[OOC: Yay! Everyone, rejoice - Namame won't decide to be the miko now! Umm... long story... Err, and the post is kind of long too. Hope I didn't butcher any characters. I just talk waaaay too much.]

Musky smoke drifted up to the rafters, a tendril of grayish smoke that seemed at once light and shadow against the candlelit background of the shrine. It was not accompanied by prayer today, but the unspoken request that snaked up to the sky with the smoke was there on the tip of Namame's mind.

/Someone/ was trying to reach him. He didn't know who, and only generally where, but... that was a fact. He'd lost the trace of chi before he'd had a chance to pinpoint it, but the feeling had left little doubt in Namame's mind as to /what/ it was...

But there was nothing to do but wait for the sense of that "presence" again, and hope he could catch it before it could slip through his fingers. Legend said that at least one of the Genbu seishi of the past had been able to communicate by astral means - perhaps he too might be able to divine that talent, given the slant of his power. Or perhaps this one would - he knew the person he had sensed was one of Genbu's. The feeling of it had been like a light shed upon his mind...

A knock ended his contemplation abruptly, and Namame rose silently from his place in front of the little altar, sending one last request to his god before turning to admit the guest - or rather, going out to meet him.

"The men are ready, Kouru-san," Kori informed him, bowing politely. "The snow hasn't let up, but we've rigged a rope up to drag with us, just in case we lose sight of the temple."

Namame nodded and gestured for the guard captain to proceed, halting only once to gather his fur cloak and pull it over his shoulders. The night before had been a lesson - better not to tempt fate, even if he /could/ shield himself.

"How many have you assembled? I won't pass judgement on them, but gypsy groups are notably unreliable when they feel threatened."

"Only ten, my lord - just enough for your safety." Kori glanced back at him when they reached the inner doors, hitching his own cloak to clear room for his sword. "I suggest arming yourself, if you will. As you said, they may be dangerous."

After a moment of thought, Namame shook his head, adjusting his cloak to hide all but his face, letting it fall in thick, soft folds over his arms. "That would not be wise... Any negotiations or offers we intend to make will be rejected out of hand if they think I mean them harm. A presentation of trust -" well, as much trust as he could show, with ten armed men accompanying him, "-will serve us better."

The captain pushed the doors open with a shrug, leading Namame to the antechamber and the group of guards awaiting his arrival. To a man, they bowed and saluted, as if this was a formal occasion rather than a hastily thrown-together honor guard. It would have been amusing, if there hadn't been so much tension in the air...

Heavy... something felt... "Be at ease." What was that...? So close, too. "This is your last reminder: do not draw your weapons unless directly provoked. We're offering our hospitality, not arresting them for trespassing. When we reach--"

Namame's eyes widened almost convulsively, his words cut off in a gasp of shock. It was a rush of power - familiar power - that roared over his senses for seconds that seemed like eternity, before fading... Very near... If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought it was his own power, it was so close.

"Kouru-san?" A hand gripped his shoulder, and shook him hard. "Kouru-san, are you unwell?"

He blinked, his head reeling... "What...?" Eyes focusing again, he stared into Kori's concerned face, mouth hanging open like an idiot. Nearby... There was only one thing that close...

"The snow's stopped!"

Namame started, his thoughtless contemplation of the sensation he had felt melting away in a brief flash of amazement as he gazed over the heads of his guards to the sliver of daylight he could see through the widening crack between the outer doors. /Daylight/... rather than snow...

After another moment of indecisiveness, Namame pushed forward, pulling Kori with him a few steps. "Come along - we're going to investigate that gypsy camp." It was the only explanation - the feeling, now that he could actively /feel/ it, was coming from that direction. One of the feelings, anyway. The other...

Well, he had his answer. But why, for Genbu's sake, did he get the feeling that it would only cause him more trouble in the end?

---------

//What now...?// Namame asked hiself silently, halting for a moment to stare at the wagons ahead of him.

The Gypsy camp lay not more than a dozen yards away, pulsing with an inner energy he'd often admired whenever groups such as this had traveled through Ara to perform. Even from this distance, he could almost feel the music in the air... as if it could be a tangible thing, rather than just sound.

He'd thought of running away with them more than once... but had eventually dismissed the thoughts as illogical. It was a shame; those brief fancies had been the only dreams he regretted pushing away for the sake of his family...

But enough of that. For the first time in his memory, Namame was at a loss for words. And for someone in his position, that was most definitely /not/ a good thing.

He started forward again, drawing his guards along with him to approach the camp. He knew exactly where to go; though they had moved a bit further within the circle of the wagons, the group he had seen at the edge of the encampment upon first leaving the temple was still nearby, and within hearing distance. He didn't even have to raise his chi to know that one of them, at least, was the person who had caused the blizzard to vanish so suddenly.

