[D1, LM, Open] The Wind from the East: Doji Noriko

[Doji Minehime]

The docks were full of barges today, but few were as grand as those bearing the banners of the Crab and the Crane. The latter of these, drawn up at the third pier and festooned with garlands of mountain flowers never seen outside of Crane lands except on the vehicles used to travel to and from Winter Court, was in the process of disgorging its cargo. And among the crates of art, spare clothing, and tea sets, the members of the Crane delegation, too, disembarked on the busy shore of Ikoma's Eye.

Alighting on the pier, Lady Doji cast a weather eye over the teeming crowd, then cast a glance back over her shoulder at the small family preparing to disembark. "Ichiro-kun," she called out gently, though some of the old iron lingered still in the warrior's voice, "you are not giving your mother trouble, are you?"

[Doji Noriko]

"N..no, Doji-sam-mph!" The boy's voice was muffled at the end by his little brother clamping his palm over his mouth.

"Shh! Onii-chan! Okaa-san's talking!"

"...which is why...Jiro-chan, take your hand out of your brother's mouth, that's a good boy." Noriko smiled fondly at her brood, any trace of consternation undetectable in her expression. She reached out to place a comforting hand on an increasingly distressed Ichiro's shoulder. "Well done for not striking back."

She sank down to meet her boys at eye level. "I will need you to stick very close to me until we reach the castle. Lady Doji will be walking on ahead to make sure the way is safe, but there will be ever so much to look at, so you must make sure not to let go of my hands the whole way up. Am I understood?"

"Hai." "Hai, Okaa-san!"

Confirmation achieved, Noriko took each boy by the hand and began the trip down the ramp, smiling quietly to herself at Ichiro's wide-eyed gawking at the stevedores at their work. For his part, Jiro, only 6 years old, clung tight to his mother's hand and ducked in close to her side, clearly overstimulated. Well, there was only one cure for that. She set to walking, following in Doji Minehime's wake.

[Doji Minehime]

Doji Minehime had resolved long ago to stop carrying herself like a young fool. Gone was the strut of the warrior princess that cut down Horihonzo the bandit chieftain with a cut so swift it was said no man present had seen her move, replaced with an easy rolling gait suitable for a grown woman knee-deep in her middle years. And yet, even a warrior masking their inclinations has a stride many times the size of a young boy, and soon Lady Doji and her honor guard began to pull away from the trailing descendants of Hantei.

/exit

[Doji Noriko]

Concerned, but determined to get to the castle under her own steam, Noriko kept her brood moving. It was then that she began to realize that the odd gawker seen in their ones and twos on the busy docks was rapidly becoming a crowd. It stood to reason that the people of Ikoma's Eye would be curious about Lady Doji, but they weren't dispersing in her wake, which left only one conclusion.

They were here for her.

And indeed they were. Noriko's pace slowed to a crawl as curious peasants stopped dead in the street to wish her well or to compliment her sons. Jiro was starting to look dizzy, he had received so many affectionate pats on the head. She took a deep breath. "No, miss, I am afraid we are expected at the castle. I could not possibly give you a lock of my son's hair just now. Excuse me..."

"Oh, your Imperial Heir-ness, I am ever so sorry to trouble you...it's just that my granddaughter is sick and I just know that if you or your fine boy were to come to her right now, she would...

Noriko's kind eyes widened slightly. "Oh! Well..." And she let go of Jiro's hand for a moment, trusting in the death-grip he was maintaining on her obi to keep him safe. And she reached down and pulled off a netsuke from her tea pouch. "I cannot stop by, I am afraid, but please convey this to your granddaughter with my apologies."

And, returning the deep bow of the old woman with a slight inclination of the head, her right hand reaching out to gently guide Ichiro's bow to exactly the correct degree of respect given his new station in life, Noriko continued to make her slow way up the street. It would be a long walk to the castle at this rate, but each step carried the weight of destiny.

[Cearnach]

This thread is now open for those wishing to bump into Doji Noriko and her sons.

[Ikoma Honoka]

The bustle of the marketplace had amused Honoka as she wandered idly through. Heavy restocking, placement of items that wouldn't normally be out..it made sense, there was a huge amount of famous people arriving.

And speaking of important people, the young Ikoma noticed out of the corner of her eye more commotion from the docks than usual. Curious, and not wanting to have any issues with any potential arriving guests, she made her way just as she saw a well dressed woman being approached by a number of peasants. She watched quietly, impressed by how the woman handled it, but realising there was a long way to go to the castle and this woman seemed to have children. She seemed familiar too, but from here Honoka couldn't make out who she was. Only one way for it!

She approached, only realising as she got closer that this was someone of extreme importance. Travelling seemingly alone? Or at least not with obvious guards. Moving closer, Honoka bowed. She wasn't dressed like a guard at all, wearing layers of kimonos instead of any form of armour or other attire, and her warm smile made her seem far more approachable.

"Doji-sama, are you heading towards the castle? Allow me to lead you, the markets are very busy at the moment."

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko's head pulled away from the latest conversation she had been stuck in to take in her new interlocutor. Her eyes smiled even if she did not as she bowed her head gratefully.

