[Day 4, Mid-Evening] The Entertainment, Part II (Open)

[Shiba Yukari]

On what she suspected might be Driftwood Sake's last night in existence, Yukari returned to what might charitably be called "the stage," and treated those waiting for the storm to hit to a few more songs, starting with what was starting to become her signature piece

Say one thing for the Phoenix, they evidently knew who to send to launch a charm offensive.

[Ide Mokoro]

From one of the corner tables, a boisterous, mildly unbecoming-of-a-samurai "Woooo!" echoed across the wood, accompanied by an energetic clapping of gloved hands as Mokoro rose from his seat to give the gifted songstress her much earned ovation at the end of her performance. The Unicorn, half into his cups within the Driftwood Sake, had been absolutely enthralled by the Phoenix. He'd seen some acts in his time on the road, but this was one of the finest he'd had the privledge of witnessing first-hand. And all because some horrible storm was on its way to batter the poor dive and the rest of the island town with its rage and fury.

"Very impressive! A performance worthy of Otosan Uchi's finest stage, right here in the Sake!" he continued to praise. He was exotically dressed, draped in purple silks, dark furs, and leather. The mon of his kimono left little room for mistake that the fellow was a Unicorn, though the strange garb was probably adequate enough to give him away.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari's eyes darted across the mons, as her brain filed the information and cross-referenced it with what she knew.

Ide

She bowed, with a smile.

"Ide-sama is too kind. Does Ide-sama, perform, by any chance?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo was in attendance and this time arrived early enough to here the Shiba sing. "Magnificent as always Yukari-san and a wonderful way to say goodbye to this place... probably." His smile one of commodity and delight as he poured a cup of weak sake and offered it to her.

[Ide Mokoro]

From the sanctity of his table, Mokoro knew the Shiba performer was a lovely creature. It wasn't until she addressed him directly, however, just how lovely she really was. Maybe it was the drink. Maybe it was her smile. Whatever it was, the Unicorn could feel his cheeks flush slightly.

"Oh. Oh, no. No, no, no. Not me," the middle-aged Ide replied with a stifled laugh, trying to recompose himself as he cleared his throat and swallowed another gulp of sake. "I've made my peace with my artistic ineptitudes. Let's just say that the last time I tried my hand in Noh that the Fortunes wept; and not in the same way that you bring tears of joy to their eyes, Shiba-sama. Truly, the soul of an artist burns within you." With this, Mokoro himself bowed lower in respectful deference to the Phoenix's skills, rising only as the Crane made his way over.

It seemed the samurai were beginning to gather in celebration of the Driftwood. Or for its funeral.

"I wish I could disagree, but I can't. The storm doesn't bode well for our beloved Driftwood, and Furihumu will be a drabber place without it," Mokoro sighed wistfully. Sadly, in many regards, it was the only outlet the courtier had. Without the tavern, an enjoyable reprieve would be harder to come by until it was replaced. Shaking the dire thoughts from his mind, the Unicorn stepped back slightly to give proper space between the trio.

"I know it's only been a few days, but I still haven't introduced myself properly. I am Ide Mokoro, in service to Miya-sama as a logistical advisor," the Unicorn said, fighting back the instinctual urge to extend a hand in a very gaijin greeting. "I hope you'll forgive me, for my duties upon first arriving have kept my focus elsewhere."

[Doji Hanatsuko]

The Doji was at the door and gave a friendly wave to the Shiba. Odd though for the Doji to be somewhat in a happy mood.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari accepted the cup from Kenzo with another smile and a nod, then listened as the Ide spoke.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Ide-sama. This one, you may have pieced together from Daidoji Kenzo-san's use of my name, is Shiba Yukari. I am a Tejina, and I confess that I don't feel too useful when it comes to exploring this island, so I try to find ways and places to use my skills."

She glanced over at Hanatsuko entered and raised the sake cup in salute to the Doji.

"In any event, if the Driftwood is lost to us, we'll just have to build it back. I imagine we'll see what this storm does with the island as a whole..."

[Doji Hanatsuko]

Hana moved closer to the Shiba. "Ah... hello all....Daidoji san, Ide sama, Shiba san." She looked at the Shiba. "Ummm Shiba san...I think I am ready. I was reminded of a friend." She looked at the Ide and nodded. "I would like the people to listen to his song."

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari's eyebrows went up, but she smiled delightedly.

"Of course! Kenzo-san, Ide-sama, if you will excuse me for a moment?"

She closed her eyes and whispered a quick prayer to the Air kami.

[Hantasuko has been Flights of Doves-ed ]

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo nodded as the two women walked away and then turned to the Unicorn.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Ide-sama and I hope this day finds you well, I am Daidoji Kenzo a scout sent here to aid with the survey of the island."

