A hot, tasty meal, an 'interesting' encounter with an old acquaintance, and an invigorating walk through the market and fields has occupied much of the afternoon... it's been a remarkably full day for a visit to a small fishing village. Umeko and her lapi companions have wound there way further down the slopes a short distance, until they're near the waterline. Closer to the center of the village, the gradual sloping from beach to sea is taken advantage of with small docks and simpler boat launches built of weathered wood. Here, the air is full of sea spray and the voices of men at work, raised to be heard over the rush and splash of waves. Every kiriga here is hard at work, pushing out to sea, returning with a catch, fixing nets or baskets, repairing boats, and many other tasks from a no doubt endless list of chores. Few are so busy or disgruntled that they can't spare a curious look and greeting at the visitors. At either side of the beach, the terrain rises again, the sand soon broken up with big bl
black rocks, stabler platforms on which homes or work sheds are built, with colorful kirigai women chatting as they weave new nets and baskets, and hang racks of freshly caught fish.
"It smells different from our sea," Nawar whispers to her older brother, who seems more interested in the scenery than the scents.
Umeko, for her part, is walking along quietly and trying to stay out of the way of those working. Her head tilts and turns as she takes in the lively scenery and the noise and chatter. She also keeps look for an abandoned or worn home which may have been the Minami family home.
Xander keeps close to the golden Kiriga, just to make it clear that the Lapis are attached to her. He's never been all that comfortable at docks.
"They won't eat you," Umeko notes.
The trio gets a lot of attention from the women here, with quite a few longing looks cast at Umeko's kimono. The younger wives are too timid to approach, but a slightly more mature one, a pretty green and mottled black kiriga with dark hair, scolds them for gawking, and then dumps the nets off her lap and stands. She puts her hands in her roughspun sleeves and inclines slightly at the waist, a sort of half bow with her eyes up to see if she's catching the strangers' eyes. "Excuse me! My lady? Are you looking for someone?"
"I seek the past and the answers that lie in its depths," Umeko answers politely; though Xander can tell the slight tonal shift in her voice; a more formal tone to be sure. "Or more simply put," she continues as her path diverts so that she can approach the older kiriga, "I am possibly being more curious than I ought to be. I am a friend of Ren Minami; I met her at her school when I passed through. I am looking into her past, as well as that of her sister, Rin."
The mottled kiriga seems to pick up on the formality, her bow dipping a little lower before she stands upright again. "Oh! Is she well? Her sister lives here. Sort of, I guess. She hasn't been back in a long time. Neither of them have. Ren's going to school, you say?"
Umeko's head bobs slightly. "She is studying to be a water mage," she answers. "Though I am not a good judge of such things, she seemed to have a talent for it. She impressed me, as did the description of her sister. Also, I suppose I am a bit soft hearted." The last bit comes with a smile before she continues, "My family is small; I am the only child of Lord Tsuguri. I have known few my age. I want to help them if I can and I want to understand them."
One thing Xander has learned (and Nawar probably already knew) is to keep quiet unless introduced. He could certainly clarify Ren's skill level, on the Collegia Esoterica scale for such things, but that would only be informative to another mage.
The village woman looks surprised. "A water mage? Huh! I knew they were destined for something bigger than Arashimura. If you're looking for Rin, I don't know when or if she's coming back. I didn't really know her that well. Obaasan has been looking after their place, though. She liked them, and it gives her something to do. She's probably up there right now, it's around the hill a little, you'll see their family name on a post outside it."
"Thank you. Also, I hope you forgive my manners. I am Umeko Tsuguri. This is Xander Lightfoot, a mage in my employ, and his sister, who attends to me," she finally says as introductions. "I also hope you can forgive the distraction I seem to be causing here. It was not my intention to disrupt the daily activities."
The Lapis bow to the townswoman.
The woman dips her head again, first to the noble and then to the lapi. "Not at all, Umeko-sama. If those cowards would actually come talk, they'd say they were happy for the distraction. I'm Miho, just a fisherman's wife. Would you like me to lead you to the Minami house? I can spare the time, much as I'm loathe to leave my net weaving." She smiles a little, tailtip turning in a small circle in the naga style of amusement.
"No one is just anything. We all weave our own stories and touch the world in our own ways," Umeko says; her tone relaxing just a little. "And I would be honored for you to show me the way. I can only see the surface of your village; you know its soul. I cannot imagine a better guide."
