Soshiki

[Kirin]

Tamotsu walked away with Trydian. He realized that he needed to look somber. "Oh? Well, we have all night and I can get as much tea as I possibly can." Tamotsu smiled kindly. He was in an infinitely better mood than before. The change would be alarming to everyone who actually paid attention. "I warn you. I'm not an easy teacher. If you want, I can dress up like a woman to make it easier for you." He joked.

"The Empress will be safe with Kana. Kana is pretty lethal herself." Tamotsu didn't really explain what that meant.

Kana studied weapons for years. She was able to pick up and use any weapon, though she was mainly adept at swords. Kana led Chizuru outside, convincing her that they needed to go shopping. She offered to help dress Chizuru as a commoner and let a decoy take her place. This was standard procedure for when Chizuru wanted to relax. Kana had an arm wrapped around her shoulder and the two women gossiped.

Makoto watched the group leave, then heaved a sigh of relief. She motioned for Katsumi to follow. "I'll show you where to put that marker." Makoto led the way through the temple, picking up Kitano along the way.

Kitano smiled at Katsumi, then walked with Makoto.

Makoto spoke softly, her expression serious. "So, it was Shino?"

Kitano nodded. "I believe it was Shino that attacked the abbot. His weapon was left behind and there seemed to be some telltale signs that the person who wounded Momoko-sama was from the Empire. But anyone could have taken his weaponry."

Makoto sighed, folding her hands behind her head. "We've received intelligence stating that Shino is alive, but he has been beyond reach. He's a vampire and a pretty nasty one at that. He serves the one that hopes to raise Orochi."

Kitano turned to Katsumi. He seemed to lighten up a bit. "How did everything go?"

[Katsumi Viora]

"I'll show you where to put that marker."

Katsumi nodded,stone under his arm he'd follow Makoto.
When they picked up Kitano along the way,his mood seemed to level out
he genuinely staying happy now as he smiled back at Kitano,blushing some.
He'd listen about what was going on,not speaking up about anything unless asked or
told something about it..Otherwise it wasn't his business

"How did everything go?"

Katsumi looked at Kitano,his smile widened some.


"I think it went good,see?..What do you think Kitano-kun?"


He showed him the burial marker..It might of been odd just seeing
Katsumi moving the stone around like it was something of far less weight but
it wasn't anything strange to Katsumi.

[Trydian]

Trydian smiled at Tamotsu's words. His father had actually been the worst of his past teacher's. Having Chizuru distracted was a real blessing, considering he would have to master something so sacred, with such little time. Motioning toward a deep scar across his right eye, he wanted Tamotsu to understand that this kind of discipline was not new to him.

“My father gave me this, when I failed to hold the blade correctly. Now I never fail. It's second nature.” Shaking his head, he remembered that time well. It was part of his past, that would always be ingrained in his memory.

“I doubt you are a tougher teacher than my father, but I will take your warning to heart.” Trydian bowed slightly and walked with him to begin their lessons.

[Kirin]

Kitano read the stone. "Ah, kami, neh?" He said to Katsumi. He didn't know what "angels" were. He walked with Katsumi and Makoto, whistling nervously.

Makoto led Katsumi to the Eru family grave. Her hand motioned to a freshly dug plot. "Right here is fine, Katsumi-kun."

She lazed once again, playing with her tail. Makoto glanced around, then seemed to vanish in the night air. Her footsteps were light as she approached the wall that separated the temple from the outside world. Makoto leaped to the top of the wall and vanished down the other side. Kitano was paying more attention to the grave marker, than what Makoto was doing until there was a yell. Kitano rose an eyebrow. "Where's Makoto-sama?"

She returned, carrying a body over her shoulder. "No big deal."

Tamotsu shrugged. He led Trydian to a tea house. The entrance to the tea house was small, made that way on purpose. He crawled in, then waited for Trydian to enter the hut with low cielings. Tamotsu smiled calmly. "The first thing to do is clean tea house. There needs to be no clutter."

Tamotsu handed a broom to Trydian. "Tea ceremony is very clean. You must make sure that everything is perfect."

He just sat in a corner and watched Trydian.

[Katsumi Viora]

"Ah, kami, neh?"

