<div class="floatleft">(http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130219153348/l5r/images/4/46/Isawa_Hibana.jpg)</div><br/>The empty bottle of sake rolled lazily along the floor.  Glass shimmered and shined beneath the waning moments of sunlight.  Liquor spilled too late in the night dripped down between the cracks of the flooring to feed whatever spirits of the earth lingered in the city.  Streams of gold flowered over those drops, giving them each a moment to be the sun until they plummeted below into an unknown abyss.  Perhaps there was a philosophical meaning there, a poem to be written at this moment.  Still, Hotaru doubted there were many samurai that would appreciate the beauty of waking up after a night of drinking though many would understand.  Lazy eyes darkened with soot and ash continued to watch the odd scene of sunlight and alcohol.  Then her world exploded.<br/><br/>A pounding of feet caused an earthquake in her thoughts and the high pitched voice of an angry owner racked across her mind like an oni.  Curse words ensued, words she knew the meaning of but not their origin.  Hands hoisted her upward and out into the sunlight.  Blinding was the light and cold was the water her head was soon dunked into when she was released.  Hotaru came up sputtering from the accursed pool of fluid and gave a useless swing at whoever had carried her out.  Black hair clung to her proud features, a pair of burning eyes dispelled any comments one might make about beauty but instead replaced them with remarks of a handsome nature.  Then came an uncharacteristic squeal from her lips when next her roll of scrolls was flung out as well.<br/><br/>“You useless eta shit crawling whore son!  If you damage even one piece of them I will cook your balls still attached and feed them to you!”<br/><br/>The large man did indeed blanch at the nature of the threat.  Hotaru was known for her temper, even in the rural landscapes and that she was known for her connection with the elements of fire did much to credit her threat.  Still when she stumbled forward and into the mud, there was enough laughter to give the man confidence he was safe.  Then she swung with a knife in hand that sent him scrambling back into the inn.<br/><br/>“Second thought I’ll cut them off now!”<br/><br/>Perhaps the spinning of the swipe had cost her more than she knew because the action also cost her dinner across the front deck.  Dignity went with her food so that soon she was dunking her head back into the water.  Hotaru slung her set of scrolls over her shoulder before stumbling away from the place she had called home last night.  One hand moved upward to smooth her black hair, pressing the wet lengths aside so that she could see in her stumbling moments toward another sake house.  This time there was potential employment or at least someone that wanted to speak with her.<br/><br/>Wet and disgruntled, the woman settled down in front of the beauty before her.  “So what do you want?”