"Learn well, brother-who-did-not-attend-charm-school," Nawar whispers to Xander.
Miho giggles, letting a more mammalian expression show through. "You are too kind, Umeko-sama. If you stood on the magistrate's roof, you could see the whole village. But here, it's just up this way." The housewife gathers her own plain kosode around herself, ignores a few light-hearted jibes from the other women about shirking, and leads the way up a path that winds around some of the humble residences. It's fortunate that Miho points the Minami house out, because it would otherwise blend in quite well. It doesn't have the look of an abandoned place, with the screens tended, the roof in decent repair, and the path weed-free. A white-haired and grey-brown scaled kiriga pauses in sweeping the stoop, the stoop shouldered woman looking up when Miho calls out, "Obaasan! Visitors!"
"It is ... more than I feared it might be. This is good," Umeko thinks to herself as she looks over the small, but well kept, home. The kiriga on the stoop soon gets a light bow from Umeko as well. "As long as we are not imposing on your time and duties, of course," Umeko says politely. "I am a recent friend of Ren Minami. I came to see where she grew up, and to learn more of her and her sister Rin."
Nawar and Xander bow as well, since it seems best to take their cues from Umeko.
Miho's obaasan smiles a little, her already wrinkly face wrinkling some more, dark eyes all but hidden in the folds. Her voice is scratchy, but still clear enough. "Oh, you met Ren? She's well, then? Rin too? They must be, to have friends in such high places. It warms my heart. They would want you to come in, I'm sure. No, you don't have to prove anything... I can tell you're sincere people. Please, come in." She turns to take off her slippers and slide one of the doors open, then stops and prods her granddaughter with the broom handle. "Not you, Miho-chan. You have work to do." That gets a groan from the green and black kiriga, but she bows and retreats down the path. "It was nice to meet you! My friends up in the fields won't believe me!"
"Thank you. Ren-chan is doing very well; her studies progress. Rin ... I do not know. She is tending to a job and has not contacted her sister in some time," Umeko explains as she approaches the door. She stops just before it and slips her own slippers off her feet, then uses her toe claws to set them just to the side of the entrance. "I am Umeko Tsuguri and this is Xander Lightfoot, a mage in my employ and his younger sister Nawar," she tells the elderly kiriga before she crosses over the threshold.
The rabbits likewise remove their sandals, even though their fur-covered feet will probably leave the floor cleaner for their walking on it. Nawar is finishes first, and bows deeply to the elder, since the older one gets the more respect they are due after all.
"Please just call me obaasan. Everyone else does. It is an honor to receive you, Lady Tsuguri, and your retainers. Let me get you some cushions so you can get comfortable around the fire. I will bring some tea and snacks." The elderly woman shuffles out of the way to allow her guests in. With four people, it's a bit cramped in here, even with one of those people being a little girl. The place is very simple, just a single room with an elevated side. The center is dominated by a fireplace full of coals glowing orange, a kettle hanging above it from a hook and already steaming. Straw bedding has been rolled up and bound, leaning against the wall out of the way, making more room for a few small boxes to hold clothes and sundries. On one side of the room stands a polished wooden sword rack, currently sitting empty, next to a small chest with a loose wooden lid. When obaasan returns, it's with a small bundle, and she slowly goes about setting cushions around fire pit. "I always bring a treat or two with me
here.. an old habit, I suppose, when Ren and Rin were living here. It was a lucky thing this time, wasn't it?"
"Was this the home of their entire family, or just the two of them?" Xander whispers to Umeko in Standard.
Obaasan opens up the bundle and smiles at Nawar. The young lapi's charm earns her a small wooden skewer held pinched between bony fingerpads, holding colorful balls of something sticky-looking. "Such good manners. Here is a dango for you. I hope you had dinner already." she says.
"Thank you, Obaasan," Nawar says in passable Jadaian, before taking the sticky treat, and smiling because she doesn't think it will have any fish in it.
"You are too kind, obaasan. Please do not go to much effort for us. We do not wish to be a burden," Umeko says as she politely stands out of the way and folds her hands in front of her to wait for cushions, or to just stand should the elderly kiriga take her offer to not expend too much energy on them. "And thank you for looking after both of them. I hope they were not too difficult to look after when the ocean took their father. To lose him after losing their mother; the fates have not been kind. And yet, Ren is on the road to a new life, and her sister Rin is forging her own path as well." Her eyes flick to the empty sword rack and the box before it. She then takes a moment to answer Xander by whispering, "It was likely their entire family."
