Day 3 EM: The storm? I AM THE STORM!

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime was running near Tenjin Town again. Training never waited but now she had another goal: keep and eye on suspicious goings on in the town. The Kuni magistrate might have humored her and sent her on something useless but the Moto was nothing if not stubborn.

Furthermore nothing had happen yet to something was bound to. Maybe not here, maybe somewhere else, but something will.

At any rate, the rain was both a good training opportunity and a good cover. It would likely hide her from afar and anyone else going on about would likely need a good reason to.

She had her athletic wear and a her raincoat but also had a amsll backback to hold some items she might need.

She kept her eyes open

[Boogiepop]

Tenjin Town wasn't anywhere near as refined as Nakahama City. From the outside, it looked very much like a shanty town by the sea, with much of the population residing in shacks atop structures atop the water. The ocean's waves were a bit rocky with the storm, putting the outer reaches of the town to its mercy as the rain drummed on its many sheet metal rooftops. Most of the populace had huddled away in their abodes to ride out the storm.

However, that didn't mean that the work stopped. There were still many heimen who were obligated to work in the factories and maintain the shrimp farm and traps. Shiwahime would see a few heimen, wearing long rubber boots and rain coats, making way to their shift to potentially one of the few Uomoto Co. plants in the area.

[Moto Shiwahime]

snip

Shiwahime took a break to drink some water and observe the scene. Even if nothing suspicious was happening she would at least have a sense of the pulse of the town's heart and arteries.

But with the storm out and about she was also on alert for possible accidents

She regained her breath and continued her run but at a slower pace as to still be able to observe without bringing suspicion on herself

[Boogiepop]

The heimen would cast an awkward glance at the obvious samurai who was watching them go about their business, before averting their eyes, before it was deemed improper. A part of them were wondering if they are some sort of trouble brewing, especially when it was none of the usual Crab samurai, although they could mistake her for a Hida potentially. They would ultimately continue on their way to their destination afterwards.



There was a man in Crab colours who seemingly braved the storm without the same concern of the heimen earlier, or the rain for that matter. "Good morning, samurai-san," he would say in a polite tone.

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime slowed down her jog and eventually stop when the odd man in crab colors interpelled her

''Good mornin' to you as well Crab-san. Rains often in your neck of the woods ain't it?''

She wondered if he was a samurai or another heimen. Mayhaps she'd not been as subtle as she thought

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

He would smile softly at the question. His voice was seemingly gentle, out of place in such a rough-looking part of the island. "It does, actually, but we hardly consider this an annoyance of any kind. While the Sun holds a firm domain here, it is the Heavens that give us life and bless us with rain, sometimes daily. We consider this an honour and a continued sign that we are where we need to be."

"This one is Yasuki Haruto, process assistant to the administrator of Tenjin Town. Welcome, and please be kind to us," he said with a polite bow.

[Otomo Koroshi]

An eggplant jogged its way over to the Moto with a big wave of both its arms.

Koroshi was purple and green this morning, looking for all the world like an eggplant that had grown legs and arms. His joggers were wet, but he had forgone the light-up sneakers for a purple pair that kept the water out better. Not that it mattered much when he was running through puddles deeper than the top of the shoes anyway.

"Good morning!" He yelled before coming to a stop beside the much taller Moto.

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime returned the bow with a kind smile

"A pleasure Yasuki-san! I am Moto Shiwahime...currently on vacation and enjoying a good challenging jog."

And then her jog partner arrives!

"Koroshi-sama! Good morning! I was starting to think you wouldn't join this morning. Glad to see I was wrong!"

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"A jog?" He questioned with a bit of kind amusement on this face as he glanced around his surroundings. There was a torrential downpour that made a good mess of things in town, and the oceans seemed displeased, but not to the point that it could threaten to swallow up the town. "Is this a strict routine of yours, Moto-san? It would do well to keep in mind of potential hazards. Some of the metal walkways are surprisingly slippery if you're not careful. I would advise you to perhaps jog just around the town, staying on solid land."

At the new samurai, he would likewise bow and provide the same introduction. "This one is Yasuki Haruto, process assistant to the administrator of Tenjin Town."

[Moto Shiwahime]

''I live a life of danger Yasuki-san.'' she replied with a firm voice but one without hostility "I cannot allow myself to be mollified so much that a thing like this downpour becomes an impediment to an healthy routine.''

