William
It was unbecoming for a man of status to busy himself with the doldrums of the day.

That was why the mighty samurai who governed the city had legions upon legions of their lessers tending to their beck and call. Even the notoriously austere Utaku family kept servants on hand for such tasks. After all, the time of a samurai was valuable. Every moment spent cooking their own meals or running their own errands were moments not spent training, meditating, or attending to their duties. Masanori himself retained a personal attendant for most such matters. 

Yet some things were personal enough to be tended in person. It certainly helped that the Utaku's business did not take him far from the Ide residence, where the majority of his time was spent. The seamstress who had been recommended to him by Moshi Fujiko had settled herself into a charming little shop amidst the manses of the Noble Quarter, albeit in the half that was less than sympathetic to Unicorn and their samurai.

That did not seem to make her any less able to fill his order. The Bayushi were not a family to be trusted with most all matters, but at least in the field of aesthetics and design, they could be safely considered an authority. To ask for raiments befitting a noble lady's courtly attire was one thing, to request such a wardrobe without the lady in question present to be modeled upon was another, and to request it in such haste? It was a wonder Bayushi Manami had managed to accommodate him at all. 

But the proof of her dedication lay within his hands. Carefully packed away in a freshly fabricated chest, the dressings of a proper lady rested within Masanori's grip. How well the intended would receive the gift remained to be seen. If nothing else, he imagined the reaction would be a memorable one, positive or negative. And so with those amusing thoughts playing through his mind, the lieutenant made his way back through the crowded evening streets toward the Ide residence. 

||
Katrina
Kiyoko would have liked to think that she was the sort of woman who didn't care for the finer things in life, like expensive silk kimono or fine sake and food. Ideally, a samurai—or a bushi, at least—led a spartan lifestyle, having no room for anything that would make them 'soft' and unable to fulfill their duties to their daimyo.

And yet, ronin and *Shugyosha* Lived so close to poverty that it was hard for the Kakita duelist *Not* To appreciate those finer things. When Kiyoko had returned to the Crane clan's service after six years on a warrior-pilgrimage and been assigned to her clan's embassy in Ryoko Owari Toshi, her superiors had given her a new kimono and haori in clan colors, and she had been secretly delighted to have new clothes that had not been worn threadbare, patched up crudely, and worn threadbare again.

The Crane samurai-ko has thus begun to make her way to Flowing Designs, a nearby Scorpion-run clothing shop she had been informed of, run by a somewhat-notorious samurai-ko whose name Kiyoko had learned was Bayushi Minami. She rather wanted to expand her wardrobe to clothing that didn't bathe her in shades of blue. An attractive woman of pale porcelain complexion accentuated by a distinctive beauty mark to the right of her chin, ice-blue eyes, and platinum-white hair worn in a layered chin-length bob, Kiyoko had begun to wonder if her predominantly-blue wardrobe made her look washed-out (or a ghost), so she had decided to see what other colors might complement her hair and skin tones—or at least add a dash of color to her current ensembles. Or better yet, add a few extra outfits. Maybe even a formal kimono or two—who knew when she would be ordered to attend a formal event and suddenly find herself without a thing to wear?

Kiyoko navigated through the crowded evening streets toward the shop, passing by many servants in the colors of a Great Clan and a few occasional samurai bearing a wakizashi or daisho. One particular man in the crowds caught her eye, a large bushi carrying a package of a sort one would usually expect a servant to bear. He had the foreign appearance of a Unicorn, and wore the clothes to match. 

The Crane paused, a fair distance away still but directly in his path, and furrowed her brows curiously.

||
William
It was a wonder how swiftly one changed in response to circumstance. The principle of never-ending change, of adapting to the obstacles before oneself, had long been drilled into Masanori since he was a boy learning at the knee of his sensei. Yet he had found himself struggling with the notion. Stalwart, unmoving, unflappable in the face of that which would uproot him. He had always been the type to meet a challenge head-on rather than gracefully change steps and dance around it as the Shinjo who led his clan might have. 

And yet, Ryoko Owari Toshi changed him all the same.

Situational awareness was not something any true bushi lacked. Knowing the environment around you in the heat of a pitched battle was the difference between regrouping with your men and dying foolishly, surrounded and alone. But surrounded by Scorpion on all sides, bearing the mon of a clan who meant to drag the city from their wretched fingers, and occupying a position of significant authority within that clan made him an easy target for those boldest of the Underhand. Even during his daily business, he had become more perceptive. More wary of the faces around him and how they reacted to his presence. 

