Sally
"Apologies for disrupting you, Moshi Kana-sama."

The ashigaru spoke politely but was obviously not in the mood to do so, judging by his body language and his sour expression. But, he showed enough respect. _Just enough._ 

He had requested Kana follow him out to the entrance, and was adamant in her accompanying. 

"I would not dare to disrespect you or Moshi Mai-sama," He continued, "But I will risk dishonor to say that you have to do something about... Her."

"Her" Was Aki, who came into view as she tried to shake another guard, who grabbed her around the waist. She looked much better now that she was cleaned up, her brown hair no longer tarnished with mud and soot and her tan skin no longer pallid from malnutrition. Her eyes were fiery as she scowled and tried to rip out of the guard's arms, a burglar's bundle lying on the floor full of expensive decorations... Some of which were Mai-sama's. 

"Let me go! I don't want to stay here with you bastards!"

"Silence, brat!" The guard finally got Aki pinned against the wall, in enough pain to make resistance unlikely.

"Moshi-sama," The apprehending guard panted, "Something must be done. This is the fourth time since she's arrived! And she's stolen from the ambassador. If Mama Mai found out, she'd be more than cross!"

"Fine, let her be mad! Just let me go!" Aki wrestled a little, clearly frustrated. "Fire kami, hear-"

That time the guard actually administered a strike, chopping her in the throat to stifle her spell. Aki wheezed and coughed, and finally relented. 

"As you see, she's making trouble. Moshi Kana-sama. Please, tend to your ward." 

||
Annette
Kana popped her head up from her desk at the arrival of the Ashigaru, all smiles as usual until she got a look at his expression. She would of course immediately followed him out to the embassy's entryway... And immediately let out a sigh of exasperation.

"Kuso... Fortunes preserve me..."

Kana shook her head at the stolen goods, and then winced at the strike; the last thing she wanted was to recreate the conditions that she had endured when she was living under the thumb of the bandits, but if the girl was going so far as to try to invoke fire kami in the embassy, then frankly any measure taken to stop it was justified.

She bowed as lowly as she could manage to the Ashigaru. "My deepest apologies. I will see to her correction immediately." With that, she moved to grab onto Aki, hoisting her over her shoulder as though she were a sack of vegetables. "If you could have the stolen goods taken to my office for the time being, that would be most appreciated! "

With that, she started to carry Aki over to the garden where Amaterasu's shrine was in the embassy. "Now now, Aki-san. If you didn't want to stay with us bastards, you should have killed me when you had the chance! But you didn't, so I suppose we're stuck with each other, ne?"

Once she had arrived, she paused, standing still where she was for a moment. "So, Aki-san, do I have your word, in front of Lady Sun herself and your kami friends that you're not going to try to run if I set you down?" There was a hint of playfulness in her tone, and an attempt to use that to perhaps disarm Aki, though the firmness of her grip would also remind Aki that even with her injury, Kana was more than capable of picking her right back up again.

||
Sally
Aki fought and struggled in the wounded Shugenja's grasp, but she couldn't quite shake her. Damn, she was stronger than she looked! Though, it should've been obvious since she had _killed_ people in the caves and all. All the same, Aki tried to shake free, slapping Kana's back in a feeble way. 

"Grr! Lemme go! I don't want to be a Moshi!" She continued to try and break loose, until they reached the back garden. Her arms went limp as she gave up, a huff leaving her. Damn this strong woman and her stupid muscles. So, when she was teased and insulted with that stupid, sing-song voice, Aki relented. 

"Fine. I won't run away this time around." And so, she'd be set down to cross her arms and pout. "I already said I didn't want to be here," She said, "And I don't want to be a Moshi. I was fine being just Aki, you know."
Annette
"Thank you, just Aki," She replied, bowing towards her before moving to kneel down on the ground across from her. "Yes, I do know you said you didn't want to be here. You make sure you remind me of that very often. If I may ask though, why? Do you miss being chained up? Would you prefer if we made you eat your food from a bowl on the ground like before?" Kana's questioning was somewhat pointed, serving to remind the girl just how things had been when she had been discovered in the cave, though she did soften her approach somewhat moving forward. 

