(D8, LM, Hospital) Flowers for the fallen

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka pulled into the hospital's visitor parking. If it wasn't one thing it was two. She grabbed the bouquet of lilies she had grabbed at the florist on Golden Shotengai and wasted no time in getting back on her communicator as she walked in. The day was bad enough without getting a citation for distracted driving.

<Look, I don't care what he said, we had a deal on those units and, hang on> she said turning her attention at least a little upon the front desk worker after signing the visitors log.

"What room is Hida Kumai in?" she asked.

<What? No, Hida Kumai isn't involved in the deal he....> she spoke back in to the communicator while the front desk worker gave a room number she half heard.

"Thanks." she said <No, not you,> as she made her way to the room she thought Hida Kumai was staying in.

She pushed her way in to the room just as she got off the communicator.

"Seriously, Hida-sama, up on the roof at your age? Father said....." she started to chastise the patient as she put the lilies into a nearby vase, before actually looking at him.

"You're not Hida-sama," she said.

[Hiruma Akiro]

The man who was not Hida-sama blinked, thoroughly confused. He glanced at the stand of IVs next to his hospital bed; was one of them dispensing something mind-altering? He didn't know, he wasn't a doctor.

Akiro didn't look too bad, all things considered. His hair and face looked clean and neat, and his color looked good. It was a nice room, with some other flowers in a vase by the window, blinds drawn to let sun in. On the other hand, he was wearing casts almost up to his hips.

"I am not, Yasuki-san." Akiro said, arching one eyebrow, his tone as cultured as ever. "Nor have I ever claimed to be a Hida-sama." He tilted his head, looking at the flowers. "And if those flowers are intended for Hida-sama, I should feel distraught if I were responsible for keeping him from receiving them.

He looked back to Taraka, lips ever so slightly pursed in amusement.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka bowed.

"My apologies, Hiruma-san for interrupting your convalescence. Thank you for not using my mistake to steal flowers from another patient, even one who thinks that he can save a lot of money by fixing a roof by himself." she said, somewhat amused.

She looked the man over, he did seem to be in reasonable shape.

"I had heard rumors you were in the hospital, but they sounded like you were cast in an action movie by Silver Fin and you hurt yourself doing your own stunts." she remarked. Rumors were notoriously fickle things after all.

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Hmmm." Akiro said. "I would suggest that he could buy his own flowers, but it rather sounds as though he won't."

His expression turned more serious; it was fortunate that he'd just been almost smiling, as his face normally didn't have a lot more serious to turn. "Ah. Word is already spreading. Well, I suppose it is a news item." Akiro looked away, towards the window. Perhaps out it, perhaps not.

"I was abducted." Akiro finally said. "And while I was abducted, I was subject to some..." there was a slight hesitation, a little tremor in the solid jaw, "-rather rough treatment. Fortunately, when he captured some others, they were able to make good an escape, and brought me along, where were all found by rescuers. Otherwise, I expect you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

Akiro's head shifted a little, but he didn't quite look back towards Taraka just yet.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka looked out the window as well. She wondered if that's why hospital sets always had a window in them, for dramatic pauses. But this was not the sort of situation that called for jokes.

"You came back alive at least, like a good Crab you endured unfair horrendous treatment at the hands of forces beyond your control, and came back. Your family, I'm sure, is a mix of relieved and proud." she offered.

She couldn't fix him with words, but given what she knew of him, an appeal to his resilience might offer some small salve.

[Hiruma Akiro]

It wasn't a bad view out the window, actually. There was a garden, and a path going through it, a few samurai in various states of mobility making their way along it.

"Mmmm..." It wasn't a decisive noise, but the muscle in Akiro's jaw relaxed a bit. "They were, in fact. My mother left the flowers." He nodded towards the vase that was already in the room. Again, he was silent, looking out the window; this time it was more thoughtful than disturbed.

