Kyuden Shika

"It changes everything about who I am," she says matter-of-factly, and goes back to picking up the remainder of the papers. When she's done, she folds the package in half and hugs it to her chest. "Of course I'll protect you. I love you back, ridiculously so." For the first time since she's walked in, she smiles, and it hits different- the weight and the lies gone, this is the true smile he'd seen in the forest.

He smiles back, "Well I don't reckon I see any difference so don't worry about that."

"You're too good for me, you know that, don't you?"
The papers, including her letter, are dropped to the floor and she moves to him, rising on tiptoes to reach up to his face and pull it down to her level, kissing him.

"M'not..." is as much of an argument as he gets out before he lets it be quashed by the kiss.

He's released just as quickly, though she's loathe to let him go. Her expression shifts and darkens, just a bit.
"My uncle... He raised me, more than my aunt, so much more. He, uh, he taught me how to run on the docks when I was just a child, to follow him and steal for him, to lie, and later to make deals and trades and arrange transport and bribe our ferrymen to not look too closely at their cargo. You said he faces death or exile."
Her gaze holds steady on her mountain. "Is that what I face, as well? If I don't comply?"

He frowns, not wanting to ponder the possibility, but answers anyway, "I mean I reckon it depends on the magistrate... but it's not lookin' unlikely. If yer family was rich rich they might just take a fine but without that they'd wanna make an example." The frown deepens at the distasteful thought of inequal justice, "Members of minor clans cheatin' major clans... they don't let that stand easy."

She pushes her lips together in thought. "So we go to Crane lands first and see Asahina-sama? To learn of the terms and conditions of my demotion and house arrest? At the least?"
Narumi frowns deeply in return. "I'm... not to be a nakodo anymore, am I?"

He scratches his chin, "I mean we could try with the magistrate here... but I reckon maybe that's not safe? Not sure for certain who left all this. As for the nakodo... I mean maybe? I don't think they'd be sendin' you out to other clans' court but within the Otter maybe we could still do it."

"The seals on... everything, were those of an Emerald Magistrate. No, I dont think it's a good idea to go before him."
Bits of her mask begin to break down, everything she'd pretended to be over the last two weeks chipping away.
She shook her head slowly, wheels turning, coming to terms. "My aunt. She has significant clout in our clan. After what I've brought down on my uncle, her husband.. and her standing as the one responsible for me.. No, I don't think.. That's not the future for me anymore."
A meager smile is turned up to him. "But we'll build a new one."

As much as his own family was often frustrated with him he had a hard time picturing vindictiveness but he understood not all were the same, "Well that's why I mentioned the izakaya once I remembered you talkin' about it. I reckon most samurai'd see that as a step down, nearly heimin work, but I think we could build somethin' great."