"I'm your guardian, so if there's something you feel like you're lacking here, then tell me. Want more food? Different food? I can make that happen. "

||
Sally
Aki got smaller and smaller as Kana demeaned her into submission. She groveled and averted her gaze as she was reminded of her awful life. "Y-ou don't think I don't know how bad it was? I know, I didn't realize that they were the ones that killed my... Well, that doesn't matter. It was all I knew. All I knew was that life. And now..." 

The girl fidgeted with her hands, as she tried to find the words to her thoughts. "I haven't even had a chance to be _free."_ She looked at Kana, frows furrowed. "You came along and killed my whole life, bad as it was, and threw me into this one. I have to learn your ways, and learn to read and write better, and all this etiquette stuff, and about a family that means as little to me as I to it, and then, after all that, I'm going to the _Wall._ To go fight monsters and zombies and..." 

Surely, at this moment, Kana would see what the issue was. The girl wasn't running away because she hated it her. She was running because she was overwhelmed. 

"D-did you look forward to this as a child? This is awful... I don't even know who I am and I already have my entire life settled for me... This is just... Chains by some stupid deal, instead of iron!" Aki crossed her arms, deflating slightly. "And worst yet, I'm stuck with some bald lady that keeps pretending she cares about me. I'm sure once you're able to get rid of me, you will."
Annette
Kana was silent, listening intently to the girl speak. She felt a pang of guilt at how pointed she had been at reminding the girl of what things had been like under the bandits, even if her behavior did merit a harsher response. She tried not to dwell on that point too much, however. Instead she tried to take in the full of what she was being told.

What really stood out to her, though, was the talk of freedom.

What even *Was* Freedom when one's life was their duty? To be expected to fulfill their education for the clan, to serve another at their request... It was certainly a normal life for many Samurai. Such responsibility did come with privilege, of course, but the life was one of service before all else. The standard she was being held to was no different than any other child in a Samurai family, and to have such an opportunity was a blessing.

*And yet...*

Kana couldn't push thoughts of her own childhood out of her mind. Yes, she still had responsibilities, and an education. She was expected to hone both body and mind as she grew up, and had to train and study both. She still had the opportunity to *Be* A child, however. She had carefree moments where she could eat dango until she got a tummyache, go exploring and come back home filthy, read trashy romance stories, and play games with other children. Even now, she still had a chance to have dinner with Temujin, talk with Mai over sake, and read, well, more grown up trashy romance stories.

Aki had no such moments as far as Kana knew. At least not in a long time. Being reminded of that forced the Shugenja to humble herself, somewhat, even as the girl directed her ire towards her. Given everything though, who could blame her?

"There is... Much in life that is set out for us. By the heavens, by our lords, and sometimes just be circumstance. Being born a Moshi and being able to speak to the kami meant my life would always head in a specific direction. The Moshi being part of the Mantis clean steered my path further. Certain aptitudes and gifts the heavens saw fit to bestow on me meant that I would always be directed to a certain path. The heavens, the kami... They do see fit to bestow the burden of duty upon us."

She met Aki's gaze. "Yet you're right. There is more than just the burden of duty. There are moments of joy, moments of relaxation, moments of well... Like you said. *Freedom.* I was so concerned with helping to set you on the right path, and to give you the chance, that perhaps I have forgotten that so many of those moments were stolen from you." She then bowed her head. "I am sorry. If there was a prayer I could offer the kami that would give you those carefree times back, I would speak it so loudly Lady Sun herself could hear."

She lifted her head. "What I can do, though, even if I am just some bald lady," She jested, "Is give you the opportunity for some such moments. Your training and education is important, but even the mightiest Samurai needs those freedoms and moments joy. Perhaps you can tell me, Aki-san, what *You* Would like to do."

She then held up a finger. "However. That does not extend to stealing Mama M- I mean, Moshi-sama's decorations."

||
Sally
Aki groveled as she was given her scolding and lesson, but ultimately she understood. Kana was... Well, as much as she wanted to think her scary and cruel and evil, she really wasn't. She was gentle, and patient; not once had she raised a hand against the peasant shugenja. That made it even harder to act so indignantly. 

"... Fishing." 

It came out a mumble, before the girl repeated herself. "I like fishing, since you don't have to do anything but sit and wait and relax and all. _And_ you get food if you do it right. I know, it's stupid, but I liked to go fishing when my family was alive and when the bandits let me by the river." The girl was red with embarrassment at her confession, and crossed her arms. 

