The hunt prize

[Bayushi Senshi]

Of the crowd of hunters, they had all bowed out in favor of two who had completed the challenge. Of those who stepped down are those who either failed to find a stag, or ended up hunting different game, so as to gain favor with the court they had killed meat that was more palatable to samurai tastes.

Senshi and Setsuro had arrived then, after the crowds had gathered around the two samurai-ko. Senshi was pleased to see that both were warriors mentioned by the Scorpion Champion. He glanced at Setsuro with a glint in his eye knowing about the discussed award, then stepped forward, a hush spread through the crowd.

Senshi said nothing, simply paced slowly making observations as he went around the two kills. There was nothing distinguishing the two stag in all reality. One was bigger, but there was far more difficulty in the actual kill. The other was killed in a single shot, something a scorpion could really appreciate. He needed more information however, thats when he began circling the samurai-ko.

The gathered hunters began smirking as Senshi inspected them, some even snickering. He cut that out with a simple glare in the laughter's direction. Then began to circle again, noticing all the dings and fresh smudges. The damp cloth, and splash marks. They told their own stories.

Someone fell on their rear end, someone else made a mess of things.

He then stood between the two, looking to each in turn. "Tell me. Morito Shizuyo san, how many shots did you fire? And Utaku Haruka san is it? How is it that you received these marks on the back of your armor?"

[Kasuga Shinobu]

Shizuyo was a solitary woman, so she wasn't fully comfortable with the attention as she stood there. None the less, she was also calm minded and focused, and she offered a quick crisp bow as she was addressed. Her voice was soft and light, very much unlike her strong and military like look.

"The initial shot was the one you can see here snapped off in the stag's side. The arrow caught inside the stag and appears to have hit him in one of the tendons connected to his legs, which is why he hobbled as he went away." She paused a moment before continuing. "I followed the stag into the woods and found him only 200 or so feet in. The arrow had snapped and he could bleed more fully by then, and after one arrow missed him in the dense foliage, the last is was the one you see with the mark in his neck."

[Bayushi Haruka]

Haruka held her nerve as she bowed to the Scorpion champion. She couldn't be sure if the truth of the matter was going to penalize her or benefit her... but there would be little other way of explaining or proving the marks on her armor.

She took a breath as she looked to the champion.
Senshi-sama, the marks on my armor came from a mishap in the woods while hunting. I came upon some remains of a bear in the wood and had hoped to better avoid it by seeking a high vantage point, away from any caves or shadows that might hide such a beast...

However in my decision I had come onto this stag who charged me to defend his home and his family, and naturally I fell and landed with the full force, but not before letting my shot loose. By the Kami's blessing it landed, for I could have never trained for such... a shot.

She bowed again and took a step back gently for the champion to choose.

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi took their words and mulled them over, he then stepped away and looked back at the two from a distance. "You two are both truly skilled huntresses. And you honor me by being truthful about the hunt. Never had I heard of the perfect kill when it comes to the stag. However, luck of the kami or no, I cannot help but acknowledge the feat done when a charging buck has you in its sights. Utaku Haruka san, you are the winner, congratulations." He bowed then from the waist, to her and then to Shizuyo.
"Your prize, should you accept it, is to dine tonight in the company of the gathered champions."

[Bayushi Haruka]

Her eyes went a bit wide with astonishment as she bowed deeply.

I am most honored Senshi-sama!

She turned to Shizuyo with a grateful smile,

And thank you.. such wonderful competition I've not had in a long time, I hope to speak to you again...
She seemed to glance down at herself with a chuckle.

After we get changed perhaps.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Tomatsu lingered in the back of the crowd, listening to his friend judge the huntresses. He was not surprised in the least to hear that two women had won, he had known both of these women by their reputations. He whispered something to a servant, who turned and nodded to him, and scurried off to Haruka's side, clearly letting her know he had a message for her but not wanting to interrupt her while she was the center of the crowds attention.

[Kasuga Shinobu]

Shizuyo's smile as she straightened after bowing crisply to Senshi was genuine and warm to Haruka. "I am sure you will find time to speak to me, here or on the front. It was a magnificent shot Haruka-san, you are well deserving off the honor."