"You are most courteous, Ikoma-san, and I am most grateful for your offer. Please, lead on."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"It would be my honour" Honoka replied, her eyes turning briefly to the latest group trying to take the attention of the poor woman juggling children giving them a look to disperse and after a moment she began to lead on. Moving more to the side so that she could keep the Crane woman safe from more approaching. The girl walked slower though, it wouldn't do to leave the woman and her kids behind.

"I hope your journey was more uneventful before now Doji-sama. I've been here many times and never seen it quite this busy, everyone is working hard to make sure preparations are completed in the marketplaces it seems."

She turned back to the woman and gave her and the children a smile.

"Welcome to Kyuden Ikoma though mina-sama! I'm Ikoma Honoka. Have you been here before? "

[Doji Noriko]

The younger boy shrunk back, but 8-year-old Ichiro responded quickly. "Ie, Ikoma-sama. We have not."

Noriko chuckled. "He's quite correct. This is my first visit to Kyuden Ikoma. I am Doji Noriko. This is Ichiro and..."

"Jiro!," the six-year-old cried out.

"...Jiro. I take some solace that when removed from great crowds he is usually better behaved."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Ah, first time! I hope you enjoy your stay. There is much to see. Hmm" the girl paused a moment, taking a look at the markets before turning back to Noriko.

"I can lead you on a slightly quieter but longer route, or a more direct but crowded route. Which would you prefer?"

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko longed to just get to the castle, but she spared a look down at her sons. The crowd was getting to be an issue.

"I would not mind a quiet stretch of the legs."

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a nod.

"Let's take a left here then. The main bustle of the market is straight ahead" she motioned ahead where the path climbed up "as they expect a straight line from port to castle. Sensible really. Follow me Doji-sama."

Honoka started off towards the left, moving away from the bustle. There were still market stalls around, but they clearly had far less traffic and were smaller in general. Honoka had also made sure to position herself on the right hand side so that anyone trying to reach Noriko would need to pass her first. A practiced move of a yojimbo.

"You can also see past the river better this way. The incline is less better at an angle too" she peeked at one of the stalls that had some jewellery pieces but didn't stop "plus the castle comes into view with less in the way. "

[Doji Noriko]

"Ikoma-san has a good eye for aesthetics," Noriko observes quietly as she shepherds her sons up the path. "It is a fine accompaniment to the skills she displays. And the river is lovely, even crowded as it is. I did not think to ask, does Ikoma-san dwell in Kyuden Ikoma?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Thank you Doji-sama. I have to credit your clan for some of that though, I visited a few times over the last two years and an eye for detail in some of the gardens was remarkable."

She nodded at the question, turning at the next set of stalls and pausing so that Noriko could follow and also guide any wandering children away from the stalls. The amount of crowds here was quite a bit lower than the other routes for sure.

"Currently, hai. I was born further away but studies were here, gempukku was here, and now residing here as an attendant of Winter Court. So if Doji-sama would like some recommendations I would be happy to provide."

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko smiled a little sadly. "That is very kind, Ikoma-san. Unfortunately, I think my wanderings will be frightfully circumscribed once court begins. This may be my last view of the river until we head for home."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Duty does do its best to ensure one cannot see as much as they would like. Still, that's a blessing of learning where you are, you discover things that allow you do both. Like a tea house with a great reputation, a private rooms for important meetings and has a sweets store attached to it for those who have younger ones to think about while doing ones duties."

Honoka looked further ahead, closer to where the castle was, motioning to a building that stood out a little more than the others before turning back with a smile to Noriko. Looking very much like the young girl who has thought of everything.

"After all, if one was to leave earlier they could even take a slower walk to prepare their thoughts and still make it to the destination in time. Duty may be important but there is always time between one duty and another, ne? But maybe I think too much, my sensei always said I overplan the simplest things sometimes."

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko's smile became a little wan. "Between duties...yes, that could be how to describe my situation. I appreciate your perspective, Ikoma-san. And I do intend to take my time. But striking the balance between a taking the longer approach and plain avoidance can be a difficult rope to walk. How does the over-planner know when the time for planning is done?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Truthfully, Doji-sama, a plan is only done when it is completed" Honoka replied with a small chuckle "one may plan a route only to discover a better one, or forced a deviation lest an encounter costs one time. Hmm...an example. Once we reach the gates of Kyuden Ikoma proper there are many paths leading different ways, but the main way is straight leading up towards where the delegation houses are, and then onwards up to the Tenshu. Of course this route would also be the one taken by many samurai, servants and the like moving between the Tenshu, the houses, and further down to Ikoma's Eye where we are now. However, there are many paths sprouting off that which lead to other places, and then back round to the main path. Ones which may take longer in terms of walking, but have less potential for unexpected holdups to deviate from ones plan."

[Doji Noriko]

"So we ought to expect the unexpected, then?" Noriko looked at Honoka out of the corner of her eye. "In truth, there is little that I have not turned over in my mind already. But I am sure that I would be flattering myself to say that I am prepared for every contingency. The way before me is not an easy one."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"One may reduce the chances of the unexpected, but unexpected is always going to be there unfortunately" Honoka said with a nod "of course I understand my busy would pale in comparison to what Doji-sama will have on a day to day basis. The path may not be simple Doji-sama, but if I may be bold to say I don't believe it is one that would stop you."

The smile grew.

"There is always a way, Doji-sama. And if you feel lost, the Lion house is truly not so far away. I'm happy to be a guide again."