[Day 6 – Early Afternoon] Local Fishing

[Bayushi Hoshi]

She tilted her head slightly at the smile that appeared, half-picturing the Crab going out in the middle of the deck, raving at fury of Osano-Wo. Wait, that would be the crow's nest wouldn't it? Only more crazy. "It was a furious little thing but I see that lightning hadn't struck one of the masses. I don't know if that would make you disappointed or relieved..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko almost giggled. She put one hand on her mouth as if considering which would be more appropriate.

"That depends," she said slowly. "Would the lightning blast the mast apart, knocking any one on the crow's nest into the water? Because that sounds like an... interesting time."

Interesting. Yeah. That was the word.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi instead found it hard to see this particular amusement in getting blasted off a ship. "I can't say that I've been blasted off a crow's nest by lightning before. I doubt I'll be so lucky to land in the water. Such a fall could send you spend spiraling down to the deck below. -Ah...well, unless Kaiu-san finds being in sick bay an interesting time too..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko sobered up a little.

"Iie, iie. A blast like that would probably mean a lot of trouble and pain, if not death. The chance of being blasted clear to land safely in the water - not too likely."

She sighed.

"That is the trouble with Osano-Wo's attention. It is blessed, but too often it comes at a price."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi merely gave a few nods in closing to the previous idea.

There were a few tugs that were felt on her pole just at the closing of that thought, however it seemed that she wasn't quick enough with her line as there was a small splash heard when the prey managed to flop off the hook. She released a small breath and flicked the line back. "They same could be said on more Fortunes really, even those who are reputably of benevolent ideas. There are never any easy blessings." In the case of Osano-Wo...I don't know what would be considered a true blessing from him...

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko gave a smile when Hoshi seemed to have caught her fish, then gave a small sound of sympathy as it got away.

"That's the trouble with using fishing to help you meditate. The moments when you have a catch and the moments when it gets away."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"I don't think the act of either catching or losing was ever part of meditation when it comes to fishing. That's when it ends really...It's also why I rather skip fishing all together and buy my fish instead."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"So do you think that a monk would meditate while fishing to the point that he would just let the fish go and ponder the meaning of all that?"

Although there was some philosophical truth to the idea, it was obvious from the look on Seiko's face that she was making light-hearted conversation.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi chuckled. "I would know as much as you on what monks would do with fishing Kaiu-san. The act in itself is a contradiction, as a monk has no use for fish as food, being vegetarians. The monk would likely go off an ponder why she fished at all in the first place."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Possibly to contemplate the meaning of being a fish? Or to ponder what it means to be caught like one?"

Seiko turned back to her own fishing, her smiling slipping a little.

"Or maybe just to show that it could be done?"

She gave her fishing rod a little jerk in annoyance.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Her eyes narrowed. "...Is that an activity that's supposed to pass for enlightenment nowadays? That would be unfortunate...I know with the monks of Hotei Seido, it's more than likely that such a fish is caught, and released elsewhere as a pet."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko looked over at Hoshi.

"I don't know," she admitted at last. "I think that what I consider 'enlightenment' and what I think the monks consider 'enlightenment' and what the monks actually do consider 'enlightenment' are all very different things."

She looked back at her fishing rod again.

"Maybe the fish in gaijin waters don't appreciate philosophical talk."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"As nice as enlightenment may be, that's a mystery I don't have to trouble myself until retirement at least. Doing what we do consider 'enlightenment' may be good enough busywork ne?" She released a demure sigh. "Maybe that's the case Kaiu-san. I don't imagine lewd and embarrassing tales would work as good bait either."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko gave Hoshi a look.

Lewd tales??

"Um... Bayushi-san? Are you... are we... talking about the same thing?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi glanced to Seiko with an innocent look. "-Ah...Were we? I thought we were just about discussing the best ways to lure fish."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko looked at Hoshi for a moment longer.

But then... why lewd...

Somethings were better left unresolved. She turned her attention back to her fishing and hoped that she would actually get a bite.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

She content with the quiet for a good moment before letting out a small breath. "...I take it that Kaiu-san was expecting that story that I owed her instead."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko was quiet again.

"It would make the time pass," she said at last.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi paused to consider this and nodded once. "Okay. I can give it a try. You were curious about the one with the bridge weren’t you? There are more than a few bridges in Ryoko Owari Toshi, both into and inside the city. Maybe we were talking about different bridges too at the time ne?"

“There was one incident that happened three years ago by the bridge down Kichibei way. There was an outcry all over the city on the morning of the aftermath, sadly it wasn’t sympathy for any of the parties involved. But instead, just petty complaints. From what I was told...there was a concubine who resided in the city, she belonged to one of the minor regional daimyo from a far away land. In order to detract attention from his clan, the affair was held there instead. His visits were sparse however and it didn’t take too long for the woman to find comfort and company elsewhere...”

“It was a young merchant's son, the heir to a sizable empire. They say it was a chance encounter where they met in one of the city’s busy day markets. He wasn’t even a local either, and she was most definitely out of place. Whether by connection or karma, they fell in love with each other and began this affair on the side. This mistress didn’t have her own way for long as the daimyo was a cunning man. When this particular boy was introduced as a possible associate, he found out that something was afoot with the two.”

“There was a warning, or at least they said there was one given to show some benevolence of the daimyo, to never see the boy again. As important the merchant was, his heir wasn’t so important enough to argue this point. However, they were still inseparable, and dared to continue their affair even behind the daimyo. So they believed. Eventually, they must have agreed that leaving the city for good and moving up north would be the best course of action. Throwing off their obligations, they promised each other to meet at the bridge at midnight. This was easily done but what happened next wasn’t according to plan...”

“You see...the daimyo hired ronin to keep close watch on the concubine and slay the lover when given the chance. There were enough of them to take both sides of the bridge. Neither lovers were bushi and knew very well this was the end of the line. Taking each other in an embrace, they...” Hoshi took a small pebble and tossed it into the water below for effect. “...plunged into the river below, which swept them off in a rapid current.”

Hoshi sighed softly. “-Ah...well, their escape wasn’t as dramatic nor romantic as some may think really. And it was quite obvious to the city in the morning...for that they drowned there that evening, branches in the river managed to keep the bodies there where they became breakfast for the rats and flies.”

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko listened to Hoshi's story, somewhat enthralled by it.

But the ending obviously did not sit well with the young Kaiu. She couldn't hide the small shudder than ran through her at the imagery.

Breakfast for the rats and flies...

"That was a lovely story," she said. "Although I cannot help but hope for the next time that I hear it to have the... truncated version. One of those... works of arts went it brings you in."