The First Empress

[Ashi]

Harue watched Okitsugu closely as he stepped closer to get a better look at the crest. The trinket was a fine blend of gold, silver, and jade with a cord of the finest soft leather to ensure strength and longevity. It would ensure her assistance from any ally she might come across; or that's what she was hoping for, anyway. Despite she did not want to accuse her savior of being a thief, she couldn't be too careful when it came to something so valuable. After a moment, Harue withdrew her hand and immediately started to tie the trinket back into her hair. Hair and crest secure, she replaced her pin.

"There is no need for such formality. You are welcome to use my given name." The Princess blushed when Okitsugu addressed her so humbly. In such circumstances as these, she saw no reason for him to use her title. Actually, she felt that she owed him at least that much for saving her. Harue's eyes brightened at the mention of the village only for her to blush again at the mention of her lack of footwear.

"Lost, I'm afraid. I kicked them off somewhere along the road so I could run faster." Her eyes shifted downward to look at her feet. "I will just have to do without." Without hesitation, she started forward in the direction he had pointed, eager to get as far away from the camp as possible.

 

[WizDom]

It surprised Okitsugu that she allowed him the liberty of calling by her name. He has been around nobles and aristocrats before who have always demanded the use of their title, regardless of any situation. Being that her family is the pinnacle of royalty, he expected her to demand the same formality. In fact, her whole demeanor was a bit unexpected. She didn't seem to have an attitude of entitlement and she also had a sense of independence. These weren't common traits of royalty, well atleast from the ones he's experienced. It even surprised him she hadn't even made a single demand, considering the situation. "Unfortunate" he replied when she commented about her shoes.

It shocked Okitsugu that she going to walk through the forest alone, as she started to walk pass him walking in the direction he pointed to up the large foothill. He tugged at her kimono to stop her. "Wait, you cant-" his concerned statement was interrupted by the disturbing echo of a howling wolf. While he was impressed by her resolve to get to the village, he thought her to be a bit reckless to just want to walk through the forest alone at this time of night. She more than likely didn't know the potential dangers of it.

"I think it would be best for me to escort you there. It won't be a problem because I'm currently staying there and I think I'm done hunting for the night." he stated with a somewhat comedic tone. "But, in all seriousness, it can actually be dangerous to walk in the forest without proper footwear." he walked by her, going towards a tree she would have passed if she continued on. He examined the base of the tree for a few seconds. "Besides certain plants, such as poison ivy, there are other thing that can be harmful. Such as this." Kicking a few leaves out the way, he exposed a skinny snake that was curled and camouflaged underneath. "This one isn't venomous, nor very aggressive." He kicked some leaves to cover it backup, stepped away, and turned to Harue. "But, there are some that are, as well as a number of insects that are very harmful. While having boots doesn't make you impenetrable, thick leather is better than soft cloth, if you happen to accidentally come across any of these and step on them. You can't be reckless" Okitsugu looked at her with an earnest expression. He could have been more specific about the critters, but he didn't want to scare her. He just wanted to be honest about what she could possible come across.

 

[Ashi]

"Hey!" Harue objected lightly as Okitsugu tugged at her kimono. One sleeve fell from her shoulder with the pull and she hastily jerked it back into place. She turned towards him, a sort of pout about her lips that immediately disappeared at the distant cry of a wolf. "Oh, but of course! I have no doubt that would be best. Let's be going!" She attempted to hurry them along, not wanting to be there when the wolf and potentially its pack arrived for a meal. When Okitsugu didn't move, the blonde frowned anxiously.

Though she never voiced it, Harue questioned as to what the young man was doing out in the woods in the middle of the night. It was a bit of a surprise, and at the same time not so surprising, that she should find out he was hunting. That explained his bow and arrows and the knife; although, as to why he would do so after dark still didn't make much sense to her.

"Yes, I know. Hence, that is why I've never been in a forest until now; but what choice do I have?" Harue attempted to start forward again, pausing to watch Okitsugu kick aside a pile of leaves to expose a snake. The Princess nearly shrieked and jumped back. "And kicking at such a potentially deadly creature isn't reckless?! I think you need to reevaluate your definition of the word." She snapped briskly but without heat.

