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Post by utakumoli on Mar 4, 2011 23:13:01 GMT -5
The journey from Unicorn lands had been long, and arduous. Utaku Mo-Li was used to such journeys, however, as was her steed, and though they both were weary, neither was in poor spirits - despite Mo-Li's recent capture and escape, the circumstances of which clung vexatiously to the back of her mind. They had made good time, but arrived in Tsuma very late in the evening. There would be no point in continuing on to Kyuden Doji this late at night. She'd stop here, rest for the night, and start fresh in the morning.
She instructed her retainer to take their horses to the stable and make arrangements at the inn. For her part, Mo-Li decided to stop in at the House of Drifting Leaves for a while to try to shake her growing concerns - at least for the evening. This particular geisha house had a reputation of putting one at ease, due in no small part to the skills of their geisha, it was rumored.
As she passed through the panels of cloth at the main entrance, she was greeted by a hostess and led to a common room divided tastefully by shoji screens. All around her were whispered conversations, impromptu haiku, and politely tittering geisha. Somewhere in the room, behind one of the many screens, one of the geisha played shamisen, singing artful tribute to the lost love of some courtier of old, a samurai who died well and honorably in battle in a far-off province.
Mo-Li sat for a moment in quiet contemplation, waiting patiently for a geisha to arrive with tea. She couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that she'd been noticed, however...
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 4, 2011 23:31:45 GMT -5
Shizuyo felt a little embarrassed, as she did every time she was in a geisha house. She loved them, a habit that had begun with her time around Morito Kijuro, but secured by her love of the arts and secret longing to be a more cultured woman as her mother was. She had some koku to spare on her journey back north, and rather than take more sake (as she had FAR more than usual at the party for Hida Setsuro), she decided to indulge a little.
Despite her enjoying the dance and conversing as best she could, there was always the nagging suspicion she was out of place. It took all Shizuyo's willpower to stop from shaking or stuttering like the uncouth scout that she was sure she was. The geisha, is she noticed, said nothing, but politely listened to Shizuyo's troubles and travels.
Shizuyo was distracted for a moment by movement at the corner of her eye. The door on one side was partly open, likely from the last person leaving, and she caught a glimpse of a geisha moving off, followed by a moment later by an entering samurai-ko, one that looked as if she were a bushi as she was. Shizuyo didn't wish to stare, so quickly flitted her eyes back to the geisha she was talking to. The samurai-ko stuck in her thoughts a moment more however as Shizuyo wondered if she would ever look as elegant and refined as the Utaku woman had.
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 5, 2011 0:00:48 GMT -5
Mo-Li nodded quietly in greeting as the geisha approached, shuffling gracefully across the floor in dainty, stocking-feet. She bowed deeply enough that Mo-Li could see the nape of the geisha's neck, where the line of her makeup accentuated perfectly the blue-black line of her hair. Mo-Li had always envied the care with which the geisha had their hair styled. Even during her time in Crane lands as a youth, she'd never been able to find the time to have her hair done up with such painstaking attention to detail. As the geisha straightened, the charms dangling from the pins in her hair clinked together, making music of their own.
The geisha sat down across the table from Mo-Li and poured a cup of tea for her. "Does Okyakusama have any particular requests for this evening?" The geisha asked, her voice like fine sake.
Mo-Li thought for a moment, savoring the fragrance of the tea. "I have something on my mind I simply cannot shake..." She replied, taking a sip of the tea. "I was hoping that my time spent here would give me a chance to sort things out in my head." She knitted her brow.
"Does sama wish to recount her troubles?"
"I suppose that would be a good way to start, wouldn't it?" Mo-Li replied. She began to tell the story of the Yobanjin invasion and her capture. The geisha listened intently to the tale...
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 5, 2011 0:10:14 GMT -5
Shizuyo had been there some time, having got to town the night before. She had been speaking all day, telling stories as if she were a Sparrow, but she decided it was about time to give her geisha a moment of repose. She stood and gracefully as possible let her intentions to leave be known, and the geisha stood and bowed.
A moment later she was out in the main room once more, watching the non-occupied geisha move around, as well as the poorer clients speak with the geisha in the main room. The Utaku woman was still out here, speaking with the geisha she had seen fetching tea before. Shizuyo called over one of the geisha with a beckoning of her hand.
