Kyuden Shika

Emiko, having enjoyed a lovely soak in the hot springs, sat in the common room with a cup of tea and a scroll. Her hair still slightly damp from the bathing earlier. She seemed happily in her own world, writing something down.

He should bathe. Soon. Oh, Emiko. He wanted to escape maybe...or go see her, or maybe she wax busy.

"Usogawa-san", he found himself saying aloud, looking at her hair and words just leaping out

Emiko looked up at that, looking around before her eyes settled on Hikimasu, and she smiled warmly.

"Good evening Shosuro-san! I hope you are well?" she gave him a seated bow "want to join me?"

Eyes shifting around, he eventually settled down. Saying thank you quietly to her. He took a small cup painted with foxes on it from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"You smell nice... look nice...", he coughed. "It was a nice day today, wasn't it?"

"Oh, thank you" Emiko bowed in thanks to that, picking up the pot to pour some tea for Hikimasu "I washed my hair recently. My apology that it still is kind of damp, It was just more comfortable to write here than in the room. Today was interesting, some of the gifts given were very unique ne?"

"Star charts", he nodded, then picked up the pot to top her's off as well. "Though I thpught more about last night, and went to find myself a flute."

Emiko smiled.

"Star charts are very important to the Otter. Misreading them could mean we take the wrong fork on the river."

She carefully rolled up her scroll and put her quill back into the box after cleaning it.

"You bought a flute? Oh, how lovely! Do you have it? Can I see it?"

"Uhh...hai...I can", he stood back up. "Just a moment." He disappeared toward his room.

Emiko looked surprised, watching the man walk away.

Why not carry it with you?

She settled into an amused expression and sipped her tea.

He recovered the instrument from his room in a cloth with some staining on it. He sat down and wiped it clean. "I've been trying to make it more mine, as it didn't have much decoration on", he said. "The sound has not disappointed yet, it seems made well enough." Then he placed it on the table, allowing her to inspect. There was a faint etching along the end, the beginning of his family mon.