Measure (D1, LA, Open)

[Otomo Saisei]

When someone told Saisei that this was the fastest path back to town with an amazing view, he wasn't this level of exotic... or erotic. Anyhow, the courtier does try to hold his discomfort of having to pass through a series os phalluses up a hill. Two interesting thoughts run through his head.

The first, as he rises up to the top: what if someone trips on the stairs. Would holding one of the statues be an offense, or actually a blessing?

The second, already up and watching the sandy beach and the waving sea below: a battlefield of many Crane and Crab battles, and the best observation point is on top of a hill filled with dick heads.

He chuckles inwardly and rolls his shoulders.

[Aji]

"Enjoying the view, samurai-sama? They say that if you bring one you have deep affection for and watch the sunset together that you will be rewarded with Benten's favor," a nun replied as she made her way up the steps.

She stopped to clean some dirt off a statue.

"If you are truly in need they say if you and your beloved jump from there you will be whisked away to the Heaven's never to be seen again."

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei turns to voice –– thinking it was someone else entirely different –– and, due the lack of the coldness coming from the figure, he smiles, explaining rather awkwardly, "Eto. I wouldn't say, enjoying, enjoying. More like, enjoying, amused. Heads on a hill that has an advantage view over the battlefield between two powers. It is definitely the grounds for comedy, or tragedy."

He finally provides a nod, and asks, "So one can only bring those with deep affection. Fleeting ones require jumping. Is that it?"

[Aji]

“Well I would never test the theory personally, samurai-sama, but my days of love and romance have long since past. I preferred more earthly pleasures to fleeting ones over the edge of a cliff,” she said honestly.

“But locals swear but it, though I suspect that any jump from this cliff was quite fatal for the lovers involved but the romantic in me hopes the sky is littered with couples floating away together for all eternity.”

She added dryly, “Some couples may come to regret that in short order, though.”

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A shrine - it had been a long time since he had gone to one. It would be interesting to see how well known he was around these parts - and what sect the shrine was. He was polite enough to not don the mask of the abbot slayer, but nevertheless made no attempt to hide or reveal his identity.

Spotting what looked like an Imperial and a custodian of the shrine ahead, he made his way over and offered a quick bow to both, following their eyes to the cliff.

What had he missed, he wondered?

[Aji]

"Samurai-sama, good afternoon, come for a blessing of fertility?" she asked.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Samurai-sama, good afternoon, come for a blessing of fertility?" she asked.

Oh.

Well, that was surprisingly pleasant.

"Good afternoon, and yes - not for myself. Daidoji Yushoko and Hida Yoji are getting married here. I wished to make a prayer for them, and the local yoriki."

[Aji]

She gestured to the shrine politely and allowed him his space.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

She gestured to the shrine politely and allowed him his space.

"My thanks."

Heading to the shrine, Konohamaru produced some incense and lit it.

It had been a long time since he had prayed, but he always remember his father saying prayers were about faith than form. With a sharp clap and closed eyes, his muttering began.

"...in the name of the fortunes, I beseech thee..."

He thought of the bride to be, and what he had seen of the groom. He thought of young Kio, who he had spoken to before his arrival, and his own younger siblings.

".... Let those who have been forgotten as well..."

He thought of the variety of yoriki he worked with over the years - in particular, the eta torturers with whom he had formed a strong bond - one of whom he was even secretly invited to the wedding of.

"....Let joy fill their hearts as apples bloom on their tree..."

He thought of the grief he hard shared with them, the tears they had shared together - something he would never wish on anyone else. He tried not to think of his own part in ruining those lives, nor the laugh of his mask in his head. He thought of slaying those evils, those that would prey on new life - and found renewed resolve.

"...And let that seedling blossom into a beautiful flower."

Standing up and ending the prayer, he returned to the presence of the Nun and the Imperial.

"This is my first time here, so please forgive any questions that may seem obvious to you. May I ask about this cliff?"

[Aji]

"Well as I told the Imperial samurai, it is a popular place for couples and lovers," she said kindly.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Samurai-sama, good afternoon, come for a blessing of fertility?" she asked.

Saisei provides a bow to the Crane, as well as a smirking face for some reason.

As the man goes off to do his prayers, the Imperial keeps en ear to that, but mainly focuses in the view of the cliff and the beach below.

"Well as I told the Imperial samurai, it is a popular place for couples and lovers," she said kindly.