"Who is the woman that has just entered?" she asked politely, only glancing over at the Unicorn samurai-ko. The geisha bowed deeply as she spoke just as softly in reply. "I have not attended her samurai-sama. Perhaps you would wish a note passed at a convenient moment?"
Shizuyo thought carefully a moment before nodding and excusing the geisha she had stopped. She went to a private area and got out her herald paper and inks and started writing a note.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 5, 2011 0:23:55 GMT -5
Isawa Kinen turned to his wife, his mouth open as he struggled to find words. "What? Surely you must be joking." That appeared to be the most he could get out. "I am not." Shiba Kohaku's face remained serious, but with a hint of gentleness. "When was the last time you took some time aside to just relax?" Her husband did not respond. "Exactly. You've been too caught up in your research recently, your duties with the Council and now we're off searching for the whereabouts of Tadaka-sama. You'll work yourself to death if you take a break. The House of Drifting Leaves has a good reputation." Kinen turned away defiantly. "It's still a geisha house...is this another one of your elaborate schemes to get me to...you know..." "Know what?" His face turned red at the memories. "I am not putting one of those on again." "But you made such a fine--" Kohaku was cut off by Kinen's sudden glare, which caused her to giggle. "But no...some fine music, some dancing, poetry...maybe a little more..." Kinen sighed. She wasn't going to give up on this. "You drank your tea today, right?" "Of course." "Very well...but I swear, if this is another elaborate scheme to dress me up for your hidden desires, I will burn the kimono and the entire geisha house until nothing remains but ashes." "You need not worry. That one time will be enough for many lifetimes." Kinen's face turned red again, as he shook it and rose. He took his wife's hand as they left their inn to go visit The House of Drifting Leaves.
When they arrived, Kinen did not open his mouth to speak. Instead while Kohaku arranged the room, he looked around, feeling completely out of place. He saw glimpses of a few other samurai, or rather, samurai-ko. They were alone or being tended to by geisha...the two of them would stand out quite a bit. What kind of wife brought her husband to a geisha house in the first place? "Ki," Kohaku said, as she touched his shoulder, "I got us the room. They'll deliver some tea...and then we'll be alone. Don't worry." A geisha led them to a room, and almost instantly some tea was brought. With a knowing smile, the geisha departed.
"This was a bad idea...we shouldn't be here..." His voice was mixed with fear, though he kept it very hushed. "Kinen? Just. Relax. Drink some tea, and just absorb the atmosphere. Listen to the music." She whispered softly, as her husband reluctantly agreed, and slowed his breathing. Many ishiken valued silence in their meditation, to not be distracted in their connection to the Void. Instead, Kinen welcomed the sound, seeing only brief glimpses of the Void in the silence between the notes. Getting too close to the Void had always overwhelmed him in the past...but this was just enough.
"In the room next door..." He spoke, barely above a whisper. "That samurai-ko...I did not hear of when the Yobanjin first attacked." "Perhaps you could ask her more stories of that." Kohaku smiled, at least he was loosening up some. "In a bit...I want to hear how this story ends...is it wrong to be listening in on this?" "Likely not. So long as all knowledge within these walls stay within these ways."
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 5, 2011 12:22:50 GMT -5
Although Tsuma was in the northern Crane lands, which generally had a cool,pleasant climate, Kitsu Natsuki found herself feeling like she had stepped into the Isles of Spice and Silk in the middle of the summer. She had just returned from the Dragon mountains after spending the winter in Shiro Mirumoto, attending Winter Court as the Lion ambassador, and it appeared that she hadn't quite re-acclimatized to the weather of the lowlands. Dusk was falling, and Shinden Asahina was a long way off. She wouldn't be serving her lord well if she dropped off her horse in the dark from sheer exhaustion. With that final thought in her mind, she decided to halt for the night and rest.
Once the task of finding an appropriate lodging was settled, Natsuki mentally reviewed what she knew about Tsuma, which wasn't very much. Of course, she knew that it hosted the Topaz Championship annually, and that its chrysanthemums were renowned for their beauty, but other than that, even her extensive knowledge failed her for a moment. Then a chance remark of the innkeeper to another patron triggered her memory.
"The House of Drifting Leaves? Was that not the name of the famous geisha house in Tsuma?" she asked the proprietor.
"Indeed, sama! It is the most beautiful place this humble one has ever seen, and what it holds within are even more beautiful!" exclaimed the innkeeper with a smirk, one that rapidly slid off his fat face as the shugenja fixed him with a cold stare and he remembered just where he was and who was standing before him.
