Teri
In the shadowed heart of the empire lay a city known for many things joyous and terrible. Tonight, a chill wind whispered through the narrow alleys of Ryoko Owari, carrying with it the faintest hints of cherry blossoms and the distant murmur of the River of Gold. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the vibrant hues of the marketplace faded into twilight. Lanterns flickered to life, casting a warm, yet faltering glow against the encroaching darkness. The bustling sounds of day gave way to a hushed stillness, as shopkeepers shuttered their stalls and the laughter of children was replaced by the distant closing of doors.

The last cold snap of spring had brought a low fog that had the guards grumbling in their shacks. The mist slithered through the streets like a living thing, chilling bones and unsettling hearts. Even the most stoic samurai wrapped their cloaks tighter and cast wary glances at the swirling fog. Rumors as old as the city itself spoke of spirits that roamed in such mists; spirits that preyed on the unwary and the lost. 

The Crab Embassy stood in the northwest corner of the Noble's quarter. It was closest to the river, convenient for bringing things in and out of the city without much oversight. At least, one would suppose that it was convenient for those skilled in such things. The fortified buildings seemed to brood under the moon's pale gaze, their windows staring down at the street. Whispers of past intrigues and dark happenings clung to its stoic walls, tales of envoys who vanished and shadows that moved with a life of their own.

Kuni Kobe slept in a room that was more a sanctum of arcane mysteries than a sleeping chamber. Inside the barracks, on the top of three floors, was a bedroom that was in the process of being converted into an alchemical workshop. Walls were lined with stacks of scrolls, and jars best left undescribed. The air was seasoned with the smell of bitter herbs and metallic ink. Kobe's small cot sat in the corner, almost forgotten, a necessary inconvenience. 

On still nights like these, Kobe often found himself lost in his research until the early hours. Tonight, the stillness was broken by an unsettling sound. Akuma-Kun, the Devil Bird, was perched amidst a clutter of Kobe's research. It had begun to cry. The sound was no mere bird's lament; it was the chilling memory of a dying samurai-ko's sobs and cries, a haunting echo of a soul long lost. Feeling a pang of homesickness, the bird recreated those mournful sounds with eerie precision and filled the room with despair and sorrow. 

The cries, barely muffled by the walls of the barracks, seeped out into the night. Kuni Shugenja are tasked with delving into forbidden studies that have driven many to the brink of madness. Could the sorrowful cries be a sign of something sinister unfolding within those walls? Has this new shugenja, in his relentless pursuit of arcane secrets, already crossed a forbidden threshold? The few servants still awake in the embassy could only respond with fearful prayers and suspicious glances at the lantern light flickering in the window of Kobe's room. 
||
Karen
*Ariko slowly opened the sliding door to her room in the barracks, peering outside after a second. The young woman had woken up from a shallow sleep easily, finding this strange place difficult to get used to. The sounds of Ryoko Owari were just too different from what she had grown used to in Yasuki lands and had had difficulty sleeping in general since arriving.*

*The woman cursed internally, resisting the instincts she felt screaming at her to make herself more presentable. Her hair was loose and she had rushed into dressing in a simple blue robe to be decent. But the sounds she was hearing from a woman in the Embassy would not allow further delay. If someone was being attacked or had already been, she had to assist as best she could. A few seconds could make the difference between life and death.*

*The young courtier was confused as she thought who would be bold enough to attack someone in the Crab barracks, and on the third floor at that. Making her way towards the source of the sound, Ariko would keep her eyes open for any other of her clansmates investigating the woman crying out.*
Michelle
Miyami's curiosity was piqued as she overheard whispers of strange occurrences in Shugenja's room. One evening, while passing through the tea house, she heard the servants from the embassy complaining about someone screaming in terror. Miyami was determined to investigate the sounds for herself. She tiptoed along the dark corridor, hugging the wall to remain unseen. Her heart raced with anticipation as she approached Shugenja's room. Miyami pressed her ear against the door, barely able to hear the screams that sent shivers down her spine.

Quickening her pace toward the room in question, Miyami reached for the knives in her sleeves. She imagined opening the door to find an older Shugenja hunched over the body of a tormented man, doing whatever experiments it was that they did on the bodies of the damned. As she walked, the noises got louder and louder, and the words of the servants only broadened the stories in Miyami's mind. 

