Nishida was once again in the Xenobotanic Garden. As usual Akechi and Mochi were with him. He made his usual round through the park to stretch his legs.

He was pulling on a cigarette when he noticed someone nearby..

Ishiyo had opted for a calming walk this evening. And with no reason for formality she had stuck to a casual outfit, finely made and fashionable without really being anything too exciting.

Hearing the dogs she smiled, but was not dumb enough to just run up to a strange dog. Her eyes moved from the animals to their handler and the Crane bowed, "Crab-sama, pleasant day foh a walk. Oh well it is now at any rate, with the day seeming to have cooled off."

A crane? Huh, that must be that Daidoji Akemi told me about,...

"Good Evening, Daidoji-san. I'm Yasuki Nishida, an honor to meet you. This is my servant Akechi" he pointed towards the middle aged man beside him, then towards the Shiba Inu "and that's Mochi, my dog".

Mochi liked new people, he sat well-behaved in front of Ishyo and panting happily while he wagged his tail.

"Yes, it's indeed more pleasent. I'll hail from the Green Carp, but even there we never experienced that much heat."

"Hello Mochi," Ishiyo bent down and pet the dog with a pleased smile, then straightened back up, "Daidoji Ishiyo, Nikutai in the Crane Fleet Ai-eh Arm, 312th Naval Fighteh Squadron."

She considered something for a moment, "Though I suppose it would be more relevant to Yasuki-sama to add 'Daughter of Daidoji Takamune, the current head of Peregrine Luxury Aerospace, Automotive, and Racing.'"

"I've heard about you, but I don't think Daidoji-san is here for business? Not that this is the place or the time for business,... I'd like to invite you to my walk, if Daidoji-san has time?"

"One of you-eh clan mates approached me for business mattehs...I referred heh to fatheh's company liaison and offered to pass on heh..." Ishiyo pauses for a moment in thought, "material supply request? Something about alloys. I am not very good at the business aspects of the family."

"I would not mind joining you foh a walk howeveh. Yasuki-sama makes the third of you-eh clan I have encountered." Ishiyo stepped aside to let the Crab continue forward, "Hida Akemi-san and Kaiu Tetsu-san would be the othehs."

"Ahh too bad, but I suppose as a pilot you have a lot of experience with spaceships? I am a friend of your new fighter class, Daidoji-san."

He slowly began walking.

"Personally, I only got to know Asahina-san from the crane delegation. Even though I have seen the others. Asahina-san is a... strong woman if I may make this compliment. What about the rest of your delegation?"

“The Daisaigi?” Ishiyo asked, “I flew that one on my touh of duty.” She smiled, obvious pride in her expression...and eagerness, but she contained it for the moment.

She fell into step beside him, “You-eh assessment of Asahina-sama mirrors my own, the rest of my kin I have only spoken with briefly. My fellow Daidoji are perhaps not what one expects of Crane or Daidoji, but then again I hardly cut the familiar image of a Daidoji. Doji-san is the picture of a Crane Courtier.”

“I should also mention I spoke briefly with Kuni Koryn-san,” She dips her head, “My sympathies again for you-eh clan’s loss and my apologies if I was supposed to speak at his funeral. I did not feel I knew him well enough for a eulogy and did not wish to disrespect his memory.”

"Exactly, this. It combines elegance with power, the crane is still known for their superior designs" he complimented.

"Oh, how do you think you stand out from typical Daidoji? At least you already seem to be a warrior, something your family is known for." he asked interested.

"I thank you for your participation. I know that Koryn liked you very much. Something in his legacy was meant for you. I was going to wait until later, but as we speak."

Nishida took a small coupon from his pocket.

"This is a coupon for the Snow Moon Flower. He wanted to invite you for dinner, I want you to have it."

Ishiyo looked down at the coupon, she did not honestly need it...but it was not really about need.

