[D1, ME] Plans take wing

[Kakita Masao]

After the Crane delegation meeting adjourns, Masao ducks outside for fresh air and a view of the declining sun. I spent too much time on that ship. Now the indoors feels like a punishment instead of the outdoors. You always thought the indoors were punishment. Everything close together, needing to be slow to be considerate -- as long as you have that flute you're content with anything. Hai, obaasan.

Finding a small stool beside the woodpile, at one end of the Crane manor, Masao sets it and a chunk of firewood up opposite each other. They've all just gotten a lot of information, and the bushi can anticipate that one of his clanmates at least will be following his footsteps.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Sanaharu thought if he should return to the beach today, and see if the Badger was still there. No, for what he needed he would need some flowers. Regardless, sunset should be watched first. He had no ritual to always watch the sun fall under the horizon, but the time was convenient to appreciate.
On where he thought that would be a good place, he finds himself mildly surprised to see Masao there.
He steps harder than usual on a single step, letting wood clash against wood, to call attention to himself. Then, he bows. "Masao-dono, it is a honor to meet you again. I thought during the meet, although would never say so in front of Doji-sama, about the search for a bride for yourself."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao rises to greet the Asahina, nodding respectfully and waving for the man to sit, then bristling slightly at mention of his own future. Like I said, this one is smart. You should listen to him.

"Asahina-san perhaps also noticed my less-than-enthusiastic reaction to the topic of marriages in general." He sighs, pushing away the gruff reaction. "You are right, of course, that this topic should not wait. I was too content to let that be a concern for Kitora, and for the focus to be on Sango's wedding in the meantime..." He sighs again. "As you may recall, grandmother had many thoughts about this subject for her grandsons. Sango did it right. Or had the right thing done to him, however it should be said." Masao looks away toward the setting sun, and unties his top knot absent-mindedly. "I am not sure," he says thoughtfully, "whether I wish to have control over this process or to simply have it done to me."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He takes a nearby seat and too sits in front of the fire, at the side of the other samurai.

"You could see the leftover options, not only of ours, for yourself." He replies in a calm and gentle tone. "You are not much behind Otomo-sama in prestige, Masao-ue. And it was already said by Doji-sama that other clans would have their candidates as well." He nods slightly. "This is closely to why winter courts are both places to watch and form marriages. Aside from the obvious, which is many people seeking the same thing reunited on a place together."

He takes his biwa, putting it half on the ground, half on his lap.

"I see as well that losses have taken their toil on your back. I must say that it is a good sign. Many would not lament losing one of their equals if it meant they were closer to inheritance."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao grimaces at the idea of seeing an elder sibling's death as opportunity. "Every samurai should fill their heart with honor at the opportunity to do their duty, and not waste time in the pursuit of another's duty." He sighs deeply. "If Sango's duty should fall to me, I will do it with all the vigor I can muster. But as you know, that has never been a path I sought or even gave thought to. I still hope that Kitora will recover, succeed my father as governor, and live a good long life in that role."

Masao stands and takes a deep breath of the evening air. "I will need a good wife to help me, if I am to rule in Samui Kaze Toshi. And good advisors. But what of you, Asahina-san? You are also of a prime age to be married. Your future may be far from Cold Wind City and my ... concerns."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I had complimented on you this same virtue, my friend." He nods slightly, taking from the biwa the slow and first notes of something, much spilled over time, as a music that was looping before it even started. "You do seem to be northless, though, Masao-ue. You know not if you would like to pick a wife or let others pick one for you, neither there is a path you seek. Both would be great virtues for a monk, and there are indeed many verses composed by them on the virtue of letting be by the wind. Alas, I do not know if for a noble, guardian, and lord, the same would hold true."
He bows for several seconds after saying this, knowing the arrogance on criticzing a better. "For me, there is no option to choose between taking it on my own hands or letting others do the choice, for no one would want to arrange me anything."

[Kakita Masao]

"Asahina-san's wisdom again. As I revel in my small concerns, there are many others who would be overjoyed to face such 'problems.'" Masao shakes his head, embarrassed at his selfishness.

"Perhaps among all the samurai assembled here we shall find your future match, Asahina-san. I can't believe my parents would be satisfied with me finding a wife here without their input, but surely there will be opportunities for us to advance your cause here over the next several days?" He looks to the tall Crane, not at all confident that the man would welcome his help.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I would want to find a man who would be overjoyed in losing family to both war and legend and to have another on a deathbed. Your brother's was an honorable death, and rest sure those are the souls most kindly rechallenged on the karmic wheel."

Whilst he kept speaking that, his voice gradually changed tone to a less trained and more hurried one, as if talking was becoming an effort. He clears his throat and brings it back to the charming, precise and homely tone he usually utilized on those more personal conversations.

"You may also need to consider that, if you here find a bride, the marriage would not need to be formed immediately. You could much return to Cold Wind and see if they would like your decision." He replies with a nod, taking the biwa in his lap.

"I do not fear, for that would be sin, but expect, on all cases, that no final decision on this regard would be taken until it is known how swiftly your brother recovers. Alas, worry about yourself first than me in this regard, Masao-dono. You have yourself to search one for, which I could help with, and one of the reasons I suggested waiting to see who would be Otomo-domo's rejected brides. All his options are fitting for an Otomo, and would be as well fitting for you."

[Kakita Masao]

"Asahina-san's counsel is well taken, even when this simple soldier needs hear the same counsel twice." His voice is joking, but also warm and appreciative of the other Crane's words.

"Tell me, Asahina-san, about Kakita Yuuwaku-san. We met today -- briefly, before the delegation meeting -- but I had little time to learn anything about her. You are... old friends, is that right?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"She's my senpai, and she is great, Masao-ue. Even our sensei, who did not throw away compliments easily, was impressed by her dancing performance. I am yet to meet someone so worthy of the Kakita. If anything you need to be careful of, however, don't tell her anything you would not want the entire court to know."
He nods slightly.
"Earlier today I met a shugenja from this land. He is as well the court physician, and not deaf to the sacred ceremony of Doji-no-kami."