The New Winds

Having finished both the lore test as well as the sumai before, Mirai felt like some tea. Normally, that meant doing a bit of hard work for the owner, but in this case she had a few zeni. Old habits died hard, so she still ordered a basic, cheap tea as she took a seat.

A young Lion samurai arrived a little later, and after ordering a pot of tea, sat at a table nearby.

Noticing Mirai, he turned to her and said, "Pardon me for intruding, but didn't I see you at the Tests earlier today? I thought you did well."

"I'm Matsu Qiang," he added.

Mirai stood with an automatic reaction as she was approached by the Lion, giving a deep bow. She sat again as she spoke, picking up her tea cup again, though her eyes remained up. "Arigato, Matsu-sama. This one is only a simple follower of the waves, but she is glad to have shown herself well in the sumai test, even if it was against a member of your clan. This one is known as Mirai, and it is an honor."

She paused a moment, her tone remaining even and conciliatory. "...It was impossible to miss your own match as well. You showed yourself well."

Matsu Qiang stood and bowed in response to Mirai's courtesy, before seating himself again.

"Thank you, it is kind of you to say so," he said politely. "If you'll pardon my saying, I have heard that it is unusual for one such as yourself to compete in Tsuma. You must be exceptionally talented in order to have drawn the attention of those organizing this tournament. May I ask, is some Clan sponsoring your attendance here?"

She gave a slight nod. "Hai, it is so. A member of the Crane has sponsored my invitation Matsu-sama."

There was a momentary pause as the Lion digested this information, then he continued.

"That sounds like good fortune for you," Qiang said neutrally. "May I ask how that came about? Did you do some service for the Crane?"

She shook her head lightly. "While I have indeed done work for the Crane before, my sponsor met me on the road. He was on a musha shugyo and we trained together at a dojo open to ronin. I did not learn he was of the Crane until the invitation was sent to me at a later time."

Qiang blinked. "That's quite remarkable," he said, sounding surprised. "Your dojo must've been exceptional for a Crane to choose to study arms there over the Kakita Academy. May I ask what school you studied with?"

"Ano, sumimasen, Matsu-sama, perhaps I misspoke. I do not have a school to call my own, as most ronin do not. The dojo I speak of was merely a place open to ronin to practice in. The ronin that was a Crane was there practicing, the same as I, not leaving whatever school he attended to attend a different."

'Ah, I see," Qiang said, nodding in understanding. "That does make more sense. You must've made quite a strong impression on this Crane--ahh--other ronin, that is."

The tea ordered by each of them finally arrived, the tea shop attendant bowing and apologizing profusely.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Qiang said politely to Mirai once they had each received their order. "Please don't let me keep you from your tea."

"I would call him Crane now since that is what he is. Musho Shugyo are... strange things to those like me that have no choice in where we are, but I am wise enough to know that that is all set aside once a Clan samurai returns." She shook her head a little after taking a sip of her tea. "It is no bother Matsu-sama. The tea is still quite hot, and if you wished to speak, I would not fault tea time conversation."

"Well..." Qiang pondered as they allowed the tea to cool. "If it would not be too indelicate to inquire, may I ask if you were born to the waves, or came to them in ... some other fashion?"

The Lion's careful tone suggested that he was curious, but would be understanding if this subject was too sensitive to discuss.

That seemed to bring a long, thoughtful pause to the girl. She seemed almost troubled for a moment, but finally she shook her head. "It would be better just to say I have never known another life than the one I am living Matsu-sama. Well... no, I should not fully say that. Once I had parents, a home, before I took to the waves of travel. Still, I have never had a life of ease."