Looking back to Taraka, he smiled, just a little. "Well, if those flowers are going to Hida-sama, perhaps you might spare me a little of your company instead?" There was a wistful note in his even tones. "I'd meant to stop by your shop, but alas." He gestured down at himself. "Has business been good? And your ongoing works with the Governor's project?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nodded and took a chair meant for visitors.

"Of course, Hiruma-san. Hospitals are good with what they do, but spending time in here with all of Green Carp out there is not terribly thrilling. I'd be happy to relieve a bit of your boredom." she said.

"Business is fairly decent. I think the league leaderboard probably isn't going to change too much before it's conclusion. Bayushi Senshuken rocketed to the top of the list, and the rest seem fairly content to sit in her dust. Oh, speaking of which she'll be racing in the rally today if you can catch it on the informator. If you can take your eyes of her, you'll see I've obtained the best seat in the house by agreeing to be her mechanic on the course."

She looked at the flowers he had already received.

"Ha, but business is pretty good. Worst I had was running into the Empire's cheapest Moto. She wanted to acquire some drones to fly lanterns for the bon festival per the governor's request. I recommended she take some of the battle tested veterans, because they work just fine, the darkness will conceal any cosmetic damage, there's something fitting about the ones with scars still flying to honor those who are gone, and she could buy four of them for the price of one legend. And do you know what she said?"

Taraka snorted.

"Why can't I rent them? RENT them! I wanted to ask if she rented her clothes and the disposable chopsticks she used for her lunch, but she's built like a Hida that got trapped in a gym with nothing but weights and protein powder, and as I prefer to visit the hospital rather than check in, I didn't." she told.

She intended to go on about the governor's deals, but it was only fair to give the Hiruma a chance to get a few words in edgewise.

[Hiruma Akiro]

And indeed, while Akiro was a good and polite listener, part of that was adding a bit to the conversation from time to time. And, although he wouldn't admit it, he really did want the company.

"Oh really?" Akiro's eyebrows went up. "I met Bayushi-san. She was quite interested in racing at the time. And you're going to be riding with her?" He smiled, just a little. "In that case, I shall be pleased to keep an eye out for you. Ah, both of you, I mean." He cleared his throat. "In fact, my family made plans to watch it here with me. Just like old times."

The flowers were a nice selection, no doubt from a personal garden.

The story about the drones and the Moto made Akiro chuckle. "Hah. Well, if I may suggest something, perhaps next time tell her that she haggles as well as one of your family, and see how she takes that. I know many a Crane who would faint at such a compliment. Of course, you still might end up in a bed next to me for a stay here. Ah well..." He sighed, giving a tiny shrug.

He looked at her, his handsome features still wearing an interested expression.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka chuckled.

"Oh I would never dream of insulting....my family that badly, Hiruma-san. Our line goes all the way back to the home world, you know. My go to tends to be, 'Oh, you must have been a Yasuki in a previous life.' I just leave out the fact that they've clearly taken a step down on the kharmic wheel.' she shares with him.

"Negotiations are going fairly well. The Scorpion have promised a lot to many to come out in the lead in the race to see who will be our premier trade partner. I'm sure after it's decided there is going to be a lot of legal wrangling over the finer details. The Mantis with their own brand of mercantile savvy have managed to get themselves ahead of the Dragon for second. The Dragon...apparently meditated on a mountain for a week before thinking to reach out to locals about the fact that we're supposed to be their allies, and the Mantis are allies of the Spider." she summarized. "Still, I think there's going to be a lot of growth out of friendship street, and our island's marketplace is about to become a lot more diverse. It won't just be Yasuki-san, Yasuki-san and Yasuki-san on the chamber of commerce."

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Even better." Akiro said, inclining his head respectfully. "I had to practice my conversational parries and thrusts in the Crane even more than I practiced my iai."

