A Chance Reunion

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The docks were a bustle of activity, the last of the vessels being loaded for their uncertain voyage. Kitsuki Ketsumei watched it all from a nearby hilltop, not wanting to get in the way of the preparations. He was to remain in Rokugan while the invasion force sailed off to the Ivory Kingdoms in a preemptive strike as ordered by the young Empress Tsudao. Strike before your opponent can strike you: a classic lesson of dueling, one with practial applications on any battlefield.

His words helped stock those ships, cutting through some of the bureacratic mess that slowed the flow of supplies. Now his part was over. He had no place down there: he was a courtier after all, not a warrior. And yet he couldn't stay away. The future of Rokugan could very well be decided on that distant shore, and he would be helpless to assist any further.

Ketsumei looked down at the ships as was able to single out some familiar faces. Xiao Xi, shugenja of the Ide family: a dedicated man, capable with both his spells and his signature ono. Asako Otari: the Dragon was surprised that he considered a member of the Phoenix Clan a friend, and yet he did. A group of young Utaku Battle Maidens caught his eye. They looked to be all sisters, heading off to war together. Their excitement was plain on their faces, although one of them seemed unsteady on the ship....

Then all thought was forgotten as Ketsumei found who he was looking for. It was someone he expected to see and yet silently hoped he would not. Raven black hair. Grey face paint with spots of green and white dotting her face while black and red lines streaked toward her eyes. Such beautiful eyes the Dragon mused... then those eyes turned his way. Her pale brown eyes locked onto his hazel ones, and a smile crossed her face as Ketsumei's mind drifted to the events from two nights earlier...

"Yes Friendly Traveler's Sake is an excellent drink, but until you have sampled some Nine Izo blend you cannot say it is the best drink ever made!" the ronin boomed, the last hint of laughter gone from his voice. What had started as a joking discussion about the quality of various sake blends had quickly become a full blown arguement, as tends to happen when large quantities of such drinks are consumed during the talk. Ketsumei could not help but groan from his seat a few tables away, although he had no one to blame but himself for picking this sake house. Guess his time among the Mantis had rubbed off on him more than he realized...

Obviously the othe other man at the table did not like being spoken to in such a matter, the table between the two men being his first victim. Splinters were still falling back toward the now ruined pile of wood as both men scrambled to their feet, the only thing preventing an exchange of blows was a woman in Crab colors that had stepped between them. "Samurai-san, samurai-san" she said, her head turning between the two would-be combatents, "I have this lovely bottle of shochu that I do not think I can finish by myself. Perhaps one of you would be willing to keep me company instead?"

Ketsumei recgonized the woman at once: he hadn't seen her in over a year and yet the events of those days could not be forgotten. The Dragon was part of a group that was tasked with returning an item to its rightful owners in the Crab Clan, only to later have to endure an attack by agents of the Ninth Kami followed by a journey into the Shadowlands. The Dragon knows that the only reason they survived the trek through the Shadowlands final battle was due to her skill and knowledge of that blasted landscape. Shortly after they returned and the castle fell under siege she stood in the midst of the battle, and it was her entreating with the kami that made victory possible against the Lost commander.

The Dragon watched as over the next few minutes the Crab woman proceded to not only distract both men from their argument but soon had both of them laughing at the top of their lungs, the disagreement forgotten. Clearly she was more than a potent Earth shugenja; she had some innate courtly skill as well, although it was unpolished. Not surprised considering her clan of birth: he would consider it a pity if not for the fact that she had proven that she is right where she belongs among the Crab.

She sat there drinking with both men until they were passed out on the floor. As the Dragon chuckled from his seat, the Crab looked at her bottle and swirled its contents appraisingly before looking in his direction. There was a faint hint of recgonition in her eyes. "There is still some left Kitsuki-san. Perhaps you can help me finish it off. It seems these two were not capable..." With that Ketsumei laughed, motioning her to the seat on the other side of his table.

As she approached Ketsumei observed that despite the large amount of alcohol she consumed, her walk was steady as stone. Her face paint was the same today as it was then, although he didn't realize how striking she was until now. She gracefully sat down and poured some of the shochu into his cup. After giving a nod in thanks, he downed the fiery liquid without hesitation.... and immediately regretted it. It took everything he had to not cough, and he noticed the playful twinkle in her eye. "Strong stuff indeed Kuni-san," he said, "thank you for sharing some with me."

She giggled a little, a lovely sound to his ears. Then she upended the bottle, taking a deep gulp from it before speaking. "Yeah, it isn't bad Kitsuki..."

"Ketsumei," he continued as she trailed off. "And this vision of loveliness that now sits at my table is Kuni Kasumi if I recall correctly."

"Hai, this one is Kuni Kasumi," she smirked. "And I didn't know Dragon had such silver tongues."

Now it was the Dragon's turn to smirk. "Well no one really knows what to expect from the Dragon. That is how we like it."

Kasumi laughed out loud this time. "Perhaps so. I admit it is good to see you again Ketsumei-san. You survived the Shadowlands, so perhaps you are capable of keeping me company this evening. Do you think you are up to it?"

"Why are we still sitting here talking?" he replied. "Lead the way."


It was a crazy night to say the least. Kasumi led the courtier from one seedy sake house to another, and he surprised himself by keeping up with her every step of the way. For one evening he didn't worry about the tensions between spirit and mortal, or the machinations of the Imperial Regent. He was just a man enjoying the company of a beautiful lady. One night of blissful relaxation.

Now both of them sat on a hill overlooking the docks of the city. As the first rays of Lord Sun's light reached out over the bay, Kasumi turned to him with a somber expression. "It was a lovely evening Ketsumei-san. So were you here for the same reason I was? Enjoying one last night of freedom before sailing off to our deaths in a foreign land?"

Ketsumei frowned sadly. Over the entire night neither one asked the other why they were in the capital, they just enjoyed being with each other. Now reality was crashing upon both of them. "No, I have a harder task..."

"And what is that?" she whispered.

"I have to stay behind," he replied, "wondering what is happening there. Wondering if anyone will come back.... wondering if you will come back..."

It was slow at first, both of them moving in unison. They were leaning closer, then they crashed together like the waves on the shore below. Their lips met in the middle of the space that had been between them, both of them giving in to their unspoken feelings.

The kiss lasted but for a moment, but it was more than enough. The impression they had made on each other would last for much, much longer. After they parted, he looked deeply into her pale brown eyes. "I will be here when you get back, waiting."

She could only nod, not doubting his words at all.

Ketsumei stood on that same hill from the morning before. Kasumi knew he would be there. There was no doubt in that either. She smiled at him, and she could tell he was smiling back. Nothing would prevent her from coming back... but what would she be coming back to? He did his part before the ships set sail. Now it was her turn...