Day 6 MM: Prepping and helping

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime gave a polite bow to the workers before rejoint with Haruhi and Haruto

"Thank you Yasuki-san, it would be a pleasure. I believe Kakita-sama brought some food tombe shared as well."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I did! Salt fish and rice balls."

She gestured to a crate behind her. She had collected what she could from Crane stores, as they'd prepared the big fish catches of the tango tuna for shipping to increase interest in it as an export product.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto looked a bit surprised and bowed deeply at the offer. "You really didn't have to, Kakita-san. However, I think I speak for myself and the heimen here that we'll be more than happy if she so chooses to share her food. I think they'll be pleased that, alongside whatever food might be in danger of spoiling with the power outage. Please, come."

He would gesture for them to follow as he took them toward one of the larger houses sitting in the area. As they walked, there were a few people just going about their mornings, tidying some garbage and other debris that might have been spilled when the storm passed by the island. It wasn't the first time they've gone about this, and some ambitious stands are already opening for business.

As they pass by more residents, there are a few who would bow deeply to the Yasuki, like he were a figure of reverence. Most of the town's residents seem to cast suspicious eyes on him, however. And that's with the Crane and Unicorn following him.

[Kakita Haruhi]

She follows, taking the crate to share.

He seemed like a good man, taking care of all who needed.

"Have you lived in Nakahama all your life, Yasuki-sama?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime quiked an eyebrow at the odd behavior but, then again, she wasn't in a position to find it overly weird. She had quite the reputation herself and she was hit or miss with most crowds.

''I take it that the storms are common place on this island? It feels like you guys are really used to it.''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto didn't seemed to bothered by the glances he was getting, seemingly going about his walk like this was routine. As a samurai assigned to Tenjin Town, it was quite likely he was a stranger to few around this place.

He would turn back to address a few of the questions that were addressed to him as he continued to walk. "No, not quite. I was only assigned here about 7 years ago as an administrative servant of the city. It doesn't take long to know this island, however. It doesn't take quite a day to drive around it but it is perhaps the people who require a little time. My years here have been dedicated to serving them and seeing that their needs are attended to. The Public Works office does their best, of course, but often the crews don't make their way here until the afternoon. Life here begins at dawn, so it do much for the residents here to sit and wait for help to arrive. Thankfully, we have many able bodies here and generous souls, much like yourself."

"From what I am told, some people on temperate worlds find the Green Carp's weather rather onerous at times. This is more the case in the oceanic provinces such as Tango. There is always a good chance of rain everyday and depending how the blessed Sky feels, sometimes we are gifted with more rain than expected, on days such as this. Such an occurance can happen perhaps 3 times a month. We are resilient but we are not entirely weather-proof," he said with a sheepish smile. "I trust that the city has been hit hard too."

Eventually, they would arrive at their intended destination, long house made up plastic and metal siding, painted a vibrant sea green. The interior would reveal a mess hall of sorts, although the kitchen seemed closed. There were about 10 heimen they saw working in the area with Haruto gathered here. Many of them sit a long table to rest after their efforts and waiting for their meal to arrive.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi will set down her crate of food, and open the box.

Ready to share at the appropriate time.

She had a friendly smile for those who had been working.

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime nodded in agreement concerning the city

"Yeah, lots of streets are closed and flooded...I am surprised that the town is not build on higher ground if this weather is this strong. I don't doubt the resilence of the people here but...this seems dangerous."

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"The appeal of the waterfront is too much for most Yasuki to pass up, as you can see even there. Although Tenjin Town has much of their livelihood found in the fishing industry. They do admittedly endure a bit of hardship for vanity's sake in the city." He nodded on that note.

The labourers at the tables were admittedly waiting for a different meal. They would be surprised by the Kakita's offering of food at first, but that would be quickly forgotten when the generous offer is too good to refuse. Shortly, their meal would be further complemented by food from their fridge stores, shrimp rice and noodle rolls and some sticky rice. It wasn't quite heated, but could be eaten in a pinch.

There would be an eerie silence that descended on the table as many of the labourers and Haruto seemed to close their eyes and meditate on the food that they had been provided before finally allowing themselves to partake.

[Moto Shiwahime]

"Huh...so you guys meditate on your good? I don't think I have seen that before."

She went with the regular 'itadakimasu' herself.

