'' The ranger?...'' That was odd, but so was this situation so. '' Well then Ranger-san, I once again give you my sincere thanks. Arigato for saving me '' She bowed to the strange woman. '' Hai, I came here with the Hantei's-denka Imperial Explorers...hmmm I must assume that you live on this island, right Ranger-san?'' She asked politely. She tried to cover her body with her wet kimono, but without her obi it was dificult to keep the thing in an appropiate position.

"More or less. I wander about." The woman pushed the hornets away, then bowed. Somehow, they obediently returned to their nests. She of course wasn't staring. Instead, she removed her bow. "Here, I've come to take a bath." She wasn't staring, of course, and expected the same.

Hinami was kinda interested in this woman. Why is she here? Why she didn't present herself with her true name? Those were some of the questions that the young Seppun Princess wanted to know.

'' Hmm, You seem like someone who know this place, Ranger-san, what other dangers exist on this location?...'' She chuckled. '' I really do not wish to meet my ancestors at such a young age...''

"Many. But I'll escort you back by a safe route once you're done with the bathing. I don't want your blood on my hands, Seppun-sama." The woman cast her kimono and chest binds away and slowly submerged, keeping her bow near. She was on the lither side, but rounded like a fully-grown woman. "Apart from this circumstance, are you happy being here on the island?"

Hinami respectfully looked to another side when the woman took out her clothes. '' I will appreciate your help Ranger-san. ''

'' Hmm, I don't know. This island seem too foreign, strange, it doesn't feel like home...'' Why was she replying so openly to a stranger? maybe out of gratitude for saving her? '' ...yet it does have certain appeal. I don't know how to describe it. Good things have happened during my stay so I can't be so sure...''

'' What about yourself, Ranger-san? Why do you live here?'' She asked and submerged herself into the waters once again, crossing her arms around her knees. This time she put her wakizashi where it was dry enough to not continue to damage it with the waters.

"For the reasons you've mentioned, someone around here has to be good with the wilds."

The woman used the moment to soap her armpits, arms and breasts.

"I know the paths, I am good with animals. It works out. Is this expedition you're part of adjourning?"

Hinami gave the woman her time of privacy of course. She observed the surroundings as she mentioned the wilderness of the place.

'' Hmm I'm not so sure. Some will return, others will press onwards, while others might choose to stay...'' She commented about the explorers. '' I still not so sure of what to do...''

"How so?"

The woman lifted herself a little out of water to take care of the hygiene of other parts of her. She was apparently used to alkalinity and the fact that the soap didn't foam properly.

'' The three paths might be suitable for someone like me. But I don't know which one should I choose.'' She explained to her. Hinami gazed the woman, it was strange that the soap didn't made any foam. Besides bathing in alkaline water for too long was dangerous for the skin...

In any case Hinami didn't knew what do to.

"Good you have a choice. What makes it difficult for you to choose?"

'' One path will lead me to the unknown, another one is the path that other people want me to take, and the third one is what i want, i think... '' She replied.

"Do what you feels that needs to be done and no-one else could live up to it but you? It's the better way to understand duty, at least in my book." The woman shrugged, having mostly completed ablutions.

'' Hmmm...'' Hinami wondered for some minutes. What should she done, what was the path that was for the most good. Returning to Rokugan was expected from her but what is the best path to fulfill her duties to the throne? She thought not. Staying here and working to keep the imperial presence was perhaps a good move, but will she be able to have power once the Imperial fleet departs? Will the Tortoise respect her once Hantei-denka is not here to enforce his power?

Finally there was the path to move onwards with the fleet. Into the unknown...a blurry path that could be for the best or for the worst. '' It is not an easy question to answer...'' She shrugged. '' But I appreciate your insight Ranger-san. '' She offered the woman a smile.

The woman shrugged, taking a soft osier from a nearby tree to lightly lash herself.

"I imagine kuge are full of such dilemmas."

'' More or less, Ranger-san. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I wish that I could have more freedom but that is the price we must endure, the price expected for our place in the Celestial Order, I suppose...'' Hinami did found odd that the woman was lashing herself lightly but she did not made any comment about it.

"I'd say there are people of great birth who make their own destiny. You're young, you can still be one of them." The woman shrugged putting the osier away, having sufficiently improved her blood circulation.

'' I hope so. I truly wish to serve the Son of Heavens and his family well. My only desire is to see them reigning with the glory and splendour that characterized the reign of Hantei Genji's-heika.'' She observed her.

'' Forgive me, Ranger-san. Surely i'm boring you with my doubts and weaknesses...'' She said to the woman sincerely.

"I'm not bothered, Seppun-sama. But like with all things, you don't have infinite time to make calls. Some ships can sail." The other woman was apparently happy with her pun, she squeezed her breasts between stretching arms kept together by folded hands.

'' I...uh...hai...'' Hinami did not knew what to reply since she was a 'bit' distracted by the woman doing her stretching. Hinami tried to look to another side just to not make the ranger feel uncomfortable by her presence or give the woman a 'wrong' impression.

'' I think...I should go and...pick my stuff...'' Hinami said as she arose from the water. Her obi should be close to her backpack, so are her sandals.

"Which reminds me I don't have infinite time to stay either." The naked woman rose and wiggled her body to shake off the water from her features. "You should go ahead, Seppun-sama, so I can make sure that the hornets don't follow."