"I am," Jiro acknowledged.  "You are beautiful and a mighty warrior, and you tolerate my having a riposte to your thrust.  It is very kind of you."

"It was meant to be playful," Kasumi said.

"...I joined the game," said Jiro.  "Nothing more, I promise you.  I know that you're no fool."

"Relax, Jiro, I am not angry at all," Kasumi said, leaning against him. "It was just a game."

"Ah, and I am outplayed," sighed Jiro mournfully.

Then he laughed.

"And no harm done for it."

"Good," Kasumi said. "But I have a favour to ask of you next time we stop: I'd like you to teach me some bare handed combat."

Jiro started to answer, then stopped, and nodded.

"Wise," he said.  "It's good to have an option when weapons fail.  Or cannot be drawn."

"I am useless without my sword," Kasumi said. "I don't want you to go easy on me."

"I will honor your request," said Jiro.  "...be prepared for it."

Kasumi nodded eagerly.

Well, at least he wasn't the very largest and strongest of Crabs... but he hoped that her speed was enough to fend him off.

Nakanobu had politely ignored the conversation, but when it hit a lull, he asked, "So this is your first time away from the Wall, Hida-san?"

"The first since I came of age," he said.  "Aside from one trip where I was guarding some Yasuki on a journey."

"Oh, who?" Nakanobu asked.

"I think his name was Ichiro?" said Hida.  "I didn't care that much.  I was just there to prevent trouble."

"I think I've met him once," Nakanobu said. "How about you, Kakita-san?  I bet you didn't grow up near the Wall."

"Ah, no. My first visit to the wall was after marrying Jiro," Kasumi said.

"Where were you born? Besides Crane lands, obviously."

[OOC: If it helps, https://l5r.fandom.com/wiki/Crane_Clan#Crane_Lands]

"Kyuden Kakita," Kasumi said. "The ancestral home of my family."

"Ah, that makes sense," Nakanobu said. "The Crab lands must be very different for you."

"Yes, it has been very different," Kasumi said. "But I was prepared for it."

"I hope we haven't been too coarse for you," he said.

"No, not at all," Kasumi said. "The rumours are very over blown."

"That's good," Nakanobu said. "Did you serve on the Wall?"

"I did, yes," Kasumi said.