Lone figure sat on the platform that made up the place the crew loving referred as 'Crows nest'. Having realized that most of his clothes were useless on the ship, he was still wearing his riding kobakama, short sleeved, somewhat baggier version of the normal, formal hakama. The setting sun being unlikely to burn his skin, the mean leaned to the mast, shirtless, his bare skin against coarse wood.

Holding to a rope, to keep himself steady, the man shadowed his eyes with his free hand, gazing to the distance as he did so.
Few moments later, he sighed.

Having given herself a day to make sure the nausea was good and gone, Yakusoku decided it was finally safe to be climbing in the rigging. Maneuvering the ropes with skill, albeit a bit recklessly, the young woman makes her way up towards the crows nest. Hadn't talked to any of the Unicorn yet and seeing one looking out to sea seemed as good a time as any.

Clearing her throat as she approaches, just in case, Xiao Hua is distracted enough not to notice her in the rigging, Yakusoku hangs from the ropes and raises one hand toward the Unicorn in greeting. "Evenin'," she calls out with a smile, "lookin' for anythin' in particular Unicorn-san?" Her tone was casual, polite, and coupled with a hint of a smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.

It was a quiet evening, watching the Jade Sun fall from the sky. Junpei "sat," legs folded above the sails. One elbow rested against his knee, his draping robes swirled below him as his sleeves billowed out to the sides. Sure, Moshi-sama would have a conniption seeing him still in his usual priestly robes, but he had served his whole life in them and to wear anything else just felt strange, not to mention this was all he had.

He offered a sigh of his own, shaking his head. Life could really suck sometimes. Stuck on a boat, which he himself had requested to be on, unable to handle the sea and now cursed with the unfortunate nickname of fulmar, a vomiting seagull. He rested his head in his hands. Why was everything here so hard?

Woken from his reverie by the greeting, the man turned to direction of the sound. Spotting a somewhat tomboyish girl, his eyebrows rose ever so slightly.

Smiling kindly, he greeted the 'intruder'. "Good evening, Badger-san. The sea, just the sea." The shugenja's expression was more morose, his face almost blank. Yet, some curiosity twinkled in his eyes.

Yakusoku nods. "As long as you're not looking back towards home. They say looking back after you leave port's a good way to piss off Suitengu." Shifting a bit in the rigging, movements that suggests she's quite comfortable climbing, the Badger leans herself against the ropes swaying just slightly. "The name's Ichiro Yakusoku. And if yer lookin' to be up here all alone-like, I can let ya be. Though between you and me, sea's pretty much gonna look the same no matta how long ya stare at it."

The man chuckled, smiling faintly at her comment. "Hee, they say thing like that?" The Unicorn had never been the greatest sailor, despite having spent considerable time on various ships.

"Iuchi Xioa Hua." the man introduced himself, wincing a little as he pronounced the undoubtedly alien name. "It's all right. I think I have had enough of the solitude for now. Please sit down." he added, patting the other side of the platform with his free hand.

"In so many words," she nods, no change coming over her at the mention of the Gaijin name. After all, her homeland was on the border of Unicorn lands. During her training, she'd dealt with her fair share of strange names.

"Alright," she nods once more and climbs up into the crow's nest, plopping down rather unceremoniously next to Xiao Hua. Having closed the distance the tattoos on her arms can be seen clearly; images of sea-faring vessels, Fortunes and the occasional kanji. "This is a nice place to get some solitude. About the only one too, unless ya take out a fishin' boat on yer own. Never had a thing for solitude myself. Spent too much time trainin' in the dojo and on ships I 'spose."

Undisturbed by her proximity, the man kept his eyes on the girl. In the horizon the sinking sun was dyeing the sky red, the light casting heavy shadows over the duo sitting on the highest point of the ship. His brown green eyes sought out hers, as if he was gauging her somehow.

"It is." he replied, smiling. "I... have almost always had the time to be alone. In the dojo... and among my family. When you get used to it... you start to miss it, I guess."

"So, what brought Ichiro-san here?" the man asked, not specifying if he meant the rigging, or the legion.

Yakusoku met the Unicorn's eyes with confidence. She certainly wasn't some demure, little samurai-ko who'd start looking to the floor and stammering.