As Miyami approached the door, a muffled wail caught her attention. Her fists clenched at her sides, and she knew something was wrong. She crept toward the door and noticed the faint glow of a lantern peaking from underneath. Whoever was inside was up to no good.

Miyami wasted no time and rapped on the door with a sharp knock, taking a step back. Her hands tightened around her knives, ready to spring into action. "You there," She said in a low voice, "Open the door, and I'll help you with what ails you." She awaited a response, eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger.
||
Teri
Kuni Kobe stirred from his shallow slumber amid the eerie cries, a sense of disorientation momentarily clouding his mind. He had fallen asleep studying, and his usually meticulous makeup was smeared beyond recognition. It was easier to see just how young the boy was now that the distorting lines were no longer in the way. A long, thin stick of ginseng was stuck in a tangle of hair; the lingering grease paint had done it no favors. Akuma-Kun's loud sobs were slowly seeping into his consciousness, pulling him back to the waking world. 

Kobe slowly sat up, rubbing his tired eyes before finally seeing the distressed bird in its lacquer cage. The amber glint in his eyes flickered with concern. Kobe approached Akuma-Kun softly, his movements deliberate yet gentle. "Shh... It's okay, buddy. I'm here now... You're not alone... Hush now, Kobe's here," He whispered soothingly, extending a steady hand toward the bird. Akuma-Kun's cries ebbed slightly at his presence, the haunting mimicry fading into soft feminine whimpers. The Devil Bird could easily be mistaken for a particularly shaggy raven if it were not for the unnervingly accurate mimicry and its baleful red eyes. Kobe knew the bird's history well: the souls it carried and the voices it spoke with. He had always felt a kinship with it. Both of them were keepers of secrets too heavy for most to bear.

Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door jolted both Kobe and the bird. He straightened up, his hand instinctively reaching for a talisman tucked within the folds of his robe – a precaution, a habit honed through years of training to defend against the unknown and the feared. The Devil Bird hushed its cries, its lurid red eyes fixed on the door. The Kuni was well aware of the reputation his kind bore and the suspicions that haunted the embassy's halls. A faint smile, tinged with melancholy, crossed his lips. "Don't worry, Akuma-Kun. It would be worse if our studies *Didn't* Unnerve them. We know our intentions are pure," He murmured comfortingly in the dimly lit room.

"Who seeks— Oh, come on in, then! I could probably use a hand." The room fell into a tense silence, save for the faint crackling of the lantern's flame.
||
Karen
*Ariko would do her best to quietly approach the sounds she was hearing, which was not very quiet at all. The young woman was surprised she had not come across anyone else who would have been attracted by the noise being made. She debated going to find a bushi but quickly squashed that thought down. She was Crab. She wouldn't escape her duty and in this case it was to investigate.*

*As Ariko got closer to the source of the sound on the third floor, she would spot what looked to be a servant knocking on the door of the room she had been lead to. Her hand would go to her wakizashi by instinct before she dropped her hand, realizing if this woman was the suspicious one she wouldn't be knocking on the door.*

*Approaching the woman, she would be about to open her mouth to ask her a question when she heard the voice of Kuni Kobe inside the room. Blinking in confusion, she would look at the woman dressed as a servant and then back to the door.*

"Kuni-sama, are you safe? We were brought here by that disturbance." *She would look back to the woman, wondering what she would do or if she would open the door.*
Michelle
Miyami's heart raced as she heard the muffled screams emanating from the room. She turned to the woman beside her and spoke in a hushed voice, "Do you know who occupies this room? Is he capable of inflicting such horrors upon a woman?" Miyami's eyes darted between the woman and the door, unsure what to do next.

Miyami paced back and forth, the sound of the woman's screams echoing off the embassy walls. The voice from inside had sounded young, like that of a boy, but Miyami knew better than to underestimate anyone or anything. She flexed her fingers, preparing herself for what was to come. She was confident she could take on a boy if it came down to it.

As they stood outside the door, Miyami couldn't help but wonder if this was all some kind of trap. What if the woman's screams were a way to lure in unsuspecting passersby at night? Despite the potential danger, Miyami felt compelled to investigate.

On one hand, the response from inside sounded like it came from a young boy, not a larger man. Miyami was confident in her ability to take on a boy in a fight if it came down to it, especially if it meant saving the woman inside. On the other hand, they were in the middle of the crab embassy, and such heinous acts could not go unpunished.