He offered the Ide a respectful bow, a warm smile resting on his face.

"May I pour you a drink?"

[Doji Hanatsuko]

Hanatsuko took the 'stage' and closed her eyes and started to hum. The illusion of the small seedling of a Sunflower started to grow. The music that was heard was light and trickling it wasn't her humming her humming was more of a background sound. As the flower started to grow the music started to get faster. Then when the sunflower bloomed it was like conversation between Hanatsuko's humming and the air kami interpretation of the music in her head. The music started to slow down as the flower started to wither and dry up. It was now sad piece as the Doji's heart was missing her friend.

Her on was broken, tears fell from her eyes. She cleared them as she took a deep breath. It was interesting how the air kami could follow her emotions do vividly. "I... I... I should go..." She took another deep breath and started walking to the door.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Excuse me for a moment Ide-sama"

Kenzo stood up quickly and raced over to the door as the Doji left.

"Hana-san please don't go."

He stood in the doorway, trying to block the view of those inside from seeing her.

"Please, take a moment but don't leave. That was beautiful what you just did, is that what you hear? Please come back inside and tell us about it?"

[Doji Hanatsuko]

"I thought I was ready..." The girl sniffed and cleared a tear from her left cheek. Why do I do this to myself? "I do hear things like that...most of the time...give me just a few breaths...I will return."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Of course, take all the time you need."

He stayed by the door but turned his back, not out of disrespect but to give her some privacy. From his position her looked to Yukari and the others.

"I don't have the right puppets with me today but I think I know something that might entertain everyone for a bit. Anyone here up for a bit of prestidigitation?"

[Shiba Yukari]

"By all means."

She wouldn't add to Hantasuko's burdens by dwelling on her distress.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

The Doji sit outside trying to compose herself. She takes a few breaths and clear her tears. The Doji looks at the horizon and sighs. I don't think I will ever be able to share a true song. Once composed the Doji returns to the inside of the rustic sake house.

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Excellent!"

Kenzo took to the stage with a hop. Slowly and deliberately he reached into his obi and pulled out a small battered knife.

"This knife has been in my family for three generations, it has been a trusted partner of mine since I was seven and despite it's appearance I treasure it greatly, but I really should take better care of it shouldn't I?" With a twist of his wrist the blade changed, identical in size it suddenly gleamed with polish and all it's imperfections vanished.

"Where others see something old and broken I see beauty because I know it's history. Knowing something's past can change your perception of it." He balanced the tip of the blade on a fingertip. He flipped the dagger up into the air and when it came back down and stuck into the butt of the ruined blade which now balanced on his fingertip; one on top of the other. He waved his other arm in front of the two blades and suddenly they had switched places.

"Which is better, something with no history but looks perfect or the one that is flawed but with a story to tell? Some histories are more complicated than others and sometimes it can be painful but every scar tells a story and sharing those stories can heal and help others. Lets make this more complicated."

He snatched the perfect blade up in his free hand and began to twirl and spin them both, rolling them over the back of his hands and tossing them back and forth. The speed of his movements grew faster and fast and it seemed like he was juggling three or four blades at once, and when he started throwing them behind his back and over his head that was proven true though when and from where the other two blades came from were unknown. One of the blades then disappeared and he began to juggle the three with one hand as he pulled out a koku with the other.

"What we see isn't always the truth, we all know this. You have to trust in your instincts and intuition and when both fail you have to trust those around you can see when you can't." He rolled the coin back and forth over his knuckles several times before holding it up to show the crowd. It vanished then reappeared several times in quick succession while still juggling the daggers.

He put the coin away and pulled out one of his hand puppets, one that looks exactly like him save for it having two eyes. The puppet then reached into it's obi and pulled out three small balls that looked to be made of wood. Though each of the puppets arms was just one of his fingers the puppet Kenzo began to juggle the three balls with all the dexterity of it's life size counterpart.

"It doesn't matter if you are big or small, broken or pristine, everything has a story to tell and a talent to share. So I invite those of you here that may be hesitant to come up and share with us." One by one the daggers vanished and when they were gone he pulled out another puppet, this one looked like a beautiful Crane woman. The Kenzo puppet stopped juggling and he thrust both of them forward, the Kenzo puppet towards Yukari and the Crane woman towards Hanatsuko. They both bowed and when they recovered they were both holding small bouquets of fake flowers and placed them before them.

"That is the end of my little show thank you for watching and I offer you all a challenge. There were four daggers in my act, where did the fourth one go? Whoever can guess it's location or find it may keep it if they wish." He bowed and stepped off the stage, wiping his brow.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari put her hands over her mouth to stifle a delighted and very un-samurai laugh.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

Hanatsuko sighed but nodded to the puppet. She was still processing her reaction. I am not doing it again. The young Doji shook her head.