It stood to reason, therefore, that being stared at by anyone—much less a samurai—was cause for a small amount of concern. The woman in question looked every inch a Crane, and he had yet to devolve into such paranoia as to assume some kind of long-reaching Scorpion plot was at play in her interest. Speculating about such was unnecessary. He could cut to the heart of the matter easily enough.

"Is something the matter, Crane-san?"

||
Katrina
The strangeness of a samurai doing menial tasks, without a servant on-hand, was not lost on Kiyoko. But then, the Unicorn clan's ways were stranger than any other Clan, Great or Minor. 

The Crane samurai-ko shook her head. "No, nothing, Unicorn-san."

She looked past him down the street, then to the package in his keeping. Might he have been coming from Flowing Designs himself? There were certainly other tailors and seamstresses in the city, and probably a few even on this street. But then, Flowing Designs seemed to be the most popular and trendy such shop, so it *Was* Possible...

"Actually, Unicorn-san, perhaps you can tell me. Is Flowing Designs near here?"

||
William
The Utaku found his brow quirking at the inquiry. Had she not been watching him for all that long? Surely it would have been obvious to one with such an inquisitive eye to tell that he had only left the establishment moments prior. Given it was a Crane he found himself speaking with, however, it occurred to Masanori that perhaps she *Had* In fact seen him leave the building and simply wished to probe him for information about his experience there.

"It is."

His answer was curt enough, and he turned such that he could direct his gaze toward the building, assuming that the Crane would follow his line-of-sight and discover the building for herself. 

||
Katrina
The Crane onna-musha did indeed follow his gaze. "Ah."

Kiyoko glanced at the package in Masanori's hands again. Perhaps he had come from the tailor shop himself. And he was a Unicorn, so perhaps she should introduce herself. Their clans *Were* Allies, after all. She closed the distance between them by a couple of steps. "I am Kakita Kiyoko, a recent arrival in the city. Is Flowing Designs as good as they say?"

She paused a moment before continuing. "Assuming that Unicorn-san has had prior experience with the shop, of course. I do not know much about it, other than that the shop is apparently a good place to order a lady's court kimono."

||
William
It was difficult not to feel a level of terseness in the brief interaction shared with one Kakita Kiyoko. Perhaps much of that was his own fault—Masanori had been told his tendency toward the stoic and unreadable made him a standoffish sort, and he had been at least a little suspicious of the Crane since laying eyes on her. When the young woman stepped toward him, he offered her a short bow of greeting, brief only so that he did not collide with the poor woman by way of their statures.

"Utaku Masanori. I have been here for some time," The Utaku paused, allowing his eyes to flicker briefly back towards the tailor in question, "But not so long as to be a frequent customer."

The work that Bayushi Manami had done met his expectations. The garment so thoughtfully sewn together for his beloved was every bit as fine as the garments his sisters wore. Given the status inherent to the daughters of mighty Utaku Reika, such a thing was high praise indeed. Yet as he considered the Kakita's inquiry, he could not help but think back to the words of Moshi Fujiko... And perhaps more damningly, how easily another Kakita he had known fell to the charms of a Bayushi temptress. 

"That said, I am satisfied with the quality of the garment I commissioned recently. It will make for a handsome gift."

There was a confidence in that assertion, the parcel held taut against his side as he spoke of it, but it was somewhere undermined by the comment to follow.

"... However, I am led to believe that the owner can be somewhat hands-on with female customers, specifically. Whether her conduct breaches into impropriety, I cannot say. Though it may pain my mother, I am no woman."

||
Katrina
The Kakita duelist returned a perfunctory bow of her own, equal in depth to his. Rare was the man or woman whom she assumed to be *Above* Her in the social ladder of Rokugan simply on appearances ||Proud disadvantage||. "A pleasure to meet you then, Utaku-san."

Kiyoko furrowed her brows at the Utaku warrior's words. That sounded like a warning. But what sort of 'hands-on' behavior between women could be regarded as 'breaches into impropriety'? Maybe she was better off not knowing. On the other hand—her curiosity was piqued. "The... Owner. I will keep Utaku-san's words in mind. Is that why you are taking this garment to your lady"—or was it his sister? A female relative or acqaintance of some sort, anyway—"Instead of her retrieving it herself?"

