[x] Continue speaking with Hanabi
-[x] With one thing and another you never told me what you do here Hanabi-San. What duties do you perform? How do you pass your days?
"Her thoughts are her own," you reply. "As our thoughts are ours. Such is just the way of things."
You put Himawari out of your mind, for now, and observe Hanabi. She's still staring after the Lion woman as she turns the corner, a frown on her face. It's a better expression than that smile she had earlier, though it still worries you. The Dragon woman does not seem… Well, she doesn't appear to be the most stable of people.
But what exactly are you going to do about that? Do you even have to do anything? Hanabi appears to be enamored with you, though you're not certain how deep this infatuation goes. More to the point, it's not something you've ever had to deal with before. You've no real precedent to draw upon to aid in making decisions.
Which means you're going to have to make things up as you go along and pray it all works out. That, and probably report to Yasuki Goro. He should have some idea of what to do with this strange woman who seems to have attached herself to you, or is trying to at any rate. In the meantime, best keep things calm and continue the conversation.
"So, Mirumoto-san," you say, drawing her attention back to you. She smiles, and you repress a shudder remembering when that smile hid barely contained violence. "With all the distractions I fear I never asked what it is you do here. If I may be so bold, would you mind telling me what duties you perform? How do you pass your days, Mirumoto-san?"
"Oh, it's not trouble at all, Hiruma-san!" Hanabi replies, smile widening. "As a Mirumoto, I am a part of the Dragon Clan's armies. I'm barracked here at Shiro Kitsuki, like many of the Family are. This is one of the primary entrances deeper into our territory, after all, and it's our main diplomatic center."
"So you spend your days patrolling and training, I take it?" you ask. "Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what else there is to do here. I didn't see anything else but the castle when I crossed the bridge."
"Oh, that's because the city is on the other side of the fortress," Hanabi replies, waving a hand. "It rests right before the mountain paths going up to Great Climb and eventually the High house of Light."
You blink. "Truly?"
"Oh yes," she says. "There's a valley there with a small lake. We don't get the best trade, admittedly, since visitors have to pass through both the Dragonfly and the castle proper, but it's still a lively community." She grins. "Did you believe everything in our lands was mountains, monasteries and castles, Hiruma-san?"
You hold back a flush of embarrassment, and manage to keep your face straight. "I will admit the thought had crossed my mind."
"Rest assured, Hiruma-san, you are not the only one who has thought so," Hanabi says, nodding solemnly. She ruins the attempt by giggling. "But yes, while many of the Dragon seek to isolate themselves from the outside world to focus on enlightenment, we still have civilization."
"I can only ask that you forgive my assumptions, Mirumoto-san," you say, bowing in your seat. "It is unfair to both you and your people."
"There is nothing to forgive, Hiruma-san," Hanabi responds. "Many believe this, and we don't do much to discourage such thoughts with either words or deeds. It's just how we are."
[] Write in.
derp. silly me.