"And... Sorry for making a fuss with Moshi Mai-sama's stuff. For what it's worth, it was a big pain! This giant centipede tried to bite me when I did, but I just got the air kami to blow it out the window! Might wanna tell your servants to clean up more if there's _bugs_ all over!"

Now, Aki had not been paying attention in her courses, or she'd known that Centipedes were the mark of the Moshi family. And she would know that the centipede she flung out the window was Muka-chan, Moshi Mai's prized giant centipede. And she would not be standing there so casually about that.
Annette
Kana smiled brightly. "That doesn't sound stupid at all, Aki-san. We all need a chance to relax, after all. I'm not much of a fisher myself, but perhaps I could learn a bit from you, even. Is there a spot you'd like to try at? I'm certain we could find someplace a bit quieter than the wharves if you so wished."

Kana slowly got to her feet, for a moment only porocessing the first little bit of what Aki had to say about it. "Well, I am certain if we return Moshi-sama's possessions, we wi-"

It was then she understood the full of what Aki had said. Her face grew pale, her body tensed up, and her eye began to twitch. Now, disrespecting a sign of her adoptive family was certainly regrettable, but right now there was a more pressing concern. A far, *Far* More immediate, potentially lethal concern that hung over the two of them.

"D-did you just say you blew Muka-chan out the window?! The symbol of our clan?! Mama Mai's beloved pet?! Do you realize what you've done?!"

She stopped herself from going on, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Then another. Then a third.

"Aki-san, I would be honored to take you on a fishing trip, but that is contingent on our survival. And right now, our survival depends on finding that giant centipede. Now, quietly... Which window did you blow it out of?"

||
Sally
Aki blinked, confused at the sudden disastrous look on Kana's face. "Huh? Yeah, I sent it out the window. I actually got it out of there pretty quick! 'Air kami, get that bug outta here, please and thank you!' Not so bad, huh- Huh?" The girl cocked and eyebrow as she realized what was going on. "Wait, so that's... You mean that mean old lady keeps _bugs_ as PETS?!"_ 

She panicked as well, flabbergasted by the sudden realization. "Wh-why would someone keep _bugs_ around?! Are you noble people crazy, centipedes are venomous!" She pulled the ends of her hair as she circled around, trying to remember which window, and how hard the bug was launched. "Uh, um... O-okay, so, I was in her office, and there was a window by the..." 

Aki hurried over to the side of the garden, and pointed to a window. "That one! So Mooky-chan or whatever had to go..." 

Her finger trailed over, pointed over towards... The way to the Crane Embassy. "Yeah, over there. The Stork Clan, right? Crane, something like that. They're super nice I think? Well, we can just go talk to them and they'll let us poke around their garden, right?"
Annette
Kana was certain that things couldn't have gotten worse. After all, how could it? She had assaulted Mai's beloved pet with the wind Kami! At the very least it was just blown away, not set on fire or something of the sort.

But the Crane embassy?!

It was... Less terrible than it might have been at the start of spring, now that the two had become less hostile in the wake of the planned Unicorn alliance. But it was still amongst the worst possible destinations for the poor centipede. A visit to look for a lost pet was not exactly going to give a great impression, and that was *If* They managed to get in to begin with.

She took another deep breath before beginning to speak once more. She couldn't, however, stop her eye from twitching. "The Crane are, well... They are polite, and there is a difference between being polite and being nice. Whether they let us in, well, that is another matter entirely, and one we will have to be *Very* Polite about asking for."

She took a moment to brush herself off. "As for Centipedes, venomous or no, they are a symbol of the Moshi clan, and more importantly in this case, a cherished companion. One we have to get back if we have any hopes of that fishing trip. Are you prepared, Aki-san?"

||
Sally
Aki felt smaller than ever when she saw Kana's eye twitching as it did. That couldn't be a good sign. The young shugenja nodded as she explained that the Crane might not be the nicest, but they might have a chance if they play their cards right. 

"Well, I can be polite, probably! I'll just shut up and be polite, yeah? I can't be rude if I have my mouth shut, so it should be easy!" She clenched her fist with determination, and looked to her ward with confidence. "Alright, let's go get ourselves a bug!" 

