[D3 EM] The Dawn will come

[Hantei Genji]

Genji huddled closer, drawing his clothes a bit further in. The weather was quite wintery, surprising absolutely no one. Deciding on an early morning walk instead of huddling in the rooms again, he started debating his life choices. No worries, time to soldier ahead!

Who knows who or what he might find in this time?

[Bayushi Kogi]

The answer is... a woman in red clothing topped with a warm jacket of padded silk, tracing out the steps of an unarmed kata in the fresh snow of a small clearing.

The lower part of her face is covered by a familiar veil, currently tucked in to the neckline of her jacket. However, today's wintry wind has proved to be too much for the silk scarf she'd had loosely draped over her head the first time Genji had seen her, at the wedding reception; instead, she's tied the fine fabric around the thick knot of braided hair at the back of her head, leaving two flowing red tails for the wind to play with.

[Hantei Genji]

The answer is... a woman in red clothing topped with a warm jacket of padded silk, tracing out the steps of an unarmed kata in the fresh snow of a small clearing.

The lower part of her face is covered by a familiar veil, currently tucked in to the neckline of her jacket. However, today's wintry wind has proved to be too much for the silk scarf she'd had loosely draped over her head the first time Genji had seen her, at the wedding reception; instead, she's tied the fine fabric around the thick knot of braided hair at the back of her head, leaving two flowing red tails for the wind to play with.

Genji slowed as a familiar crimson figure stood in front of him "My my, a red star in a white winterscape." Genji started with a smile, and then bowed.

"Bayushi-san, greetings."

[Bayushi Kogi]

Kogi drops out of her kata and into a bow with a quickness. To a knowledgeable eye, the bow is rather more professionally executed than the kata had been.

"Hantei-sama! Good morning. Or should I say 'good morning, Lord Moon'?"" The corners of her eyes hint at a smile under her veil. Actually, despite the veil covering her chin and neck, this might be the least-mysterious version of Kogi yet; without the draping scarf, the rest of her face and head at least is visible, including two ears slightly pink with cold. "The hour is a little late for the usual kind of stargazing, but where the moon is, there must be stars. Are you well this morning?"

[Doji Dojihime]

Dojihime did not like gardens not because she found them distasteful but because they rarely compared to what her mother had assembled at home but surely the Imperial gardens would be beyond comparison.

Surely.

Then hearing the voices of Genji and the Scorpion brought her out from her wanderings and she approached in several layers of kimono hinting at the blue and the falling snow. Her cousin had grown and it was pleasing to see that he was maturing into a beautiful heir.

[Hantei Genji]

Kogi drops out of her kata and into a bow with a quickness. To a knowledgeable eye, the bow is rather more professionally executed than the kata had been.

"Hantei-sama! Good morning. Or should I say 'good morning, Lord Moon'?"" The corners of her eyes hint at a smile under her veil. Actually, despite the veil covering her chin and neck, this might be the least-mysterious version of Kogi yet; without the draping scarf, the rest of her face and head at least is visible, including two ears slightly pink with cold. "The hour is a little late for the usual kind of stargazing, but where the moon is, there must be stars. Are you well this morning?"

"Oh no, my deep dark secret is out in the open." He spoke in jest, his eyes scanning the samurai-ko, her features somewhat more visible than usual. "Well, there is one star." Wait, where did that come from. "So far so good. It was feeling a bit too cramped inside, so I figured a walk might be nice. I gather you feel the same?" He eyed his movements. "I did not know that the Scorpion practiced unarmed kata much."

Dojihime did not like gardens not because she found them distasteful but because they rarely compared to what her mother had assembled at home but surely the Imperial gardens would be beyond comparison.

Surely.

Then hearing the voices of Genji and the Scorpion brought her out from her wanderings and she approached in several layers of kimono hinting at the blue and the falling snow. Her cousin had grown and it was pleasing to see that he was maturing into a beautiful heir.

Genji saw his cousin, his eyes turning towards her, a small familiar bow/nod hybrid sent her way, giving her space to make a decision to join or not.

[Bayushi Kogi]

Kogi spreads her hands palm-up, slightly deprecating. "It's said a warrior should be able to fight even if they're disarmed. I never made much of a bushi, but I learned the foundations." She tucks her hands into her sleeves. "It's a quick way to wake up on a cold morning. In this lovely garden, especially... any chance to come out here, even if it's too cold to sit idly for long."

Kogi follows Genji in acknowledging the Crane woman, though a bit more deferentially.

[Hantei Genji]

Kogi spreads her hands palm-up, slightly deprecating. "It's said a warrior should be able to fight even if they're disarmed. I never made much of a bushi, but I learned the foundations." She tucks her hands into her sleeves. "It's a quick way to wake up on a cold morning. In this lovely garden, especially... any chance to come out here, even if it's too cold to sit idly for long."

Kogi follows Genji in acknowledging the Crane woman, though a bit more deferentially.

"Oh? The foundations are usually the most important part of one's curriculum. At least, that is what Kenshiro-sensei taught me." He continued smiling, though he did observe her tucking in her sleeves. "Mhm certainly, heating up the body in cold times is important." He let out a small laugh. "Are you fond of gardens Bayushi-san?"

[Doji Dojihime]

She was content to listen for now but bowed in return, she had not met as many Scorpion as she would have liked so she erred on the side of caution.

[Bayushi Kogi]

"Oh? The foundations are usually the most important part of one's curriculum. At least, that is what Kenshiro-sensei taught me." He continued smiling, though he did observe her tucking in her sleeves. "Mhm certainly, heating up the body in cold times is important." He let out a small laugh. "Are you fond of gardens Bayushi-san?"