Shizuyo gave the Utaku maiden a bow almost as low as she had to the Scorpion Champion before she moved off to find her kimono and change into something dry.

[Bayushi Senshi]

"Of course, we look forward to your presence." He smiles then, taking the time to get a better look at the woman. Impressed by what he sees, he turns and heads back to the room set aside for the champions, giving a knowing look to the other champions as he left.

[Bayushi Haruka]

Haruka still smiled with pride as she too went to change in one of the side rooms. Laying her cracked armor and yumi to the side she emerged in her own kimono, far more suitable for the party and suitable for her dining experience with the champions later on.

The trimmings were of a silver thread that outlined the bold purple color representing her clan's color, while traces of horses running through the clouds complimented the fabric. Her obi fitting snug around her waist was actually a light blue color with a silver rope around it.

She let her hair flow now, letting it loose from the bun style she'd arrived in as her more feminine features now seemed to shine as her long hair now rested all the way to the middle of her back.

She looked over to the lion attendant as she spoke gently,

"Is there a way I may speak to him to receive Tomatsu-sama's message or do you have it for me?"

[Akodo Tomatsu]

The Shining Lion wishes me to tell you that he would like to speak with you, about a shared ancestor. He shrugged, I know not what he speaks of, he said to seek him out before you visit the champions. He bows deeply to the Unicorn. Is there anything else you wish of me your lady-ship?

[Bayushi Haruka]

"If you could guide me to him, I do not wish to seem out of place seeking an audience with a champion as such. I am quite curious to what he knows..."

Haruka straightening her obi slightly so she was centered. Only placing a last minute flower decoration in her hair.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

The servant bowed, and lead her away to a quiet room off of the main party hall. In the room, Tomatsu stood with his back to the door, looking at one of the few works of art in the castle. It depicted the construction of the great wall. Tomatsu stood looking at the kami Hida with Kaiu, overseeing the construction. He lowered his gaze from the painting when he heard the two enter, but did not turn around. Thank you Utaku-san for seeing me on such short notice. I'm sure your quite perplexed as to what my message meant. You are a decedent of Otaku, are you not? He finally turned around to greet her with a smile and a slight bow.

[tadakasan]

Tadaka watches Haruka receive the prize and smiles softly. Thinking that Kaymar must have taken care of matters before he left and there's nothing further for him to do here, Tadaka decides to give into the temptation to grab a bite to eat before he leaves. He grabs some vegetables from a platter, a stick of winter cucumber and some leek.

He manages to catch a glimpse of Haruka in her kimono before he leaves, the samurai-ko surely dressed for the situation. Finishing the cucumber he makes his way to the garden again, making a path along the Emperor's Road to Kyuden Isawa and stepping in

[Bayushi Haruka]

Indeed part of my heritage is of the original Otaku family... but I'm afraid my line isn't exactly what some might consider the purest blood. But the last few generations have married within Unicorn clan members.

I am so very curious why you ask this of me though Tomatsu-sama. Surely you wouldn't have any relation to a family known almost exclusively to be Unicorn...

Her gaze seemed to shuffle a bit as she felt somewhat nervous around the champion, not intimidated or afraid, but she did not wish to be disrespectful if she could help it. She looked briefly at the art he was viewing before looking back to him. Attentively looking to him whenever he spoke.

[Akodo Tomatsu]

Would I not? Would it suprise you to know my mother was Utaku Rek'ka, an honorable Utaku battle maiden in her own day? I can recite my linage all the way back to the honorable Otaku her self. He spends a few minutes doing so, more for effect than for proof, along the way, he stumbles over a few of the more gaijin sounding names, eventually ending up with Lady Otaku. I just wanted to pull you aside to learn more about my mother's family. After she left the Unicorn to marry my father, she never left Lion lands, and she was.... quite quiet on the subject, despite no matter how many times I asked. She would only tell me to look at the Matsu samurai-ko and that would serve as some example of what a battle maiden was like. So please, if you have a little time to spare for a long lost cousin, tell me what it means to be a battle maiden. I would be deeply in your debt, of which I can assure you, I can repay you swiftly.