The New Winds

Kenji went to the shrine of the Fortunes to make an offering to each of them and pray for their blessings in the Topaz Championship.

He was dressed in a simple kimono and sat in a seiza, praying in front of a shrine of Bishamon the Last Fortune whom he wanted to honor and to whom he presented the Greatest Offering. Since his time in Hirosaka, Kenji felt he had a special connection with the Fortune of Strength.

(-6 Zeni for the 6 other Fortunes, -3 Zeni for Bishamon, -1 Zeni for the lesser Fortunes)

As he wanders in to the shrines, Kaidan places small pieces of paper on each one. He notes Kenji but doesn't interrupt his prayers, as he has prayers of his own.

Kai felt compelled to go to the shrine that afternoon. It was, after all, her natural habitat. The differences in clan aesthetics and priorities did put her off; imbalancing an already imbalanced sense inward sense, Kai went from shrine to shrine to offer prayers to the various kami, but also to find the immutable touchpoints and similarities to navigate by.

When bobbing about in a spiritual sea, it was a necessity to find the stars and lighthouses to guide by.

After he had finished his prayer Kenji quietly left the shrine, but he saw a familiar face, though, with a different hair color. Was that really Kaidan? He also noticed the miko. Even though he hadn't had much to do with it during his time in Hirosaka, he could remember it.

In front of the shrine Kenji waited, noticeably inconspicuous, for his former classmates to finish their prayers.

He had finished his prayers and moved towards Kenji. "Konichiwa Kakita san." He gave a proper bow. "It has been long. I hope Inari has blessed you this day."

Washed about by spiritual tides, Kai prayed eclectic prayers to the kami.

Eventually the currents brought her to where Kaidan and Kenji were. A bow, a greeting, a signal between vessels.

Never mind Kai had never seen a ship in her life.

"Good afternoon to you two."

Kenji also said "Konichiwa Kaidan-san, my days have been good so far, how have yours been since our trip to the islands?

When Kai joined the two of them, he bowed briefly again and greeted them as well "Hello, uhh, Kaito-san? We didn't have too much to do in Hirosaka, but it's nice to see you again, I hope your trip went without further problems?

"My...trip?" Kai asked, slowly and curiously. Her brow furrowed in thought. Perhaps the Kakita could sense her internal nautical analogues.

An exciting and unforeseen confluence.

"My trip continues, Kakita-san. For now, though, I am Kaito Kai. We have not introduced ourselves to one another before, I think."

"It has been... Okay... I presume." Kaidan bowed to the Kaito. "Ah, Kaito Kai of the Isawa... I think I remember you."

"Forgive my manners, Kakita Kenji, an honor to meet you properly. All of our journey is going on steadily, but I meant did you arrive safely in Tsuma?" he said and smiled.

He turned to Kaidan again: "That's nice. I see you've dyed your hair, may I ask if you have ancestors with the crane?"

"My mother was a former Asahina." He sighed. "I was saying with my grandparents in Shinden Asahina." He shook his head.

"oh, that's surprising, but explain your talent for acting," Kenji complimented. "How was your time in Crane Land? I hope it was not too strange to you"

Kaidan blinked a few times. "Strange... I think the Kaito might want to go to the temples of the Rising Sun and see how spiritual that place is." He sighed. "Obahan had to place lots of wards to keep them away."

"Is it very...spiritual?" Kai asked, traipsing about the word used by Kaidan delicately. "If so, I could certainly bring the matter up with my family. My elders will decide to send a shrine keeper or not. There are not many of us."

"Ohh that's unfortunate to hear, but I'm no expert on the Matter of Spirits. But maybe a Shrine Keeper would be good to look after the Temple?"

"We keep shrines, not temples." Kai replied rather flatly, in a patient tone. Was the distinction merely semantic? Perhaps not to the Kaito, but she wasn't trying to be sarcastic or anything.

Her phrasing wasn't harsh or condescending or malicious. She might as well have been pointing out to Kenji that the sky was blue.

"Forgive me, Kaito-san, of course there is a difference between temples and shrines, but don't all serve the spirits and gods," he asked rhetorically.

"No." Kai responded in the same tone. "If temples and shrines served the same purpose, there would be the point in keeping up two different structures."

"..."

She seems to take things quite literally, Kenji thought.

Kaidan nodded. "True Kaito san. Each one have a purpose." Kaidan smiled. "But would you be so kind to instruct us in the difference."