"I shall be going there for a while, and I expect to see my horse properly stabled and looked after when I return." Natsuki's tone left no room for doubt in the innkeeper's mind that if he valued his continued well-being, he would do exactly as she said. Before he could reply, she turned on her heel and left.
A short walk later, Natsuki entered the House of the Drifting Leaves, entering the common room led by a hostess. She looked around, recording all the details in her mind , the smell of incense and tea, the soft twangs of the shamisen and the beauty of the paintings on the walls. She sat down at an unoccupied table and waited to be served with tea. She had heard much of this geisha house, and so far it seemed to live up to its reputation.
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 5, 2011 20:14:48 GMT -5
"I was in camp with my comrades when I received a report from a scout regarding a commander to the north who'd spotted an attempt to flank us. I left on horseback to scout ahead and evaluate the level of the threat, but when I arrived at the location given in the report, there was no sign of any Yobanjin threat. In fact, no one was there at all. Not even any of our men. It was an empty field..." Mo-Li did her best to conceal the concern in her voice. "I couldn't make sense of what was happening. I wondered if I had been too slow and missed them, or misread the report. Then everything went black. When I came around, I was in a Yobanjin camp with a few other samurai. The others were wounded and confused, just as I was. What bothers me is that false report. How could the Yobanjin have infiltrated our scouts? The scout who gave me the report was no barbarian... What's worse, he was a fellow Unicorn." She blinked a few times, no longer trying to conceal her still-palpable bewilderment.
At a pause in the conversation, a geisha shuffled up and bowed low, holding a delicately-folded letter outstretched in both hands. "Forgive me, sama, I am interrupting," she said quietly. The geisha held her bow until Mo-Li took the note from her hands, nodding in thanks. The geisha backed away a few paces before turning around.
Mo-Li opened the note and read it, her eyes darting quickly up and down across the page. She raised a nonplussed - yet mildly curious - eyebrow and glanced discreetly around the room.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 5, 2011 20:30:06 GMT -5
Shizuyo hadn't wanted to stick around and be a bother, but she had taken her time at the door slipping on her sandals and getting her weapon back. She didn't glance back, but felt sure enough that the note had reached the Utaku in time for her to be noted.
The street outside was busy with activity, though not as busy as it was when the tournament had been going on, or so she heard. It was completely different than what she was used to back home, patrolling the wide open plains and the empty mountain passes. Even her home in Mountain Watch Village was small for a Samurai's yashiki. She'd been in larger cities, like the capital and Ryoko Owari Toshi, but even with that thought in mind she still found Tsuma's size and bustle intimidating.
She had been in town long enough to know the geisha of the House would direct anyone looking for sushi right next door to a street stall that served sushi fresh, hot tea hot, and left a samurai to their own thoughts. As she sat down, she realized how good of a view of the door to the geisha house the place gave her. She shook her head vaguely at the peasant's offered meal, murmuring that she'd wait. There were more interesting samurai than just the Utaku inside, and she was nothing if not patient.
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 8, 2011 0:38:25 GMT -5
A geisha carrying a tray came over to Natsuki, sitting down elegantly and pouring the steaming tea into her cup. After the initial pleasantries were over, the geisha softly asked "And what would sama wish this fine evening?"
Natsuki thought for a moment, then answered "Some music would be what I need to take my mind off the cares of duty. Would you be so obliging as to play?"
"But of course, sama."
The geisha disappeared for a moment, and returned with a servant bent almost double with a koto. After setting up the instrument, she began to play, a simple composition but one which evoked the beauty of a rushing river, flowing from the mountains to the sea. As the last note died away, Natsuki opened her eyes and sighed as the vision conjured up by the music faded away. She had not been home for a long time, and the thought of the stream flowing past her family's estate suddenly made her nostalgic.
At that moment, a slight gurgle made her aware that she had not eaten since that morning, and riding the whole day was hungry work.
She turns to the geisha,"My thanks for the exquisite music, for it truly satisfied my weary soul. Alas, the flesh is weak, and what feeds the soul cannot feed the body, as much as we may long otherwise. Would you happen to know a respectable establishment to satisfy my hunger?"
"But of course, sama. There is a small stall just outside, which serves truly divine sushi and other such delights. This one would be happy to show you the way."
