Sapphire Ambassadors

(Waiting for someone but it's an open space)

Doji Minori dressed in a baby blue hakama and a deeper blue gi heads to the gardens. Upon entering she stops to take a look around her. She raises her eyes to the morning sky and smiles broadly. A few deep breaths later she walks inside and looks for the perfect spot for her morning kata. Nade chan will be here shortly. Their journey to the village has been mostly uneventful. Still there are so many things to be said and done!

Her companion does not make her wait long. In a few minutes Minori is joined by her fellow Doji -- though Nadeshiko is not the delicate maiden Minori is, being wider by a very good margin and taller, too. Even her baby pink gi and deep magenta hakama starkly contrast Minori's own. Yet there's a tender ease with which she chirps, "Good morning, Minori-chan! Did you rest well? Have you eaten?" Nadeshiko holds up a small lunchbox wrapped tightly in a sky blue handkerchief: offer's open. With her greetings done, her voice gains a more even timbre, as expected of a Doji. "I hope your wait wasn't long."

Minori looks as if waking up from reverie. She beams and raises from her seiza to offer a small bow. "Not long at all, Nade chan. Blessings of a thousand fortunes!" Once again she looks excited even though nothing particular has transpired to ignite her excitement.

She reaches for the offered treat, takes a bite and chews slowly.

"We should check the village later on. And meet with all the contestants! Who knows?! Perhaps a few of them can even beat us." She seems amused at the prospect. "Did you sleep well?" She asks as an afterthought. "It's better than a tent in the road if you ask me. Much softer and cleaner. Do you think that there are actual baths we could use? I'm dying for a couple of hours in hot water. And a massage perhaps?!"

"And a thousand blessings to you," Nadeshiko answers with a happy heart. The lunchbox is unwrapped, its lid pulled off, revealing both enough onigiri for the two of them and a pair of cherry blossom shaped sweets. (Of course; it wouldn't be her without the sweets. She does look a little chubbier than when they'd last met.)

"I'd love to greet the others -- there's already some men in the dojo --" She leans in with a coy smile, "I imagine we'll meet quite a few interesting characters by the end of this week. Don't you think?" There's a little giggle at that. "I slept well, but I've no idea; I'd like a good bath, too. Or even better..." Nadeshiko sighs longingly, "A hot spring!" With that she takes a bite of one of the onigiri as she thinks about a hot spring bath. Oh... if only...

"Men in the dojo." She scoffs, but it is apparent that it is a purposefully faux reaction. "It is a shame to hide ourselves behind the paper walls, but perhaps we should check the dojo, as well. We are mighty warriors after all!" She raises her fist in the air and for a moment or two she looks more like a child than a bushi, mighty or not so mighty.

"Shouldn't we train first and eat later?" She asks while taking another bite. "We could use a bit of sweating." She takes a closer look towards her friend. "Yes, we definitely could. I went by the Academy recently. I don't think that I wrote you about it. I spent a week with my sensei. He believes that I should keep working on my posture and steps after I draw the blade."

"Perhaps," Nadeshiko again answers, watching Minori with a smile. She's so full of energy -- and very, very cute. That makes her giggle more, and the samurai-ko covers her mouth as she laughs. "I cannot train on an empty stomach myself, Minori-chan, and I've heard it bad for the body to do so." And so she bites off another mouthful of rice.

As she listens to Minori Nadeshiko opens her eyes, wanting to see her friend fully for the first time in a long time. Something's different; the color in her right eye is off. It's lighter and filmy. But Nadeshiko keeps them open only a moment. "Ah; that's very good advice, indeed. Let us train our posture and steps, then. I'm sure that'll work us up a sweat. We could even spar a bit if you'd like?"

Minori nods in agreement and moves closer to the other Doji. Is there something wrong with her eye? She would never insult her friend by saying something that might not stand so she has to make sure. Perhaps it is just Lady Sun's rays playing games with her own eyes.

Minori tilts her head to the right and smirks. "So! You feel ready to face me, Nade chan? Pick your weapon! Blades, rhymes or both?" She sticks her tongue out playfully, the very same way they did years ago when they were just kids.

"Well," Nadeshiko places the lid back on the lunchbox with a smile, "Why don't we find a nice place to sit, eat a little, and trade poetry among the flowers. Then we could perhaps train with bokken in the dojo? I think that would be a very pleasant way to spend our morning." There's a serenity to meeting with old friends. How much has changed, and yet how much has stayed the same.

"Would you pick a place for us, Minori-chan?"

Typical Nadeshiko! There us nothing wrong with this place, but they have to find another. Minori beams. She had missed her more than she knew a few minutes ago.

"Yes, let us go find the perfect place for our endeavors." She reaches for the other girl's arm and gently leads her down the path while making comments about the various flower arrangements from time to time.

After a couple of minutes they reach a spot in front of a flower bed consisted of small purple flowers. Wisteria, lavender, morning glory and two or three others that the Doji cannot really recognize. An old oak offers its shadow and the nearby stream completes the scenery. Minori stops walking and turns to look at the other Crane girl with intense anticipation to please her. "How about this spot? Do you like it or do we keep looking?"

