After the festival (Benimaru and Kasumi)

[Kasumi Ocada]

(This is picking up from the event "flower viewing" thread. We left off on page 190. Benimaru and Kasumi had just decided to "start over" they went to enjoy some food and tea together before Benimaru noticed someone spying on them nearby so they got up to take a walk...)


Kasumi and Benimaru had walked together for some time, enjoying the waning hours of the festival's last day. She did not witness the confrontation that eventually led to the conclusion of the lotus blossom mystery that Benimaru and she had been attempting to solve. But at one point she excused herself for a trip to the ladies' room - this time promising that she would come back - and she overheard a conversation about the clan leaders.

Afterwards, she returned to Benimaru and relayed the news to him. She was in such a hurry to do so that she was a bit out of breath, "Benimaru-san," she said while still a few steps away. When she reached him she paused a minute to try to catch her breath. "I found out why the trees were losing their blossoms at such a worrysome rate. It seems that some of the festival patrons had made a contest out of collecting blossoms. The fire clan leader - Huo Lien - started secretly collecting the blossoms from the trees because she was jealous of the collection that others had gathered." By now her breathing was at a normal rate and she smiled broadly at Benimaru. "So there's nothing wrong with the trees - nothing at all! I'm so glad, then."

[Benimaru]

Benimaru's smile matched the broadness of Kasumi's, "That's great news indeed!" His hand found hers and held it gently, yet tightly. What a relief! Benimaru thought, And since that's out of the way, we can focus more on each other.... ".....All's well that ends well." said Benimaru, ending his thought out loud. After a few moments of walking in silence, Benimaru spoke: "Say, Kasumi, you're new to this place like me, right? I was wondering..." Benimaru's face reddened slightly, and he played nervously with a lock of hair, "...would you want to share the road with me? Since we're both strangers here, it might be a good idea to stick together, what do you think?"

[Kasumi Ocada]

Kasumi wasn't sure how to take his invitation but after some consideration she thought, "I don't know why he's asking me but.... I'll be traveling anyway and I really couldn't ask for a better traveling companion..." She absently twiddled with the end of one of her long red pigtails.

"Well.. yes, Benimaru-san.." she said quietly, blushing and looking down at the ground. "Were you heading anywhere in particular?"

[Benimaru]

Benimaru knelt down and picked up a small handful of tiny twigs, dead leaves, and any other nearly weightless objects he could find and, turning sideways to Kasumi, held his hand out in front of him. "Not really," he said, answering her question finally, "I'm just kind of going where the wind takes me for the moment." with that, he released the contents of his outstretched hand, carefully watching them as they fell, which veered, ever so slightly, in the south-easterly direction. "Hmm...that way." Benimaru pointed to the south-east, then offered his clean hand, and an adoring smile, to Kasumi. "Shall we, milady?" Benimaru asked merrily....

[Kasumi Ocada]

Kasu took his hand and began to walk with him. "Well, we don't really know where we're going. I hope this is a good idea. Then again, I rarely have a specific place in mind when I'm leaving on my own..." She thought.

"Benimaru-san, would you tell me more about you?" she asked, "We had begun this conversation back at the festival, when we were drinking our tea, but I don't think we got very far." then she paused to think about something, "Unless you think I'm being to forward? I don't mean to pry, I'm merely curious."