Katsumi arched a brow but nodded..In all truth Katsumi didn't know if 'angels' in general were real..or if there was a decent afterlife..He didn't want to find out..He had died once,having been hung from the tallest spot of the cathedral at home by another..His neck having been snapped...Where he had gone,wasn't pleasant..it wasn't anything..
He was glad when he had been brought back to 'life' by the others in the family..
But all in all,he hoped the best for Amaya to find that true paradise and to have the freedom and gift of flight..
He followed Makoto to the freshly dug plot..

"Right here is fine, Katsumi-kun."


"Alright."


He nodded and set the stone into the ground however he could..Making sure to be quick about it so he wouldn't mess anything up or cause it to become uneven..God he hated that..
He stood quickly hearing the scream..

"Where's Makoto-sama?"

He shook his head..

"I'm not sure..I was paying attention to the marker...I didn't even notice she wondered off."

He said,getting worried about to rush off to see what had happened until he turned and saw Makoto with the body over her shoulder..

"No big deal."


"What in the world happened?"


He asked,relieved Makoto was alright..He looked at the body and gestured at it..


"..Sneaking around or something?"

He asked Makoto..

[Trydian]

Trydian followed Tamotsu through the small entrance. He attempted to clear his mind, but his thoughts were still clouded with anxiety. Bowing to Tamotsu, he began to concentrate on the ritual. His nerves were giving him conflicting responses and forced him to second guess each motion. Everything had to be perfect for Chizuru. Tamotsu explained the tea ceremony as a spiritual ritual, which was something Trydian was still trying to grasp. He was given basic terms for the objects used in the ceremony.

Wearing a black kimono and hakami, Trydian felt confined in the new wardrobe. He understood it was part of the ritual, but he was too accustomed to his leather armor. Moving felt awkward and it took some of his concentration just to successfully replace the tatammi mats and sweep the floors without tripping on his own feet. Everything was taken into consideration, including removing some of the scrolls on the walls and replacing them with new calligraphy.

Trydian was too worried about being precise and often forgot the fluidity of motion in the ritual. Once the new mats, were placed around the hearth in exact order, his mind began to relax. He could visualize Chizuru in the room with him, which gave him an escalated nervousness.

Remembering his lessons from his father, he recalled being taught the fluidity of motion with a sword. Weapons had to become another part of the soldier in battle. As a soldier, he had to trust himself to become a weapon and forget his connection with spiritual burdens. His mind had to become clear and abandon all emotional ties.

The tea ceremony, encouraged spiritual recognization and absolute zen. The act went against his original lessons as a soldier. This was something that would become a personal awakening and acceptance for Trydian. He had to let his thoughts go, in order to become part of the ritual.

After everything was prepped and cleaned, he made sure to check for anything out of place. Kneeling once more to Tamotsu, he waited for further instructions.

[Kirin]

Makoto shrugged. "I caught him sneaking around the temple earlier, during the funeral."

She laid the body down. The man was masked and wearing loose fitting dark clothing. She removed the mask and Kitano gasped. His hands traveled to his lips and his gaze changed from hateful to concerned. Makoto was even surprised. Her eyebrow rose and her head tilted.

"Shino." She mumbled. She examined him, noticing that he was a vampire. Oddly, she was grateful for that. "I wonder why he was lingering here. Probably because he knew his sister had passed."

Kitano rose an eyebrow. "He attacked Momoko-sama."

"It was Shino? Neh?"

Kitano turned to Katsumi. "Well, he's still around." He said with a shrug. "Vampires like him are typically 'kill on sight'."

Makoto smiled. "He should be cleansed and exiled to the colony. They accept vampires more there than here."

Tamotsu had been watching Trydian. He sighed softly, as if disappointed in Trydian. Suddenly, from the tea house, Tamotsu could be heard shouting at Trydian.

"FOOL! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF CHA-NO-YA! YOU ARE NOT READY TO MAKE CHA!" Tamotsu's calm demeanor was shattered by Trydian's stubbornness.

He calmed down. "The art of this ceremony is not to think about being perfect, but to just let it happen." His tone was more gentle now. Tamotsu looked down, folding his hands in his lap. "I will demonstrate how to mix the cha and you will start over again."