"Unless you should like to carry me up the hill, please do not do that anymore." Harue sighed half of relief and half to catch her breath a second time when the snake was covered by the leaves again. One more scare and she might scramble up a tree instead of onto his shoulders. "Now, please, lead the way." With a sweep of her arm in the direction of the village, she welcomed him to step in front of her.

 

[WizDom]

"I'm sorry. My intent wasn't to scare you. I won't do it again." Okitsugu replied after seeing her slightly fearful reaction. Although he knew and stated that that particular snake wasn't aggressive, so he didn't consider it reckless. However, like her, he didn't want to stand around any longer after hearing that wolf and usually it's never just one alone. He stepped towards Harue.

"I'll carry you until we got on the path. At least then you can see where you're walking and not really worry about what your stepping on." Okitsugu held his left hand out, gesturing for her to take his bow. "Hold this, please"

 

[Ashi]

"Ah, no, I didn't mean.." Harue blinked, not used to being struck dumb multiple times in a conversation. She hadn't intended for Okitsugu to actually carry her; she only wanted to avoid more jump-scares, not that it was a threat. For a moment, she merely looked at him, as if she wasn't sure whether or not he was being serious. With hesitation she reached out and took the bow by one limb with one hand and then the other. It was reminiscent of a time long past, when she had just come of age.

Staring at the bow, Harue smiled only enough that it was recognizable as a smile. With utmost care she put one arm through it and then her head, resting it on one shoulder so that it crossed her body. She was rather proud of herself for remembering that after several years. The only trouble was making sure it didn't get stuck on her sleeve in case it was needed. In such a case, it was a good thing she only had one layer of her jūnihitoe.

"Let's hope it's not far," She said with a glance off into the trees. The only sounds aside from their voices was crickets and the occasional snap of a twig or rustling of leaves, which weren't terribly alarming.

 

[WizDom]

Okitsugu stepped beside her. He placed his left arm across her back and slightly bent down to place his right arm beneath her legs. In one single motion, he lifted her with ease and held her securely in his arms. "Don't worry. It's not too far." he replied with a reassuring tone, giving her a quick glance. He then made is way uphill with a quick, but careful pace.

He kept silent while carrying her. There wasn't anything much he could say. Also, considering he was a complete stranger carrying her, remaining silent was probably best. He did want to ask her some more questions, but getting back to the village was more of a priority. Though, as he walked, he took subtle glimpses at her from the corner of his eye. Even with some dirt and blood splattered, she had a pretty face. However, he didn't think anymore about it.

Several minutes later, they finally arrived at the path. Okitsugu gently placed her on her feet. "Alright, it's not to far from here." he said as he stepped in front of her, taking the lead.

 

[Ashi]

Harue only nodded, knowing not what to say at such a time. The entirety of the walk to the path was silent and awkward, perhaps due to the fact that they were total strangers. Despite that fact, Harue found a precarious sense of comfort in being in Okitsugu's arms. She rationalized that it was because of the traumatic experience she had that night, that of course she would find comfort in something so close to normal as this. Then, in the back of her mind, she knew better.

Every now and again, Harue glanced up at him. She hadn't really studied him before, for that was the farthest thing from her mind at the time. Her eyes traced over his face multiple times, as if burning his image into her memory. Once she caught his gaze and averted her eyes, blushing at her foolishness. It was a relief when Okitsugu set her on her feet. Harue didn't have to be so close, and if she was caught staring again, it wouldn't seem so strange since he would be in front of her. It was also nice to be able to walk without worrying what she might be stepping on.

Indeed the village wasn't far from the point where the footpath began. As the trees became spaced farther apart and the sky more visible through their leafy canopy, a trail or two of smoke made a gray smudge over the stars. At the first sight of buildings, Harue caught her second wind and the thoughts she began to have about sleep were forgotten, replaced by questions of whereabouts she would stay for the night or what remained of it.

"But I don't have anything to trade for a night indoors.. The crest and pin are out of the question." The princess murmured to herself ponderingly.