"Thank you," She sighs with the sappiest smile. Nadeshiko lets out a happy hum as their arms interlock, walking as close to Minori as propriety allows. Their duties pull them farther and farther apart, so why not risk a little closeness? There's not enough chances in life for such things. She happily talks flowers with her as they walk. Oh, she'll have to make her an arrangement by tomorrow!

As they stop, Nadeshiko opens her eyes more fully, looking first to her friend -- yes, there is something wrong with her right eye, its color clouded and milky -- before turning to the scene Minori's found them. Her breath catches in her throat; she raises a sleeve to cover her mouth as her eyes glisten. It's perfect. "Thank you," She repeats with a shaky voice as she squeezes the woman's arm; what a blessing Minori is, knowing her heart so fully. As her eyes close she dabs their edges. "Shall we sit under the oak? It would do me well, I think."

Minori gently leads her to sit down and sits across her in seiza. Then she looks at her friend for a few long moments before breaking the silence. "What's wrong, Nade chan?" She simply asks and her tone makes it clear that she is a bit worried by now.

She'd expected the question; after all, Minori's known her for so long, and with her Nadeshiko wouldn't hide it. If anyone should know, it should be Minori, and... "Do you remember how I would sometimes have headaches during our time at the Academy?" There's a finality to her voice; or, perhaps, acceptance. Still, she struggles not to falter while speaking of it. "I've been told my eyes cause them. There's... something wrong, and they've begun to deteriorate. I can perform my duties adequately -- but the headaches have grown quite... severe. Otherwise I'm well, so worry not."

"Are you in pain? Right now?" She asks a seemingly simple question in an effort to understand what exactly is happening. "Have the priests said what you can do to stop being in pain?" Minori can almost feel tear drops forming in her eyes, but this cannot happen. No, it cannot! They are adults now, noble samurai of the Left Hand. She cannot sally her friend's honorable struggle like that. She offers a small, encouraging smile. "I admire your courage, your talent, you as a person, Nade chan. I have always done so. Every time you give me more reasons to believe that you deserve it more than words can describe and I am a poet!" A chuckle follows and the Doji reaches for Nadeshiko's hand and holds it for a moment in an effort to show her support. Propriety can wait.

So many questions with so few answers. But she can still try comforting her friend. "I'm in no pain. I've found keeping my eyes closed during the day unless duty or necessity calls has helped manage the headaches." Her cheeks flush as she listens, feelings conflicted. And yet...

She holds Minori's hand like she had when they were children. It calms Nadeshiko -- her body relaxes, as does her heart, and she's soon smiling again. "There's some ointments I've been given, and sitting in shade helps, too. Night-time I've no fear of them at all! So, truly, there is little to worry for. I still have my life in a world full of love and beauty -- and there's so much I have left to cherish, so much still left for me to do."

Her voice softens as she clasps her other hand over Minori's. "So gladden your heart and know I am well, in part because you are here." Finally, she lets go... reluctantly. If only they were still children!

A sigh follows and a chuckle as she withdraws her hand, as well. "I will probably sound lame, but I missed you dearly, Nade chan." Her cheeks blush abd then she looks around her. "You know, we cat turn this into an advantage. A great one for that matter. Imagine taking only a glimpse of this garden and then keeping your eyes closed, fully concentrated into the rhymes that come to mind. Or.. or..." Excitement starts building up in her tone." Oh, the reputation of the truly focused duelist who only opens her eyes wheb the blade is drawn!"

There's a gentle smile and a nod as Nadeshiko quietly, quietly murmurs, "Your absence was like a hole in the heart, Minori-chan. Even with our letters I must say the joy of being next to you is incomparable; the Fortunes bless us both that we could be here."

She giggles a little at Minori's words, her soul, for this brief moment, like a bird in flight. "Yes! I don't know what I'd do without art. When I write, and when I read or think on poetry, it my mind's eye visualizes what I otherwise cannot see without pain. Would you like to trade poems, and see through words with me?" Well -- she also just wants to hear Minori's poems, too. It's been too long.

Minori's heart melts with the other Doji's words. She looks around her in haste and since no one is watching, she leans closer and wraps her arms around Nadeshiko for a long waited embrace. It is only for a few moments, but the sensation is like the coolest breeze in the summer and the warmest brazier in the heavy winter at the same time.

"Yes, let's trade poems, Nade chan." She whispers before pulling back with her cheeks pinker than ever. "Forgive me for this." She adds and avoids looking at her friend's eyes for a moment.

That gets a little *squeak!* before Nadeshiko hugs her back tightly, the woman giving a soft, happy sigh before they both let go at the same time. That it don't linger a second longer doesn't change the fact her smile is so big and bright, her heart so full and warm, it's spilling off of her in waves. "Of course," She dreamily answers; move on, it's as if nothing happened at all... well... that's a lie. Nadeshiko's still brimming with happiness and isn't hiding it like she should -- or would -- with someone else. "Shall we rock-paper-scissors for who chooses the first topic?"


((Janken! But using rock-paper-scissors bc it's easier on us since it's basically the same thing LOL))

"Huh!" Her idea makes Minori chuckle for a moment. "You can go first. I'm always happy and eager to serve your needs." She teases Nadeshiko and even a small wink follows.