[Though she occasionally did more Western-style or tribal tattoos, learning new skills as she traveled the world over the centuries and adapting the shapes to suit the sense of her clients, Kiritsubo was first and foremost a master of traditional Japanese irezumi, and the turtle and crane are done in that semi-realistic style.]

Indeed, they did.

[Her fingers trace gently over the shell of the turtle, the feathers of the crane.]

Where I hail from, it is said a sacred crane lives for one thousand years, and the turtle for ten thousand. Together, they are a prayer for long life... and, they represent lovers, as well, the only ones who can understand each others sense of time.