"Was sailin' outta Clear Water for the last couple years. Small kobune compared to this monster but sea-worthy all the same. Apparently someone thought highly of me and got me assigned here," she shrugs. "Its an honor and all but I do miss the boys back in Crab lands. But like I said before," she tilts her head slowly to the side, working out a kink in her neck, "its bad luck to look back to port." For a moment she settles into silence then, with a smirk and sharp exhale at her own thoughtfulness, she quickly puts such thoughts from her mind. "And what brings you here? We've both ended up a good long way from home."

"Hee, Ichiro-san is a seasoned sailor then." he nodded, little surprised. For some reason he had imagined that the Badger didn't sail. Then again, most seemed to think the same about the Unicorn.

"Erm, that is somewhat pathetic story." the man admitted, sighing. "Let's just say that I sought a change."

Tilting his head to the side, the man smiled as he conversed with the woman. "What else they say about ships? I have been on several, but those were mostly small coastal vessels."

Bobbing her head at the Unicorn's decision not to share his story, Yakusoku considers the question for a moment grasping her chin and tapping a finger against her lip. "Truth be told, could go on about that for days. Different clans, different ships, have different superstition. Some'll say that somethin's lucky and some'll call it unlucky. Some'll say an animal's a good sign. Others will say its bad. Especially on a ship like this where we got people from all over the Empire." Hand moving from her chin and around to gently scratch at the back of her neck she smiles tightly. "As long as you stick a bu under the masthead for good luck and acknowledge the dangers of the sea, you know enough to sail safely."

"Well, this is am Imperial ship, so I guess that either all, or non of those would apply." he chuckled. "So, have you stuck a coin under the mast somewhere on the ship then?" the man continued, knocking the mast with his free hand as he did so. His other hand still held to the rope. While a lucky man might have survived the drop from the nest to the deck, Xiao Hua didn't feel like pushing his.

"Didn't have the chance, unfortunately. Hope someone did," she pats a spot on her obi where perhaps a money pouch would hang; one that would no doubt be empty. "What I don't put towards supplies I send home to the coffers. Yeah... gotta rely on my tattoos, earrin's and respect for the sea to keep me safe and lucky. They haven't failed me so far."

"And prayers." the man nodded. "Suitengu is not know for his mercy." he continued, only to bow down his head to mutter a short prayer to the Fortune after calling his name.

Tengoku in aru Suitengu-sama, nanji no orokana sessou wo yurushite kure, arashi ga fukidasanaide, kono nasakenai fune wo hougo shite kudasai.

After finishing he quick prayers, the man returned his gaze to the girl. "You have some kind of magic in your earrings then?" He inquired, curious?

Yakusoku bows her head slightly at the prayer, eyes peering up at the Iuchi after a moment to see if he's finished.

"Nah," she reaches up, tapping one of the gold hoops, causing it to rock slightly, "they just say, like tattoos, they bring good luck. Its why lotsa sailors have'em."

"I see, I see." he nodded. "Maybe I should get one as well..." the man mused, partly to himself. "Well, unlikely to find one here. Everyone wants to hold to their luck, after all."

"One of the older sailors may be able to help ya," she shrugs. "All my tattoos and piercins' were done by sailors. Never learned tattooin' or any of that myself; never was very good at that artsy stuff. But a lot of'em do pick it up." Looking down from the crow's nest Yakusoku grins slightly. Was certainly a long way down compared to how high she could get on past ships. For a moment the Badger found herself wondering just how quickly she could make her way to the deck... without killing herself in the process, of course.

"Not sure if I like the idea. Seems bit painful." he mused, partly to himself. "Seems quite final. What if you end somewhere tattoos are considered bad luck? Earring you can always sell or trade." the man reasoned.

"Maybe I'll find one when we hit the land next time. And just hope my own luck and prayers will get me there."

"'Spose that could happened," she shrugs, "though I've never heard of such a place." Looking down at her lower right arm her eyes quickly trail down the image of a kobune sailing through choppy waters. "T'each their own though. Yer an Iuchi. I'm sure the Fortunes'll listen to your prayers."

"I haven't heard a place where earrings are considered lucky, either." he retorted, chuckling. "Such is the world, Ichiro-san. You can never know." Moving closer to the edge of the platform, the man allowed his legs to fall over, still holding to the rope with one hand.

"I hope they do, I hope they do." he nodded. "But as noted, not every Fortune is kind to the mortal men."