[Day 5, Late Evening, Open] A Night in Port

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The Dragon shrugged softly. "Neither do I, which makes it much less of a game than either Go or Fortunes & Winds. Still, I think i find just as much enjoyment from reading Shinsei's teachings as others would a game."

[Kakita Sugita]

"Ahhhh...." That sounds epic. Epic boooorrriiinng. "Got anything else you do on ship, besides the obvious?"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The Dragon shrugs a little. "If the obvious consists of my duty roster, eating, bathing, and sleeping... then I also practice my sword technique, as well as my jiujutsu. I talk to others to learn. I read other scrolls I have. And I meditate quite a bit."

[Kakita Sugita]

Learning is almost work. Boring... "Do you fish? Swim? Play dice? Tell stories? ...?"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

She shook her head slowly. "I can swim, but I have no really had the opportunity. I can't fish, nor do I play dice or any game really. I could... try to tell stories, but I know no good ones." She gave a small bow. "Sumimasen, Kakita-sama. I am hardly an exciting woman, am I?"

[Kakita Sugita]

"Oh, I don't know. You entertaining me isn't what I'm wondering about. I'm wondering about you being entertained."

Sugita's face lights up. "We could go swimming tomorrow if the weather calms down."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The woman looks curious a moment before nodding slightly. "I am quite well entertained, Kakita-sama, but... I have never swam in the ocean before. Perhaps it would be a good change of pace tomorrow."

[Kakita Sugita]

"It is more fun out in the open ocean, but a bay is fine for your first time. Do you have time in the afternoon? I usually stay by the ship during my normal shift hours."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho gave a soft nod. "I try to stay aboard for my hours, but I have the early afternoon free to swim, hai. It would be quite a convenient time actually."

[Kakita Sugita]

"I'll be there."

"I know you've got the same shift as I do, but we haven't had much time there yet. What duties were you assigned?"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho nods at the assent to the swimming time. "Ah, I have the second shift on the aft, Kakita-sama. I have been there every day I can, though there has been little to do but watch the ocean and train. I was also given duty as a medic, should the need arise, though I fear I have far less skill that a shugenja would for the truly wounded."

[Kakita Sugita]

"Still, good to have ya. Not that I'm planning to get hurt anytime soon mind you!"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

She gives a very faint smirk at that, more wistful than devious. "No... the crew are well behaved enough, and the locals seem to have, for the most part, avoided the Half Moon as if we were a ship of lepers. I think the most damage that could be caused would be from another storm like the one outside earlier."

[Kakita Sugita]

He nods. "Yeah, that one could have been trouble out at sea. Still, I'd like to get out there sooner rather than later."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

"I was speaking to Kaiu-sama about just that matter earlier in fact. I'm somewhat surprised how many wished to go out and explore the city so readily... I just wish to be done with this place. It reeks of gaijin." She signed softly.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Terribly, yes. Did you know that the Akodo can speak their language? An Akodo!"

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho's brow furrowed. "I am quite used to Dragon speaking Yobanjin, or Mantis Rhuumal, or even Scorpion speaking the language of the burning sands, but... an Akodo? Either he is a man of much learning, or not much of an Akodo."

[Kakita Sugita]

"Yeah. That's what I thought. I've heard of Ikoma learning some strange things, but not the Akodo. I don't see how it could have been useful to him. They're nowhere close to any gaijin!"

"Our destination has been the only thing about this trip that I've been disappointed over. But what can you do..."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho gave a soft shrug. "I'm not sure disappointment is the word I would use, but perhaps instead... regret. Before the recent troubles, there would have been little to no chance we would have been sent someplace like this. Perhaps it is what you could call missing the old days."

[Kakita Sugita]

"Hm. Yeah, I can see the problem in that case." Sugita considers a moment. "Maybe a distraction is called for in the meantime."