Miyami had come to investigate the rumors of these occurrences in the halls, and she could not turn a blind eye to the situation at hand. She turned back to the woman and said, "I am Yasuki no Nobuto Miyami. I think we should go in. Can you defend yourself if we face danger inside?"
||
Karen
"I have never been to this room before. That is Kuni-sama's voice though." *Ariko would respond quietly shaking her head no, as she looked at the woman. The young courtier was impressed at the servants actions, it spoke to the quality of the Crab servants to see this woman acting like this in a crisis.* 

*The small woman tried to still her beating heart now that they were so close. There were always dark tales of the Kuni that often caused many to be wary of the family. Ariko found it odd that Kobe would be doing something so scandalous in the Crab embassy like this but the sounds made it hard to suspect otherwise.*

*The woman barely held her shock in when the woman in front of her introduced herself as a vassal samurai to the Yasuki family. Were this any other circumstance, she would have horribly shamed herself with her assumption.* "I am Yasuki Ariko." *She would nod at Miyami's statement, too prideful to let her physical condition get in the way of Miyami's actions.* "Do what you need to, Nobuto-san. I will follow."

||
Michelle
Miyami stood tall, her hand on the door handle. She let go of one sleeve to open the door, pushing it to the side. As she resumed her striking pose, she was surprised to see a young boy standing on the other side. The woman's cries had echoed through the halls only moments ago, but now there was no sign of her.

"Where is she?" Miyami asked, her confusion evident. "The woman who cried out so? Yasuki Ariko-Sama and I have come to help her." Miyami's eyes scanned the room, taking in the jars and containers filling the space, the papers and shelves, and the cot in the corner. There was no place to hide a woman.

Then Miyami saw it - the devil bird in a lacquered cage near the wall. The giant raven sat staring back at her. Pointing angrily at the creature, Miyami asked, "Were those menacing, horrid cries coming from that bird? We thought a woman was in trouble here and needed assistance. What have you done around that devil bird to make it call out that way?"
||
Teri
Kuni Kobe took an instinctive step backward, startled by the sudden entry and intensity of Miyami's questions. He bumped into a stack of scrolls that teetered but remained precariously piled, at least for now. His eyes, wide with surprise, darted between the two women and the devil bird in its cage. The room, cluttered with jars of unidentifiable substances and ancient scrolls, seemed to shrink under their scrutiny.

"Oh! Uh, hello! Sorry, sorry for the confusion," Kobe stammered, a sheepish grin spreading across his face despite the eerie atmosphere of the room. "This is Akuma-Kun, and well, you could say he's a friend of mine? And my responsibility, I guess? Among other things, these birds can mimic the sounds they've heard. Especially ones that they've heard a lot. You see, my little buddy used to live with the Damned. Sort of like a communal pet? He's grown quite sensitive to the darkness." 

The boy's usually casual tone took a serious note. "He also remembers the voices and last murmuring of the decades' worth of dying Crab soldiers that lived alongside him. They gave everything they had to their duty even as their minds and bodies eroded from under them, but Akuma-kun remembers them. Sometimes, it feels like a piece of them still lives on inside of him." 

Kobe walked over to Akuma-Kun's cage and opened it, gently stroking its feathers to calm the raven-like bird. Its talons sunk deep into the muscles of the shugenja's forearm as it climbed onto him. The boy turned back to face Ariko and Miyami. His expression was soft, and his tone was light again, making an effort to dispel the tension that had filled the room. "He's actually quite friendly! The poor guy is just crying because he's lonely." 

He chuckled nervously, "They told me that he was really talkative when I was put in charge of taking care of the little guy, I suppose they were right, huh? I can see how it might have sounded alarming. Akuma-Kun has a gift for dramatics. But really, it's just us and our late-night studies. Nothing sinister, I promise." Kobe gestured around the room, indicating the various pointedly sinister-looking instruments and the piles of research describing the pervasive influences of supernatural evil. 

He paused, realizing the effect the room's atmosphere might have on his unexpected guests. "Would you like some tea? I think I have a pot around here somewhere." Kobe's attempt to lighten the mood was genuine, and his natural joviality tried to shine through the spooky ambiance of the room. As he turned to rummage through a nearby shelf, producing a small teapot and a few cups, the bird climbed to settle on the boy's shoulder. "It's not every day that we have visitors, so I am afraid my hospitality won't be up to your standards." Kobe's smile was warm, if awkward, as he tried to make his guests feel more at ease.

