(D14 LE-expecting) A Prayer and Some Wings

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I appreciate that she'll have at least one person besides her wife to support her. It bodes well for a successful marriage." She looks to the shrine. "I've made offerings, and will likely make more for their happiness. Knowing them both, I think they may find it."

Her gaze lifts to Minase's lovely umbrella, "Wherever your path takes you, I hope you also find that happiness." Whether or not they found that path together, it was a sincere wish. The hope of it remained in her eyes as she turned to him. Her smile turning wry as she nods in agreement.

"Ah, yes, poem cycles do need to end eventually. Though I hope soon to start another." There's a heat, and promise to the words.

With a deep breath to calm those thoughts and align more with prayer, she faces the shrine once again to respectfully bow and stand to withdraw. The moment to shift gears leaves her pensive, while the entire exchange has done much to bleed off the nervous energy of the night, which rises a bit as she says. "Though first there's a hike, and the ritual at the end of it, and no knowing how that will end."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Pairs of grey eyes met. "And I hope you find that too, Hoshiko-san." Together or separate; only time would tell. But at the moment, in the here and now, he found himself hoping it would be together.

And then that promise... Ryu felt the heat as much as she did. He breathed in slowly, and blinked equally slowly, closing his eyes and then opening them again. "We will." He breathed. "We will." The look he gave her had all the heat of her words, a new intensity in those grey eyes.

And then it was gone. They were Crane. They knew how to keep an on and to change their expression with a moment's notice. "Let's walk together, then." Ryu said, nodding. "I'll accompany you. As for the ritual..." The smile returned, just a little. "I have faith in you, Hoshiko-san."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Hoshiko nods, heading back to pick up her supplies and don her coat for the walk. "I appreciate your faith. I'm nervous, but I think we can do this, or we wouldn't try." Not that she was certain what plan B would be.

She pauses at the door when they're leaving, offering another smile through nerves. "And thank you for everything...including the company on the way."


And then the /exit to ritual time.
(thank you very much for the scene)