Belatedly, Kiyoko realized the implications of Masanori's comment about paining his mother. What samurai mother would prefer daughters to sons, except for the Matsu and the—oh. The Utaku. She decided it was in the interest of propriety not to comment on it further.

"Well, no doubt the one who receives Utaku-san's gift will be delighted."

||
William
"That is the hope, yes."

The exchanges of small pleasantries and idle chatter were not a particular strength of Masanori's. Especially when he had little common ground with the subject of those pleasantries. His interactions with the Kakita family had been historically limited—and frankly unpleasant—enough that he struggled to think of just what common ground he shared with them. Though if the woman in question sought out Flowing Designs, he supposed they had at least one thing to speak on.

"Shall I assume you wish to commission a garment?" An innocuous enough question, though he could not help but wonder further, "One would assume the Crane had their own tailors in the city to see to such matters."

||
Katrina
Kiyoko was not a particularly talkative woman, either, which may have stunted the potential for conversation between the two. The Crane samurai-ko, for her part, was historically-limited in her interactions with *People in general*, though she had spent time enough in Unicorn lands during her travels to appreciate them. Even more so when they were bushi, as this one appeared to be.

Kiyoko wondered silently how good of a *Kenshi* He was, and rather hoped that she would have the opportunity to find out. Still, most people tended to frown upon being bluntly challenged to a sparring match, so she would restrain herself.

The Kakita duelist nodded once. 

"One could say the same of the Unicorn, Utaku-san. But this one's reputation precedes her." She paused a beat, recalling the...*Warning* About the owner's conduct that Masanori had delivered a moment ago. "In more ways than one, it would seem."

Curiosity got the better of her, and she indicated his package with a nod of her head. "So, who is it for?"

She had hoped to get him to let that slip by referring to the garment's intended recipient as 'your lady,' but it would seem that it would take a more direct questioning.
William
Masanori waved his hand gently as if to dismiss the notion of Unicorn fashion and its place in Ryoko Owari Toshi. He was no man of the court, but even he knew the contentious relationship that existed between his clan's ancestral styles and those of the more conventional clans of the Empire, the Scorpion and Crane included. 

"There is no shortage of Unicorn artisans in this city. However, many of the city's inhabitants find the New Section's aesthetics objectionable. It is better to play to the preferences of others on occasion."

Daunting as it was, explaining the divide between the city's inhabitants was a much more appealing matter than having to explain just whom the garment he had commissioned was intended. He could not well simply admit the truth of the matter—though their clans were allies, the Crane had made a thousand-year reputation of turning another's weakness into their own strengths in matters of politics. The last thing he needed was for it to reach the Crane's ambassador that the son of a mighty family daimyo had entangled himself with a ronin.

"It is for... A valued colleague. I wished to express my gratitude for her hard work in assisting me bring order to the city's more lawless sections. It was brought to my attention that she did not have an outfit befitting a diplomatic setting. Ordinarily, it would be a lord's responsibility to fulfill such a need for their retainer, but this particular colleague wanders the waves."

||
Katrina
"I... See," Kiyoko said, nonplussed. It would seem that the Utaku man was not willing to speak too openly of the ronin for whom this gift was intended. On the other hand, hadn't Chiyoko made a verbal slip and referred to a Unicorn samurai by first name? Wait, wasn't that a "Masanori" Also?

A tiny light bulb went off above Kiyoko's head (figuratively speaking), but she decided she wouldn't press any further on the issue.

"I can appreciate the desire to assist a ronin who has done a good turn for you. I spent a few years on a *Musha shugyo*, and such kindnesses were rare." 

It was common for *Shugyosha* To hide any clan ties they may have had (though naturally platinum-white hair usually complicated that for Kiyoko), so to the world around her, she had been just another ronin herself.

||
William
Though it did not seem an overly pressing matter, Masanori could not help but notice the recognition that briefly flashed across the Kakita's features. The Crane did not often strike him as the sort of clan to rub elbows with those who wandered the ways. And yet all the same, the particular wave-woman who had captured his heart seemed to have no end of trouble with that particular family. Perhaps it was the Mirumoto blood coursing through her veins. Perhaps the Mirumoto blood had led her to cross blades with Kiyoko before. A trifling thought, but one worth inquiring into later. If she had not been mentioned by name, he could be confident at the very least that Chiyoko's business with Kiyoko was not as grating as it had been with Kakita Arai or Doji Daiki.

