[D1, LM] Steaming off (Open)

[Bayushi Senshuken]

''No, no,'' she chuckles. ''I meant that he is a man, not that he has one.''

''Are we done with the possible and gone to impossible statements now?'' Another soft chuckle. ''You wouldn't believe it, but I haven't either and to make matters even worse never have I ever met a fortune either!''

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi blushed at her confusion. Oh! Oh! That meant women were her cup of tea!

She took another sip. Heart racing.

"It did not have to be impossible. There are dragon here. I have met a Kitsuki. But we got along nicely. No fighting. And no I have never met a fortune."

"But now I want to ask a different question. Not a never statement. If you could meet any fortune, which one would you pick. And why."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

''Ah, Dragon the clan, not the divine creature.'' She scratches the back of her head. ''I feel kind of silly now and thank the kami for your wonderful question!'' She leans closer over the table. ''This should stay between us. Am I bad Scorpion?'' She shrugs. ''Hopefully not, but it is neither Saibakan nor Shoju no fortune, despite coming from his line. It's...'' she lowers her voice. ''Benten no fortune. Now you know my secret.'' She concludes playfully.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Ah, a wonderful choice! May she watch over you and bring you all you seek."

She smiled, and then added:

"Your secret is safe with me."

"The most Crane answer would probably be Kurohito, Fortune of Perfection, once Doji Kurohito. The most Kakita answer might be Sadahako, Fortune of Artists, and I would surely like her blessing!"

"But I am intrigued by something that very dragon said to me. That artistry comes from the soul, and shines brightest in a soul in love. I am determined to make a list of artisans whose work was notable in the context of love. Even the Fortune of Perfection, when he was mortal, married for love."

"So perhaps Benten-o-kami is my answer also."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She nods knowingly. "The game has changed I believe. It has evolved to a different one. So I will ask you this. If you dated out of clan, which clan would you choose?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"It might be for my parents or patron to choose. Generally. And if they chose out of clan, they would have a reason. Some purpose and duty, some political or economical or ... beyond my fathoming purpose."

"But were the choosing mine, hmmm... each clan has virtues to consider. I might choose based on the individual rather than the clan."

"But in the same spirit of imagining, like when we imagined how nice it would be if the diner had tamagoyaki and fresh mochi, I will confess...

She leaned closer. Barely a whisper.

"... that I find Scorpions very intriguing and charming."

And then she hid her face looking down at her teacup. Alas, her soft braids were precisely the right and appropriate degree of softness that they held and did not offer a curtain of white hair to hide behind.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Yes, yes, my clanmates have this bad boy vibes that are appreciated by other people." She shrugs a tiny bit. "I'm not sure if the bad girl style works though."

"A second back to back question if I may. It's your turn, but the the bad girl inside is calling and I must answer. Don't you date? According to your wishes, not your lord's or your parents'. Dating. Nothing to do with marriage. Per tradition and your heart's will."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Bad boys are definitely a temptation. And I have perhaps not given enough thought to the intriguing possibilities of a bad girl. Or ... of anything but ... getting back to practice and rehearsal."

"So, yeah, I really haven't."

"Just talking with people sometimes. A little excited. A little terrified. Never getting past the first measure."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She looks genuinely thoughtful for more than a few moments. "Is it something that you want? To be less less terrified and perhaps more excited? To attempt to go past the first measure?" A pause. "Honestly I think that for an artist, it could make quite the difference."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Yes! I do want that."

"But I am afraid to get it wrong. To disappoint. To ... burden someone with ... a project."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

''But the whole point is to find someone who will not see it as a project. Or a burden. They will ease you up into dating and you will make your own effort to overcome any awkwardness or shyness.'' She smiles broadly. ''I promise that the first kiss, touch, the first everything... they will prove that they deserve the effort.''

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I am used to teachers who favor the most talented students. Not the least skilled ones. But maybe it does not have to be Kakita Academy. It can be ... experimental. And fun. Even in the fumbles."

She looked up from her teacup and smiled shyly at her.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She smiles back at her. "Weeeell, you don't have to make it a teacher/student situation unless that's what you're both into. You can just be two people who decided to see if they want to open their hearts up for each other."

"How you want them to be if you don't mind me asking."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I think the first thing I would want is a sense that they liked me. So I wasn't guessing about that."

"And then ... maybe a mix of guide and co-conspirator. A little of each."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She chuckles. ''More details would be really helpful!''

She thinks for another moment. ''I believe that you are lovely. Lots of samurai would like you even without speaking with you first. After an actual conversation, they would be even more drawn to you. How about this.'' She taps her fingers on the table surface.

''I am seeing someone here. Someone I know from a previous assignment. It's not a relationship and we have never spoken about exclusivity and such. It's more of a coincidence that we met again. Still I want to tread really carefully when it comes to people's feelings.'' Another tap of her fingers.

''With equal honesty, I have already said that I find you lovely and I also find the prospect of a proper date with you, one that neither of us will ever forget, truly exilarating. A proper date of the old times. A letter, poetry, dinner, a walk afterwards. Perhaps a few small surprises. The whole package.'' She looks at the other woman straight into the eyes. ''This is what I can offer and I can promise to make it memorable should you find me deserving your time. So the real question is more of... Do you like me enough to try this with me?''

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Oh! I'd like that! I'd like that so much!"

She breathed a sign of relief. She did like her!

"If your friend doesn't mind. I can wait. If you'd like to ask her first."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

''She is okay with it. It is certain.'' The Scorpion replies. ''I will sent a proper invitation then. The day after tomorrow, perhaps?''

(If it works for you, I have LA, EE and LE free for day 3)

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Sounds great. I look forward to it."

She really did.


(EE would work great!)

[Bayushi Senshuken]

''Me, too!'' She exclaims and smirks in the stupidly sexy way that Scorpion sometimes do. ''Me, too!''

(next stop here!