Clouded Moon (Day 14 Late Evening Open)

[Hiruma Daichi]

"We had a similar probably with Bandits in my Grandfather's time, perhaps I could ask on how it was dealt with?" He was pretty sure it was along the lines of 'apply lots of arrows until the problem is gone' but he wasn't certain. "If that's no help though, perhaps some arrangements can be made to aid your uncles plans. Our coffers don't exactly suffer."

After a few moments of thought he nodded at her offer. "I don't think I'm in such a burning hurry to return home I couldn't spare some time to pay a visit to your home. It'd easier to discuss some of the arrangements that need to be made for the coming months as well. So, if you parents wouldn't mind a guest, I'd be happy to come."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"I'm sure they'll be glad to have you. My parents are really nice folks, and we always welcome visitors," she assured him with a smile. Meanwhile, her fingers were gently massaging Nyoko's little head. Heavy is the head that wears a crown, so Nyoko's head was surely in need of all the pets.

"As for the bandits, it's always been a problem with them coming in from the edge on the borders, but they had gotten more active the past generation or so. My father called in some favors and allies, and rallied many able-bodied fighters to lead them on a counter-offensive to the base of operation that bandits had set up. It was successful, and has been for a while now." But she knew it probably wouldn't last. "Sometimes you got to take the fight to them. We'll see how long it takes until they become a problem again."

[Hiruma Daichi]

All the pets, Nyoko's head needed all the pets. Maybe this new hooman would be due for a promotion in the near future. It would all hinge on her mastery of treat-fu though, so only time would tell.

"I'll look forward to the trip then." He'd have to bring some sort of gift of course, but he was certain that he could figure that out in the time he had.

"Hopefully it will be quite a while. If not though, I'd certainly like to be able to help if I'm able. Though the ways I can are somewhat limited from as far away as we are." And the fact that Crab troops just couldn't show up on her parent's doorstep. "I suppose that's something to discuss down the line though. We'll have the time."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"We'll have time," she agreed, voice soft. Letting the silence linger between them for a moment, Sayomi sipped the sake and looked down at the very happy cat.

"There is still plenty of time to figure out stuff like that." There was a wistful quality to her tone, as if she was enjoying this moment right now. "... So what were you working on before I came to interrupt? The piece of maple, I mean:"

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi busied himself in the silence by refilling his cup and offering to do the same for Sayomi. Sometimes you just kept moving to hide your embarrassment. Or at least that's how Daichi figured it worked.

At her question his eyes turned towards the wood. "If you remember on our first day of court here, the gift I offered was a hairpin that belonged to one of my great aunts. She was a great archer, and her husband made it for her to keep her hair out of her eyes as she practiced." There was a pause as he examined the piece of maple for a few moments as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I'm not always the most imaginative man, and it might not be the best gift I could give, but there is a certain rhythm to it you could say. To make one for you."

"Because as that hairpin passed from the hands of my family so started that path that brought us together. A man with some skill at carving and a woman skilled at the bow. Almost like the telling of a tale a second time, so a hairpin seems really the only option."