Sapphire Ambassadors

Yoshino shuffled onto the shrine grounds and looked around uncertainly. She hadn't slept well and it would be only the second day of competition. Yet, it was more than that. She felt off. Somehow. The colours and scents around her seemed less vibrant.

Was she coming down with a cold?

She had wandered to the temple to see if that was likely and to perhaps get some medicine. Better safe than sorry.

Jorujo walks out to greet her.

"Doji-san, it is a--"

He stops mid-sentence.

"Come," he says, gesturing to a room off to the side.

"What is the matter?"

She bowed in greeting, but her reply was stiffer than yesterday.

"Good day." She says wearily. "I'm feeling... off colour."

Yoshino agreeably follows the man to the side room.

"Everything was fine yesterday. Then, this morning. Just something felt off. I thought I might be coming down with something." She goes on to explain.

"Well, let's have a look at you, then," Jorujo says.

He gestures to a seat. "So, off-color? Headache, fever, nausea?"

Sitting down and shaking her head, she made a deeply thoughtful noise. "It's hard to describe. Things feel duller. My body is fine and... there's no headache or nausea." Yoshino states after briefly checking her forehead. "It's like I woke up not quite myself. Strange, ne? Maybe the pressure of the competition is getting to me..."

"That much is possible," Jorujo says as he begins to lay out apparatus.

"You'll forgive me if I examine you a bit?"

"No, of course." Yoshino wasn't the type to make a fuss over such things or to get unduly embarrassed. She'd follow the Asahina's instructions.

Jorujo nods and begins a slow process of examination, checking for fever, looking into her eyes and ears, checking skin and muscle tone to the extent propriety allows.

His work is thorough, and he makes the note that "Your elements do seem somewhat disordered, as if your Air is suppressed. You might see about increasing your intake of almonds, apricots, and reishi mushroom. Perhaps radishes, as well. Time outside in the open air, possibly near pine and other conifers, will help."

"Will it?" She asks emotionlessly, feeling uncertain. She took a slow breath as she pushed her deeper insecurities back into their alcove in her mind. "I'll give it a try. Thank you Asahina-sama. Almonds, apricots and reishi, ne? I'll go for some longer walks too."

"Certainly it will not hurt," Jorujo says. "And if matters do not improve soon, come see me again. We work from simple causes to more complex ones."

"Eto..." She hesitated, which wasn't like her. However, she pushed through her doubt. "Actually, there was an incident a few years ago. One I don't like to talk about. Not usually. It's probably unrelated, but my cousin nagged me to seek advice about it." She steeled herself with some effort. "I'm the only one left from my immediate family. Do you have a little more time Asahina-sama?"

"I do," Jorujo says, gently, "and if I can help, I will."

"It's not easy to speak of, nor polite. I hope this does not disturb you." She took a long look at Jorujo. "Some years ago now, just before my gempukku, my father died of some sickness. We moved him to a local shrine, not unlike this one, as preparations for a funeral were made." She was unconsciously rubbing one hand over the top of the other. "My father, he... he rose one night. A zombie, but stronger and faster according to the Sohei who intervened. Some sort of abomination. He immediately set upon my mother and he chased my sister and I." Her voice was quieter now as she stared at the wall, her head down. "He was on her as the Sohei arrived. Even as they fought him he tried to attack me too. It... it was like a blind desire to kill all of us, his family."

She shook subconsciously. "He nearly succeeded. I know... I know it wasn't really him. But... the Sohei, the two that survived putting him down, they said our family was cursed. News quickly spread about it. I... I was too young to say or do much then. I had lost all my family. I was young. I should have looked into what they described, but it was the last thing on my mind back then." She slowly looked up to Jorujo. "Do you know of any curses that might do something like that? My father ran past others to get to us. Only my family and those who directly got in the way were attacked."

Jorujo sighs heavily.

"There are...reports...of spirits following bloodlines in anger," he replies. "I have not seen such, myself, and I have not seen any...manifestations around you, so I will not do as the sohei did. But perhaps I can consult what documents I have and see if there is something that can be done to allay your concern? It will take time; as I say, I am not familiar directly with such."

Another sigh.

"At times like these, having someone from Kuni-ryu nearby would help. Alas that there is none of whom I know!"

"I implore you. Even knowing what to avoid or how I could placate the spirits would be more than I have."

Yoshino underscored her request with a full kneeling bow. She rose slowly back to a seated posture.

"I have worked alongside some Kuni. Enduring jade magic or being prodded with a stick of jade was vexing, but I will speak to them of this if you believe it would help Asahina-sama." Her expression scarcely hid her disdain for the notion. Nonetheless, she spoke sincerely. She would ask one about it if he recommended it. Whether she'd also offer herself up for examination by one was a coin toss however.

"If nothing else," Jorujo says, "the touch of blessed jade will eliminate some...unfortunate possibilities. But I will of course look into things.

"In the meantime, prayer will help. Cleansing rituals...I can, in fact, help with something to that effect.

"Pray with me."

He places a hand on her forehead and begins to chant, murmuring sutras of protection.

She sighs and nods. "If you have some jade nearby I will check my spiritual sanctity." While she still didn't really understand the taint (it was icky), she had been around enough Crab to become accustomed to their safeguarding customs.

The suggestion of prayer isn't unexpected and makes sense. She agrees with another nod. "Yes." Yoshino closes her eyes and prays quietly, repeating what sutras she recognised. It did have the positive effect of settling her mind.

Jorujo finishes his prayers.

"I have no jade handy," he laments, "but I will hasten to conduct my research. Come see me tomorrow; I will let you know what I have learned."

Nodding a few times, looking a little relieved, she briefly checked her clothes to make sure they were presentable. "I will. Thank you Asahina-sama. I will stop by tomorrow."

"Until then, carry the Fortunes."