The New Winds

Kenji had overslept. This was a very rare event and he was ashamed of it. Moreover, he was still in a visibly bad mood from the events last night. He had dreamt again and again about the events in Chikushudo. He had left the mask with his private belongings but could not stop thinking about it.

He sat at breakfast and poked about in his food, lost in thought.

Otoko had not overslept. Not that anyone had particularly seen her wake up, but she always woke up when she meant to regardless. She was at breakfast anyway, and didn't look any more lethargic than she usually did, even if that wasn't saying much.

Her usual brooding corner was taken, so she sat with the Kakita, offering a slow, slight bow before sitting silently and starting into her rice methodically.

Kenji would not have noticed the scorpion girl if a shadow had not suddenly fallen over him. He looked up, frightened by the mask, he first retreated a bit before he realized, drowsy, that it was a human being. "Morning, I am Kakita Kenji, it's an honour to meet you," he said grumpy.

The mask was removed to eat, showing a nonchalant face, thin and somewhat delicate looking, angular. Heavy eyes looked up as her chopsticks paused in her rice bowl, and she gave a new, slow, seated bow. "...Yogo Otoko," she said simple and quietly, voice soft and lacking intonation.

She bowed? Where was Kenji with his thoughts? He bowed briefly, too. She talked a little too softly, but what can you do? "Pleased to make your acquaintance" Kenji said formally.

He took one or two bites of his food before he had a thought. "You Scorpions like to wear masks, don't you? Do you have legends about them?"

The tall girl had taken a bite of rice, and raised an eyebrow at the question. "...Yes, but I am not really a storyteller Kakita-san. It was a tradition passed down from Bayushi-Kami and his family. Perhaps one of them could better tell the story."

"But you're Shuguenja, right?" His question took on a conspiratorial tone

Her head tilted with curiosity as she peered at him a moment before she gave a slow nod.

"I was given a mask that I.... well..... not really understand, not here, but....." Kenji took a break. "I need answers, would you be willing to lend me your time during the day?

She looked puzzled once more, but nodded all the same. "...Of course. Though I can hardly guarantee I have any answers."

"When would you have time, Yogo-san?" Kenji asked, in a slightly better mood than before his encounter with the scorpion

"Then let us meet in the dog's hour, after all duties are done."

Her face was thoughtful a moment. "...Tonight, or the next?"

"Today!,... ...if you have time, of course," he said.

"Of course. You can meet me here at that time." She gave a seated bow.

Kenji thought again, "Yogo-san, I might have mixed up my schedule... would it be okay for you to meet tomorrow? "The Hour of the Tiger, perhaps?"

Otoko merely nodded again. "...As I said Kakita-san, whenever is fine. Then it will be here tomorrow at the hour of the Tiger."