"Oh, yes." Kogi nods. "Very much. Lord Bayushi has one at his castle too--we keep improving it every year."

A little more shyly, she adds, "I've always wanted to ask... whether the Kami build such gardens because this is what Heaven looks like, or as close as a piece of Ningen-do can come to it." She glances around the garden, then sidelong back at Genji, who is, after all, the son of one of those Kami. "But my lord doesn't speak of being in Tengoku very much."

[Doji Dojihime]

Her response was rewarded with a more critical eye from the Crane.

[Hantei Genji]

"Oh, yes." Kogi nods. "Very much. Lord Bayushi has one at his castle too--we keep improving it every year."

A little more shyly, she adds, "I've always wanted to ask... whether the Kami build such gardens because this is what Heaven looks like, or as close as a piece of Ningen-do can come to it." She glances around the garden, then sidelong back at Genji, who is, after all, the son of one of those Kami. "But my lord doesn't speak of being in Tengoku very much."

"Oh? Sounds quite lovely. Perhaps one day I'll be able to pay a visit, and perhaps Bayushi-san could show me around?" He smiled sheepishly at the thought.

"Well..." he seemed to hesitate. "Father does not talk much about Tengoku either, to be honest. He always seems focused on the here and now, on how to lead his people, and do the best for them and his land. On occasion he spoke of it, of an ideal place where everything is in order. Sometimes I feel he works so hard here is to match things as they are up there." Genji seemed lost in reverie. "Or who knows, really."

[Doji Dojihime]

"He is dutiful, Genji-kun," she finally said approaching with a smile.

"His life is dedicated to the Stag, same as my mother is dedicated to the Crane... they are alike in so many ways. As close as brother and sister can be," Dojihime said brightly.

[Bayushi Kogi]

"Oh? Sounds quite lovely. Perhaps one day I'll be able to pay a visit, and perhaps Bayushi-san could show me around?" He smiled sheepishly at the thought.

"Well..." he seemed to hesitate. "Father does not talk much about Tengoku either, to be honest. He always seems focused on the here and now, on how to lead his people, and do the best for them and his land. On occasion he spoke of it, of an ideal place where everything is in order. Sometimes I feel he works so hard here is to match things as they are up there." Genji seemed lost in reverie. "Or who knows, really."

"He is dutiful, Genji-kun," she finally said approaching with a smile.

"His life is dedicated to the Stag, same as my mother is dedicated to the Crane... they are alike in so many ways. As close as brother and sister can be," Dojihime said brightly.

"I'm sure my lord your uncle would want to receive you himself, Hantei-sama," she says, sending a ripple down the length of her veil as she tilts her head a bit to the side. "But I'd be honored to show you the sights."

She again nods deferentially to Dojihime.

[Doji Dojihime]

"Bayushi-san, what of your lineage and family... were you of the lesser tribes that followed my honored uncle?" she asked.

[Bayushi Kogi]

"Me?" The veil ripples again as Kogi turns her head toward Dojihime, a small puff of condensation emerging in the chilly air along with her words. "My only family is the House of Bayushi. My name and my learning come from my lord."

[Doji Dojihime]

"Me?" The veil ripples again as Kogi turns her head toward Dojihime, a small puff of condensation emerging in the chilly air along with her words. "My only family is the House of Bayushi. My name and my learning come from my lord."

“So you were formed whole cloth by the will of Uncle Bayushi, how curious,” she teased.

“I will have to add the creation of pretty constructs to the list of my dear honored uncle’s capabilities. Here I thought Mother had sole purview of such artistry, but here you stand a living work of art.”

[Hantei Genji]

"Ah, I am sure my uncle would welcome my visit, but I would be remiss if I were to not also spend time with some of the Scorpion that I met and enjoyed the company of?" He raised an eyebrow, and smiled at her.

"Ah, Hime-chan, bloodline isn't everything. Capability is important as well." He tried to ease the teasing from the Crane princess, though he wasn't sure how successful it was.

[Bayushi Kogi]

"Doji-sama is generous. My lord and Lady Doji do have many artistic talents in common, everyone says," Kogi responds amicably.

"In honesty... our whole Empire is such a construct, isn't it?" She untucks her hands and spreads them palm-up. "Everything that was here before has been remade into something new by Emperor Shiba, and his brothers and sisters. Including my lord and your honored parents." She tilts her head a little, the outer corners of her eyes crinkling as she glances at Genji and adds, "Whose children's company is also very enjoyable."

[Doji Dojihime]

"Ah, Hime-chan, bloodline isn't everything. Capability is important as well." He tried to ease the teasing from the Crane princess, though he wasn't sure how successful it was.

"This is a truism, cousin," she responded.

"Doji-sama is generous. My lord and Lady Doji do have many artistic talents in common, everyone says," Kogi responds amicably.

"In honesty... our whole Empire is such a construct, isn't it?" She untucks her hands and spreads them palm-up. "Everything that was here before has been remade into something new by Emperor Shiba, and his brothers and sisters. Including my lord and your honored parents." She tilts her head a little, the outer corners of her eyes crinkling as she glances at Genji and adds, "Whose children's company is also very enjoyable."

"Clever girl, I like this one. Genji-kun could do well to make her a Stag," she teased and then added playfully from behind her fan, "But don't make it easy, sure he's handsome and dashing... but I have it on good authority he needed a safety blanket until he was about eight or nine summers."