(1EE) A Resplendence of Crane (Crane only)

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Kaneko was about to ask Hisao something, but at the notice from Kintaro she politely turned her attention away to the new speaker.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao notices the look in Kaneko's eye and notes he'll have to speak more with her later. For now, he turns rapt attention to Kintaro, eager to hear news of the clan.

[Doji Kintaro]

Kintaro then said, “My good friend Toturi-sama sent me a missive that was mostly personal but this bit has impact for the Crane. It seems that there is a well to do scion of the Otomo who still retains the blood lineage of the esteemed royal founders who is in need of a wife. If you are not aware, Oturi Toturi is a dear friend of Otomo Yusuke as well and seems in favor of the union between Daidoji-hime and the Hida soldier.”

“So as I was saying, he thinks a Crane bride would be a fitting match for Otomo Saisei, and has reached out to me for any suggestions.”

He finished with, “He hopes to have my suggestions by the next Winter Court, and we could be among his guests much to the consternation of the Scorpion.”

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He just side-eyed Yuuwaku. Best person to the job he knew.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

“So as I was saying, he thinks a Crane bride would be a fitting match for Otomo Saisei, and has reached out to me for any suggestions.”

"Kakita Yuuwaku."

From the entrance, the masked magistrate announced his sentiment, before bowing to the gathered and a second nod to Daidoji Kio afterwards.

"That would be my recommendation. If she is interested, it should be ease enough for us to see the pair matched through emotion by the end of this wedding."

- - - -

Earlier actually, he had been a near presence in the meeting, but before he entered he noticed something...

The little girl had fashioned a mask like the Monster Magistrate, that rested on her hair for now.

...And immediately continued as if the meeting wasn't there. One he was a safe distance, he allowed the little bud of joy he had suppressed to blossom into a genuine joy.

Someone was a fan of him! Someone liked what he did outside of his colleagues!

How long had it been? A few months, a few years? So long had the monster allowed itself to settle in his head that the young boy who wished to prove himself worthy to his colleagues had all but died, but it seemed that old, eager-to-please youth inside him hadn't completely died. He needed a moment to compose himself, some tea and maybe some sake, because he needed to be professional for the sake of the delegation.

- - - -

"Forgive my tardiness. There was preliminary investigations to do."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nearly drops his tea cup as the mysterious magistrate makes his pronouncement, seemingly appearing from a spirit realm. It's a testament to the surprise that even inside Masao's head there is shocked silence.

The Crane bushi looks around the table for reactions. He knows of Yuuwaku, and knows the Otomo somewhat, but the suddenness alarms him. This is the way of things, the voice in his head recovers. It can be this quick and simple. Can and should are not the same. Oh? And do you think it should be up to the soldiers, or to the courtiers?

For reasons not clear to anyone at the table, Masao takes an incredible interest in his tea cup, draining it quickly without a thought.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Welcome to our gathering, Kakita-bugyo. You are the most welcome. Please, if you would fancy, take a seat alongside the table." He says to the incoming magistrate...
So it was this guy. Or someone impersonating that dumb urban legend. His presence did make Sanaharu feel more aprehensive. He looks around the room for hints of suggestions and the like. Sanaharu was pretty much like-minded with his opinion.
"I have met Otomo Saisei-sama before, as we traveled together, and earlier today as well. I may add, in a last case, I have a sister. This I do not find an ideal suggestion, but ideal suggestions in the field of marriage are almost impossible, as she is both being trained as a bushi and two years before her gempukku."
He also had another sister, but this one we don't speak of. Not that being an Asahina bushi was not enough complication for the other.

[Doji Kintaro]

"I would prefer an adult, of superior breeding; well accustomed to court and of lineage of proven fertility," Kintaro listed out a few stipulations.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Don't you have any cousins, Masao-ue? Your family is well-connected as far my knowledge goes."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Removing his mask, Konohamaru takes a place at the table, removing his mask as he does so.

"Sadly, I have no appropriate candidates within my family cirlce."

[Kakita Masao]

At the recognition by Sanaharu, Masao sits up straighter. "Ah, Doji-sama, my cousins are mostly honorable daughters of the Daidoji, but not the like of Daidoji Yushoko-sama. But my cousin, Kakita Etsuhime, better meets Doji-sama's ... preferences. She is an artisan of the Kakita Academy and notable singer. An only child, though, so..." He looks slightly uncomfortable. "Perhaps not ideal." Masao clears his throat. "I might also suggest, if I may, that ... Doji Ai, who was a most auspicious betrothal for my honored brother, before ... Before he was killed by the Crab." The bitterness in Masao's voice is unmistakable. "Doji Ai-san well meets all of Doji-sama's criteria," the bushi says tersely.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Otomo Saisei is here at Fire Shrimp Village, is he not?" Soon-ja asked rhetorically in her thin voice; she knew very well that he was. "Perhaps it might be appropriate to arrange for him to meet a few of our eligible young ladies over the next few days. In this way, we could see if he favors any of them, before we commit to any single candidate as a match for him."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Otomo Saisei is here at Fire Shrimp Village, is he not?" Soon-ja asked rhetorically in her thin voice; she knew very well that he was. "Perhaps it might be appropriate to arrange for him to meet a few of our eligible young ladies over the next few days. In this way, we could see if he favors any of them, before we commit to any single candidate as a match for him."