 

[WizDom]

Okitsugu continued to lead with a steady pace. The density of the forest lessened, giving view to the clear sky and the rocky surface of the mountains. The condition of the road indicated that they were too far from the village, as it transitioned from rocks and dirt to paved, organized pattern. The Yalu river, flowing from the mountain, came into view as the road turned along its bank. The soothing sound of running water from its gentle current along with the moon's light reflected light gave it a calm aura. Not too long after, in a short distance, the village of Nahae was sighted.

A small smile came across Okitsugu face and the village came into the view. A subtle rumbling in his stomach had been bothering him the entire walk, calling to him for nourishment. The thought of food made him a bit anxious to get back. "Well, this is Nahae" he said, continuing in his pace. Although it was quiet, he overheard Harue's comment where to stay for the night. Admittedly, he didn't pay any thought to that until she mentioned. There was only one inn at Nahae, which was the same place where Okitsugu was currently staying. However, he didn't have any extra money to pay for another room, and considering the he was rooming for free he didn't want to have to pay. Being that she is from the Imperial family, at first he wanted to suggest for her just to use her title as princess to secure a place to stay; no one would refuse the Imperial family. Although this wouldn't be the most logical choice since apparently the government wants her dead, but to be safe he wanted to reaffirm this.

He stopped in his pace and turned to Harue. "We can safely assume someone in the government wants you dead. Now, I know they've retreated, but currently your death is unconfirmed. Standard routine would be to confirm this, if the objective was to kill you. If that's the case, eventually there will be a search for you. So, tell me, was this just some random occurrence or was this a planned assassination?" he spoke with somewhat serious expression. His tone calm, yet authoritative.

While he already had an idea of how to help her find a place stay for the night, he wasn't going to blindly assist her. To help her any further, he needed to have a general understanding of the situation.

 

[Ashi]

"I suppose I could sell my uchigi, but I don't fancy wearing practically nothing. Perhaps trade it for a simpler kimono instead..." Harue muttered to herself, staring into the dots of light in the windows of the nearest building. The deeper she searched for a solution, the more uncertain she became of finding one. She needed a solution that would pay quickly; there wasn't time to stay and work. Her eyes drifted onto Okitsugu a moment, averting her gaze when he turned to face her. She didn't like to bother him further; he had done quite a bit for her already. "Well, if all else fails, I suppose there's gambling. Surely there's a market for that here."

"That is much easier to ask than to answer." The princess said with a sigh, returning her gaze to the young man's face. "Seeing as I had no inkling that something so awful was going to happen, of course - to me - it was completely random. However, it does have just as much potential to be a planned attempt on my life. There are very few people who don't resent my rise to power. It could be any one of my brothers-in-law or perhaps some of the guardsmen who don't like the idea of my being named heiress." Harue turned and walked a few paces towards the river, watching the moon's reflection dance on the surface of the running water.

"They had many opportunities to try and kill me - we traveled many miles without seeing a single person, but they waited until nightfall, until I'd retired. I.. I don't even remember falling asleep. It seemed I'd only just closed my eyes and I heard the men squabbling amongst themselves. The Captain came and told me we had to leave... One of the few men who helped me got hit almost immediately... It was too hard to tell friend from foe with everyone fighting one another. They died to save me." She explained, her words mixed with intermittent soft sobs. She swiftly wiped her face with her sleeve before turning back towards Okitsugu.

"But whether it was planned or not, it was blatant and traitorous and I am hopelessly lost. It will be a while before word of what happened reaches anyone at home and then it is highly questionable whether anyone would do anything about it. Even if I were to use my title as a means of getting assistance, there is no guarantee that I would get it, since I'm sure people here have opinions on my position too. And those who don't like the idea of my rule too much aren't going to be inclined to help. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if they rallied their like-minded friends and ran me back out into the woods!" A wryness slipped into Harue's tone as she went on, which quickly became bitter and snappy. From the look on her face, it was obvious she was fighting hard to keep from tears with her jaw firmly set and her fists clenched until her hands ached.

"If you might show me to someplace I could stay, I'll figure something out."

