[Post here first!] Tamatoshi Bay

Grandma had not gone unnoticed as she had set foot on the beach of Tawakoshi Bay. Many lesser spirits had picked up her strong magical presence and had hidden away. Some had even ran as far as Kiyonai and word about a foreigner that entered the beach were soon known to both Kazue and Zu Fu. Both of them had felt uneasy about it. They needed to find out if this presence was a danger to Tawakoshi or just an innocent magic user trying traveling the lands. Because of this Kazue had agreed to go look for this human and if needed bring him or her back to Zu Fu.

The teleporting herself to the outskirts of Tawakoshi Bay where the magic field did not reach. She couldn't notice anything from outside the field, which meant that the human she was looking for must be inside. She sighed and changed her form. She once again took on the form of the woman with the long black flowing hair, dressed in a fine silk kimono, her eyes remaining the red from her original form. This form would make her stand out among the commoners who worked the docks and the residents of Tamakoshi Bay itself.

She mixed herself into the crowd and passed the gates without trouble. The kind people of the Hisazhi clan had made sure she had papers so she could pass any gate without being noticed for what she really was.

Now that she had entered the antimagic field she could feel the odd aura that the lesser spirits had talked about. It was a magical aura and a strong one to that, but it was clear that this aura did not belong to someone who wielded the ancient tawakoshian magic. Lucky for her, even someone like her wouldn't be a danger within the antimagic field.

She let herself be guided by the presence of the aura and soon found herself up the road to the registration house where foreigners needed to get their papers. It didn't take long to identify the magic users, but to her surprise, it was an old lady. This didn't make her less suspicious, even Zu Fu himself was old but he was one of the most powerful humans she had ever encountered.

When she heard the older lady ask questions about the local area, she knew this was her chance. She knew little about Tamakoshi Bay and had only been here a few times, but her nose would surely be able to lead her to any place that served good food and the knew the smell of a horses stables. "I could show you around if you would let me, Grandmother-san." she bowed deeply to the woman.

Although Grandma acknowledged the official's final comments, her attention was mostly held by the young woman who had approached her. The woman’s appearance alone set her apart from the other locals, but there was something else about her as well. Grandma would have to confirm the other matter once she was out of this insufferable antimagic field.

Even if the woman before her was nothing more than a local, she was still offering to show her around the area, an offer Grandma was more than happy to take her up on. Cane tapping on the ground before her, Grandma strolled out of the registration house and approached Kazue, looking the woman up and down rather boldly. Why had she bowed to her? It was very unlikely anyone in Tawakoshi knew much regarding the government hierarchy of Isra, let alone Grandma’s position in it. Perhaps they simply respected the elderly here and their customs were stricter than other nations she had visited?

“You’d be willing to show me around the area? I’d very much appreciate that, although I must say I didn’t expect such an offer. Also, please don’t feel the need to bow to me, I’m but an old traveler. I would offer you my name, but you already seem to know it. I simply go by Grandma you see. What might I refer to you as?”

The old woman’s tone was warm and she directed a sincere smile towards the younger woman as she finished responding.

Grandma nodded slowly at Kazue’s explanation of why she bowed. If it was simply the custom here, she had no reason to dispute it. Cane clicking as she moved forward, the old woman followed after her guide, curious to see where Kazue would take her. She didn’t show any signs of recognition at the woman’s name, although she did seem pleased to have been given a name she could use to refer to her newfound guide.

“Well, the tea houses are something I plan to experience, but this Kiyonai you mention also sounds quite intriguing. Since you say it’s not far from here, I think I would rather acquire some horses first and travel there. I assume there are plenty of fine tea houses in Kiyonai?”

Once they left for Kiyonai, she would have to see if there was more to Kazue than she appeared. She could ask her directly, but this bustling town didn’t seem like a conducive place for such questions.

“If you'd be so kind, tell me more about Kiyonai, Kazue. What sights in Kiyonai would you recommend a traveler like myself visit?”

These damn Samurai, always so nosey and worried about what was going on. He had vanished awhile back after a successful mission, and had operated in the shadows, a quiet driving force for a drug trade. The man who walked down the street, immaculate in appearance, with a white on blue kamishimo, a purple haori hanging gingerly off his shoulders - After a few steps, the man sat, pulling a jingasa over his head, worn low to hide his identity. He doubted anyone from those times would even know him, but precaution no less. As he sat, a katana in a red sheath was visible, slowly adjusting with his sitting position, and a small bamboo like cantine hanging along the hilt of the sword.

"Seems dead around here, just as i needed."

