The Rooftop Meal Club

[Kokyou]

"Stay in favor?" He cackles with one hand at his waist. "We don't. We jus' face them head t' head... 'n... try our best t' get along."

[Bayushi Jiro]

That got Jiro's full attention. "Head to head with the Fortunes, Kokyou-san? How bold."

[Kokyou]

"Fortunes favor th' b..." He leaves the phrase opens and raises his eyebrows, and asks rhetorically. "Ain't that wha' scallywags say?"

[Bayushi Jiro]

"Issues with capitalization, I think. But the words do sound the same; confusion was bound to spread." Jiro sighed. "I am no expert in any case. And there is something in me that agrees that the truly powerful appreciate a challenge or two."

[Kokyou]

"Aye. Th' Kami themselves challenged each other. This whole dojo here be set fer that, too. So we can challenge each other in th' tournament t' come, eh?" Kokyou mentions waving his hand around in a circle.

[Bayushi Jiro]

"Sure, at the tournament," Jiro agreed, convincingly, as he returned his attention to his acorn. "In the meantime, it is fists to noses at dawn, yes?"

[Kokyou]

"Aye. I jus' hope they won't be on mine."

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro smirked. "Hai, that would be a shame. Though I am told the ruggedness of a broken nose has a charm all its own." A pause. "Not one I personally would wish to have, though."

[Kokyou]

"I be already filled wit' too much charm. If I didn' others 'ave a a wee bit o' that, I would be at fault."

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro chuckled. "I suppose you would be."

[Kokyou]

"I might get a scar in th' future. Who knows? But I wouldna cover it, nay. I be nah too keen like ye folks are wit' masks 'n everythin' t' hide me face. An eyepatch, maybe. But jus' 'cause it looks interestin' enough."

[Bayushi Jiro]

"An eyepatch? And ruin the symmetry?" Jiro seemed incredulous. "I am not sure that would suit at all."

[Kokyou]

Kokyou tilts his head to the boy under the tree. "Wha'? Symmetry?"

With a shrug, he says, "Ye landlubbers 'n yer weird quirks. In th' briny deep we be always compensatin' th' lack o' balance t' one side, or th' other."

[Bayushi Jiro]

"Oh, with your legs, sure, but with your faces?" Jiro raised an eyebrow.

[Kokyou]

"Why nah?" Kokyou laughs.

[Bayushi Jiro]

"What is the ballast value of an eyeball?" Jiro asked in an earnest voice.

[Kokyou]

"Depends on whose eye that be. Akodo's eye should 'ave been really valuable durin' th' duel wit' Hantei. Nay?"

[Bayushi Jiro]

"Oh, surely, but that's an argument for keeping an eyeball, is it not?"

[Kokyou]

He nods, accepting the insight, and says, "Aye. Ye showed me I was right since th' beginnin'. No scars be better. No needs t' cover me face."

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro smirked. "Alright. Right from the beginning, then." A pause. "So were you born on a ship, then?"