 

[WizDom]

Okitsugu listened attentively to her explanation. His assumption wasn't far off and while her answer did somewhat clarify what happened. However, he couldn't deduce if it was planned or random. While waiting until night is a common trait of assassination, the fact that it turned into a bloody brawl made it seem like it was random. On the darker side of politics, it wasn't unheard of for lords to plot against each other, using physical means to scare or threaten their target. Was this just some poorly executed scheme or was it staged in a way to appear so? Many different possibilities swirled in Okitsugu's mind.

He did feel sympathetic towards her. She seemed fearful and with just reason to feel so. In addition to that, she almost seemed resentful of her ascend to power as much those who did. Having to experience the unfortunate circumstances of a situation she didn't choose, while thousands of men throughout history have unsuccessfully striven for the position she currently holds. It was sadly ironic.

Okitsugu took a moment to observe her face. She was almost overwhelmed in her emotions, but she kept her composure. He relaxed his face from his grim expression. "I'll help you find a place to stay. It would defeat the purpose of saving you if I didn't see it through" he said with a calm tone, speaking in a more tact manner as opposed to a moment earlier. "I don't have any ulterior political ambition, so I wish you no harm. Undoubtedly, there are people who do resent you and even have spread there influence to even peasants. However, you are still royalty so no one - well no one who isn't in a position of power to do so - will refuse even if your are alone. Though as you said, using your title wouldn't have been the best choice because being who you are, it would not have gone unannounced, but I wouldn't have told you to so. Not because they would want harm you, believe me, there might be people in the lower class who might resent you, but they would never raise a hand against. They know of the potential punishment of it and you really haven't even given them reason to want to do so. However, your location will eventually be valuable information." He softly shook his head, feeling that he was getting off the subject.

"The point I was making is that I'll help you figure something out" he said with a slight smile on his lips.

 

[Ashi]

"Don't break, stay strong. Remember what Kohei said: Act with confidence; don't show any uncertainty." Harue recalled Kohei's advice given to her only just that morning, the sound of his voice still fresh in her mind. The words echoed and rang in her ears and the man who was like family to her was almost a tangible presence amongst them. With equal clarity, Harue also recalled the atmosphere during her's and Kohei's talk, that bittersweet nostalgia of standing in the courtyard. It struck her now with great force and nearly knocked the air from her lungs. She took a slow, deep breath to calm her nerves, her fists and jaw relaxing as she exhaled.

"Thank you. I cannot begin to properly express my gratitude. If there is anything I could do to repay you, please let me know." Only with difficulty did Harue manage a smile and a bow. "Well, then. There's no time to waste" She said and started towards the dim but warm dots of firelight. They gave her a sense of warmth and hope, perhaps because they made her think of home. She practically charged into the village, marching with determination. The village was surprisingly active for that time of night; there were still many people about. The narrow stone paths were illuminated by lanterns and what light that illuminated windows and doorways.

The people the princess passed took pause to watch her. Perhaps it was the way she was dressed that grabbed their attention? The material of her uchigi was quite fine, but clearly the garment was incomplete and registered as strange. It could also have been the way she carried herself, with her shoulders straight and back and her head held high. Either way, she stuck out and little by little she noticed the stares she was getting.

 

[WizDom]

Okitsugu nodded in response to her thanks, but her ending statement left him silent. He paused for a brief moment as she walked passed him. For what I need, I doubt you can repay...still..., his face tightened as he firmly gripped his left biceps with is right hand. "What am I doing?" he quietly murmured following a deep sigh. Relaxing himself, he turned and started to walk, closing the small gap between him and Harue and followed closely at her pace. The village was a very short distance away. During that short period of walking, he contemplated selling his bow and remaining arrowheads. It wasn't originally his, so he didn't care about selling it. The only problem was finding someone to sell it to. Most of the shops would be closed at this time of night which means he would have to settle for a peddler. He knew he wouldn't be able to get a fair price with a peddler and being he only had 200 mon, every coin he could get counted.

