It went to show just how much Hattori knew about the Maze he called home, all the secrets that still lurked within. Waiting to be found within the seemingly shifting and changing paths. So off the beaten track even he had a hard time claiming it as his own, like a pocket dimension on its own accord. A place and moment taken from days long since passed. This place did not belong to Tojo, it felt fair and right in saying as much. The thick and impenetrable trees that surrounded the area meant there was only one way in and out. No possible way to brute force their way into land that was not theirs.

And yet Hattori concluded he would return here often all the same.

The air was still, calm, filled with the rich floral scent of wisterias that somehow seemed to flourish within the shade. He stepped through the long grass, wild and untamed, only to pause when he heard a skittering of small paws. Like he'd spooked something into hiding. His eyes scanned his surroundings and he saw the tip of a feline tail dip into the shadows cast by the old house that stood behind him. Yet another taste of a land long since out of his reach. It seemed as though a small colony of cats called this place home, gave this place life and a meaning of sorts.

The gentle flow of water brought him forward and Hattori peered down into the shallow depths to catch sight of several koi, all of varying colours and sizes, flitting gently about as though gliding on silken wings.

"Speech"

A quiet lull spread through the maze as the larger of the brothers made sure to follow their Kaicho. Even though they had been in the maze for a bit now, this new area seemed to pop up out of nowhere. If it had not belonged to Tojo, why had they not seen it before? Questions crossed his mind as their companionable silence stretched between the trio. Traveling down the path as he took in the different turns that were unknown to him so far, his eyes widened when the scent of wisteria began to envelop him.

What was this place? Kuroo paused in his tracks as he peered around. Sunlight barely filtered through as tall grass tickled at his legs. Gone was the smell of the ocean, the well-worn dirt paths, the calm and safety of a place he knew. Letting Hattori take a few steps ahead of them as the sound of scrabbling paws on rocks made his ears tilt forward, Kuroo inhaled a breath. It smelled like home. It looked like home. The dilapidated building was so close in resemblance to the ones back near Iga. The feline eyes that peered out from the shadows at them were haunting but familiar.

Even the sound of the trickling fountain tumbling at the edge of the large koi pond made his heart skip a beat. Unable to resist and feeling that Hattori had been given his moment to take it in, Kuroo stepped forward. Lining the edges with rocks, the murky surface gave way to showcase the variety of koi gliding below. The whole area was beautiful, elegant, and serene. Those were the only words he could come up with but knew it wasn't enough to describe the beauty this sanctuary held. Smiling gently to himself as he began to make his way around the pond and closer to the small building, he made sure not to disturb any of the cats that watched safely from a distance.

"Speech"

Ooc; Retro to before usagi broke his ankle Usagi hadn’t really thought about whether or not he was homesick since he arrived in Boreas. The term homesickness didn’t have such a grip on him, anyways - he had many taste of home just from being with his brother, Hattori, the other koi as well as the labyrinth of bamboo. They all gave him some semblance of home away from his birth home, from the place he had grown up in and cherished. Still, this place was not Iga. The tastes he received of the land he and his brother left were fleeting. No matter how many ways one could arrange it, speak their tongue, and continue their customs, it wasn’t the same. It never could be the same. Sometimes, the dreams he had at night were of true home - the thin, sprightly green trees that dotted their lands like young sprouts. The ponds of spotted, majestic koi of various flecks of scarlet, black, and ivory. The cheery blossoms that bloomed in spring, petals dancing in sweet, mild winds, carrying the most wondrous of floral scents. And every morning, it disappeared. Home away from home, but it wasn’t quite that. Usagi was last in their line of sorts - Hattori first, then his brother, then he. Upon first glance at the opening of the strange entrance, Usagi narrowed his mossy gaze in suspicion. He felt confident in knowing the bamboo maze left, right, up, down, and all over - and even then some. He recognized virtually every entrance point, and every exit. This place just didn’t seem to fit. It came out of nowhere, in that regard. The sweet scents of wisteria washed over him as the three koi slipped through, his flopped ear perked as they meerged into what appeared to be a dimension remarkably like..true home. Even the emotionless, apathetic, bitter man had to stop and let his surprise overcome him. His eyes widened every so slightly at the run down, yet still beautiful place that he believed now only remained in dreams. Not even the flickering of felines stalking and slipping through the thick brush and dilapidated remains could shake him from this reality. It was home. Every bit of it. Like Kuroo, Usagi’s faze lingered upon the grace of the koi fish, their elegant dancing splendor within the pond ever so peaceful. ”Speech”  ’Thought’

No one spoke, dared to break the peace of this place. But from their expressions alone Hattori surmised they felt about the same way, felt a pang in their chest, deep-rooted like an ancient tree. A part of home that followed them even here, to a place so far removed from Nihon's distant shores.  He thought for a moment whether he ought to tell the others of this place, so all of Tojo could come visit if they wished, but he allowed that line of thought to putter out. Like a flame with no fuel left to burn. It wasn't exactly easy to find this place, even as a resident of the bamboo and so he knew not all would be able to locate it. Even with directions.

