Moriko hadn't had a day off in a long time. She felt all kinds of out of sorts, but the thing that bugged her the most today was that the otori herds were away from the city and she wasn't out there with them. It felt like dereliction of duty. She was tapping a foot impatiently, her attention on the small device in her hands that was making an obnoxious bleeping noise. "How are you still hungry?" she whined at the Kami-pet, the red shiba inu sitting at her feet cocking an ear in his master's direction.

The station was bustling, all but drowning out the noise from the toy, and the shiba inu's tail thumped as he wagged happily, people watching. That's what Moriko had come here for, in fact; that, and to meet her sister, but she'd heard the Kami-pet beeping for attention and she had some time to kill, so now she was looking at that instead of the new arrivals.

Pausing from the insistent tapping, Moriko rubbed Ten's flank with her toe, and the dog wagged harder, making the teen smile.

"That's a handsome animal," a slim man in a Scorpion duty uniform commented as the dog wagged its tail at his mistress. He had a dark complexion, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, and he smiled as he looked at the little dog.

"Sorry for the intrusion," the Scorpion said with an apologetic bow. "I'm Bayushi Akagi. I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help but wonder, is that a real Rokugani okami? I've never seen one before."

Moriko raised her head and bobbed a quick bow to the Scorpion, a strand of hair falling over her face. With one hand she hurried shoved the Kami-pet into a pocket, the other pushing the hair back and tucking it behind an ear. Breaking into a smile, "oh, Ten?" the shiba inu looked up at his name, his mouth opening and he appeared to be grinning. With an awkward chuckle, "I'm not sure, really, Scorpion-san."

"Ah, I see," Akagi replied, nodding politely while not noticing the kami-pet. "I had heard Asakaze had a lot of interesting wildlife. Are animals like Ten common on the planet's surface?"

He knelt to try and befriend Ten, if the shiba would allow it.

With a chuckle, Moriko nodded to Ten and the shiba inu jumped to his feet, wagging his tail so hard that his entire back end wriggled back and forth, sniffing eagerly at the friendly samurai. "Oh no," Moriko shook her head, "the Phoenix brought the dogs with them when they colonised here. They're good to have around when you're outside the walls."

Moriko had managed to remember that she probably didn't need armour for today's visit to the capital-c-City, and she tugged awkwardly at the sleeve of her rather plain outfit. It was one of her best outfits, jeans that weren't torn anywhere, and a kimono-shirt with flowing sleeves.

The Scorpion extended his hand and let the shiba sniff at him before attempting to pat the dog on its head. "Why, such a friendly fellow," he remarked. "Um.. why are they helpful outside the walls? Is Ten a great hunter?"

Akagi was in a basic ship's uniform, in the crimson and black of Scorpion colors with rank pips and a patch identifying him as belonging to the crew of the Hanei Maru. A sidearm and swords hung at his side, as well. The uniform was still neat and tidy despite the day's travels, but his battered nylon duffel bag had seen better days, having apparently been mended several times.

"I've just arrived on station," Akagi confided. "Actually, I'm looking for the ground transport to the capital. I tried downloading one of the complimentary station maps to my densai, but it was so loaded with Yasuki adware that I couldn't make heads or tails of how to get to the transportation center from here."

The young woman covered her smile with her sleeve, she didn't want the man to think that she was laughing at him, "I'm pretty sure there's a rental place outside," Moriko indicated to one of the many exits from the station where people were flowing in and out of the station. With the pending miai, there seemed to be more people arriving than leaving, bright flashes of clan colours other than Phoenix orange and Osprey blue everywhere.

Ten appeared to laugh as he headbutt his new friend for pats, shoving his nose under the Scorpion's hand. "He's not so much of a hunter, that's my job, uh—" she stopped suddenly, "I'm Moriko, by the way." She bobbed another bow, that strand of hair falling forward again.

"I'm Akagi," he replied, standing up to bow again, awkwardly attempting to balance courtesy with the demands of the shiba inu for more pats. "Thanks for your help, Moriko-san. I'm here for the, ah, event that Governor Asako is sponsoring." His expression seemed a little embarrassed at that.