She paused and smiled

''I thank you for your warning Yasuki-san. I don't want to ignore it but if the oceans are so displeased then someone less lucky then I might find trouble. If I'm out in about I can intervene.''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"Of course, Moto-san," the Yasuki relented in his concern. "Sorry, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds, as I'm sure you know what you're doing, even as an honoured guest on this island. It is a habit of mind to see to the care of everyone in this town, all souls, including the brave souls such as yourself who are passing by these parts, on this very blessed day."

The Crab would look up at the skies for a moment, seemingly unbothered as heavy rain splashes on his face at the gesture.

"And thank you for the offer of aid, Moto-san. I'm sure there will be some work to be done once this rain stops. We have come to rely on each other, especially when the island's Public Works is often so shorthanded on days like this. I don't blame them, they try their hardest, but we have come to make do. I doubt that you'll find yourself in trouble, but I am more than willing to help you in return, as one of the residents here. My apologies that we weren't able to meet in more proper circumstances. Then again, when we're labouring through the weather and drenched in rain, we are the most ourselves, aren't we?" He posed gently.

[Moto Shiwahime]

She gave an enthusiastic nod at his statement

''HA! I agree! There is no life without hardship and hiding from it just makes us blind to the fullness of what we have'' She quoted the line of the protagonist from a play she watched a few months back.

She searched her raincoat and got her card out

''Here. If you also need help just give me a call. I can't stay still for very long so any help I can lend I'd be happy to and I quite admire your sense of community Yasuki-san, What kind of work do you think need to be done?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto would accept the card with both hands and a bow. "Thank you, Moto-san. I'm afraid I don't have a card of my own. Blapshemous around here in many ways, I know, but I just prefer my interactions to be personal rather than anything else. More than just a mere piece of cardboard, but ingrained in my memory and in my heart. If you wish to seek me out, there is always the town. You should be able to find me through the residents there. As for work, I only foresee some maintenance work to be done in the coastal homes. The farmlands are likely going to be flooded in pocket areas. We can only hope that it won't affect the crops too badly, some people here rely on the local harvest more than the imports of food."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Otomo Koroshi, priest, and jogger!" Koroshi introduced himself once he had caught his breath.

"What kind of work does the town do? Mining? Fishing? Industrial? Touristy?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

''Heh, don,t worry about it Yasuki-san. I usually have the same approach as you'' she said reassuringly before leaving room for him to answer Koroshi's question

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"Honoured to have you with us on this blessed day, Otomo-sama," Haruto would bow deeply at his introduction.

He offered the surrounding town a glance before explaining. "The town mostly focuses on fishing, both in local waters and on oceans further away. We have a good share of crystal shrimp traps and farms along the water. There is a bit of industry with the Uomoto Co. plant nearby that produces everything from bottled fish sauce, frozen ebiyaki, imitation crab, and pre-packed tuna. We aren't tourist-centric, but visitors occasionally come here for the food."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Imitation crab? What kind of chameleon-like crab is that?" The Otomo asked with genuine curiosity. "Does it pretend to be a coral formation or a rock or something?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

''I think he's referring to pollack...some call it goberge too. Sadly...not a shapeshifting crab variant.''

The Otomo's guess was way more interesting the real thing even if it still was something nice to know

''If I'm not mistaken it's a fish that get processed and often sold in sticks and kinda looks like crab meat''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto did offer the Otomo a gentle smile at the question and was happy to answer but the Moto managed to fill the blanks.

He dipped slightly in thanks for the explanation. "Just as Moto-san says. It was originally heimen food but it's managed to make its way into Crab bushi rations over time. Now, it's a particular item that is appreciated as an acceptable substitute for even samurai, much like meat protein blocks. You'll find it in some sushi, salad, and various other snacks. Funny how that managed to work out, right? Just another cycle in life."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"This fish that is a crab sounds wonderful. One might think it a metaphor for the Yasuki in the Crab Clan!" The Otomo sounded his normal bombastic self despite the nasty weather. He slicked back his hair with a smile.

"Yasuki-san, what is your favorite part of the town? Somewhere specific that has special meaning, or a place that one should not miss when they visit? Either or." Koroshi asked, noting mentally to add such place(s) to his list.