Still closely following Harue, they walked into the fairly live atmosphere of Nahae. The only establishments that would be open at this time are small tea houses, sake dens, food shops, and the brothel. Even so, there was still a fair crowd of townspeople about. Chatter filled the air, along with the occasional chords of music. The sound of rushing water flowing from waterfalls modestly blended with the background. The town seemed very welcoming. After walking for a few moments, he found it somewhat odd that Harue had yet to even ask him for any direction. Between the structure of the buildings, the sight of the waterfalls, and the Yalu river splitting the town in half, he understood if she wanted to observe the scenic environment for a bit, but wandering about somewhere you've never been wasn't very smart.

Strolling among the crowd, he started to notice that people were staring at them. However, their attention seemed to be focused on Harue. He assumed that it was because he kimono was noticeable dirty in comparison to everyone else. Getting her new clothes would definitely have to be a priority as well. While he admired her drive, it was best not to waste anymore time. "So, how long do you plan to walk about?"

 

[Ashi]

Harue didn't ask for direction because she knew where she was going, or rather what she was looking for. As she walked, her eyes were downcast, watching the stone path pass beneath her feet. She walked with purpose, only narrowly avoiding running into people and having to swerve out of the way. There was a surprising amount of foot traffic for the time of night, despite there weren't very many businesses still open aside from those serving food or drinks. She dared not let even the unholy word brothel enter her mind. The hustle and bustle of Nahae, the music, and the churning of the water all fell on deaf ears, as did Okitsugu's question.

"Hm?" Harue glanced towards him for only a second when she spotted what she was searching for. "Aha!" She exclaimed with bright eyes as she reached down to pick it up. Wedged into the crack between two stones of the road was a coin. If it had not been for the metal catching the light, she wouldn't have seen it, for it was the same dull gray as the stones. "I found a coin!" The princess smiled and held her hand out to show the young man. In her palm was an iron coin. "10 mon~ Now, we can get more."

Focusing her attention on the establishments, Harue observed doorways and the people who entered and exited them. Without hesitation she entered one, bidding Okitsugu to follow with a wave of her hand. Inside, small groups of people sat around tables, playing games. Some were games she recognized, and others she'd never seen before; but the fact that she knew one - or so she felt - gave her a decent chance. She approached a table with an empty place and sat down as casually as if she owned the place. Those who sat there looked at her with narrowed eyes and raised or furrowed brows.

"I see you're starting a new game. I wish to play." She placed the single coin on the table, eliciting laughs from the patrons. "You'll need more than 10 mon to play." One told her, to which she replied, "People have gambled with less." He shook his head at her. "Fine. I'll bet my kimono, too. Even dirty as it is, it's still worth more than any money you've got." She sounded quite sure of herself. This seemed enough for he said nothing else.

 

[WizDom]

Okitsugu raised a brow of confusion to Harue's reaction. It was puzzling why she would be excited over a measly coin. Even more so since she's technically the richest person in the empire. "10 mon~ Now, we can get more" she said with an energetic tone. Of course Okitsugu's immediate thought was how was she planning to do so. "Wha-" he barely got a word out as she turned and headed to thee entrance of an establishment a few steps away. She waved to him to gesture to follow her, but he stood still at first. As she entered the building, his confused expression turned dull when he read the sign of the building's name posted in the front. Kōun'na Gambling Den. Gambling, huh?, he thought to himself, not feeling enthused of what might happen. He grudgingly followed in after her.

Walking into the den, he noticed it was just like the majority of other gambling dens. Several tables and areas set up for the different types of games. There were various types of patrons; ranging from your average peasants, an occasional drunkard, a handful ruffians, a few off-duty samurai, merchants, and tradesmen. The more wealthier patrons were usually accompanied a geisha and their entourage. Whatever the kind of patron, all of them were mostly men. While women were allowed to gamble, it wasn't very common, if not rare or illegal in some other provinces. As such, it didn't surprise him that she caught some stares. Though what did was the fact she even chose to gamble. What could she possible know about gambling. When has she ever needed to gamble, he thought to himself as she rushed over to the table Harue seated herself.