"Very efficient use of space," the mage mutters to himself.
The old woman is quite insistent, and fussily refuses any help offered, carefully spacing the cushions around the fireplace, and only settling when her guests do, creaking into her own place with a sigh. There isn't a proper table, but the elder makes do with a small flat stand, pouring bamboo cups of mildly fragrant tea and offering each one at a time, first to Umeko, then Nawar, and then Xander. She leaves her own cup empty, and hangs the kettle back on the hook, then begins busying herself unwrapping what look to be small cakes and snacks wrapped in leaves. "Oh, I couldn't help myself. Poor Ren, poor Rin. First their mother, then their father. They didn't reach out to many people, so I reached out to them. No child should be without someone to watch over them. To hear they are well lightens my spirit. I still worry, though."
Umeko finally settles onto one of the cushions; her legs nearly folded beneath her and her hands in her lap. Even the way her tail curls around seems expertly placed. The way she accepts and holds the tea cup in both hands also betrays hours of practice. "I worry about Rin," Umeko admits, "She walks a path I know well and there are always demons upon it waiting. Ren asked me to make sure her sister is still safe, even though Rin would not willingly accept the help ... at least according to Ren. Do you know where Ren's current employer is? And please forgive my curiosity, but I would also like to know about their mother and father."
"Hmmm," Xander mumbles, and rubs his chin, wondering if they have any sort of postal service to the fishing village.
Umeko then takes a gentle sip from her cup and sets it aside. Perhaps to the surprise of Xander and Nawar, she reaches over and lightly lifts the kettle from its hook. The golden kiriga is soon pouring some tea into Obaasan's cup the trickle fading and stopping once the greenish liquid is one finger-width from the rim. Without a word, she hangs the kettle back onto the hook.
Nawar fidgets, looking to Umeko and wonders if she was supposed to do that.
Umeko's head shakes very slightly side to side to answer 'no'.
There didn't seem to be anything like a mailbox outside the house, though at least there was that post identifying the place. Obaasan nods slowly, and begins setting small pieces of sesame cake and rice rolls and cookie-like treats on small wooden plates to offer to each guest. She accepts the cup from Umeko and savors a sip, then smiles. She doesn't make direct eye contact with Umeko, but the golden kiriga gets a sensation of being studied. "Rin never said... but hers is a fierce spirit." She turns her head to look at the empty daisho stand thoughtfully. "She was determined to lift herself and her sister out of poverty. Their parents were good people, and I think Rin wanted to do right by their memory. Perhaps she meant to elevate the Minami name again. Working for Lord Kameishi wouldn't have been enough, or serving any family as retainer. No, she would work for others, but in her own name. I fear she must have gone wherever the greatest risk is, in search of the greatest reward. I'm sure that would b
be wherever the most conflict is. Sailors from the southern coast coming through Arashimura say that that is what they've been seeing." She looks at Umeko again. "Forgive my asking, but did you mean to take Rin as retainer? To keep her safe that way?"
"I was granted an estate my the Emperor due to my service during the recent conflicts in parts of the old empire. I was Governess-Militant of the Beast lands and saw the defeat of raiders there some months back. As I am establishing a new estate, I have need of people to work there. My family came close to falling before my actions pulled it from the cliff's edge. I know what Rin faces and understand her drive," Umeko explains before she takes another small sip from her cup. "I also know she has her sister's welfare to keep in mind. I was going to ask her to take the position as captain of the guard. It would be a steady income, and allow her to see her sister through her education. She would be free to leave at any time, of course. Also, given my recent ... actions, it would bring her under the eye of many in the Imperial Court."
Umeko rolls her shoulders slightly before continuing in a slightly softer voice, "It is ... also that I have not been close to my own family. I have no brothers or sisters and my relationship with my parents is quite formal, as would be expected. I was hoping that I would be able to confide in them in all the ways I cannot with my family. I am more sentimental than I should be. My time visiting with Ren at her school has made me wish for closer friends from my own culture. I have friends, but ... there are things I cannot share with them in the same way."
Xander blinks at this. "You know you can tell me anything," he whispers to Umeko.
"Not the things only a kiriga, and a woman, would understand," Umeko points out softly to Xander. "You have no point of reference."
"I see," says Obaasan, her expression thoughtful. She studies her mug for a moment or two, just letting the fire quietly crack or pop now and then. Eventually... "Do you know much about the Minami family itself, Umeko?"
