Akemi was riding her bike through the forest, in full armor, tetsubo in the glove box. She was speaking to her passenger without her eyes leaving the road (or lack of it really).

"Okay, here's the deal. We're here to inspect the wards around the Kiyonami. I have had intel that they might be compromised in one spot or the other, or that at least people might be crossing them over in secret sometimes.

We're mainly looking for recent traces of passage. Yesterday's downpour probably cleaned up everything older than that anyway. This is just reconnaissance, we don't go to the wrong side of the wards, we play it cool and safe with the local patrols if we meet them, we abort mission if difficulties start pilling up.

Sounds like your alley? You asked me to call you for this investigation stuff and so did I."

---

Expecting Bayushi Tenma before starting thread

Tenma herself wore police body armor and had her sword and sniper rifle strapped across her back. It wasn't the full set of gear; No badges, no riot gear, no jitte; This was for safety, not to step on the toes of local law enforcement. She clung to Akemi's back, though it wasn't as warm and soft as it might have been through all the layers of armor. Speaking of layers... it was HOT out. Much too hot for Tenma, who came from a relatively cool planet.

"I like being active, helping how I can, yeah. Besides, this is a much more exciting date than going to some bar or something, neh?"

Despite the discomfort from the heat, she was in a good mood, and it showed in her teasing voice.

Somewhere among the tall stalks, a predator eyed the two samurai, hugging a fungal stalk. Well able to smell the beast, the small lizards had evacuated the location earlier, with only small insects skittering on the ground. A small blue snake clung to a wobbly mushroom, its tongue tasting the fetid air.

____

OOC: Investigation (Notice) / Perception please

"Dunno, bars are sometimes pretty wild too." joked (terribly) Akemi, her brain power still on her environment.

---

D7 LA | ??? | Investigation/Perception: 4d10o10k3 20

Despite blabbing on, Tenma was mostly paying attention to what was around them as well, at least visually. Between the talking and her rented helmet, she couldn't hear as well as she would have liked.

"True. But it's not the same kind of action, the kind that's... I dunno, spicier."

Day 7, Late Afternoon, ???, Investigation/Per: 5d10o10k3 21

Both of the samurai could see a ghostly white figure clinging to a tree, its many eyes gleaming with hunger as it eyed them admits the fungal blossoms, good sixty feet above the duo.

____

OOC: You can either run OR roll initiative.

Akemi prepared her bike for a quick evasion maneuver:

"Spider thing above. Not today's objective to hunt them, so I elect we just avoid it unless you really want to show off your hunting skills."

---

D7 LA | White Death Appears | Overconfident (TN20): 3d10o10k3 34 -> Success

"Local fauna? No, not our job."

Tenma hoped it didn't follow them, so she kept her eyes on it as Akemi kept hers in front of the bike.

Akemi nodded and turned abruptly to avoid the beast, at full throttle.

---

Skipping combat and back to investigating?

Tenma had time to look around as the creature faded from sight. She could see the wards; One of her few friends growing up had been a Yogo, and they were pretty standard. Tenma decided to comment on them as Akemi drove.

"Looks like graveyard barriers to me, and they've been activated recently by something they were trying to keep out. Not sure if they succeeded or not though from the glances I saw."

Akemi answered quickly, eyes on the path:

"There's no way that can be good news right?

Think the Phoenix already know about it? I dunno how thoroughly they patrol that place, if they even do."

"The latter question? No idea either? The former? When are the wards on graveyards being disturbed ever a good thing, even if cremation is practiced? Just means it's less likely to be something walking around and more likely something floating, if you see what I mean."

Akemi produced an affirmative grunt then added:

"I guess there is no way we can know more about that without an actual shugenja on our team, is there?

It's a bit disappointing but should we just go back for now before we make any other unrelated bad encounters?"

"I... certainly don't know the efficacy of a gun and sword against spirits. But all things considered, it doesn't seem like the sort of situation to blunder into unprepared, no."

Tenma frowned a little, still holding on tight.

"Well, was worth a try.

At least we weren't ambushed by that crazy cult the rumors talk about. Wouldn't have like them return us to Chikushudo, whatever that means."

"The cult? Oh, right, I remember hearing something about that. Yeah, that would have been a pain... but exciting. And I don't really mind exciting, kind of like it really. That's why I like you, Hida-san; You make me feel excited~"

She hugged a little tighter to Akemi's back.

Akemi smirked under her helmet at the maneuver even her found unsubtle.

"You know Tenma, if you actually want something, you just need to ask for it. I'm definitely not one to get offended by people stating their desires as straightforwardly as possible."

"D-Desires?"

The Bayushi girl seemed genuinely surprised at the word. She seemed to pause a bit before continuing in a stammering, rushed, explanatory fashion.

"I-I just meant like actual excited! Um... I mean... Like you're a cool person and lead an exciting life and being around you makes me feel like I'm going to have an exciting time too. You... you know."

She shifted a little, "If you mean excited in THAT way... well, I hadn't necessarily thought about it too much, but now I can't stop thinking about it. B-Baka."

Still, the Bayushi girl didn't let go.

"I'm open to everything but I need my hands and my focus on the road if you hope to return to the city in one piece.

I'll give you some time to think about it, but you do need to eventually make your mind about which kind of adventure you are looking for. We can mix of course, but I cannot wear my armor and not wear it at the same time if you catch my drift."

"I suppose I do. ...would it be greedy to want it all, Hida-san?"