[Foredeck, Moon 8 - Morning] Salty mornings

[Shiba Naomi]

"Oh..." she blushed slightly. "But..." She was about to point out that it would probably better to use given names on the ship, but thought better of it.
Future husband, after all, her future direct lord, and now, her superior by status outside of the ship.

"Of course, Iuchi-sama."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... unless we are instructed otherwise, that is. It might be more... convenient, but... I wouldn't not wish to be... improper."

"Though, aboard the ship we are equals, so I'd rather have Shiba-san to talk to me like one..."

There was nothing to be lost by being kind. After all, kindness was one of the five things the little teacher had said the men should practise.

[Shiba Naomi]

And kindness at least the Shiba had in spades. The Little Teacher had always been a favorite of their founding Kami, after all.

"Ah, of course. Iuchi-san it is then." For now.

"But, if you don't mind me asking... I didn't expect to see a Unicorn join the naval forces of the Imperial Legions, so what made you decide to apply for such a post?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Thank you."

"Uhum... erm... well.." She had asked the question he had hoped she would not ask.

Sincerity. Nothing good could be built upon lies.

"I... my father announced my engagement... our engagement recently... and..."

The man sighed. "I was... surprised. I thought that there was someone... for me among my own kind..." He explained to her with a pathetic look in his eyes. "I had some experience with sailing, so when I heard that the ninth was recruiting new people.. I though I could... flee my obligations for a while. Maybe even prove my family something... I didn't know what."

After a long silence, he added.

"I am... sorry."

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi cast her eyes down.

She couldn't really blame his feelings. Well, she hadn't considered anyone in her own clan like he seemed to have done, but, she had been... upset that her father wanted to marry her to a Unicorn of all things simply because it would be valuable for the Shiba to have a closer bond with the Unicorn merchants to establish a more solid trade of the exotic goods the Unicorn peddled.
But, there was little she could do about it... at least he seemed nice and honest about it all.

"... you don't have to be sorry. It's... kinda out of our hands. I mean, I always imagined I'd probably marry in my own clan, and if I could choose, I don't think it would have been a Unicorn."
A brief expression of alarm crossed her features.
"Not that I have anything against you or your clan, of course, but... I," she continued to look down, "I think I'm just a bit nervous about marrying into a clan that's so different from my own."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, but still..." The man was staring his feet as well. "We all have our peculiarities, but... do not think we are that different." He mumbled, defensively.

"And... anyone would be nervous marrying out of Clan... it's just more customary among my people, I think... Erm..." What else could he say. Any reassurances would have sounded like empty lies. She knew that he didn't know her.

Walking to the railing, he turned to gaze at the sea. "We'll just have to manage, ne."

[Shiba Naomi]

She nodded. "Hai... we will."

"... If you have need of me for anything, you need but to ask." It was right to offer, after all.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... since there is no pressing hurry, could you tell me about yourself a little?" he asked the Shiba, looking at her curiously, with a faint smile on his lips. The gentle winds were tossing his hair around as the man leaned to the railing, waiting for her to speak.

"But only as much as you feel comfortable with." Xaio Hua added, as an afterthought.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Uhm, well, what do you want to know? I haven't really had the chance to do much..." she shrugged slightly. "My mother died not long after my youngest brother was born, so when I became older, I kinda was the woman of the house at home... taking care of my brothers, my father's house and most things a wife should be doing."

She blushed. "I... this is the first real assignment I have outside of my home. I've never seen battle or real combat. The Army of Dark Fire didn't touch our home."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"My condolences." he nodded, as she mentioned of her mothers demise. "Hee, so you took care of the household?" Iuchi's eyes brightened. At least he was not being married to a cold blooded slaughterer. The his smile died. She was not Hana.

"Oh.. you were fortunate in that respect then. My family was largely untouched by the war as well, with most of us far away from our homes. My uncle perished in battle, but I have been told he died with honour. I didn't know him well."

"Ahem... I was not at the capitol either when... erm.. you know." He continued, looking at his feet again.

"You were trained by the Shiba then?"

[Shiba Naomi]

"Thank you. You have my condolances as well. I'm merely glad that my brothers and father survived through the past wars."

