[D1, LM] Steaming off (Open)

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Bayushi Senshuken, dressed in a pair of buggy black jeans, a black T shirt, red suspenders and red sneakers, enters the arcade. What a day! Why did it have to be rainy? Why kami, why?!

She looks around her and heads to a nearby machine that emulates bike racing.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi was drawn to the arcade by its music. All kinds of sounds, overlapping. Each machine like a bird singing its own repetitive song, and the experience was captured in the overlap.

She stood in the doorway, taking it in. Thinking.

Her quest to find birds to sketch and study hadn't panned out so far, but it was only late morning.

Perhaps there was time to consider the arcade and its undeniably welcome respite from the rain. She folded her parasol, and stepped in, glancing around at the faces. No one she recognized.

But there was an interesting woman playing a bike racing game.

Perhaps she could watch, listen to the arcade's evolving song, and even introduce herself, when the young woman had a break, and it would not interrupt her game.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

And here we are. The final race! Senshuken's bike has all the mods she would dream of in real life. The kind of mods that would nearly make the bike fly. But the final boss plays a different game. Instead of a turbo, his bike has retracted saws. Instead of nitro boost, he can throw nails on the race track. The battle that follows is an epic one. Senshu manages to reach the finishing line. With a flat tyre. Second between two.

She raises from her seat. "I will return and I will triumph." She warns the machine. "I will!"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"A well fought race, samurai-san!" Haruhi said, encouragingly.

"I hope you did not mind my watching. It is rather thrilling. Can you imagine riding on a bike like that in real life?"

A slight pause, as she seemed to be caught up imagining it.

And then she added: "Oh! I am Kakita Haruhi. Recently arrived on an artisan commission."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken probably out of pure frustration hadn't noticed the Crane at first, but once spoken to she rushes to offer a bow. Her eyes reveal a smirk behind her mask.

"A pleasure to meet you, Kakita san. Bayushi Senshuken. If you are the type that isn't bothred by the rain, I can try to offer you a close up experience right now. Within speed limit of course. There must be a high way somewhere."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Ah, another Bayushi. A pleasure to meet you, Bayushi-san. Did you travel with Bayushi Kazushi-sama?"

"A close up experience? You mean, a real bike? Oh, I'd love to see more of the area. I'm looking for birds."

It did sound thrilling!

But perhaps the woman was only teasing her.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"No, no. I haven't met Bayushi sama yet." She looks towards the claw machines. "I'll return for the plushies. Let's go!" She waves to the other woman and takes a helmet out of her backpack. "You can have this. Or should have this to be exact."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi took the helmet gratefully.

"Oh ... my heart is just pounding. I think I shall learn a bit about what it feels like to fly!"

She follows her, taking a moment to stow her supplies neatly.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"I love your enthusiasm!" She exclaims.

Upon exiting she asks one of the heimin at the parking lot about the high way. "Okay, I got this. Thank you." She replies after the directions are given and turns to the Kakita.

"My bike is over here. No experience I should assume?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"None," Haruhi confirmed with a cheerful optimism.

"I've been on World of Golden Mirror. It's a painstakingly achingly beautiful accurate re-creation of our homeland, holy Rokugan. Our past. There are only horses." A Crane project of great pride.

"I had the opportunity to study all the birds of heraldry and our most cherished historical songs and poems."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Hop on the bike. Perhaps we can fly together! It's a totally different experience compared to horses."

Senshuken waits to see if she needs any help before getting on the bike herself. "Remember to hold tightly and try to follow my movements. Right turn, we lower to the right. Left turn to the left. And tap my shoulder if you want us to slow down."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She had to manage the traditional kimono. It was not the most graceful mounting of a bike.

Once the Bayushi was seated in front of her, she held on tight.

Right turn, lean right.

Left turn, lean left.

Tap on the shoulder to slow down.

A kind of choreography. She could remember.

"Alright, I think I understand. I'm ready when you are. Oh, is my stuff secure enough?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Everyone and everything is safe under my watchful eye." She smirks and turns to look at the other woman to make sure that she's good to go. In the meanwhile the bike roars under them.

And just like that off they go!

While they are still inside the city, they go slowly. The Kakita has the time to get used to the bike. The seating, the movements, the exquisite sound of the engine, everything!

After a few minutes, the view of the high way unfolds before their eyes. "Ready?" Before an answer could come, Senshuken twists the throttle wide open and unleashes the engine's fury. It is truly a unique choreography in which humans and machine tip toe on the asphalt while breathing fire!

[Kakita Haruhi]

The inside the city pace seems quite fast to her. Exhilarating.

She gasps in startled delight when the bike speeds up on the asphalt.

"Oh! It is like riding a dragon!" Or at least, how she imagined that might be.

No birds would come near such a loud beast. Not that she'd have time to study them if they did fly by.

"You ... you ride like this often?" She was absolutely shouting to be heard, though her head was rather close to the Bayushi's ear.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"I race! Professionally!" She turns her head slightly to the back and shouts. "Without the extra load. In a track. And with a better bike. I go faster. Way faster!"

"Are you enjoying this? I can slow down."

[Kakita Haruhi]

There was a reassurance to 'professionally'.

"It's thrilling! But no faster. I don't want to lose my grip on you."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"No, no. We don't want that. Hold me tightly!" She shouts again and refocuses on driving.

The highway seems endless but testing the speed limits of law, the bike's and Haruchi's make it seem way shorter.

The Bayushi sees a sign of a resting area on the road ahead and prepares for an exit with flair and style. Suddenly she hits the brakes, making sure that her passenger can handle the sudden turn and leaves a tire marking on the road as she enters the parking lot in front of a restaurant/cafe/everything is offered, but is of bad quality store.

She stops the bike and plants her foot down before turning to face the Crane. "Well? Resting a bit and heading back or do I call a cab?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi holds on extra tight when the brakes engage, not quite ready for it, but she maintains her position.

She's breathing hard. Exhilarated.

"Oh! This looks like a good place to relax and get a meal. I want to ride back with you if you don't mind having to go a bit slower for it. It was fun."

"I rather like that I cannot possibly practice for my presentation right now. I have been properly kidnapped, and must simply enjoy it. Including this entirely daring notion of breaks! Of rest." She giggled. As if 'break' and 'rest' were the naughtiest words in the world.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken's eyes playfully widen in faux surprise. "Have I kidnapped you? Without even planning for it? My skills have advanced! I will certainly be awarded with the Dashing Scorpion slash Stylish Kidnapper badge of honor. It is one of the most important insignia among my kin." She bows her head playfully. "I cannot but thank you for this unique chance."

She chuckles and gets down while continuing the playful banter. "Allow me to treat you with possibly dry sushi and definitely stale bao buns, Lady Victim. It is my sacred duty as a kidnapper to mistreat you with brunch at this..." She points to the store. "Ok, you deserve the truth, at least. Even victims do. I cannot in good conscience call it a restaurant."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi grinned at the teasing words.

"There is a comfort in encountering imperfection and realizing the universe lets it persist, and even, in the right context, give joy."