The Day of Thunder

[Doji Hikaru]

At first, Hikaru smiled at Satsuki's optimism. But then, he smiled at her wisdom. "You're entirely right. Of course. Rituals do have a power." Hikaru's brow creased as he considered. There was something very important to what she was saying...

The movement of their entwined hands brought him out of it. Hikaru smiled. "I'm sure you will not be surprised to learn that there are rules to it. But there is also a romance to it. We might exchange gifts, or send each other poetry. We meet each other, in the presence of chaperones." Hikaru shook his head, chuckling softly. "We've done all this. Lady Makime certainly qualifies as an appropriate chaperone."

Chuckling again, Hikaru shook his head. "Some marriages have sought to emulate the marriage of our founding Kami. The partner of higher status will choose three tasks for the others. They tend to be much simpler than the ones Lord Nanzi performed. Otherwise, I expect we might have fewer marriages."

[Togashi Satsuki]

Satsuki couldn't help but to snort a brief laughter. "Goodness, yeah, Lady Makime certainly qualifies as a chaperone. There shall be no inappropriate looks or touching - hands over your blankets and stay at least a respectable ten feet apart!" Her head leaned against a pair of entwined hands as she laughed, and it took a few more chuckles before she returned to the more serious part of the conversation.

"Ah, hmmm... three tasks, huh?" Or one humongous task like the one Reiko did for Hisomu maybe? "I will have to think on that. I'll let you know tomorrow, mhm?"

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru laughed, openly and honestly, something he did only with her. "I'm sure Lady Makime can tell ten feet at a glance, too. And if we tried to break the rule, I'm sure she'd have a plan in place to stop us." It was an admiring sort of joking about the famed Daimyo.

Hikaru blinked. Wait, he'd just been sharing an interesting anecdote. But then his chin tilted upwards, a serious expression on his face. If there was anything that could cause Hikaru to rise to an occasion, it was giving him a quest. "Very well, Satsuki." He said, conviction evident in his voice. "I await your tasks."

[Togashi Satsuki]

"There's a lot of things Lady Makime can tell at a glance, I wager, among them the exactness of ten feet." While it was said in a serious tone at first, she couldn't help but to burst into laughter them moment she finished saying it. Even if they were joking, they both respected Makime after having spent time traveling with her... but also knew the Daimyo's quirks and mannerisms enough from that time.

"I promise I won't make it as challenging as those given to Nanzi, but... well, it has to be some challenge," Satsuki grinned to Hikaru, and idly wondered if Doji had felt this kind of excitement over giving her uncle these tasks.

[Doji Hikaru]

"I find myself suddenly concerned." Hikaru murmured. He didn't look concerned. He looked excited himself, for a whole swirl of reasons all at the same time.

He looked around, his expression thoughtful. The forest was growing darker... "The hour grows late. I think a proper rest would be good for us." Hikaru said, unaware of the irony. He started to rise, then hesitated. Smiling, he reached over, gently untangling his lock of hair from Satsuki's, his fingers deft, brushing once gently against her cheek as he did worked.

Then he rose, turning to her and bowing. "May I escort you back, Satsuki? To await tomorrow, and the tasks I shall perform?"

[Togashi Satsuki]

"A hero should never be concerned, Hikaru," Satsuki chided warmly.

Their hands worked together to untangle themselves. And while Hikaru might've just brushed against her cheek, she responded in kind with a quick kiss on his cheek where her lips barely touched his skin.

Sometimes she could remember her proper manners, and she decided to do so now as she bowed formally to Hikaru. "I would very much like that Hikaru. A prowling Lioness might be out here on the lookout for youngsters dilly-dallying past their bedtimes." With a chuckle, she picked up her instrument, ready to head back.

[Doji Hikaru]

Once more, Hikaru laughed at that. "Well then. We really should return to camp. If we steal a march on Lady Makime now, we may be ahead of her later."

Brief as the touch on his cheek was, Hikaru could still feel Satsuki's lips lingering. One hand came up to gently touch the spot, even as he led the way back to camp.

/scene!