Once again Akemi entered the club. This time though that was not as the result of an impulsive decision but as part of an arranged rendezvous. And that showed in her outfit.

Instead of her usual day to night suit, she was wearing an asymmetric dance dress, dark blue, without glitter, her left arm fully covered by an opaque sleeve then glove while the other was left naked.

She walked with confidence, looked around the still mostly empty dance floor, did not notice her match, and went to the bar to wait for her while sipping some mild cocktail.

As always, Fusako was fashionably late. That was to say, she didn't leave Akemi waiting long at all. She wore a white dress that was covering yet a touch provocative as she made her way in. Looking around, she spotted Akemi at the bar and gave a crooked smile as she made her way over.

"Hida-san, how good to see you again. What a lovely dress you chose for tonight. Have you been well?"

Akemi bowed:

"Asahina-sama. The feeling is mutual.

Thanks for your compliment. Yours is magnificent too.."

She smirked:

"I have worn more different styles of clothes at this miai that I have in the last year... And from the reactions this has elected in people, I think I will continue to widen my wardrobe."

She posed cockily against the counter as she said that:

"My last days have been fine though very busy. Duty never sleeps. How are you yourself?"

She gave a nonchalant shrug. "Mmm, I've been well. Not much to impress at the miai events, but I haven't shown poorly either."

Glancing to the bar, Fusako raised an eyebrow. "Drinks before dancing, or after? I fear I am a light drinker, but it is all a part of the date, hm?"

"Oh, definitely after."

Akemi extended her naked hand to the Crane.

"I'm confident I can entertain you without any alcoholic backing."

She looked amused as she took the offered hand with grace. "I would not have accepted your invitation if I thought you couldn't."

Akemi elected to lead. As night had not fallen yet the music was still on the quiet and slow side, more there to set up a mood and remind clients the party will begin soon than to actively incite them to hit the dancefloor.

Akemi found her footing on the dancefloor with ease, and started with a few slow steps, maybe a light spin, gauging the level of her partner before trying anything more advanced. She seemed to really have some experience in the matter. There were traces of a Crab jig rhythm underneath all that sophistication but it was covered up in a more formal – if imperfect – training.

"Not your first time here I guess?" she offered as an icebreaker as they swung.

Fusako was light on her feet and took to guidance without any real hesitation. It was clear she wasn't a professional, like an artisan trained their whole life, but she clearly had some skill at it, and the physical dexterity to make it look good. She gave a small smirk at the question, shaking her head, short white hair swaying. "No no, not at all. This is one of the few places in this city I feel at home."

Since her partner was responding well, Akemi took it up a notch, quickening the pace and adding some spins into the mix.

"That much hey? What reminds you of home here? The music? The cocktails? The clothes?

I kind of have a natural protection against homesickness. Grandpa does not have so much of an estate than properties through the galaxy. Functional houses you move for a few months, time to improve the local business, then move to the next. Never spent enough time in any of these places to actually felt like this was a home. They were just... conveniences.

So home is kind of an abstract concept for me as of now. Might change after marriage of course."

"I wouldn't call it homesickness, or say it reminds me of home really. I just enjoy dancing, and do it often back home. I guess you could more say it feels normal Hida-san." Fusako kept with the pace gracefully, though she was more quiet as she seemed to have to focus a bit more on her feet work.

Akemi decided to not push the Crane dancing skills further for now. The Crane was not Mumei and a surprise dip might turn disastrous.

"You make me curious. What is the daily life of Asahina Fusako, courtier, heiress, designer, dancer, like? Must be a whole different world from the military routine of a bushi."

She had to grin just a bit at that as she gave a twirl. "Different, I am sure, but I would hardly call it worthy of note. I spend much of my day in my design studio, either working on a new design or studying fashion trends. The late afternoon is spent in physical training, either with my trainer or on my own, The evening is usually a play, reading, or dancing."

"Your dedication to perfecting even further your body through rigorous training kind of fascinates me. Where does it come from? For us bushi it's our very duty, but I suppose such thoroughness is not asked of you."

She made the frill around her arm flutter.

"I would like it very much if more nice clothes were designed for people of my... our height..."

The Crane was somehow one of the tallest girls of the miai, with her.

"... And my build. Took hours to the tailor to fit that dress to my constitution."

"Why do I work out? Mmm, I suppose because I wish to, no greater reason. It means I can look after myself if I need to certainly, and I believe a body is only as lovely as one makes it." She gave a bit of a grin. "Mmm, as for dresses, you could certainly wear one of mine Hida-san. I think it would work on you quite nicely."

"Why not? Do they sell them outside Crane worlds? Or should I make special arrangements with you to fix that issue?"

She pulled the Crane into a new spin.

"Curious about your design process. Do you work from a void and attempt to fill it? Like, you realize they are not enough dresses that would make a one-armed war veteran looks good and proud instead of weird and awkward and you try to fix that? Or do you start with an artistic inspiration and only identify the target market after the first drafts?"

"My fashion is still sold on a need by need basis, so it's customer by customer. I'd certainly welcome other clan's buying my dresses. That also influences my design process. I come up with some based on fashion research and epiphany, but I tend to find it easier to design based on my client." She moved with the twirl easily enough, feet still precise as she busily spoke.

Akemi nodded as she grasped Fusako's free hand again at the end of the move:

"Got some new orders this miai? What kind of dress would you envision for me if I was to place one?"

"I know Susumu Nara has said she would appreciate a dress or two, and I'm certain a few of my fellow Crane would wish one. For you though... I don't really do spur of the moment ideas. I'd have to think on it dear, but I imagine I could pull off something quite bold indeed."

"Bold?"

Akemi had an impenetrable smile.

"Do you think of me as too tame at the moment?"

"I think that my style's are normally bold. I am guessing that your style is a bit limited normally by the strictures of military life. Your dress tonight is quite lovely at least." At least for something she didn't design.