Stare Long Into The Void [Day 7, Late Evening, Open]

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

The evening skies, for all Degarashi could see, continued on without pause, rumbling and roiling in a vaguely threatening way. It served as a good analogy for the thoughts of those within Nikesake, and likely further across the empire as well. Turmoil and darkness, creating discomfort and unrest.

Degarashi stood where he could upon the walls, eyes occasionally flitting towards a piece of paper held loosely in one hand.

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

A short distance away there was an unusual sight... A woman with a wide-brimmed straw hat sat atop the outer wall's uppermost battlements in a cross-legged pose.

The rain poured down on her hat and the water rolled off in light streams... the hat covered most of her torso from the rain but her muddied skirt and leggings were drenched with the flow of the clear liquids from her hat.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi didn't notice the unusual woman at first, lost in a sea of his own thoughts as he was. It wasn't until a particularly strong gust ripped the paper from his fingertips that his attention suddenly focused on his surroundings. By the combined whims of some rogue air and water kami, the letter fluttered around the empty space above the wall before settling delicately in Ren's lap. Only then did Degarashi realize he wasn't alone.

((If the letter is read, will PM the contents))

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

Ren's hands caught the piece of paper as it landed on her lap though her eyes had not previously been fixed on it.

Her gaze wanders down to the paper for a moment before she gently folds the wet paper in half and begins looking back to her left. Seeing the Scorpion man a short distance away, she stands and begins walking over towards him.

When she reaches him she extends the paper out, "This seems like it's rather important..."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi bristled slightly as the Lion looked over the letter, but did so more at the forces creating the situation than the woman herself. He accepted the letter with a stiff bow and a nod of thanks.

"It is... quite important, yes. So important in some regards that I'm left to wonder why it wasn't encoded." Of course the author hadn't spent much time practicing the more necessary arts of espionage. "But most of it is of a more personal nature. It has me disturbed deeply, reading it as I have, yet I cannot stop going back over the contents."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She tilted her head, "Maybe you shouldn't... People try to express that which is most important to them when they feel they have no time left to say things."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

"That," he paused, "is precisely what has my attention so thoroughly right now. There are a great many things left unspoken that may never grace the air kami. I'm not certain how to prepare myself for such an eventuality."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She nodded softly. "It is hard to prepare for pain... even if you know it is coming."

She then turned to look out towards the field, "The air kami will never hear these words you speak of... if you do not express them."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Though a simple concept, it was one Degarashi hadn't considered in such blunt terminology. "That's... direct. It doesn't quite give me an idea what to say about it, though. Where would I even begin?:

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She paused for a moment before replying, "At the end."

She let the odd reply hang in the air for a second before adding, "Imagine you were the one with little time left... what would you have told this person?"

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi considered that, feeling the sudden weight of the words pressing into him. "The jealousy, the resentment, the short temper and even shorter visits...I never meant for any of it to happen. Just as I know that he never meant to be at the center, never intended to steal attention meant for me, never wanted my accomplishments to be attributed to his behavior. I never wanted this, to be facing a day where my last encounter with him was one of spite." Degarashi was suddenly glad for the rain trickling down his cheeks.

"I don't want my brother to die thinking I hate him..."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

Ren paused for a moment as her lips tightened and squirmed for a moment. A single rain drop seemed to penetrate her head covering and trickle down from outside her eye.

"Well now he knows." She replied in a softer voice. "As do you."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi shook his head, frowning. "Perhaps, Akodo-sama, but do the winds carry such words beyond ningen-do? If he is already gone, how will I ever know they've reached him?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She smiled softly, “The elements are not simply a means to an end...”

She raised her hand and put it on the Scorpion’s shoulder, “A wise man once said, ‘Your soul-your life energy-is not bound by the flesh. It can reach where your fingers cannot.’ As long as you know it... it can reach who it needs to.”

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi took a steadying breath, but nodded, tucking the letter back into his obi quietly. "Yes, yes, of course you are correct. Getting the spirit to follow where the mind wanders can be difficult."

He glanced around him at relatively empty walls. "What brings you up here at a time like this?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She shook her head slightly as if not entirely sure, "A feeling."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi lifted a hand over his belly and nodded. "Such things often hold hidden meanings. What is yours telling you?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She lowered her hand from his shoulder and smiled softly, “That life is filled with auspicious meetings.”

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi narrowed his eyes to a fine squint, leaning forward to inspect the face beneath the wide brimmed hat. "You're not really a Dragon under there, are you?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She chuckled and shook her head, “Maybe in a past life... but not this one.”

Stare Long Into The Void [Day 7, Late Evening, Open]

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