"Say...you guys goin' to the bon festival?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi had waited quietly while they meditated, and only began eating when they did.

"Bon festival?" she asked, curiously.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"My apologies, Moto-san and Kakita-san," Haruto would smile sheepishly after the meditative display...or was it more of a prayer in this case? "We were merely taking a moment to give thanks to the Sky for its bounty, drawn from the earth and water of the land. I suppose maybe not too different than some who thank the Fortunes for their meal. We take this moment to also celebrate our time here and how this food will strengthen us for the challenges in the future."

He gave a shake at the question, speaking for the group. "I will not be attending the Bon Festival, myself, as I don't practice that custom. Of course, I don't mind if anyone else wishes to, especially when they have friends and family to celebrate the occasion with."

[Moto Shiwahime]

She nodded, non plussed at the details ''Ah...a silent prayer. That make sense''

She did quirk an eyebrow at the Crane's ignorance of it and the Crab's non practice of it

''Huh...well'' she decided to address first ''The Bon Festival is a festival were the dead are honored and showed respect to help them go to the afterlife. Usually there is dance, lanterns, songs and bonfires. You might practice it differently though...us Moto have our own ways.''

She then turned to Haruto

''Oh why not?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"Personally, it's perhaps the custom and the spiritual nature of the festival that doesn't quite resonate with me, I'm afraid," he would say gently on the matter with a small smile, not wanting to sound dismissive. "I won't stop others if they wish to participate and enjoy the custom but I will likely only watch from the sidelines on the day. I do hope both of you enjoy your time there."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Ah, we have festivals of that kind. Just a different name. I look forward to it."

It was curious. They seemed to have ... a different spirituality. Sky, earth, and water, rather than the Fortunes. Was that within the realm of what she had been taught to find orthodox?

[Moto Shiwahime]

''Huh''

It was true that they were not fortunists or Shinto but surely...

''So...how do you pay your respects to the dead or help them into the afterlife or the reincarnation cycle?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto found himself looking at both sides of the long table. While he was always open to talking about his particular beliefs, he would only hope that the good spirits were maintained at breakfast. Nobody wants to have their morning ruined.

"We pay respects to the dead in their funerals or visit them at their burial site, if possible. I suppose no different when people pay respects to them normally or at their shrine. We do have a different occasion where we pray to the dead, honour their life, and hope they find their way to where they need to be," he said while taking a few bites of his food, seemingly less hungry as he focused on the topic of conversation.

He cautiously shared more of his beliefs. "...I do not believe that there is a reincarnation cycle, personally. The dead are typically brought before the lords and angels of the realms, where they are judged as to where they go after death. If they are just and virtuous souls, they are destined to the kingdom of the Sun. If they are more dubious and live a life of sin, then they might be destined to dwell in the depths of the Sea."

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime wasn't sure of what he was going on about for a second but she got the gist of it when he finally talked about what was obviously the Lords of Death worshiped by the Moto

''Not sure 'bout everything nor what angles have to do with it...but it seems like you believe in the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang like us Moto. That's cool, not many follow them outside us.''

She bit in her portion of breakfast

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi felt a little uncomfortable. Unsure if this was orthodox or concerning.

(Is there a roll she should be making to work that out?)

But she understood courtesy, and that meant to change the subject when a topic was uncomfortable for a person at the table. And it seemed uncomfortable for him, too!

"Yasuki-sama, I have a task to study the native birds here. Are there any birds you see routinely in your work? I have put together a list of birds to look for, but would be glad to know from a local if I am missing a bird you enjoy seeing."

[Boogiepop]

Haruhi felt a little uncomfortable. Unsure if this was orthodox or concerning.

(Is there a roll she should be making to work that out?)

This was definitely concerning without a roll. This man seems of something heterodox or completely foreign.


Yasuki Haruto

"I'm afraid not quite, but I suppose there are some comparisons that could be made there, Moto-san." He nodded to the interpretation before taking a sip of water.

Haruto would turn his attention to the Kakita regarding her question. "Unfortunate, I don't quite venture into the wilderness when it comes to birds. Most of the birds I see here are the jimen tori, seagulls, and the piping plover. There might be others...but I'm unfortunately uninitiated by the distinct differences of other sea birds. Some of the heimen here raise cormorants to fish. I know there are some golden pheasants that have been raised as game and will be released in the next few days for the hunt."