Sapphire Ambassadors

As Asano walked back to her room from the theater, she found herself wringing her hands a bit. She really had intended to ask Yoshino about the plans after the warding ceremony last night, but it'd just not happened today. Not only were there the events and that incident in town, but all the sleep Yoshino had caught up on after her ordeal, where as Asano had slept before the incident instead.

So it was that she wasn't sure if Asano had moved out of her room; It had only been a couple of days, but having company besides Tenten had been soooo nice, and she wasn't sure she was ready to give that up. Not yet at least.

Opening the door to her room, she prepared herself to see whether Yoshino was in, let alone her belongings.

Her cousin's things were still there. No sign of said cousin yet, but she was likely coming back. She was probably finishing up a few things at the theatre. She had organised the storytelling gathering there after all. The Asahina would be able to estimate her cousin would likely be at least another quarter of an hour if not a little longer.

Asano let out a quiet sigh of relief before stepping into the room, closing the door behind her gently with a foot. Walking over to Yoshino's stuff she knelt down, fluffing and repositioning Yoshi's pillow and straightening her belongings. Not necessary of course, but Asano liked things neat and in their place. The fact it gave her a reason to look over Yoshino's stuff on her own didn't consciously occur to her, though she certainly took it.

There had been no change from the day before. Yoshino's things that she usually left in her room were all still there. Her spare clothes, jewellery, umbrella and perfume. That cricket she'd been given that she intended to release at the end of the competition. Asano would be familiar with it all by now.

Yoshino would arrive back at the room to find her things neat and in their place. It would be a pleasant surprise. She was often less tidy in private than in public... which wasn't ideal, since her hair was often in need of a little extra attention every morning.

She knocked once on the door. "It's me Asano-san." She'd then slip inside and immediately stretch. "It's been a long day." A casual Yoshino moved to flop down face-first on her futon. "Thank you for telling a story earlier. And not embarrassing me too much." She says with a glance to her cousin. It would have been easy to do so with the story Asano chose.

Asano was sitting on her futon in evening wear by the time Yoshino came in, a plain black and blue robe covering her as she sat there, reading a pillow book with a cup of water on her lap. She looked up at her cousin and smiled, "Hm? I can't imagine what you're talking about. I know absolutely nothing you should be embarrassed about. But then, I thought it would be rude to talk about you at your own competition anyways... could have been seen as favoritism, neh?"

A clay jar sat nearby with more water in it, Asano not wanting tea so late but having a habit of staying hydrated regardless.

"I suppose. You told a nice story though."

Asano's evening wear soon reminded Yoshino that she also needed to change. And to neatly fold her kimono. And to brush her hair. And... she groaned.

Yoshino rolled over onto her side facing Asano. Something had been on her mind for a little while now. "Yesterday I spoke to one of the Scorpion and they complimented your painting. I agreed with him. I think it's your most well developed art. You showed that helping me too. Have you given some thought to the final day of competition tomorrow? Of Makoto?"

"My painting? You mean as a skill, or one of my paintings in particular?"

It was certainly one of two things she put the most practice into, and sketches normally didn't feel like the sort of thing one showed off at a serious competition or show or such. That was more something she picked up for doing research or journal entries, drawing animals or flowers or such she'd seen.

"As a skill Asano-san."

She didn't say more. Instead she watched, waited and kept her ears open.

"I mean, it's most of what I know about art, to be fair. Painting that is. I can also sketch and do oil paintings, calligraphy... and of course mother tried to teach me how to sword smith like herself. But I don't care for that kind of thing. I just like making pretty things, showing the beauty of Ningen-do with my works."

"You're achieving that here. You have a lot of talent Asano-san. With a little more practice and... perhaps some more experience of the world..." She smiled cheekily. "I'm sure your name will be well recognised."

Asano sat up a little, nodding, "Well... that's what I'm trying to do here. Learn more, get more experience, try out new things. I know I'm not bad at my art, but I'm obviously missing... something. Something I'd love help trying to find, whatever that something is. I know it's not directly related to my duties as a priestess though, so I'm not sure what kind of attention could be spared for a busy woman who didn't so much as get an acknowledgement from any of our Clan's judges."

"Those judges are fickle. I wouldn't be too discouraged. They didn't much like my tea ceremony." Yoshino actually rolled her eyes. "I imagine Lady Doji would have been very impressed at having her style and green tea called merely quaint."

She covered her mouth to muffle a yawn. "You only need more practice. When was your gempukku?" Yoshino asks rhetorically as she pushed herself up to a seating position.

"Shall I brush your hair?"

"Yes please."

Asano grabs her comb and scoots over to Yoshino on her knees, handing the comb over.

"I actually kind of like having my hair brushed right before bed, even if it doesn't stay that way. It's relaxing."

Carefully taking the comb, Yoshino spins her other hand in the air to suggest Asano turn around.

"I think so too. A bath and a brush before bed is the ideal for a deep sleep... and perhaps a cup of sake. We should do that when the competition is over."

She had Asano sit cross legged in front of her as she kneeled behind her. The comb began to be gently yet firmly brushed through the shugenja's long hair. Yoshino soon began to hum as she used her other hand to hold and caress the white locks.

"S... Sake?"

Asano seemed to wince a little bit.

"Are you sure it couldn't at least be plum wine? Sake is all well and good when used in a ritual, but I wouldn't exactly drink it for pleasure."

"Didn't you win a bottle?" Yoshino asks, pausing her humming. "I prefer plum wine too."

"I did, Hai. I was contemplating what to do with it, honestly. I could drink it slowly over time. I could leave it unopened for the right day. Or I could gift it to someone; It's no normal sake, after all. There's a history behind it."

"All valid, yes." She smiles to herself as she continues brushing Asano's beautiful long hair. "Let's have some plum wine together instead when this is over."

Asano giggles softly behind a hand, but can't hide a smile as she moves it away, "That sounds perfect. I will plan for that then. ...though I feel as if this is all going to be over too soon..."

"All beautiful things are, ne?" She paused the brushing to give her cousin a hug from behind. "Thank you again for protecting me."