[Moon13: Early evenin Aftdeck, Open] Nervous.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Gulping, the man replied, "Well, if something foul comes on board, at least I can hope burn it. With elemental jade. It's a prayer they teach to most of us. " he explained, meekly.

"There is a rather peculiar forest in our lands. One where people wander, and never return. Or if they return... they are not themselves any more. They say that there's a treasure in the woods. Keeps drawing ronin, and other desperate people in." The man just shook his head, telling non-vocally what happened to those men and women.

"Though, I'd rather not call the kami for that. Not here."

[Hida Musasha]

The big man nods, "It's a good skill ta teach, but yer not a Kuni, so don' be a hero. Let th' bushi deal with anythin' fer now. I'm here ta make sure th' rest o' you don' have ta go ta Jigoku." He spits, "That's what most Crab have ta look forward to, anyway. We ken fight until we fall, then we hope we're dead an' not changin' sides. If I ken keep ya from havin' ta face that fate, I served my purpose here."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... thank you. I suppose." he nodded to the man. There was little else to say before such fatalism.

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Nothin' to it." The big man looks to the rails again, not terribly interested by any one point, "So ya pretty much know me like we grew up tagether, now. What about you?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Heh.." the man chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I am a son of a merchant patron... and a priest. My family oversees some spice, sake and novelty trading. Mostly with Mantis and Phoenix. So, after my graduation, I travelled around the Empire with him. Saw the world, saw the girls, had someone waiting for me back home. Or so I thought." he explained, somewhat sheepishly.

"Bit out of my element here, really."

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Jus' listen ta the Officers, then, until ya git used ta it. They know what they 're talkin' about." He looks at the Unicorn, trying to be reassuring, "Anything attackin' this ship'll have ta git past a lotta good men ta get t' th' priests here. Yer safe."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, I really hope they are not going to take us to a battle. With a crew like this. I mean... good half of us are not exactly trained for this."

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "I meant in th' future. An' even now, th' crew's dedicated. If we git attacked, we're safe."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Ah... well, yeah. It should be fine." he nodded.

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, satisfied that he did some good. "So ya said ya have a gerl? She one o' them Battle Maiden's th' Crab sailors always go on about?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm, no. Iuchi like me." the man sighed.

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Ya said ya thought she was back home, did she leave while you were away? I heard ya all have that..." he seems to try to think of how to say something in High Rokugani, "wanderlost stuff in the unicorn."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"No. I was engaged to Phoenix as a part of a trade agreement. Hard to marry the girl you like if you are supposed to marry someone else." the man chuckled dryly.

[Hida Musasha]

He shakes his head, "Tha's too bad. Ya ken always jus' visit her quiet like an' share some time together." The Hida looked like he was trying to be sympathetic, but just didn't understand the concept.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I guess I could, but if she ends up married to someone else, it might be tricky you know."

[Hida Musasha]

He shrugs, "As long as ya don't make it obvious, it ain't against the rules. Don't carry her off inta th' woods durin' a party er nothin', but ya ken have yer quiet nights together."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"No, it's not against the rules- But it's not proper you know."

[Hida Musasha]

He shrugs, "I suppose. If she invites ya, though, is it more insultin' ta say no? She's offerin' ya a gift tha' can't be any more personal."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"As much as they said that man should eat the meal laid before him... I do not know... And I'll be on the road a lot, the the little time I get to spend home, I'd probably spend with my wife. " he muttered,

"For the obvious reasons." the man chuckled.

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Jus' don' fergit ta find happiness afore yer time is done. That's th' only thing a Crab really ever learns. We're grim realists, an' we ain't th' kind ta retire, mostly 'cause not one o' us live that long."