Kobe's eyes flicked back to Akuma-Kun, who had quieted down, seemingly content with the attention. "He's quite harmless once you get to know him. A bit like me, I suppose." Kobe's laugh was a softly echoing light in a room filled with shadowy studies.
||
Karen
*Ariko would look around Kobe's room, her eyes stopping on the bird that caused this entire incident. Her feelings on animals reinfoced, she couldn't help glare at the crow for a second. To mimic the sounds of a woman like that was not something she ever expected a creature like this to do. Placing a hand on her chest to still her beating heart, she would look to Miyami.*

"Thankfully, our worst fears were not realized, Nobuto-san." *The courtier would say, looking towards Kobe after.* "Kuni-sama, is this something that may be repeated in the future? That kind of sound will no doubt spread horrible rumours of our Embassy." *She would look back at the crow, wondering if it was safe after Kobe had admitted the beast had been living amongst the Damned.*
||
Michelle
Miyami's eyes fixed on Akuma-kun, the beautiful bird with slick black feathers and beady eyes. Miyami felt sad for the bird as he perched on the Kuni's shoulder. She knew she had to do something to help prevent any further incidents from happening in the Embassy.

"I heard rumors from the servants that something sinister was happening in this room at night, so I came to investigate this evening," Miyami said, looking at Akuma-kun. "But now I can see that there's nothing more than a sad bird looking for his companions. How long has he been away from the barracks and in your care? Perhaps the bird needs a greater introduction to those in the Embassy to keep more incidents like this from happening."

Miyami couldn't help but wonder how she could help the situation. "I can help by telling the servants what is behind the walls when they come to me," She said. "But maybe you can take the bird around the halls during the day so more people may see it and get familiar with its cries. This way, they will be able to recognize him and avoid any misunderstandings in the future." Miyami knew this simple solution could help the bird feel more comfortable and prevent further rumors from spreading.
||
Teri
Kuni Kobe listened intently to Miyami's' and Ariko's suggestions and concerns amidst the clutter of his arcane chamber. His attention flicked between them and the bird, Akuma-kun, who now seemed almost serene atop his shoulder. "Yasuki-sama, Nobuto-san, I'm so sorry!" Kobe began, his voice earnest. "I didn't want anyone to be concerned." 

Kobe moved over to a small table cluttered with vials and scrolls, carefully making space to set down the battered metal teapot he had retrieved. He began preparing tea blends, practiced hands pulling pinches from jars, and combined the dried leaves and flowers in a large bowl. The movements were a welcome distraction as he pulled his thoughts together.

He paused, stroking under the bird's chin as he talked. "Introducing Akuma-Kun to the embassy during the day is a good idea, but he's only supposed to leave if my duties require it. If he stays on the embassy grounds, he isn't leaving. Yeah. That sounds good. It's easy to fear the unknown, but who could be afraid of this face? Right? I don't know. We might want to run it by Hida-sama first. I'd hate to get in trouble." 

About the size of a raven, with sleek black feathers that were just a *Little* Too long and dark crimson eyes that seemed to give off their own baleful light, Akuma-kun watched Arami intently. It was as if the bird of prey could sense the Yasuki's reticence. Like her fear was delicious to it, and... And was it enjoying her discomfort? Nah. Probably not. 

"As for ensuring such an incident doesn't repeat," Kobe continued, pouring the herbs into the seen-better-days tetsubin before setting it on a metal frame that still held the glowing coals from some experiment on plant essences he had been doing earlier in the night. There was a little hiss as the pot settled into place. 

"You're right that he's probably lonely. Those soldiers operated throughout the night, and they all doted on him, so he never really had to be alone before now. Meeting other people and being social might be good for him, and I'll take extra measures to comfort Akuma-Kun during the night. At the least, I can work on finding ways to keep the noise confined to the area."

