The Day of Thunder

The dragon was sitting on the porch of Chouri's courtyard, looking up at the night's sky, where took a deep breath to slow down his heart. The day had been eventful but Chouri more then made her point at the start of the festival. The day's worries seemed to melt away the moment she had taken his hand for the dance.

The thought made him smile.

Still, he needed to center himself before bed. He knew he would not sleep with his mind still on the kind and pretty headwoman.

His mind was calm as a leaf drifting on a still lake.

Day one, LE, meditation, void recovery | 6k3 ⇒ 45 (TN: 20)

He hears a soft, feminine yawn behind him. "Wu-sama...? Are you all right?"

The dragon slowly opened his eyes, the stars shining above being outshined by the mortal woman below them

''I am.'' he said softly ''I thank you both for asking and for making it possible.''

He turned to look a the woman

''And you, are you allright?''

She was wearing a normal kimono simply pulled over her sleeping clothes. Without the waist fold, it drags on the wooden floor of the porch gently. The soft light of the moon makes her brown hair's waves stand out with their shine. She stepped forward and sat down next to him, curling her legs beside her so she wouldn't have to put her bare feet on the ground.

"Mm-hmm. I just noticed you were up, so I wanted to check on you." She leaned over against his arm lightly. "It was so much fun dancing with you tonight."

His mind, tranquil as the lake made into a mirror, took in the sight of her and welcomed it. The dragon did not shy away from the touch, welcoming it instead.

''I enjoyed myself as well dancing with you. It had been a while since I could not let go and embrace the moment.''

She smiled at that, and chuckled a little. "I'm glad you were able to let go a little. Admittedly, it got a little more enthusiastic than previous years... I wonder if it was all the new people?"

''Mayhaps'' he leaned in a little ''I smell something like herbs... earthy and with an herbaceous bitterness like cut leaves or grass.''

She looks at him a moment and then sighs, snuggling up into his side. "Ugh... That explains a lot. Sounds like someone thought dosing the crowd with kava was a good idea. At least it's mild as far as it goes; a little stronger than tea, but not by that much." She shook her head. "Still, there were kids there. I'll need to look into it. At least I know they'll let me know if anyone gets sick."

''Kava?'' he frowned slightly then relaxed once more ''I do hope no one got hurt''

His hand approached her's

''Still...people seemed quite happy.''

Hers met his and she smiled. "Yes... They really did. I'm so glad. It's a good omen, I think, for the festival." She wove her fingers between his and blushed a little. "I, ah... I know I was a little forward then. I hope you don't mind too much."

He lightly closed his hand over hers

''No, I do not. I...am not used to it but I admit I do not dislike it."'

She turned to bury her blushing face in his shoulder. "... I'm glad."

The dragon's instinct told him that, indeed, she might actually like him. Emboldened, he put his arm around her shoulder.

With that go-ahead, she fully snuggles up against him, laying her head on his shoulder. "... It's nice to be with someone warm. The weather's always a little chilly here..." Her hand settles around his waist naturally.

Zhe closed his eyes for a moment, welcoming the side embrace, the day's fatigue slowly preparing the way for his mind to drift.

''It is nice.'' he said before bringing something that was in his mind ''The last ritual...the purification of the soul...One must stay here to perform it?''

She hesitated, then nodded againsthis shoulder. "At least as it stands, yes..."

''If one does not participate...must they then leave?''

She shook her head. "No, a person can stay without doing that."

He nodded and smiled

''Good'' he paused ''Still...what does the purification of the soul entails?''

"It's... I really shouldn't say anything, since you're an outsider, Wu-sama..." She said apologetically, weaving her fingers together. She glanced over at his face, seeming to lose some resolve upon looking at him. "... It's sort of... I don't want to say confessional, but talking about our problems and actions over the past year is part of it. That's why people aren't comfortable with people who are just going to run off there. It has to be a place of trust."