Guests in the sakura gardens [Paganchick]

[Anadwen]

A number of eyes turned towards her when she passed through the docks. A number of eyes stared at her figure, unusually garbed all in long black robes of exquisite quality, rather rare for those places. A number of eyes stared at the white sword at her side. And a number of eyes was completely ignored by her.

Hatsune didn't care the least what the people thought about her. She was an Adachi, and she was proud of it, proud of her ancient and powerful heritage. That was the air she carried herself with while she made her way to a coffee shop, and purchased a cup of creamy coffee. People stared at her everywhere she went, and she just gave them a rather look of 'whatcha staring at?'.

Shiroisakura needed maintenance only rarely - it was needed rather for trash disposal, fixing the soil in the central gardens, and purchasing what which family member wanted. Hisaki was, as usual, too busy with his work - and she had, also as usual, nothing to do. She could spend all that free time looking for new ideas for pranks to pull at him... Worms in his tea were one he got used to already, and he brewed all his tea himself since then. Stealing his clothes didn't work, either. All it did was fluster the staff.

What to do?

[paganchick]

Sapphira had been wondering around Cancer for a few day. She knew she was still being followed though, she could feel it, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end, warning her of danger, of the ones that had been sent from Adelios to come hunt her down and bring her back. She worse a long leather tench coat with chains and belt that jiggled slight as she walked  and from under the high collar of the coat rose an ox blood hood that hung low, covering her features to the world. She was in hiding after all and she had to find her next route of escape.

That is when she saw a girl that spark a chord in her memory, a memory of a time long ago passed. It was the clothing that set it off first, the garb that was so out of place in Cancer. A hint of a smirk pulled at the corners of her lips as she made her way towards the girl with quick determined steps. Her stride was confident and easy, as it always had been. She had found her way off of cancer, she was sure of it.

"Excuse me girl," She said from under her hood.
"You are of the Adachi family, No? I need you to take me to the head of your house, it is time for your clan to return a favor from long ago," She spoke, her voice low but demanding.

[Anadwen]

Someone walking up to her was surprising, but Hatsune wasn't really surprised enough to react. She gave the other person, by voice definitely a woman, a bored glance. "Good spotting skills. And nice to know that people still remember how our shihakushos look." she uttered sarcastically, narrowing her eyes a little.

"But yes, I am Hatsune Adachi, sister of Captain Hisaki Daisan no Shiroi Hana Adachi, the current head of the house. Though, as his sister, it is my duty to protect my clan. I can't just allow you to go there and meet him. Who are you? And what favor are you talking about?" she requested sharply, keeping her pace to not appear suspicious in any way despite talking to someone completely hidden in a coat.

[paganchick]

Sapphire pulled back her hood. Her hair flooded out of the hood in long crimson curls and her porcelain skin flawless except for the once scar over her eye. Her eyes were such a green that they almost seemed to glow with power.
"My name is Sapphira, I was once know as the avenger of dragons as well as the white masked ghost. Seiki, your head of house several thousand years ago owed me a favor, I am here to collect it," Sapphira spoke, her words colder this time.

[Anadwen]

Hatsune's eyes narrowed, but she gave the woman a nod. Off course, Seiki's name was a well-known one, though most likely only in their house. "I'll take you to Hisaki. What he will do is not my concern, though." she shrugged, and gestured for Sapphira to follow towards the docks.

As usual, Hisaki was still in the interior of Shiroisakura - he left rarely even during the scarce visits to other space stations. So much work, she never even knew where exactly he got all that work from, but he always seemed to be flooded in those papers.

[paganchick]

Sapphira followed with out another word, once more pulling her hood up though now her crimson lock flooded out of the from of the hood. She walked quickly and silently with the grace only and ancient warrior could muster.

[Anadwen]

The docks were quite the distance away, and it took even Hatsune with her long and swift steps a while to get there. Even then, though finding the ship wasn't difficult, it took a while to get to it. Few places could support a ship of such size - the length of it reached several miles, and the entire structure could carry three or four times more people than the few thousands that currently resided in it. Atop all, in the middle of it were beautiful sakura gardens, in the likeness of those that grew around the old residence centuries ago.

That was where she led this strange woman. By the place where the beautiful, but enormous white ship was, a large number of people, dressed in similar black robes, walked. A large group was checking the engines, most likely maintaining the fuel, and another few were bringing carts full of food that could not normally be grown and created on the ship itself.

And all of them bowed deeply when Hatsune walked by. They didn't stare at her like the people of Cancer, but their respect for her was more than obvious, in gazes that looked up, their bent backs, the way they didn't even move till she slightly bowed her head to them and passed by. The entrance into the ship itself was quite far, and took a few minutes of walking on a narrow steel path, leading above huge empty space. By itself, the door was small - it was the personal exit that worked as a path only for two or three people at once, but it was the closest one to the gardens. Two fully armed men with their hands on the hilts of their katanas stood by the thick metal door, and Hatsune was required to first identify herself with her spiritual pressure to be even let through.

