Sapphire Ambassadors

Raakun has forgotten the words of a wise monk, once again Shizenko found herself in the hedge maze. "RAAKUN! You won't find it here..." The woman sighed as she made her way around the maze looking for a silly tanuki. "Come on I need to prepare for the contest. I don't have all afternoon."

Ameiko had seen the Kitsune and her racoon...takuki? She had never met one before, she supposed that is what they looked like. Yet seen is not like as met, not personally. So as she walked the hedge maze that afternoon in search of what precisely she was going to play to inspire...Courtesy of all things...she decided to distract herself from the task and meet the little minor clan...person.

As long as they didn't bring up the whole Three Man Alliance thing, there'd be no blood.

"Kitsune-san, good afternoon, are you having some manner of trouble?" she asked. "Perhaps this one, Bayushi Ameiko, can be of assistance?" She bowed just enough.

"Huh?" She turned to see who it was. It was a Scorpion that she had seen around but never actually talked to. "Not trouble, Bayushi sama... Raakun is just playing in the hedge maze again." She bowed. "This one is Kitsune Shizenko."

"You are a painter?" Ameiko asked. "Or is it your friend who paints?"

"My friend is the one who paints. If you call paw prints on a canvas a painting. I am doing origami for the contest." She explained.

Raakun's head popped up from one of the walls.

"It keeps him entertained and out of trouble. He also dances."

"Origami, hmm?" she looked a the animal and wondered how difficult to catch it would be. "That is a delicate art. Though if you are here in Crane lands you must be very good."

Shizenko shook her head. "Not as talented as many are here." The Kitsune said with humility. "I am merely a small fish in a pond of greatness."

Raakun hid in the wall again.

"Which art are you here for Bayushi sama?"

"Music", she answered. "Surely you've heard my playing at this point, though make my best attempts to not annoy those around me with repeat performances."

The Kitsune nodded. "I have and surely a delight." She looked around trying to pinpoint where the tanuki might be. The tanuki popped up beside the two. He had a leaf on his hand and was showing it to the Kitsune. The Kitsune chuckled.

I found this one... oh... He turned to the Scorpion and gave a bow.

"I don't think this one is what you are looking for."

"What is it you are looking for then, Kitsune-san?" asked the Scorpion.

"A special leaf... I think a trickster spirit convinced Raakun that there is a tree that has a leaf to make him a spirit of Chikuchudo."

It was a great story you know..

You said what now?

"Ridiculousness, I see", Ameiko declared. "Your friend should simply live a good life as an animal and be welcomed there when he dies, neh?" She sniffed slightly. "Unless somehow creatures such as he are excused from kharma?"

"I doubt he wants to die to join the spirit realms." Shizenko explained.

I like you taking care of me...I want to live a great life... and stay in your home as a spirit. The forest as a living spirit sounds fun.

Shizenko patted the tanuki's head. The shugenja noted the sniffle. "Are you okay?"

"Even if we don't wish to die, we must", the Scorpion observed. "Why wish otherwise?"

The Kitsune tilted her head quizically. She had met spirits that are hundred of years old. "What if you could keep your youth, your memories and all that is yourself? There are mysteries in what entails to be a spirit Bayushi sama."