Hugh
Usually, Miho's mind was constantly multitasking, keeping tabs on her work, the political situation, her progress in all disciplines, and much more, but for once, all her considerable brainpower was focused on a single thought:

*Why am I here?*

She wasn't sure of how she had ended up here. She had just gotten tea delivered on her desk, prepared to relax with some light paperwork, then Hotaru had knocked on her door and somehow here she was, sweaty and only covered by a towel. To the surprise of no one, she didn't like bathouses. First of, being without weapons made her feel even more naked than her lack of clothes, and it meant an aggressor would have a better chance assaulting her. Of course, she could just smash their head against the border of the pool, but that would take a lot and probably leave her all dirty. Secondly, the hot temperatures often made her feel lightheaded, and she didn't like not being in control of herself, especially in front of strangers.

Luckily, though, she was not around strangers: her companions were Miu and Hotaru, both people she trusted and liked. Clearly, they were more expert than her in these places, so she'd just follow their lead. "So, do all patrons just bathe in the same water? That feels... Unsanitary." Like her face, Miho's body was all edges. Except in the pointy parts like knees and elbows, all her figure was made of lean wiry muscle, with not a shred of extra mass in sight. Even her womanly curves seemed like they had to fight with the rest of her to gain their right to round her silhouette a little. As an archer, she had much less scars than a frontliner, but she still had her fair share: an hoove-shaped mark on her ribs, where a Unicorn steed had kicked her, a slash over her breast, and of course the one on her hand, which looked much worse when in full display. She kept it still by holding the towel, as if to avoid drawing attention on it.

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Craig
"The baths here are supplied by natural springs and i believe the minerals and salts leave the water actually quite clean Miho-san. As for any grime, that is the reason we have washed ourselves before entering! To keep the water as clean as possible. As for the number of people that have used this particular pool? I do not know, but this is one of the more private pools, it will just be us three for our soak today." Hotaru smiled reassuringly. 

The Matsu's hair was tied in a bun at the top of her head, held together by a faded yellow ribbon that Miho could likely never remember not seeing tied somewhere on Hotaru's person. 

Where Miho hesitated to enter the hot waters, Hotaru shared no such compunction, happily folding and shedding the towel to submerge her body into the pool, quickly moving to sit up to her neck, letting out a contented sigh as the heat soothed aching muscle.. The Matsu was mostly muscle, though the curves of her hips and breasts were certainly notable. Hotaru was not particularly overly endowed, not in the way Miu was, but she was certainly a size or so larger than Miho. 

The samurai-ko was a heavily scarred individual. Proudly branded in the middle of her chest, between her breasts, lay the Matsu brand, a staple of her family's gempukku rights. There were other scars on Hotaru though, besides those they commonly saw upon her face. The Lion was riddled with scars from arrow nicks and punctures to blade stabs and slices. Of particular note a rather large, old scar ran along one side of her waist and, most prominent was the woman's left shoulder.

The scarring there was ugly. The thing spanning the back of the woman's shoulder blade and up over to the top of the meat where her trapezoids ran, faints whisps pulling skin a bit further over. Miho would know the wound there had been caused be an arrow, but the scarring itself was clearly not the result of a puncture. Hotaru spoke little about the infection that had nearly killed her and this was perhaps, the first time Miho was seeing the extent of the flesh that had been removed. Where one could smoothly follow the muscle lines of her right side, her left was a mess of concave divits where muscle and skin had to be removed. What was left was a thick, large, tight, ugly scar. It was no wonder the damaged muscle still pained the woman to this day.
James
*"I could ask the water kami if you truly wish to know how many people have been here."* Miu chuckled when she appeared from the side. She stood there for a moment as if she was gathering courage to step in. Much like Miho had done. She would drop her towel. When she stepped right into the water she released a small squeak as she however was not really used to the temperature all of the sudden. Miu contained only muscle it seemed. The tanned skin was endorsed with much more ritual scarring than her face already had. It was almost like a painting as the gold had glistened. A painting that was clearly telling a story, one that went around her veins as if it were to show her bloodline of ancestors within said drawing. Besides that Miu had been fully clean of scars. Did not mean she hadn't had a punch or two, she just properly healed it on her own. 

The gold of the scars did not fade when the female stepped into the water. *"Or I could ask them to cleanse this water for us. I doubt they will since it's only for our selfish manners."* Miu stated before she leaned back. Almost disappearing in the water. Only her face would be above. Her hair would float around like a huge red lilly pad. She had forgotten to tie her hair up. 

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Hugh
Miho shook her head. "No, no- thank you for your kindness, but I'll take your word for it." She still had trouble forcing herself to let go of the towel, but if Hotaru could show her shoulder confidently, there was no reason she had to be hesitant about a much lesser wound. Still, it took her a couple tries to put down the cloth, not because her mind was uncertain, but because her hand refused to obey her. To her shame, she had to use the other one to force it open, and then pick up the towel. Better to just get in the water.

The water was pleasantly warm, and certainly relaxing, but they still had to invent a pool that was Miho-proof, and so she just floated in the water like a log in a pond. Even if she was just submerged up to her breasts, her hair still touched the water- when untied, they were much longer than they seemed, and did a great deal in softening her face. Maybe she should keep them more like that- but knowing her, this might be the exact reason she always kept them tied. 
Her eyes wandered around the pool idly, making sure no one else was around, and finally fell on the Kitsu's tattoos, reflecting underwater. She conceded herself a curious question. "Your tattoos are stunning, Miu-san. May I ask the story behind them?"

