#sasuke.in

[hirearanseian]

@ranseiuniter

“Yo, Azai-sama! I hear you’re still looking for activities at this year’s festival?”

[hirearanseian]

@harmori

Since the main event started, Sasuke took advantage of the lull in climbers to explore the fair grounds. He’d seen one or two of the festivals in his early days of working for Motonari. Of course, they all paled to what the empress had managed to concoct. Things were certainly more exciting. Yukimura had come by sometime earlier singing praises to and about one of the mainlanders. Sasuke had been on the fence about letting mainlanders into Ransei. Before the wars he had been completely against it, but if their antics were what kept things interesting...

He bought a piece of fruit--Greenleaf grown the vendor had assured, and he could tell the truth of the words from the first bite--and munched it down to the core as he wandered about. Maybe he’d just give the remaining plushes he’d made out to the kids at the end of the thing. They were a rush job, and not worth much. It wouldn’t really be worth selling them.

Eventually, he settled himself in the shadows near Tsubone’s stall. He should greet her, or at the very least make his presence known. After the...loss of Takamoto Sasuke hadn’t seen much of the Mōri, even while Motonari continued to help Hiroko plan her battles. Paranoia and anxiety kept Sasuke near Yukimura’s side lest he lose another master. Another friend. It wouldn’t be fair to do the same thing to Tsubone.

“Tell the one about the man-eating hedges!”

[hirearanseian]

How many times does he have to tell you not to eat rocks, kid?

[hirearanseian]

“Okay, okay, okay!” Sasuke claps his hands for attention and rises to his feet, accompanied by the cheers of Motonari’s children. “So! Everyone knows agriculture is important to those of us in Greenleaf. All through the day and night you can hear the snipping of shears in the fields.”

“This isn’t the bone---” Tsubone’s hand flies over Motoharu’s mouth.

“In the summer plants grow so high you can’t see over them. All you have to know somebody else is there is the snipping of shears in the fields. Be careful to step over the roots of plants, and no matter how tasty they may look don’t harvest them before their time.” Sasuke has been pacing in time with his words. He stops, and whispers now that he doesn’t need to be heard over his steps.

“And above all else, don’t go near the sound of the shears.

“Greenleaf’s plants take care of themselves. Everyone knows to be wary of the hedge that changes its own paths to trap those who enter, and of the curse that befalls those who venture into the forest.” Motoharu lets out a small cheer. Tsubone tackles him to the ground.

“But few know of what befalls those who hurt the harvest. If you hear the shears, do not look left or right as you walk away. Do not run, for your feet will tangle in the grass. Above all else, do not look behind you.

“For if you see the one that carries the shears they will know your face.

“Few know of what befalls those who hurt the harvest. All anyone knows is that the person disappears, only to be found days later. Body strung and hanging, cut to pieces by the shears.”

[hirearanseian]

@harmori

Might as well enjoy himself while he’s here. What’s Motonari gonna do? Fire him? Should probably write a note of apology to be delivered in leu of a body should things go tits up.

   Shingen-sama, Yukimura-sama

   Greenleaf has at last claimed its long-lost son.

Yeah, something like that. Maybe add a note for one of his buddies to pretty it up beforehand. Ah well. He’s here for a good time, not a long time. And good times mean meeting up with the trouble child. To stir up even more trouble! He finds Motoharu after some slithering through the age-old passages for shortcut purposes.

“Well, well, well,” he speaks in a nasally voice. “Just the man I was looking for.”

[hirearanseian]

@harmori

Even by his standards this was horribly thought out. As far as Greenleaf was concerned he was still a fugitive. You didn’t exactly get banned from a kingdom by its warlord and just go strolling in for a visit.

And yet, Sasuke felt he had an obligation to do just so. During the war he had avoided Motonari as much as possible. Sidestepping a few meetings and sticking to Yukimura’s side in battle like they’d been tied together in order to do so. He had not given the same cautions in catching up with Takamoto, and look where that got them.

So, an obligation of sorts. To see if he could smooth things over at least a little with the head of the Mōri family. If Motonari didn’t wish to see him, Sasuke could spend some time with the warlord’s children. And if Motonari decided to keep good on his word that Sasuke would be executed on his return to Greenleaf, well, he could claim diplomatic immunity as a delegate from Terrera, surely. If that didn’t work there were always the secret passages. Walls weren’t that easy to move.

Sasuke bypassed the passages themselves. As much fun as it would be to see Motonari spook as he had whenever Sasuke or another ninja interrupted him in the middle of research, that was begging for the sword. This would be handled much better if it started out inasmuch as it could on Motonari’s terms. So instead, Sasuke knocked on the office door.

[hirearanseian]

Ninja 👏 stars 👏 instead 👏 of 👏 darts 👏 are 👏 valid 👏👏

[hirearanseian]

“Ahem.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up to try your luck at Terrera’s greatest pastime! Before you stand three, count ‘em three, levels of difficulty in rock climbing! Level one stands a mere twenty feet high, while level three tests even our most dedicated climbers at a whopping sixty feet! Safety equipment has generously been loaned from the topmost guilds in the desert. And, should you be unable to go on, assistants are available to get you back to ground.

“However! Each challenge you complete will be awarded with a sand plush of our native Sandile, made by yours truly! Every single one of which comes with the Kunoichi seal of approval! What’s more: the first one to beat our sixty-foot challenge will receive the top prize of the day! A twelve-inch plush of our Warlord’s very own Groudon!”