James
Fuyuko left the Ide Residence and made her way along the streets of the Noble Quarter, a bundle of silks tucked into her arm and a paper with notes on it in hand. Her lady had refused to visit the clothier in person due to them being Scorpion and requiring close contact. Kazuko had many insecurities, but being in an overall state of vulnerability around a Bayushi was at least understandable given her history with the clan. So it was that she took measurements within the Residence and noted what changes needed to be made, then would take the garments to Flowing Designs and get them tailored based off of these changes.

Fuyuko had not told Kazuko of the nature of the adjustments, of course. Nothing immodest, but enough to show off her form in a way her lady seldom did. Perhaps a tiny bit of shoulder too. Not scandalous, but . . . Nice. Kazuko needed more nice looking clothes, even if she'd disagree. *I look best in armor* Wouldn't cut it anymore.

As she wound her way to the shop, she hummed a quiet tune to herself. A song she and Kazuko had sung often when they were children, before she had been robbed of that gift. Today was a good day, and best of all things were very safe in the Noble Quarter. Here she didn't have to worry about being accosted by random samurai or firemen looking for a bribe or some such. It was nice and peaceful here.

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Laurie
And from the crowds of people that had passed in the Noble Quarter had been a prey. One that not only behaved much like her clan's animal, but looked like one as well. Almost towering over the crowd with her brick wall stature, she was peering at Fuyuko with her golden eyes. As if she was a beast in tall grass. So when she had seen the female she approached, carefully of course as she was one to often scare people. It was not of her nature to stalk people around, nor waiting for them to leave their safe haven and ambush them, but this had some sort of priority in Miu's mind. 

Himiko had told her about the translator, what she had looked like and how she acted, even what she had sounded like. After all Miu and Fuyuko had never met before. Yet, after earlier experience with people it had ended in a chase scene, something she had not wished for right now. 

So when the Lion came close enough to visibly differentiate herself from the crowd she had cleared her throat and politely asked. *"Excuse me ma'am, could you perhaps help me out?"* 

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James
The poor woman was shaken out of her reverie with the presence of a massive, imposing Lion samurai. Fuyuko had met many a Lion commander with her lady during the lead up to and months after the War of the Plains; none of those encounters were particularly pleasant. The only exceptions thus far were Zenmai and the new Lion Ambassador, though she seemed rather stereotypically bloodthirsty beneath her youth to Fuyuko. She let out a brief gasp of surprise before dropping down in a perfectly respectful bow. "Greetings honorable Lion-sama. H-how might this one be of service to you, samurai-sama?"

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Laurie
Miu had tilted her head at the rather surprised expression as the lion sometimes forgot the tower of a being she was. She had rubbed the back of her head with an more embarrassed expression as she apologized. Bowing down as well. *"My apologies, I wished not to scare you, although I often forget my attire does so."* Miu once more apologized. The friendly golden eyes had gazed at Fuyuko. Then one more bow from her came. *"I wish to not put you to work on days like these but I wish to request you something."* Miu rose again as the golden eyes were almost pleading like a puppy. A warm smile radiated from her. *"My name is Kitsu Miu of the lion clan. If I am not mistaken you must be Fuyuko-sama right?"* 

Miu had questioned. Making sure she had not confronted the wrong person. 

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James
*Fuyuko-*Sama*? From a Lion to a heimin? Oh Shinjo protect me from this trap. Please don't kill me for saying the wrong thing. Not here, not until I've finished teaching Hisa-chan how to interpret.*

The demeanor of calm deference remained for now. Fuyuko kept her eyes respectfully downcast as the Kitsu introduced herself. She was already short in stature, and the monstrous Lion combined with the lack of her lady there made her seem even tinier. Meekly she responded. "Yes, Lion-sama. That is this one's name. Please, you provide the half-person before you with undeserved honor. Forgive me for not acting sooner to prevent it."

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Laurie
Miu had shook her head as her face turned almost as red as her hair. She however smiled it off grandly. *"Please, it is my fault. I was afraid I had approached not the person I was looking for. But thank you Fuyuko-san. I know it is out of the customary to do so."* Miu had elaborated. Making sure Miu was the one at fault and not Fyuko. *"Uh- Although I realize me approaching you this way is also uncustomary. Apologies."* Miu spoke. Come on Miu, straight to the point. 

*"I have a strange request. I have met your master, Utaku-sama at a teahouse when you were not near her. There she agreed for me to learn small words in the sign language you interpret for her."* She displayed some of the signs Kazuko had taken the time to teach her. Miu had clearly practiced some of the words better than the others. She managed to signed 'hello' and 'thank you' properly by now. *"Now I wish to surprise Utaku-sama."* Miu had bowed down once more and held it for a moment. *"Would you please teach me some more Fuyuko-san?"* The lion rose. She was genuine. At least she hoped she would be in the eyes of the heimin. 

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James
"Well, such things are the purview of the one who this one serves, my lady Utaku Kazuko-sama. If an honorable samurai such as yourself wishes to learn such a thing then they would have to make a request from her." The life of a heimin was a perilous one. Today Fuyuko was reminded of that more than any other. On the one hand, she had a duty to obey her betters. On the other, a member of a clan that at best her lady was at parallel purpose with was seeking to *Surprise* Her by learning the very private means of communication the two shared. The only others who understood were family members and to a lesser extent the rest of Fuyuko's family. Obey and be punished by Kazuko; disobey and be punished by a Lion. Neither option was preferable.

She shrunk into herself even further. Why did this have to happen today of all days? All she wanted to do was go to the shops to help her lady. Now she might get executed by a bloodthirsty Lion, using false friendliness to pry at her secrets! Maybe, maybe she could calm them down enough to take a hand. Yes, she could still serve Kazuko without a hand.

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Laurie
Miu had tilted her head and then nodded to the explanation of Fuyuko. *"Then there will be no surprise, that is alright however. Do you think a letter would do?"* Miu had smiled. She had signed the word thank you to Fuyuko. *"Apologies I came here to bother you. I hope I have not ruined your day nor mood."* Miu spoke, bowing down once more to the heimin. There was no other way then to accept this. After all she did not come here to terrorize the heimin. Even though she had done that already without realizing it. 

*"May the Kami shine bright upon you Fuyuko-san. Utaku-sama is lucky to have somebody as honorable as you."* The tall female smiled and with that she returned the freedom of going shopping to the girl. Miu in the meantime had not left a frown but only a smile. She was already thinking about the things she wished to write in a letter to the unicorn ambassador. 

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James
"Yes, yes a letter would suffice. Utaku-sama would prefer to know such things in advance in order to better schedule her affairs." Also, Kazuko *Hated* Surprises. Fuyuko was not about to tell Miu that, of course. "Of course you have not ruined my day. To be able to serve a samurai of a great clan such as yourself in this way is all one wishes in life."

With that the Lion walked away with a smile. Fuyuko stared with carefully masked shock as the Kitsu disappeared among the crowd as swiftly as she had arrived. That was not something she wished to repeat, and definitely an event she would have to report to Kazuko. That the Lion Clan was keeping such a close eye on the Residence to note the coming and going of its servants was *Very* Concerning.

It seemed she was out of danger for the time being, though she no longer wanted to spend any longer out here than she had to. Picking up her pace, Fuyuko began to hum to herself again, a little shakier now, and continued determinedly towards Flowing Designs. The sooner she got there, the sooner she could be safe.

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