A blank canvas

[Amaterasu]

A smell of alcohol came over, dragged through the air by a breeze coming from some portal, perhaps, or from the Nexus itself. It lacked the sharp scents of booze as served in a tavern, of cheap beer or sour wine served to a patron demanding more whilst slamming their hand onto the counter to grab the barkeeper's attention, but wasn't pleasant either, as the stronger, unpleasant smell of fermentation was accompaigning it. Indeed, the source of those scents wasn't an inn or the like, but a brewery.

It wouldn't take much effort to see where that brewery was located - it was the only building located close to the fountain, and possibly the only building in the whole Nexus if one counted out the eight gates. Someone had set up a simple place there and was, as has probably be cleared up by now, brewing some alcoholic drink. Sake, to be exact. If Yuki kept her eyes on that hut she could eventually see a woman coming out, short and of asian origin, with a large barrel in her hands. She was wearing practical brown clothes suited for tough work like this, and a wide hat with three little barrels on it, indicating her profession. That woman wandered towards the brewery, opened a lid on one keg then emptied the barrel into it. One could catch a glimpse of the contents, namely rice, as they fell into the larger wooden container, ready to be turned into the strong drink considered the national beverage in Japan.

As she finished, the woman who was in fact Kushi, the sake brewer of Kamiki village where Amaterasu had started her journey years ago, took notice of Yuki when she turned back to get to her hut, and how she seemed quite lost. She put the box aside next to the brewery and stepped closer, still in the working attire but she didn't mind presenting herself in it. "You seem to not be in the best state, stranger. Would you like to come in for a proper seat and a bite, or to explain to me what your issue is? I may be able to help."

[At the gate to Coruscant]

Three Stormtroopers stepped aside when Amaterasu emerged from the gate and carefully navigated the horse she was mounting around them, then picked her pace back up as soon as she reached the open fields of the Nexus. They let her pass without further comment as she was neither wanted nor causing any trouble to the best of their knowledge, and Amaterasu had no intent with interferring. She made a beeline for the center of the Nexus, intending to meet Kushi there and inquire about Arturia. Despite her best efforts she had not had any luck, nobody in Coruscant had seen or heard of anyone like the King of Knights. It was quite frustrating, really. But perhaps she had passed through the Nexus and not met Kushi, or she had not been able to call her for any reason? This place was unpredictable. There was no telling... so, no other way than to check in with Kushi, and replenish her supplies while she was at it. Wouldn't want her friend to starve out here.

She checked the distance and tried to remember. It'd take her a little while to reach Kushi's hut, but as far as she could tell from the distance everything seemed fine. She was starting to wonder if having left Kushi to herself was a good idea: the number of bloodthirsty Primes was higher than she'd thought, from what she had heard in Coruscant. A lonely defenseless woman was easy prey for all sorts of evildoers. Well, if she left without Kushi she'd have to summon a few powerful helpers. With such thoughts coursing through her head she spurred her horse on to go faster.