"It is late, so I have made a yummy blend of calming herbs. I know some drink green tea late in the evenings, but I would hate to make Yume-do even harder for you to find. I am afraid that I do not have cups suitable for discerning tastes, but you may take your pick." He gestured to a selection of cups; none matched, and a few were never intended to hold tea. Several had obvious chips in their rims. With a sheepish expression on his grey, makeup-smudged face, the young man again bowed low. "I again apologize for concerning you."
||
Karen
*Ariko entered the Kuni's quarters once he went inside to begin making tea. The small courtier would look around the room, curious at what a Kuni actually got up to and all she saw was stacks of scrolls along the walls, jars and bitter smells she was curious about but suspected it might be best not to ask about.*

"I'm sure none here in the embassy will be concerned once they are aware of Akuma-san." *Ariko would finally say, giving the bird a side-glance. The woman would carefully maintain her face when Kobe mentions how could anyone be afraid of the birds face. More like how could anyone love a beast like that. Birds were already just tolerable, since most avoided people, but this bird just seemed off even amongst others. And those eyes. She would quickly look back to Kobe.*

"I am not very familiar with caring for birds but besides what Nobuto-san mentioned, are there certain things that tire Akuma-san and would encourage him to sleep through the night?" *Ariko would gladly accept the offer of green tea. After hearing the sounds this cursed bird was making, she didn't think she would get to sleep anytime soon as it was. She truly had thought someone was dying within the embassy, if this was common amongst the Kuni, perhaps their reputation wasn't so strange. Looking at the cups Kobe had, she would do her best to pick one that was meant for tea and not chipped after Mayami and Kobe himself had picked cups.* "The drink would be greatly appreciated, Kuni-sama. You have my thanks, that will help settle me before I return to bed." *She was curious to see what herbs exactly had been added, curious if her palate would identify them all.*
||
Michelle
Miyami picked up the cup and examined it closely as she pondered over the problem of the night terrors that had been plaguing them. She knew that the bird was used to mimicking the screams of the damned, but she wondered if there was a way to teach it some calmer phrases. She suggested to Kuni Kobe, "Perhaps we could teach him some soothing phrases to call out in the night. It might take some time, but it could be better than the blood-curdling screams we've been hearing."

Miyami continued, "Even teaching the bird its own name and that it's not alone could be helpful. We'll figure something out together." She sipped her tea and said, "Thank you for the tea, Kuni-Sama. It's been a pleasure meeting you. I am sure we can all develop a way to help with Akuma-kun."

As she looked around the room, Miyami's initial apprehension had faded away. She realized that Kuni Kobe was just a young man with a passion for his craft, and the bird was just a victim of its environment. She felt hopeful that they could help the bird solve the problem of the night terrors and put the fears of the servants to rest. 
||
Teri
The young Kuni, with his face paint still thoroughly smudged from passing out during a long night of work, listened attentively to the two. "Yeah," He responded to the Yasuki, "Perhaps there are some calming exercises that I could introduce to Akuma-kun's nightly routine. Maybe some peaceful music or soothing prayers?" Kobe carefully handed Ariko the final cup of poured tea, choosing the least chipped option for the samurai-ko.

The boy's face lit up as Miyami offered her own ideas. The streaks of paint on his cheeks somehow added to his earnestness. "Teaching Akuma-kun new phrases would be great fun! That's a wonderful idea, Miyami-san!" Kobe exclaimed. He sipped his tea, the warmth of the cup contrasting with the cool air of the room.

Kobe's eyes flickered back to Akuma-Kun, who now quietly observed the group. "Your understanding and patience tonight mean a lot. I assure you, I am grateful for your suggestions. I'll immediately work to ensure that further nights are more peaceful. At the least, I will pad these walls so that I am the only one that must suffer from his late-night complaints." Kobe's gaze returned to his guests, his smile gentle yet enthusiastic. 
||
Michelle
Miyami took a sip from the tea that Kuni had offered. The warmth of the tea was soothing and made the room feel cooler. She spoke quietly to Kuni, "Akuma-Kun is still adjusting to his new home, and the people are adjusting to him. But I am sure that with time, he will be less of a disruption."

As she finished her tea, Miyami turned to Kuni and said, "Thank you for the tea, even at this late hour, Kuni-Sama. And if you ever need any assistance with Akuma-Kun in the future, please feel free to call me at Benten's Tea Garden. I am the proprietor's assistant there."

