Sapphire Ambassadors

Sitting on a rock, Shizenko had started to fold her design. She tried to get some inspiration on the surrounding. Raakun sat on another rock with a brush, some ink and paper. He seemed to be having fun.

"A tanuki." She slowed her pace to confirm what she was seeing. "With a brush."

The young Crane woman came to a full stop, her black bangs partially covering her eyes. She tilted her head for a better view from her hair foliage. That was when she noted the woman on the rock. The red-head with the spell scrolls, doing some origami. Surely a Fox samurai-ko she thought.

"And a Kitsune."

Yoshino nodded to herself as she observed from a distance. It was an odd moment in an otherwise none too eventful day so far.

Shizenko was concentrated on her work but the tanuki senses heard that there was someone around. He stopped his scribbling and started chattering.
hello there... the critter waved.

At hearing Raakun, the Fox looked up from her work. She had started to make a mouse. She looked around to see who was Raakun talking to. "Oh... Crane sama."

I woke up too early.

No other reasoning occurred to Yoshino to explain the waving tanuki. She wondered if she had fallen asleep. It was that or the creature was exceptionally smart and well trained.

She supposed a Fox might just do that.

Okay, so maybe's it's possible and I am awake.

"Oh... Kitsune-san." Yoshino's senses returned to her as she tensed up a moment. Training kicked in and she offered Shizenko a bow. "Have you had rice today?" She asks the common phrase in something of a monotone.

"I have been blessed by Inari no kami." The tanuki moved closer to the Kitsune leaving the materials behind. "I hope Inari has blessed you too. This one is Kitsune Shizenko and my companion Raakun." She pointed to the tanuki.

Yoshino listened and forced a slight smile. In truth she had skipped breakfast, but she had eaten something before lunch so sincerity triumphed. "Yes, I am also blessed by Inari no kami today. It's nice to meet you Kitsune-san... and Raakun." Yoshino glanced at the tanuki a moment. She was equally curious because of it and weirded out by it.

She cleared her throat and indicated herself with a delicate hand movement. "Doji Yoshino. I didn't mean to disturb you."

The tanuki bowed. The Kitsune gave a seated bow. "It is an honor to meet you. You are not interrupting Doji sama. I was just making a mouse."
.

As you do. She crossed her arms. "Any particular reason?" She hoped it wasn't inspired by an actual mouse sighting. No doubt some of her kin would begin panicking.

"I have heard that some live in the sands of the north. I thought they might look cute." She showed her work. "What do you think?"

It was a very good mouse. Yoshino was a little impressed, although the only hint of that was her eyes opening fractionally wider for a moment.

"It looks like a mouse. I like that it can stand up."

Yoshino wondered about whether there were more mice in northern sands. It wasn't her area of speciality however, so maybe there were.

"I hoped it did because then I would be in deep trouble if it didn't. I am practicing my art for tomorrow's contest. I don't want to be cliché by making a crane." She looked at her mouse.

You should make me! the tanuki cluttered

"Perhaps to show sincerity." She told to the tanuki

"Sincerity, is it?" Yoshino let out a thoughtful noise. Finally she delivered her judgment. "It's well done. Wouldn't it be even better if you have it mean something?"

"Huh?" Shizenko was puzzled. "Well, if we were to give it some meaning perhaps one of Daikokus blessings in disguise on this little fellow." She nodded.

"Perhaps." She was frowning however. "If you say that then hope there isn't a Crab judging. Word to the wise, they see mice as devourers of Daikoku's blessings." Having one get in a store room or armoury was a big problem she'd often encountered Yasuki fretting about. That and rats getting in. Or Nezumi. Apparently they would also be a problem. She decided not to share the particulars with a woman she'd just met though.

"Well, may Daikoku show you his favour tomorrow, ne?"

"I doubt it. But thank you anyways." The priestess gave a nod in thanks. She gave a signal to the tanuki. The tanuki moved to pick up the things he was using to scribble. "It would be interesting to see the judges critique on the many different approaches to the virtues. Do you have any idea on your project Dojo sama?"

"Some. I've done some practicing, like you. It'd be rude not to, ne?" She pursed her lips a moment. "That aside, is that tanuki your pet? He's well trained."

The tanuki hissed. I am not a pet!

"Um... he is my companion. He doesn't like to be called a pet. It is his decision to be around this one. I think he enjoys it."

"... Yes." She successfully managed to keep her expression neutral. "So I see."

Raakun received a dubious long look of scrutiny from the Doji.

In return to the dubious look, a sort of mean look was returned by the tanuki. Shizenko glared at Raakun.

"We are in Crane lands Raakun so you should behave properly."

The tanuki backed down and stood in two legs giving a gracious bow.

"Much better." She looked to the Doji with an apologetic bow. "I apologize for his behavior he tends to be a bit sensitive about what people think of him."

The Crane couldn't read much into the expression. Perhaps the tanuki looked a bit miffed? She honestly couldn't tell. Cats were hard enough.

"He bows? How adorable." Yoshino observed with amusement. "He'll fit right in." She adds with a slight smirk after a moment's contemplation. She waved away Shizenko's apology. "He's charming. If he had a little kimono some might even think a trickster spirit had turned him into a tanuki from a man." Yoshino chuckled dryly, her voice impassive. "What an uproar that would be."