Natsuki politely declined, thanking the geisha before standing and bowing gracefully. As she stepped out of the geisha house, she looked around and quickly spotted the stall mentioned. There seemed to be only one other person there at the moment. As she walked closer, she noticed the person seemed to be a samurai-ko bearing the mon of the Ox.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 8, 2011 2:39:56 GMT -5
Kinen closed his eyes as he listened to the story of the samurai-ko being kidnapped by the Yobanjin. He couldn't help but chuckle for a moment. "Reminds me way back...back when were were teaching those students...accidentally getting kidnapped..." Kohaku sat closer, and took her husbands right hand in her own right hand. The hidden little gesture of affection between the two of them. "And we had to come and rescue you. I miss those children. I wonder what they are up to." "Well, our own children must be watching over those ten. Karana's training with them, Rakaen is a bit ahead of them, almost to Genpukku, and Kamiya is managing the estate while we're away..." Kinen paused, his mind in thought. "She's getting pretty old though." "What do you mean?" "I mean we might need to look for finding her a husband." "Like she'll willingly marry anyone you pick out for her." Kinen laughed; his relationship with his eldest daughter was a little strained. "But...can't she pick for herself? She's trained to be a yojimbo too. You know she's going to end up needing to protect her would-be husband sooner or later...and the closer their hearts are, the stronger those hearts will be in defense of the other." "Just like us..." Kinen said, his mind drifting to the music around. Someone had requested a little music played as well in a nearby room. It was moments like these that made him realize how truly lucky he was to have Kohaku. With her by his side, he would have no need for a geisha...although the fact that he needed to come to a geisha house to remember this bothered him somewhat.
"Feeling a little better?" "Yes, thank you." "Good, because I happen to know the owner of this place has a lovely kimono that's just your size..." "Aaaaaand we're done here." Kinen got up instantly, glaring at his wife. He knew it was a trap. "Oh come on, you looked so pretty." "Nope. We're leaving." He went to the door of their room, slid it open, and walked straight outside. Yet he had a smile on his face, he knew she was just teasing him...right?
Kohaku held back her own laughter as she left behind a few coins and caught up to her husband. "Fine. But as soon as we get back to the estate, you do not have a choice." "You seem to have forgotten dear, we always have a choice. Sometimes those choices require changing all earthen matter within a ten foot radius of you to fire." "Yes, yes, let's not bother the dear Void kami today. Or the kami of any other element." "You ruin all the fun. Fine, let's go get something to eat. There's a stall around the corner that serves pretty good sushi." "I thought you didn't care for fish." "That's how good it is." He said, glad to have gotten the conversation away from certain clothing, as they turned around the corner to find the stall in question. Oddly enough, they were behind two other samurai-ko, an Ox and a Lion. A bit far from their lands...unusual.
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 8, 2011 13:13:29 GMT -5
Mo-Li looked up from the note and turned around just the moment that the Ox clan maiden was slipping on her sandals to leave. She thought it a bit strange to send such a missive, then get up to leave. Odd... Mo-Li thought to herself. Excusing herself from the geisha, she left enough on the table to settle her bill, plus a little for the geisha.
First, the capture, now a strange note from a departing woman? The mysteries were becoming too much for Mo-Li's generally steady disposition. She found herself swimming in the realization that there may be more to Rokugan than she had originally thought. In her youth, things were simple. One lived honorably, served dutifully, asked in order to learn (not to undermine), and treated other samurai with respect. For her, the world was safe and untarnished. It behaved according to age-old rules, so everything made sense. There were no secrets, no mysteries, and no puzzles.
But now there was definitely something coursing under the surface that she'd heretofore never even suspected. She knew of evil creatures, bakemono, oni, bloodspeakers, and the like, but even those creatures who happened to wander their way into Rokugan were still not ever =part= of Rokugan. She'd even hunted some, tracking them down in their filthy hovels and covens, and wiping them out like the stain they were. But even as they could be found in Rokugan now and again, they were something other, something that inhabited a dark place separate from her own, innocent world.
Now there was the unthinkable possibility that there was a dark side to the Rokugan she thought she knew, and this single revelation, and the very act of thinking it, shook Utaku Mo-Li to the deepest part of her soul.
