Sapphire Ambassadors

There was a gentle pair of taps on Shizenko's door in the inn. Yoshino was familiar with it as she'd stayed inside it the night before last.

"Kitsune-san, it's Doji Yoshino." She announced herself. There was a hint of urgency in her voice.

Shizenko moved from her seiza and morning meditation to open the door. "Morning Doji sama how can this one be of service." She offered the girl to come in. Raakun was sleeping in the Kitsune's futon curled up in a ball.

The tanuki was growing on her. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. However, she quickly refocused on the shugenja. "Good morning. I'm sorry to disturb you. Actually, I think that creature came again last night... do you have a little time to talk about it?" She asks, stepping in when offered. If Shizenko compared Yoshino's manner now to how she had been when she'd first met her there was some nervousness. The Crane was clearly unsettled even if she tried to appear calm on the surface.

Shizenko closed the door after the Doji had entered the room. She offered the young Crane a place to sit. The Kitsune noted the Doji's demeanor and moved to prepared some calming tea. "I have time Doji sama... please my ear is open." As she blended some chamomile and lavender to steep in the tea. "They will keep coming... you know."

"Yes." The shugenja had already guessed it. "You have it exactly right." She says, sitting down. "I woke up feeling strange again this morning. I had shared a room with my cousin. I thought that would be safer. Neither of us woke however, but I can sense it came again. I... I am going to stay at the temple instead and alert the local officials." She placed her hands firmly in her lap. "I don't know how that will go. They may ask you to repeat what you learned from the spirits. Actually, I came to ask if you knew anything about such creatures or how to combat them?" Yoshino took in a delicate breath. Here was the crucial bit. "And also whether you might be willing to assist me against it?"

She sat down and nodded. Shizenko poured a cup of the tea. "In my time around the different places I have learned a thing or two. These spirits will keep looming around you until they have fed from you." The Shugenja said bluntly. "I will be available to give my testimony and help you however I can." She sipped some of the tea. "I have learned a warding spell from the Phoenix if you so wish."

"I would not say no. This is all very helpful. Can I ask if you know any spells that could directly harm it? The only shugenja I know are Asahina, and they do not learn directly harmful spells." She sighed as she spelled out why this was a problem. "It seems this creature cannot be harmed physically, so magic is the best recourse."

"My magic is defensive. I can try to use the earth to hold it in place." The woman explained. " The creature that is following you is a hungry spirit it may be from Gaki do. I might have to twerk my ward to also protect from denizen of such realm." She mused. "Holding it down may help you come to terms with the spirit."

Yoshino looked stunned. "Do you think it can be... conversed with?" The thought had never occurred to her. She was no shugenja and there had been no sign it wanted to communicate or wasn't hostile. It was an appealing thought nonetheless.

"It may be a surprise but yes one can try to communicate with some spirits... If the gaki is smart as many of legend are one can try and speak with them. Sometimes one can convince them to leave one alone. It is a tricky bit though..." The Shugenja explained. "While it can be restrained it won't be able to feed we can give the reasoning a try."

"And... should that fail?" She asks anxiously. "Or would I recover from the... the feeding it has already done?" Honestly she found it difficult to believe such a creature could be reasoned with. However, if a shugenja suggested it then she would try. This was far more Shizenko's domain than the courtier Crane's.

The woman considered. "Then the idea would be to vanish the spirit to their home realm. But that might not solve the problem problem. Others may come instead." She sipped the tea. "As for your ill feeling there might be a short term solution... but I must see what is missing from you. The lack of elemental balance which element is up and which one is lacking."

"Asahina-sama believed it was Air. I am open to any ideas you have Kitsune-san, and I would be in your debt." The courtier states honestly. "I am much more worried about this creature than any others that may come to replace it. I only need last to the end of this competition." She smiles disarmingly serenely. "That would be enough."

"Air is an element of emotions... perhaps it is feed out of those. What has Asahina sama have told you about it?" She wondered.

"Precious little, although I sense he is trying hard. I don't believe this is his area of expertise. Regardless, I already owe him much."

She took a deep breath.

"I can only say that it feels like the world is duller. More grey. It is... a little like a painting left out too long in the sun." She smiled darkly. "I did not think I had much emotion to give, but this thing wants what remains."

The Kitsune pursed her lips. "Let me think..." Shizenko gave it some thought as she offered some tea.

//D5 MM Lore Spirit Realms int help Yoshino's troubles TN TBA | 6k3 ⇒ 24

The tea is accepted with sincerity. Shizenko was impressing upon Yoshino that minor clanners could be just as cultured and valuable as great clanners. She was doing a good service toward her Clan.

The Crane nods and tries to be especially quiet so Shizenko can think through what she knows.

Sadly this was not from her realms of study and the little that she knows she had already shared with the Doji. The woman sighed. "This may be outside my realm of expertise... but I will keep trying to find more information." She said with true sincerity.

"Then please bear me in mind in return, should you need a favour."

She sips her tea. Yoshino was in a calmer mood than when she'd first arrived.

"I'll inform the local magistrate too. I don't have many options."

The Kitsune nodded as she felt that her help wasn't that much. "I have a question thou... are you able to feel happiness, nor any positive emotion? You don't need to answer if it is too intrusive." She said a bit abashed.