Elemental Currents (D1, EE)

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

Ren sat in quiet meditation within the temple. She found a location that she felt was equidistant from each of the major representations of the elemental dragons.

She controlled her breathing as she had been trained... sought to connect herself with the elements... feel their tenor... understand what Heaven intended for Man...

How did her path intertwine with this... and for what purpose...

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

There was a soft peal of a prayer bell, not far off, as a Suzume, wrapped in a tattered brown cloak over practical, hard worn kimono and hakama in the warm brown of the Suzume, pulled the rope and then bowed her head in prayer.

After a lingering silence, she stepped away from the shrine and cast her gaze around the temple, taking in the sights with one bright amber eye, alert and thoughtful. as she turned, bandages around her neck became visible, highlighting some recent injury, but she gave no sign of pain or discomfort.

From the Daisho she wore, and the mons sewn in white along her breast, it was clear she wasn't just some nameless vagrant, but what someone of her position and history might be doing here... wasn't entirely clear.

Perhaps it was a sign of disordered times, or some other trick of fate, that brought one such as her so far from her home.

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

The elements were in motion... an uncomfortable feeling was all Ren was left with for the moment.

Opening her eyes she turned to see a Sparrow sitting in prayer.

Must have come from court...

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Yet it seemed perhaps not, as the woman sighed, and then gave a small wave of greeting to one of the acolytes, who waved back.

It seemed like they knew each other.

Perhaps this Suzume had been here before?

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

Ren walked near the Suzume and gave a polite bow.

“Good evening Suzume-sama. I am Akodo Ren. Is there anything I can assist you with at the moment? It must’ve been a rough few days.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya blinked, and then turned to see the lion who had snuck up in her blind spot.

"Ah, good evening."

A small bow of greeting. "This one is Suzume Chihaya."

She gave the lion a thoughtful look. She didn't look very... well, very lion.

"I doubt there is much one can do about this sudden chaos, I admit I was caught by surprise this morning, when I found out the news."

Raising an eyebrow, she inquired, "Were you there? Or is it a surprise to you as well?"

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

“I have been here performing my duties. You were not at the Emperor’s Winter Court?” She asked with a tinge of surprise.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"I was not."

She seemed surprised by the assumption.

"I've been here, as a patient."

Touching the bandages, seemingly without thinking, she added, "I had a bit of an encounter a few weeks back. I had to recover from that. I went today to get my effects that I had left in the inn when I was transferred here to convalesce."

Tilting her head to the side, she added, "I am but a humble sparrow, I doubt I would belong in the Emperor's court, neh?"

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

“I am sorry to hear you were injured... Great and small all are connected in the Realm of Men. I actually spent some time down in Sparrow lands a couple of years ago... I’m afraid I didn’t get the chance to meet you then. But it seems your path has led you to my home this time... Unfortunately it is not be under better circumstances.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Oh?"

She looked surprised. "I hope you enjoyed your visit in the valley."

Then she remembered when a lot of out of clan samurai had last visited. "And I hope you weren't caught up in any of that hubbub around the wedding. Things are normally much more peaceful."

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

“I would hope. It was quite eventful.” She said with a soft smile.

“But there is good that comes from strife. I met the man I married. The Sparrow lands prosper... Time moves on.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Indeed so."

She smiled faintly, "You took a Sparrow husband then?"

If so, she might know him - the valley wasn't vast, and a man who would interest a Lion would likely be notable.

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

She shook her head, “No. A Lion who was there for the wedding. I was originally in the Asako family. I’d gone to your lands because I heard my cousin was present. His name is Asako Kashiwagi... I was fortunate enough to catch up with him there and meet with the lovely Suzume Chou-sama. It was a formative experience in my life. One I am glad to have been able to see.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Ah, of course. I'm glad you were able to take home a positive memory."

She looked relieved, as if uncertain if anyone could have a positive memory of that particular event.

Then she added, "Asako Kashiwagi? Truly? I cannot imagine him as a child, I confess. He's always seemed so..."

She gestured vaguely. "So Kashiwagi."

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

She smirked and tilted her head, “We all are and aren’t who we were once. Kashiwagi was once a child and he was Kashiwagi... and he isn’t and wasn’t ‘Kashiwagi’ today.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Well yes."

She sighed.

"I just cannot help imagining a child interrogating his friends and their dolls, accusing them of heresy and then playing with snakes."

Waving a hand vaguely, she added "He is a man of strong opinions, and of defined interests, I shall say."

Quirking her head, she added, "So do you live here now? Or are you here by chance as your duties require?"

Is your family in these walls, now at risk?

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

“People are shaped by the roles they are asked to fill... For the tree to argue the rock is weird because it’s uses are different... would be an argument build on rather rocky soil. If you’re imagining the ‘Inquisitor’ when he wasn’t asked to be one... your image is likely off.” She said with a warm smile.

“I’m here on my own for now. My husband and child are back safe in our home. I’ve been here for about a month on an assignment. My timing is impeccable it would seem.”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Ah, I am glad your family is safe."

She nodded. At mention of child there was a pang, quickly suppressed.

"I suppose that is true - the woman I am today... you'd not believe if you'd seen me as a child. I can only wonder if for better or for worse."

For some reason this talk had left her somewhat melancholic.

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

“I can believe a great deal.” She said with a smile.

“Is there some part of you as a child you feel estranged from?”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya looked pensive.

"In some ways she feels an entirely different person. Free from the scars of war, of a lifetime of stumbles and errors. Innocent and full of promise."

With a small shrug, she added, "Perhaps it is just a part of growing older, to wonder if perhaps, if you had done things differently, you might have been a greater person."

Elemental Currents (D1, EE)

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