"I'm sure I've bothered you long enough; I ought to be able to find the rental place," Akagi said, glancing toward the exit she had indicated. "That is, once Ten-dono is satisfied." He gave the friendly dog a few more pats on the head.

Moriko nudged the friendly pup with a toe, and the dog sat back down, yawning. Grimacing, her nose wrinkling, “oh, yes, that.” She seemed a little uncertain of what to say, finally settling on, “then our paths may cross again soon. May Benten smile on us all,” her cheeks reddened a touch.

"Oh..!" Akagi said, eyes widening. He stood up again to look at Moriko thoughtfully as he attempted to stealthily wipe the excess dog slobber off of his shiba-petting hand.

"Well, then, Moriko-san, it's been a pleasure meeting you." The Scorpion bowed again, this time lower and more gallantly. "Perhaps we'll meet again!"

Hefting his battered duffel bag over his shoulder, Akagi gave Moriko a friendly wave as he headed toward the station exit leading to the local Morito Rent-a-Car.

Suddenly shy, the young Phoenix bit her lip and waved farewell in return. “What do you think, Ten?” she asked, leaning forward to scratch her companion behind an ear. “You’re too easy-going,“ she scolded, teasing, “you’re supposed to be helping.” The shiba inu just panted, grinning and wagging innocently.

Suddenly, another dog ran up to Akagi, sniffing at him.

"Ren, leave that poor man alone." a very familiar looking woman chastised the dog, gently pulling back on its leash. "My apologies, Bayushi-sama."

With a smile, she offered a bow.

"Oh, it's no trouble," the Bayushi replied in a friendly tone, petting the dog affectionately. "Ten and I have become good friends... wait... err... Ren?" A look of puzzlement crossed his face as he noticed the slightly different markings on the new dog, then he looked up at the Shiba woman and became even more puzzled. How did she get ahead of him?

"How...?" he began. Then looked back at where he had just left Moriko and Ten. He blinked, then turned back to Hoshiko and Ren.

"Please excuse me," the Scorpion said in a more formal tone, bowing politely. "I.. ah... I think I had some kind of misunderstanding. I'm Bayushi Akagi."

Ten gave a quiet boof as his sibling intercepted the confused Scorpion, drawing Moriko’s attention. She waved excitedly, “Hoshi-chan! Over here!” Pushing away from the rail she’d been leaning on, the girl began to walk towards her sister, Ten gambolling ahead of her.

"I am Shiba Hoshiko. It is a pleasure to meet you." She glanced behind the man, then waved at her sister. "Ah, you must have met Mori-chan."

"The honor is mine," Akagi replied automatically, looking between Ren and Ten, then between Hoshiko and Moriko, and trying to wipe the confused look from his face. "Please pardon my misunderstanding. I, ahh, had not realized cloning technology was in widespread use in Phoenix Space. The benefits are obvious, of course. Are you, umm, part of a big family?"

She blinked, then grinned and shook her head. "Our parents only had us. We do have a lot of animals, though. Well, my sister does. I only have Ren."

"Ren certainly seems adorable," Akagi commented as he gave the new dog another pat. "It seems your duties must not involve working with animals, like your sister, then? I'm from a starship crew, myself."

Wagging furiously, Ten all but crashed into the other dog, trying to sniff his litter-mate and the Scorpion at the same time. Catching up to the group, Moriko grinned, “I know I said we’d bump into each other again, Bayushi-san, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

When the twins stood side by side, their similarities were all too obvious, but also revealed subtle differences that went beyond the clothing and Moriko’s wind-swept hair. Their slender frames matched, but Moriko carried herself differently, less formal, arms swinging slightly wide of her body to clear the weapons she would usually carry on her hips, though today she had only her wakazashi. “Hoshi-chan, I almost thought you weren’t coming.”

"I'm sorry Mori-chan. I didn't realize it had gotten so late." she dipped her head apologetically. "We'll get dinner from that place you liked last time you visited."

She turned her attention back to the Scorpion. "I don't have her talents with animals. I'm actually studying to be a navigator."

Hoshiko patted the densai hanging at her side.