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Description
As luck would have it, I've always wanted to color this pic of Kirin & the Three arriving at Ishimura so it was a natural for this month's MGC: All Dressed Up.

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Twenty-eight years had passed since Kirin had last seen the rolling green hills of Ishimura. The main compound had expanded beyond the castle and the adjoining temple, and the east tower, which had been a small structure in Kirin's day, was now doubled in size and width. Pavilions dotted the grounds and groups of gargoyles mingled freely with visiting humans. This alone astounded the Three; their eyes were as round as saucers as they circled in and landed just outside the main gate. Having changed into more appropriate attire at an ancient watchtower on the south side of the harbor, they took a moment to make themselves presentable before entering the clan compound.

"Was Ishimura always like this, sensei?" Mozu asked wonderingly. Miza had taken loving care when she had originally made Mozu's outfit for passing his adulthood trials. His black tunic compensated for his slight frame with wide padded shoulders trimmed with red cording and long sleeves in an elaborate red-and-black pattern that matched the black-tipping on the edges of his feathers.

"They've expanded a bit," Kirin commented, "but yes – humans and gargoyles have always co-existed here." He straightened out the fit of his formal kimono – black with flared shoulders and a graphic black diamond design on a slate blue band that draped over his left shoulder and came down to his knees. He pulled the tie from his hair and shook it loose. The light breeze coming in from the sea made his fine red-gold curls flicker like flames around his head. It had taken O-tama, Miza, and Bana working in shifts to get all the tangles and knots out of it -- Kirin's tortured scalp still ached with the memory of it. He'd had to keep it tightly coiled during their journey to keep from spoiling all their hard work.

"Why did you do that?" Takakura asked. He was dressed as a traditional Tengu of old, wearing a black tunic and leggings beneath a red haori embroidered with a pattern of gingko leaves. Instead of wearing a yamabushi's black-lacquered cap, his dark hair was bound up in a modified samurai's knot. "Should I do it too?"

"No, you're here representing your clan. It's important that everyone recognizes your status," Kirin answered. "I cut off my top knot when I was last in Ishimura. Ronin I left and ronin I return."

Tancho chuckled softly. "Going for high drama, eh, sensei?" Unlike his rookery brothers, he was dressed simply in a sleeveless black tunic with a red sash and matching red headscarf. His shoulders were broad enough without enhancements and his only adornments were several strands of polished prayer beads and broad black leather gauntlets.

"It certainly couldn't hurt." Kirin gave a cool lift of his brows. "Stay close and follow my lead. We may be challenged but if so, let me handle it."

Description
As luck would have it, I've always wanted to color this pic of Kirin & the Three arriving at Ishimura so it was a natural for this month's MGC: All Dressed Up.

=========================================

Twenty-eight years had passed since Kirin had last seen the rolling green hills of Ishimura. The main compound had expanded beyond the castle and the adjoining temple, and the east tower, which had been a small structure in Kirin's day, was now doubled in size and width. Pavilions dotted the grounds and groups of gargoyles mingled freely with visiting humans. This alone astounded the Three; their eyes were as round as saucers as they circled in and landed just outside the main gate. Having changed into more appropriate attire at an ancient watchtower on the south side of the harbor, they took a moment to make themselves presentable before entering the clan compound.

"Was Ishimura always like this, sensei?" Mozu asked wonderingly. Miza had taken loving care when she had originally made Mozu's outfit for passing his adulthood trials. His black tunic compensated for his slight frame with wide padded shoulders trimmed with red cording and long sleeves in an elaborate red-and-black pattern that matched the black-tipping on the edges of his feathers.

"They've expanded a bit," Kirin commented, "but yes – humans and gargoyles have always co-existed here." He straightened out the fit of his formal kimono – black with flared shoulders and a graphic black diamond design on a slate blue band that draped over his left shoulder and came down to his knees. He pulled the tie from his hair and shook it loose. The light breeze coming in from the sea made his fine red-gold curls flicker like flames around his head. It had taken O-tama, Miza, and Bana working in shifts to get all the tangles and knots out of it -- Kirin's tortured scalp still ached with the memory of it. He'd had to keep it tightly coiled during their journey to keep from spoiling all their hard work.

"Why did you do that?" Takakura asked. He was dressed as a traditional Tengu of old, wearing a black tunic and leggings beneath a red haori embroidered with a pattern of gingko leaves. Instead of wearing a yamabushi's black-lacquered cap, his dark hair was bound up in a modified samurai's knot. "Should I do it too?"

"No, you're here representing your clan. It's important that everyone recognizes your status," Kirin answered. "I cut off my top knot when I was last in Ishimura. Ronin I left and ronin I return."

Tancho chuckled softly. "Going for high drama, eh, sensei?" Unlike his rookery brothers, he was dressed simply in a sleeveless black tunic with a red sash and matching red headscarf. His shoulders were broad enough without enhancements and his only adornments were several strands of polished prayer beads and broad black leather gauntlets.

"It certainly couldn't hurt." Kirin gave a cool lift of his brows. "Stay close and follow my lead. We may be challenged but if so, let me handle it."