She merely gave a nod when he sort of mentioned the battle at Toshi Ranbo. He didn't strike her as the type to be a slaughterer or something either.

"Ah... yes. There's a small dojo dedicated to Shiba's techniques in my hometown, where I was given permission to train. While there's many shugenjas in our family-tree, I had no such gifts..." Naomi bashfully lowered her gaze. How awful it must be for him, as a shugenja, to marry someone who's not.
"My sensei was a very nice man... kind of like a grandfather to me. He liked refering to what he taught us as Way of the Houhou, meaning that it was a way of peace."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Well, at least she might carry the potential... No such problems with Hana... Dad had better know what he was doing... The man sighed silently, lifting his gaze carefully. "Way of the peace, neh. Sounds... nice." And very Phoenix.

Trying to look at her downcast eyes, he continued. "I was trained by the Iuchi, at the Gather of Winds dojo, in Shiro Iuchi, like my father, and his father before me. As much as we have a reputation of... warrior-priests, not every Iuchi is one."

[Shiba Naomi]

"I hear the Unicorn even have a portion of their army dedicated to their shugenja," she gave a small smile. "The Phoenix have their fair share of warrior-priests too... Elemental Legions and all. Not many clans can field that many shugenja, so it says much about the strength of the Iuchi."

"Considering our fathers' mutual interests, I would have guessed you weren't that much aclined to the way of a warrior." She favored him with a warm smile at least as she raised her gaze again.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"The Baraunghar, though not every warrior of the army is a priest of the kami, and good portion of the force is made up by Shinjo bushi." He nodded, explaining the nature of the army of the west to the Shiba patiently. "Not that I am expert on such matters."

Actually, the man knew a little about warfare and tactics, but he felt that such topic would have been rather unpleasant, consireding the recent events.

"Well, no." the man replied, meeting her eyes with his own, smiling as she did "I was taught how to defend myself with a staff, but that's about it. And after my talent became obvious, there was really no question about my schooling."

[Shiba Naomi]

"I hope you don't have to use it then," she inclined her head slightly, "I am Shiba, so I will stand between you and the enemy." A short pause. "And the other shugenja too, of course," she hastily added, so it wouldn't seem that she would forget about the others.

"The techniques of the Shiba are not only focused on protecting though. Through years of discipline and meditation, we achieve a sort of understanding with the kami as well, and many shugenja claim it easier to ask favors of the kami when a Shiba is present."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"We'll have to see where the officers place me.. you... us. Most of my prayers are no use in a combat, even though I can transfer some of my agility, or strength to someone. Beyond that, I can call the kami to knit the flesh, and purge the body from poisons." He explained, somewhat embarrassed. Iuchi, the battle-priests of the Unicorn. Yeah, right.

"Should we ever face a real combat, your skills should prove valuable then. We seem to have several talented shugenja among the recruits." Xiao Hua added, smiling.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Especially from the Phoenix. I think I may be the only one here not trained as a shugenja from my clan," she sighed a little, but it didn't seem to change her cheerful disposition.
"I don't think we'll be lacking in spirituality on this voyage."

"But, where do you think it most likely for you to be assigned on the ship after the Captain and his officers get a better idea of our skills?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Ah, is that so? And no we wont." The latter fact seemed to make the man happy. "I am looking towards having discussions with the other shugenja. Assuming I ever have the time."

"Hmm, at the sick bay, likely, but then again, with the high number if shugenja present, someone is likely to be more talented than I am. I have quite good eyes, so I might end up there." He pointed at the crow's nest, dangling above the sails.

"What about Shiba-san?"

[Shiba Naomi]

"Humm... I imagine I may be working in the kitchen, unless they prefer to keep that for the heimin here. Other than that, I'm decent with a bow and attentive," most of the time, "so most likely guard-duty."

"I doubt the Captain needs me to read maps or tell him the weather. I imagine he's quite apt at it himself."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Kitchens, really?" The idea seemed outlandish, peculiar even to the Iuchi. "Bowman then. Most of the Unicorns are taught to shoot on a horseback, but I have never held a bow." he admitted, somewhat embarrassed.

"I can usually tell the weather as well. And yes, it's unlikely the more experienced sailors would need the skill. But it's still nice to know if a storm is brewing."