"I know that they once stood in opposition to my own when the island was divided on its path," Umeko answers; her head rolling slightly so that she looks towards one of the windows. "Back in the more tumultuous days; and that they fell because that path fell to the one that brought us to the Empire."
The kiriga elder looks up from her mug at Umeko. Though her face is wrinkled, eyes bagged, there's a little spot where the firelight reflects off her eye. "What does the history of Jadai mean to you, young noble? Especially that stretch."
Nawar hovers behind Umeko, in case her mistress should need anything. Xander sits quietly to the side and tries to follow the conversation, even though it's about kiriga and female stuff, supposedly.
"That like a change of a chapter in a book; one where may good people fell along with many who rose. Many wounds were sewn then," Umeko says as she folds her hands and places them in her lap. "History is important; it teaches us our mistakes and our successes. But, it should not bind us. We should learn from it, heal our wounds, and continue. We cannot live in what was, only in what will be."
The old woman nods, letting another stretch of silence pass, and she sets her teacup down. "I would like to show you something, if I may."
"I would be honored," Umeko says, bobbing her head.
Obaasan puts her hands on her knees, the old woman letting out a quiet grunt as her joints crack when she rises, and her kimono sweeps off the floor with her. She hobbles the few steps it takes to cross the room, stooping again with a creak. Curiously, she kneels by the daisho, even though it's empty. There's some rummaging and the sliding of smooth hardwood on wood.
Umeko watches, quiet and curious. She could offer to help, but the woman wanted to show something and might take offense if she interrupted her. Old does not mean helpless, or without pride. And .. . in the case of Master Longtooth, bitterness and alcohol.
The old woman seems happy enough to retrieve what she was after herself... it's a small plain wooden box that she returns with, and she opens it to lift a small sheaf of papers out, kneeling again with them on her lap. (Safely away from the fire, as well.) "I hope Rin will forgive me for this."
"You may place all blame upon me. I do not wish you to come to any ill feelings," Umeko offers quietly. Her head tilts again as she waits as patient as she can to see what the woman has brought out. It's a good thing she is no longer a five year old child being taught dinner etiquette; those early lessons were disasters for an energetic child who could not sit still.
"Ah, but it is exactly because I don't want you to take blame that I show you these," says Obaasan, folding back some pages in the stack. They're full of simple drawings, annotated sketches of a swordskiriga executing various maneuvers in sequence, from the start of the move to the end.
Xander perks his ears at the notion of fighting techniques.. but may also just be admiring the depicted forms.
"Sword kata," Umeko says, head tilted. "I remember drawing similar when I was a child when I watched guards practice ... and before I, ah, convinced an friend to teach me." She doesn't mention some of her technique for convincing involved threatening to tie a knot in his tail.
Obaasan leafs through the pages down further into the stack, with the drawings illustrating more and more complex maneuvers. The notes become more detailed, such as: 'While returning the blade from waterfall, the iaidoka must place her weight on her back step and not her front step. Most opponents will instinctively try to cut your belly. This deception will allow the warrior to spin in the direction of the enemy's stroke. Turning thus, a backhanded cut may be delivered without answer.' The old woman's voice is low and scratchy, even though there's no-one else around to hear. "Many of these belonged to her father. Rin has been adding to them."
"So she must have taught herself a lot of this?" Xander asks.
"She is following the way of the blade. Her sister told me such," Umeko says, nodding slightly. "Focusing on, learning from, and growing the art. She must be very skilled now."
"She is." The old woman nods, settling back in her kneel and carefully straightening the pages neatly back together. "This matters as much to her as the money she has been earning, perhaps more. She believes her father's legacy is in these pages, in passing down to her Minami-ryu and the Tsunami. I think he had meant to save them for a son, but Rin does not resent it. And she does not resent the families who won our civil war. But I am not sure she can accept being in service to one. You will have to ask, but Rin may only truly respond to someone who can speak to her as she is to begin with, a warrior."
"I seek an equal, not a servant," Umeko says, "Someone who will speak in truth to me, and not be afraid to confront me when I an wrong. My friend, Xander, has done such for me, but there are limits on how much he can act on, or understand in Kiriga culture. I can wield a blade, and if it came to it, I will face her in combat. But, I would not kill her. To strike her down would be a crime; against her, her legacy, and her sister."
