Kyuden Shika

Raizo had to admit, if he'd known how much he'd like the various women he ended up meeting, he might not have bitched so much about the miai under his breath on the hike south.

Even the ones he had no romantic interest in- as such- were still people he was damned glad he'd gotten to meet.

Case in point... a certain aspiring Otter nakodo...

She he ducked into the tea house, ordered his by now habitual Akina, and waited for his friend.

She was quickly growing comfortable with a certain Shiba, they fell into an easy friendship as if they'd grown up together --
and really, that should scare the hell out of the Otter, and usually, it did. She wasn't sure if it did now, though.
Poking into the tea house mere minutes later, Narumi takes a moment to look around before she makes her way over to Raizo.
"Phoenix-san," she said with a dip of her head in greeting, but when she rose her friendly smirk was there, though it was tinged with just how uncomfortable the Otter was, still exhausted from the event this morning.

Having seen her performance that morning, Raizo chose words which were to the point, but which could, perhaps, be taken more neutrally.

"Hanging in there, Usogawa-san? I'm having a cinnamon-spiced oolong, but we can order something else if you'd prefer?""

It was with effort that the smile remained in place, but Narumi had training, so much training, on keeping others comfortable above her own needs.
"As well as can be expected," she admitted somewhat dour. Regarding the tea: "That's just perfect, actually. Sounds... warm and soothing." A pause. "You fared well this morning?"

"I'd have fared better if I hadn't seen my friends distressed."

He poured a cup for the Otter.

"And incidentally, if you ever feel a need to, well... unburden yourself, you can always track me down. I've been scowled at by gunso who wordlessly convey that they've seen cleverer and more dutiful garden slugs, so I have some practice..."

Unburden myself, Narumi scoffed but it was all friendly. "If you're offering a tryst without strings, Shiba-san, this is neither the time nor the place," she hoped he appreciated the humour, and took up the cup as soon as it was filled, breathing in the spiced scent and wheezing slightly. Breathing hurt. Everything still hurt. Her ego was thoroughly bruised as well.

He actually grinned at the barb.

"Ah, alas, my fevered dreams of you will have to remain just that..."

Sip.

"However will I go on living?"

"Ha ha," the laugh was a self depreciating one. "I'm sure you'll manage. After this morning, you would do best not to want me, lest I collapse with but a look from you."

"Well, plenty of people collapse when they look at me, so I'm used to it..."

A pause.

"I was a bit worried, but your cousin seemed to have things under control, and I didn't want to add to your troubles by causing a scene."

Narumi chuckled, and groaned lightly, putting a hand to her chest then putting pressure there to dull the ache. "Don't make me laugh... No, no, you're right. I didn't need more troubles, I made enough of my own."