"I am honored, Yasuki-sama. I enjoyed my chat with Kuni-san, that I will not be able to enjoy a meal with his company brings me sorrow." She accepts the coupon with a bow, thus not forcing the Crab to play the game of refusals for his dead kin.

"My fatheh's company designed the airframe and engines. One is probably more familiar with his civilian work." She smiles, "The Daidoji are more often known for their stoic demeanors and iron discipline. Though some, like my immediate family, have a reputation for business acumen. I am really neither, my temperament probably falls more closely to the Family that trained me: the Kakita."

"Thank you Daidoji-san, may he remain in your memory." he said, walking a bit in silence with her before speaking again.

"You were trained by the Kakita? Very interesting. The question is obsolete, but did you study the ancient ways of Iaijutsu?"

“The Kakita school has a proud tradition of aerial combat dating back to the old biplane era.” Ishiyo grinned at that, “It has worked to adapt Lord Kakita’s art to dogfighting.” The Crane glances down at the actual dog, “Viewing such combats as an extension of the iaijutsu duel, focusing on the use of our radiant weaponry over missiles. Apparently that makes us an oddity, as modern combat has drifted more toward the use of missile volleys.”

“As for Kakita’s original art, yes I also received classical training in iaijutsu. Though I have not had reason to use it all that often. I had hoped to improve my skill while here...but something has come up most mornings I had planned to practice.”

"It is truly fascinating how the teachings of Kakita have stood the test of time, even if the focus of the battles has shifted. Tell me, Daidoji-san, does being a pilot fascinate you? Or do you see flying only as a means to an end?"

he asked, while Mochi snapped at a flying moth again.

Ishiyo smiled again, "When I was a child of five my fatheh took me to one of his R&D facilities. They were testing an engine. The technicians fired it up while we were in the observation room...heedless I was there, it came as a shock when the engine noise and exhaust actually drew my complete attention."

"It started a fascination with fast spacecraft...that gravitated to fighteh craft. I have not really looked back since."

She closes her eyes and wistfully adds, "It is something to be suspended in the great void of space, surrounded by stars with just a rumbling engine to keep you company. Like you are a lone travelleh and anywhere in the galaxy is just a step away. Then to dive into combat...a million different things happening at once and you have to keep track of all of them. Dodging, weaving, lining up shots..."

"This is a beautiful view of things Daidoji-san. The call of emptiness is really something fascinating. I don't fly hunters myself, but I have also done some space travel. It is still inspiring when you are in the middle of the emptiness of existence. It gives you the feeling of being so incredibly small, and that all the problems you have are nothing more than a Sakura leaf in the wind."

"Well there is that as well, but it is also the knowledge that there is so much out in the galaxy that one can neveh hope to see all of it. Of course why not try no?" Ishiyo nodded, "So I take it you are a tradeh oh involved in shipping? Oh does you-eh business just take you to the stahs?"

"I am a procurement specialist for YamadaCorp. I procure all kinds of things for our company in the trade for our products. We provide Bush with all the tools they need, our specialty is firearms. If Daidoji-san is interested, she can contact me." he said friendly.

"But that has to wait until i finish some other businesses i need to attend to"

"Ah no, no," The Crane shakes her head, "I try to avoid business discussions, but my youngest brotheh is in a similar line of work. Though not so much procurements as overseeing the logistics of shipping, still travels a lot to speak with vendohs and buyehs."

"Ahh I see." She was probably more the figurehead while her brother would actually take over the business.

"Anyway, in the execution of my duty I made many journeys through the endless vastness. And still I have not got used to it 100%. Maybe that's because i don't fly the ship personally?"

"There is something to that most likely," Ishiyo chuckled, "When I am on the carrieh I do occasionally get the nervous feeling that something may happen and I would die without any sort of control of my fate. It is surprisingly nerve racking to be a pilot on a warship during combat. Getting out in a much smalleh and much easieh to destroy vessel and flying right into the hornet's nest is...comforting in that regard. One goes from merely riding and becoming just anotheh casualty to being able to grasp theih own fate."