======

The Crane Embassy didn't seem all that busy that particular day, with not even the dojo making more than the occasional sound of metal on metal from time to time. It would seem they haven't been up to much, with the Crane being sent back to their respective provinces, possibly to prepare for summer as the war season kicked off. And that meant there was only a pair of guards out front of the embassy, chatting idly as they awaited their shift change. 

"So, that's the stork embassy." Aki looked at it, hands on her hips. "It's pretty big, _way_ bigger than the Mantis one. Oh no, did I get adopted into a poor clan?" She didn't get a chance to inquire more, as the guards took notice of the Mantis. "They're staring at us," Aki said, "What do we do?"
Annette
"Crane, dear," Kana correctly softly, keeping her voice low, so as not to be heard. The other questions would have to wait until they finished their business here. Witht he guards taking notice of them, there was no real chance to discuss things further, either. Had the situation not been so urgent, there were things she might have been able to plan for, such as preparing a gift, or perhaps even an opportunity for Aki to learn more about the other clans in the city. Unfortunately, the possibility of an angry ambassador and the certainty of an angry giant centipede meant she only had time to grab a jar and head over.

Stepping forward, Kana bowed lowly to the Crane guards. 

"Ah, good day to you, Crane-san," She began, adopting the most professional tone that she could manage. "I am Moshi Kana, magistrate of the Mantis embassy. With me is my ward, Moshi Aki. I humbly beg your forgiveness for the interruption, but I was wondering if I might speak to someone regarding a visit to the embassy?"

At this point, direct was probably the best approach.

||
Sally
Aki followed along with Kana up to the guards, doing her best to just stay quiet and not cause any more trouble. She hadn't had many interactions with samurai other than the Mantis so far, so there was no telling how it would go. 

Case in point, the guards at the gate were rather befuddled by the request from Kana. "A visit to the embassy, Moshi-sama?" One of the guards flicked his white hair before bringing his hand to his chin. "Well, the majority of the samurai are quite busy at the moment," He lied (in reality, they would most likely not want to deal with Mantis, even if they were to become 'allies'), "But, certainly we can find someone to assist you." 

"It certainly depends on the kind of visit," Said the other guard, who _also_ flicked her white hair, "Perhaps Doji Arami is available if it's culture and class that is the point of the visit. Or Doji Daiki for some notes on making a proper weapon." There was definitely some well-laid, carefully crafted sass in there, "As proud retainers of the Crane Clan, we'd _love_ to make sure the Mantis can get educated on-"

"Wow, these two are assholes, huh?" 

Aki looked up at Kana, having nudged her shoulder and spoken quite _audibly._ "I thought the stork clan were supposed to be nice dandies, not a bunch of dickheads." 

The two guards glared at the girl, not too pleased. "How _dare-"_

"EEEEEEEEEEEK!" 

A sudden scream sounded off in the embassy, spurring the guards to draw swords and turn their attention with professional skill. "What the?" Even more suddenly, a few random things were tossed out the window, haphazardly: a wok, a ladle, and large pot. And finally, the source of the screaming was identified when a servant clearly screamed, "CENTIPEDE! KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!" 

Aki's ears burned red with embarrassment, and she looked at Kana with a clear need for direction. The guards abandoned their post to go investigate the screaming, so it was up to Kana to make a decision here.
Annette
"AKI! MIND YOUR FUCKING LANGUAGE!" ||Disadvantage: Crude|| Kana chided her, in shock at how... Direct she had been with the Crane. She didn't want to think of the time she'd have to spend prostrated before them has they been full Samurai, or what she might be expected to do in way of correction for Aki had they been.

Of course, the Crane's comments stopped Kana from getting too upset with Aki, and then there was the whole matter of poor Muka-chan's life being in danger. Just when Kana thought things could not have possibly gotten worse, the fortunes saw fit to hand her a shovel and command her to dig. The urgency of the situation was very much apparent to her, and her options of how to proceed ranged from terrible to slightly less terrible.

For the briefest of moments, she reflected on Bushido and its tenets, considering how that would guide her. Courage called for decisive action. Courtesy called for her to follow protocol and proceed cautiously with the crane. Sincerity called for her to at least *Try* To explain the situation. Compassion called for her to do right by Aki as best she could. Yet there was one that stood out in her mind right now.

