The blacksmith stared carefully at the sword that was handed to him by the Lady. He wanted to make sure that he had done his best work. If he hadn’t he knew that she wouldn’t be pleased and certainly she wasn’t the worst of his problems. Lord Chikage would have a field day and he was sure he’d be replaced by a new blacksmith. He had to remind them how great of an asset he was. He had been around for quite some time.<br/><br/>Danpa was a well-known household name. His family had been in the village for many generations and had been known to be great blacksmiths across the country side. Many swordsmen had come for his special ability and have paid a hefty coin to get exactly what they asked to be tempered. Looking down at the katana, he was certain that it had been an easy job, but what had intrigued him was the fact that the sword held together. He picked it up and weighed it with his hands. It not heavy, but definitely not too lite either. He ran his thumb along the edge of it and then at its point. From the looks of the sword he would have to do some work on the hamon and the mune. As for the tsuka, he would have to be sure to attach it with a new seppa to a habaki to make the sword appear good as new.<br/><br/>He grinned to himself as he thought of the masterpiece-to-be. He was almost certain that she would be pleased with her weapon. It needed a few touches here and there and a bit of sharpening, but nothing that he couldn’t handle. As a matter of fact, he’d dealt with almost irreparable swords and still had been able to forge them as good as new. Hopefully a day wouldn’t be too long for her, because he had intended on working on it until the wee early bits of the morning.<br/>---<br/>Chiyo kept in mind what the Lady had asked of her as far as a kimono went. The idea of dress that she wanted was far different than anything she had ever heard of. But the things that she had asked to be installed on her kimonos weren’t something that she wasn’t capable of doing. She couldn’t call herself a seamstress if she hadn’t been fully able to create something upon request like this. Colors were the first thing that came to mind when she looked around at her material. For now, she would accommodate to the likings of Lord Chikage in color. She knew that the Lady’s skin was very different than that of most women and she had to contrast that somehow.<br/><br/>She not only had to be fit for battle, but she elderly woman thought that she had to be beautiful as well. Perhaps a deep red color would go well with her raven hair or even blacks. She wasn’t certain what to choose. She thought that maybe she would go with both. If the Lady didn’t like what she created, she could always make a new one and use those kimonos for profit in another village. For the sake of creating the kimono that she so desired, she would make the obiage, the obijime and the obi smaller for comfort. With those thoughts in mind, she proceeded with her design in hopes of making the couple very happy with her creation.<br/>---<br/>All of the girls were now seated at the table and allowed for Lady Mishiko to sit at the head. When Mishiko made her request, all of the girls looked at one another reluctantly. It was the first time someone had asked them to introduce themselves in such a manner and with a cup of tea no less. Many of them shuffled uncomfortably and some even averted their gaze from the Lady. They were all very embarrassed. All of them were, of course, except the older ones like Kushina, Natsu, and Milk.<br/><br/>Kushina brushed her bangs from her eyes and sat up properly. “My name is Kushina and something that pleases me is the fact that we are allowed this tea time every day.” She smiled as she picked up the small cup. The younger girls giggled at her remark, but Kushina was very serious. It wasn’t often that they were allowed a break like this and in the presence of someone important.<br/><br/>“I am Natsu…” The blond spoke up quietly as she stared at her cup. “Something that I enjoy is being able to serve Lord Chikage.” Although, some events had occurred, she still enjoyed being around him and being able to be at his beck and call. It was a shame that she wouldn’t be able to do that anymore, if at all.<br/><br/>“Nice to meet you, I am Milk, or so that’s what Lord Chikage calls me.” Milk pouted a bit as she set her cup down. “My real name is Mizu and something that I enjoy to do is go on walks around the village. All the people here are so very nice and warm as opposed to the last place I came from.”<br/><br/>“I’m Mira,” The fired red-head introduced after clearing her throat. “Um…I suppose something that pleases me is the fact that you’ve returned. Perhaps there will be order around here.” She mumbled timidly.