[Day 2, Mid-Evening] The Entertainment (Open)

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari quietly, without much fuss, created a sort of stage that evening by moving a couple of tables.

And then, with a look to the room and the gathered clientele (How many of you saw me making out with Akari on the beach yesterday? Enough that I'm sure some of you are thinking about that right now) she got started.

Her first was a tune Akari would have recognized.

Conversations didn't stop, and she neither expected nor wanted them to, but they did get a bit quieter as she went through it.

And into the next song in her repertoire.

It wasn't like well-trained entertainers exactly grew on trees.

So I do my part...

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou finds his way in, partaking of the too-watery drinks and the company. And he smiles slightly at the songs.

Why not? That's what they're for, aren't they?

[Shiba Yukari]

Spotting the Lion she'd had lunch with the day before, Yukari gave a nod as she continued with the second song.

Some little distraction from their duties, from their situation... this was what her school endorsed.

Even if she had yet to really make use of its secrets in this performance.

[Ikoma Matisutou]

For his own part, Matisutou is aware of the rumors. He could hardly not be; there's not been much other excitement, evidently, and newcomers always occasion comment. He's even heard talk about his own presence on the island, if it can be believed, mostly running to "oh, another Lion; guess we have to behave now."

But that doesn't matter, really; he notes it, but there's nothing to act on at the moment.

The drinks remain...uninspiring. The music...helps.

Matisutou nods in response to the Shiba's nod, though, when he marks it. It'd be rude not to do so. And she is performing well.

[Shiba Yukari]

As she finsished the second song, Yukari paused.

Held her hands up as some of the more... well-lubricated types asked for another.

"Before I take up any more time here... does anyone here know a good story to tell? We're to be here for a while, minna-sama, so we shouldn't exhaust anyone's repertoire too quickly, hm?"

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou looks about the room, focusing his attentions on the back of the house to the extent that he can. It's crowded, after all, and a newcomer's focused attentions themselves attract attention. But if there's something off...

[Shiba Yukari]

"Anyone? Any takers? Come on, I've warmed up the stage for you!"

She did her best to be encouraging.

"Listen, I know it sounds unlikely now, but if you leave me up here all evening, you will get sick of me!"

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou notes the lack of contributors.

Perhaps they expect the Ikoma is a bard, he thinks, rather than being a bushi.

[Shiba Yukari]

"Listen if anyone here wants to try telling a story, I can help out a bit. Add some vigor to the tale..."

[Doji Hanatsuko]

"I would volunteer... to tell a story." The Doji had heard the Shiba when she was getting in. She wasn't the best story teller but her sweet voice could aid in such retellings. The Doji stepped forward and smiled to her new friend. "I would be honored for you to accompany my tale."

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou nods to himself and finishes his first drink.

He orders a second and settles back to watch. It should be a good show, shouldn't it?

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari grinned and bowed.

"Doji-san will take the lead, and I will provide... let us call them special effects..."

She whispered something under her breath, then.

[OOC: Hantsuko is now subject to the spell Flight of Doves- her story will be "illustrated" by audio and visual illusions the air kami lift from her mind as she tells the tale.]

[Doji Hanatsuko]

She take the 'stage' "This is the story of an orphan girl that was found by a blind man. He named her Guren. The little baby cried from the river to the town where Shin, the blind man, lived. One of the kind ladies of the town help Shin quiet the little baby down. And so the town helped Shin raise his little girl. The town ladies taught her how to sew and her skill amazed the town.

One day Guren had left to sell her masterpieces but forgot to tell Shin. It started to rain and the blind man got worried. He decided to head out to find Guren. The water fell incessantly and when Shin was to cross the bridge the poor blind man fell into the water." A dramatic pause.

"A monk of the Brotherhood was crossing the bridge and helped the man. The two walked back to Shin's home. The monk told Shin that if he gave Inari 300 bags of rice Inari would grant him his sight back. Shin and Guren were so poor that the amount of rice was impossible.

Guren heard the monk words and wanted her father get back his sight so she made her best efforts to get more money to be able to get the rice. But not matter what she did it wasn't enough.