*Duty.*

It was the lot of a Samurai to give their life in service of others. Whether that meant the most extreme, literal example of dying for one's clan, lord, or Bushido itself, or other applications, such as devoting oneself to the advancement and enrichment of their family. Mai had been an honorable and worthy lord in the time Kana had known her; she gently guided her through her initial naivete rather than punish her when she had been overly trusting of others, called her sister, and did all she could to see that her desires could coexist with the good of the clan.

She then considered that if it became known this was Mai's pet, then *She* Would be forced to bear the consequences if it bit anyone.

It was perhaps this, then, that led Kana to decide to fall on the metaphorical blade.

"WAIT! I URGE YOU TO SPARE THE CENTIPEDE! IT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE MANTIS CLAN, AND THE BELOVED PET OF THE MANTIS MAGISTRATE! ME! I WILL SAFELY EXTRACT THE CENTIPEDE!"

With that, she rushed in to the direction of the screaming.

||
Sally
The chaos that erupted over one centipede (of unusual size) was enough for Kana and Aki to run after the guards and head to the source of the commotion. And Kana's quick thinking to make her announcement would end up being a very wise decision. It may come to bite her in the ass, but for now, it gave the ashigaru pause when they reached the kitchens. 

Once there, a rather comical scene was laid out. Three servants stood on the tables, armed with woks and cooking utensils and bowls, with quite the mess on the ground with spilled lunches and tea. They all seemed to be looking towards one sections of shelves, where the brunt of thrown utensils were piled around. 

"Ah! Good, the guards!" The older man looked panicked, and pointed at the shelf. "The kaiju is under there! It's massive, it tried to kill my daughter!"

"It's true, it's a wild, insane monster! No doubt it's dark magic!" The girl sobbed, very dramatically. 

And then, the monster emerged. Muka-chan rolled out from under the shelf, with a big rat in her fangs. The servants recoiled at the sight of the large insect ending the rodent with venom and large mandibles, eating the vermin alive. One of the guards let out an 'eep!' and withdrew, waiting behind the nearest wall. Just to be safe, of course. 

Aki, though, was rather unafraid. "Hey, I didn't know they ate rats! That's pretty good, yeah?" 
One of the servants looked at the centipede, then to the young lady. "I guess so... But, it's still dangerous!" 

One of the guards looked to Kana, warily. "You said this was _your_ pet, right? Well, Moshi-sama, can you get it?"
Annette
*Kaiju?*

Kana knew Muka-chan was larger than the average centipede, but at this point it was taking all of her willpower to not comment to the Ashigaru about perhaps offering the Crane lessons in courage. Nevertheless, things were already a disaster, and she could humble herself to ensure that the disaster did not become that much worse. 

She did feel a bit of sympathy for the poor rat; being devoured by a centipede was probably not the most pleasant way to go. Still, it offered an opportunity. 

"Gladly, Crane-san," She replied evenly, opening up the jar she had brought.

While the insect was distracted, she approached, and crouched down. She held the open and of the jar out towards Muka-chan, hoping that she might appreciate a little 'den' in which to finish her meal. In the meantime, she positioned the lid of the jar behind Muka, not sweeping her in just yet, but prepared to gently guide her in.

||
Sally
The ashigaru stepped aside and let Kana move in, carefully approaching with the jar. Muka-chan was much too busy, turning the rat into goop so she could eat them, so she didn't move or react as the jar approached. 

When it got behind her, however, she recoiled, raising up and hissing. Apparently she didn't want to go home. She looked ready to bolt. 

Aki bit her lip; this was going to get worse, and it was all her fault. Unless...

"Air kami," She whispered, "Please, can I have a little tiny help? Just help us get the Centipede in the jar, so nobody gets in trouble. Please?"

A very, _very_ light wind wafted through the kitchen, barely enough to do much of anything. But it _did_ whip enough to knock a single seed off of the cooking stations. A seed that hit Muka on the head. She panicked, and rushed into the nearest hidey-hole: The jar. 

Thus, Muka-chan was caught. 

"Oh, thank the ancestors," The cooks said, finally getting off the tables. 

"Indeed, but there's still the question as to why the _Mantis_ let loose a Centiipede. Lost pet, I highly doubt."