That and this wasn't the sort of place that deserved so much foot traffic. To do so would ruin the sanctity, twist it into something it simply was not. Hattori understood that sometimes it was simply best to leave things be.

The silence stretched on as Hattori moved to examine the bamboo that grew here. It seemed different from the species he was familiar with, overall thinner and yet with a thicker overhead canopy that barely let in any light. Made it seem as though the sun was starting to set when in fact it shone high in the sky, blazing hot. Where here it was cool, comfortable and just right.

"This place seems familiar to you as well."He finally said, talking to the others.

Silence stretched over them in a comfortable way. It was almost palpable as the three males examined their surroundings. Everything they knew from home was suddenly... here. Thin bamboo stalks reach high overhead to spread a canopy of leafy branches. Water burbled quietly from the pond as the ever-changing shadows of cats kept his sense on the alert. Kuroo's attention was fully caught by the shimmer of koi scales just beneath the surface. He could feel his chest tighten and eyes feel dry as he watched them swim from one end to the other. What he wouldn't give to go home one more time...

Pulled from his memories at the sound of the Kaicho's deep timbre, he lifted his head with a sniffle from his nose. "As if a slice of home was dropped here in Auster," Kuroo's voice is hushed, a mere whisper carried over the gentle breeze that wafted around the clearing. One ear turned to listen to a faint scratching that probably was nothing more than the feral cats that called this place home. Taking a seat at the edge of the pond with his tail wrapped neatly around his haunches, he let his gaze drift back to the surface of the water. Mesmerizing and relaxing all at the same time.

"Speech"

Usagi felt quite similarly to his brother. The yearning for home was ever so strong, and though he kept a stoic, unexpressive face about himself, his heart was aching. His stomach twisted and his throat felt tight. Memories flickered in his head upon seeing the fish, remembering a pond not far from their home in Iga. The pond he'd sit at and watch the fish swim in for hours a day, until his mother scolded him and brought him back. Before he began training in the art of a nomadic group that passed by their village, before..before all that. Memories good, bad, and the deepest darkness locked away in the recesses of his head. Usagi swallowed thickly, trying to escape the flooding of emotions he held back so easily. That was Usagi for you - not always wanting to let emotion carve its way into his features to be read as easily as a book. But he, too, yearned for his home. To see his mother. To see the land he'd been born in one last time. Just once. But life was cruel, and the thought of journeying home was appealing, but near impossible. All they could do was appreciate the slice of home they had here, and Usagi couldn't help but nod in agreement to Kuroo's whisper. Yes. Yes it was a slice of home right here in Auster. A blessing disguised by woodland and foliage overgrown. A diamond in the rough, a gem unseen by but a few eyes. He'd enjoy this place, this tucked away treasure, for as long as he saw fit. For as long as his Kaicho and his brother needed. He took a seat by the pond, basking his mind in the faint scratching of cat claws on rotted wood and the bubbling of koi fish at the pond's surface. Peaceful. Like home. ”Speech”  ’Thought’

"This place is not our own. If others wish to visit and have the skills to do so, then so be it." Hattori told the brothers, feeling it prudent to let them know. That this was somewhere all could enjoy, if they could reach it. He doubted it would out to be too much of an issue, very few wolves tended to venture this far south so he imagined foot traffic would be minimal. Barely enough to even leave a lasting effect on the sanctity of this place.

And what a place it was, just as Kuroo said, a slice of home in Auster. As close as they could get beyond Tojo's borders.

But it was important, undeniably so. Somewhere they could retreat to if they wished, somewhere they could just be.

His ear turns to listen to Hanzo speak. A slight wrinkle of his brow shows the confusion he feels for a moment. If this was within the bamboo, how was it not theirs to call their own? Kuroo would not dare question his Kaichou's words though and he refrained from questioning. A simple nod of his chin would suffice in his agreement as he continued to gaze at the fish swimming about the pond.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the flicker of orange. Within the shadows, a pair of yellow eyes watched him. How many cats really lived here? Curious, Kuroo stood with a shake of his pelt before heading toward the slightly dilapidated building. Careful with his steps, being as quiet and gentle as he could, he peered into the darkness of the shadows. As he approached the porch, he would lower his body closer to the ground until he was nearly laying on his belly on the porch steps. "Psspsps," Kuroo rasped, attempting to beckon one of the feral cats.

"Speech"

Hattori moved then and went to inspect the shambled wreck of a shack that stood in the background. Cats skittered out of the way, fleeing at the mere sight of him but he paid them no heed. It was just like his families estate back in Nihon, only on a far smaller scale and in far worse condition. Was this place worth renivating? It was almost falling apart, the paper doors ripped and torn all over, as water droplets fell from the ceiling. His nose wrinkled at the scent of rot and moss, were this place closer to the inner workings of the maze he thought it might be worth fixing up. But as this was a free space, he saw no reason to change it anyway. It belonged to the koi and the cats, so to speak.