[Day 6 - LE] Noh is the Thing

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"A noble calling." They could of used such a woman here. "One that will help prevent unfortunate incidents like the one that happened here."

"I wish her luck with it, though if your faith of her is any indication she has skill enough not to require such a thing."

"I just can hope that she and I could work together in the future." She nodded
Don't look now but the imperial that you want to kill here.


"You can never tell the river not to run." As she turned to the two familiar voices in the back. If the two notice the Toritaka's glare could kill. She fixed a stray hair placing it behind her ear. "Unless one can dry it."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I wish you luck there." Shouji offered sincerely as his gaze followed Hanatsuko's to the infirm Imperial.

"Some may say thats an impossible task." His lips curled into a slight smile. His voice dropping so as not to carry. "If you wish to go scold him, I won't stop you. But it may be unwise in such a public venue."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"Of course it is a difficult task. But the water seems to be well protected by a rock." She shook her head. "One can but I know it is not proper of this one to be mothering an Imperial."

[Otomo Saisei]

While the Otomo waits for Masao's reply. In that same hartbeat, he looks over his fan to take notice of what the f*** was going on.

He has no idea.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Oh? And is it rocks that protect the water? Even as the water wears away at them in time?" Shouji wasn't quite sure he would call that particular man a rock either.

"Even if it seems like he needs it." Shouji agreed with a soft smile. "You should save such things for your future husband and children anyways, right?" He paused for a moment before adding. "There are some that might misinterpret mothering as Love, after all. Though I'm not one of them."

[Yoko]

He looked around for a possible seat to indicate. Masao was there, Shouji as well, he noticed. This could be a move to intimidate or to reveal their position. It was not a good time. Not right now. Later, though, would surely backfire. He seized what time had given him. "There looks like a good position for a seat... Although your friend is there, the Mantis. You seem to accompany him quite some, and he mentioned you as ship crew. I guess you have been working for him for quite a long time?"

"Employer really, even if.. yea, I'd willingly consider him a friend if he let me. Not that I think I've ever stopped to check," she waved the thought off with her hand. "Hired me up the coast a ways and I came in along with the rest of his crew as an extra hand. Kept me hired on for extra help while they're attending the wedding here too so," she gave a little wave of her hand, as if to indicate all the area around them, the wedding. "Him and his crew have been good to me. They treat me well and I owe them more than I'd like to admit in just one evening, eh?" she smirked, shaking her head a little.

[Hida Daichi]

Naida scoots over in her box and peers into Daichi's.

"You look absolutely thrilled to be here. Not quite as nice as a hot soak, hm?"

The big Crabs eyes drift over to the voice and a smile creeps onto his lips "A hot soak is a much preferred venue than this courtyard. Perhaps if the play were being performed in the baths I might be more interested." He said with a laugh

"Is Kitsuki-san a fan of the arts?" He asked with his usual grin in place as he regarded her with mismatched eyes.

[Kakita Masao]

Saisei takes his fan in hand and opens it up as well. With narrowed eyes, he asks further, "The Mantis had an issue with Yusuke-sama? Please, do tell me more of the details you perceived."

The Crane sighs. "Would that I could stay to have heard more, but it appeared to me that the Mantis -- trailed by a ronin and two Imperial bushi -- made for Otomo-sama after the announcement of the new empress, who had been on musha shugyo among the ronin here. Otomo-sama himself seemed greatly surprised at the news of the new empress, though how could one not be?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He looked around for a possible seat to indicate. Masao was there, Shouji as well, he noticed. This could be a move to intimidate or to reveal their position. It was not a good time. Not right now. Later, though, would surely backfire. He seized what time had given him. "There looks like a good position for a seat... Although your friend is there, the Mantis. You seem to accompany him quite some, and he mentioned you as ship crew. I guess you have been working for him for quite a long time?"

"Employer really, even if.. yea, I'd willingly consider him a friend if he let me. Not that I think I've ever stopped to check," she waved the thought off with her hand. "Hired me up the coast a ways and I came in along with the rest of his crew as an extra hand. Kept me hired on for extra help while they're attending the wedding here too so," she gave a little wave of her hand, as if to indicate all the area around them, the wedding. "Him and his crew have been good to me. They treat me well and I owe them more than I'd like to admit in just one evening, eh?" she smirked, shaking her head a little.

"Yoko, if I remember well from earlier? Life is not kind to all of us, as you may be familiar with the hardships you face compared to samurai who call themselves proper. To live, or to prosper, requires meeting people and acquiesce to different interests based on them, orders from one's lord or personal beliefs. Some of those may originate conflict, for it is the nature of the interests to clash. I believe you may be familiar with the tenets of the Asahina? Sometimes, this clash is steel, and it generates only further steel and pain to those not related to the issue at hand.