"An unfortunate truth. Some samurai forget themselves, forget the duties inherent to their station, in acclimating to their status. They forget that even one's enemies are worthy of courtesy and compassion."

It was hard to say whether most samurai saw ronin as inherent enemies or simply nuisances to be attended. Before arriving in the city, he had scarcely interacted with those who lived outside the intricate web of obligation and duty that was life as a samurai. Given the things he had done with one such ronin, however... It was easy to say that he was amenable to them.

"Perhaps my perspective as a Unicorn skews my perception, however. There is a belief among our kin that one should always offer respect and bow to a masterless horse—for one never knows if it is a Ki-rin testing their temperament. It is easy enough to see how that superstition might tint interactions with a pilgrim on their journey."

||
Katrina
Kiyoko had spent time in Calm Heart Village during her warrior-pilgrimage, but she could not recall any sayings about masterless horses and Ki-rin. That just went to show that even for a visiting student at a foreign dojo, one could not expect other than to be held at arm's length. It probably did not help that she was a naturally asocial creature who only really cared about how one communicated on the tatami mats, either.

The Crane samurai-ko nodded, and stepped to one side as if about to continue past Masanori. 

"Is Utaku-san in a haste to deliver his gift? If not, perhaps you would care to join me for tea after I meet with the owner of this 'Flowing Designs'?"

Truth be told, she might not have minded the security of additional company *While* Meeting with said owner, given what Masanori had told her about her... Sapphic proclivities. But she would not ask for *That*.

||
William
It seemed for a moment that the Kakita was prepared to leave for the business ahead of her. Instead, rather than proceeding by herself, she posed a question and an offer: join her for the afternoon once she had successfully navigated the trials at Flowing Designs. Whether it was done out of a genuine desire to establish some kind of working relationship, or simply for the security his presence might further provide, he could not say. Yet all the same, it was not an unwelcome suggestion. The Crane were allied to the Unicorn, and despite that, Masanori had made the acquaintance of precious few of those who found themselves in the city. If the alliance were to prevail in its mission to see the city fall into Unicorn hands, then getting more familiar with those who would aid in the fight was an intelligent enough choice.

"I am in no rush. Your suggestion is agreeable."

The lieutenant turned on his heel such that he could face the establishment left only a short while prior. How well the Bayushi within would receive him again so soon, he could not say. Perhaps with some level of gratitude: he *Had* Directed a new customer to her establishment.

"After you, Kakita-san."

||
Katrina
Only then did Kiyoko notice that there was vibrant signage that indicated where Flowing Designs was, right on the front of the building. Had she not paused to ask the Utaku samurai, she could not have failed to notice it if she had simply continued walking.

Oh well.

The Crane bushi made her way through the surrounding foot traffic to the small shop's entrance and brushed aside the half-curtain. Almost immediately, a young woman in a pleasingly-colorful kimono greeted Kiyoko, and the platinum-haired bushi replied with a silent nod, her ice-blue eyes sweeping the small shop's interior.

Multiple kimono hung on display stands, emphasizing the artistic talents of the seamstress far more than their suitability to be worn to a fashionable court function. "I am Kakita Kiyoko. I am looking for a kimono suitable for court," She said to the attendant. "I assume your mistress would need my measurements?" ||84-56-88, just to be cheeky||

She glanced over her shoulder at Masanori, assuming he followed her inside. "I do hope this will not take too long," She said to him.

||
Jacob
The attendant, to her credit, maintained proper decorum. A necessity for any shop in the Noble Quarter claiming style and class, but commendable in its way in the face of a towering Unicorn and a Crane samurai-ko.

"Of course, Kakita-sama. Please wait for a moment, and I shall fetch my mistress."

With familiar, practiced steps, she ducked around one of the display kimonos into a back room in the small shop... And before long, out came out the proprietress.

She seemed like a typical Bayushi woman: dark hair, fair skin that almost seemed pale, with a silken mask framing one eye, clad in a kimono of ebon black and crimson with a pattern that suggested either flower petals or a spray of blood. And in a fashion Masanori would know to be wearyingly normal for her, it was fitted closer to her form, teasing out the *Hint* Of a shapely figure without giving it away, just as the collar of her garment flared open the tiniest bit more.

Her idea of conservative.

