Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Somehow Masao is only now finding his way to the local beach, conveniently benefiting from the pleasant weather that prevails throughout the day. He wanders away from town a little ways, though still within sight up the beach, and selects a somewhat prominent dune to perch upon.

Moments later, the Crane's song is drifting up and down the beach, wherever the on shore winds carry it. This time, Masao is playing a meditative tune. Appropriate to a shrine it isn't, but it's not far off either.

The Crane was not the only one to be drawn to the sea today. Not to far down the beach was a Dragon taking her own walk. Tanaka had been meaning to look over the beach since the first day, but had ended up doing other things to prepare for the coming days.

She stood out there watching the waves, a little mesmerized by the sea. For one born on a mountain inland, the sight was completely new. Of course the sudden arrival of a few musical notes caught her attention. The Kitsuki started down the beach, drifting to the source of the song.

Spotting a Crane with flute, Tanaka drew the obvious conclusion. Still she had no desire to interrupt him while he was still playing. So for now she waited as the music ran its course.

Masao concludes his fine playing without his usual flourish, with the final notes forming a fading question upon the wind. He looks out over the waves for a moment, letting questions swirl in his head the way the notes swirled when the wind picked up.

The Crane laughed a little at himself. My life is not poetry, and even if it was, I wouldn't be the one to write it.

When his self involvement wanes, he notices that he is not alone on the beach. Green for Dragon or green for Mantis, he muses. He cocks his head to the side inquisitively, wondering what might make the stranger most likely to join him on this dune, with its majestic view--You already admitted you're no poet, so just stop, the critical voice chimed in.

"You play well," Tanaka responded, perhaps answering the unasked question. She dips into a small bow, "Kitsuki Tanaka, courtier of the Dragon." Her eyes flicked back up.

"And an interesting choice of location. Trying to charm the sea higher upon the beach? It is likely easier to just learn the tides of the beach." She smiles, a slight gesture. Her own thoughts were inscrutable at the moment, hidden behind brown perceptive eyes.

Masao smiles and jokes, "I'm just a soldier, Kitsuki-san. Far from skilled in any kind of charm." He bows respectfully. "Kakita Masao, nikutai of the famed Iron Warriors and son of Kakita Haruka, governor of Samui Kaze Toshi."

He moves down from his dune, then waves toward it as he explains, "I selected it for the view, not the acoustics. Having the village off to the right helps give a nice frame. If you're of an artistic perspective, that is."

"My pleasure to meet you then Kakita-sama." Tanaka rubbed her chin, "So then, born Kakita trained among the stoic Iron Warriors but still possessing the artistic soul of your family?"

Her eyes move to the dune and then the surrounding area, "In truth I thought you had wished to listen to the waves and harmonize your flute with the sounds of the sea. But perhaps you find visual inspiration more to your liking then audible inspiration?"

The Kakita smiles, perhaps more than he should at the compliment, but he remains modest. "My grandmother was born of the Daidoji, but she said often that great samurai are those who are strong in war and strong in peace: a valued servant in all seasons, she called it. So being a good soldier is not the only duty." He pauses. "I suppose I try to be inspired as the moments allow. Some inspiration can be fleeting."

"Some would call the fleeting the best inspiration." Tanaka chuckled to herself, speak to Crane and you will inevitably talk art, "The struggle to recapture a moment that will never return. One of the ultimate expressions of skill no?"

She bobbed her head in thought, "Might I ask if you are just part of the wedding party, or of blood relation to the bride?"

"Trying to recapture what was is a dangerous game. Duty is always before us, not behind." The Crane makes a face. "I am sorry, Kitsuki-san -- that's the voice of the soldier. The voice of the artist, at least in this one, is small."

"I am perhaps more like the Daidoji side of the family in that way. And a somewhat direct relative of the bride, Daidoji Yushoko-sama, since you asked. My uncle is married to her aunt, so a true if slightly distant cousin."

"You speak of the sin of regret," Tanaka shrugged, "I speak of the artistic capture of a moment. There seems little wrong with the want to preserve a moment of beauty and pass that moment on to others. Or for that matter trying to recreate moments of joy in one's life."