Tamotsu sighed softly. The implements for the tea ceremony were already set up, so he sat, calmly going through the ceremony. He whisked the tea perfectly, cleaned the instruments as he was supposed to, then looked up at Trydian. "First you sip. Turn the bowl and I sip. We do this three times for now. Then you start over again."

Despite this being a peaceful ceremony, Trydian was getting drilled by Tamotsu.

[Trydian]

Trydian listened to Tamotsu and became speechless. This was the first time anyone had openly called him a failure. His mind searched for excuses, but he could only find his arrogance for the cause. He didn't want to be a disappointment in front of Chizuru, or even Tamotsu. Trydian was sure others outside had heard the yelling, but that would have to be ignored.

Looking defeated, he uttered his first attempt at their language. It hadn't taken Trydian long to dissect their words. Since the time of his capture, he had been studying them and making mental notes in their dialect. While their language was strange to him, he didn't want to constantly have barriers between them.

“Gomennasai...” The word flowed off his tongue, but it was apologetic in meaning. Literally meaning “I'm sorry,” he hoped that he wouldn't have to phrase it again. With one fluid motion, he did as Tamotsu instructed, but found himself lost in the depth of the tea. Swirling the colors and texture, he sipped the tea and then turned the bowl in his hand. Silk rested against his hand, while he performed the task.

Realizing that he lacked this type of discipline, he made himself repeat the actions until they became second nature. If Tamotsu was counting on him abandoning the ceremony, he would soon see how stubborn and determined the demon could be.

Everything was being done for Chizuru, yet Trydian found himself drifting into a state of zen, that unnerved his otherwise chaotic nature.

[Katsumi Viora]

"I caught him sneaking around the temple earlier, during the funeral."

Katsumi nodded to Makoto..He'd stand by calmly,listening to the two
talk over the man who was still laying unconscious at their feet.
The fact of the man being who Kitano was looking for,was surprising but
that was it..Katsumi was glad Kitano had some minor closure and hopefully
would have some answers once the man woke up.
Katsumi clasped his hands behind him calmly as he listened,considering
this wasn't his place he really had no say or rather,nothing to say on the matter.
Amber eyes moved to Kitano once he was spoken to.
He arched a brow once he heard Makoto.

"...Cleansed?..I don't believe I'm ever going to understand your way of life..but then again I'm quite sure you'd be the same way with mine..Preferably probably disgusted with my way of life..but."


He grinned slightly,fangs showing breifly.


"..I wouldn't change a thing about it really...Well.."

He moved toward Kitano and kissed him on the cheek.

"Except you though."

He laughed softly and winked at him.

[Kirin]

Makoto tilted her head. She smiled. "Perhaps 'cleansed' is the wrong word. He has been bound to a necromancer and that bond needs to go or he will never be a contributing member to society." She laughed softly, then patted Shino on the head. She lifted him effortlessly, which brought a strange expression to Kitano's face.

He pressed a palm to his forehead. "I keep forgetting." He grumbled.

Makoto whistled. "Do you want to come with me, Katsumi-san and Kitano-san? It might be fun to watch."

Kitano shrugged. "Sure." But he looked up at Katsumi. "It is pretty interesting to watch Makoto-sama. Plus, it beats standing around out here."



Tamotsu's expression softened as he heard Trydian apologize. He was even blushing.

"It's nothing." He mumbled.

Tamotsu watched, transfixed on Trydian's movements. There was hope yet for him. He could see that Trydian's motions flowed much like he had demonstrated. A smile crept upon Tamotsu's lips and he laughed softly.

"That was perfect. You just have to replicate this on the night of the actual ceremony and Chizuru will melt in your arms. If you want to decorate the tea house, you should pick something simple. The ceremony is all about simplicity. I tend to use a single flower that I think represents the person who I am making cha for." Tamotsu stood.

"Tonight, the Empress and Kana-sama are shopping, so we pretty much can do whatever we wish." He crawled out of the tea house and stood. "I don't know about you, but I'm going back in town after I change out of these formal clothes." He walked back to the palace, leaving Trydian to do whatever he wished.