Shizuka's lips pursed together; the radio's announcement had not sat well with her. Technically, she supposed it was possible to return to her shrine and be done with this silly adventure she'd put herself on, but part of her resisted the thought very much. Still, if it came to that or being constantly hunted...

The waiter returned with their food, and Shizuka struggled to formulate some kind of response to her erstwhile fellow journeyman's proclamation. It was true that trouble just seemed to follow some people, but then that didn't mean they always asked for it. Although... the woman at the bar did seem to be a bit on the noisy side about her allegiances, and that was certainly a way to get oneself in trouble...

Belatedly, she realized something. "Oh my," she said softly, but with some urgency. "Ia have completely forgotten my manners! Please forgive me," she said, standing and bowing politely to the man at the table. "Here I am dining with you, and I failed to introduce myself. I am Namatame Shizuka. Please excuse my rudeness."

It had been a relief to make it to a place where she could relax, Yonokai reveled in the pleasure of a strong drink in a tavern though she sipped it lightly, savoring it. She'd been here before, but not for a long while, one of the owners of the place was still there, a heavy set man with an apron that was probably white at some point but with the years of working in a place like this it had worn to an old beer shaded brown tint.

"Yo Yo!" Said the man with a scratchy voice. A familiar greeting that made Yonokai smile a little while lifting her hand in another greeting. "How's it been, Taik?" Her voice smoothed over the long bar counter as she looked over to her acquaintance.

"Oh, fine, like always. Haven't seen you around here in ages though. Where have you been?"

"Around." Her eyes shifted to some drunk who made a small ruckus behind her, then the looked again towards Taik.

He was much older than she remembered, it had been a while since she had been around this part of Japan. There wasn't much different as appearence, but from the way Taik seemed to be, there was sincerity that not everything was as much as what met the eye. "You look like war has started and your the general." She spoke, taking a sip of her drink once more, its bitter burn coursing down her throat.

"You've heard the news, haven't you?"

Curiosity lifted into her gaze. "News?"

"Of course you haven't, you've been "out of town". Word has it from the radio and such that any single man or woman who has no purpose but to find some sort of job of whatever kind without a care to family will be drafted into the army."

Ears perked, Yonokai pressed further. "Yeah? This is from the Shogunate?"

"Who else?" The grizzled man leaned on the counter. "Look, Yono. Best be getting on your way. You'd be a perfect target. One of my family members was takin a few weeks ago, haven't heard from him since." The sadness on his face spoke true worry as well as his words. "Light up out of here."

"I have business to deal with. And if any one of those bastards lays a hand on me I'll slay that hand off."

Taik looked around worried. 'Sheesh, don't say that so loud, trying to pick a fight?"

She stood and tossed payment on the counter. "The fight started a long time ago."

As the girl walked out of the place, Taik shook his head sadly. "You aren't the same as you used to be. For that I am sorry." Shaking off the feeling of losing a lot, Taik turned around to continue what he had been doing before.

Ichigo had her cell ring. "Hello." She answered. Then a familiar voice said: "The shogunate has been driven out of the southern kingdom. We along with the annexed Taiwan are on our way to the southern coast of Kyushu with our armies and ships. Listen to the radio. It should give you the chance to start an uprising, rightful heiress." Then the line went dead. The radio got louder and a reporter said: "Just in: Just days after claiming their independence, the southern islands and Taiwan have declared war on Great Japan. Already after sending bombers out, the shogunate have lost contact with them 45 kilometers before the bombers reached their goal. If the foreign armies continue, they will reach Kyushu by tomorrow." "Well people. Who is for an uprising? I am sure for it! The samurai will defeat the shogunate which is weakened by war!" Ichigo said.

"Yes, I've also forgotten that sort of common-place manner." He laughed a little. "I suppose, with all the tension existing in the air, one simply doesn't give their name anymore. My name is Uta Toko. It's a pleasure to meet you Shizuka-miko." He stood and bowed, re-taking his seat and beginning the meal. "Where is it that you are going exactly?" he asked quietly over the brim of the rice bowl.

Shizuka paused before answering the question, listening to the woman proclaim a rebellion. Is it truly to be a war then? Is there nothing else for it but more death? Perhaps it was foolish of me to think it could be otherwise...

Her face dropped into a pensive expression, and she took a bit of rice, chewing slowly as she contemplated how to answer. "I suppose I never really had a particular destination in mind. I wander, you see, and try to do what and where I can. A bit silly, perhaps, given all that is going on, but... I had not thought it would come to open conflict so soon..."

"Rebels are becoming far bolder, perhaps too bold." He removed some of the rice paper from his sack, looking around tentatively before placing it down on the table before her. The words inked on the pages were poetic manifesto against the Shogan and the right of man to rise to power with limited bloodline value. The first page read;

Here is the intellagence of the age.
Those who suffer under the sun, toil hatred
The mountains will break with the strength of the plow

"I use these as my primary weapons, to stirr the warm waters of the public into a boiling pot. Perhaps someday it will overflow and scold the hands that hold it" He whispered lightly.