Gusai has directed that some drinks and light snacks be made available. The staff, inspired by the brunch of ages, obliges, doing what it can.

The lights are low, The evening is quiet. The brazier in the room gives warmth. And Gusai awaits his guest.

Hopefully Sasori is not mauled by a bear. She knocked on the frame of the door to announce herself. "Otomo sama?"

Gusai goes over to the door, opens it.

"Bayushi-san, please, do come in," he says, and steps to the side to allow her to enter.

"I hope your day's been a good one."

The young lady entered the room, closing the door behind her. She smiled. "It goes." She looked at the drinks and sighed. "Sometimes I wonder..."

Gusai seats himself, gesturing to a nearby available cushion for her, and asks "What do you wonder?"

He sets out cups.

She took a seat. "What are you serving me? Or maybe should skip the drink."

"I have tea and sake ready," he says, "but both can be put aside easily enough, if that's your pleasure."

Sasori smiled. "Tea would be nice." She took out her fan. "So Otomo sama... what it is your plan?"

Gusai pours tea for them both, a hearty blend not like to be found in finer houses, but bracing.

"I'd thought the plan was," he says, "that there'd be a warm place and that I'd be petting some pretty kitty in my lap. Or that's what I recall.

"Unless you had another idea?"

"Ah..." Sasori giggled. "I maybe you can come to my lap and tell me about yourself and we do mutual petting."

Gusai moves over to her, not being one to refuse such an invitation, bringing the cups with him. Handing her one, he offers "To your health," and his hand will linger on hers when she takes it. If she does.

"To friendships" She smiled as his touch made her slightly blush. She take a gingerly sip as she savour the spice blend. "You weren't kidding about this... it is quite... interesting."

"It's good to experience new things," Gusai says, "to experiment. It's the only way we learn, really. And I would be an eager student, wherever seated."

Sasori smiled. "Hai, But who said that to learn one must be seated?" She giggled. "Of course one must feed the curiosity from time to time nya."

"Shall I stand, then, while you sit?" Gusai asks. "It would be an interesting petting to be done thence."

He drinks his tea.

"But on what food would you feed your curiosity? Or on what ought I feed mine? Because I may not be a hero, but I have quite an appetite."

"Or you can lay on my lap and let this cat listen to what you are curious about." She nodded. "My curiosity has no particular need." She took a sip from her tea. "I do not need saving nor need of a hero. I can be your hero if you so like though."

"Should I put my head in your lap, then, and put my tongue to country matters?" Gusai asks, channeling something else entirely.

Taking another sip of tea, he asks "How do you assess this gathering so far?"

"It is interesting and some what fun. Perhaps the wrath of the Yuki no Onna was a blessing to some." She nodded. "You can talk about what ever you want Otomo sama."

"It's let me see you," Gusai says, "so that's a blessing, certainly."

He sits quite close to her, putting his hand down just beside her knee as he shifts slightly.

"I'm glad you've been enjoying yourself," he adds. "What's been best for you thus far?"

"Getting new friends." She decided to take his hand and place it on her head. "To pet you need to put the hand here...nya." She giggled.