[OOC: Just picking up where Nat left off... This doesn't take nearly as long in FS2 time as I make it seem. ^^ And Erin, since my e-mails didn't get through... go ahead with the Namame portrait. He thanks you. ^.^ *pats red-faced Namame*]

Namame trudged through the snowdrifts silently with the wind at his back, glancing back every few moments to his new companions. 'Natasha' had remained at his camp for the time being, though he had assured the others he would follow shortly. That was a not-quite-exciting prospect, considering the tone of their first meeting, but... first impressions weren't everything.

Just... almost everything.

The scholar shook his head grimly, flinging his ponytail over onto his back impatiently. The wind tried to throw it back into his face, but he coiled it inside the hanging hood of his cloak, hoping it would behave that way. He didn't need petty distractions now - getting back to the shrine was about as much effort as he wanted to waste on this charade. The important thing, now, was to figure out how he was going to fit all of these new developments into his schedule.

It felt incredibly shallow to him, but he had to plan it out - he was on a timetable, and as much as he despised his family's dealings, this was an important contract that absolutely had to get to Lord Liu and then back to his father in Ara. He didn't /like/ to admit it, but... deplore his father as he would, the family fortune was a great asset to him in his pursuit of knowledge. He didn't want to lose it on a whim.

But... if this girl really was Genbu no Miko - something he felt fairly sure of, after reflecting on the situation - then he was going to be required to drop everything and devote his time to protecting her. While that was not necessarily a bad thing, it was going to get in the way of things he needed to do, unless this miko, and the rest of her seishi, were willing to accomodate him.

Perhaps Lord Liu would be able to aid him - perhaps by sending the contract back to Ara with one of his own emmisaries. Perhaps... He did not know if Liu was a faithful man, and in these times, his willingness to help might be questionable.

Namame sighed as he and his 'entourage' passed through the outer gates of the temple, and gestured for Kori to approach.

"Kouru-san?" he inquired a bit nervously, his eyes roaming to the newcomers for a split second.

"See that the guards know to let Natasha in when he arrives. It won't do to have him shut out just after we've extended our hospitality." He followed the guard captain's gaze to Kiyuki and Kita - right? - and offered them a nod, with a gesture to continue forward. "But keep a watch out for anyone else - no one is to enter this compound, besides him."

"Understood."

"Thank you," Namame offered softly, though his officer was already too far away to hear. It was a shame... he rarely showed any appreciation to the servants in his household, and Kori in particular had always been loyal; he would have to make an effort in the future to show that he appreciated it, somehow. "Kiyuki..." He turned his head to regard the girl, searching her eyes carefully. "That is your name, correct?"

Her eyebrows contracted, worry sweeping her expression for half a second before she realized whatever it was that had confused her. She hurried through a snow drift to his side, with Kita following close behind, looking as if he wanted to say something. But his miko spoke for him.

"I-I'm sorry, I should have mentioned sooner... I'm deaf. I can't understand what you're saying unless I can see your lips move..." He thought she might have blushed, but she didn't seem the type - just a little hesitant. "I hope that won't be a burden..." She bowed. "My name is Nenaii Kiyuki."

"Nenaii Kiyuki..." He inclined his head, tasting the name as if it would reveal everything about her. "No no, not at all... It's quite interesting, actually." /Fascinating, really,/ he thought to himself, taking another long moment to gaze at her. He'd always wondered if such a thing was possible - and here it was, right in front of him. She made it look so natural... "And... Kita?" he asked, raising his gaze to meet the amethyst glitter of his fellow seishi's.

"Kita Oroshi." His silver hair spilled over his shoulders as he bowed formally, and Namame returned the courtesy swiftly, berating himself for becoming so distracted as to forget his manners.

Satisfied, Namame bowed again - really just an inclination of his head - and with a sweeping gesture indicated that they should precede him into the temple. "Please, Kiyuki, Kita... I offer you my hospitality."

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

"How did you learn the skill of reading lips, if I may ask?"

Perhaps the question was a bit presumptuous, maybe even a little rude... They had, after all, met a mere hour ago. But once he had seen to their comfort and assured that Natasha would be able to join them later, he could think of nothing to do but join his two guests on the benches around the fire and try to acquaint himself with them. He would, after all, be spending quite a bit of time with them.

Besides, Namame was curious. He had heard of 'lip-reading' before, but hadn't ever met anyone with the ability. It seemed like such a difficult skill to master, and surely it would take a certain kind of mind to conquer it - quick, versatile, logical... The kind of mind he thought he would like to exchange ideas with.

He turned his gaze to Kita, aware that he was neglecting him in his interest in Genbu no miko, but the young man didn't return his gaze. Instead, it was fastened on Kiyuki, as if he too was curious about what she had to say.

Or perhaps it was something other than curiosity, Namame noted silently, but turned his eyes back to the girl without a word.

"I..." Kiyuki shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I didn't lose my hearing until a certain point in my life... I guess that made it easier to connect the words with the shapes that peoples' lips made." She smiled hesitantly, and raised her eyebrows. "It took a lot of practice, too."

"I imagine." He straightened, flipping his ponytail over his shoulder. "It may come in useful where we are going, Kiyuki - I suggest you pay close attention once we reach Tolan."

"Oh?" It was almost unnerving, in a way, to see how she focused on him when he spoke - surely it was a product of the skill, but it was still rather strange. "Are you talking about the religious unrest? Natasha mentioned it earlier..."