<br/><br/>“My name is Aurora and something that I enjoy is being able to feed some of the animals out in the village, like the horses and the cattle.” She smiled bashfully behind her cup.<br/><br/>“Hi, I’m Cera. I think what I like to do the most is being able to receive a new kimono each month. It’s something that I’m not used to.” Cera began to pour more tea into the Lady’s cup as she spoke and then offered it to the other girls.<br/><br/>“I’m Rai and something that I enjoy is that m’lord allows me to go out during the new moon and tend to my needs as part demon.” Her honesty always shocked the girls and at the same time they were often afraid during the new moon because she became a different person. To think that a small drop of a demon’s blood was all it took…<br/><br/>“I’m Maiko and—“The brunette began but was interrupted by the girl beside her.<br/><br/>“And I am Ami! It’s a pleasure to be in your presence Lady Mishiko.” Ami smiled gently, her green orbs as bright as ever. Maiko nudged up against Ami and puffed up her face.<br/><br/>“I was talking!” Maiko continued to puff up her face in frustration and Ami merely laughed. “Ahem…as I was saying, I’m Maiko and something I enjoy is tending to the garden.”<br/><br/>“Well something that I enjoy is messing with Maiko here.” Ami then said as she poked at the girl’s cheeks. Maiko began to blush and nudged her hands away.<br/><br/>Finally, the dark concord-colored female spoke after taking a few sips from her tea. “I’m Anki.” She set her cup down and rotated it in her hands. “Something that I enjoy….or something that pleases me?” She said this aloud as she continued to stare at the leaves at the bottom of her cup. “Something that pleases me is the fact at Lord Chikage was kind enough to take me into this place. That…that indeed makes me happy.” She looked over at Lady Mishiko and the girls surrounding her merely stared at her. It was a mutual agreement between them all that they were all happy that Lord Chikage had taken them from places in which they felt they hadn’t belonged or places that they wished they could get away from.<br/><br/>No girl can really say that this was a dream of theirs. No one can say that working under the Lord in this manner was something that they had always hoped for while growing up. Getting away from their circumstances was one thing though and being able to eat and wear decent clothing each day was another thing to be thankful for. So when they asked them to do something, they couldn’t complain. If they were told to run on a faraway errand, they wouldn’t bat an eyelash.  They would just do it. In this village, it had been something that everyone had all come to accept and understand. It was the main reason why no one hated Chikage and his company.<br/><br/>---<br/>Chikage was all done with his small meeting. The men began to stand and stretch. From where they had been sitting, they could look out the small window and see all of the women out in the garden. Kyo smirked at this sight. “You’d best be careful Chikage; she might already be plotting against you.” He joked. Amagiri tsked as he watched the girls interact with one another. They couldn’t hear very much of what they were saying, but they’d all assumed that it was a simple light-hearted conversation.<br/><br/>“I highly doubt that. Mishiko is a very personable individual. I am sure she is just observing and learning a few things about the girls. She likes to be in control and away of her surroundings. It’s another thing that I like about that woman.” Chikage grinned.<br/><br/>“You got lucky, is what you’re saying?” Kyo pushed as he leaned over the frame of the window, his forearm pressed against the top.<br/><br/>“It’s not a matter of luck my friend. It’s all about knowing who’s the best, which unfortunately wasn’t you.” Chikage teased as he exited the room. Kyo stood up, baffled at Chikage. Amagiri stood in the corner laughing to himself and trying to hide it by turning his head.<br/><br/>“Oh shut up.” Kyo disgruntled.<br/><br/>Chikage made his way to the garden to check with the women, while Kyo and Amagiri followed suit. When he arrived, he saw them a bit closer and they were all having tea together? Chikage raised a brow but continued to stand at the entrance. Once all the girls noticed his presence, the all stood and bowed together and raised their bodies upward again.<br/><br/>“Lord Chikage, Lord Kyo and Lord Amagiri,” They all acknowledged simultaneously as they stood. Chikage held his hand up as a way of telling them that it was okay. They all sat back in their seats and turned their attention back to Mishiko.<br/><br/>“What’re you doing out here Mishi? Are you intimidating my women?” Chikage teased. None of the girls were familiar with this side of Chikage…outside of his bedroom quarters of course. They were all anxious to hear Mishiko’s response.