[Day 8, Mid-Afternoon] Surface Tension (Open)

[Shiba Raizo]

Raizo smiled.

"But too late to do me any good, right?"

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He didn't answer, he simply plucked some grass from the ground off the garden path.

An odd way to apologize.

[Shiba Raizo]

"See, that's what amuses me about what everyone says about your Clan, Shosuro-san. After all of these centuries, they still have the gall to get offended about people who are... quite honest, in their way."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"There's no need to sympathize so much, really", he said. "We also lie quite a bit."

[Shiba Raizo]

"Yes, but everyone acts so surprised when you lie, even though you all wear masks to remind us of that fact. I'm not saying everything your Clan does is admirable. I'm just saying that acting surprised or offended when a group of people who run a place called the City of Lies, wear masks as a matter of course, and make no pretense of their ruthlessness lie, deceive, or do something ruthless is... silly."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"True, but to be fair to everyone else, I've been treated with a lot of apprehension and suspicion", he said, the smile readable from his tone.

[Shiba Raizo]

"Yeah, but where does that get anyone?"

He rose to his feet, still standing on the top of the pond, and stretched.

"I mean, let's say I was friends with a Lion or a Crane. If his lord ordered him to try to kill me in a duel, nobody would bat an eye if he did it. He'd be commended for his dedication to Duty. That's just as real a risk as anything you guys do. So. May as well enjoy the pleasant parts of knowing you, hm?"

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"It's sounding more and more like you're going to ask me to do something", he said with a chuckle.

[Shiba Raizo]

"Nah. I do my own dirty work, after all..."

He appeared to be joking.

"But I do enjoy our conversations, rare as they are. Talking with you is refreshingly free from the bullshit that clutters up so many of my other social endeavors."

The Phoenix walked off of the pond.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"You're welcome", he said, taking the compliment instead of reading it as an insult, which is exactly the reason Raizo could say it. He stood up as well and met him at the pond edge. "Though honestly, i can't say you're wrong much, we're all just samurai."