With her servant introducing her but briefly, Bayushi Manami bowed gracefully with a dancer's flow to the samurai before her... Though not before her gaze took in Kiyoko's form once. A tailor's instincts?

"Welcome to my humble shop, Kakita-san. I am Bayushi Manami," She said, polite yet vivacious. "I do hope you see something you like. How may I serve you today?"

Then, a brief break in her words. She looked to the Unicorn *Chui* In turn and bowed again. Still flowing, still sanguine, but with a clearer sense of... Distance.

"And welcome back, Utaku-sama! Do you require my services again?"

||
William
Returning to Flowing Delights was not something Masanori particularly cared to do, and yet in the name of furthering the alliance, it was perhaps a worthy use of his time. Still, for a man who prided himself in the comforts of steel and leather over silks, a tailor's shop felt foreign enough to him. All the more so when the proprietress made herself apparent from the back of the shop at the beckoning of one Kakita Kiyoko. As an Utaku, he often prided himself in casting aside the gossipy prattle of court in favor of things he could verify with his own eyes. Yet all the same... He could not shake the feeling his presence was not half so welcome in the establishment as his female contemporary, now that he could see firsthand the woman's demeanor.

"I do not, Bayushi-san. I am merely showing Kakita-san the way and waiting for her business to conclude, such that we may continue with our plans."

It was not such a damning thing to say, but perhaps it would offer some sort of shield to the Crane maiden if the Scorpion proved to live up to her reputation. 

||
Katrina
Kiyoko gave a respectful bow to Manami as she entered. "A pleasure, Bayushi-san. I am Kakita Kiyoko," She replied. "I understand that Bayushi-san is...*Well-regarded* In this city, and I am looking to have a couple of formal kimono made for me. Something I could wear to court." 

Well, her sense of fashion was, anyway. A Scorpion was still a Scorpion.

The Crane glanced at Masanori, curious about his choice of words and the implications they raised. She supposed he was trying to be helpful.

Turning back to Manami, she said, "I suppose that measurements are necessary?"

||
Jacob
Nodded while hiding her smile behind a sleeve.

"Of course, Utaku-sama. How very Compassionate of you to guide her."

Knew not to test the patience of her clients, especially if they were ill-disposed towards the Scorpion.

"Indeed, Kakita-san, indeed. Though first, allow me a quick look first." Manami tittered as she paced in the shop and circled around Kiyoko, angling one arm such that her sleeve slid down slowly... Revealing a well-painted fan which she opened.

Manami, of course, knew who she was. She was a woman with (what she considered) healthy appetites, and a healthy appreciation for beauty. But she also knew that you covered the pot with decorum so as to avoid turning the customers away from the honey. And it helped that her fan was there to conceal her expressions.

After a few thoughtful "Hmm"S and "Haaah"S, taking in this woman who was both ice and warrior, she finally closed her fan with a resounding snap. Wordlessly, she beckoned two assistants over and directed him with a glance and a pointing finger. Like stage helpers in a play, they scurried about to quickly gather the appropriate fabrics. Meanwhile, the mousier woman from earlier arrived meekly.

"Very well, then," She purred, "If you will follow my assistant into the fitting room, I will be with you to oversee the measurements. And, of course, to decide what this kimono should say... No, *Sing*. Let it never be said that I allowed a Crane's plumage to be anything less than *Resplendent*."

Turned to Masanori while the serving girl directed Kiyoko.

"You are welcome to wait, Utaku-sama, and do feel free to ask for my expertise."

A sincere offer, with that similar tone of sweetness. But the difference between her words to him and to Kiyoko was certainly stark.

Eventually, she would enter the fitting room, where her servant was already beginning her measurements, occasionally asking for Kiyoko's assistance.

"Now, then, Kakita-san. Your kimonos. Formal, yes, and if I know the Crane," Manami commented with a dancing tone, "You likely want it tasteful. Traditional. Blues upon whites, like a cloudy sky. But is there perhaps anything *More* You might desire from it?"

Within the booth, its drapes drawn, her hands began to mimic the graceful turns of a traditional dance, turning even as her fingers twined and waved.

"Something to present the very image of grace and beauty, like a *Nadeshiko*?"

She halted, back turned to the Kakita, her motion shifting one of her kimono's shoulders out of place for but a moment, sliding it back in place.

"Or perhaps to catch the eye, claim territory in the mind?"

