Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Keigo sat cross-legged on the length of deck facing toward the garden outside of the room he shared with his traveling companion. His eyes were closed as he meditated, taking in the soft sound of the drizzling rain on the room and the koi stream, letting it relax his body and mind. It was an artificial balance that the Crane created with their gardens, but they were very skilled at reflecting the truth with their art in miniaturized form. Beautiful and fascinating.

The cool air prickled a little at the skin of his upper body, but he paid it no mind.

Tanaka arrived at the gardens, having finally extracted herself from a small group of courtiers who had spent the better part of an hour trying to pry information on the current state of the Dragon from her. She let out a long sigh and turned her attention to her surroundings.

The Kitsuki made a few mental notes on the arrangements, what flowers were where, how the artificial brook was routed, what emotions(and message) the Crane had intended to show with the garden. Of course seeing Keigo was far more interesting, though in hindsight unsurprising.

She made her way over to the monk and sank down into a seated position beside him. Some might have thought to creep on a Togashi, but her own experience proved that tended to be far harder then worth attempting.

Of course she was also not crass enough to disturb someone's meditation. Keigo would have heard her and respond in his own time.

He didn't move or rise when he heard her nearby, but did allow a small smile to cross his face. "Kitsuki-san?" He opened his eyes and looked toward her finally. "Did you have a fruitful afternoon?"

"I suppose that depends on one's definition of fruitful." Tanaka scrunched her nose, "While it was interesting seeing all the different manners in which one might hide their intentions...namely prying out any news from our homeland...it does get tiresome dancing around their request. A lot of me having to say a great many words and not really mean anything."

"Court is a more tiresome business then I remember." She shrugged, "And what of you Togashi-san? Fruitful, tiresome, or somewhere in between?"

"Please, join me in enjoying the sound of the rain," he said, gesturing to the place next to him. "I suppose I am fortunate. I just need to say something suitable mysterious and they generally decide that trying to pry information out of me will be more trouble than its worth. I don't blame them for their curiosity and persistence. Every scrap of information can make all the difference down here in the lands of political intrigue. It can be tiring, though."

He considered the question. "I did encounter a few interesting people. The bride of the upcoming nuptials, who seemed very quiet, and her niece, who was very energetic and curious. A quite boisterous Crab I am looking forward to testing myself against. A Crane who seemed skilled at navigating social events. A Crane magistrate who didn't so much. A Daidoji with a missing arm. An interesting group."

"The Crab being the sumai perhaps? Unless you have been concealing a skill at dueling from me...." Tanaka smiled faintly at that, "If it is, he does have the weight advantage and a considerable reach advantage as well. Perhaps you want to play off his confidence?"

"A Crane skilled at navigating social events, as rare as a crane that flies." She quirks up an eyebrow, "But a Crane magistrate who did not seem as adept...that is a curious thing. Perhaps some manner of deception to cause others to underestimate them? And a wounded Daidoji...battle one assumes?"

"...hmm the bride's niece is still but a child, and much loved by her aunt." Tanaka taps her chin, "Did either seem overly nervous about the impending wedding?"

She stops herself, "Ah...sorry Togashi-san I have gotten carried away and tried to drag you into my little game of observation."

"Sumai, yes," he clarified with a soft laugh. "I haven't been secreting away a daisho somewhere. I hesitate to think of where I could even manage that."

"No. I just want to try it and perhaps learn from him," he noted. "I have no interest in seeking advantage. As far as the Crane goes, she was the only one of the group who seemed especially skilled in socializing, so perhaps rarer than we thought. As to the other two... maybe. I suppose you'll have to find out. Or I might when we meet again. I'll let you know if that happens"

At the question of the wedding, he looked up at the grey skies. "I'm not sure. The bride might have been. Perhaps that was why she was so quiet."

He waved a hand. "Not at all. I'm interested in your thoughts."

"I have head the monks of Togashi have...phenomenal control of their own bodies." She rubbed her temple with a smirk, "So I suppose one could find a place or two a daisho could fit. With a little discipline, skill, and a stiff backbone."

Tanaka grew more serious, "I suppose taking on a skilled opponent who has the advantage would be of considerable use. Though you are the better judge then I."

"Something to puzzle out...who and why did the Crane send to the wedding. I imagine that could tell a lot about what the greater clan may be thinking, or at least how seriously they take this wedding. As for the bride....well I guess it would be hard to tell without having known her before."

"Is that what they're calling it nowadays?" He joked in response to her comments about the daisho before listening more seriously.

"It is hard to tell. I think someone more socially adept would need to get to know her to learn more," he said, shaking his head. "I'm afraid those skills are a bit out of balance for me."

He went silent for a moment as he watched the garden for a little while before saying, "What do you think about what's going on in our homeland?"

“I...try not to think much of it,” Tanaka winces at the question, “There are few good thoughts in that line of inquiry. My hope, though, is time away and among the other clans will help me work through my own feelings. It is probably too much to hope for the trouble to be resolved by the time I return, but maybe with a new perspective I can actually be of some use.”

Her expressions turns more sympathetic, “I imagine it is significantly worse for you, Togashi-san.”

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Resolved... I think is the opposite of what we have to look forward to. We are in a potential calm before the storm. Unless something happens to change things with... the center point of the situation in the meantime." He shrugged and sighed.

"I would like to hope for a miracle, but I recognize how unlikely it is. I see the potential for more suffering for the rest of my family ahead," he shifted his jaw. "The Mirumoto and the Agasha, too... I can't help but feel like forcing people away from their path was never our way before."

"And the Kitsuki." Tanaka added, "Many of my cousins have torn themselves apart trying to think through a solution. Several more have done like me...turned our attention to the outside."

"I wonder if the storm can be stopped or only lessened." She mused then shook her head, "For now though I suppose we should focus on learning about the Empire at large. There are still ripples in the pond from the stones hurled into the Empire decades ago and the question is are they stilling or growing into dangerous waves."

"Hai. I didn't want to speak for your family with you right here," he replied with a nod.

"Yes... We missed much. Have you picked up anything of that during our travels thus far?"

"Tension, nervousness," Tanaka crossed her arms and bobbed her head in thought, "But that may just be my own feelings distorting my view. Still, the are certain hostilities unresolved. Most lie hidden but every know and then I can see it slip. Fortunately none seem turned to our clan."

"I am really eager to see this wedding to be honest, listening to muttered conversations and watching reactions to carefully worded questions is one thing. But soon we shall see interactions between the clans, much of it those our own age...that is people whose views may well represent the future direction of a clan. Its kind of exciting in a way."