Ryuu was taking the time to check out the department store in the Mall. Stipend would be coming while he was here, and gauging potential gifts was necessary. He was in his field uniform, unblinking icy blues looking over the offerings. One could almost call it stalking, the way he snaked through the departments, looking over this, looking over that.

A Moshi finally decided to go and get a pair of headphones for her densai. She will have her stipend delivered soon. She looked at the different models but was really undecided which one to buy.

He found his way to the electronics section of the store, when he saw the Moshi. His head tilted, watching her for a moment. Then, he approached.

"Good Afternoon, Mantis-san. This one is Daigotsu Ryuu, Doshin, Magistrate Office, Shiragiku. I hope I am not bothering you." His icy blue eyes were intense, coupled with that aura of dread he always emanated.

"Eh?" She looked at the person with the voice. She blinked a few times trying to not lose her on. "Konichiwa Daigotsu sama... I am Moshi Atena... it... it is an honor to meet you."

"Moshi Atena-san. An honor to meet you." He stepped into the aisile, looking at the headphones, Communicator cases... nothing really for him, but looking like he was in place. "You are here for the miai?" An eyebrow raised, as he looked to her again.

"Ano... hai... Daigotsu sama." The man gave shivers down her spine. "Are... are... are you here for it too?" She smiled politely. She looked at the lower shelves to see if she could find a pair that would be of her liking.

"I am." He replied, moving down the aisile, before coming back up the one across, looking through the rack of music albums. Just something to occupy his time as he made conversation. Ryuu looked up, another slow blink.

"Your clanmate did exceptionally well in today's competition."

"Great, Tsuruchi san is a great Marksman." She nodded. "Sadly I wasn't there to root him on." She made a mental note to congratulate the man next time they crossed paths.

He tilted his head slightly, regarding her comments. He had noted that it was a smaller turnout at the competition than he had imagined. But it certainly was a dangerous event. Two of the potentials ended up in Phoenix care.

"So. How are you finding Asakaze so far, Moshi-san?"

"It is quite interesting. The temple of Fukurokujin might need some work. The Dojo is nice. Otori seem to be gentle birds. The air could be a bit better but it doesn't rival the recycled air from the dome cities" She explained. "What about you Daigotsu san?" She seemed to be getting used to the feeling of dread.

"It has some similarities to my homeworld. But maybe agriworlds aren't all that different from each other." He smiled slightly. Plus or Minus the spirits of the Hungry Dead.

"It is more the people I am meeting that are of the most interest to me, though I have found quiet enjoyment in the Otori I helped train, Kinyobi."

"Yes people are interesting some more than others." She smiled brightly at her find. "Aha! These look nice." She stood up. "I can't say much about exoagriculture. As for my Otori, I decided to let it go free. I don't know how to train them and I don't feel like bonding with a bird when there are people one should be bonding with."

"I admire your commitment to focusing on the task at hand, Moshi-san." An eyebrow raised as he appraised her exuberance, watching the way she shopped for gear.

"The number of eligible samurai is pretty staggering, when you think about it."

"Now the conelantern..." She told herself. "There seem to be a handful of bachelors and little time to choose or know each other unles one already had a plan. Looking for a mate shouldn't be an easy task. There are secrets and masks that will show the wrong side." She sighed. "That is sad."

"I do not think there is much of a plan, other than what our lords have instructed us as priorities." His head followed her movements, just observing as she shopped. "But you are correct. Finding a potential spouse is a difficult task. Which is why it takes dedicated effort." He stepped down the aisle again, looking through Phoenix artists he didn't know anything about.

"It does... it seems that in these land... anoo... is more than just pick a mate. Seems more like survival." She shook her head. "Conelantern." She said reminding herself.

"I once heard that love is a battlefield. Inaccurate for what marriages are, but in the same ball park." He looked up, idly holding a Yakumo album. "So Survival may be a more important skill than many give it credit for."

Ryuu looked to the Moshi. "Putting together an escape kit?"

The girl blinked a few times. "No... I just need to see in the library. Also if I would go to the outskirts I should always have a handy lantern and not to bother the fire kami." She explained.

"Not enough light in the library?" He raised an eyebrow, then nodded at her continuation, surmising more about her. "Of course, that makes sense. Always useful." He moved back to her aisle, standing an appropriate distance from her.

"What have you found of interest in the library so far?"

"Seems that the Phoenix want to keep the lights low so the texts don't degrade." She looked around the aisle. "Hmmmm what was it again... light... conelantern... right." She looked at the lanterns in the rack. "A book in psychology, trying to learn on how to read people and how to help myself."