[D2, LM] Talk, I'm listening

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Oh but digging pits and trenches a part of my duty, at least back home it was. May of my traps aren't meant for animals per se. I'm uh...I'm OK, i got sloppy hunting a boar a bit ago and took one in the knee but it can still hold my weight so I'm sure it's just bruised."

[Koumori]

Her brows furrowed deeper. She was clearly unhappy by the news he was hurt, so she lifted up a finger, indicating he should wait. Digging in her bag, she pulled out a small jar of... something and offered it to him. With her other hand, she mimicked dipping her fingers into it and then rubbing it on her knee.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo did as he was instructed and rubbed a small amount of the stuff into his knee. "Is this enough?"

[Koumori]

She wiggled her hand and then shrugged. It could loosely be understood as 'Use as much as you need.'

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Once it was worked in to the skin he decided to smell the stuff on his hands, wondering if he could determine what it was. "Thank you Koymo-san." He said smiling.

[Koumori]

The mixture smelled heavily of ginger, lavender, and with a hint of green tea in the mix. If he knew anything about herbs, they were known for both helping with pain and with swollen areas.

She bowed politely, pleased to be doing her job.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"How can I repay your kindness? And do not tell me you are only doing your duty, there is a lot I could do for you in the name of duty as well."

[Koumori]

As before, the ronin pretended to have not heard him as she tucked the small jar back into her bag. It seemed like a common, but annoying tactic for her. Then she began to fiddle around with the placement of some of the herbs so they weren't just scattered all over the place.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

ARGH! Why is this Ronin so polite? Without saying a word I feel like an ass just for wanting to help someone.

"So you mostly stay out here? If I needed to find you where should I look then?"

[Koumori]

She shook her head and pointed towards the outskirts of the village. It wasn't exactly the forest, but it wasn't the main village area either. "Over there or out here. Or in the medic tent." She wrote after.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

OK, do you play any games Koymo-san, perhaps Fortunes and Winds? I have a set I brought with me and would love someone to play with."

[Koumori]

She shook her head solemnly before writing. "No. Games aren't a talent of mine and I am not a swift learner. I can provide an opponent if Daidoji-sama wishes. Just not a good one."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Well I'm a crap teacher but it's a good way to pass the time and maybe earn a little coin if you can find people who won't shank you when they lose. We should play some time, I only stab people who try to stab me...and Lion, lots of Lion." He said with a half sarcastic smile. "Maybe tomorrow if duty permits?"

[Koumori]

As always, she listened intently as he spoke, as most did when they were below a samurai. When he mentioned earning coin from it, she shook her head swiftly, but otherwise didn't 'say' word until he was finished speaking. Her response was then a nod and a little smile. Then she paused, furrowing her brows. A slender, dirt-covered hand lifted up, making a few signs that seemed like a spasm before she frowned deeper.

Back to the book and writing. "You do not need to teach me if you do not wish to, Daidoji-sama. But if you are willing, tomorrow would be fine with me."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Oh, no, I'm happy to try and teach you the game or just may take a while as I fumble through explaining it is all. We can play it just about anywhere so you tell me where you feel most comfortable be it out here or in my room, whatever you decide is fine with me. Probably not the command center, Moto-sama is a grumpy one."

[Koumori]

"Wherever Daidoji-sama wishes to play, I shall be there." She wrote swiftly, showing him the page once more when it was finished. Given that she was stuck on an island with no way to get off, she'd likely never willingly offer up any sort of opinion or decide something when it came to an interaction with a samurai. If one of them got upset, she couldn't run.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

By sheer coincidence he addressed that next. "Please, you don't need to be so formal with me. I know a lot of probably treated you poorly but I promise you I am not one of them. You can call me Kenzo-san, it will not offend me and any here who would take issue with it can deal with me personally about it.

I am a fairly relaxed person and as the inn is named this is a place for new beginnings. I take that idea to heart, it is the thought that lets me interact with the Lion here without fearing for my life and believe me they have plenty of cause to want me personally dead.

That is why I have asked you uncomfortable questions and made you uncomfortable offers, there is no reason for you to live worse than any of the rest of us, not here. I would like to help you, I like helping people but I will not pester you beyond this. Be it now or in the future if you decide you want things to change or you need something you don't have and can't get you can always come to me.

So please, call me Kenzo-san. If this all truly makes you feel uncomfortable I will accept that, it just means we have to get to know each other better."

[Koumori]

By nature, Komyo was untrusting, especially of friendly samurai. In her experience, they were the ones you needed to watch, because they hid their intentions unlike those that were at least neutral or unpleasant to be around. She didn't show it on her face though. It remained that same look of sweet, meek friendliness even as she lifted up her book and tapped at one of the previously written kanji.

There, in her neat script, was his name. "Daidoji-sama".

At least she didn't pretend to not hear him this time, but it was a clear no, at least at this time, for what he wanted.

Once she knew he had read it, she flipped through the pages in her book and near the front. After looking over it a moment, she found what she needed, though the page itself was what looked to be an early day Frequently Asked Questions page, but only with the answers.

"I have a comfortable place to stay with a nice tent, small campfire, and nearby access to food and water. If I do not have a tent, I sleep in a tree, which is also a nice place. Think of me as a stray cat. I have everything I need and am able to provide for myself. I just don't have the comforts most see as necessary."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Very well then I will drop it though the offer stands. I find it interesting that you had that answer already written out, I trust that means at least one other person here has asked after your wellbeing." He stood up once again and stretched his leg and tested his knee. "Feels very cool, thank you. With a bit of luck and the help of this I may still be able to bend my knee tomorrow instead of it swelling up to the size of a melon." There was sincere gratitude in his smile.

[Koumori]

The book she was using looked rather old and had an assortment of other questions laid out between two pages at the very front, like 'This salve will help reduce swelling' or 'I'm just in town to grab supplies and then I will be gone', so it was likely that they were just questions she had pre-written to use in any situation, however, she didn't correct him on it.

She did flip back a few pages and write something else. "If you are willing, I could massage the location tomorrow? It will cause the swelling to get worse for a few hours, but that's good because it means that blood is going into the area and blood helps the body heal quicker."