Nawar smirks to know that her brother's main contribution is his lack of tact.
Obaasan draws her sleeves in around herself as if warding off the cold for a moment. "I trust you, Umeko. Your noble bearing shines through, I can see it. If you show her that you understand, if you know what it is to fight, bleed, kill, and someday to die, you will find in her a kindred spirit. If you would humor a feeble old woman, please see if you can understand a small piece of Minami-ryu. Rin will recognize it. Then she may be willing to stay at your side. Perhaps this will help her finish whatever task she set out for, and you can bring her home." The elder shakes her head, white wisps of hair trailing her bun. "It is a terrible business."
"Are you loaning me these papers to study, then? Or do you wish me to review them here alone?" Umeko asks as she leans over to look over the pages. When she finally dares to touch them, she does so gently with claw tips to turn them slowly. "And another question, if you do not mind? Who forged the swords she carries? The daisho my father passed to me is called Summer Tempest, and Rin's bears the name of winter. I have wondered if they came from a set of the four seasons, but it may also be as simple as we kiriga like to name things important with fanciful names."
Obaasan encouragingly pushes the stack toward Umeko. She even takes some from the middle, each dog-eared, and offers them. "Rin would perhaps be upset if I let someone study the entire manual, and if you are a practiced warrior on Rin's footing, I'm sure the neophyte things would not be useful to you, except the basic tenets that Minami-ryu is built on." She dips her head down. "Oh, I am no warrior, young noble. I'm not sure the lineage of her blades. I thought they were made by the Minami family, but I am not one of them, so I do not know what their smiths created. Her daisho may have a maker's mark of some sort."
"I wonder if the weaponsmiths used fire magic to work the metal," Xander mutters.
"The smith forge-stamps a mark on the tang, at the end. So it would be under the base of the grip," Umeko explains to Obaasan as the younger kiriga carefully collects the offered papers so they can be packed away safely. "My great uncle forged the ones I carry if my memory serves," she adds. Then as an aside to Xander, comments, "Visit my friend's shop if you wish to know. He may demonstrate parts that are not considered secret."
"He may demonstrate them on me though," Xander notes. "Blacksmiths have always frightened me. They're so rare and.. well, maybe not rarer than mages but still pretty mysterious."
Obaasan puts the remainder of the pages back in their box and shuts the lid, folding her gnarled hands on top. "I see, I see... if your blades have some relation, then perhaps you were fated to find her."
"They may, they may not. It is my own curiosity on the matter," Umeko admits, smiling slightly, "And perhaps foolish hope there are others like me." The golden reptile pauses there, pursing her thin lips for a moment. "And it seems I am one with terrible manners. I have taken up too much of your time and I hope you can forgive me," she adds, bowing slightly to the older woman.
Nawar likewise bows, and a moment later Xander does as well.
"On the contrary, Lady Tsuguri, it has been an honor to receive you and your companions," the elderly kiriga replies, returning the bow more deeply. "You've given me hope that the Minami sisters will thrive... perhaps even remember a frail old woman back home. Thank you for coming to visit their home. I hope fortune has finally smiled upon them, and will on you all."
"If it has, it is just that their actions have brought fortune's eye, as it once happened to me when the days seemed their darkest. I wish to see them thrive and I am certain they remember you. Ren was a woman of honor and kindness; she could never forget you, of that I am certain," Umeko says as she bows her head once more. "Should you ever come to Jashin, you are welcome to visit my family home." With that said, Umeko rises to her feet and bows once more. "Until we meet again I wish you sunny days and gentle breeze scented with the flowers of spring."
Nawar, breaking protocol for a moment, hugs the elder Kiriga. "Thank you for the tea," she says.
Obaasan rises with her guests. She only seems pleased instead of surprised when Nawar hugs her, the old kiriga hugging the girl back warmly. "Thank you for sharing it with me. I may not be lapi, but I see you will become a woman of grace and refinement. Thank you for visiting as well, honored Mage. The village will be talking about you for days." She lingers in the door of the tiny house as the lapi and their golden companion leave, raising a hand in a slightly wistful farewell.
Umeko waves her farewell once they have left the house and are walking back towards the village. "More answers and always more questions," she says to her companions. "It seems I will be returning to the mainland soon enough to locate a wayward daughter of Jadai. Then I just have to beat her into submission to get her to accept employment." The last bit, while sounding like it was meant as a joke, also carries undertones of worry it might actually take that.