"Who's that you're taking in?" one of them requested. The Adachi gave him a cold look. "It's a guest that wishes to see the Captain." she replied. With a bow, the man nodded. "I will request you an escort beyond the door, and order to strengthen the security around the Captain, then." he spoke back, and passed the orders on onto the piece of communication technology by one side of his head. The door opened, leading into a narrow white corridor, lit brightly and coldly.

It was the safest path. Monitored by surveillance cameras from all angles, and various scans that would take the prints of whoever was coming through in several wavelengths, nearly nothing could be taken through unnoticed. Weapons, armour, anything and everything was recorded. The safety at Shiroisakura was at the highest standard. Nothing got in, nothing got out.

Beyond the white tunnel, another metal door barred their way. Hatsune had to give the print of her hand to get in, and in the moment it opened, three men and one woman, once again fully armed, surrounded them. The corridor behind that was completely different - the floor and walls weren't bare, but had the traditional appearance that was typical for the Adachi house. Exquisite wood covered the floor, and the paper-like substance forming the walls hid the steel between. A soft glow came from the narrow gap between the wooden framing of the walls and the tall ceiling, dispersed and filling all of the space. One would never think they were in a spaceship, but rather in a very expensive house.

The escort didn't say a word, and neither did Hatsune. All of them were graceful, but very emotionless, like beautiful statues, or some of the paintings on the walls, depicting landscapes and blossoming trees in black ink, which they passed by. The way through the corridors was long - after all, Shiroisakura was a ship larger than many cities. It could take hours to get from one end to the other. And it took more than twenty minutes of silence to get through the corridors to one of the top parts of the ship, to Hisaki's work space. It would be easy to see that the rooms were important - their doors were large, behind a net of wood beautiful paintings, and the interior itself breathed out an air of importance. The door they stopped at was guarded by eight tough-looking guards on each side.

"Commander Hatsune Adachi." she introduced herself formally. "I am taking a guest to the Captain."
One of them nodded. "It will only take a few minutes." he spoke silently, and disappeared behind the door that quickly closed behind him.

"Please, keep your manners at the highest standards when speaking to the Captain, and do not waste times. I must inform you that he has no understanding for humor and most jokes will not be appreciated." Hatsune told silently to Sapphira, glancing at the redhead through the corners of her eyes.

[paganchick]

As she walked through the scanners they would pick up several things. Two swords over five thousands years old riddled with magic and runes that were carried on her back under her coat. As well as three throwing daggers also riddles with magic and runes that were carried under her coat. Of course she made no move towards them she wanted a favor not a fight.

The walk was a rather long one it made her miss her wings. But she couldn't turn, it wasn't safe. If she turned she was huge and it would make the one's who were looking for her jobs much easier. She looked quickly as they passed the guards of the ship It seemed nothing, well at least there attire and weapon hadn't changed a bit. Still she continued to walk in silence removing her hood as she waited for admittance to see the head of the clan.

She turned her head to look at Hatsune, "Good, it will be no different than talking to Seiki," She said simply before turning her head back to the door. She held herself with pride and confidence, a sense of majestic grace filled her movements. She took a slow breath as she waited and wondered how much this new head would look like Seiki. 

[Anadwen]

The door finally opened, and the guard stood in the doorway, blocking the view. "You have the Captain's allowance to enter. Two of us will follow you." he instructed her, and another guard from the other eight stepped towards him. Hatsune nodded. "I cannot enter without his permission. Good luck with him." she wished her coldly, and turned on her heel. Hopefully this girl would annoy Hisaki. Gods, good gods, she hated the man.

The guards both stepped onto one side of Sapphira, keeping a hand on the hilts of their katanas. The door moved to open, and let them enter a rather large hall. It was bright and light, but almost empty, except for something resembling a banner with a large silver dragon on one side, and beautiful paintings of sakura trees on the two side walls. Amid it stood a wide, but low table, full of papers.

And behind that table sat a man. Black hair lined his graceful features that resembled a perfect marble carving, cold and pale, sharply contrasting with the dark color of his silky hair that fell into his face, and the black robe he wore under a white, high-collared coat. At first, his eyes were hidden in the shadow of the long bangs and their thick black lashes, but at the entry of the guards and Sapphira, he raised his head, and their deep grey color with crystals of dusky blue around his irises finally became visible.

He looked exactly like Seiki a few thousands of years ago. Even the hilt of the katana that was by his side was the exactly same one.

[paganchick]

Sapphira's breath was taken away, her eyes widened only momentarily before she gathered herself. The resemblance was unnerving. It was almost as if she had stepped back all those years ago. She bowed her head respectfully.
"I have come to collect of a favor Seiki Naohiro Adachi had owed me," She spoke simply. 

[Anadwen]

Ever so slightly bowing his head in a greeting, what was more than great respect for a noble of his status, Hisaki laid the black pen he was writing with till then down. "Welcome abroad the White Cherry-tree." he spoke to her in his usual calm voice, straightening his back to face her in a somewhat stern, but rather graceful stance. It was almost like a signal for her to sit down opposite him.