He nodded. "Partly. Tolan probably suffers from it more than Ara, with such a dense population, but my true concern is what will happen once we reach the palace. Regardless of any other destinations 'Natasha' or I may have in mind, we /must/ go there. The Emperor has a few items that you, as Genbu no miko, may need in the future."

"Is... Is there really any truth to that?" She moved her gaze back up to his eyes. "What makes you so sure I'm this miko you're talking about...? It's kind of hard to imagine... how do you know I can call this god of yours like you say?"

"Unsure?" He offered her a faint smile, something rare for him these days. There hadn't been much to enjoy, lately. "You are quite obviously not from this world. Even if you are not Genbu no miko - something I do not doubt, myself - the key to returning you to your home still lies with Genbu. I can think of no other with the power to draw you here, to us." He gestured widely, including Kita, and the absent Natasha. "All of us. It wasn't chance that drew us together."

"It's worth thinking about, I guess." She looked away from him, into the fire. "I don't mind, really. It'll just take some getting used to, I guess.."

Namame swallowed the response on the tip of his tongue and let the subject drop for now; there was more he needed to tell her, and things she would need to know, but he had no reason to push it all onto her shoulders now. He could only imagine what it must have felt like to appear in a world she had no concept of... and logic stated, if nothing else, that layering the entirety of her duties onto her now would only make her more uncomfortable...

Another moment passed before he finally tore his gaze away from the girl and faced Kita. "Are you a Han?" he asked softly, hoping such a direct question would not offend him. "Your name has the sound of it, if I may presume to guess..."

The younger man seemed to pale, although it was difficult to tell in the wavering firelight. "From the northern country... far to the north."

Namame raised an eyebrow. "I hope we have not delayed some business of yours... It seems unusual that one of your people would be in this area without reason."

Kita shook his head, his expression tightening - and that was not just his imagination, Namame knew... Whatever he was hiding - and he /was/ hiding something - must be quite distressing. "Nothing that can't be delayed. I appreciate your concern, but you really don't have to worry. I'm free to folow Genbu no miko."

Concealing his curiosity was diffucult; Namame didn't like leaving puzzles unsolved or unexamined. But it wouldn't be polite to start prying now, would it? It wasn't his business, in any case... as long as this 'secret' did not interfere with anyone else...

But mysteries could be /infuriating/. Why did his talent have to start working at such inopportune times? He would be wondering about both Kita /and/ Natasha until he could work answers out of them, and he wasn't even sure he cared enough yet to put out the effort. Why, without Genbu no miko, he never would have bothered to speak to them - so why was he concerning himself with their personal affairs now?

Kiyuki, at least, was more open... "Ah..." He leaned toward Kiyuki again and nudged her with his slender fingers until she turned back to him, another thought finally resurfacing from his memory. "You asked for local garb, did you not?"

She nodded, again intent on his face as he spoke. "Yes, that's right... Natasha offered to bring something from the caravan."

"That will no doubt be more comfortable than what you have, when we travel. However... once we reach the city, you may want to consider a change of wardrobe. Tolan is a city full of snobs, to put it bluntly, and the palace is worse than the rest. The Romani are not in much better standing than the followers of the old gods, most of the time."

"But... this is all I have. I don't have the money to buy anything else..."

Namame shrugged her protest away, his ponytail sliding over his shoulder as he leaned forward with another slight smile. She was quite an extraordinary girl - he couldn't think of many others he found it this easy to smile for. Perhaps it was an effect from her world... "I can take care of that, if you wish. It shouldn't cost much to have you outfitted with something appropriate for the city."

The expression of surprise that crossed her face was almost amusing. Hadn't anyone ever offered her gifts before? "Oh no, you really don't have to go through so much trouble for me. I don't want to be a burden to you - I can get by with what I have. It's okay."

"Burden? Hardly." He twined his hair around her fingers idly, trying his best to put her at ease. "These trips to the capitol I make for my father are always used as opportunities to loosen his tight hold on the family funds and buy things for everyone. The cost of purchasing new clothing for you will be mere coppers in comparison to what my mother has ordered, in all honesty."

"Still..." She paused. "That much?"

"She has expensive tastes." Namame tilted his head to the side as he looked at her, taking in her appearance. "It won't be difficult. I have no need of anything from the city, so I won't mind using my share to provide you with something you need. I have to go to the marketplace anyway, so my offer stands if you decide to accept."

"Thank you..."

He nodded and rose from the bench, flinging his hair over his shoulder again as he bowed to his companions. "As host, I should probably await Natasha's arrival outside... Please relax, and do not hesitate to ask for something if you need it. I'll be waiting near the main doors if you need me."

He hardly waited for confirmation before he turned about and headed for the front of the temple. He needed fresh air... something to clear his head. Time to think... The others were too distracting, and he needed time to contemplate just how he could make things work out without neglecting any of his responsibilities. Genbu had certainly answered him, but... this answer hadn't been /quite/ what he was looking for.

Or was it...?

What had he asked for, last year? Or was it the year before? 'A way to escape my father's grasp.' Yes, that was it... And wasn't he staring in the face of his god's answer to the problem? An unusual face, to be sure... but not an unpleasant one. He just wasn't quite sure how he felt about it yet, and Namame wasn't accustomed to confusion. He didn't like being indecisive...

Hopefully, a few moments of silence would help him resolve things within his mind.