Miyami was ready to head back home and get some rest before her busy day tomorrow. However, she didn't want to appear scared or hurry to leave. "By the way, be wary of the Matchmaker while you're there. She'll try to find a suitor for every single Crab on the market," Miyami said with a sly grin at Kuni-Sama.
||
Karen
*Ariko would accept the offered tea cup, thanking the Kuni and, enjoying the warmth of the cup and taking a sip as she listened to Mayami and Kobe speak.* "Phrases might be a good idea. Do birds like Akuma-kun sing, Kuni-sama? While soothing music might help, teaching him to repeat it over what he was doing tonight might be an alternate solution if phrases do not work." *Ariko would give the bird another look, suppressing the urge to shudder in discomfort at the birds eyes as it observed them.*

*The small Crab would take another sip of her tea as she looked over to Mayami and pondered her words, resisting the urge to frown at the talk of marriage. Despite those feelings, no doubt she would have to introduce herself to the matchmaker and perform her duty to her clan as required.*
||
Teri
Kuni Kobe listened to Ariko's suggestion about birds singing, nodding thoughtfully. "That's smart, Yasuki-sama. I wonder if I could teach him all the words to Snowpetals in Spring? Remember, the one that goes... Umm," And then he sang. Just casually, confidently, and unbidden. It wasn't the voice of an angel, but the notes were true... The sound of someone who spends a lot of time singing to himself.

"...Light and free from care,
A moment here, then gone to where
The nightingales sing..."

As Kobe's paused, trying to remember the rest of the chorus, the large scruffy bird on his shoulder gave a squawk. Frustrated, it continued where the young man had left off in a gravelly baritone,

"...Where the willows dream,
Falling in a gentle stream,
Snowpetals in spring..."

The wild-haired boy with the honeyed eyes gave a little clap, "Oh! Good job, Akuma-Kun. You do know it!" The bird seemed non-plussed. It tilted its head a few times before hopping off of Kobe's shoulder and waddling its way back toward the lacquer cage it called home.

Kobe carefully placed his teacup down and turned to address both Miyami and Ariko. "Thanks again for coming to make sure that I was okay. I really appreciate it... And thanks for being understanding and willing to help out with my little friend." He smiled warmly, grateful for the company of fellow samurai. Addressing Miyami's comment about the Matchmaker, Kobe chuckled softly. "Thank you for the warning, Miyami-san. I'll keep that in mind. Though, I doubt that I'm much of a catch!" His laughter was light, an attempt to bring a touch of levity to the night's events.

As the conversation wound down, Kobe stood, ready to escort his guests to the door. "I should probably let you both get some rest. It's been a long night, and I'm sure your duties await you in the morning. I'm certain Akuma-Kun and I will have a much quieter night from here on." He added, "If you ever have any questions, or if you simply wish to visit, please feel free to come by."

||
Karen
*Despite her feelings on the accursed bird, Ariko couldn't help but smile and politely laugh at Akuma's completion of the song that Kobe could not fully recall. Perhaps the beast had some appeal to it after all. As long as it kept it's distance from her at least.*

"I am just pleased there wasn't an actual crisis going on in the embassy, Kuni-sama. Hearing those sounds in here, this late at night was not what I expected since arriving here." *The courtier would reply, fininshing the tea Kobe had kindly provided them. She seemed to hesitate for a moment but her desire to assist a fellow Crab surpassed her aversion to what she considered saying.*

"Thank you for the kind invitation, Kuni-sama. I will be sure to stop by to speak in the future. If you need more assistance with Akuma-kun in the future, perhaps I can be of assitance if he is fond of music. I dabble in playing the flute and perhaps I could assist in soothing him in the future if needed."
Michelle
Miyami scanned the cluttered room, searching for an empty surface to place her cup. After a moment, she spotted a stack of books next to the makeshift burner that held the kettle. She hesitated for a moment before placing her cup on top of the stack - it would have been rude to simply hand it over to her host.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Kuni-Sama," Miyami said, bowing respectfully. "I'll make sure to let the servants know that the noises from your room are just a lonely bird, not a woman in distress. Hopefully, that should put an end to the rumors." She straightened up and offered a small smile. "If there is anything else we can do to help around here, just let me know."
||
Teri
Kobe walked the two ladies to the door, smiling the whole way. "The flute? I like to sing... I mean, I'm not super good at it, but it's fun and stuff. I wonder if the three of us could actually make music together? That would be wild... Singing a duet with a bird." The boy nearly bobbed as he walked, animated and fluid in his movements as he skirted around the not-yet-assembled lab equipment. Several large barrels made of wood and copper and coils of tubing may have tugged at the corner of Ariko's perception, but it was late. Probably nothing. Another time, perhaps.

As the two Crab Samurai-ko offered their continuing support and bid their farewells, the young boy with the decidedly unsettling duty followed them to the door for one final wave. Then, Kobe and his damned Devil Bird returned to their studies... The bird picking up notes of a song about snowflakes and nightingales.

||