Okitsugu sighed and shook his head in disappointment when the patrons laughed at Harue when she made her statement. She can't be serious, he thought to himself. He almost felt embarrassed for her. He did have his small coin pouch tucked in his kimono, but wasn't going to risk using his money since he didn't know if she was even a savvy player, so he didn't offer at first. However, when she stated to bet her kimono, he jumped in. From behind, he slightly pulled her chair away from the table and bent over to whisper in her ear. "You just survived an assassination. If the assailants go searching for you, and they more they likely will, this will be one of the first towns they start looking. If you lose your kimono here gambling, it won't be difficult to track you were here. Expert player or not, trust me on this, don't bet the kimono. Besides, these men don't care so much for the kimono, as they care to see you without it." He whispered quickly as to not appear anymore odd that it was. "She won't bet the kimono. Will my bow do?" he announced to players as he placed his bow on the table so everyone can get a look at it. "If it's not enough, I can throw in some arrowheads." He didn't care about betting these as much as his own money, since the bow and arrows wasn't his to begin with.

 

[Ashi]

Indeed, Harue was serious. Rarely did she ever joke about such serious endeavors, like that of obtaining money in an emergency. While gambling was not very practical, especially considering she very well could lose, it was something. The kimono alone might not earn enough money to find a place to stay, let alone get her back home or to Shojo. She turned her head to look back at Okitsugu as he pulled her seat away from the table, glowering slightly. She hadn't thought about her possibly leaving a trail by which her assailants could find her, but was a precaution she would now have to take into consideration.

"Yes, I know. That was the entire point, for surely the idea would will them to let me play." Harue whispered back, smiling. She was well aware of what she was risking by betting the kimono. That would also ensure she would play hard, so as not to lose. She looked stricken when Okitsugu placed the bow and arrows on the table, perhaps even a little sad. She did not mean to make him bet his own belongings and felt guilty at once. Even so, Harue settled in at the table to play the game. The game, Go, was set on a large board with lines and played with black and white stones. It was a game she used to play with her sisters and close friend when she was younger, perfect for days when it was too cold or wet to spend time in the gardens. Without much more fuss, the game began. All the while Harue and the other player - the other men were the player's entourage - set their stones on the board, Harue was thinking back.

A young Harue sat in front of a table in a quiet room, staring intently down at the board and stones in front of her. Across the table, a boy of dark hair sat, looking equally engrossed in the game. He started to place a stone, then, changing his mind, pulled his hand away and set it elsewhere. Harue immediately placed hers with little thought as to whether it would win her the game, unlike her opponent.

"Uh-oh, Nao-kun. Look at that determined face. I think Haru-chan's going to beat you~" From one side of the room came Chiyo's teasing voice. She sat at another table with their sisters having tea. "Do I really look so determined?" Harue asked simply, without taking her eyes off the game. "If only you could see your face, little sister." Chiyo laughed. "It's just a game; although, we did make a wager." Harue said as she made another move.

"Well, determination or no, I don't think I'm going to get anywhere with this. I've lost too many pieces." Naoto sighed, which made Harue smile. "Then you give up?" She asked him; his answer was a nod. "See, what'd I tell ya?" Chiyo burst into laughter and nearly fell off of her seat. "So what was this wager?" Miwa inquired, since Chiyo was still laughing too hard to speak. Harue looked at Naoto then to her sister. "It was.."

Harue set down her stone and picked up her opponent's with a smile. She had captured a number of his stones and covered a great deal of the board. A considerable amount of time had passed already, more than the average time spent playing. "Well, do you wish to make anymore moves, or do you give up?" The princess asked her opponent. He made a brusque gesture and one of the men came around the table, pulled Harue up by the sleeve of her kimono, and pushed her towards the door. "Well, I never!" Harue gasped, dusting off her sleeve as if the man dirtied it by touching it. She was tossed a small pouch which jingled when she just barely caught it and promptly told to leave. "I guess he doesn't take loss very well." She muttered, glaring back at them as she exited the gambling house. "But at least we have more money."

 

[WizDom]

Harue's opponent inspected the bow, pulling on the draw string to check the tension of it. Feeling satisfied with it, he accepted the wager and gestured for Harue to sit. While he was uncertain before, Okitsugu had predetermined that Harue might win from the manner both her and her opponent set up the board. With a smug smile and an aura of insulting overconfidence, he placed each of his pieces while commenting to his entourage of how this was a guaranteed in for him. Harue, on the other hand, remained calm and collected as she placed hers. It almost seemed like she was already making moves before the game begun. From that, he deduced that she might be adept at this. Experienced players know the victor is determined from who plans further ahead than their opponent. Arms folded, Okitsugu stood directly a step adjacent from Harue as he observed the game.

