Kyuden Shika

Tanabe frowned but nodded "Well there are worse things. Still on the river, still travelling just stuck on the same boat. This is better than most face when they get caught." He refilled their cups.

He had a thoughtful look as he drank "is it indefinite? Or do you know how long you'll be forced to stay?"

"Does it make a difference?" she laughed bitterly, and nudged her cup with a fingerpad. "It's changed everything. It's changed how he sees me. That alone is worse than death."

Tanabe rested his chin on his palm in thought "does he still love you though?" He asked after a second

"Kami know why, but he does." her cup is lifted and considered thoughtfully.

Tanabe shrugged and gave her a smile "Then how can it be worse than death? Of course he thinks a little different because he is meeting the real you. Whether you regret what you did or not it's part of who you are. even if you plan to be different moving forward Then it's part of who you were. Bo-san simply knows more of you now and he still loves you."

He raises his cup to give hers a soft tap and a warm look past their cups "That is a good thing Narumi-san." He says before draining his cup.

She smiles back, but it doesn't quite fit right, it doesn't spark in her eyes. Tanabe's trying, she'll give him that much, but the cynic in her won't stop gnawing.
She nods anyway. "Give Yasu-san my love, will you? And I'll see you again." Whether or not that's true, it feels good to say it.

He could see it, see the way the smile didn't reach her eyes right, he was happy he wasn't obtuse or unobservant to the contrary he was very observant, he had to be.

He reached out and gently touched her hand, covering her small one in his massive. Inappropriate by most samurai standards among the Otter casual contact was not so taboo "Just don't let your mind talk you into doing anything rash." He says softly "you have friends and people who love you and are here for you." His smile by contrast was soft but full of Sincerity and warmth "I meant what I said before no matter where I end up send word and I will be there as fast as I can and I'm sure Yasu feels the same." He gave a gentle squeeze and pulled his hand back.

She sighed gently but her expression softened. "I can't afford to be rash anymore. I'm not only looking out for myself; I have Bo's honour to guard and protect."
She nodded at his promise. "Thank you. And we'll always have room for you both."
While she doesn't particularly feel better, it's a start.

He smiled back to her "Well then let's not focus on all the complications and challenges of the future. Let's do what Otters do best and live in the moment." He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper leaning across the table "and drink these landers dry while we're at it." He said with a wide warm smile regarding his clanmate and friend.

The Otters conspired together, and Narumi smiled wider at that. "It's been a few days since I got well and truly sloshed, Tanabe-san. It seems like a good way as any to end our time here. Here's to never seeing Kyuden Shika again! Kampai!"


/scene? and thanks! that's a wrap for Narumi, cheers!