But then that passed. "Hmmm. Well, such is the goal of the Governor's project, is it not? An influx of foreign business and spending I shall readily admit to not understanding the economics of it beyond the very basics. Scorpion, Mantis, and Dragon business... I wonder what that shall look like? I'll have time enough now to see, I suppose." Akiro sighed.

Giving his head a tiny shake, he refocused on Taraka. "As you tell it, I am not surprised to hear who is making the investments, although there were a few variables. The Unicorn, for instance." Akiro looked at Taraka. "And you yourself? Any personal thoughts? If it's not too bold of me to ask."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka smiled a bit.

"I have been promised much for my support of the Scorpion clan. Though it does feel a bit like being a fish merchant selling to a gambler on credit. On one hand, you may end up with nothing, and on the other hand you may end up nothing but a rotten fish. I suppose that's why the Emperor has a right, left, and an underhand, so there's always three possibilities." she added, amused.

"If it works out well, Flying Battle Carps will sail out amongst the stars, and I'll bring a lot of credit to my name. If it doesn't....well, I've made contacts that I can use for the next big thing. Oh, and if nothing else, we've got some who are moving here for at least extended stays if not longer: Kakita Haruhi, Asako Hikari, and Kitsuki Ichitaiyo. Definitely good samurai who will bring fresh perspectives to the island." she adds, after her player looked up just what the Dragon with the long white hair's name was actually spelled.

[Hiruma Akiro]

One eyebrow went up. "I see. And if you're lucky, you may end up with a... bounty of fish? Hmmm." His lips quirked. "One hopes that the third option might be a bit more appealing than that."

Akiro sighed, then smiled one of his little smiles. "Well. And so your drone battles might go inter-system? Goodness. Perhaps you can have a big competition on some chosen planet. A drone Battle Royale, if you will." He gave Taraka a nod. "I shall wish you luck, then. Hopefully this deal with the Scorpion will work out."

His smile shrank. "Ah... I don't know if I shall be visiting your shop soon. But perhaps I should purchase one of your drones. I've been told my recovery is expected to take quite a long time." For a moment it looked like he was about to say more, but then his lips pressed firmly together.

Then he smiled again. "I'm afraid I didn't have the honor of meeting any of those. A Crane and a Phoenix, hmmm? What shall they be doing here?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nods.

"Well, I think we can arrange delivery to your room, Hiruma-san." she offered. "In fact depending on your interests and hobbies, maybe we could toss in some tools to modify or decorate the drone with."

It seemed like a small gesture that could pay off later.

"Hm, Kakita-san is here studying the local wildlife as part of an art patronage. She has that Kakita thoughness going for her, so she's estimating a stay that could be years, assuming the patron retains her. Asako-san's talents lie in interplanetary finance, so I would assume whatever he involves himself in will likely involve finance projects."

[Hiruma Akiro]

Akiro let out a breath. "That would be quite nice. Thank you. I don't have the skill now, but I shall have a great deal of time to practice." He chuckled softly. "Perhaps I can surprise my brother. He used to buzz me with a drone of his. At long last, I can have my revenge." From his tone, it sounded like a pretty mild revenge.

He cleared his throat. "Getting started might be a challenge. Still, I shall do my best." That was as close to maybe you can visit from time to time and we can mess with drones together as the stiff young Hiruma would come.

"Oh." Akiro frowned. "Perhaps I did meet the Kakita after all. Before... all of this, while on patrol, I encountered a group who was very interested in the jimen tori. I recognized Kitsune Kiyoshi; he spoke to one of them. Shugenja, you know." He waved a hand. "I know the locals like them, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that visitors are taking an interest, too."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka chuckled.

"Until he tried that while you had your kendo stick in hand, yes?" she said. "You know, he still has the wreck of that drone somewhere. Perhaps this can be a time to mend more than a broken body."

"But sure, Hiruma-san, I can swing by and give you a few pointers. The nurses would probably be cross with me if we tried to convert your room into a temporary workshop." she promised.

She did frown a bit at the mention of the Jimen Tori.