Finally, she turned again, her smile small but animated, and her posture straight and resolute.

"Ah, but perhaps a warrior's cut would better serve, to hint at the *Power* Of your form."

Then, like a theatre player, her posture reverted to its normal ladylike mien.

"Though of course, your preference comes first. The customer is always right in matters of taste, after all."

||
Katrina
The Crane watched the Bayushi woman, wordless and unmoving, following the samurai-ko out of the corner of her eye when she slipped behind Kiyoko. Manami certainly exuded a certain air—something like a *Femme fatale*, in Kiyoko's mind. Still, the Kakita duelist was not going to let the woman unnerve her.

The mousy woman returned, and Kiyoko looked again to Manami as she spoke. A kimono should... Sing? The metaphor puzzled Kiyoko, and she turned the phrase over in her mind for a few moments before dismissing it with a mental shrug. "Alright," She replied, and followed the assistant into the fitting room.

Kiyoko waited patiently for Manami to join them, and pondered anew at the options presented. A nadeshiko, a bushi, or...

For as little as Kiyoko cared for court intrigue—or appearances at court in general—it really seemed that those were the only two options that made sense. And as a daughter of the Crane, the choice already seemed made for her in the form of the nadeshiko, the classic beauty. Such usually kept their hair much longer than she did, but perhaps she could make do with a wig or extensions or something.

"A *Nadeshiko* Seems the most appropriate to me."

||
Jacob
"Mmm, a most artful choice indeed, Kakita-san. Very well, we shall deliver~" The Scorpion seamstress purred.

What followed was a series of measurements and fabric displays, helpers shuffling in and out as if they were ranks of *Ashigaru* On rotation. Kiyoko was shown, in quick order, options for colours. Style. Obis. All of them in the conventional, courtly style to gracefully wrap the wearers form in flowing fabric. With each selection she made, Manami further narrowed down the selections, until finally, she went with a conventionally sky-blue kimono with tasteful folds of white, evocative of a snowy mountain. However, while its sleeves were elegant, they were conventional enough that they wouldn't obstruct her sword draw in any way.

Of course, as adept as she was, Manami *Was* Still... Manami. She double checked measurements by doing them personally, 'helped' Kiyoko to don the garments (so as not to crease or wrinkle the fabric, of course), and initially had it worn in a style which left a bit more neck and collarbone in view than was traditional. No touching beyond the necessary, of course, but she always leaned in *Close* If she could help it. Small talk was attempted to set her at ease, though she also did ask about the Kakita's 'training regimen'.

But as the last fitting was accomplished, the kimono upon her in an orthodox fashion, the Scorpion stepped back with an appreciative smile behind her hand fan.

"Ahhh. Very much a *Nadeshiko*. The beauty of winter, accentuated. Though I am sure you are *Quite* Warm, Kakita-san."

With that casual 'comment', Manami awaited Kiyoko's final comments, prepared to modify the outfit or offer an alternative before leading her out into the store again.

||
Katrina
Kiyoko endured Manami's 'ministrations' stoically, though she felt the heat of an awkward blush rising to her cheeks on the handful of occasions when the Scorpion woman invaded her personal space. It was a well-hidden relief when she finally stepped back.

The Crane samurai-ko actually rather appreciated the extra ventilation that the initial style Manami arranged her kimono in. It was perhaps a bit too risqué though.

Still, she liked the kimono itself. 

*Though I am sure you are quite warm, Kakita-san.*

Kiyoko couldn't help but think there was a bit of innuendo to that remark, a double entendre. She also couldn't but react to it, blushing even as she tried to deflect Manami's words in a safer direction. "A hazard of court dress, I assume," She said evenly. "Are there perhaps accommodations for summer wear? Or is that a separate outfit?"

||
Jacob
The Scorpion seamstress fanned herself with a coquettish giggle. She wasn't so crass as to jump into Kiyoko's kimono immediately, but she *Did* So love the dance, even if it turned out to be just the once.

"Indeed, indeed! Kimonos are ideal for court and the colder seasons, of course. And certainly, we are more than able to perform alterations."

Slow, deliberate steps led her to pace around Kiyoko, studying the kimono and its wearer. This time, at least, she relied on her eyes alone, though they were alight with her vixen's fire. Her words, though, were directed with professional experience, even as they were delivered in a charming lilt.