As she slipped on her sandals and headed back out into the street, she caught sight of the Ox clan maiden at a sushi stall just down the row. It seemed to be a busy place, as there was a Lion maiden and a Phoenix couple. She wondered why the stall would be so busy, as late as it was, and headed over, trying her best to be unassuming.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Mar 8, 2011 18:02:04 GMT -5
Shizuyo had ate slowly, and it wasn't long before she stopped paying much attention to the doorway of the House of Drifting Leaves. She appreciated the sushi, almost as good as the quality that she had when she was in Yasuki Yashiki. That said much that a stall in the streets would nearly equal the finest palace in Crab lands. Truly the Crane did all they could to foster their near perfection in all they did, even street food.
Still, she knew she wasn't just here for the good, and she's quite grown to like having some company around her. Thus, she turned when the Lion samurai-ko sat down next to her. She had traveled through Lion lands before certainly, even through Kitsu lands, but she couldn't help peering over in curiosity at the reddish hair that so many Kitsu possessed. The girl appeared a little older perhaps, and was a little taller as well, but she seemed to be a gentle soul from first appearance.
Shizuyo turned back to the stall owner and whispered that she would cover any expense for the Kitsu woman's tea and sushi, and she turned and gave a bow to her. "Konnichi-wa, Kitsu-sama. I had seen you walk into the House of Drifting Leaves, but it is a pleasant evening for a meal outdoors, would you not agree?"
Shizuyo only turned to say the same to the stall owner for the Isawa and his wife, as well as for the Utaku she had sent the note too. Sushi and hot tea were laid out for all 3 as they approached, but Shizuyo kept her attention on the Lion as they spoke.
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Kitsu Natsuki
Lion Clan
Lion Clan * Daimyo * Shugenja * Sodan-senzo * Loyal * Ambassador to the Dragon
Posts: 162
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Post by Kitsu Natsuki on Mar 9, 2011 10:43:15 GMT -5
As Natsuki sat down beside the Ox samurai-ko, she couldn't help smiling gently at the barely hidden look of curiosity the Morito displayed, presumably at the colour of her hair and eyes. Many non-Lion tended to react that way at their first sight of a Kitsu. As the Ox greeted her, she bowed to her in return and replied.
"Greetings to you, Morito-sama. Indeed, it is a wonderful evening, with the light of Lady Moon shining brightly on us all. I am Kitsu Natsuki, priest of the kami and sodan-senzo of the Lion."
The sound of footsteps made Natsuki turn her head slightly, allowing her to see two Phoenix and a Unicorn, from the look of her a Battle Maiden of the Utaku, approaching.
It certainly seems that the geisha spoke truly. This stall must indeed serve delicious food if so many samurai come here at this hour.
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Isawa Kinen
Phoenix Clan
All is equal before the Void.
Posts: 117
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Post by Isawa Kinen on Mar 9, 2011 13:34:56 GMT -5
When Kinen and Kohaku approached the sushi stand, he noticed that the stall owner had already laid out tea and sushi for them. He paused, and turned to the two samurai-ko whom were conversing among themselves, the Ox and the Lion. The Lion had not arrived much earlier than themselves, which mean the Ox was responsible for such a gesture of kindness. One such gesture that Kinen could not allow. But then Kohaku placed a hand on Kinen's shoulder; she had noticed before him. "Relax. Other people can be kind too. Just accept the generosity and find some way to pay her back in the future."
With a reluctant sigh, Kinen eased himself, before stepping to the two samurai-ko. "Greetings, Lion-san, and thank you for your random act of kindness, Ox-sama. I am Isawa Kinen." "I am Shiba Kohaku, Kinen's yojimbo and wife." Kohaku said with a warm smile as she bowed slightly. An informal bow, but this was an informal place. Kinen bowed as well with his wife. "May I ask for the reason behind such a generous action?"
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Post by utakumoli on Mar 9, 2011 14:45:49 GMT -5
Mo-Li approached last of all, the other samurai already gathered at one of the tables near the stall. As she approached, the sushi chef had already prepared a plate for her, and it was there waiting. She thanked the chef and reached into her kimono sleeve to retrieve her purse, but the owner made a small waving gesture with his hand, and nodded to the Ox maiden. "The Ox maiden has already taken care of the bill, sama." He smiled. Mo-Li bowed slightly and took up her plate. She approached the table and, bowing first to the assembled samurai, took the last empty seat, setting the plate down on the table before her.
She bowed again to the Ox maiden. "Thank you for you generous hospitality," she said quietly, but clearly. "I am Utaku Mo-Li."
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