"It is when one becomes obsessed with the moment, when it consume one's thoughts and one keeps reliving that moment over and over anguishing over some mistake. Or else trying to perfect the action." She shrugs, "Though the acts themselves are not even bad. One should return to one's mistakes and triumphs at times, it is how one grows. But one must also accept that the choice or mistake was made and you must learn then move on."

She nodded, "Ahh, so actual family of a sort. Do you know the bride well then?"

Masao nods respectfully at the thoughtful response from the Kitsuki. To the question, he responds, "Ah, we are not especially close, no. Mother and father keep closer contact with the rest of the family, and I know they wish they could have come. I've been quite focused on training and then on the border war." He pauses. That phrasing doesn't seem to sit well. "I'm very honored," he adds, "to be here to ensure my cousin's wedding is a success."

Tanaka raised a brow at that, "Is there some worry of it being disrupted?" She rubbed her chin, "Or is it just a fear that the wedding will not be up to your clan's well known standard of excellence." The chuckle and her tone made her teasing obvious.

Her expression grows more serious, "Ah yes...tensions on the border. Well perhaps such times are lessening?"

The Crane's previously pleasant features turn severe. "Tensions are lessening, but this wedding is important to make sure things stay that way." He swallows noticeably. "I'm not here for flowers or toasts or enforcing etiquette. I'm here to keep my cousin and her niece safe and see this wedding done. There have been..." He trails off, looking a bit unsettled. "It's time to see peace on the border, and people like me practicing skills other than weapons," he says solemnly.

"A noble sentiment, and one I would not mind seeing across the entirety of the Empire." Tanaka smiled in return, "But I am surprised you would feel the wedding is in danger."

She tapped her cheek considering something, "The stars read, trouble in the quadrant of the morning star, unseen implications may affect a bright future. Choices must be made, but repetition must be endured. That was the fate the stars revealed to me two days ago when I asked about the wedding. Perhaps it may be use to you or your kin."

Masao nods, appreciating her smile. He starts to interject about the danger, but gets caught up in her recitation of the star reading.

"Unseen implications may affect a bright future? That certainly doesn't put my mind at ease. But thank you, Kitsuki-san, for sharing it. This adds at least something to my understanding of what's going on here. And the repetition being endured... What a curious foretelling." The Crane's face shows great thought, but then he puts out aside for a time.

"Ah, apologies. Trying to solve a puzzle in my mind is hardly good conversation. My grandmother would be most disappointed if I forgot the good samurai standing before me." He smiles pleasantly, though his eyes still look a touch distracted.

"It is alright, my question was vague and the stars response just as vague." Tanaka smirked at that, "I fear its meaning will be come obvious only in hindsight."

"But it would be nice to puzzle out before that no? I have met a magistrate of your clan here as well, perhaps it would be of use to him. Though I imagine he has other concerns." Her eyes drifted back out to the sea, "And the Crab themselves are here, so all should be safe."

"Hai, our hosts are no doubt well-prepared for any difficulties," he says with moderate confidence.

"And you are right, Kakita-sama surely has things well in hand." That statement sounds confident.

"Does Kitsuki-san share her family's penchant for being... puzzle-solvers?" the Crane puts it delicately.

"In a manner, though I am more keen on the stars and the reactions of others then traditional puzzles." Tanaka smiled, "But those sort of mental games help exercise the mind, like you would exercise your sword arm."

Her smile turns more sly, "Or do you mean...well puzzles of a different sort, those that have stakes and not the same as one finds in games of chance."

"There are many puzzles in the world. Perhaps many puzzles just around here," the Crane says. "Skills or talent in sorting out any kind of puzzle can be useful -- usually more often than the strength of a sword arm is useful." Masao smiles a little, suggesting a joke, but his tone and neutral expression make it hard to tell.

"You said you have an interest in the reactions of others to your star readings. What did my reaction tell you about me?" he asks, genuinely curious and not trying to hide it.