Reunions, idle chatter & everything (io)

Tanbogakure was a town of simplicity.  A farming village that had grown just as the rice grew in its fertile lands.  Even in the past several months an influx of motivated individuals had done nothing except see it grow even greater.  The town's militia had grown under the guidance of Yasahiro Yagami, internal affairs had seen an overhaul by Yamato Tanaka (Whether it wanted it or not), the villages hospital had seen an influx of medics, and even small business had grown to help provide economic stability.  All of these things had started with small steps, and yet now they were in full stride.  The trajectory seemed all but certain to bringing Tanbogakure to the forefront of worldwide affairs, for better or worse was yet to be seen.  Asahi Yagami had little care or thought for such implications, his keen senses focused simply on what was Infront of him.  At this moment, what was Infront of him was a small shrine, overlooking a steep cliff.  

Through some study, Asahi had learned that Tanbogakure had once been a very religious village, with the entire country littered in shrines.  Yet now, they were more spread apart, and the people where not as interested on the upkeep of the old ways.  Not counting some of the smaller shrines in town, his current location was one of the few reliquaries left.  The stone was around a man's height, kanji transcribed across the rough surface, so weather worn it was nearly impossible to read.  Surrounding the stone with some fresh wooden structures forming the remainder of what marked the place as a shrine.  These had all been purchased and commissioned by the blonde samurai in an attempt to bring the small spot back to former glory.  The oaken table was fresh and carved into its surface was divets to be utilized with different incense bowls.  It was these he was currently tending too.  A small flame in his hand, he lit each bowl in a very specific order, the fragrances from the bowls wafting up in gentle spirals of multicolored smokes.  They lazily hung for a moment until a gentle breeze set them out over the stone, over the cliff, and to be taken to the ocean that was laid out Infront of him.  

Waving the incense lighter, the small light would go out.  Clapping his hand togethers, his lips uttered the familiar prayers he had been taught as a boy.  He offered thanks and offerings to the kami.  His lips would continue to move over the prayers for several minutes, until nearly out of breath he would sit back in the grass.  Reaching inside his kimono he placed three items before him.  The first was a large clay jug of the finest sake one could buy within the boundaries of the village, the second was a small container with tobaccos from near and far, and finally his kiseru.  Packing the pipe, Asahi would hum gently to himself as the sun continued its decent plunging the blue sky into a cacophony of reds and oranges.  

TWC - 510