"Captain Hisaki Daisan no Shiroi Hana Adachi, the 96th head of the Adachi clan." he introduced himself. "May I know what was the favor that you supposedly owe my ancestor, Seiki Naohiro Adachi, the 22nd head of the Adachi clan?" The fact that he didn't ask for her name was just another of his customs. After all, whoever was meeting a noble was naturally expected to introduce himself upon entry - all else would be viewed as rather impolite.

[paganchick]

"How rude of me," She stated when she realized she hadn't introduced herself.
"My apologise," She added with a bow.
"My Name is Sapphira, I was also know as the avenger of dragons and the white faced ghost," She spoke before straightening up and moving to sit opposite of him. Yep, he was definitely cold Seiki before him.
She waited to speak until after she had sat down.
"I fought along side your ancestors, saving some of your family in the process," She answered simply as she sat there calmly.

[Anadwen]

"Very well." Hisaki proclaimed silently, and gestured for one of the guards to step by. "Search for battle records from the 22nd Head of the Adachi clan, and bring me all records that speak of involvement of female non-family members." he commanded him. The guard bowed his head, and quickly exited.

Surprisingly fast, he brought in a pile of papers. It wasn't thick, but it was treated rather carefully, and even Hisaki himself acted even more refined when handling it. He quickly scrolled through the papers, and finally found one that spoke about a red-haired woman that fitted this stranger's appearance and titles.

He carefully removed the document. "I have the specific record that speaks of you. By that, I can judge that your request is believable. My question is: What is that you ask to repay that favor?" His eyes were raised from the papers, and aimed straight at her, cold and piercing.

[paganchick]

Sapphira looked up at Hisaki, meeting his gaze, her eyes her eye calm, but rock hard. Still they seemed to have a sparkle behind them like flames behind a screen.
"I would like to be a guest on your ship," She spoke simply, not adding anything more or less about why she would like to a guest. If he wanted to know more he would simply have to ask.

[Anadwen]

"For what reason?" Hisaki further questioned, handing the papers back to the guard. "Return this to the archives."

This was resembling a police questioning more than the conversation between two people that discussed a favor. The 96th Head of the Adachi Clan was truly a cold man, devoted to his work. He spoke little, and his face let on even less.

[paganchick]

"Even you should know biological dragons are in, well, very short demand. I need to go into hiding, and what better place to do it than a ship that is all but cut off from the world?" Sapphira spoke, her face becoming hard as her eyes furrowed. She really thought this man needed to get out and try something to let loose, maybe drink a little soki.

[Anadwen]

"That is a reason enough. However, the Shiroisakura has rather strict rules you, even as a guest, have to obey as long as you are on board. Their breaking will result in exile without any exceptions, and no option of return. We do not allow the execution of guests, however, in grave cases, such as assaulting a family member, killing a family member, or taking control of the ship, we may resort to it. Disobeying the laws will not be tolerated."

The guard returned, and Hisaki gestured for him to bring something specific again. "As a guest, you do not have any duties except for obeying the laws, and loyalty to the Captain. Your well-being will be taken care of." he assured her in his typical serene, but emotionless tone.

When the guard returned, he carried another stack of papers - the complete laws of the Adachi clan and the Shiroisakura. Atop them sat a clean contract paper.

[paganchick]

Sapphira found it hard to restrain the smirk that pulled at the corners of her mouth. Why would she harm anyone who was helping her, it seemed like something only a mad person would do. As long as they were helping her she would do whatever was needed to help them.
Of course she knew how the Adachi where, it had seemed, with them, nothing had changed except there place of residence.

Sapphira looked down at the papers and contract, was he serious?
"Do I get a rundown of what applies to me or do I get the pleasure I disyphoring this all myself?" Sapphira asked, something about legal papers put her in an extra sassy mood.

[Anadwen]

Hisaki released a slight sigh, and called the other guard to him. "Get me Hatsune." he instructed the somewhat shorter man, and he, with a nod, moved out of the hall, but only to return empty-handed a moment later.

"Captain, she's gone. Nowhere to be found." he reported, sounding almost apologetic.
Through Hisaki's face flashed a hint of disappointment. He stood up to his full height, the white coat dropping almost down to his feet.
"I will return shortly." he informed Sapphira, and with a few flowing, but surprisingly fast steps exited the hall.

When he returned, he was leading Hatsune, uncomfortably twitching, and apparently bound in invisible bonds, as she was carrying herself unnaturally stiff. "Hatsune, you have two hours to explain Sapphira the laws. By then, I expect you both back here. Do not disappoint me again." he told her, rather coldly, and sat back down to continue with his paperwork.

[paganchick]

Sapphira looked between the two, her face blank. Seeing the way the clan worked to was almost glad she was raised by herself, what if her family had been like this or worse, she could barely remember them any more. If either Hisaki or Hatsune werre look at her eyes they would see the deep void of sadness that opened up, but just for a moment, and just in her eyes as her face stayed completely blank.

Sapphira stood gracefully turning to face Hatsune.
She waited for Hatsune to lead the way though she was in a bit of a hurry it didn't show. She just wanted to learn her rules so she could be given a room and take a well deserved nap.