"Ah, right. The Jimen Tori, one of Kakita-san's fixations. You know, in addition to the rally today, the great hunt is today. I was thinking about it until I saw that the Jimen Tori were on the list of targets again. I had rather hoped with the change in government, they'd have been put squarely off the list. Kinda like how back in our ancient past people were punished during 20 goblin winters for killing nezumi."

[Hiruma Akiro]

That got a bit of a double take from Akiro. "Oh? You've met him? And he told you about that?" After a few moments, he snorted. "Perhaps the drone can be repaired. He visited this morning, in fact. Needled me a bit, tried to get a rise out of me." A smile touched his lips. "I declined to be baited. But... it did make me feel better, in a strange way. Bet he thinks I don't realize he was doing it on purpose. He's not quite as clever as he thinks he is." It was a strange, fond sort of smugness, but, well, siblings.

He looked at Taraka again. "That would be very nice of you, Yasuki-san. I would like that."

"Hmmm..." Akiro frowned. "That does feel rather full of symbolism, doesn't it? The outsider from another Clan comes to Green Carp, and shoots the jimen tori for a chance at an ownership share of the island." His frown turned thoughtful. "I suppose there's a tension between preserving the island and taming it. Although one would think the jimen tori would fall on the safe side of that."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"One would think that, hai. Change is coming to the island, but..." she said, pausing a moment to look out the window.


"I suppose change always has positive and negative aspects to it. We've been pushing for it in the hopes of the good, but the bad is inevitable as well. I think it will be overall positive, I don't think the Spider are going to come in and pave the island to make an Evil Factory, but there's more to it than the markets be revitalized and the Shrimps staying here rather than moving to Aoihama." she mused.

[Hiruma Akiro]

Following Taraka's gaze, Akiro looked out the window as well. It really was a dramatically useful window.

"Indeed. I've thought along such lines myself." Akiro said, speaking softly. "How much have the Crab changed since the days where we had Twenty Goblin Winter?" He took a deep breath. "The man who attacked me, and those others... he said something about it being because we'd changed too much. Become too soft." Akiro's lips twisted. "I hardly think I need to say I don't agree with him."

Signing, he looked down at his legs, silent for a few moments before speaking again. "But that doesn't mean that change is inherently good. We should seek the change we wish for." He spread his hands. "Bayushi Senshuken-san said she works on motorbike components. That seems like an unobjectionable change, at least."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka also sighed.

"Well, when you have a clan as aligned with the Earth as the Crab are, stubbornness tends be a feature, not a bug." she admits. "For some that's grumbling that back in their day they walked to the dojo through a hurricane both ways and for others...."

She looked towards the Hiruma's legs.

"....something more extreme." she said before turning back to the flowers.

"But while I'm no soden senzo able to speak with them, I think that the ancestors would point out that the reason that they sacrificed so much and needed to live like they did was not because they valued strength for strength's sake. That's Spider talk. They gave as they did so that somewhere else, others could live without having to do so. I like to think that they look at us with our temperators and our microwaves and our cars, and say 'This is what I sacrificed for. Enjoy the fruits of our sacrifice." she offered.

[Hiruma Akiro]

Akiro chuckled. "Oh, yes. I know the sort. They're usually harmless. Although I thought he was one of those sorts." Again, a little twitch in the muscle of his jaw.

"Hmmm." Akiro stretched his arms up over his head, a gesture that made him look very much like his younger brother. He settled them back down by his side. "I suppose in the past, the Crab of old were protecting Rokugan against the horrors beyond The Wall. A sacrifice for the greater good." He chuckled again. "I think you're right that they would extend that to improvements in our lives."

His expression grew more serious. "In those days, someone with the injuries I've sustained might never serve the Clan again. Retirement at best." Akiro made a face. "I'm sorry. It seems I keep turning the conversation dark. Those are lovely flowers. Hopefully they'll cheer Hida-sama, although really, he should stay off the roof."