[D1 LM, Asako Qi's] A Letter and a Gift

[Miya Akari]

Akari scratches at Qi's door, looking forward to seeing the Phoenix woman again. She had taken the opportunity on the main land to pick up a few things requested by the Asako as a personal favor, and also bore some letters that she'd be less enthusiastic about.

"Asako-san. It is Miya Akari. I've returned from the mainland," she says, softly and in a pleasant tone.

[Koumori]

The ever petty and regal Phoenix opened the door a few moments later with what could have been a smile on her face if one squinted well enough. After looking over the Miya, she bowed and moved back, allowing her to enter.

"Did you bring what I asked of you?" She asked in a voice that was much too nasally for her own good.

[Miya Akari]

She entered and turned, offering a slight smile in return.

"I did, Asako-san," she replied, pulling a large wrapped silk package from within her sleeve. "I hope that it is to your liking."

[Koumori]

She scoffed and took the package. "Of course I will like it. I like everything. After all, I'm the most likeable person on this foresa-" She paused and then cleared her throat. "This lovely island. Such a perfect place."

Then she remembered some manners. "And what of you? Was the journey well?"

[Miya Akari]

"It was," Akari replied. "I also picked this up for you."

She reached into the other sleeve and produced a block of tea. One of the finer Phoenix green teas.

"A taste of home."

[Koumori]

She looked over the block of tea and struggled to not grab it. "For me? That's too thoughtful of you, Miya-san. Certainly there is someone that it would serve better though?"

[Miya Akari]

"Even if others might be better served, I doubt any would appreciate it as truly as you Asako-san," she replies, offering once more.

[Koumori]

And again, she didn't accept. "Ah, and appreciate it I would, but it is still a fine gift, perhaps though it is then good to be used to gain favor with one of the highers? Moto-sama perhaps? I think I've seen him drinking tea once before."

[Miya Akari]

"That's not who I want to favor me, Asako-san," she says, offering once more with a smile.

[Koumori]

"And why would you want me to favor you, Miya-san?" She tilted her head to the side ever so slightly as her dark eyes traveled over the other woman. Still, she took the tea with a pleasant smile across her richly painted lips.

[Miya Akari]

"Who else would I wish to see to my... spiritual needs?" The pause and tone suggested that the word spiritual was potentially optional.

"You have given ample warning to us about the dangers in this place. I would be glad to entrust myself to your care and ministrations Asako-san."

[Koumori]

The Asako scoffed and placed a hand over her heart. "As if, Miya-san. It takes much, much more than tea for me to even consider something like that with someone." Another scoff. "Do I look that easy to you?"

[Miya Akari]

She smiled at Qi. "Not at all Asako, san. But that doesn't change the fact that I have been appreciating your talents and guidance for as long as we have both been here. If I didn't I would not have been so eager to fulfill your request nor thought of you when I saw that tea," she says, admitting that Qi had been on her mind for some time.

"But I'm no great poet or master of court. So I do what I can to show my appreciation."

[Koumori]

The pompous shugenja narrowed her eyes at the Miya, trying to figure out exactly what she was playing at. After a moment, she huffed some. "Well... It is appreciated. And noted." She paused briefly, thinking over something or another in her air-filled head. "Perhaps then we could share a cup of this tea sometime, but nothing more than that."

[Miya Akari]

"I would like that, Asako-san," the Miya replied with a nod. "I am fortunate for your forgiving nature, and thankful for your generosity."

"How have things been since I was away?"

[Koumori]

Being as self-centered as she was, she seemed soothed by the compliment on her bountiful generosity and forgiveness. So, she hm'd to herself and sat down at the table before motioning for Akari to do the same. "It's been just terrible. I found a spider in my room yesterday. A spider! Can you believe it? It was just the biggest, ugliest thing I have ever seen. The innkeeper took care of it with a chicken, but the chicken... it... it defecated on my floor! Just disgusting creatures, all of them."

[Miya Akari]

She joined at the offered seat. "I am sorry you had to go through that. It is an unfortunate part of life here, dealing with encroaching nature. But it sounds like it could have been handled much better."

"If it ever happens again, that you need something removed, I am only a few doors down."

[Koumori]

She nodded solemnly. "Such a terrible occurence. What if I had been bit? Ah, but if such things happen again, you will certainly know."

All of camp would know because of her shrill screams.

She began preparing the tea using a pitcher of water that was already in her room and setting it over a small candle. Once prepared, she whispered to the candle and it wasn't long before its flame grew brighter to begin warming up the water.

"What do you plan to do now that you're back?"

[Miya Akari]

"Today, delivering letters to those I received them for and meeting with the new arrivals," she replied. "The boat trip was long and I need some pleasant conversation to relax. Will also need to catch up on occurrences during my absence. But you were my first stop after eating breakfast, so I'm off to a good start," she said with a warmth. She knew that the general opinion of Qi tended to be... not the highest. But for Akari, much of the negative qualities others concerned themselves with could be overlooked for the value she brought to the mission... and the fact that she was pleasant to look at didn't hurt.

[Koumori]

She placed a hand over her heart, looking a bit touched, though it could've been a sarcastic gesture given her typical behavior. "Aww, I was your first today? I'm touched, Miya-san." Then she set about placing two cups on the table, as one could never have enough cups for surprise guests that arrive. "I am surprised that they've got you delivering letters. I know it's your family's job and all, but surely they could have gotten one of the peasant couriers to do it."