The boy smiled to himself, before reaching into his kimono, and pulling out a rolled ciggeratte. Before returning, he was going to merely observe, and pray there wasn't a bounty on the now ronin's head.

Setoku took a slow drag off the ciggeratte, his eyes closing as he inhaled the smoke. He knew better, he was a healer, in a sense, but really.... Stopping life over dangers was a fools Gambit. His vision, obscured by the pattern of the weaved jingasa, afforded him a view of a woman who seemed, for lack of a better term, in mourning. The girls here tended to dress brightly, one reason he found this place distasteful at times.

"This humble one apologizes, but baring life of the simplest pleasures over a hint of risk is not the Samurai way."

The man smiled, but seemingly obliged her request, setting his ciggeratte on the ground, and letting the bottom of his sandals smother it. And odd sound of scraping metal on dirt faintly screeched the air around him.

"This humble Samurai begs your forgiveness, of course... And, also apologies for what I presume is a loss."

If the girl remembered, that odd dialect would no doubt spark recognition of some kind. Though the man did not look at her face, so couldn't offer the same sense of recognition.

Once the girl responded, Setoku felt his insides go loose a moment, as if butterflies had got into his stomach, to put it plainly. That sounded like.... Her. He pulled his Red Saya up, and slowly rose to his feet, his eyes locking with her own as he did so. It....

"Well, I find this most odd, where did you get that blade, if this humble Samurai may ask. I cannot see such an adorable Anzen-chan needing such."

She no doubt saw his lips twitch, as if to smile. He would await her answer, but once she did answer, a single hand would grab the brim of the Jingasa. She was a member of the Royal Family, Lord Hizashi was a absolute ruler, he was sure he was marked a criminal. Or marked dead, so this could prove a problem.

"Forgive this humble Samurai for causing you distress, Anzen-hime."

The man removed the hat from his head, allowing his waist length black hair to cascade over his features as he bowed his head, hiding the scar down his right eye that traveled from his forehead to cheek. And though he didn't allow her a look at his face, he was sure she recognized him.

"This one, is truly sorry..."

Setoku but his lower lip s moment, before his own hand twitched, and reached up, brushing her cheek slightly, before he pulled it back. He raised his head, allowing the hair to fall back into place, revealing the face she had sought for some time, apparently.

"Please, Anzen-chan, this one is not worthy of your emotion."

His arms twitched, he had wanted to embrace her, but she was beyond his station. Instead, he tilted his head to the side, exposing the scar more, yet not mentioning it, opting instead to smile softly.

"I guess I am hard to kill - I failed though, so for that, I beg your forgiveness, as well as that of Kanjuro-dono. I... I am sorry."

Again he lowered his head. Before letting out a slow breath.

"If I had known, just a little more, I wouldn't of set off. I would of stayed home, within reach of my sensei."

"Is that so... Vixen-dono?"

From that day they met, until the last day she saw him, the battle to rid the bandits, which Setoku had killed, this was something he had wanted to do, but was never allowed too, due to circumstances well beyond his control. The girl stepped closer, and forced her attention on him. He rose his right arm, and the sleeve of his kimono fell back, exposing the ribbon she had tied to his wrist, still there, untainted by blood. His left hand, the fingers, had come to rest along her chin, where he raised her eyes to meet his own.

"First... I'm... Home, Anzen-sama".


And without another word, or answer to her question, he leaned forward, and pressed his lips to her own, feeling his cheeks immediately flush, turning a bright shade of red, his eyes slowly closing. He would allow her to break this forbidden kiss and was clearly trying to avoid answering her questions altogether.

"It wouldn't matter if you did or not, vixen-chan. Long have I missed you, yearned to feel your lips upon my own. Not even the Lord of Hizashi himself could of stopped me.... Of which, in the loss of the Great Lord Genji, may I ask who took his steed?"

Setoku's hand fell from her chin, and slowly coiled around her waist, holding her close. He knew the forbidden nature, a low classed Samurai, so much as eyeing the princess of a nation was cause for death. But as he was sure he was a Ronin, he pushed it too the back of his mind. As he awaited her answer, his eyes shifted to the ribbon wrapped around his wrist. The only reason blood never touched it, despite the men and women he left dead in his wake, was only because it was usually folded up and stashed in his obi. He had only just recently begun wearing it again, due to the shock of realizing he had abandon someone who actually cared about his lowly self.

"Thank you, Anzen-sama. This lowly samurai is greatly appreciative that you left me a keepsake to find my way home. But, I have learned a great deal of the art you introduced me, and come bearing ill news for the nation."