Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Yuma took his sweet time to eat the lunch Yushoko had organized for them, willingly dragging his feet. As soon as the Crab guests had left however, he put back his dessert and stared at their host.

"Daidoji-sama, what took you to suddenly give Hida Fuboshi a piece of your mind? Luckily she was in a good mood but if she hadn't be..."

"What do you mean," she said calmly having long stopped eating.

In the present context, Yuma was having a somber premonition about how this discussion was going to end, but he had to make sure:

"You literately called her a bitch in front of half a dozen witnesses."

"Language, Doji-san, it is impolite to use such coarse and vulgar language in public discourse, that sets a bad example for Kio," she said calmly.

"You must have misheard, this one would never be so low brow."

He nodded and joined hands:

"I believe you. But you will also have to trust me on the fact that several people, including myself, believe they heard you say these words. I fear a malevolent spirit is trying to sow confusion among us through trickery.

Tell me, what do you know about your ancestor's, Doji Bujeihime-sama, life?"

“Very little actually, other than she was a bushi of Honor and skill cut down by the Crab in a surprise attack. Some claim it was a duel but, when have you met a child of Hida skilled enough to draw a blade to match a Kakita trained swordsman?” she offered.

Yuma blinked:

"Isn't it weird you've been taught so little about one of your glorious ancestors? Especially an ancestor who so directly contributed to shape your life, though a domino effect whose last piece should be your very wedding?"

“I am simply one of my lineage available to be married, Doji Bujeihime is an honored ancestor but she was not much known to any of us until recently when this marriage came to fruition. I am no warrior, nor was I raised on tales of her exploits. I honor her, but I do not find it odd that she was not a serious part of my education,” she responded.

"Hmm. Thinking of it, though she was a Doji too, I hadn't really heard much about her before coming here. Guess her legacy is only strong on the military side of our families indeed."

He switched gears:

"It was Otomo Yusuke who arranged everything for this wedding wasn't it? What advise did he give you in preparation for you meeting with your future family in law? Were there particular subjects he advised you not to talk about? I learned from experience that while the Crab are making an effort to accommodate us, they can still be a bit jumpy on some topics."

Though pretty much healed, his eyes blackened on the first day by a misunderstanding with a drunken Crab still stung a bit. And might continue to for as long as time refuses to move on.

“He advised that we avoid the subjects we should never speak of to avoid misunderstandings and to try and be accommodating to their brutish mannerisms. He said that Hida Yoji was a calm and honorable man and of good standing. That seems sufficient for my needs,” she said honestly.

Yuma was taken aback by the genuine lack of interest Yushoko showed about everything, including her own destiny.

"He... He seemed nice."

And about as verbose as his future wife. If the children of these two ever go beyond monosyllabic that will be a miracle.

"Uh... Has your stay here be nice otherwise? Did little Kio make friends? Any issue I could help with?"

"Kio has been well, though this morning was rather troublesome, but perhaps it is just a thing for the young to act out," she said in reply.

"The best we can do for her is to remind her what a proper samurai should be."

"She has the potential to become an exceptional samurai... But she is still young. Was she again talking about ghosts and people only her could see? She said something similar at the luncheon.

Thinking of it, as your niece, isn't she a direct descendant of Doji Bujeihime herself?"

"She would be in the lineage yes, that is true. Though far too young for Yoji unless they wish to wait five to six years," she said to Yuma.

"She has acted oddly, and she will not be parted from that dreadful wooden toy soldier. Children are odd at times."

Yuma was starting to think Sanaharu was right with his theory of trickster spirits playing mean jokes on them.

"That toy soldier... It wouldn't happen to be a very old figurine of either a Crab of a Crane? A family heirloom of her maybe?"

"It's a soldier, she got it a few days ago from some peddler in the village," she said.

Yuma was feeling very tired:

"I'll ask her directly. Probably a total coincidence, but one of the locals spontaneously offered a story about Bujeihime seemingly keeping such a figurine on her person at all time this very morning. And when the spirits send you a sign, the least one can do is checking where it points.

Could you call her? No reason to delay that examination. If the toy is but what it seems we will be reassured. If not better take care of it as soon as possible."

"She left for the beach to play with friends, sure Kintaro-sama should be nearby to watch her," she said.

"Well, guess it will have to wait then. Could you ask them to pay me a visit if you happen to see them before me? I should be in my room for most of the evening."

"Of course," she said kindly. She rose and said, "Thank you for the warm company, Doji-san."

Stand, bow, the usual:

"Same Daidoji-sama."