(Moon 13th, foredeck, Evening) Uncharted seas

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

(waiting for someone, so)

Still in dressed in his new uniform, the Unicorn stood on the small open space of the foredeck, watching the ship to cut through the waves. Fingering the amulet that hung around his neck through his shirt, the man could not but wonder, what kind of secrets the sea hid beneath it's surface.

As far as the Crab was to be believed, he didn't even want to know.

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi, with the bow and quiver with her as it had been almost all day, just couldn't go to rest while they were still here in this... place. Silently, she walked to keep an eye on things, as probably many others did too.

Spotting the familiar figure of Xiao Hua, she felt worried of him standing there all by himself. "Iuchi-san?" she said softly as she approached him.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Turning to the source of the sound, the man greeted the Shiba. "Ah, Shiba-san. Good evening." Nodding at her bow, he continued. "On guard duty I see."

[Shiba Naomi]

"More or less... I feel a bit more safe having it with me, considering where we are," she replied in hushed tones.
"Are you certain its wise to stand out here by yourself? ... I can't imagine the water-kami here are of the... good kind..." Naomi swallowed hard as she looked at the sea darkened by night (and more?).

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

The man only nodded. "The sea feels wrong. It's as if the kami were in pain. The other kind... I try not to hear." Reaching inside his shirt, he pulled out something, showing it to her. "Luckily, I have this."

Dropping back the amulet, he continued, smiling ever so faintly. "So, how has the life on the ship treated you? Have you made any friends?" The words were spoken silently, as if a louder voice could have called something from the sea.

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi pulled her gaze away from the sea. It would be bad luck to look at it for too long.

She gave a slight nod. "I feel I get on well with the rest of the crew. Apart from this... particular bit, it's been a good voyage so far. Training is interesting and educational." She spoke in an equally lowered voice, as if she shared his fears that anything louder would draw attention.

"What about you? Have you accustomed to the sealife yet?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Hmm, you've met someone... unpleasant." he asked her, tilting his head to the side, stepping a half a step closer to her. yet, no-one could have called the distance between them anything but proper.

Feeling the chill air bit his skin through the thin shirt he wore, the man rubbed his upper arms as he replied. "More or less. I am not such a good climber, so I have had some difficulties. Other than that, no particular worries."

[Shiba Naomi]

"Oh, no. While I may not agree with some people, they're merely doing their job in the way they think is best. I was referring to... this place." She canted her head slightly out towards the sea. "Makes my skin crawl. I don't hear the spirits, but there's... something in the air."

When he mentioned he wasn't a good climber, she smirked. "Having difficulties in the rigging, Iuchi-san? I thought shugenja aligned to water would be strong."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

The man merely nodded sympathetically. "This is more wrong than Hida calculus." he chuckled lightly, trying to push back the irrational fear with poor humour. Then he sighed. "I have no idea why they took us here. Maybe we are in a hurry."

"it's not the strength as much as how to use it." the man chuckled. "The bojutsu sensei at Shiro Iuchi kept telling us that strength is a matter of skill. A cunning positioning of your body could give you such a leverage, that no opponent could hope to resist you."

"Alas, I am not good with that." the man smiled meekly.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it eventually. It's a matter of leverage when it comes to climbing too."
She held out her arms, and they didn't look particularly strong. "I'm not very strong like most of the other bushi here, but I know it's a matter of technique even when it comes to climbing. Some would even say I'm luckier because I'm so small, so it's not that much to lift," Naomi grinned to lighten up the situation.

"How did the swimming and hauling go with Moshi-sama for you? I know some in our group struggled a bit with it, but they were wearing armor."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

The man sighed. "I hope I do." As far as he was concerned, he still had way to go. Also, not knowing what she thought about her size, he thought it wiser to not comment on the matter.

"That was... interesting. I... had some problems in getting to the water part." he chuckled. "I had triggered a prayer to allow me to talk on the waves in case I fell to the sea. Had to stand while on the waves before it wore out."

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi covered her mouth to quench any laughter that might have wanted to pop out over that comment.
"I see... it's not often people have difficulties getting their head under water when they're actually jumping off a ship."

"How long did it take?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well... Moshi-gunso noted that I was a special case." he chuckled. "Erm.. sometime. Tenth of an hour or so, maybe?"

[Shiba Naomi]

"Oh my..." the grin widened. I can't imagine Moshi-gunso being too happy about that.

"Well, it's still a good precaution to take, especially if you're not a very good swimmer..." she noted with a nod. "... You've been well otherwise too?" She didn't want to admit that she had been a bit worried for him.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I can swim... but I'd rather not to, if I do not have to. Mind you, it's a prayer I can extend to several persons, though that's bit tricky." he explained, smiling widely as she grinned.

"More or less, yes. The storm I didn't like, but... I guess few did." the man nodded. "Oh, and the food is atrocious."

"You?"

[Shiba Naomi]

She chuckled. "I'm not terribly impressed with it either," she said in agreement on the food.

"I've been alright... I think I've done rather well on the training excercises, and the Crab on this ship, while a bit odd, are a rather... friendly bunch, in a lack of a better word. I get the impression they really value comraderie, and it's a sentiment I'm happy to share."
Best to stop there before she babbled on about how Hida Musasha was such an impressive brawler.
"I didn't mind the storm too much. It's all a part of the experience of being out at sea, and it was only a little one."

"... Kinda miss home though, but, it's just something I have to get used to."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"The Crab are indeed a jovial group. They have very.. simplistic view of life. It reminds me in a way, of my home. Though... we might speak as openly as they do." the man explained, nodding to her assessment.

"I miss home too..." he sighed silently. "I guess it's normal."

"Few days I go I went fishing... erm.. fishing-fishing. With one of the Crabs... we go few dozen smelts. if you wonder where those came from." the man explained his catch, using his hands to detail the events.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Must be... when we reach the Coral Islands, I'll write home. I think father would be amused to hear that you're here too."

She blinked a bit when he said fishing. What else would he do but fish? But she quickly focused on his tale of the catch instead.
"Sounds like quite a big one. It's often you get big catches like that after a storm, but that one sounds lucky too... or just good skills," Naomi teased him lightly. At least the conversation was putting her mind at ease over this place.
"Do you like fishing or was it just to pass the time?" Naomi asked innocently. She didn't have any other conceptions of fishing in her mind.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I probably should write as well. And my father would be also most likely amused to hear that I met you here." Albeit for different reasons...

"Yeah... I think I told you about it." It was his turn to tease her. "It's wonderful time to spend free time. Just lay down, and wait for catch. Most of my fishing I have done at the likes and rivers though. On our journeys... Everyone in a caravan appreciates freshly caught fish." Iuchi had heard few of the crewmen talking about 'fishing'. He felt damn lucky they had caught some fish with the Hida.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Ah right... so you did. My apologies, my mind's been elsewhere these past days." She shook her head a bit as if to clear it up.

"You've travelled often in these caravans?" Naomi knew the stories that many Unicorn still chose a nomadic lifestyle akin to the way they lived during their time outside the Empire.