It wasn't quite time yet to change into more reasonable clothing for a sea voyage, so Naomi still chose to wear her regular clothes. Her luggage in the form of a rather heavy travelling pack weighed on her small shoulders, and she had a full daisho on her side, as well as a small spear, an unstrung yumi and quiver.

Approaching the ship by the docks, the little Shiba couldn't help but to pause and admire the craftsmanship of the Half Moon. "Oh my... the Legions surely are blessed with fine vessels..." she muttered to herself as she gazed up at its tall masts.

Nose deep in a pillowbook, the second small Shiba of the day was slowly making her way down the docks, a porter with a wooden box following behind with a rather bored expression on his face.

Narrowly managing to avoid bumping into Naomi, all that is heard is a soft murmur of "Sumimasen, minna-sama," before she continues along her way.

"Oh..." Naomi fretted for a brief moment as she realized she had been in someone's way.
"Ah, sumimasen, I didn't hear you coming... cousin?" at least she thought she saw ways to identify the even smaller Shiba as a fellow Phoenix.

At the word cousin, Nozomi pauses and turns slightly to more fully face the other woman. Disturbingly pale eyes glance up hesitantly at Naomi from under the tiny girl's bangs, widening in recognition of the mons and colors.

"Another Shiba?" she mumbles more to herself than anyone in particular. The porter sets the box down and tries not to sigh.

Seeming somewhat nervous, she bows rather deeply. "It's an honor to meet another Phoenix so soon, Shiba-sama. I take full responsibility for any accidental slight that I may have caused you by my inattentive behavior and hope that you accept my apology."

Please, by the kami don't ask to see my stance...

Whatever stance Nozomi could produce was the last thing on Naomi's mind. Seeing the milky eyes made her jump a bit. "Oh my dear, no wonder we nearly had an accident! I should have paid more attention, it was hardly your fault, after all."
Oh, this poor girl must be blind, or suffer some bad fortune of the Heavens to be cursed with such eyes...

"The apology is mine to offer. I am Shiba Naomi, and I'm dreadfully sorry."

Nozomi gives no indication she noticed the other Shiba's slight start. Her gaze politely drops to the floor and she bows once more. "I'm Nasu Nozomi."

After a slight pause, she adds,"We're a vassal family to the Shiba..." Just in case Naomi was like most of the rest of Rokugan, and had no earthly clue who the Nasu were.

"And since we both seem to feel guilty about it all, maybe we can just... forget the whole thing?" Tiny feet shift uncomfortably, but the tone of the next statement is undeniably hopeful.

"Ah, I have met many members of the Nasu. In my home, in the small port of Shiawasena Ningyo no Minato*, it is not unusual to meet Nasu sailors." She was about to say a pleasure, but felt it would feel forced...

"Yes... that is perhaps for the best, to forget it. May I inquire where you were headed with your nose in a book, Nasu-san?" At least the warmth remained in her voice, as well as the gentle smile on her face.


(*=Happy Ningyo Port)

Hearing a port she recognizes, Nozomi nods. It was good to know that her clansmate had at least some understanding of her family. "I've been through there only once, but it was a lovely town."

Small hands quickly supply the appropriate documents for Naomi's review, as if the woman had been asking for her travelling papers, rather than asking a casual question as to her destination. "I've been transferred to the kobune, the Half Moon, under the command of Captain Yoritomo Uminishi." She carefully closes her book, glances quickly over the numerous ships in port, and points to one that looks like most of the others.

"I believe she's that one. My orders were to report today, but they didn't really give a time..."

"..."

Gulp

"My, that is... quite a coincidence. I've likewise been honored with an assignment aboard the Half Moon." She produced a similar document from inside her kimono sleeve. But, she's so... well, I don't know what, but will she be alright on such a large and important vessel?

Again, the milky white eyes flick over the other Shiba, this time much more carefully. She looks a little... soft... to be stationed on a ship...

"Fortune must be smiling upon us. Should we continue our walk together?" The porter lifts the wooden box in anticipation of having the completion of his duty arriving soon.

"So, on board, you... cook?" Nozomi asks a little skeptically,"Or...?" it was rather obvious she didn't man the rigging, that was for sure. Naomi's hands were far too nice for that.

"Uhm, well, that depends on what the captain wishes for me to do, but I can cook, yes." What sort of respectable woman doesn't know how to cook? Naomi thought idly to herself as she fell in step next to Nozomi on their way to the boat.

"But, I'm not unused to sailing, so I'll take any duty that the captain thinks I'm suitable to do." Now it was the light brown eyes of Naomi that looked over the smaller Shiba, trying to discern if this was a bushi like herself, a courtier, or maybe a shugenja...?

Most people weren't inclined to eat things that were prepared by a tiny Sea Witch, so Nozomi had very little experience in the department. Her suspicions confirmed, Nozomi nodded. I bet she's good at it, too. Knowing we won't be limited to eating hard tack the whole trip is comforting.

"Well, that would go for most deck-hands, wouldn't it? On my last ship, our captain was pretty adamant that nobody was too good for any job." A slight shrug of her waifish shoulders follows the comment.

"Well, such is nescessary on a ship," Naomi mused happily.
"I think it's one of the few places I've seen samurai do such simple tasks as scrubbing the floors as a part of their duty. Being 'too good' doesn't belong on the sea."

"You sound like you have been on many ships. I suppose you have training that come well in handy away from the mainland?" It was the most subtle way Naomi could think of inquiring to Nozomi's training.

The nod in return is rather serious. "I'm support for Captain and crew. Usually, because I've been trained to use medicines. Other times because you just need someone small and light."

It wasn't the most descriptive of answers, but anyone could see how small fingers might be more adept at suturing up wounds.

A silent cough could be heard from the side, the origin of the intruding noise being a young man in dressed in purple and white, bearing the double mon of the Iuchi.

"Pardon, minna-san.." He addressed the two petite women, smiling ever so carefully.

Nozomi seemed about to say more, but instead closes her mouth quickly and turns her face towards the ground, giving the Unicorn an odd nod/bow.

At least this person didn't have any scary features to give her a fright, and Naomi bowed politely.
"Ohayo gozaimasu... Iuchi-sama," there was a slight hesitation as she identified the mon, but otherwise she seemed cheerful in her greeting.

The man bowed to the two women, greeting them as he did so. Iuchi did not fail to notice that both of the women were somewhat short.

"Ohayou, Shiba-san. This one is Iuchi Xiao Hua... soon of the ninth Imperial Legion. Would you two happen to know which of the vessels is the half-moon? "

Having never been to the place, admitting that he knew not the ship, was not particularly embarrassing.

... That name? Oh, it must be a perfectly ordinary Unicorn name... right. Right?

"I believe it would be this vessel here," she turned slightly to gesture to the ship she and Nozomi had been walking towards.

"This is Shiba Nozomi-san, and I'm Shiba Naomi. Both new recruits to the Ninth Legion's Half Moon." Naomi gave another bow as she passed the introductions.

Following the petite Shiba's gesture, Xiao Hua's eyes become to rest on the ship he would later come to love and hate.

"Ah, thank you." He nodded to her, smiling gently. It never hurt to be polite. Especially if your Clan Champion had led a campaign against the Empire itself, trying to claim the empty throne mere months before.

...Shiba Naomi. Well, it's not like she'd be her... right?

"Ah, Well met, Shiba-san, and Shiba-san." he bobbed his head to the women again. "I am... new recruit as well."