Kono, as some would call him, almost smacks his own head over his mistake.

"Of course - we got so work up in who we think is a good candidate that we forgot we could simply let him find one he likes. Please forgive our oversight, Oba-san."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku--whose player had been occupied with voting, attending to family, and sleep--has been sitting silently after hearing her name advanced so swiftly as a potential bride. And even though conversation moved somewhat away from the certainty of that, the idea turned over and over in her head.

Becoming an Otomo would be quite the coup, she thinks, and I would almost certainly have leave to further my art.

She puts in "My own family does not want for children, no, and we are relatively well placed in and around Tsuma. Too, I am past my gempukku by--enough." She smiles. "So I will follow Auntie's suggestion and make myself known to him. And how he reacts will allow for...more focused presentations afterwards."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Kaneko nodded in agreement with the exchange. She knew her place in the realm of marriage prospects. A minor administrator, dismembered, fourth-child, from a vassal family of the Daidoji was not anything close to 'superior breeding'... most certainly not when compared to the Doji and Kakita. She did not fancy herself a nakodo but the basic needs an individual from the Imperial families would require seemed to be fulfilled quite nicely by someone like Yuuwaku.

She has but one life in her control... and she was happy to dedicate it to her family.

She offered a suggestion, "Perhaps an instance for Otomo-sama to see Kakita-san perform could be arranged? Surely such an occasion would provide opportunity to forge a connection between the young man and Kakita-san."

[Doji Kintaro]

Kintaro agreed with that sentiment, "I trust in the skills and talents of those gathered to see the matter done. Do so with the grace and excellence expected of us and we shall succeed."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods at the Daidoji's suggestion.

"I would, of course, be happy to put on a show. Although a solo performance with a single attendee would be, how do we say, heavy-handed. But inviting selected people for a demonstration of our various arts would serve well. We could, as it were, host a party to that end."

She bows to Kaneko. "Thank you, Daidoji-san. It's not an idea I'd have had without you!" She smiles, sincerely, and continues. "And it would, of course, allow for others to work their Schools' skills, to all our benefit."

Then she bows, deeper, to Kintaro. "And we shall, of course, do our best, Doji-sama! Perhaps we might frame it as something of a send-off from our School for the bride-to-be? I am not as familiar with others as others here; would that be a thing that would work well?"

[Doji Kintaro]

"I am told the groom is having a similar if more... rustic affair tonight, but obviously we will be more discerning in our attendees," he responded.

"See it done."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"In the subject of presentations, is there a play to be hosted later on the week or am I mistaken? I find it odd I received no word of it."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I'd not heard anything to that effect, though I'd not be averse, despite acting not being one of my foci. But perhaps one of the 'draw-lot' affairs I've heard tell of might suffice? Certainly, a nod to our hosts would not be out of line."

[Daidoji Yushoko]

The bride to be spoke up, “We will not be asked to perform, I have engaged a friend of mine from the Academy to bring their troop to town and put on a favorite play of mine for the benefit of the Crab. It is of the Geko Noh* tradition and should be a stirring tale for the soul.”

“I have high hopes that even their more earthy sensibilities will glean enjoyment from the piece. Given their more martial attitude it was decided that a Shura mono* theme would suit the evening best.”

GM Note: According to wikipedia a Geki Noh is a drama piece based around the advancement of plot and the narration of action. Shura mono are considered warrior plays: The protagonist appearing as a ghost of a famous samurai pleads to a monk for salvation and the drama culminates in a glorious re-enactment of the scene of his death in a full war costume.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods and allows just a hint of relief to be evident on her face.

"I look forward to the performance and the lessons it will offer."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nods approvingly, a smile taking over from the concerned look on his face moments ago.

"My cousin makes a wise choice, well reflecting the storied warrior traditions of Daidoji and Hida. It will be something for us all to look forward to."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He looks down. It was a shame that to celebrate peace there would be pieces glorifying war, and it left a bitter taste on the Asahina's mouth. "A wise choice indeed. Would any of you happen to know which kind of melody they would like the most? I could play my biwa during such a meeting."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I am unsure as to that."

Yuuwaku suddenly straightens where she sits, eyes widening. "I just remembered! Hida Kitsuchi called on us earlier today. She asked if we would be able to send a few of us to help with a procession to the local shrine tomorrow, carrying an offering."

Then she blushes. "She did note, though, that it is a very public procession, this Earthy Pepper Festival, and those in the procession are expected to be...underdressed."