[D1 MM] Back "Home"

[Miya Akari]

"I've still got mine," she says, enjoying the fish that he had not partaken in. Another bite was taken.

"And what they have on hand tends to be very fresh sashimi. Though they do cook up crab, shrimp and other fish like eel."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Any octopus around, it's my favorite? You mentioned being a lover of music earlier do you play anything yourself?"

[Miya Akari]

"No, I don't. I just enjoy listening a great deal. I never had a gift for lyrics or rhythm myself," Akari admits. "Why? Do you play music in addition to puppetry? Or maybe you are looking for musical accompaniment?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"You know, there's a lot these hands can do but working a musical instrument has never bee none of them." As if to prove his point a pair of chopsticks appeared in his hand without him ever moving them towards the sleeve he must have kept them in and accepted the Innkeepers offered bowl. "Arigato. Itadakimasu!" He offered a prayer for the food but waited a moment before eating. "I hope someone here plays something though or someone at least can make some wind chimes or the silence may get to me."

[Miya Akari]

"Silence? You need to adjust yet it seems. The waves, birds and wind through the trees will soon be all you hear, then they will fade to background noise."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I'm more accustomed to the hustle and bustle of a border station. Not that I'm missing that especially right now, I would much rather be here in this conversation than say...hiding in a ditch covered in leaves waiting for a patrol to pass by."

[Miya Akari]

A warm smile. "I can only imagine about the ditch, but I would guess that almost any conversation would be an improvement on that."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

He returned the warm smile. "Ditches aren't all bad. Cool in the summer, keeps the wind off you in the winter, very little chance of being nagged. I can think of at least one person I would choose the ditch over."

DID choose the ditch over

[Miya Akari]

"Oh? What mystery person could be worse than being stuck in a ditch?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

He laugh-snorted. "My wife comes to mind." he said blithely but then remembered the station of who he was speaking to. "Forgive me Akari-sama, if I am permitted to call you that, that was improper of me to say."

[Miya Akari]

She nods, not being put off by it. "Well, not every marriage is equal. Some are better than others."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Yes and some are catastrophic mistakes. Our matchmaker must have been drunk. But we hardly ever see each other and almost never write so that helps. And before you think me a total jerk let me promise you she feels the same way, it's the only thing we agree on." He said cheerfully.

[Miya Akari]

"It's not for me to judge how you feel about each other. But it seems a shame that two people be made to marry someone they both dislike. An unfortunate state for any marriage."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Such is life, we weren't fond of each other before marrying and have been unable to have children so after five years we stopped trying. At least one of us is as barren as the Kuni wastes. So we decided to just go our own ways, we are still married but there is no sense making ourselves miserable with each other's company."

He began eating his meal.

[Miya Akari]

"I suppose it is good that you both recognize it and have an understanding," she replied.

"But I suppose that means you like to travel for your duty when you can. Is that how you got selected to come here?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Heh."

He paused.

"Well since you are my superior and report directly to our leader I suppose I should explain it shouldn't I?"

He took a breath.

"The broad strokes are that I killed the favored nephew of a Mastu commander. They set an ambush for me and I fell right into their trap. I escaped but lost an eye and the Doji managed to smooth things over. I may be here because I am an experienced scout and hunter, I may be here to keep me away from the Lion but considering how many you say are here I'm not so sure about that anymore. If you or command require more details I can will give them. I hope that I can leave all that on the mainland but if you find my body washed up on a shore somewhere...well...it won't be because I am a weak swimmer."

[Miya Akari]

"Let me, Hiruka-sama or Moto-sama know if you have issues. I suspect there won't be any, and hope there won't, but am prepared to help keep things civil. Someone ending up dead unrelated to fulfilling their duty is the last thing anyone in charge wants."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I will but I am accustomed to a little Lion/Crane friction and since I wasn't handed over to be executed the matter should be settled. I don't imagine the Lion to besmirch their honor by bringing it back up publicly and assassinating me when there are maybe 50 of us total on an island is just asking to be found out."

[Miya Akari]

"Nevertheless, if anything occurs, we should know about it," she replied with a firm tone. "Even the normal tensions is too much for the mission in my opinion."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Hai..uhh..Gunso? I'm actually not sure of the structure we are using here, would you be a Chui? I used to just being called "Scout" or "Asset"."