One day a Mantis arrived at the coast. They needed a fair Maiden to sacrifice to Suitengu so their trip to the isles would be safe. They were offering 300 bags of rice. Guren was bittersweet as she offered herself as sacrifice to the Fortune of the sea." Dramatic pause.

"With the money she had accumulated Guren got some nice duck and made one last meal for her father. She wished him the best as the Mantis interrupted their meal to take the girl away. The Mantis explained what deal they had made. Shin was helpless as he cried for his daughter not to do such thing. Yet a deal is a deal and the girl to the ship went. The storm was loud and thunderous as Guren stepped on the plank." Dramatic pause.
"The Mantis had a save voyage as the girl had sacrificed herself for them. When they returned to the main land the found a curious thing in the middle of the ocean, a red lotus flower. The brought it on board and took it to the imperial court. They gifted to the heir and he took care of it.

Guren emerged from the lotus flower and explained how is she alive. Suitengu and Isora heard her story and let her live turning her into a red lotus flower. The prince was in awe by what happened and took care of the girl that they slowly fell in love and married. But Guren couldn't forget her father and how much pain he must have been in.

The prince made a festival inviting all the blind men. They hoped that Shin would be able to attend. On the other side of the story Shin was slowly wasting away because he had lost his lovely daughter to the sea." Dramatic pause

"They waited Guren and her prince for Shin to arrive. It was the last day of the festival almost dusk. A figure slowly walked into the festival grounds. Shin had arrived. Guren was happy as she ran to the now old man. She looked at him and cried happy tears. Shin couldn't believe that Guren was alive. He shook his head and deny this truth. Light came from the heavens as his eyes slowly started to clear after a few blinks the man finally opened his eyes to see his lovely daughter alive..."

The Doji took a bow.




//story base line Sorry for the crazy dub

[Kitsune Asashi]

Asashi had found a table a little tucked away from most of the people. He sat with the sake and sipped it while listening to Yukari plays with a small smile on his lips. The drink was only passable but the entertainment was worth it.

As the Doji told her story and the illusions illustrated everything for them the Fox stared, mouth agape. He had never seen anything like it before. The story was a good one and was entertaining in its own right but the kami bringing the story to life like that was, well quite literally, magical.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo wandered into the bar with an impossibly wide grin on his face and a silk bag in one hand that was stuffed to the gills with something. He sat down and listened to the story as it unfolded.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari- who'd no more known what the kami would display than anyone else- had watched with rapt attention.

This, of course, was part of why she encouraged others to tell their stories... so she could just drink it in.

"Wonderful, Doji-san! Does anyone else wish to give it a try?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"That was beautiful Hana-san!"

"Wonderful, Doji-san! Does anyone else wish to give it a try?"

Kenzo slid up along side the Shiba. "I have story I can tell, it may be a bit childish but funny. It would probably be a bit more entertaining if I have a small Kaiu Wall to place them behind." He gestured to the bag in his hand and if anyone looked they could see a puppet version of a Hida poking out. Is that something you have the energy for?"

[Shiba Yukari]

"I think that can be arranged... a bit different from what I did for Doji-san, but easy enough..."

She whispered another prayer, and conjured up a Kaiu Wall in miniature.

Kind of- a Kaiu Wall as envisioned by someone who had never seen it.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

The Doji quietly took a seat.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Daidoji Kenzo was not a storyteller, not like Doji Hanatsuko had been. His usual audience was heimin children and it didn’t take much wordplay to keep them entertained. Where he did show some skill was in his theatrics. He poured himself into each character, doing voices and sound effects while managing to make hand-puppets do flips and spins.

The tale was a rather simple one, the story of the littlest Hida. There were ten different characters in a story that took just as many minutes and each had it’s own voice and personality. Naturally the bigger Hida who all picked on the hero are saved by the littlest Hida when he tricks a big scary ogre into eating too many goblins and pushes the sleeping monster off the wall defeating it. The illusionary Kaiu Wall was a tremendous addition to the show and made it more real for Kenzo at least.

The only thing he changed from his usual telling was the addition of more adult humor given his audience, something he seemed to greatly enjoy doing. When it was over he and the main character bowed to the audience and his face went a deep red as he realized what kind of an idiot he must look like. He stepped of the stage and exhaled.