She nodded a little bit. "I consider those who join my family carefully. There are a few I trust to run things in my absence. We will be aiding the Dragon in creating a monastery as well, soon."

"I would like to know more about you, too."

Shosuro enters, as well, nodding to them both and settling down to the side.

"... Many of my family are artists. Mainly actors, but our gardens have been getting some talk lately, too. We support my father's family a great deal in court. As you know, I am something of a blade... some of them have followed in those steps as well," she said. "I chose some people who were very ...

"I will do my best to learn it. If it requires more dedication, then we can cross that bridge when we come to it."

"That's true." She nodded, clearly satisfied with his answer. Squeezing his hands, she leaned up and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "Then I will gladly accept your understanding and affection, and offer mine in return."

She turned to face him fully, her hand still in his, expression serious. "That's a very open-ended thing to say, Kakita-san. That might be a long time..."

She squeezed his hand gently in response to the brush of his thumb. "I appreciate how dedicated you are... Like we spoke of when we met, we are both blades. I... feel like I can understand you a little, and maybe you can understand me a little. That's rare." She paused for another long moment before...

She looked down from the sky and into his eyes. "... I like you. So I want to help."

"... I might be able to help, if I know more about what sort of person to look for," she replied. A moment of silence passes before she closes the distance just a little, taking his hand.

She stepped close until she was nearly against his side, only a couple of inches separate. She was a bit warm, 3ven with the layers. "Yes... Have you considered your future from here? Though I suppose you still have hunting to do."

Trailing quietly behind him is Shosuro who is... Somewhat present, but easy to ignore at the moment. It was likely a habit when accompanying him like this.

He heard snow crunching under someone's feet, and when his eyes follow, he sees Shosuro dressed in an elegant, mostly black outfit with a red shawl over it. She gave him a small smile when he saw her. A brief bow, then she looked up at the sky. "The stars are finally out. It seems right."

In the midst of all the arrangements Kakita’s eyes quietly sought out Shosuro from across the room. Once their eyes met, Kakita shifted his glance over to Bayushi for a moment before returning back to Shosuro as if to say… So he was here, I see. Shosuro, who had returned to her more... not hidden, ...

He nodded and smiled softly, “I still have it. I expected to lose it with the trajectory I took… I was fortunate.” He looked intently into her eyes in a look of gratitude… it was she who gave him the knowledge he required to excise this poison… and his eyes expressed the deepest gratitude for her h...

Kakita bowed deeply to the two princesses, “No further thanks are necessary. I have done nothing more than I swore to do for your mother as a young boy.” He rises to his normal height, “Nothing brings me greater joy than for the truth to have come to light in a means we all can see and accept. The ...

Shosuro stepped out from among the throng, pulling out her sword, a light green sheen along the edge.

Shosuro spared a glance and a smile toward KAkita before she bolted after the Raven.

An extremely plain young woman was amongst the spectators.

She bowed in return. "I wish you luck in your duel tomorrow." She paused. "And don't forget, depending on your priorities... You don't have to win to strike."

"I suppose it is a dishonorable thing to say, but there are bigger things than honor sometimes."

"Not in particular. Thank you for bringing this to me, Wu-san."