[D2, LM] Talk, I'm listening

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo felt a real pride, something he didn't allow himself very often. The fight with the boar hadn't lasted long but that made it all the more satisfying and helped dull the ache in his knee. He wandered the forest, not really looking for anything in particular, just enjoying the scene and shade but he eventually found his way to the scene of last nights incident. he didn't really understand Hanatsuko's gift but he trusted her words, the forest was angry with them and that made all of this more complicated.

"Do you want us to leave? Have we done something to anger you or is it just our presence here?" He knew he wouldn't get an answer but asked anyway. "We cannot just leave, duty demands we be here. There are people here who want to help you, want to care for you but you have to work with us." He placed a hand on the tree where the Doji had begun her episode and stared into the deep woods. "I assure you the alternative is worse for both of us."

[Koumori]

As he spoke out towards the woods, there was no reply, unless he counted the words of the birds and other idle noises one finds in a forest. Yet, among those common sounds, he could hear footsteps shuffling softly as a short woman made her way through the bushes with a bag at her waist and a small hand-hoe in her right hand. She was covered in dirt and honestly looked more like a peasant if it wasn't for the fact that there was a well-kept wakizashi at her hip. Of course, it did have bits of dirt on it, but that was to be expected with the work she was doing.

When she realized that someone had been speaking before, she stopped and stood stock still, like a deer waiting for the smallest hint of danger before taking off.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

He wasn't actually prepared for a forest spirit to appear but when you talk to something you should be prepared for it to reply and Kenzo visibly gulped but tried to remain relaxed.

"Well hello there, sorry if I am disturbing you."

[Koumori]

She blinked and shook her head. Some bits of dirt flew out of the black strands of hair when she did so, but she didn't seem to notice. Then she bowed deeply. One hand was on her bag though to make sure nothing spilled out.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I..I am Daidoji Kenzo." he said with a bow. "I arrived just yesterday with the others. It is a pleasure to meet you....?"


is this a heimin child? I thought there weren't any here. But why do they have a wakizashi? No one mentioned any Ronin here. Is this actually a forest spirit? Where the hell is Hana-san when I need her?

[Koumori]

She held the bow for a bit longer before straightening up and then frowning deeply as her brows furrowed. After a moment of thinking, she withdrew a small piece of paper with the name 光明* on it. She held it towards him so he could read it.



*Komyo.... or Bright Light, because I honestly just took it from an article I read on Empress Komyo, and then I figured out it meant Bright Light and she was known as the Empress of Light >~>

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Relieved that he was probably talking to a real person Kenzo let his mind empty of all the random thoughts racing through it.

"It is an honor to meet you Komyo-san." He said with a smile.

Can she not speak? This is going to be difficult. And she is so dirty, have they been making her sleep out here instead of the village. Or..wait...

"Komyo-san, I don't remember seeing you on the boat over here or in the village yesterday. Have you been out on a patrol?"

[Koumori]

She wiggled her hand some and bent over, pretending to pick some of the stems and leaves of the nearby plants. Moments later, she pulled out a prickly looking leaf from her rather full herb bag. Once it was out, she mimicked putting it into something and then making a back and forth motion like she was rolling a pin. For anyone who had ever had to go to any infirmary, what she looked to be mimicking was a yagen. Then she pointed out towards the village.

Roughly, it could be taken as 'Been collecting herbs. Work in medic tent/infirmary.'

[Daidoji Kenzo]

It took him a moment to grasp what she was trying to communicate, at first thinking she was rolling out noodles, but the bag full of herbs and dirty clothes convinced him she wasn't a cook. "I think I understand, you're a healer yes?"

I wonder how many other people I haven't met yet, besides the Lion.

"In that case it is a great honor to meet you. I am to be one of the expeditions new scout, so you will probably get sick of having to bandage me in the near future, this seems like a tough place to explore." he offered the medic another, more respectful bow and a warm smile. "So those are healing herbs?"

[Koumori]

As he went to bow again, she shook her head and waved at him to stop. With the same hand, she gestured to the lack of mons on her breast to drive home her point. That it was an unneeded gesture from him.

