her line in hopes of attracting a fish.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Didn't saw any Mantis there." he chuckled again, shooting a glance at her leaning position, letting his eyes wander to her shapely legs. "So I think you are safe."

Then stops to pray for a moment. /OOC IC down >.>

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

Either she was too busy working her line and didn't notice his glance or she simply didn't care, "I think I'll take care not to piss off -dono too much just to be sure."

[elonweis]

A small wave rises to slap the side of the skiff before stilling in to a placid (and unnatural pool). The water kami shows the skiff following it a few minutes row out to a another spot. The image stops and there's almost a comical image of Kiyo catching a rather large fish.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Sounds like a good idea." he nods. "And we'll have to move a bit." the man added as he started to row, taking the skiff towards the place the spirit had shown.

"You'll get some." he assured her. "As far as the vision can be trusted."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"I am?" she asks confused, pulled out of her 'meditative' fishing, "Oh right the Kami. It kinda takes a bit of the fun out of it doesn't it? Knowing that you'll catch something for sure that is."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Sorry..." he told her, smiling bit sheepishly. "It was big one too, so if you catch a small one... it'll be a surprise." Shrugging, he turned to his nets, humming. He'd need to sort it out before he would be able to cast it.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

She laughs a bright laugh, "Hai I guess it will be. It's not all bad, at least we're sure we won't return empty-handed," she was tempted to sit up to wait for the inevitable bite, but decides against it. She slowly draws her line in before casting out again, "You need help with that net?"

[elonweis]

The little wave moves across the water, leading the way against its brothers. When they reach the spot, it makes a few laps around the skiff before dropping back in to the water.