"No! It's true!" Aki stepped forward, hands clenched and pleading. "Crane-samas or whatever, it's my fault! I'm a shugenja in training, and I used the wrong spell and sent that poor pet flying! It's my master's _master's_ pet, and I really needed to get it back so I don't get in trouble. I never meant for it to get here,.." She sniffled a little before prostrating herself. "Please, don't be mad or make trouble for Moshi Kana-sama. It was all my fault..." Tears ran down her cheeks, moving the guards and servants...

...But Kana with her investigative skills could see it was all an act; the sniffles were Aki trying not to laugh under her breath. 

"Well then," Sighed one of the guards," I suppose we never actually recorded any visit. Just... Don't tell anyone that we were that apprehensive over the 'pet,' and we'll call it even."
Annette
Kana was mentally preparing a lecture about the Moshi family and centipedes, only to find herself caught off guard for a brief moment at Aki's emotional display. It wouldn't take long for her to see through it, but she still found herself rather impressed, and perhaps a little frightened. Any less observant person, as these crane Ashigaru seemed to be, could very well be fooled. 

Quickly putting a lid on the jar, Kana rose to her feet, and bowed to the Ashigaru. "That would be agreeable. I thank you for your understanding, and apologize for the inconvenience May Amaterasu light and bless your path," She spoke, smiling politely before motioning for Aki to follow her out. She would remain completely silent until the pair were out of earshot of the embassy.

It was then she started laughing.

"Did you see the looks on their faces over that poor centipede?"

||
Sally
"Bah! What a bunch of babies!" Aki laughed along with Kana, more than tickled with the rather embarrassing display. "Too bad we promised never to tell anybody; I'd love to tell the servants back home about-" 

The young shugenja stopped herself short, realizing what she had said. Back _home._ She blushed slightly, and moved to face Kana properly. Prostrating herself, she showed Kana some proper respect. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused," She said, "And I'm not fooling this time around. I guess I need to just accept that the Moshi is my family, and the embassy is my home. So... I guess I'm just trying to say, I'll try not to make too much trouble for you, Onee-sama."
Annette
"EH!?"

Kana looked so shocked that her missing hair might well have turned white. Did she just call her... Onee-sama? She felt a swelling in her chest, and something in her eyes...

*Am I...?*

"A-ah! Think nothing of it!" She turned her head away briefly, reaching up to wipe at her eyes, and clear her throat. "Oh dear, the streets are rather dusty today!"

Clearing her throat once more, she turned her attention back to Aki, smiling warmly down at her. "Your a-apology is accepted, Aki-san. You've been through a great deal, and even the most stoic and steadfast amongst us would have a problem making the adjustment you've had to make. I want you to know, though, that the Moshi being your family means that we care about you. We... I... Want you to have the best life that you can. You deserve that, and I mean it. Whether that means helping you when you get into trouble, or fishing trips."

She then took a knee to help Aki up. "So... Onee-sama? Does this mean that I can call you Aki-chan now?"

||
Sally
Aki sniffled slightly as well. Showing emotion was not common for her, "Y-yeah, stupid street dust in the air..."

She accepted Kana's help up on that breeze-less, dust-less street, and wiped her eyes on her sleeve as Kana gave some words of encouragement and sisterhood. She was more than grateful for the older shugenja, after she went through all that trouble to keep her out of trouble. Nobody ever went to bat for her, not once. Not since her real family... Well, it meant a lot. And while it was difficult to imagine she could be a proper samurai, she was willing to try. For Onee-sama. 

"Aki-chan?" She furrowed her brows, and pouted a bit. "I think that's pushing it," She mumbled, "But... Maybe you can, sometimes. Onee-sama." She smiled softly, and looked down at the jar. "We should probably get her back to the embassy," She said, "Before Mama Mai finds out!" 

=======


"Aw. Those two are adorable." 

Moshi Mai peered into a bowl of water with her reflective pool, watching Moshi Kana and Aki wrangle her dear Muka-chan from the Crane Embassy. She thanked the kami and ended the spell, turning the water back to a simple reflection of the ambassador. "Well, I'm glad to see they're getting along," She said to herself, getting up from her desk. She decided she'd let the girls have their win, and go hide out somewhere for a bit so she can "Stumble upon" Everything being back where it's supposed to be.