However, if there is one thing a thousand years of peace have proven us, is that living based only off clashing against what is unholy is possible. Such is the ideal of the Asahina. Our temples are not guarded, the sacred field of Amaterasu is let rest. If one part of the Empire can live so, all of its citizens can. Are my ancestor's ideals ones you may share, Yoko?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Yuahime arrived in a nice kimono gifted to her by the Crab, it was a of fine make though the style a bit outdated by Crane standards.

Konohamaru gave her a nod of reassurance from his position - a sign that things were going well, and if needed, he would be available.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Konohamaru gave her a nod of reassurance from his position - a sign that things were going well, and if needed, he would be available.

Yuuwaku sees the nod, sees its target.

Why is Kakita-bugyo interested in her?

[Yoko]

"Yoko, if I remember well from earlier? Life is not kind to all of us, as you may be familiar with the hardships you face compared to samurai who call themselves proper. To live, or to prosper, requires meeting people and acquiesce to different interests based on them, orders from one's lord or personal beliefs. Some of those may originate conflict, for it is the nature of the interests to clash. I believe you may be familiar with the tenets of the Asahina? Sometimes, this clash is steel, and it generates only further steel and pain to those not related to the issue at hand.

However, if there is one thing a thousand years of peace have proven us, is that living based only off clashing against what is unholy is possible. Such is the ideal of the Asahina. Our temples are not guarded, the sacred field of Amaterasu is let rest. If one part of the Empire can live so, all of its citizens can. Are my ancestor's ideals ones you may share, Yoko?"

"Peace? Peace is good but.." she shook her head. Shrugging, "Maybe I don't understand, so correct me if so, eh? But I'm sorry to say if you think that it's possible to bring that to the whole of the Empire without a little blood and steel you haven't lived in the same world as I have. There are people out there that will still take, more and more, until they bleed you dry. Maybe they do it because they are greedy, but some do it just because they enjoy seeing others in pain," she shook her head. "Can't stop folk like that by asking nicely."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Peace? Peace is good but.." she shook her head. Shrugging, "Maybe I don't understand, so correct me if so, eh? But I'm sorry to say if you think that it's possible to bring that to the whole of the Empire without a little blood and steel you haven't lived in the same world as I have. There are people out there that will still take, more and more, until they bleed you dry. Maybe they do it because they are greedy, but some do it just because they enjoy seeing others in pain," she shook her head. "Can't stop folk like that by asking nicely."

"Such is a matter of much controversy where I'm from, Yoko. Each's view on peace is different, but those are ways we seek to make it possible. If such an ideal was not one possible, Asahina-shiryo might not be in Yomi, as he is. Asahina-shiryo himself once stopped a war with much suffering, taking many prejudices, to sustain his own ideals. It indeed took him more than asking, but personal sacrifice. I guess you may be familiar with the tale?" He asked politely.

"There are there many people, ranging from those who would not even hunt down animals, to bushi. If Doji-no-kami said the blade determined the truth, should at least duelists be trained? If, by the karmic wheel, souls all have the potential to be divine, how is settled the fact that we may harm plants and animals? "

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"Oh? And is it rocks that protect the water? Even as the water wears away at them in time?" Shouji wasn't quite sure he would call that particular man a rock either.

"Even if it seems like he needs it." Shouji agreed with a soft smile. "You should save such things for your future husband and children anyways, right?" He paused for a moment before adding. "There are some that might misinterpret mothering as Love, after all. Though I'm not one of them."

"If water goes in a cave the water cannot see the light of lady Amaterasu as it wore down the rock." She chuckled. "Right now my family is a dog and a falcon. The falcon tends to be fatherly figure or a grandfather."

Hey I am not that old...I don't know what to think about this Tsuruchi... He is good with this silly code you have started to talk like.
Hanatsuko shook her head.

[Yoko]

"Such is a matter of much controversy where I'm from, Yoko. Each's view on peace is different, but those are ways we seek to make it possible. If such an ideal was not one possible, Asahina-shiryo might not be in Yomi, as he is. Asahina-shiryo himself once stopped a war with much suffering, taking many prejudices, to sustain his own ideals. It indeed took him more than asking, but personal sacrifice. I guess you may be familiar with the tale?" He asked politely.

