Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

After the gathering, and it sure was interesting, he was on a curious mood — calm, focused — as he was not always. Dressed on his spring kimono, he brought with him his white biwa and his offerings. He looked to the place for offerings — but thought on something different, although the ashes of his prayer would there be deposited after. Sanaharu walked until there was a place nearer cliffside — not a hazardous one, but one he could use to see the sea and had also shadow for him to stay.

He put his failed, romantic artistic projects over a tray and set them on fire with incense-like powder not to make the smell foul. Then he sat under a nearby tree and began to play a religious spring tone.

Offerings of yours for Your Own
Flowing like the waves,
Melody of Your season

May your melody guide me in the dark
May your grace rekindle me
May your beauty guide me in the light

A journey starts
When one thinks of the first step
I sing of spring for Spring herself

He sang in a low volume, inventing the lines as he prayed on — artistic inspiration.

Seeing the fire nearby the shrine, the Otomo curiously make his way towards the source of it. Being so well treated by its abbot after the wounds caused by the banishing, having had such a good time in the festival prior to that, taking care of this place felt somewhat... personal.

He approaches the Crane, asking, “Good day, Asahina-san. I hope Inari-kami has sent blessing. How have you been?”

A mother beat, and he adds up, “What’s this fire for?”

He thought about how he would behave if someone approached, so he was not surprised. He finished non-abruptly his music, letting the last notes linger in the air before getting up and bowing deeply. "A fine day indeed, Otomo-sama, it truly enlightens my spirit. I hope Inari has sent their blessings to you as well." He looks to the mentioned fire, the tray half slowly consumed the origamis now. "This fire are offerings. I was... midpray, you are welcome to join if you wish."

The Otomo winces a bit and provides a bow, “I apologize. I didn’t know these were prayers. How can be of remedy now that I’ve interrupted Asahina-san?”

"You need to worry not, Otomo-sama. I hope the Fortunes appreciated my song, short-lived it was."
He looks at the tray.
"Let those burn. I'll get the ashes to the place of the offerings later."

The Otomo nods and asks, “It a good song. I am quite dull headed to the arts, if not an enthusiast for one. And an admirer of the artists themselves. What was it about, if I may ask?”

He smiles slightly.
"It was a prayer in song for the domains of my prayer, the background was a spring tune." That was truth.
"It concerned spring and grace." That was half the truth.
"I hope to bless our festival that will be hosted this evening." That was a quarter of the truth.

The Otomo nods, not doubting Sanaharu's sincerity even in a quarter. He says, "Spring is indeed when the spirits of the land recommence. Many farmers do lit up the soil days prior to spring, so they get rid of the foul and enrich the land for the next harvest."

He looks up to the smoke up in the air, "It is kind of Asahina-san to pray for others. Often one does it for themselves and the ones close by."

Such was the power of righteousness — few would doubt the words of an always-truthful man. The art that the Scorpion lost and the Unicorn mastered.
"Oh, please, Otomo-sama, I deserve no such praise. Aren't the ones invited to the celebration our allies? Even the wicked look out for their friends. If an enemy is amongst them, then it is just the duty of the honorable samurai to be courteous, always, to any."

"I am truly glad that Asahina-san thinks the invited guests are allies." He supports the Crane's comment, adding up, "Indeed, it is the duty of the honorable to be courteous to all. Enemies included. Else, we would all be the barbarians, and ditch away the teaching of the Kami."

He looks to Sanaharu, asking, "As courtesy should not be given falsely. How would Asahina-san maintain it in front of an enemy?"

"Samurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A Samurai is courteous even to his enemies. Without this outward show of respect, we are nothing more than animals. The true inner strength of a Samurai becomes apparent during difficult times."

He smiles slightly.

"So said Akodo-no-kami when he set the path against which all samurai for a thousand years would measure themselves against."

He nods again, "True. It is a struggle we all face. In this very case, Courtesy and Righteousness may conflict. One shouldn't be courteous to take advantage of another's openness. Making sure one's inclinations are clear is paramount for this balance."

"If there was an openness, it is the fault of the samurai who left themselves open, Otomo-sama. If it is right to defend oneself so, it is wrong not to. However, all those to attack to such an opening should not overextend to the point of uncourteousness."

"I would agree on the point of never ceasing to be courteous, yet, attacking someone unjustly is not correct, I could not. Every war needs a reason, and a fair one. The same with disputes. If not that, attacking someone that had an open guard for no reason is simply opportunism."

The Imperial takes a moment to consider the exchange, ""Quite an interesting perspective Asahina-san provided me with."

"Of course, it needs a reason, I would never suggest attacking someone merely for attacking in a thousand years. But if you are to battle against your opponent and you see that the general has made a mistake in their formation, it is only dutiful to strike against it. If one's ally makes the same mistake, it would be horrendous to strike."

He sits where he was again, biwa on his lap.

"I only strike when my lord commands me to do so. I'm Asahina, my duty is peace."

The Imperial sits to accompany Sanaharu, and says, "Same as myself. Although the duty of each family may be rather different, as they all tend to different matters the will of the Throne requires for the greater good of the Empire."

Saisei crosses his arms and closes his eyes, reinforcing, "Please, do not take my comments as an insinuation to Asahina-san's intentions. I merely shared a thought that occurred."

He nods. "It is good for us to discuss amongst ourselves the virtues of bushido so we may better serve the Empress."

He starts playing the first notes of some song on his biwa.

"You said that you appreciated the arts. Is there any music I could play you, Otomo-sama?"

"A music suited for a dance inspired by the spring. A Setsuban classic, perhaps?" He says, knowing himself some of the Spring Festival songs, but not really well how to sing them.

He nods, beginning to play a generic spring tune, singing a famous spring poem alongside it.

The Imperial plays with his feet, trying to follow up the rhythmic –– and actually failing to do so. When the song is finished, he bows in thanks to the Asahina. "May the next festival be as interesting and blessed as this marriage."

"May it be." He replies, with a somewhat greater smile than usual that the Otomo liked his music... And perhaps he learned such steps with Yuuwaku.
"I saw your steps... Have you met Kakita Yuuwaku-senpai?"

He clears his throat, as the question is made with the current shrine background. "Ah. H-hai."

He nods again.

"We were both students of the Academy... Of course, I called her senpai after all. Her specialty is dance."

"I am aware. She showed some very skilled moves a couple of days ago... that were actually more than that. I completely fumbled, but she was very compassionate." Saisei mentions.

"Compassionate... Yuuwaku is. It's a joy to have her as a superior and a friend." He smiles slightly, looking to the tray. "Oh, the incense is almost at its end."