As the game matured, her opponent's arrogant expressions slowly turned to frustration and a bit of embarrassment. Most of his moves were countered or cancelled by hers. He desperately tried to play defensively, but Harue's offense was more strategic. All the while, Harue kept her cool composure and continued to make calculated moves. Though she was concentrated on the game, she didn't seem entirely focused. If anything she seemed bored from the game and with just reason. Okitsugu was an experienced player himself and he can tell from her opponent's movements in the game that fairly decent player, but not very skillful. The fact he underestimated her didn't help either. However, he was unable to determine how skilled she was. Her opponent wasn't strong enough to really challenge her so all her moves were made without much effort. Okitsugu was quite amused from watching this all happen as he occasionally let out a small chuckle.

"Well, do you wish to make anymore moves, or do you give up?" Harue asked her opponent. OKitsugu laughed as his face turned red with frustration at her questions. His laughter lowered a bit when one the opponent's men grabbed Harue. He was about to grab the man, but it was apparent he was just removing her from the building and he didn't want to draw anymore attention to the situation. When another man came to grab him, Okitsugu turned and gave him a stern, deathly stare. "You wish to try your luck?" he asked with a dark tone. The man stepped back, second guessing to even touch him. "Good choice" Okitsugu said as he picked up his bow and headed for the exit right after Harue.

As they left, he stared and smirked at Harue for a short moment. "I must say I'm a bit impressed." he said giving her a nod. "Although, your opponent was an amateur though" he commented immediately after, jokingly downplaying her game.

 

[Ashi]

"Oh? Perhaps one day you and I should play and we can see how impressed you are then," Harue said with a seraphic smile. There was an ambiguous quality to this smile, as if she knew something Okitsugu didn't and was teasing him with it. There was little chance at them ever playing the game; but she did not to acknowledge this. Looking down at the pouch, Harue shook it, making the coins within jingle. It had some weight to it. "Surely, there's enough to cover a night at the inn, yes? Maybe even enough to get home." She started to go forward and stopped abruptly to turn around, smiling sheepishly. "But, first, where's the inn?"

The pale-haired princess followed closely behind, watching the scenery that she missed in her search for mon. It was a lovely town, perhaps even a small city; although it didn't compare to the small cities Harue had seen. It was a relief to be able to sit down and relax a bit when they got to the inn. Harue's sore feet took that opportunity to remind her how foolish she was to kick off her zōri. The stone paths of Nahae were not for walking on in one's bare feet. If they had ached her during the game at the gambling house, she was too consumed by the game to notice. She would have to be sure to get a pair of geta.

 

[WizDom]

"Perhaps" he responded casually. Admittedly, she's impressed him so far for the most part, so he'd be foolish to doubt that she couldn't impress in a game of Go. However, any chance of them playing it anytime soon was unlikely. . "Surely, there's enough to cover a night at the inn, yes? Maybe even enough to get home." she stated while inspecting the pouch. "Eh...depends where home is" Okitsugu stated quietly, shrugging his shoulders as he did. Once again, she was about to aimlessly walk ahead, this time to look for the inn. He didn't attempt to stop her; the way she started forward almost made it seem like she knew where it was. "But, first, where's the inn?" she asked with an embarrassed smile after stopping suddenly. Okitsugu let out a soft sigh and began to walk in the opposite direction, gesturing her to follow him.

 

[Ashi]

"Well, the Capital, of course." Harue said in response to Okitsugu's murmuring, whether she was meant to hear it or not. "It's only relatively a day's travel. My party left before late morning, and we got to camp at moon rise. The only trouble is that I couldn't tell you what direction that is from here." She followed closely behind, speaking more to herself as she tried to recall the exact details. It was strange how the events of that morning felt so far away, as if they happened weeks ago rather than only hours.