"Indeed. I was told couples often come here to watch the sunset if they want many children and happiness, and that are tales of lovers that jump off the cliff to disappear seeking to be together until death to they apart."

[Aji]

“The latter is rather fanciful but the truth is that more than one couple has chosen to take their lives here for one reason or another. If you look down you can see the treacherous rocks and seas below. It is a sad thing that we have such happen perhaps once every few years,” she said sadly.

“The dead permeate this land, if it isn’t the wars and battles of the past it is these cliffs drawing the unlucky, despondent, or troubled; but it is not always bad. Many couples come here to proclaim their undying love even if they cannot be together in name they are so in their hearts.”

[Otomo Saisei]

"Wouldn't that be a good thing to hear about: he groom and the bride watching this so told formidable sunset?" He asks, suggestively and rhetorically while looking to the temple's caretaker, then the other samurai.

[Aji]

"That would surely be a good omen, and a pleasing image," the nun agreed with a smile.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru nods.

The thought of 'as long as they are in love' and 'at a safe distance' remain in his head.

"Forgive me, but I have not introduced myself - " he says, bowing to the Imperial.

"I am Kakita Konohamaru, a magistrate invited to the wedding."

[Otomo Saisei]

The Imperial bows back, "Otomo Saisei. I am here acting as assistant to Otomo Yusuke. An honor to meet your acquaintance."

[Aji]

The nun bowed low and said, "Aji, and I am just a caretaker of the shrine."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The Imperial bows back, "Otomo Saisei. I am here acting as assistant to Otomo Yusuke. An honor to meet your acquaintance."

The nun bowed low and said, "Aji, and I am just a caretaker of the shrine."

"An honour to meet you both. If I may, are there any local customs that I should be made aware of?"

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei looks to the monk, hoping she wouldn't say that rubbing the "head" of the many statues was a local thing.

[Aji]

The nun smiled and said, “Well tomorrow is the Earthy Pepper Festival, dates back generations in the region. There was a Lord that ruled here who desired an heir, but he was barren of seed and could not father a child. So, his wife beseeched the Fortunes for aid on this very spot and they demanded an offering of her. She erected the first of the stone phalluses and over a period of five years she erected more until the Fortunes were pleased.”

“The following winter he was blessed with an heir by his honored wife and thus the people honored this with a festival and bring offerings here to be burned and pray for fertility and many healthy children. The Procession of Earthly Peppers is the center of the event where offerings are carried by the worthy to the fire and offered to the Fortunes.”

She finished with, “It is a wonderful sight to behold. If you really want some good luck kissing the statues is always welcome.”

[Otomo Saisei]

'MUAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!'

Is the cackling laugher only Saisei hears, and it sends shivers down his spine. He coughs a bit, putting a hand over his mouth, "I am fortunate enough to have this information. Thank you, monk-san."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

If the Otomo is laughing internally, the Kakita was less than amused.

'That sounds like something you'd say as an insult - I'd almost call bullshit if I wasn't despised enough by the clergy as is.'

"Those must be the 'fertile mounds' the shrine is named after."

A look to the Otomo. He let out a small sigh before looking to the mounds. And then an idea formed in his head, one informed by an old colleague of his - a show of humility could go a long way in making a friend, it was said.

Alas, the dread magistrate could not face the burden alone.

"Well, Otomo-sama, shall we wish them luck, as it were?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"I rather let the Fortunes bestow their grace to those that seek out actively. Benten-kami has been too kind so far. I wouldn't want to be a niusance." He says, nodding a couple of times, and adds while waving his hand to the statues, "Yet, by all means, this shouldn't disencourage Kakita-sama."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"I rather let the Fortunes bestow their grace to those that seek out actively. Benten-kami has been too kind so far. I wouldn't want to be a niusance." He says, nodding a couple of times, and adds while waving his hand to the statues, "Yet, by all means, this shouldn't disencourage Kakita-sama."

There were two paths.

He could easily back down here, using the Otomo's wisdom to avoid kissing a rock hard dick.

He could also try and drag the Otomo down with him, so he could not be alone in his work.

There was a third option, but the Otomo did raise a good point.

"Aji-san, if I may - can you kiss the rock for someone else's luck?"

[Aji]

"I don't see why not," Aji responded. She dusted one off and kissed it and said, "I pray you both have great luck in fathering children."