Day 7, LE, Asano's Room - Guest Services (closed)

[Asahina Asano]

"I just... wish I could have done more. That we didn't need to call the Phoenix in. You're mine, and I..."

Realizing what she said, Asano quickly corrected herself, "You're my family, and I want to be able to protect you myself. It was almost embarrassing how patronizingly Isawa-sama treated me, saying I wasn't necessary..."

[Doji Yoshino]

"I understand, although it can't be helped. Your family's teachings emphasise defense and avoiding hurting others, ne?" As Asano didn't know any damaging spells or have experience fighting spirits it was unreasonable to expect her to take down a gaki.

"That Isawa was condescending to us both. He takes strongly after his ancestor."

[Asahina Asano]

"I see... s-still! I should have been able to do more. If my Family wishes to help protect the Crane, would that not especially mean from spiritual threats such as gaki? I do know how to summon jade, after all, so I always thought of it as defending from corruption. Maybe I just need to learn more about the threats people might face... Not to sound too Kuni here."

[Doji Yoshino]

"You don't sound even remotely Kuni." Yoshino assured her. She pulled back to continue working on Asano's hair. "I look slightly like one with this ink however."

[Asahina Asano]

"Y-You don't, really!"

Asano almost moved a little too quickly before feeling the tug on her hair, stopping so as to not pull it out of the comb or Yoshino's hands.

"And good. I know everyone says to not talk and think about unclean things... but surely you have to think about them a bit if you're someone who is going to worry about defending those you care about from such things."

[Doji Yoshino]

"Yes and no. Think about them, but don't talk about them outside those settings. And never in court." Yoshino shares the simple yet effective standard she'd been taught to.

"I hope you do learn about it. It's the kind of thing you hope to never need to use, but if you do ever need to then it's much better to know than to not. As we both found out here, ne?"

[Asahina Asano]

Asano nodded, "And I always want to be prepared, within reason of course.*

Her hair straightened, Asano slowly sat up and tied it down, something she usually did before bed, a neat little foxtail so her hair didn't go all over the place.

"Thank you for the combing, and the advice. It almost feels like a slumber party with you around."

[Doji Yoshino]

"It is, and no risk of a gaki disturbing us, so all the better." Yoshino chimes happily. She gives her cousin a pat on the shoulder then she moved away to her futon for a stretch.

"I have a song ready for tomorrow. I'm trying not to get nervous."

[Asahina Asano]

"Nervous? You? Mmmmm..."

Asano took up the covers to her futon before taking off her tabi one at a time, her feet actually quite long, especially for a woman, so perhaps not the cutest. She quickly hid them under the covers, both to keep them warm and to hide them.

"Would you like to practice with just me first quick?"

[Doji Yoshino]

"Tomorrow, when it's not so late." Unlike a certain someone she would respect the other guests.

Not minding her cousin being there Yoshino moved to undress so she could switch to her night kimono. Her more expensive daytime wear was neatly folded up and set aside. She reached for the candle, ready to blow it out, as she sat back down on her futon.

"Have a pleasant sleep, ne?"

[Asahina Asano]

Asano snuggled up on her futon, nodding and getting comfortable, quickly starting to drift off. She couldn't wait for tomorrow now...

/scene

[Doji Yoshino]

Yoshino would soon be asleep too. Tomorrow was the last day of competition. Some good rest was needed.

/Scene (Thanks!)