"There are there many people, ranging from those who would not even hunt down animals, to bushi. If Doji-no-kami said the blade determined the truth, should at least duelists be trained? If, by the karmic wheel, souls all have the potential to be divine, how is settled the fact that we may harm plants and animals? "

Yoko put her hands up in mock surrender, "Asking a woman of the waves the big questions, eh? Sorry to say I don't think I have the answers for you. Not quite familiar with your tale, not as much as you might like. Sounds like it makes for a good story though."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"If water goes in a cave the water cannot see the light of lady Amaterasu as it wore down the rock." She chuckled. "Right now my family is a dog and a falcon. The falcon tends to be fatherly figure or a grandfather."

Hey I am not that old...I don't know what to think about this Tsuruchi... He is good with this silly code you have started to talk like.
Hanatsuko shook her head.

He glanced at the bird. "I suppose if he keeps bugging you about marriage or something like that he'd be the fatherly sort." Shouji replied his tone teasing. "If he always wants to get you sweets, a grandfather."

"But keeping the water in the dark? I suppose that can be protective under certain circumstances. You's have to know more to say for certain. Either way, in time that cave may grow large enough to provide shelter."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Yoko put her hands up in mock surrender, "Asking a woman of the waves the big questions, eh? Sorry to say I don't think I have the answers for you. Not quite familiar with your tale, not as much as you might like. Sounds like it makes for a good story though."

He smiles slightly. "Those were examples of questions that have been discussed for decades. If you had the answers, you could bet your name would be proclaimed sacred. They were only examples of how it is acceptable to think differently about how to achieve peace."

[Yoko]

He smiles slightly. "Those were examples of questions that have been discussed for decades. If you had the answers, you could bet your name would be proclaimed sacred. They were only examples of how it is acceptable to think differently about how to achieve peace."

"Well, opinion then?" she quirked her brow, chuckling. Giving a little shrug, "Far as I've every learned, questions like those won't have answers you can hold to. Sometimes one is better than the other. Sometimes it's hard to tell, eh?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He smiles slightly. "Those were examples of questions that have been discussed for decades. If you had the answers, you could bet your name would be proclaimed sacred. They were only examples of how it is acceptable to think differently about how to achieve peace."

"Well, opinion then?" she quirked her brow, chuckling. Giving a little shrug, "Far as I've every learned, questions like those won't have answers you can hold to. Sometimes one is better than the other. Sometimes it's hard to tell, eh?"

"Oh, there are people with this position as well. As hard you think, sometimes you may not contempt yourself with any answer, or just accept the lack of definitive answers. Always striving for peace is what is most important, is it not?"

[Yoko]

"Well- I have some thoughts on that I could share with Asahina-sama, but if you want maybe we should find ourselves a seat first? Wouldn't do well to stand around talking while everything is prepared for the play, and I'm sure I stole you away from someone with my appearance, eh?" she suggested, gesturing in toward the courtyard generally.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

He glanced at the bird. "I suppose if he keeps bugging you about marriage or something like that he'd be the fatherly sort." Shouji replied his tone teasing. "If he always wants to get you sweets, a grandfather."

"But keeping the water in the dark? I suppose that can be protective under certain circumstances. You's have to know more to say for certain. Either way, in time that cave may grow large enough to provide shelter."

The woman chuckled. "More on the lines of bugging about happiness and marriages. Sometimes he brings me sweets just to change my dour face."

Hey you look better when you smile and when you are happy. I feel that you like mother and father deserve love.

She blinked a few times. "It is not the duty of a samurai to be loved." She answered a question that was never asked.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I have a seat at the side of a friend of mines, and it is in a rather good position. I believe we could meet later, then, to continue our debate? Seeking different angles to those questions is always a most interesting thing." He nods calmly. "As I said before, enjoy the play."

[Yoko]

"Of course, Asahina-sama," she says, giving him a quick dip of her head. "I'm sure I'll be able to afford you the time, eh? Not often a ronin is too busy. But I've definitely kept you away from your friend for too long, eh? Thanks again," and with that said she gave him room to return, what she'd do with the returned freedom was up for debate.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Quote for pings!

He returns then to Yuuwaku's side, sitting back again. "About the woman you asked earlier... I got worried you were not there to listen to the Shisha's words. I hope my sincerity is good enough, for I must say that she is the crown heir of the Empire."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

He returns then to Yuuwaku's side, sitting back again. "About the woman you asked earlier... I got worried you were not there to listen to the Shisha's words. I hope my sincerity is good enough, for I must say that she is the crown heir of the Empire."

"Then she is Her Majesty, even now!" Yuuwaku whispers. "Long may She reign. But why has not everybody bowed to her? Why have we not?"

She looks about, marveling that the presence of the Empress Herself--because, with the death that has been related to her, the heir assumes the position automatically, as she understands it--occasions so little attention.

And I dare not approach so! she thinks.