"However, if you would like to keep your kimono's condition pristine, I would recommend a yukata. Easier to move around in, with more room for you to breathe. Good for summer, or for when you're just getting out of the bath."

She giggled lowly, fanning herself at the thought and recalling the last time she'd been to the baths with another. When the moment passed, there was humour in her voice.

"And I assure you, my dear Kakita-san, this is honest counsel, and not simply your humble seamstress encouraging you to get another outfit."

||
Katrina
Kiyoko again followed Manami's pacing around her with her eyes. Now, though, it was accompanied by an inward frown. Did this Bayushi woman enjoy teasing her so? It was not the first time she'd felt like a fly caught in a Scorpion samurai-ko's web, though it certainly did not carry the same sense of tension that the other occasion did.

"Mmn. Do you have yukata in the same colors as this kimono? I may as well make them match," She said, keeping her tone dispassionate and even. No sense letting Manami know what she thought of the coquettish act beyond the unavoidable.

The Kakita duelist had only arrived in Ryoko Owari with the clothes on her back, metaphorically speaking, but she had managed to acquire another outfit since then. A few more definitely would not hurt, especially if she would be stationed in the City of Lies for very long, as seemed likely.

||
Jacob
"Hm, hm! I believe I do," She said while directing a server with a few practiced signs. Turning back to the Kakita, the fan waved like grass in the wind as Manami continued. "Though if you would like to arrange for different colours, I would be more than glad to discuss it at length."

She slid to Manami's left side, inspecting not merely the form, but the colours, like an artist with a blank canvas or a carver with a block of wood.

"Of course, let it never be said I left a customer half-informed. There are, of course, colours to contrast. Complement. Accentuate. Or simply to send a message."

As the store's owner spoke, more shuffling of fabric and steps of sandals could be heard at one side of the shop.

"A dark black or violet, for instance, for something strong, regal. Or teal and pink for a softer touch, to soothe. Ahh, and something bold like crimson and gold will help your snow-white hair to stand out. Any of these can be tied together with an *Obi* With an appropriate shade of blue."

Manami snapped her fan, and as if on cue, her assistants stepped forward. Her aide held up the yukata in Crane colours, but her other helpers each held up rolls of fabric in the colour combinations listed by Manami.

"Your Clan colours, of course, are beautiful," She said half-dismissively, "But if you desire some *Variety*, I am of course honoured to provide."

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Katrina
Kiyoko blinked at the Bayushi woman. If she wanted to send a message, she would do so with a katana—not what clothes she wore. What message *Could* One send with what clothes one did (or did not) wear, anyway? She almost asked the question aloud, though the expression on her face probably gave away her thoughts regardless. In her wonderings, she almost did not catch that Manami had answered the unasked question—at least partially.

"I am partial to black," She said. "And perhaps an obi that is blue on one side, and red on the other?"

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Jacob
Manami snickered softly like a cat that caught a sparrow. As much as she enjoyed patrons who knew how to speak the language, there was a certain delight in seeing someone utterly unschooled. Whether in fashion, or in love.

*Blue on one side, red on the other? My, my, that would be intriguing coming from a courtier. Though it seems this dear girl is simply looking at them as colour.*

"Hmm. I believe that can be arranged, yes," She said while delivering more signals, sending her helpers away.

Credit where it was due: Manami seemed to have the clothes in question on hand, rather than needing time to modify or create a requested outfit. Soon, the new *Yukata*, now a vision of black, though contrasted with traces of white and grey like clouds and stars at night.

"The *Obi*, I admit, will take a day to create." Manami added. "But once it is ready, we will arrange for it to be sent to you at your Embassy."

She smiled coquettishly.

"Unless of course you'd prefer to come again and collect it in person," She purred.

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Katrina
Kiyoko offered a polite smile to Manami. "The Embassy will be fine. I would *Hate* To impose upon Bayushi-san's hospitality," She said, tone carefully neutral. This Bayushi woman certainly did enjoy trying to get a rise out of her.

"For now, the yukata will be enough. Send the bill to the Crane Embassy along with the obi, if you would, please, Bayushi-san."

The Kakita duelist waited for the yukata to be wrapped in a furoshiki, then took it in hand, made her proper farewells, and retreated back into the room where Masanori awaited.


"Utaku-san, thank you for your patience. I am ready to depart," She said, briefly pondering the cheek of handing off her own package to the man. 

