[OOC: I think this post is too boring... ^^ So if you get tired of it, I included a summary at the bottom to relieve your eyes. And for those of you considering a meeting with Namame... Hiryuu Rock and the shrine can be considered smack in the middle between Kikaku and Ara.]

Pale, greyed sunlight cut through the carriage's curtains, even that litte bit bright in contrast to the darkness within. It looked to be yet another greyish winter day, but to eyes just awakened from troubled repose, any sunlight was a miserable surprise.

It seemed almost... unreal, a mist over Namame's gaze, blinding him to the reality of the interior around him; it also smacked faintly of ice and green, though the former wasn't any surprise -- this was Hokkan, after all. Ice was the country's main commodity.

'Green'... Genbu? It was the obvious choice... but no. The god had no reason to speak with him. Only Miko would ever speak with the god, wherever and whoever she may be.

Perhaps it had been a dream? With the sunlight shining directly into his eyes, it was no wonder he was assaulted with different colors every time he blinked. Coupled with the rhythmic sway of the carriage, it was a wonder he had not grown sick yet.

//Let it rest... let it rest...// He'd begun to put too much store in his dreams, thanks to his sister's babbling... She seemed to enjoy targeting him, in particular; the character they had discovered on his body during his childhood was her favorite subject when it came to her silly superstisions.

But he did feel odd... Not sick, and not tired, though he had just awakened from a rather unrestful nap... Just different, as if a puzzle-piece had clicked into place in his mind, and he had only to figure out which one it was to understand things...

How long had they been on the road, now? Two or three hours at most, he thought, by the slant of the sunlight. Not long... And there was an old Genbu shrine not far from their current position...

Surely his father wouldn't mind if Namame sought the god's blessing before going on to close such an important pact, now would he?

"Kouru-san!"

Namame jumped at the sudden call, a hand flying to the hilt of his sword before his mind caught up with reality and stilled his fingers. "What is it?" He withdrew his hand and leaned forward, parting the carriage curtains to peer outside. "Is something wrong?"

Kori - one of the few trustworthy guards - acknowledged his appearance with a slight, mocking bow and gestured to the road. "No, nothing is amiss. But I thought I should inform you that we've received word of a blizzard further on down the road - it was suggested that we detour, or stop here until it passes over to the east."

A blizzard? How convenient... "Who gave you this information?"

"An old man passed by while you were in contemplation. He had no reason to lie, and the formation of the clouds up ahead confirm his claims." The other shrugged, turning away from the road again to peer at him. "Are you well, Kouru-san? You..."

"Pull off the highway, then, and veer to the west until you find Hiryuu Rock." Namame waved Kori's concern away and leaned back again, letting the curtains fall shut. "Inform me when we reach that point, if you would be so kind..." If the guard replied, Namame didn't hear it.

It was no bother... Hadn't he intended on detouring anyway? The blizzard was simply a suitable excuse to visit the abandoned shrine... perhpas from Genbu, or not... But he was grateful, either way.

He'd made his reluctance to meet with Lord Liu known before leaving his father's home, though it had made no difference. This upcoming mmeeting had to be done, but it certainly would not be enjoyable. The man was known for his wealth, yes, but also quite a few other, more unsavory things... shocking, if they were true.

His wife was young, perhaps almost too young... his staff was comprised mostly of... Namame shook his head, a slight shudder trying to make its way along his spine. They were all rumors, only that... and he knew better than to trust the integrity of rumors. However...

... No, he would not think about it. He would only avoid House Liu as much as possible, and remain in the city rather than accepting any hospitality from the Lord. It would be understandable, he hoped...

And if not, then his father would have to live without the deal. He was only willing to go so far to advance his family's holdings; if it required him to compromise himself for any sort of profit... it would not be done...

His mouth twisted sourly, and he leaned foward to part the curtains again, closing his eyes as fresh, ice-tinted air washed over his face and send his hair drifting on the current.

How did Liu manage it...? If the rumors were true, that is. Were they hidden so well from the Emperor and his family that risk of justice was low, or was it simply beneath concern?

No... no, he would leave this matter to others. Power of Liu's sort would hold no sway over him - if nothing else, his marking would protect him. It had before... why not now? Noblemen had no power over the rule of the gods. And if Genbu decreed that he suffer...

Well, then Namame would find a way around it. He revered the god in his own fashion, but he was not above showing a little disrespect now and then if it kept him from... misfortune.

"Hmmm..." Namame tilted his head back, letting the sharpness of the wind graze his neck, and seep through the confines of his garments to cool his skin. He'd over-dressed, anticipating a more frigid reception than he had received at the start of the journey. "By that logic, I should be free of Father's yoke... now shouldn't I...?"

His whisper was lost to the wind, and his agitation with it. Much better to contemplate his dreams than to torment himself with worries he was not sure were even based in fact.

A shout went up at the head of the small column, and after a few moments the carriage began to change course, veering back to the south and west. And just in time; as the column moved to complete the detour, the brush of wind from the north bore just a hint of moisture to his nose, just a touch of frozen air... The nameless traveler had been correct, apparently... there /was/ a blizzard up ahead.

The sound of someone approaching - Kori, shouting his orders - stilled Namame's thoughts and he leaned back again, holding the curtain's open in anticipation of the guard's arrival.

A fleeting glance of Hiryuu Rock caught his eye, and a sigh escaped his lips before he could catch it. A sigh of relief -- he was being called, for whatever reason... Whether to the shrine or something else he did not know, but the ghostly remnants of that dream finally drifted away...

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(Summary: After a lot of useless buildup about the Liu family, Namame's group veers a bit to the southwest to avoid a blizzard, and they head to an old Genbu shrine.)