[D2 LN] A Second Chance

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"That would depend on whether the lady likes poetry or would find more tangible things pleasing." Jinkan said, putting a hand on his fine hairpin at the last few words.

[Kasuga Izumi]

"What kind of things does Mirumoto-san mean?" Izumi asks as another bottle of sake is brought to the table.

"There are all manner of pleasures, after all."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Oh, that kind of thing. Hell yeah." Jinkan put back another cup and put his hand across the table to brush the backs of his fingers against hers.

"Moonlight touched the earth,
Woke from a dream I turned
The warmth left behind
Matching yours, I did not miss
Because of memories sweet.

He spoke softly toward her keeping her face in his eyes.

[D2 LN] A Second Chance, Artisan: Poetry/Awareness, 4k3 | 4k3 ⇒ 20

[Kasuga Izumi]

Izumi gives a little giggle.

"Mirumoto-san has quite the way with words," she says, and she pours him another drink.

"He must have a lot...else...to have such confidence as shows in his words."

She leans on the table, resting her chin on the backs of her hands, and she smiles at him again.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I do." He said mirroring her and moving his face closer ontop of his hands.

"If my lady would but ask, I would be shower her with affection."

[Kasuga Izumi]

"Does Mirumoto-san truly wish to make a woman happy?" Izumi asks. "Truly?

"Because my people, they suffer so, and who can be happy when their people languish?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I don't know, most lords I know seem to do just fine regardless of how their people are doing. Actually..." he trailed off and then smiled.

"Ah, ah, sorry, I have never had to do this before. Ummm...lets pretend I didn't say that. Ok..."

"I had no idea they were suffering so much my lady. It hurts my heart to hear your's is so burdened. What would you have me do to ease their pain?" Jinkan went back to staring her in the eyes with all the intensity of a dozen seconds ago.

[Kasuga Izumi]

"The Dragon must be blessed with great riches," Izumi says, "sitting so high above the world. Surely someone so...generous as Mirumoto-san can help poor sailors afford to ply the waves."

One of her hands lays itself upon the table, resting gently there.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"If your sailors are thirsty, they will find their drinks for the night are on me." Jinkan said reaching out and putting a hand over hers.

[Kasuga Izumi]

There are approving noises from the men around, and Izumi smiles.

"So much is appreciated, Mirumoto-san," she says. "And I'm certain a man of influence can do yet more."

She frowns, almost pouting with her full lips. "Because there is someone who is causing all kinds of problems."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Do they have more influence than me?" Jinkan asked now concerning himself with feeling the edges of her fingernails. Skin good. Good skin.

[Kasuga Izumi]

"He doesn't have the stature Mirumoto-san does," Izumi replies. "But he is trying to gather together...all kinds of unsavory things.

"Maybe Mirumoto-san can help me stop him?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Jinkan looked up from her hand with raised eyebrows. "That sounds really very bad, Kasuga-sama. Of course you can have what assistance I might be able to arrange. Who is this guy?"

[Kasuga Izumi]

"Gusai Rioshida," Izumi replies, looking Jinkan in the eyes.

She puts her other hand over his, shifting as she does so. "He is...he is..."

Tears begin to well up in her eyes.

"I can't say it."

She turns her head away, chin to shoulder.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Jinkan's eyebrows returned to normal as he muttered something under his breath.

"Kasuga-sama," he leaned in as close as he could and turned his ear toward her.

"Whisper what you would, and know that you are heard."

[Kasuga Izumi]

Izumi turns her lips to his ear. Her breath is warm, and he can barely hear what she exhales.

"He wants to gather gaijin trade into his hands," she says. "He wants it all for himself."

It is just possible that she brushes his ear with her lips. Just. Barely.

"We can't let him do that, can we, Mirumoto-san?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

He is silent for a while after that as if listening for something. "Fine. Helping my lady is the right thing to do."

Jinkan very lightly sniffed her hair for a second before pulling back. "Are her lady's sailors still suffering?"

[Kasuga Izumi]

Another chorus of approving noises makes itself heard. The answer to the question about the sailors appears to be in the negative, although the morning might tell a different story.

For her part, Izumi smiles sweetly as she returns to a more stable position. Her hand goes to her breast, lingering where the kimono overlaps.

"Thank you, Mirumoto-san," she says. "I knew I could count on you. And when it is done..."

She winks.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I will hold you to that, Kasuga-sama." Jinkan smiled pulling the shadows back across his face before trying to stand up. His head is dizzy and he swayed for a second.

"I fear the floor is moving, minna-san. Be careful."

[Kasuga Izumi]

"Oh, you poor dear!" Izumi says, and she stands up, placing a hand on his chest and the other on his shoulder to help steady him.

"Boys, will one of you help our champion home? And he'll need his swords, of course."

The burly men from before move as she says, flanking Jinkan--and one has his swords in hand.