Kyuden Shika

Hikimasu prowled the shops that day under his jingasa. He needed something to carry tea in to keep it hot and something to keep food dry that wasn't the ugly gear from his unit. Also a proper gift for a possibly improper lady.

Was he getting them a gift? He supposed so.

Whatever it was he was really doing, he had to get it done.

Koi was busy in the market going through the stalls for brick a brack, small beads, nice different colour string, precious gems of all sorts before she sighs wishing she could afford just a little jade for someone.

The Moth frowned and stepped outside almost into the path of the Scorpion she had grown to enjoy the company of and as is tradition Koi slipped into step beside him quietly before she finally spoke.

"A young man was walking home one night. The street was pitch black. As he passed the gates of a small cemetery, he felt as if he was being followed. Suddenly, he heard a bump behind him. Afraid to look back, he increased his pace." Koi started, carefully.

"Bump, bump, bump." She chuckled doing small hops in place.

"The bumping behind him continued, getting closer and louder. Finally, unable to ignore the bump any longer, he turned around. Terror stricken, he saw a coffin standing on end, bumping down the road from side to side – Bump, Bump, Bump, Bump . . ." Koi continued.

"He started running for his life, but the coffin only kept on coming, increasing its pace to match his...BUMP, BUMP, BUMP." She added, acting like she is jogging on that spot.

"As the man became tired from running, the coffin began to get closer. The man tipped over a cart grabbing a barrel as he ran by and threw it at the coffin. Unfazed, the coffin kept coming, getting closer and closer.BUMP, BUMP, BUMP." She said getting panic stricken as she continued.

"He finally arrived home. As he ran into his yard, he noticed the axe resting against the side of the house next to the woodpile. He grabbed it up and hurled it at the coffin, but it simply bounced off. The coffin followed the man up unto the porch and crashed down the front door the man had closed and locked behind him. BUMP, BUMP, BUMP." Koi explained as her face struggled to keep a straight face.

"He ran upstairs and grabbed his Father'a katana from where it hung on the wall, swung at the coffin as it came through the doorway. Still, the now partially shattered coffin continued towards him. BUMP, BUMP, BUMP." She motioned with her hand.

"In a panic, the man ran into the bathroom, closed the door, and backed as far as he could. He knew the coffin would simply break down the door. However, the man wasn’t going to give up. Grabbing a bottle of cough syrup, he hurled it at the coffin. The bottle shattered, covering the coffin with cough syrup. And the coffin stopped." Koi said flatly before laughing warmly.

"...are you serious?" he asked with the roll of his e eyes. "I'm ten koku invested into that and you lay that at my feet, well done, well done." he chuckled finally. "Kaikoga Koi-san, good morning." He bowed.

"What is a panda's favorite food?" he asked.

He turned toward a bread vendor. "Pan da."

Both Hiki and the vendor shared a look, it was difficult to tell if it was pleasant or not.

"I'll have some", he told the man.

The exchange got better.

Koi leant close to Hikimasu. "That was awful, but you tried. Looks like victory is to me. Hello, Shosuro-san."

The Moth let out a low chuckle. "How are you this morning? Looking for anything particular?"

"Yes, just some odds and ends, maybe something to say thank you with", he said. "Would you care to join me?"

Koi acted like it was a really, really hard thing to possibly consider but ended up with a great sigh before bubbling up with a smile. "Sure!" She said happily.

With a gracious bow he led her on through the shops.

"There's just a few things, a tea bamboo, something to keep food with the return of the rain, and I'm looking for a good thank you gift:, he told her and stopped at a vendor, perusing.

Koi kept pace a regular to the stalls and markets Koi was both happy and curious about the stalls around them. She stopped him occasionally to look at shops but largely followed him.

The Moth sighed. "Could never work with bamboo, it's such a tough material. What is the thank you gift for?" She clearly did not ask for whom it was for, she at least didnt want to invade the Scorpion's privacy.

"Nothing too important, just showing me a good time", he answered. "It'd be shameful not to make some kind of gesture."

He picked up a small weave work netsuke. It had what tried to be some sort of bird hanging as an ornament. "Eh..." he put it down.

Koi looked at what Hikimasu lifted up and she wrinkled her nose. "Oh Kami, thank the stars you didn't get that. I would have been striken sick." She chuckled.

The Moth did get caught up at a collection of finely painted fans, her eyes roaming through them passively but it was clear that she found on that she liked but continued on.

"Do you have a theme? Or message you want to carry in it?" She said casually, curious to know who its for.