Then she smiled warmly when he spoke about having to be bandaged often. From her bag, she withdrew an old, well-worn book and a crappy charred stick that was fashioned into the shape of a pencil. Adter scribbling on it, she turned it around to let him read it.

"I look forward to it, Daidoji-sama. I doubt you will be there as much as you say. I am not a healer like the Kitsu and Asahina are though. I am just a medic."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I understand your place in the empire Komyo-san and I do not offer you respect lightly or falsely, you are as much a part of this duty as any of us and your work saves lives. That deserves respect and I hope that others here have been giving it to you as there is no such thing as JUST a medic."

His eyes were serious but his smile never waivered. He found a place to sit down and winced slightly but tried to hide it.

"Have you been here long? have you gone on any of the expeditions? I am happy to interpret if you wish to save your paper but I would love to chat if you have the time."

[Koumori]

She shook her head at his words, but didn't go against them more than that. Arguing was bad, but he'd likely know that Lion's don't look well on ronin, so given her assignment to work with them, it made sense that she was out in the woods away from them as much as possible. Gathering what they needed and mixing it for them, but never staying in their sight more than necessary. It was a good compromise for both groups and she liked it that way.

"No expeditions. Arrived here recently, but stayed out of sight. The waves did not like this wavemen." She wrote carefully and in a small script. After showing it to him, she rubbed her tummy and shook her head with a gentle smile on her black painted lips.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I can understand that, several of us struggled with the trip." He looked at her closely and noted the condition she and her clothes were in. He had a hunch but he didn't like it one bit. "Are you staying in at the inn with the rest of us?"

[Koumori]

Like it was polite to do when one didn't want to answer a difficult or uncouth question, Komyo blinked a few times like she hadn't heard what he said. Once finished with a short wait, she wrote again. "I have created a medicine that might help us for the return trip whenever we might leave."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

The unanswered question confirmed what he had thought.

Guess I AM going to be bothering Miya-sama after all. Damn, I was really starting to like this place.

"Made out of things you've found here, that's fantastic. It's good that we have so many that are skilled with plants here I think it is a skill that will see a lot of use. So are you the adventurous type?" he looked to the deep woods. "Some of us are itching to get in there." he chuckled. "OK, when I say some of us I mean myself."

Damn.

[Koumori]

She did another hand wiggle to his question. 'Sort of'

Then she wrote again. It was a neat script, but still small to conserve space. As she wrote, she furrowed her brows a few times and then had a long pause. "It is fun, but I don't believe I will be going on any expeditions. It's not my duty and I do not want to get underfoot. Do you make anything out here?... Please do not worry about my accommodations. It is difficult to make enough money here to afford to sleep at the inn. I have a tent and it is pleasant. The inn is only so big anyway."

When she showed it to him, she smiled to show that her words were written in a lighthearted tone.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

He sighed, frustrated. "I will not belabor the point, if you are satisfied with your current situation then that is your right but if you ever wish it to change you have an ally in this. To your question, I'm not much of a builder, I can make traps and temporary shelters, if you need a hole dug I'm your man but I do plan to learn more about permanent structures. Is there something I can aid you with?"

A place for new beginnings. Right.

[Koumori]

She shook her head and then tapped her finger to the side before making a dismissive gesture. Then came the writing. "Was just curious. If there was some way for your talents to make things out of what is already here. Making traps is useful." She showed it to him and then mimicked digging a hole. A few moments of this before she pointed to him and then shook her head. After flexing her muscles, assuming she was meaning his, she then tried her best to shadow making some sort of trap.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Well if you have any suggestions I certainly open to them." He groaned as he stood up. "Oof. So is your...home...near here?"

Maybe she needs a hand reaching something or lifting something? I was already planning on making one shelter today, I could make her one if she hasn't already. But she's so polite, it seems like she would refuse. Maybe I make one and just let her find it herself?

[Koumori]

She blinked, then shook her head and just wrote. "No, no. Sorry. Was trying to say that you shouldn't be digging ditches and holes. You should be being strong and making traps." The writing was much more rushed and not as neat this time. After showing it to him, she seemed to furrow her brows.

"Are you okay? Groaning as you stood up. Joint problems?"