Genbu, what to say? They were already at the edge of the wagons; the camp had quieted considerably, and two of the companions - the girl and the one with pale hair - had drawn back, and Namame had been left to confront the eldest (or so it looked to him). Typical. But the girl... Namame's eyes strayed to her for a moment, noting her strange garb before turning back to the one who was apparently in charge.

A strangely-dressed girl... what coincidence could that be, really?

"Who are you?" Piercing eyes bored past windblown strands of hair, as the gypsy met Namame's stare head-on. "What is your business with us?"

This one... was the one. He could feel it clearly now. "I am the leader of the caravan sheltering at the temple," he replied calmly, speaking just loudly enough that his voice would not be lost on the wind. "There has been some concern over your presence, so we've come to asertain your intentions, nothing more."

He bowed politely, using the gesture as a cover to focus his power, just a little... yes, this was definitely the one. A Genbu star... He thought he could feel a resonance with the other young man, the one hovering protectively about the girl, as well...

After a second of quick thought, Namame added before the other could respond, "My name is Kouru, of the Hirashu Family in Ara. But I am also known by the name 'Namame'."

There, he'd said it. Perhaps it was a bit rash, but he was positive this man was another seishi - now that he'd raised his own chi, the other couldn't have much trouble figuring things out. And if such a display of power was accepted by his comapnions and the rest of the camp, then Namame certainly shouldn't be in much danger because of his marking. Whether they would trust him, on the other hand... that was the difficult part. And this seishi did not seem to be the trusting sort at all.

The pause stretched, as the other studied him intently through windblown blue hair. Then, finally, he said, "Why don't we go aside a moment, stranger?" He motioned for Namame to follow and started off a few steps, glancing over his shoulder once to regard his companions. "Why don't you two go find something to eat? I'll catch up with you in a few minutes."

The gypsy led him a little bit away from their meeting site, casting a few glances around before halting and turning to face Namame and his entourage again. They were well away from the rest of the people in the camp now, almost hidden by the wagons, though flames were visible at the center where fires were being set for cooking and warmth.

"So, you claim you're a seishi?" His eyes flickered for a moment to the circle of guards again before settling again on Namame. "I am Tzigane Natasha... and please, forgive me if I don't believe you right away. There aren't many people who will claim Genbu's name these days, but there are plenty that might try if they thought it would help them kill their rivals."

"Direct, aren't you?" Namame locked eyes with 'Natasha' again. "I'd say the same, in your position. But I hope you consider that I might be telling you the truth..." He glanced meaningfully in the direction of the fires, where he assumed the oddly-garbed girl had settled. "The miko is going to need more than just two protectors and a gypsy camp to assure her safety."

There was nothing worse than a gypsy with an attitude, his father used to say... and Namame found that he had to agree. It was difficult to keep his annoyance in check, but he did his best to keep his face smooth, lest he alienate 'Natasha' further. No one would get anywhere if this turned into a conflict.

Natasha graced him with a sharp smile. "Can you prove it, then? Show me your symbol - then I'll consider believing you."

Of course - why hadn't he thought of that before? Genbu's marking couldn't be faked...

Namame grimaced - showing his symbol was fine, but... "I will, if you wish it. But I'd like to request that we move to a... warmer location, if you don't mind. I'm afraid it isn't as easily accessible as I'd like."

"Shy?" The gypsy grinned, a decidedly unfriendly touch to the expression. "Don't worry - the people in this camp don't have any prejudice toward Genbu's seishi. They won't cause you any harm, if you are who you say you are."

Warmth tinted Namame's cheeks, threatening to set his entire face aflame. Yes, he'd been the lucky one, hadn't he? "That isn't quite what I meant." He paused, trying to think of a diplomatic way to say it. "My marking is... difficult to show without compromising my modesty..."

Natasha's lips twitched. "I see..."

Namame sighed, his annoyance nearly getting the better of him. "/Will/ you allow me the privacy I need to prove myself to you? I will accompany you without my guard to the location of your choice, and you may surround me with as many armed men as you please... I haven't any intention of betraying your trust, as long as you do not threaten me."

Yes, the gypsy definitely looked as if he wanted to laugh. Namame did his best not to react. "Well if you're that set on it..." He made a sweeping gesture to a nearby wagon. "Follow me, then."

With a gesture to his guard to remain where they were - Kori looked as if he wanted to protest, but one look silenced him and set him back in his place - he moved away from his companions and followed Natasha as ordered. After a moment of silence, Namame found himself growing calmer, almost comfortable.

Almost. Maybe Genbu wanted to reassure him, but 'Natasha' certainly wasn't helping any...

---------------------------------

[OOC: I guess this should have been two posts, eh? ^^ I hope Natasha is /supposed/ to be a wit when he's being mistrustful...]