She was hardly so brazen or presumptuous, but the thought amused her for a moment. 

"So, does Utaku-san have a favorite tea house? I admit I have only visited one or two."

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||Whenever you can get to it, you're up,
William
Though he had little desire to do so, Masanori stood idly by as the Kakita conducted her business. In the absence of anything better to draw his eye, however, the Utaku could not help but find himself glancing on occasion at the two women as they went about the song-and-dance that was the commissioning of garments. If that was what one could call it. Part of him felt guilty, watching the little display. In part, because he did not intervene on behalf of the Crane—though he was certain she would protest such things—and in part because he could not help but wonder whether he and his beloved looked much the same when they flirted between themselves. If nothing else, he usually had the good sense to do so in *Private*.

Thankfully, the exchange ended before his patience elapsed entirely, and when the young woman approached him with an inquiry, a not-too-polite one, he simply shook his head.

"I do not often find myself drinking tea away from the embassy. My preferences are not well represented in most of the city's establishments," It was hard to say whether a Crane of standing knew the particular differences between black and green tea, but he was certain if she did, she would find herself on a side opposite his own, "There is a sake house nearer the Merchant Quarter that I frequent, however. If such a thing would interest you."

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Katrina
Furoshiki in hand, Kiyoko stopped as she drew up to Masanori. She pondered for a moment, then nodded. For her own part, she was more fond of *Umeshu* Than she was other forms of sake. Still, it wouldn't hurt to indulge, even on the off chance that umeshu wasn't available. 

"I admit I do not often find myself in sake dens, but if Utaku-san vouches for it, then I am willing to try it," The Kakita duelist said. "Out of curiosity, does this sake house have a name?"

As she recalled, there was one sake house that had a bad reputation... Shame she didn't remember the name of it. Ah, well. 

That probably wouldn't be the sort of place a Great Clan samurai would frequent. Even a Unicorn.

Right?

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William
There was a strangeness about the Kakita being unfamiliar with sake dens. Masanori had always imagined such establishments were somewhat essential to the life of a ronin. It stood to reason that they would be equally essential to those who forsook their names and wandered the roads of the Empire on a warrior's pilgrimage. He nodded along, all the same, gesturing for Kiyoko to follow him as he set out deeper into the city."

"Indeed it does. It is called the Plum Garden, for reasons you will see."

_

The walk between Flowing Delights and Jade Street was not particularly long, and foot traffic between the Noble Quarter and Merchant Quarter was mercifully sparse. The Plum Garden itself was not so devoid of people, however. A popular destination, the common room filled with those of higher means, eager to share a drink with friends as the day began to close. Being a frequent customer—and a man of status besides—came with the perk of being afforded a table all the same. The Plum Garden was built around a garden of the very same, and in response to the Unicorn's request, a young heimin woman led the duo of samurai back out onto the *Engawa* Encircling the namesake plum trees, where a low table awaited. Masanori gestured for Kiyoko to sit before taking a place across from her.

"I have never been one to indulge in the nightlife of the city," Masanori mentioned as he settled himself down, "But I make an exception for this place. The garden lends a certain serenity to it. A small alcove of nature amidst bustling streets. It puts one at ease."

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Katrina
The Kakita onnamusha returned Masanori's nod and quietly followed a half-step behind. He seemed a man of few words, which she could certainly appreciate. So while they walked, she simply contemplated. As was often the case with her, that meant running hypothetical kenjutsu scenarios in her head. *If my opponents aim for my forearm, I take my kozume and draw it. If they come at me in jodan-no-kamae, I challenge them directly. If they come at me in chudan-no-kamae, I counter with kuneriuchi...*

At length, the unlikely pair of samurai arrived at the sake den in question, and Kiyoko hesitated upon seeing how crowded the place was. She had never loved crowds. But she could hardly turn back now, so she squared her shoulders and followed Masanori inside—and back out again to the edge of the facility, where he motioned for her to take a seat at a low table. With an appropriately respectful bow, the duelist removed her Kakita Blade katana from her obi and seated herself, placing the sheathed blade to her right.

"It is certainly popular," Kiyoko said, glancing around at the bustle of the business. "The plum trees do the place justice, though."
Hopefully, the fact that the place featured plums so prominently in its landscaping and its name meant that they carried good *Umeshu*.

"They seemed to recognize Utaku-san. Is he a frequent visitor? What drink does he recommend here?"

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