Akemi, in her sport swimsuit version, was fiercely doing laps after laps in the swimming pool, pushing her body to its very limit.

She was out of a mostly terrible day, about to start one that promised to be even worst, so she really needed some way to unwind.

And since Shoko wasn't available and she hadn't found a great place to smash things with her tetsubo, yet another lap will have to do it.

Having not gotten in her swimming in a few days, Tenma showed up at the pool bright and early, wearing her competition swimsuit and specially made mask goggles. When she arrived from the showers she saw someone was already doing vigorous laps across the pool.

A familiar someone.

"Hida-saaaaan! Good Moooorning!" Tenma called out in a clear voice.

Akemi slowed down and raised her head at the familiar voice:

"Oh, hello Tenma."

She waved at her vigorously from the pool, then closed up the distance to the ledge in a few laps.

"How are you today?"

"Mmmm, not too bad. The weather is better, the day's Phoenix thing sounds more than interesting, and I'm ready for some exercise."

Stopping by the pool ladder, she put on hand on it for balance before starting to do some basic stretches, "I'm surprised there's someone that got here before me. You must be really motivated to let off some steam."

"Crab meeting ended up way earlier than expected so, with nothing planned for my evening, I went to bed early too."

She did another two laps.

"But yeah, my days are kind of a mess lately. Far too much bureaucracy and diplomacy."

"Really?"

She seemed a little surprised, "Phoenix stuff? You're deeper into things with our hosts than I thought, even from what you said yesterday."

Tenma had finished so slipped agilely into the pool.

"I don't think I've spoken to a single Phoenix samurai other than the competition officials since I came here. Well, outside of the spaceport."

"Well, then you're a lucky one. Got into a... minor administrative issue and now it keeps chasing me. Tried to push that stuff into our main courtier, Yasuki-sama but that only delayed it, and made it even more complicated."

A exaggerated shrug that splashed water around.

"Nothing that will kill me. Just takes up precious time you know? The miai is already closer to its end than of its beginning. Gotta use each minute to the fullest."

"Many bushi know the hardship of getting wrapped up in a political matter when they'd rather not. Well, if there is any way you think I can help, then don't hesitate to tell me of course. Not mentioning you was a start, but it hardly feels like the most proactive thing."

"Not much room for anyone to change things at this point. Must simply go on with the flow."

She clapped, a weird sound due to humid flesh on metal.

"But enough with that. How is your miai going outside of trying to help a Hida solving a business she could not help but poke her nose into? Met interesting people?"

"Mmm! A lot of interesting people. Well, a good bit. A few. At least a couple."

She thought a moment.

"Perhaps I should be paying more attention to all the people that are here. I kind of get lost in my own little world."

"Not really possible to get everyone here the attention they're worth of. Just too many good people around."

Akemi dived and reappeared on the pool side close to Tenma, arms casually crossed on the ceramic edge, lower body still in water.

"Anyone in particular you've clicked with? Outside of me of course."

"Clicked with? Well, there's this Moto that's really friendly and passionate that is a pretty cool guy. Oh, and a Tsuruchi bounty hunter that is very handsome and fun too. A couple other interesting people certainly, but no one I've spent a ton of time with. Oh! I suppose there's one of my roommates, a Shinjo that sleeps on the bunk under mine and seems to like me; He seems like he likes me, and I think he's pretty nice too."

Akemi smiled:

"Seems to me like you've got a type, and that type is tall, handsome and a bit mysterious. I've met all three and I don't think I've fully grasped any of them. I can see the appeal indeed."

"Are you saying you're tall, handsome, and a bit mysterious as well, Hida-san?"

Tenma stuck out her tongue playfully as she treaded water in front of Akemi.

Akemi climbed back to solid ground and stretched as high as possible.

"Got the tall part covered, that's a fact. I'm also undeniably strikingly asymmetric. But wondering what is the mystery about me you haven't solved yet?"

"Well, for one thing certainly, what YOUR type is. Since you seem to have figured mine out so easily, the investigator here is surprisingly slow in figuring you out in return."

"That's actually a very good question. One I have given a lot of thoughts to since coming here."

She sat on one of the pool's starting blocks, contemplative.

"Fundamentally, for a long term relationship, I think I'm looking for someone I can talk to. Like really talk to, share my fears and joys, trauma and comfort, nightmares and dreams. Someone that will listen to them, acknowledge them, help with them, and, the most important point, will not shy away from unveiling their own heart in return."

She smiled weirdly.

"Kind of extreme and absolute I know."

Tenma shook her head before swimming closer. She climbed out of the pool to sit on the pool edge, looking up at Akemi sitting next to her.

"I mean, I don't think so; It shows a passionate and true heart, and not wanting to compromise. Those are all things I admire in a good person. I'd hate to have a partner I couldn't talk freely to or ask questions of freely, you know?"

Akemi raised her head and looked attentively at the dynamic girl:

"Thanks."

She kept her eyes locked on the Bayushi's lightly masked face, an impenetrable light dancing within them, and asked her next question:

"May I ask what are you looking yourself first and foremost in a partner Bayushi-san?"

"In all honesty, Hida-san, it's not too far from what you said, though perhaps in a more direct way; I'm hoping for someone who I can be myself around. I know every samurai has a certain mask they need to put on in public, but having a partner who you can come home to and let things out... There's a bit of being honest, but also a bit of stress relief and such. I don't get people who would need to rely on a geisha or such, when they could find someone genuine, whether that be a friend or a partner."

Tenma laid her head to the side so her cheek was resting on one of Akemi's thighs where they were draped off the diving platform.

"Everything else is negotiable."