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James
Miu's eyes glanced over to Miho when she finally decided to join them in the nice warm water. She would grant her a smile. Then silence fell between all of them. Watching some people pass by their bath as it remained only occupied by the three of them. Then when Miho had asked her this question she sparked up. She realized that nobody ever asked about this. Perhaps because they were never seen before by others than the family members. She was kind of caught off guard but chuckled it away. She would raise her arm out of the water and reveal the glistening gold engraved into her body. *"These are my scars. It's quite strange for Kitsu to have these truly."* She mentioned before she started explaining. 

*"The Kitsu family has a story on how we are founded."* At first she was hesitant on sharing it. Not only because it would perhaps conflict with their perspective. So she remained silent. *"I do not mind sharing it if you wish to learn."* She then revealed. 

*"Other than the founding story this describes a fraction of our ancestors' lives."* She would trace her arm with her fingers before she tapped on the palm of her hand. *"My Story will be written here."* She smiled. 

She moved her hand back until halfway through her lower arm *"This is the story of my parents and grandparents. I am not a good storyteller to be fair. I apologize."* She chuckled again before letting herself sink into the water even more. Just with her nose above the surface level. 

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Craig
"One does not have to be good at something to do it." Hotaru spoke, the words clearly a recitation of a quote from somewhere based on the manner with which the Matsu spoke it.

"I would be interested to hear though, Kitsu-san. I am fond of stories. If you desire, I will give you one behind a scar of your choice. I have many tales to offer in kind." She smiled, speaking softly. Hotaru was clearly quite content sitting where she was, deep in the pool where she could lean against the edge with just her head popping out. She spoke softly mainly so her chin did not splash the water but also because the soothing warmth of the pool lulled her into a comfortable relaxation.

The Matsu was quite a fair deal interested in the tale of the Kitsu's markings. They stuck out on the woman and, if she was willing to share, Hotaru was happy to sate her curiosity without being rude and outright demanding an answer to her questions.
Hugh
Miho didn't need to ask about the history. Every Akodo dojo worth their salt taught about their founder's greatest shame, the campaign on the Kitsu. Their very existence was a testament to the risks of unrestrained fury. But the rest was less grim: engraving your ancestors' story on your very body was a fascinating tradition, even if her dispassionate mind couldn't help but wonder what would happen when they ran out of space. Would they split the story on various family members or something...?

 "Passion is more important than skill in a story, and you clearly are passionate about your family legacy, Miu-san. I would be honored to hear them as well." Her eyes shifted to Hotaru; she had already heard quite a few of her stories, when the troops drunk together, but the one she didn't even hear mentioned was the one on her shoulder: however, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to talk about it in first place, so she swallowed her curiosity. "I am afraid my stories are much less interesting than yours, but It is only fair I make the same offer."

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James
Miu had felt a bit overwhelmed in their interest in her story. She would jump up as her back, fully filled with the said story was now exposed. The story started in the back of her neck. She would turn her face to the two of them as a proud smile grew upon her face. *"That will be a deal. I love stories. Even though they sometimes don't always seem interesting, they hold value. If not the experience of life it holds emotional value."* Miu stated. She however would not speak. Turning back to them as she would brush her hair forwards over her face. A clear strand of gold would appear from the base of her skull. Her grand yet somehow elegant finger would trace the line. As if she knew exactly how they were woven into her skin. 

*"Please hear the story of my ancestors, many of them, but all started when the Kitsu family was founded."* Miu spoke in a rather serious tone. One she had not displayed before. She would cough once to clear her throat. Instead of speaking Miu started to sing. It was something she had done when she was nervous or did not have a proper way to tell a story. She wanted it to have impact just like it had on her life. Her singing voice had been like a small ember, warm yet had the potential of strength within. Her song would speak of how Akodo had been assigned by his brother to wipe the lands clean of monster like Kitsu. How they had almost won but how the roar of the lionlike beast would defeat them. Only for them to be found in mercy. 

How the Kitsu had turned into human and how they founded a new humanlike family. One that would be the gatekeepers of the history of the clan and it's secrets. How the Kitsu had found a way to seek out the ancestors and how to protect them, how to cherish them. About their battles and losses. Even about Miu's family and how they had raised her proudly. About Bishamon and her journey to become strong. Over the time she had fully traced all the lines of the story. Ending with her hand. A grand smile came from her face as she would brush back her hair and dove back into the waters. Silence had fallen again. She was floating. She seemed happy to be sharing her story. 

*"Thank you for listening."* She bowed to the both of them. 

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Craig
There was a soft smile gracing Hotaru's lips. "You sing well Kitsu-san. I think if you were not a shugenja then you might have suited life as a bard." She complimented. "Thank you for sharing. You told the tale beautifully."

Hotaru would let silence rest for any comment Miho might make before she would ask the Kitsu, letting her arms float up and out so that the scars there might be visible as she asked. "Which tale would you like? I cannot promise to give it in song, but i hope to tell it just as well as you did yours."
Hugh
As Miu started spinning her tale, Miho raised from her floating position, listening with her focused intensity. Even if she didn't enjoy the dramatic tales of her bard kin, she appreciated educational stories and historical records, and this story was both. As Miu finished singing, she bowed her head, dragging her hair in the water. "You are too modest about your storytelling, Miu-san. Your ancestors shall also live on in my memory, from now on."

Her eyes drifted over Hotaru's scar, but again, she said nothing, closing her eyes. "Miu-san just entertained us with a great story; it is only right she chooses the next tale." 

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