The New Winds

Sakura had gotten used to the guards watching her. It felt a little creepy, but she knew they were just doing their job. The guards at least had something to watch, as the forge was usually pretty empty, however they'd instead had a Doji for their morning company!

She'd even got them cups of tea to enjoy before she got on with her work. The tanto was shaping up nicely....

(ooc:
D5 Hare weaponsmith/Strength+vp. TN20: 7d10o10k4 23
5/7 rolls passed

"Well, this is an unwelcome change." Zashi grumbles as the guards offer a stern look before he gets in. "How goes the work today Sakura-chan?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Zashi-kun" Sakura quickly wiped her hands and bowed deeply to Zashi "I was distracted by the guards and forgot to get the mochi out. Please forgive me!"

She'd obviously thought the 'unwelcome change' was about her. She rushed over to her bag to get the last of the strawberry mochi out.

"Oh right, mochi! The third best of my visit. Second is seeing your process." Zashi gently places a hand over Sakura's. "Guess the best."

"Um...." Sakura looked thoughtful, trying to work out what else is in the forge that might be good.

"...the warmth of the forge?"

"Close." Zashi plucks a strawberry mochi and dabs Sakura's face. "But the warmth is more metaphoric"

Sakura blinked, looking confused.

"Ano...I don't know then. I think the mochi is really good, it's strawberry!"

"It's seeing you, silly." Zashi chuckles. "That's the best part of coming here every morning."

Zashi points to the hoke in the wall. "What do you want to do about that? What we saw there"

"Oh!" Sakura went red at that, as likely expected. She looked down at her hands, quietly saying "Zashi-kun is my favourite part of the day too."

It took her a few moments before she spoke again.

"I don't really understand what we saw there. Is it all important? Did Zashi-kun understand it?"

"Not really. I was going to ask Kenji or the Kitsune about it. I know Kenji better buuuuut there's a good chance he would know how we found out."

"Hmm...maybe we could get Kenji to open up about it? They did have those crystals after all, and Kenji-san knows i work with gems" Sakura said thoughtfully "ooh..I want to make something with crystals! That would be so pretty!"

"Hmm, maybe you should try Kenji. He might listen to you if you give him that look" Zashi nods appreciatively. "the one where you are super excited but oblivious to everything else around you besides the project."

"I'll try with Kitsune"

"Hai, I'll speak to Kenji-san."

Sakura happily nibbled on her mochi, then paused.

"Wait, what? What look?"

Some people would say that by pronouncing the devil's name, he would appear.
Kenji looked horrible. His hair was half open and frizzy, his hakama and gi were not neat and to make matters worse he had dark rings under his eyes. There was nothing worse for him than being out of his sleeping rhythm, and you could see that.
In his hands he held a bowl of his breakfast as he entered the forge. At least he would fulfill his promise to Sakura.
He was quite groggy and bowed briefly to the guards guarding this damn hole. He cursed his foolish decision making.
But at least Kazuko was safe. When they entered the hole yesterday, everything went pretty fast and even if the ronin was no match for them, he felt that it could have been a worse result than it was.
He greeted them with a light bow: "ohayo gozaimasu"

"Tell me if I'm wrong here Kenji, she gets this look when she gets obsessed with a project, no?" Zashi looks over Kenji. "You look rough buddy"

"You mean the glint in her eye, yes, I can confirm that."

Kenji was silent at first, and took a few bites of his food.

"Wasn't the best night I ever had," was his reply.

"But hey, you got a cool crystal out of it. Have you figured out what you can do with it?" Zashi waits a beat, expecting it to sink in. "Please, I'm magic."

Sakura bowed to Kenji, giving him a look of concern.

"I just focus on what I enjoy is all! Good morning Kenji-san. A-ano...what's wrong?"

She paused as Zashi asked about the diamond, her eyes going wide

"I just... wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. How, why? What?" he stared stunned Zashi. "How do you know about this?"
Kenji was still sleepy and not quite up to it.

"I told you: I'm magic" Zashi makes a series of over the top gestures, playfully overselling a Shugenja at work. "Who knows what dark secrets of yours my connection to the spirits have unearthed? But you are burying the lead: who was the strange person and what were those crystals you all took?"