Kakita Sayomi could not help but smile a little more genuinely as Kiriko stifled a tiny giggle behind the palm of her head. It was a breach of etiquette and not an entirely small one but  something about the small action endeared Sayomi to the woman. Her eyes remain on the champion as she rises, blinking when the woman’s gaze falls upon her and she asks if Sayomi would lend her sword arm to her Empress.<br/><br/><span style="color: teal">“Kakita strive to master the sword but the Empress has more than my  practiced arm; she has my life as well.”</span>The young samurai-ko freezes, looking up at the Emerald Champion. Her eyes play across the woman’s face before settling on her eyes. She had to accept, of course but there was always a niggling doubt in the back of her mind. It whispered insidiously that she was imperfect, that this was a mere appointment by political favor.<br/><br/>Clearing her throat gently and ignoring the breach of etiquette it was Sayomi bows her head to hide her face from the others under the thin veil of showing respect to her superior.<span style="color: teal">“I accept.”</span>Once the woman’s gaze moves on from her she raises her head again and sips at her tea, eyes lingering on the Spider most of all. She thought she had seen a strange look in her direction but perhaps it was her being over-imaginative.  One Might notice her face was slightly flush after her acceptance.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>